ON SELF-SUPPORTING SCHOOLS. A LETTER TO HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, PRESIDENT OF THE INCORPORATED NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE EDU.)CATION OF THE POOR, IN THE PRINCIPLES OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH. BY THE REV. SPENCER RODNEY DRUMMOND, M.A. PERPETUAL CURATE OF ST. JOHN S, BRIGHI ON: CHAPLAIN TO LORD VISCOUNT MELVILLE. BRIGHTON ~ R1 FOLTHORP, 170, NORTH STREET. AND SOLD BY F. AND J. RIVINGTON, LONDON. 1850. A LETTER. MY LORD ARCHBISHOP, THEi exalted station, to which it has pleased Almighty God, in His goodness, to call your grace, demands the humble and hearty thanks " of the Catholic Church, under Christ, throughout Great Britain and Ireland, "* and from the lips of no portion of that "Constitutional and Ancestral Body," * would the song of fervent praise and gratitude more heartily flow, than from those by whom the cause of national education is most wisely and deservedly appreciated. Upon these grounds, my Lord Archbishop, and still further, by the kind sanction of your Grace, I have the honour to address a few pages for your consideration, upon the subject of Self-supporting Schools, to which my attention has been directed for many years, but which I have only of late been permitted, in the providence of God, to exhibit in practical detail. I am far from supposing that I have been * Coleridge.-Church and State. privileged to discover new or unknown means for effecting important ends specifically referential to the establishment of schools; but, when I view the results which the scheme of gratuitous education has hitherto produced among the poorer classes, after whose good it professes to aim, I am compelled to express my humble, yet decided opinion, that the product of domestic happiness, of scriptural subordination, and of christian, and therefore religious, practice among children in after life, has not kept pace with the boasted value, and assumed importance with which gratuitous education has been invested. I am quite aware, my Lord Archbishop, that one of the first questions here may be put, viz: " What do you mean by a self-supporting school?" My answer is, that it is a term I use, I hope sufficiently comprehensive, to embrace everything which I could conceive as antagonistic to gratuitous; or whatever, in the most remote manner, approaches to it. I use it, therefore, as a term to express the adoption of a system of national education upon a principle diametrically opposed, as a system, to that which has hitherto been preferred. Permit me, in limine, to observe, that in respect of the terms, education and instruction, I have long since considered that the words convey the idea, that EDUCATION is the drawing out of the mind for the good of the soul,-for it is for eternity that man passes through time,-and that according to the capabilities of the different intellects with which parents and teachers have to do, INSTRUCTION should be carried out to the fullest extent to the glory of God, who bestowed the power, and upon the responsibility of him, to whom the exercise of the power was entrusted. If, now, I was to presume to express to your Grace the origin of the train of thought into which I have been led upon this subject, I think I might derive it from the reflection of the awful responsibility which all seem to me to incur, who ever contemplate the question of education apart from religious influence. Is religion, my Lord Archbishop, a thing?a thing to be brought into the school room, between three and four on certain week days, and to be excluded from the minds of each responsible being within its walls, until the same hour, upon another week day, introduces it? Of all the infidel attempts, in these last days of the latter times, this daring violence offered to the whole tenour of Holy Writ, (in the presumptuous thought, of separating the training of the child for happiness in time and in eternity, from the elementary connection of that child with Him 6 in whom alone that happiness is centred,) seems to me the most awful, the most destructive to man, and the most rebellious to God, which the atheistic imagination could conceive. Is it for me, my Lord Archbishop, to presume to remind your Grace, or to put my christian brethren in remembrance, that religion is an atmosphere:-within it, we live, —without it, we die! —that religion is a system of obligations revealed in Holy Scripture! or, in other words, it is the binding of God to man,-of man to God, and of man to fellow man, and that that bond is LOVE? not a mere mawkish sentimentality, or words without meaning, but of that character and practice as was exhibited in HiMm, "who left us an example that we should follow his steps?" And thus,-can a child be rightly educated, if he is ever out of that atmosphere? or if ever, in any one single thing he thinks, feels, wishes, or performs, the thought, feeling, desire, or act is not taught him to be, in some measure, referential to this obligation-connected with this bond? If this be the essence of all systems of education, how much more will it be developed by one of self-support! My Lord Archbishop, it is upon this hinge that the whole of my anxiety turns for the establishment of Self-supporting Schools. It is to the 7 better directing of the minds of parents and of children, that I would wish to see them more largely diffused over the length and breadth of our land. It is because I believe, that, in proportion to their establishment, parents would be better led to see their interest in the education of their children, the children would be better taught to understand their obligation to their parents, the home would be more valued, the check upon the tone and character of the daughters, and the wholesome management of the sons, would each be more closely observed, to thile promotion of their personal respectability, and to the preservation of the decencies of life in their respective neighbourhoods. Let me, then, distinctly convey the principle I desire to sustain; which, if carried out in all its integrity of detail, would be conducive, I humbly think, to the national good. It is this: that parents are, by Holy Scripture, enjoined to the fulfilment of a duty, which, as it entails self-denial, is better calculated for their own, and for their children's benefit, than an eleemosynary help, alike injurious to the giver and the receiver. One word by the way.-I am quite aware that there are opponents to the system-even the very principle-and it has led them to ridicule the idea, and to contemplate every expense, for every pur 8 pose, in every department of the school, even to the repair of its buildings, as legitimately included in the term, "4 Self-supporting School." Be it so. It becomes me, my Lord Archbishop, to request every one quietly to pray over, and to examine this subject, before they arrive at conclusions for which they have no sound premises. But to proceed. In regard then to the education being " gratuitous," and, that the gratuitous system should be "national," I cannot but think, and I venture to assert, that it is dangerous in theory; deceptive in practice; and calculated to place the rich and poor alike in a false position. I. The theory is dangerous because it seems to me that, when God commands, it is not for the subordinate power of rulers to step in, and induce the creatures of God to disobey. The command, "Train up a child in the way he should go," coupled with "Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," is surely as imperative as any other command; and entails whatever infliction of chastisement, justice and judgment may demand from the disobedient. II. It is deceptive in practice: for if a parent is enabled to avail himself of eleemosynary aid, through which the fulfilment of his own duty is avoided, the benefit of which he would become a 9 partaker, while exercising self-denial in obeying that to which he was commanded, would be, in that proportion, lost to him; as, "in keeping the commandment there is great reward;" and he would thus be misled, while apparently assisted. III. It is calculated to place both the giver and receiver in a false position: for, the giver imagines he is doing a good work. The receiver imagines he is benefiting by the same. NOT SO: for the giver, however innocently, loosens one tie in the child, the want of which may be injuriously manifested in after life; while, the receiver (i.e. the child), on the one hand, is encouraged in the manifestation of an unfilial spirit, the debt of gratitude toward the parent for the exercise of selfdenial being, on its part, unfelt; and the parent, on the other hand, is unable to urge upon that ground, a grateful return from the child, now grown up, for blessings conferred through parental self-denial. The more I know of the poor (and my ministration has been chiefly among them for thirty-seven years) the more am I convinced, that the plea which the supporters of eleemosynary schools sustain for their poorer brethren is altogether erroneous, and founded upon unsafe premises. It