and affectionate efforts of the Teacher, be brought to attend to the things which make for his everlasting peace.

Perhaps it may be said, that admitting the desirableness of abolishing corporal punishment, we ought not to lower the standard to be set up for our Teachers. I would answer, that by raising it so high as to be unattainable, I fear you defeat your own end; and Teachers, especially young ones, making the attempt, and failing, may be inclined to reject your theory, as altogether unsound, and run, in consequence, to the opposite extreme.

The cases which require corporal punishment are few-perhaps much fewer than many imagine-but that there never is a case, my experience, so far as it goes, does not quite convince me. I know how sadly deficient I am as a Teacher, and how much I always find to blame in myself, as well as in my scholars, and I hope I shall gladly and thankfully avail myself of the hints thrown out, and strive to exhibit more of a Sabbath spirit in my Sabbath labour; but if there be any circumstances in which flogging is indispensible, it proves that this, like many of the new and popular theories now put forth on the subject of education, will not altogether stand the test of experience, though it contains, as I most cheerfully admit, much of truth and force.

Every one accustomed to tuition knows that with a fresh Teacher there is invariably a struggle for the mastery on the part of the scholars. There has been no time to win the affections of the children, and yet discipline must be maintained, and the resistance on the part of some may be so strong as to require force to subdue it. Again, a Teacher is called upon to fill the place of a Superintendent unavoidably absent, and the same occurs on a larger scale; or there may be a temporary deficiency of Teachers, when some children, (and I apprehend some such are, alas! to be found,) Ineither awed by the authority or won by the kindness of their Teachers, avail themselves of the opportunity to create confusion: appeal, exhortation, and command are alike tried, in vain, and nothing but the prompt and severe measure of a flogging can restore or maintain order. Again, offences may be committed under circumstances in which ordinary methods can be had recourse to, and hesitation to punish might be attributed to fear, and would only encourage others to follow the example thus set them with impunity. After all, much may be done without flogging; and where the Superintendent and Teachers are something like what I have described at the beginning of this letter, such cases will but seldom occur; but all Superintendents are not active, zealous, and firm, nor are all Teachers judicious and able, or sufficiently numerous for their work. Those who are happily associated with such are not the best qualified to judge of the difficulties of those who are placed in less favourable circumstances. The aim of all should be to do without; but to lay it down that this is possible in every case, is, I think, erroneous; and I suspect that the practice of those who profess to do so does not always strictly bear out their theory-even your correspondent, J. E., who says, we find thrashing quite unnecessary," hints that he occasionally strikes a lad.

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I trust you will excuse the hasty way in which I have been obliged to throw these remarks together, though the subject has occupied my mind for some time; and expressing my best wishes for the rosperity of your little work, and my own willingness to receive

instruction on this subject from those who have had more experience

than myself,

September 4, 1844.

S. H. R.

THE ROD, OR EXCLUSION.

"Whether corporal punishments should be excluded from all such institutions, without any limitation or whether there may not be cases in which that painful resource is necessary, if not positively beneficial are questions which must be decided by the managers of each separate school."

REV. SIR,-The foregoing extract from "Collins' Teacher's Companion," a work which you have spoken of, and that very deservedly, in the highest possible terms of approval, induces me again to address you upon the subject.

I agree with you, and with your correspondents, in the wish to banish corporal punishment from our Sunday-schools; but, though not far advanced in years, I have lived long enough to know that what is theoretically right is often practically impossible; and must still retain my opinion, that the rod cannot, in all instances, be dispensed with.

I also think the hard words you use in reference to the subject are not justifiable; and when one of your correspondents (perhaps unthinkingly) talks about brute force, am almost tempted to fear that the reproof, "ye know not what spirit ye are of," is at least as applicable to himself as those whom he wishes to censure.

Your correspondents state, that a spirit of love, of meekness, and gentleness should pervade the Sabbath-school; and no one doubts the truth of their remarks; but have they never read, that "he that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes;" with many other passages of a similar import? Can there be more love shewn in "giving schools up," and "dismissing boys," than in endeavouring, by God's appointed means, to reclaim them from the error of their ways?

