the neighbouring parishes, has become friendly to the object, and is helping on the teachers, as I hear, by his kind counsels and sympathy.

The present statistics of the school are unknown to me. Perhaps some one of its friends will give a sequel to this imperfect sketch.

To hear of the present well-being and success of the work of their early days may serve to cheer and encourage some who are readers of your valuable periodical, and may have been like myself, warm friends and old teachers of the LIME STREET SUNDAY SCHOOL.

SUNDAY SCHOOL GOVERNMENT.

THE first idea of the Sunday-school was as simple as it well could be: it was to gather around a Christian teacher on the Sabbath day a few ignorant children, that they might be instructed in religious truth; and many such groups of children circling round their teachers from week to week throughout the country, would involve so little necessity for any organization that it may seem unnecessary to discuss Sunday-school government.

Happily, however, the system has become so widely spread, and has taken such deep root among us, that both in our beloved Church of England, and in all the dissenting communities, it is now felt to be necessary for every parish and congregation to have its Sundayschool, and in proportion to the extent and earnestness of these, will be the number of the scholars thus brought under religious instruction. When large multitudes are thus combined together, system becomes necessary to avoid confusion, and the waste of strength so often found to result from unguided labour; and when many persons are co-operating together to fulfil a defined object,-each a voluntary agent, and each exercising a certain measure of authority -it is needful, both for their own sakes, and for the cause they desire to promote, that the whole body should be brought under the supervision of a superior authority which all would recognise, and if need be, to which all would submit.

In offering these remarks on the subject, I set it down, therefore, as the first principle in Sunday School Government, that the Clergyman of the parish in which the school is situated, or the minister of the Church or Chapel to which it is attached, is, or should be, the head of the school. He is so, because the Sunday-school is merely accomplishing a part of the work which he has engaged to fulfil the children therein taught are those who constitute the lambs of his

own flock, whom it is his sacred duty to see brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and whose instruction he is bound himself to undertake, if it were not that (his other duties engaging all his time and thoughts), he is thus able to call to his aid the help of lay-members of his flock to assist him in this part of his labours. It is, therefore, necessary, (as he is responsible for the religious instruction of the children of his parish), that he should be in such a position of authority in the school where they are taught, as to be able at all times to satisfy himself that they are correctly and efficiently instructed by those to whom the duty is delegated, and that the mode and the matter of the teaching should alike be under his direction. In all things, therefore, which concern the government of the Sunday-school, the Clergyman of the Church is the head to whom all the members may properly look for help and guidance, and to whom it is their Christian duty to submit, or else to relinquish the charge they receive from him.

It may be that the clergy may find their time engrossed with other duties, and that but little is left which they may be able to devote to the care and government of their Sunday-schools; or they may assign the supervision of them to their curates, or to others in whom they place confidence. It is scarcely to be expected that the clergy can personally superintend their Sunday-schools, although wherever it is practicable, it is, doubtless, most desirable. There are, however, many details of duty falling to the share of a superindent, which it would be scarcely right to expect from the minister of religion, and it will always be well to have some layman carrying out the general rules and regulations of the school. The superintendent will, however, receive his authority from the clergyman whose representative he is; but the selection of a qualified person to fill this office, if made from among the teachers in the school, should be made with their full consent and concurrence, to avoid any ill-feeling or difficulty which might arise if the superintendent appointed without such approval from them, should afterwards, unhappily, find himself without their moral support in carrying on the government of the school. The plan of leaving the election of a superintendent to the teachers, subject to the confirmation of the clergyman, has been found useful and satisfactory in its results, as teachers cannot afterwards refuse obedience to an officer whose appointment has been made by their own consent, and with whose qualifications for the office they must be well acquainted. With respect to the appointment of teachers, they should either be selected by the clergyman, and elected by the teachers of the school, or if introduced by the latter, should have their appointment confirmed by the clergyman. As respects the children, the clergyman will, doubt

less, feel it both his pleasure and his duty to lead them to look up to him as their pastor, and to minister among them, as opportunity arises, by words of counsel, or by examining them personally to ascertain their progress in attaining a knowledge of the faith and duty of a Christian.

The practice of appointing School Committees, consisting of laymembers of the Church, but who are not connected practically with the Sunday school, seems to be calculated to do more harm than good to the cause they are designed to promote. The idea upon which they have been introduced in some schools appears to have been that it would be an advantage to the school to enlist the sym. pathies of the wealthy or influential members of the congregation in its welfare, by bringing it under their immediate control and direction: but, on the other hand, by so doing, the clergyman virtually surrenders his own authority and position, and places a part of his ministerial work under the direction of members of his flock; who, in their turn, knowing nothing practically of the working of the Sunday school system are very likely to devise perfectly impracticable theories for its government, and to irritate and disturb those who are labouring patiently and perseveringly in the good cause, and who may justly be disposed to resent injudicious interference with their work by those who know nothing of its operation. A modification of the plan has been attempted in the shape of a mixed committee, consisting partly of teachers, and partly of laymen, unconnected with the school; but here, too, the same difficulty arises, and while for convenience or interest, it may be politic to secure the patronage of liberal donors to the school funds, it cannot be doubted that, as far as the management of the affairs of the school is concerned, it would be far better that it should rest exclusively with those whose hearts are in the work, who best know its peculiar necessities, and who certainly are most competent to direct it aright. I would suggest, therefore, that the school committee should consist, as I believe it usually does, of the superintendent and teachers, the president of such committee being the clergyman of the Church; these together must assuredly be the best able to order whatever is necessary for its well being; and these, by virtue of their office, have alone the right to give directions as to its government.