is therefore to the rich, and not to the poor, that I would, with perfect respect, address myself. The duty of every parent, rich or poor, to 10 provide for the training of their children, upon the principle of obedience to Divine command is too little enforced by the members of the church. The intended boon from the former is too often claimed by the latter as a right, and seldom considered in the light of church-membership assistance. The wages are improvidently wasted, or profligately squandered to the increase of domestic misery; and the fatal evil is entailed upon the family, so that they look upon gratuitous schools, not as a provision made to help them, but rather as a means through which they feel absolved from obedience to the performance of the obvious duty they owe to their child. IV. I have ever looked upon the founders of such noble institutions as Christ's Hospital, and every class of endowed grammar school, as some among the best and most valuable of the benefactors of their country. There is a very wide field for ragged schools, for workhouse schools. God forbid, that real poverty under special circumstances should ever prevent the innocent parents, or their children, from obtaining the blessings of education and instruction! BUT, I would nevertheless earnestly press upon all who wish to promote the education of the poor generally, upon a christian and healthy basis, to consider how much better the system of Self-supporting Schools is adapted il for national benefit, than that which has hitherto been conducted upon eleemosynary aid. It may yet again be asked, " How would you ensure the co-operation of the parents?" This, my Lord Archbishop, is a wide field. The practical endeavours which I have made to meet this question will be found in the appendix. I am quite prepared to admit the difficulty-and that much patience and forbearance has to be exercised; no small exertions have to be made, to establish principles, which have perhaps never before been fully developed, even if they may have been partially propounded. To this end I may be allowed to suggest, (and it is even more essentially necessary in Self-supporting Schools) that, the whole fabric from its foundation, through its working, and to its final completion, should be in LOVE. In short, the poor should be fully alive to the great fact, that, every thing that is done for them, and for their children, in a Self-supporting School, is not for the pitiful sum they may be called upon to pay, or the teachers will receive, but, that love to the neighbour, flowing from love to God, is the ruling and governing motion in the whole system, in whatever concerns either the teachers or the taught. It is to this, that the active promoters of these views will have to call the parental attention, both in public and private; to expound very ac 12 curately, accordino as the people are able to bear it, the different portions of that most invaluable summary of christianity, the Church of England Catechism; to exhibit in the tone and manner in which we speak, that we are truly anxious that the education of their children should be such as shall make them more devoted to God, more loyal and obedient to their sovereign (duly considering whose authority he hath); more submissive, as a christian, in will; more decent in behaviour; more modest in deportment; more domestically happy;-that as we love God, and pray to love our neighbour as ourselves, we are earnestly desirous that they should understand their duty and their privileges, to provide for their own children's education, and so reap the blessings which such a course is calculated to entail, rather than demean themselves by accepting eleemosynary aid, and becoming debtors for a benefit which their own exertions and self-denial might procure. In subordination to these vivd voce exhortations, a well-timed Address might be written, adapted expressly to the locality, and issued as a tract, for more permanent and closer exposition of the clergyman's views upon these matters of a Self-supporting School. * The co-operation of the parents being sought to be obtained upon these principles, * See Appendix, page 18. 13 they may yet be further encouraged to remember that,, as Mr. Dawes, of King's Sombourne, observes, " Let the labourer feel, that by his own industry, a good education for his children is within his power, and he will not only take a greater interest in it, but much greater respectability attaches to himself, by his being made the instrument through which it is to be had." Once more, it may be necessary still further to place before them, that as far as the church is able, the Self-supporting School erected among them, shows how desirous SHE is of giving her children legitimate and healthy aid, and that now, by this system, which is not a mere speculation, but fully adapted to their present and permanent good, they have, for themselves, the opportunity of acknowledging and proving, that they admit the duty of denying themselves for the benefit of their children; and that they are thankful to God for what is presented to them, viz: the means of obtaining, by their own industry, the blessing of a christian education. I have thus, my Lord Archbishop, endeavoured very briefly, to direct attention to this important subject. There is now in operation a school established, for these last three years, upon the principles I have here enunciated; and the entry of the names of above eleven hundred children, of 14 the working classes, upon the nomination records of St. John's Self-supporting Schools, in this town, is fair evidence of the value which is set upon such a boon presented to them, if proper judgment is exercised at the outset, and the solidity of the christian principles primarily laid down. In the appendix to this letter, I have been anxious to assist, as far as is practicable, my clerical brethren, by giving them some details of the course I have hitherto pursued in carrying out the principles I have here set forth; at the same time, I have no wish to conceal from the public, and the clerical mind, the labour that the establishment of the principle which is involved is sure to entail, and yet the blessed effects which we have no reason to doubt will follow. Yes, my Lord Archbishop, there is beneath the surface of this apparently open question, a deep and fundamental truth, which is not immediately perceived; great are the difficulties, continuous are the drawbacks, deeply fixed must be the sense of ministerial duty; cheerful must be the participation of labour, divided as it will be with others; strong must be the faith; fervent must be the prayer; lively must be the hope; self-denying must be the love; but, I can most affectionately assure my brethren in the ministry, that the daily interest which it will elicit, cannot fail to 15 sustain the faithful servant, who, conscious of his own weakness and imperfection, yet strong in the love he owes to God and to his country, aims to discharge the privileged duty to which his vows at ordination have bound him. I beg now, in conclusion, to renew my thanks, for the permission afforded to me by your Grace, of thus publicly addressing this letter to your notice. It seems to me essential to mention, that education should be properly defined; and, while distinct, we would not separate it from instruction. Man ought to see God in every thing by which he is surrounded; and that every national, relative, moral, or intellectual duty has a close connection with the present and eternal happiness of the creature in his sphere, and with his responsibility; his work being performed unto God, in self-denying obedience, as a member of Christ, a child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven. And lastly, that any proposition of gratuitous or forced schools, by rate, falsely called "the education of the people," is but another godless attempt to aid in the growth of a system, which, if it could, would subvert the very foundation of the great principles of the Christian religion; weakening, as I have endeavoured to show, the mutual responsibilities of parents and children; 16 and would establish upon the ruin a triumphal monument to the praise of a Satanocracy, loudly proclaiming, that man can live and be happy without God in the world. I have the honour to remain, MY LoRD ARCHBISHOP, Your Grace's very obedient and faithful Servant, SPENCER R. DRUMMOND. 