His table in His kingdom with all His brethren once again, and think upon all his glory. Yes, and be assured of this, that all the way from this our feast to-night to the marriage supper above; all the way from the cross of suffering to the throne of glory; from your weakest, saddest, loneliest hours to the perfection of joy and holiness hereafter, He, the good Shepherd, whose sheep you are, who has given Himself for you, still goeth and still shall go before you. Therefore, my

Christian friends, you may indeed return this evening to your homes, and not fear to return to the world to-morrow with gladness and hope, for this will be a happy New Year to you, for He who goeth before you shall Himself lead you, though it may be oftentimes through briars and thorns of the wilderness, and day by day shall give you to drink of the living fountains of waters which proceed out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Plans and Entelligence.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

No. 5.

'Tis now somewhat more than sixteen years ago, when, having had some little experience in a tolerably well ordered school, my removal to a distance became, under God's Providence, the means of my introduction to one far less favoured, and labouring under disadvantages, such as I trust no school near London now has to contend with. It was situate in the Northern suburbs, in the midst of a very mixed population, the upper stratum, and the well-to-do, only at intervals skirting the rather extensive district, while the lower class consisted of labourers and artisans, characteristically indifferent to better things. In addition to these there were a motley number belonging to a still lower grade, whose highest ambition was brick-making, and others who had no appreciable means of livelihood. There stood the school to which I was now introduced. My first impression of it was very unfavourable, but at this distance of time, I can look back with something more than pleasure (for I have abundant cause for gratitude), that my lot was there cast for so many years, and truly indeed have I there reaped the reflex benefits of teaching others.

Those who knew the school at that time would be hard to convince that it was the same, could they now look upon a well-built neighbourhood, inhabited by those who take an interest in the welfare of their fellows, flourishing schools, displaying additions and improvements, which then could scarcely have been hoped for,-another faithful minister, now surrounded by an earnest band of teachers and children, displaying an amount of happiness and comfort which

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then were all unknown. Ragged clothing and unkempt hair, occa sionally side by side with some tawdry finery, dogged obstinacy and determined indifference, were then the leading characteristics of many of the children, reflecting I fear too faithfully their miserable homes.

But to return to my first introduction. An energetic faithful clergyman had recently been appointed to the district, and to this day I remember with delight the friendly greeting which awaited me the moment I entered the door. That greeting secured me as a permanent teacher; I felt that I should at least meet with sympathy. Had I been coldly received (merely tolerated I might perhaps say), as is far too often the case, the difficulties which met me, would, I fear, have proved too strong, and I should now have been differently occupied than in recounting the subsequent pleasing history of that school.

I was at once seated in a class whose regular teacher was absent, an occurrence by no means uncommon at that time with some of the staff, for the worthy incumbent who superintended his own school could not enforce much discipline, owing to the large amount of up-hill work which every where presented itself, and which gave him no time for effectually carrying out his views. Let it not, however, be supposed that no real good was being effected. Far from it, the mass was moving, the upper crust was breaking; but each teacher still taught that which was right in his own eyes, stayed away when he thought proper, while some of them I fear were too much impressed with the idea that they were bestowing a great favour upon the poor children, who, had they been properly taught, might earlier have given evidence of fruit-bearing.

Although in point of time I am writing of a date comparatively recent, the teaching was far behind the age. Explanation, or an attempt to interest the children, was the exception not the rule, and a teacher has been known to do the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel, with a fair share of catechism in the space of one hour; while I have a lively recollection of one teacher who threatened to resign if he were not allowed to teach (?) the catechism in addition to the regular lessons which a systematic superintendent had introduced.

The want of cordiality, love, and real interest displayed by the teachers, naturally exercised its influence upon the children; and I should hardly be wrong were I to say that many of them more than reciprocated this indifference, i.e., if I may judge by the evidence they afforded. Pelting their teachers was an amusement constantly indulged in, while gibes and grimaces were a matter of course. 'Tis true, as I before said, that many of them came from the mere

dregs of the population, yet am I wrong in assuming that different treatment would probably have produced different effects? At the same time I cannot forget that from mistaken jealousy of interference, or some other cause, our poorer neighbours were not then prepared to view with a favourable eye, those friendly advances which have since so marvellously elevated them. But in spite of all these adverse circumstances, progress was visible, and when, not long after, a change of Incumbency, shortly preceded by the acquisition of an experienced superintendent, was "un fait accompli," the soil was ready for fresh experiment, and a higher cultivation.