By what superior motives to those which an affectionate parent uses for the welfare of his children, you would wish Teachers to act, I am at a loss to conceive; but should be glad to receive instruction on the subject;

Sept. 10, 1844.

And remain, Rev. Sir,

Yours, very respectfully,

TO SUPERINTENDENTS OF SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

E. S.

In reference to what has appeared in your magazine, I feel inclined to address a word or two to Superintendents. It arises from the following remark in one of your correspondent's letters of last month, viz., "Very obstinate cases that have hardened their necks against the affectionate entreaties of the Teacher, and the reproofs of the Superintendent and the minister, have been dismissed, much to the benefit of the school at large and the preservation of order." I am not a Superintendent myself, but a plain Teacher: the long experience I have had of Sunday-schools is my plea for presuming to

address this important and useful class of persons in the bosom of our Church.

Sunday-schools, my friends, are especially needed for the obstinate and the wicked portion of our youth-for those who having no parents to instruct them at home, and who, but for our schools, would perish even in this Christian land, for lack of knowledgeand we ought to be glad when such characters find their way to our Sunday-schools, instead of sitting down and coolly recording how easy it is to avoid the necessity of corporal punishment, by cutting off the young, who are rebellious, from the means of grace. I would earnestly and affectionately say, never let it be on your conscience that you turned a child out. It is a cruel and awful thing, made to avoid trouble and uneasiness, to consign a child over to his own devices. I will back the system of thrashing against this unmerciful treatment, on any ground. I am aware it is a disagreeable thing to maintain an outward observance of decorum by the stick, and that a single, obstinate character is a real cross to you; but shrink not from your duty: to use expulsion, instead of chastisement, is an inglorious act, and should hardly ever be resorted to. I could weep over a boy being sent out of the way of all instruction, whilst I could witness, with an inward satisfaction, a severe flogging, when it was called for. Make the case of a desperate character an especial matter for prayer, both amongst the Teachers collectively, and the Superintendent and Teachers in the closets. Let it be the subject of grave deliberation, and let every means be used to reform your refractory subject; but, by all means, keep your bad children in the school; for many a young Saul of Tarsus has, by the grace of God attending the means, been converted into a burning and shining light.

If I had been treated in this cruel way, in the former part of my life, instead of being borne with and corrected-for I was then a very bad 'un-I might have been deprived of the blessings which a Sunday-school has conferred on me through a long period. I am sure it will be a sweeter consolation to know that you gave yourself the trouble of inflicting personal chastisement, if it was a most painful duty, than to turn your poor, helpless, unfortunate, rebellious child over to the tender mercies of a cruel and wicked world—a prey to all sorts of characters. You, by using unpleasant means, may perhaps have to feel something of that joy which glowed in the heart of the tender shepherd, who, leaving the ninety and nine in the wilderness, set out after the wanderer, and who eventually came home with it on his shoulders rejoicing.

There is a mistake, I think, on this point that I would wish to correct. It is not to say that a Superintendent must necessarily be full of wrath, and under the influence of passion when he inflicts punishment: it must be done in the spirit of love, and prayer for grace to administer this salutary mode of correction in the same spirit as if you were rewarding your scholar, or making it manifest that you feel as much pain in inflicting the punishment as the child itself can feel in enduring it.

A patient may be called upon to endure the severest bodily pain for his restoration to health; but he may have to thank his doctor for his salutary treatment of him, however painful it might be at the time.

Surely, there cannot be a Christian parent but who has, at some period or other of his child's life, had to flog, and perhaps severely,

the darling of his affections. We have all had fathers of the flesh, who corrected us, and we gave them reverence; and if this mode of punishment is necessary, as regards a parent and child, Superintendents of Sunday-schools, who often have to supply the place of parents to many who are (as regards the absence of parental intructions) orphans, must resort sometimes to the same salutary

means.