1, St. George's Place, Brighton, March, 1850. rppentix+ IT is essential to the satisfactory working out of a Self-Supporting School, that the principles, as already exhibited, should be seen to pervade every department of the details, with especial reference also to the pecuniary receipts and expenditure. The experience now derived, has more than ever confirmed me in the belief that the principles I have sought to exhibit, in the establishment of St. John's Self-supporting Schools, for the education of the poor, were well founded: and, that upon a fair and candid view of the debtor and creditor account, at the end of this period of time, the assistance of the rich may reasonably, I apprehend, be afforded to meet undefined expences, while the Christian Education will be most willingly paid for, on the part of the poor, in behalf of the zealous and affectionate labour that the teachers bestow. These observations are borne out by the fact of the last year's receipts, from the payment for the children by the parents, having realized ~236; while the salaries to the teachers have not exceeded ~220. In humble thankfulness to Almighty God for the success already attained, and sincerely desirous of affording every assistance to my brethren in the ministry, I will now endeavour to make clear the course I have followed, by pointing out the means I have employed while in the pursuit of my object, After having obtained the site, through the kindness of a friend,* who at once paid the price of the land and transferred it to me when it was wanted; also, having had the noble offer of an eminent surveyor and builder of this town, t to take the whole responsibility upon himself of the expences of * Edward Tilbury, Esq. t Mr. Russell. 3 18 the building, requiring only to be paid by such instalments from time to time as the contributions of my friends supplied, and afterwards giving me his plans and attendance gratuitously; T proceeded to circulate the Letter marked I. Subsequently I wrote for the benefit of the parents, the Tract 3.; and in a short time afterwards a second Letter, (, From A. to O., are specimens of the course pursued, a scale of payments, and an exact detail, from first to last, of the plan hitherto adopted. 3i. is a copy of a document not generally known; and the last paper, marked!?. is a suggestion, which I would respectfully offer to the consideration of those who would desire the adoption by the National Society of some such a scheme, as I have hitherto worked out, the result of principles exhibited in the foregoing letter. A LETTER TO THE RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT ASSIGNED TO THE PERPETUAL CURATE OF ST. JOHN'S, BRIGHTON. 11, St. George's Place, 1st March, 1847. My Fellow Christians, It has pleased God, of His goodness, to permit a building to be erected very near to you, second only in importance to a Church, viz:A SCHOOL. The district was assigned to me, four years ago, by the Vicar of this parish, and it contains between five and six thousand souls. I have endeavoured to obtain the establishment of a School within it; and such measures have been adopted, as, I trust, under the blessing of Almighty God, will ensure that the attempt shall be crowned with success. I now therefore invite you to send your children to it. The education of the children will be upon the principles of the Established Church, as set forth in her Articles, Liturgy, and Homilies, viz:-Love to God, with all the heart, mind, soul and strength; —love to man, loving your neighbour as yourself, The instruction of the children will embrace reading, writing, arithmetic, needlework, the elements of geography, history, and mathematics, with such information upon general subjects, as may be calculated to be useful in the state of life in which it has pleased God to place them. But now allow me, with all sincerity and affectionate interest for the present and eternal welfare of yourselves and children, to put these thoughts before you, upon the subject of a School. 19 WHAT IS A SCHOOL? I; It is not merely a place, where the children are taught to read, write, and do sums, But a place, where parents ought to feel satisfied that THERE the principles of love to God and man is the foundation upon which theoeducation of their children is undertaken; and THERE, such instruction is given as shall be best adapted for their benefit in after life. II. It is not a place, where parents may only wish to send their children, so that they may be out of their way, while they themselves go to work, But it is a place, where the persons who teach, feel responsible to God, and to the parents, that the best endeavours shall be used, faithfully to discharge the duties which are undertaken. III. It is not a place to which, a child being sent, the'parent is no longer responsible whether the child turns out well or ill, But, it is a place to which, upon the payment of a small sum, to the self-denial of the parent, that parent shall feel satisfied that the best interests of its child are promoted. My Fellow Christians, "' ST. JOHN'S SCHOOL" is established for the admission of bovs, girls, and infants, at a charge of three pence a week for each child, and I am quite sure that there are many parents, who, while they refuse themselves real comforts, yet do not consider this trifling sum to be at all too much to pay for the blessing of that character of education and instruction which is presented. But, there may be others in this district, to whom the following earnest warning and advice may not be inapplicable. IF A FATHER will deny himself a half-penny or a penny a day from the beer shop, he can easily pay for one or two children; and is a wiser, and may be perhaps a better, man. IF A MOTHER will deny herself the injurious gratification of throwing money away, upon some article of vanity in her own, or her children's dress; Or, upon giving the child a half-penny to obey some command, when proper education would teach the child to do its duty without being bribed; Or, upon the trash and folly which people sell about the streets; Or, upon the child itself, to spend in buying trifles, too often upon the Sabbath Day; She will find no difficulty in saving money to send one or two children to St. John's School. I need hardly remind you, that the proper feeling of interest in a grandfather, or a grandmother, an uncle, or an aunt, or in an unmarried brother or sister, might here be shown forth, by fulfilling the duty of a relation, to assist in the child's schooling, if there is a temporary parental difficulty. Remember,-My Fellow Christians and Parents, "CHILDREN, AND THE FRUIT OF THE WOMB, ARE AN HERITAGE AND GIFT THAT COMETH OF TIHE LORD." PS. Cxxvii. Upon you lies the solemn responsibility of obeying the holy command,"TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO, AND WHEN HE IS OLD, HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT." Prov. xxii. 6. 20 As far as the Church is able, this School, erected among you, shews vou how desirous she is of giving you help; and now you yourselves have the opportunity of acknowledging and proving, that you admit the principle and the duty of denying yourselves for the benefit of your children, and, that you are thankful to God for what is presented to you, viz —the means of obtaining, almost at your very doors, the inestimable blessing of a Christian education. In conclusion, Let every parent remember, that without prayer for the blessing of Almighty God, we have no right to expect that the best designed endeavours shall be successfully crowned: let us pray then in the language of our beautiful collect,-' PREVENT US, O LORD, IN ALL OUR DOINGS, WITH THY MOST GRACIOUS FAVOUR, AND FURTHER US WITH THY CONTINUAL HELP; THAT IN ALL OUR WORKS, BEGUN, CONTINUED, AND ENDED IN THEE, WE MAY GLORIFY THY HOLY NAME; AND FINALLY, BY THY MERCY, OBTAIN EVERLASTING LIFE, THROUGH JEsus CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN. I remain, your sincere friend, SPENCER RODNEY DRUMMOND, Perpetual Curate at St. John's, Brighton. [3] CONVERSATION ABOUT A SELF-SUPPORTING SCHOOL. " WELL Tom —you must do as you think best: but, I, for my part, am determined to keep my two boys there, come what may." These were the last words overheard in a conversation between two of the working classes who lived in a town in the south coast of England, upon the subject of a Self-suporting School, recently established. But it must not be supposed that Charles Harris had always been in the same mind; nor, was he ignorant of the feelings which his friend, Thomas Wilson, had just expressed to him, as they were walking home from their work, which lay at some distance from the street in which they lived. Charles Harris had many temptations, similar to those by which his fellow-workman Tom was overcome-but you shall hear a little more of the histories of these two men. Thomas Wilson and Charles Harris had what is commonly called " a good education," but was it really so? It is true that they had been sent to school-they had often, each of them been well flogged-and, sure enough they could make out a chapter in the Bible; they knew pretty fairly how to reckon with their master for the work they did; but, T am not quite sure that whether their writing was altogether as good as it might have been. Well, they both married early in life, and had several children; but, it was now that the difference began to be felt between the two companions. Harris had been taught, as we have seen already, the same as Wilson; but Harris had a mother that feared God, and she sought to train up her child in the hope and love of the Gospel; she was a widow; her poor husband loved his church. He was never more cheerful than on the 21 blessed