And now all at once fresh light comes o'er the spirit of my dream. Our new superintendent was one to whom our Church Sundayschools owe an indelible debt of gratitude. He it was, who, at a period of doubt and difficulty, stepped into the gap, and led the forlorn hope which has since brought forth such wonderful results, and to whom, I think I may say, the Sunday School Institute itself owes no small debt of gratitude. But to pass from these pleasing personalities, fresh plans rapidly develop themselves, henceforth something like system is to be substituted for the pre-existing chaos. Teachers' meetings are instituted, rules for the regulation of the schools are adopted, a judiciously selected Series of Lessons is carried out, the personal responsibility of the teacher is enforced, the duty of acquiring, for his own guidance, the home-history of each of his scholars is encouraged, and we at once breathe a clearer atmosphere, and belong to a far better regulated family. I must however notice one point, in which the superintendent was not quite so successful. Considering the then transition state of the school, it required a firmer discipline than he ever maintained; I know his wish was to rule altogether by love, and I would not mention it here but for the heavy legacy which it proved to his less experienced successor. Still, where so much was unexceptionable, it would be ungracious to say more on that score, it may therefore suffice to repeat that to him under God the present state of efficiency, which the school enjoys, may be distinctly traced. But time moves on apace, and when some years later the writer of this paper had the honour to hold the superintendence (subsequently relinquished through his removal from the neighbourhood), he made it his earnest prayer and endeavour that he might emulate, at however great a distance, the example of his still respected predecessor.

The schools at this time possess a larger band of faithful teachers than they ever yet had, led on as they are, by an able superintendent, himself a former teacher in the school; the number of children is steadily increasing, so much so, that several have been reluctantly refused admission. Truly may both incumbent and teachers exclaim,

"The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." The infants, apparently increasing beyond the naturally rapid ratio, are superintended by an indefatigable servant of God, whose ample means are made subservient to the best interests of those about him. A senior class of boys and another of girls, too old for the ordinary routine and discipline of the school, meet every Sunday, under the guidance of experienced teachers, and there is good reason to believe that a rich blessing is being vouchsafed to this branch of the work.

I should mention that an admirable Library, containing some hundreds of well-selected volumes, is at the service of the children, the steadily increasing number of readers affording the best evidence of its appreciation. Sound judgment has been exercised in the selection of books, with variety to suit all tastes, and the once painful, though by no means rare illustration, of a full Library without readers, no longer exists: and yet even here this was the case at the time to which I first referred, when kindly-intentioned, but mistaken, friends, expected that children, indifferent to books at the best of times, would care to read their cast-off volumes, which having become too old or too dry for their own shelves were presented for the benefit of the poor.

An annual and well-organised treat to the children in the summer, a bountiful tea-drinking followed by suitable addresses to the parents in the winter, and an occasional distribution of rewards or encouragements are made subsidiary to the faithful teaching of the devoted band of teachers before mentioned, who together with their superintendent are the visible instruments which a merciful God is making use of for the regeneration of this quandom wilderness.

This sketch would be incomplete did I not mention that on my occasional visits to the scene of my former labours, I still hear of an old difficulty which attaches to the school, a problem which so few have yet been able to solve, viz., How to make teachers' meetings interesting as well as useful. That difficulty once overcome, there are few schools with which I am acquainted, that give fairer promise of an abundant harvest, to the mutual edification of teachers and scholars, and the material advantage of the whole neighbourhood, than that which I have described.

CHILDREN'S HOMES! Dear friends and fellow-teachers, I have a word to speak to you about them. Banded as we are in a living labour, even that of seeking to lead little ones to Jesus (as in olden