Thrashing, I repeat, may not be needed amongst children who are properly tutored at home, and the very worst of children may be also awed in the presence of their pastor-the stick may be dispensed with amongst young ladies in boarding-schools-and I can easily imagine the Editor of this magazine, our valuable friend and coadjutor in this good work, may never find it necessary to use the stick, and I hope the heaviest instrument he may have to wield in our behalf may be his valuable pen, but you, Superintendents of Sunday-schools in our populous districts, will, I am sure, if you do your duty, have to do it. Deprive not, by any act of yours, any child of the benefits of a Sunday-school: by beating him properly, you may do him good; by expelling him, you may make him become ten times more the child of the devil than he was. There is not a parent, possessed of any feeling, but would rather that his offspring should be severely corrected, than left to perish in his sins, without the hope of amendment.

Darlington, 2nd Sept., 1844.

AN OLD SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHER.

REPLY TO THE REV. D. B.

DEAR SIR,-In reply to the first question of the Rev. D. B., in your last number, the plan pursued in the Sunday-school with which am connected is this: the female Teachers are invited to meet every Wednesday evening at a quarter before seven, the male Teachers on the same evening at a quarter past eight. The Superintendent, and occasionally the Clergyman, attend these meetings, each of which lasts about an hour. The meetings commence with singing and prayer: one of the portions of Scripture appointed for the next Sunday's reading and teaching is then read, verse by verse, and freely commented on: all the Teachers are encouraged to ask questions and make remarks. The objects chiefly aimed at, are the simple explanation and illustration of the passage, in the way most likely to be of service in the respective classes. The meetings are closed with prayer. We have found it impracticable so to arrange as to enable all to avail themselves of the privilege. Of sixteen female Teachers, one cannot attend, and four others but seldom. Of fifteen male Teachers, one cannot come, another is temporarily prevented, and three others cannot always be present at the commencement of the meeting. These meetings have now been kept up (the male Teachers without interruption) for some years; and through the blessing of GOD have been productive of the greatest benefit. Uniformity of system has been obtained; unanimity and love have been promoted; and, I believe, that without them our school would not have reached half its present prosperity and efficiency. To the LORD alone be the praise; who has inclined and enabled us to continue them to this time.

We have also had an occasional meeting of the male and female Teachers on Sunday afternoon, at the close of the school, that ap pearing to be the only time at which all could attend; but desirous, if possible, of avoiding this further encroachment on the rest of the Sabbath, we have lately determined on endeavouring to obtain a meeting of all the Teachers on a week-day evening, once a quarter, at seven o'clock.

In reply to the second question, our children are required to attend the church in the morning; we have no afternoon service. Places are appointed for them, and two or three Teachers sit with the girls, and a like number with the boys. I cannot imagine that it would be found generally practicable to arrange for their sitting with their parents. I am, dear sir, Yours faithfully,

J. E. We had our first Quarterly Meeting last evening; thirteen male and twelve female Teachers were present.

Sept. 10, 1844.

CHRIST CHURCH SUNDAY-SCHOOL, LIVERPOOL. REV. AND DEAR SIR, The following you may insert in your next "Teacher's Visitor," if suitable.

Sunday, 8th September, was the half-yearly prize day at Christ Church Sunday-school, Liverpool; and a more gratifying sight could not be witnessed. The girls were arranged on one side of the school, and the boys on the other, headed by their respective and respected Teachers. A large assemblage of ladies and gentlemen occupied the platform. The Rev. T. C. Cowan distributed the prizes; mentioning, in a very pleasing manner, the different shades of individual character. As many of the parents of the children were present, this plan of exposing misconduct, and rewarding real merit, must strengthen the Superintendent's authority, and have a beneficial influence both on the Teachers and children.

One of the Teachers had a handsome Reference Bible and a Prayer Book presented to him, in the morning, by the boys of his class. This the Rev. J. Ould alluded to in his address to the Teachers, as affording him very high gratification, and a proof that the Teachers are highly esteemed.

After an appropriate hymn was sung by the children, Mr. Cowan twice attempted to address the Teachers, respecting a present they had forwarded to him the evening before; but his feelings rendering his voice inarticulate, he was obliged to sit down. Mr. Ould returned thanks for him, and concluded the afternoon's service by a touching and affectionate allusion to the harmony that existed among the Teachers, and the affection evinced to their clerical Superintendent.

The present consisted of "Bagster's Hexapla," 4to, and "Horne's Introduction to the Critical Study of the Scriptures," 5 vols., 8vo, all splendidly bound in Turkey-morocco.