Sabbath-day, when he would take turn about with her in going to Morning and Evening Service, and with one, two or three of his dear children accompanying him. He was a regular attendant upon the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, brought his children to the font, where they were privileged to partake of the Sacrament of baptism; but, poor fellow! it pleased God, that one day, by a fall from a scaffold, he was suddenly killed, and his wife left to struggle as a widow, with a small but happy family. The family were happy, because the father and mother loved God, and prayed for grace and strength to do His will, when they both perceived, and knew what things they ought to do. The children were rightly educated-they were taught from infancy, that their duty towards God, was to believe in Him, to fear Him, and to love Him, with all their heart, with all their mind, with all their soul, and with all their strength; to worship Him, to give Him thanks, to put their whole trust in Him, to call upon Him to honour His holy Name and His Word, and to serve Him truly all the days of their life. And that their duty towards their neighbour was, to love him as themselves, and to do to all men as they would they should do unto them: to love, honour, and succour their father and mother: to honour and obey the king, and all that are put in authority under him: to submit themselves to all their governors, teachers, spiritual pastors, and masters: to order themselves lowly and reverently to all their betters: to hurt no body by word or deed: to be true and just in all their dealing. to bear no malice nor hatred in their heart: to keep their hands from picking and stealing, and tongues from evil-speaking, lying, and slandering: to keep their bodies in temperance, soberness and chastity: not to covet nor desire other men's goods; but to learn and labour truly to get their own living, and to do their duty in that state of life unto which it shall please God to call them. Thus these children (and Charles was the eldest) were trained up " in: the way they should go" —they were educated, as well as instructed, Not so, poor Tom Wilson; his father and mother sure enough sent him to school —but why? because they found somebody who would pay for his schooling. When he came back from school of an evening, it was more than probable he found some of the brothers and sisters running about the streets-his father out; and when he did come home, off to the beer-shop-his mother dirty, and the house untidy. If he was bid to do anything, it was a word and a blow; and the blow came often before the word. If he was led into temptation, or committed a fault, beating was the only cure they tried: and it was generally the case, that those who punished him were rather more to blame than the poor boy himself. Thus then were the early days past of these two persons, now at the time we write, grown up to manhood. They were both married. Charles Harris had sadly forgotten the blessed example of his parents —idle talk, loose company, led him cff to hold strange fancies about his church, and his duty to God and to his neighbour. He was amiable in character; but, when twitted and ridiculed, he could not stand it. Well, the young woman he maried was a cook in a respectable family-decent and creditable. It was true that she had not profited as she ought to have done, by the many opportunities which were presented to her; and for long after her marriage, though God blessed her with a family, she too often was foolish and vain-dressing herself and her children much above the rank of life in which it had pleased God to place her; and 22 many a sober neighbour used to wonder where so many fine things came from; but they did not know that the young ladies of the last family where she lived were foolish enough, instead of helping the family, by encouraging them to lav by something against a rainy day in the Clothing Fund, which was carried on by the Clergyman of the district where they livedthese young ladies, I say, were so mistaken in their judgment as to give her often some of their cast off clothes; so that the mother, as well as the children, especially the girls, were ofttimes tawdry and ill-dressed, though looking vastly smart, while the under garments were anything but what they should be. But so it was: and the truth must be told, however wrong poor Martha was-but now came the power of early education: Charles Harris had got on in the world-he was a prudent manhe was an attendant on the Evening Services-but was too idle to be early for the Morning; and was never a Communicant at the Lord's Table. Martha was occasionally, and she often said, in after life, how much her conscience used to smite her, when upon bringing her different babies to the Holy Font, she thought how she had been dedicated to God, " made a member of Christ, a child of God, and an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven," and had been pledged to be "a faithful Soldier and Servant of Christ unto her life's end," and yet how little did she follow then those things that belonged unto her peace. One of the Sabbath days, upon which Charles Harris was a worshipper in the House of God, he heard the Parson discourse upon that passage of the Proverbs xxii. 6, which runs thus: " Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it." Harris listened very attentively; he and Martha had often talked about their children's schooling-and he had frequent misgivings as to how far he did his duty to his children in that matter. He began to consider that his dear father and mother never would allow themselves to receive any help for their children's schooling; he remembered how they used to say "' Let the labourer feel that by his own industry a good education for his children within his power, and he will not only take the greater interest in it, but much greater respectability attaches to himself by his being made the instrument through which it is to be had." He now saw the principle upon which he ought to act-he was to deny himself for the good of his children; he saw that the instruction of a child at school was not the whole of education; he argued with himself, " If I come to want in old age, and say to my Jem,' Now Jem, as you have had good principles taught you, it is your privilege to help your poor old parents,' that Jem might answer,' What good did you do me? You never denied yourself to teach me; Mrs. Thompson put me to school.'" And the thought came strongly across him, that at his door lay the duty of educating his own child, and thus to the utmost of his power fulfil the holy command, " To train him up. Martha, with all her weakness as a vain mother, was not insensible to the argument of a friend, nor unmindful of her duty as a wife. She soon understood the motives and opinions of her husband; she often prayed for true wisdom, that she might faithfully perform the duties which lay upon her. The children were now very carefully attended to, Charles and Martha clearly saw that if the children were to benefit by what they were taught at school, the example at home must agree with it. Family worship was never neglected-respectable and tidy dress was closely watched over; the 23 self-denial in HIM was from the beer shop, (not that Charles was a drunkard, by no means; but the beer score often took as much ls.6d. or 2s. a week) and this, together with much waste of bread and food by Martha's bad management, were both left off, and every expense, in short was carefully looked into and lessened, so that at the end of the first year of their paying three-pence a week for each of their two boys, they found themselves richer than they had ever been before; and why? because in self-denial they had lived; in the fear and love of God they had spent their weeks; and in the blessed occupation of training their children, and educating them, the children were more healthy and happy, and the whole family more religiously and more carefully conducted. It was just at this time of Charles's life, that the words with which our conversation began, were spoken by Charles to his fellow workman Tom. Thomas Wilson had also married —but there was no happiness there! he had married a wife, before he could take care of and cherish her; his children increased upon him; his home was untidy and miserable; for poor Sally had received no education, His happiness was selfish-but still Tom had some good points about him; he was much what some people call " nobody's enemy but his own;" he was a good workman-he was no drunkard, but was easily led away by any idle or less worthy person; and he could never bring himself to think otherwise, than, if he sent his children to school, and had nothing to pay for them, that he was best consulting his own interest, and might keep his money for his own pleasures. Many were the conversations Charles and Tom had upon these matters; angry words were never used by them; and it was just as they were parting one evening, after work, that these words above referred to, occurred. Tom had argued "that the school