To the Committee, thus constituted, will belong the right of dispensing the school funds, agreeing to the rules which shall be enforced in the management of the school, and prescribing the course of instruction which shall be followed in it. The clergyman will have no difficulty in obtaining the ready consent of such a body to any plans which may be for the welfare of the school for Sunday

:

school teachers are always glad to strengthen the hands of their pastor in every good word and work, and esteem him highly in love for his work's sake; while he will feel that in having the opinion and advice of active Christian labourers, whose hearts are filled with the desire to promote the welfare of the children committed to their care, he has the judgment of those who practically understand the wants of the Sunday school, and will do their best to supply them. W. S.

TEACHERS' PRAYER UNION.

WE have been so much encouraged by the way in which our invitation to our subscribers to unite in special prayer for God's blessing during the past year was received, that we have great pleasure in issuing, at the commencement of a New Year, a fresh appeal to our subscribers and friends, that they will unite together with us in making the Tuesday morning in each week a time for earnest, hearty prayer for the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit upon all who are fellow-workers with us in promoting the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, and especially for all in any way connected with Sunday schools.

We have appointed a particular subject for each day, in full reliance upon our blessed Saviour's promise, "That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven," Matt. xviii. 19, and would ask the co-operation of our many friends in circulating copies of the following list (which may be obtained free on application, by letter to the Editors, at the Offices of the Institute, 41, Ludgate Hill, E.C.) amongst their Christian friends, and inviting their co-operation in a plan which cannot fail to bring a rich blessing upon our Sunday schools.

SUBJECTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER.

January 7.-Our Queen and her Royal Family, that the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, may sustain and support them under their present heavy affliction. January 14.—For the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as a Teacher and Intercessor, on all engaged in Sunday school work.

January 21.--The Sunday School Institute, that its officers may be endued with

wisdom from on high, and that its publications may abound in Gospel truth. January 28.—The ministers of the Gospel, that they may be faithful ambassadors for Christ, and may be made instrumental in saving very many souls. February 4-All Superintendents, that they may rule by love, with all discretion, in the fear of the Lord, and be examples to all.

February 11.-All Sunday school Teachers, that they may be faithful followers of Christ themselves, and, withal, apt to teach.

February 18.—All Sunday Scholars, that they may receive with meekness the engrafted word to the salvation of their souls.

February 25.-The Parents and Families of our Sunday Scholars, that they may all be made members of Christ, children of God, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven.

March 4.-Those who have passed from our Sunday schools into the world, that

they may continue Christ's faithful soldiers and servants unto their lives' end. March 11.-The due observance of the Sabbath, that all men may turn from seeking their own pleasure and worldly gain therein, and may consecrate it to God's service.

March 18.-The Church of Christ, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may hold the faith in the unity of the Spirit.

March 25.-The spread of the Gospel, and especially, for all Missionaries, Scripture readers, Tract Distributors, and other lay-agents.

April 1.-The Church of England, that throughout it the Gospel of Christ may be faithfully preached, and the Sacraments duly administered.

THE BIBLE IN ITALY.

THE following report of an address delivered at the Ashford Branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society, by G. H. LAKE, Esq., of Kennington (who contributed a very interesting account of the Vaudois to this magazine a short time since) will be read with interest by all who are looking for the evangelization of Italy under the altered circumstances of that kingdom.

The speaker stated that all Christians

were hoping and praying for the evangelization of Italy. He would consider therefore what answer had been given to these prayers, and what answer they might reasonably expect. Surely they would have no hesitation in saying that the means to be expected were-the Book and the Preacher. And in that order, too; the Book first, and in due course the Evangelist to follow up the good work which the Book had begun. Persons unacquainted with the ignorance and superstition in which the Italian mind had been bound for centuries by the church of Rome, might suppose that there was nothing needed except a supply of evangelists

to go forth and preach the word. But, even if a supply of evangelists had been ready to go forth, they could not have effected much on the minds of persons totally ignorant of Bible truth and Bible history. God had something better in store for Italy than converting her in her ignorance. He is converting her first from her ignorance by sending the Bible; and that, he trusted, would be followed up by the work of the evan gelist. Friends asked him if it was true that Italy at large was breaking off from her illegiance to the Papacy and from superstition at the same time, or if only a few persons here and there were gathering themselves into congregations to worship God in spirit and in truth. To these enquiries he replied that the latter was the only fact which met the eye. There are such little bright specks dotted over the land, although they are still but few compared to the population. There are 22,000,000 of people in Italy. Turning to the number of evangelists there, he did not suppose there was one for each of these millions. They must