he liked best, was where the children were made great scholars." But, Charles replied, that the school he thought most fit for his children was one, where the parents were satisfied that there the principles of love to God and man is the foundation upon which the education of their children is undertaken; and there such instruction is given as shall be best adapted to their benefit in after life. Tom contended, that all he cared for was, to get the children out of the way, while he and Sally went out to work; but Charles argued, that if we would, as parents, remember the command of God, we should think of the teacher as well as the children, and be satisfied that those who teach feel responsible to God, and to the parents, that the best endeavours shall be used faithfully to discharge the duties which are undertaken. Tom thought that the best thing for a child was to have its learning well flogged into it; and he told Charles, that a father the other day took away his boy from the new Self-supporting School, because the master would not treat his boys in that way. But Charles, as a true Christian father, answered Tom, by reminding him, first, that a school is not a place to which a child being sent, the parent is no longer responsible whether he turns out well or ill, but that a parent should feel satisfied that its child's interests, for time and for eternity, are promoted by the education it receives — and then argued, that if a child was to require it, it was the parent's duty to chastise it; but that true management was by LOVE; that whenever a schoolmaster or mistress were of the flogging sort, it was the surest proof of bad management, and of an incompetent teacher. It was this last word, Love, that struck Tom's ear. 24 Tom began to ask himself, when he got home, "Do I so love my child as to deny myself for his good? " "Do I so love my wife, as to experience the greatest pleasure, when I see her happy?" "Do I so love God, as to desire to love, and obey him?" "'Do I so love my neighbour, that I would not do to him, what I should not like him to do to me?" Here was the beginning of poor Tom's happiness for the future, both for time and for eternity. He gradually saw whence it was that true happiness sprang. Ife went to Charles rather late in the evening. Here was the first step of his "selfdenial," for he had engaged to join Will Stevens at their favourite haunt, the Shades, in -- Street; on his way, he met another companion, who, when he told him where he was going, began to jeer him and tease him. Here he was called upon "to take up his cross." But he persevered, and went to Charles in the evening. He talked the matter fairly over, and that again and again; but the power of the word, which his kind friend uttered brought home to his heart by the good Spirit of the living God, wrought effectually upon him-his judgment was enlightened, his conscience was stirred up: and the effect was, just as that beautiful text describes it, where our Lord Jesus Christ says, "If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross, andfollow me." He remembered his Christian duties; and he now began to feel his responsibility in having neglected his Christian privileges. This was on Saturday night. Sally, astonished to hear him return so early for him, and that, quite himself, called out, "What is the matter?" but making no reply, he came up the stairs, and his first act was, kneeling by his broken bedstead, he poured out his heart in fervent prayer for himself, his wife, and his children. Sally was not so surprised as might be expected. She had known that, from time to time, Tom had gone to church with Charles Harris; but she saw no change in his ways. The Scripture reader had often told her that if she would seek by prayer, and careful watchfulness over herself, to be more the wife she ought to be, her meek conversation might win the husband; and she had prayed and done the best she could —and the end is soon told. The house of God was attended the following day-better habits were introduced —those of the children who had never been baptized were brought to the Font-disquietude and irreligious ways were exchanged for happiness, and walking in the fear of God. The weekly sixpence (for they sent a boy and a girl to the school) was the most willing payment that they weekly made; and the holy result was, the blessed conviction, that, as far as in them lay, their children were trained for God and for his kingdom, for ever, My Christianfriend and reader,-Think upon these matters; and may God give you a right judgment in all things. Amen. 25 A SECOND LETTER TO THE RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT ASSIGNED TO THE PERPETUAL CURATE OF ST. JOHN'S, BRIGHTON. "Son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel, therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. "' When I say unto the wicked, 0! wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hand. " Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." EZEK. xxxiii. 7 —9. 11, St. George's Place, August 1st, 1849. My fellow Christians, It is now nearly three years ago since I addressed you a letter upon the subject of the education of your children. Ever since I first had the spiritual oversight of this district, which the Vicar assigned to me in his parish, though I am quite aware of how many have been my own personal failings of duty, I do not think that YOUR consciences can be at rest when you ask your own hearts, " Have I fulfilled my duties? Have I responded to all the calls which God has in mercy made to me for my own benefit, and that of my family? Have I followed all the advice, and done everything I could to show how thankful I am to Almighty God, for all the opportunities I have enjoyed for receiving good myself, and conferring good upon others?" I am more earnest therefore, in this my second letter to you, to ask you, "Why do you not send your child, or children, to St. John's School? I am quite certain the first answer will be, " I cannot afford it," Permit me, my dear friend, upon the ground of the solemn charge that was laid upon me, when I was ordained a priest in the service of God, with all affection for you, and with sincere interest for your spiritual and temporal welfare, to place before you some remarks, by which you may perceive how far this answer is correct or otherwise. I. Remark. —Do you, and your family guided by you, observe the holy Sabbath, —attending public worship, and honouring the day as specially set apart for two important purposes. 1. To remind us, that as God rescued the children of Israel, as a nation, from the slavery of their Egyptian oppressors, so did God the Son redeem the world from the dominion of Satan-from the misery of being the servants and slaves of the devil. (Deut. v, 14, 15.) 2. To remind us to be prepared for the great day when Jesus Christ shall reign on earth, and then shall be present rest and future happiness, (Heb. iv. 9.) I have almost always observed that according to Sabbath breaking or Sabbath keeping, so is a man and his family comparatively wretched or comfortable. If you are a Sabbath breaker, and therefore wretched, I do not doubt but that you are not able to pay for your child's schooling; and thus, by this sin, you are miserable yourself, your children continue uneducated, and the solemn responsibility of your own and your children's welfare is quite lost sight of. 26 II. Remark. -When you say, " You cannot afford it," will you honestly, and in the sight of God, who knows the heart, reply to two questions:1. What do you earn? 2. How much do you bring weekly to your wife and family, for their support? This will lead you to see how much is spent in that most unfair way, when workmen are compelled to pay for beer they do not care to drink,-for beer they areforced to drink,-for expenses on club nights,-for Sunday and for Monday revellings, —for races, cheap railway excursions, dancings and such like. Do not think, my fellow men, that I am one whit more objecting to the poor man's excess and extravagance in beer, than I am to the rich man's excess and extravagance in wine. "Whether we eat, or whether we drink, or whatever we do, let us do all to the glory of God," is a Divine precept, as binding upon the rich as upon the poor: but if the rich man is most justly charged with profligacy, in the abuse of his greater wealth, when that is squandered on his own appetites to the injury of his children whose education is thus, in that measure, neglected; just so is it, in its proportion, with his poorer brethren. III. Remark. —If there are those who still reply and say, "I cannot afford it," suffer me to ask you, " Have you ever begun at the right end so as to be able candidly to prove the assertion you make?" Now this question will involve the character of the reply requested at my first remark; and, yetfurtherYou are placed, by the providence of God, in a situation in this town, to which your attention is specially called. The Sabbath day's bell tells you the house of God is open to you: but ordinances, however excellent, cannot profit unless they are used diligently and faithfully; and as was the case of the children of Israel, so will it be with professing christians, the more freely they had received from God's undeserved bounty, so much the more had they to answer for if they requited it unthankfully. The ministers are prepared to exhort and to advise you; to administer to you the blessed sacraments of baptism for your children, and of the supper of the Lord for the confirmed members of the church; to proclaim to you the glad tidings of free, full, and perfect salvation, the glorious news of the kingdom of God, so that you may find here and hereafter YouR HAPPINESS, IN GOD; to visit you in sickness; to comfort you in trials; to pray with you under temptations; to relieve you, and your wives and children, in your deeper temporal distresses; to sympathize with you as fellow christians, fellow heirs of the same inheritance, fellow pilgrims to the same happy home. You have schools for your boys, girls, and infants, where the principles of love to God and man is the foundation upon which the education of your children is undertaken, and there, such instruction is given as is best adapted for their benefit in after life; and upon the payment of the small sum of three-pence, to the self-denial of the parent, that parent may be satisfied that the best interests of its child are promoted. St. John's Church also presents to you, through the kind exertions of many of its members, and the liberal aid of others, opportunities for you to think of your neglected fellow churchmen in distant lands, and of the heathen by whom they are surrounded, by having established an Association in aid of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and The Church Missionary Society. There is a Clothing Fund, where members of the congregation may deposit small sums, to be received back at Christmas, with a probability of increase, in boots or shoes, coals, sheeting, shirting, flannel, 27 in whatever proportion the depositors prefer. The children of the schools have similar advantages, in a smaller way. Your widows, and wives, and single women of the district, partake of the benefits of Needle-work, under very simple regulations; and there is a Lending library, supplied with many most instructive, as well as more immediately religious works, open to the benefit of the members of the church and congregation of St. John's, as well as to the children of the schools, to take home to read. What more then can your minister do for the spiritual and temporal benefit of yourselves, husbands, wives, children? Truly can I say, my heart longs for you all; but, again I ask, What more can I do? It is the longing of my soul, "' to watch for your good, as one that must give account; that I may do it with joy, and not with grief." Inasmuch as in me lies, I am neither afraid to proclaim or to teach the good news of the kingdom of Christ; and as far as my poor influence can extend among you, to shew you, I would willingly spend and be spent in your service; but the total forgetfulness, by too many, of what God says of His Sabbath, —" Hallow my Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the fLord your God;" also the awful indifference to public worship which pervades most of the inhabitants of every street; the neglect of numbers of the temporal and eternal interest of their children; the preference for profligacy, drunkenness, and spiritual and temporal neglect which is manifested over a desire for decency, sobriety, and respectable attention to the thingswhich are of vital consequence, spiritual and eternal;-by these things, alas! the labours of our ministry are rendered utterly useless; and we have but to return home, praying God to have mercy upon and to convert you; but, as for ourselves, and our exertions, we have but little hope. I know that many complain, for an excuse, of habits of careless indifference to their children's good, and of the breach of many of the holy laws of God and of man, that " Home is so comfortless; that the attractions of a beer shop room has more charms than the dreariness of home." Be it so. But why is it so? Who makes it so? Alas! alas! my friends, this is an attempt at a remedy, beginning at the wrong end. Do not blame one another. If the husband makes this excuse, what trial has he made, by kind and affectionate methods, to alleviate the evil? If the wife drives away the husband, let her consider the solemn consequence of such an untidy and ruinous course. Why do the very games of too many children in the public streets, from infancy upwards, boys and girls, partake of such filthy and indecent acts and words, as I dare not pollute these pages by attempting to describe? Because of Sabbath breaking. Yes; I dare fearlessly assert, that if the house of God was regularly frequented, if there the teaching of God the Holy Spirit was sought for to be the guide into all truth, when the clergyman both reads, expounds, or preaches from the holy word of God, the duties of husbands towards their wives, and of wives towards their husbands would be better understood and practised, and the mutual duty would be better known, and more habitually exhibited, —" Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." "Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Thus, then, I think I am in a position now to ask you whether it is not in consequence of the manner in which your earnings are squandered, your opportunities wasted, your advantages neglected, and your means ill em 28 ployed; that when you say, " I cannot afford to pay three-pence a week for my child's schooling," that it may be fairly considered by you, —" I have not begun at the right end; I have never set about the right way whereby I may be enabled so to do." And now, in conclusion, let me beg of you calmly to reflect upon what you have here read. Perhaps you are not just now in a mood to pray, or in a place where you can quietly fulfil that duty, and enjoy that privilege. Be it so; but this one thing do. If you, though a sinner in the sight of God, yet know how, in the sight of men, to give good gifts unto your children, only believe that God will give you His Holy Spirit if you ask Him. Believe that God loves you; "that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." When you read the Holy Bible, and see this truth, you will then be in a condition to receive the more full revelation of the love of God,-that He gave His well-beloved Son, that whosoever shall confide in Him, as the only Redeemer of the world and Saviour of His Church, shall assuredly possess the blessings to which that confidence introduces. Think not, my friends, I am ignorant of the sorrows of poverty, of the temptations and trials to which you, in common with all others, are more or less exposed: but I entreat of you to remember that the " eye of the Lord is over the righteous, and His ear is open to their prayers;" that if you "seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness," all needful blessings shall be added to you; " for there is no good thing that God will withold from them" that are loyal in their obedience to their God and Heavenly King. " Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon;" for " Jesus is able and willing to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by him;" and " Him that cometh, he will in no wise cast out." "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions; and so iniquity shall not be your ruin." I remain, your sincere friend, SPENCER RODNEY DRUMMOND, Perpetual Curate of St. John's, Brighton. [0] Scale of Payments and Produce for a Self-supporting School. Children from One Penny to Four Pence per week, per Annum. CHILREN. 100 200 300 400. d. d d.. d8. a,. d. Id. a Week 21 13 4 43 6 8 65 0 0 86 13 4 2d. aWeek 43 6 8 86 13 4 130 0 0 173 6 8 3d. a Week 65 0 0 130 0 0 195 0 0 260 0 0 4d. aWeek 86 13 4 173 6 8 260 0 0 346 13 4 Allowance must of course be here made for the Holidays-be they two, four, six weeks, or otherwise. 29 "NOMINATION RECORD." The following Questions are put, replied to, and entered, on a folio sheet of paper, printed. A specimen is here offered-and the Remarks ought to include every circumstance connected with the Parents or the Child, as far as the Scholastic or Domestic Interests are concerned, together with such Observations upon the Moral or Intellectual Character as theWeekly Report, the verbal communication of the Teachers, or the Ministerial eye, shall from time to time consider advisable to record: — NOTE.-These Four Preliminary Questions to be ASKED before WRITING anything. Name. Age. Residence. Date of Entry. A. PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS. 1. —Where? and by whom was he christened or baptized? 2. —You agree that he is to attend St. John's Church Teaching on Sundays? 3. —What relation are you to the child? 4.-Where was the place, and when the date of his birth? B. STATE OF HEALTH. 5.-Where? and by whom was he vaccinated? 6.-Did he take it? 7.- Is he subject to fits, or any disorder, or defect? C. MORAL 4ND INTELLECTUAL. 8.-Has he been in any School before? 9.-Why did he leave it? 10. —Can he spell, read, or write? D. TEMPORAL CONDITION OF RELATIVES. 11. —What are the Christian and Sirnames of the Parents? 12.-What is their condition in life? 13. —Are there any Brothers or Sisters? 14.-Do they go to School? and where? 15.-If the Parents are dead, or absent, who takes care of the Child? 30 E. SPIRITUAL CON1DITION OF RELATIVES. 16.-Where do the Parents (or Guardians) attend public worship? 17.-Are they Communicants? 18.-Weekly, Monthly, or Quarterly Payments? [REVERSE SIDE.] REMARKS. A. B. C. D. E. [fI "' CARD OF ADMISSION." Upon the Parent having replied, and upon the insertion of each Answer, to the Questions in the "NOMINATION RECORD," this Card is given, which admits the Child to the Boys', Girls', or Infant School, respectively; No. School. Child's Name Age on Birthday in Year of Admission Parent's Christian Names Occupation [or Calling in Life] Residence Date of Admission Admitted by 31 [6j RULES. These Rules are also given to the Parents:The following Rules have been carefully drawn up, and they will be most conscientiously enforced; [There is a Special Address to the Parents once a Quarter, which they are earnestly requested habitually to attend. Due Notice of the Day and Hour is given to the Children, and in the Church.] I.-HOURS OF SCHOOL, ON WEEK DAYS, MORNING, Nine to Twelve; AFTERNOON, Michaelmas to Lady-day, Two to Four; Lady-day, to Michaelmas, Two to Five. The doors will be open Quarter before Nine, and Quarter before Two. II.-CHURCH TEACHING, ON SUNDAYS, MORNING, Half-past Nine to Eleven; AFTERNOON, Half-past Two to Four (except on the fourth Sunday in the Month, when there will be no Teaching in the Afternoon). III.-The Parents are responsible for their Children coming to the School with faces and hands washed; their Clothes well mended; their Hair clean and neat. IV.-The Parents must take care that the TEACHER receives at the rate of Three-pence a week, on every Monday Morning, for each Child; as, if this is neglected, the Child will be sent back till the Money is paid. V. —Every Saturday is a whole Holiday. VI. —As regularity of attendance is most important for the Interest of the Parent, and the benefit of the Child, and, still further, as it is an essential quality in a School, the Absence of any Child is provided for as follows, viz.: — 1.-The absence of any Child, without leave, will always be noticed, and " A TICKET OF SUSPENSION" from the benefits of the School, will be sent to the Parents, whenever this breach of discipline takes place. 2.-Every Parent is provided with Two Tickets of leave for each Child (which the Parents wll keep for themselves), ONE asking Leave for half-a-day, and THE OTHER, for the whole day; and when Leave is necessary, one of them is to be brought to the TEACHER, according to half or whole day requested. 3.-If Leave of Absence is desiredfor a longer time, it must be applied for by the Parent, either in person or writing. 4.-In all cases, where Leave of Absence is sought, the reason must be given to the TEACHER. The Parents and Friends of the Children are most affectionately exhorted to remember, that feeble hope exists of any permanent good resulting to these immortal souls, if a Christian Education and Example do not correspond at HOME, with the Principles and Practice which are sought to be instilled AT SCHOOL. Gen. xviii. 19. Deut. vi. 6, 7. Psalm lxxviii. 5, 6. SPENCER R. DRUMMOND, Perpetual Curate of St. John's, Brighton. 32 [VI LEAVE OF ABSENCE. These two Cards are given at the same time, for the use of which the Rules give notice:["LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR HALF-A-DAY."] (Child's Name.) [" LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR A DAY."] (Child's Name.) "' ADMISSION REGISTER." This book is the same as that in use in the National Society. It is the public book of the school's admissions. The NOMINATION RECORD, and its " INDEX," are private to the Clergyman. [lea "WEEKLY REPORT." The object of this Report is, to convev to the Clergyman an exact account of every Child in each of the three Schools. The Boys,' Girls', and Infants' Schools have each a similar book. The Number, Name, Residence, Moral and Intellectual Character, stand here recorded by the respective Heads of each of the three Schools, and presented once a week — every Tuesday. It is upon this " Weekly Report" that the Personal Visits to the Parents are carried out; the Interest of the Child superintended; and the desirableness or otherwise of parental correction or approbation recommended. The Moral Character, and School Conduct, are designated by Alphabetical letters. The Intellectual Character by a numerical scale, from 1 to 50. A-Sick N-Guilty of Stealing B-Absent without Leave OC-Absent with Leave P-Vanity in Dress D —Habitually Late Q-Quarrelsome or Unkind E-Habitually Irregular R-Slovenly in Dress or Person F-Absent on Sundays SG-Left T-Idle or Careless H- V-Obstinate or Disobedient J-Improper Words W —Sly or Deceitful K-Improper Acts X-Special Report to the Clergyman L —Guilty of Lying Y-Improved in Character and Conduct M —Guilty of Swearing Z —A Child of General Good Conduct 33 The following Specimen may illustrate the above information:January. No. Name and Residence. 2 9 1J6 23 30.- -- BoYS' SCHOOL. - -- -- -. 45 Burgess, John, 14, Darby Place............A E 30 128 Allen, Henry, 2, Richmond Row............6 12 > 368 Pilbeam, William, 1, King Street............ 1 449 Apted, Joseph, 15, Thomas Street........ Z 15 15 594 Wilson, John, 19, Stevens Row........... R W X 36 Antram, Mary, 5, North Street.............. Z Z a 480 Davis, Sarah, 19, Golden Row.. N 556 Abbott, Elizabeth, 34, Pimlico............. 659 Stokes, Ann, 3, William Street B........ B / 2 Paskyn, William, 6, Kew Street.R............ 19 Reeves, Harriet, 6, Bond Street....... R... R Z 430 Francis, Thomas, 12, West Street........... A 909 Dawson, Mary, 12, Sussex Place z............ Z 986 Miles, Alfred, 7, King Street. The Weekly Report Book is prepared every six months. The lines being ruled for Entry, and the Heading written out fairly. The Names are then entered; but Numerically, not Alphabetically; in each School, and in each Book. It may be observed, that Numerical not Alphabetical arrangement, has been] found the most convenient, both as regards the time occupied, and the convenience of work, in all the departments of labour with which the Church of St. John's has found itself privileged to be charged. CLASSES OF SOCIETY WHO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO ST. JOHN'S SELF-SUPPORTING SCHOOLS. Journeymen in almost all Trades, viz.:Bakers Farm Servants Ostlers Blacksmiths Fishermen Painters Bricklayers Fish-sellers Policemen Butchers Flymen Porters Carpenters Gardeners Sawyers Carriers Greengrocers Small Shopkeepers Chairmen Hair-Dressers Servants Chimney-sweepers Hawkers Stonemasons Coal-dealers Labourers of all descriptions Shoemakers Dressmakers Laundresses Tailors Engineers and Stokers Needlewomen Washerwomen c 34 [91 Statistics of St. John's SeVf-supporting Schools, from its opening in Joune, 1847, to Chri-stmas, 1849. The " Nomination Records" show that the Number of Children approved as eligible for " Admission" amounted, from June to Dec. 1847, to........ 523 From January, to Dec. 1848, to........................ 305 From January, to Dec. 1849, to..................................... 280 Total.......... 1108 But of these, a small proportion did not subsequently apply for actual Admission to the respective Schools, viz:-From June 1847, to Dec. 1848......46 Ditto, from January to Dec. 1849.....................................3 49 1059 Boys. Girls. Infants. Totals. Leaving on Admission Regis- ters in 1848............ 259 263 260 Admitted in 1849...... 87 77 113 346 340 373 1059 Left from 1847, to Dec. 1848. 81 81 51 Ditto during 1849,for reasons specified below*...... 106 98 55 187 179 106 472 Transferred from infant to 159 161 267 587 Boys' and Girls' School, in -' - 1848, ~~~~~~~~ ~..6 12 Ditto, during 1849......... 32 19 38 31 tri Total 69 Remaining on Books, 1848.. 184 194 191 5691 Ditto, December, 1849 1.. 1972 198 587 Non Attendance, 1848.... 66 79 69 214 Ditto, 1849....... 75 72 56 203 Average Attendance, 1848.. 118 115 122 355 Ditto, Ditto, 1849.. 122 120 142 384 * A careful analysis of the alleged reasons assigned by the Parents, of the Boys', Girls', and Infants, who have left, gives the following results. viz.-Expelled, 5; Dead, 9, IlI health, 1; Gone into Workhouse, 1; Removed from Town or to a distance, 70; Gone to other Schools, 22; Apprenticed, 2; Wanted at home, 26 i; Gone into service or to work, 68; Poverty, 8; Various reasons, 47.-Total 259. [i] CERTIFICATE OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. ST. JOHN'S BRIGHTON. THERE are few subjects of more painful regret to a Pastor's heart (as it regards the Children of his Flock, and especially of his School) than the 35 experience of almost entire separation from those, of whose seed-time and growth in the vineyard of the Church he has been the cultivator, but, with whose blossom and fruit, in after life, he has few opportunities of ever becoming acquainted. Now it must be obvious to all, who understand what education means, that without some plan, through which this desideratum could be secured, (as far as practicable) the whole course of my endeavours, in respect of the influence over Parents and Children from two years old, to seventeen or eighteen, was incomplete. The careful scrutiny, at the first, recorded on the "Nomination Record" upon admission; the endeavour after an upright observance of the "Rules" -and the correct " Weekly Report" of Moral and Intellectual Character (as the case might be) of every Boy, Girl, and Infant, throughout the whole School,-all these bore upon the anxiety of the Pastor for the Parents and for the Children's good, while under the control of Master or Mistress; but yet, there was wanting the last link, viz: a delicate, and yet a sufficient " Token of Remembrance," when all scholastic restraint being at an end, the tie of love and interest should be unbroken and unchanged. The accompanying Certificate is printed, on two cards, joined together. It is given to every Boy or Girl, leaving either of the Schools at a certain age, and under certain circumstances, accompanied by Private Exhortation and Prayer; and by such advice as the known character of the Child may require; and with the encouragement to endeavour to meet its fellow pupils, with their Pastor, Teachers, and Companions, at some Annual day in the Summer, with which the young person will be made acquainted. The hope that some such plan, as that which this specimen exhibits, may assist me in the object after which I am aiming, is with Him, "'without whom, nothing is strong: nothing is holy." I commit it to my Brethren's wiser and better judgment. If it is well conceived, May the blessing of God rest upon it! If otherwise, may a wiser course be speedily promulgated, and the end be abundantly and gloriously successful!! [OUTS1DE.J CERTIFICATE OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP, ST. JOHN's BRIGHTON. The design of this Card isI.-To be a certificate to the young person whose name it bears, of the Church Principles in which the training has been carried on. II.-To assure the individual of continued Pastoral interest. whatever may be the state or circumstances of future life. 36 [INSIDE.] No. ST. JOHN'S SELF-SUPPORTING SCHOOLS, BRIGHTON. 2 Tim. iii, 14, 15. No. on "Nomination Record" Name Born Admitted Age Left Age Clergyman's Signature [INSIDE.] CERTIFICATE OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. Admitted to Holy Baptism. At By Admitted to Confirmation, or Laying on of hands. Clergyman's Signature First admitted to the Holy Communion. At On Clergyman's Signature [OUTSIDE.] "Remarks upon the Moral and Intellectaal Character of the young person, whose name is here entered, are placed upon the "Nomination Records" of St. John's Schools; and reference to the Clergyman of St. John's Church is permitted, for any particulars which are therein made. St. John's Schools, Carlton Hill, Brighton. DATE 37 [01 ST. JOHN'S EVENING SCHOOL. As it is well known that many young persons, also some of more mature age, would be glad to have the benefit of improving themselves after their work, AN EVENING SCHOOL is opened, at St. John's Schools, at which, all who are disposed to come, may obtain the Advantages held out to them, subject to the following Rules, viz.1.-The Perpetual Curate of St, John's is alone responsible for all that is taught. Each individual attending is considered to be pledged to respectable conduct. 2.-The School is open to any Member of the Church, or of the Congregation of St. John's; also, to any who reside in St. John's District. Any other person must make special application to the Master. 3. — School for Males, Tuesday and Friday, -School for Females, Monday and Thursday. From Seven to Nine o'Clock. 4.-Four Pence a Week will be demanded from each individual, to be paid in advance. 5. —The interest in the School will be shewn by the anxiety for improvement, and the proper character and behaviour of those who attend it. But, the Perpetual Curate of St. John's holds the right, in his own hands, of admitting, as well as dismissing, any person in the School. SPENCER R. DRUMMOND, Perpetual Curate. EXTRACT FROM "NATIONAL SOCIETY MONTHLY PAPER, No. XXV, Dec. 30, 1848, p. 16." "' Committee of Council on Education." INSPECTION.' It may be useful at this time to reprint the Instructions to the Queen's Inspectors on the subject of religious education in Church Schools. They were issued by his Grace the late Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1840, and remain unaltered. See Minutes of Council, 1839-40.'In the case of Schools connected with the National Church, the Inspectors will enquire, with special care, how far the doctrines and principles of the Church are instilled into the minds of the children. The Inspectors will ascertain whether church accommodation, of sufficient extent, and in a proper situation, is provided for them; whether their attendance is regular, and proper means taken to ensure their suitable behaviour during the service; whether enquiry is made afterwards by their teachers how far they have profited by the public ordinances of religion which they have been attending. The Inspectors will report also upon the daily practice of the School with reference to Divine worship: whether the duties of the day are begun and ended with prayer and psalmody; whether daily instruction is given in the Bible; whether the Catechism and the Liturgy are explained, with the terms most commonly in use throughout the authorized version of the Scriptures. 38'They will enquire likewise whether the children are taught private prayers to repeat at home; and whether the teachers keep up any intercourse with the parents, so that the authority of the latter may be combined with that of the former, in the moral training of the pupils. As an important part of moral discipline, the Inspectors will inform themselves as to the regularity of the children in attending school-in what way registered, and how enforced; as to manners and behaviour, whether orderly and decorous; as to obedience, whether prompt and cheerful, or reluctant, and limited to the time while they are under the master's eye; and as to rewards and punishments, on what principles administered, and with what results. The Inspectors will satisfy themselves whether the progress of the children in religious knowledge is in proportion to the time they have been at school; whether their attainments are showy or substantial; and whether their replies are made intelligently, or mechanically and by rote. The Inspectors will be careful to estimate the advancement of the junior as well as of the senior class, and the progress in each class of the lower as well as of the higher pupils. And in every particular case, the Inspector will draw up a report, and transmit a duplicate of it, through the Committee of Council on Education, to the Archbishop of the province.' " [oj Considering I. That Two great Principles, upon which Education is based, are: — I. Obedience to the command which God gives to every Parent, " Train up a child in the way he should go;" "Ye fathers; bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." And, II. Self-denial, to the end that submission may be paid to this imperative duty. II, That the clear deduction from these principles is:That in the proportion in which we endeavour to carry out Education, specifically among the poor, upon a self-supporting system, we conduce to the proving1. That the Religious knowledge of the Parents is promoted, by shewing them right Principles in the education of, and in the establishment of schools for, their children,-and II. That important consequences will follow, both to the parents and children, whenever obedience is paid to Divine Command. Resolved, I. That the recognition of these principles is of deep importance to the interests of the National Society. 11. That the reduction of these principles to practice has been clearly made out, and has been satisfactory to this meeting. III. That the Committee of the National Society be earnestly requested to endeavour, by well timed and judicious advice, to enforce these principles and this practice, so that the system of eleemosynary education of the poor may be THE EXCEPTION, while that, which would be Self-supporting, should be the RULE, to the intent that, I. A more solemn sense of the responsibility, which attaches to parents towards their children might be diffused. II. A greater benefit might be practically received by the children, and, III. Beneficial results might accrue to the Nation generally, by setting free very large contributions which, (if the Self-supporting system were adopted) might be then appropriated to the building of new schools in the most needy districts, and still supplying the privilege of gratuitous education whenever the capability of Selfsupport is undeniably impracticable.