Practical morality both in cities and country is at a low ebb. Keen observers think that since the death of the Prince Consort the moral tone of society has deteriorated. The breach between the social wants of the people and the methods of organised religion seems to be growing wider than it was. The tendency is more and more to encroach upon Sunday rest in many departments of labour. The host of those who attend no church or chapel is immense and growing. The forces at work in society which are antagonistic to pure, evangelical christianity, are very strong; and there are large classes ripe for almost any mischief. The social out-look of the moment is serious. On the other hand the forces of religion are perhaps stronger than we suppose; and there are certain principles which are the same under all conditions of life. The belief in God, in the Lord Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world, the belief in God's law of right, the belief that His law of right is as absolute in this world as it is in another, the belief in the conscience and that conscience is the voice of God in the soul, the teachings and truths of the Holy Scriptures-these beliefs and teachings are at the bottom of social order, and at the bottom of all true religious life. What can Sunday School teachers do? They can cultivate sympathy with the Lord Jesus Christ and His work with individuals and classes. They can be personally sympathetic, instructive, and influential over youthful life; they can give quick lessons, and remember that their work is to train the lives of living people; and that they have to make good citizens for earth and citizens of that city that is eternal. They can work vigorously an inner mission of purity, holiness, and correct theological teaching in society. They can secure early adhesion to the membership of Christ's church. They can work with the distinct definite aim at the renewal in righteousness of the hearts of the boys and girls of this generation. They can make known a positive and sympathetic religion to tens of thousands of those who, in a few years hence, will be the bone and sinew of the country's life, and so give to them the blessing needed by myriads to-day. They can do all this, and more, if they will fulfil the necessary conditions;--if they will learn as well as teach; pray as well as toil; and go to all their endeavour gifted with the Holy Spirit of God, for Whose help they have the promise both of the Father and the Son. 3 CHRONICLE OF THE UNION. COMMITTEE FOR 1880-81. Appointed at a Meeting of the Wesleyan Education Committee, REVS E. E. Jenkins, M. A. (President of the Conference), B. Gregory (Ex-President and Connexional Editor), C. H. Kelly (Secretary of the Union), T. Woolmer (Connexional Book Steward), P. N. Andrews, G. O. Bate, J. Bond, W. J. Brown, T. T. Dilks, J. Finch, R. Green, F. Greeves, J. Harvard, H. P. Hughes, M.A., I. Jones, A. McAulay, G, W. Olver, B.A., Dr. Rigg, T. B. Stephenson, B.A., Dr. Williams. Messrs. H. Avis, J. Beauchamp, T. P. Bunting, J. H. Champness, W. A. Duncan, R. Foskett, J. W. Gabriel, F. Howard, W. B. Lofthouse, Alderman McArthur, M.P. (The Lord Mayor), T. W. Pocock, J. E. Vanner, W. Vanner (Treasurer), R. Walker, W. L. Williams. And for the Country, Revs. J. Bush, Bradford; C. Garrett, Liverpool; T. Llewellyn, Manchester; M. G. Pearse, Bristol; G. S. Rowe, Bradford; W. O. Simpson, Ilkley; J. C. Woodcock, Manchester. Messrs. H. R. Bowers, Chester; R. B. Brierley, Manchester; Skelton Cole, Sheffield; E. B. Dingley, Sherborne; T. Dewhirst, Bradford; J. V. Early, Witney; C. Ingham, Leeds; W. Bickford-Smith, Cornwall ; E. W. Wynne, Liverpool. DISTRICT SUNDAY SCHOOL SUB-COMMITTEES. The following appointments by the last September District Meetings have beer. received : DISTRICT. First London.... Second London SUNDAY SCHOOL SUB-COMMITTEE, Revs. E. E. Jenkins, M.A., J. H. Grubb, Geo. Scott (B); .Revs. Dr. Rigg, S. Lees, G. Kenyon; Messrs. J. E. Norwich & Lynn .... Revs. G. Follows, H. Scanes, Jabez Palmer; Messrs. G. Portsmouth. Devonport Cornwall Bristol... Bath Macclesfield Manchester Bolton S. Leman, R. Page. Revs. R. Hardy, J. Webster; Messrs. J. White, Williams, Farewell. .Revs. W. H. Cave, Jno. Rhodes, J. J. Smith; Messrs. W. Revs. Hugh Jones, R. J. Thomas, J. R. Hargreaves; Revs. W. Andrews, A. Llewellyn, Jas. Hartle; Messrs. .Revs. J. S. Jones, W. Lees, James C. Fowler; Messrs. J. .Revs. Dr. Pope, S. J. P. Dunman, T. G. Hartley; Messrs. ...Revs. W. D. L. Slack, J. W. Brown; Messrs. E. Bradbury, Halifax & Bradford..Revs. J. Bush, I. Parker, J. Gunnell; Messrs. B. Broadbent, Sheffield Lincoln Carlisle B.A., J. Marshall, Jas. Farrer. Revs. H. Hastling, W. H. Dallinger, F.R.S., J. Morrison; Revs. B. B. Waddy, W. Millican, W. N. Milnes; Messrs. Revs. Henry Young, James Duff, J. Greenwood; Messrs. MEETING OF THE UNION COMMITTEE, Held on Thursday, September 30th, 1880, the Rev. G. W. OLVER, B.A., in the Chair. Present-Revs. C. H. Kelly (Secretary), G. O. Bate, J. Bond, W. J. Brown, T. T. Dilks, J. Finch, H. P. Hughes, M. A., Dr. Williams, T. Woolmer; Messrs. W. Vanner (Treasurer), T. P. Bunting, W. A. Duncan, R. Foskett, W. B. Lofthouse, T. W. Pocock, J. E. Vanner. Also Mr. W. Binns (Assistant Secretary). I. Minutes and Memoranda of former Meetings of the Committee and of recent settlements of business matters were reported. 2. Minutes and Recommendations of the Trade and Finance Sub-Committee were considered and adopted. These included the acceptance of estimates for printing and publishing the following works, viz. :-Wesleyan Methodist Sunday School Magazine, Our Boys and Girls, Senior Scholar's Tablet, Junior Scholar's Tablet, List of Scripture Lessons, Sunday School Class Register, A Series of Sunday School Registers, and The Methodist Sunday-School Tune-Book. 3. The Secretary reported the visit of himself and the Assistant Secretary to Liverpool, and a meeting with the Depôt Committee there. 4. The following members were appointed the Trade and Finance Sub-Committee -Revs. C. H. Kelly (Secretary), G. O. Bate, H. P. Hughes, M.A., G. W. Olver, B.A., Dr. Rigg; Messrs. W. Vanner (Treasurer), T. P. Bunting, W. A. Duncan, R. Foskett, J. E. Vanner. NEW SUNDAY SCHOOLS AT TOTTENHAM. New buildings, providing accommodation for teaching six hundred Sunday scholars, have recently been opened at Tottenham, in the Stoke Newington Circuit, at a total cost, including fencing, lighting and warming, of £2,500. The buildings are in the early Gothic style, faced entirely with Kentish ragstone, with Bath stone dressings. The roofs are slated on felt and boards, and all the interior wood-work is stained and varnished. Through the courtesy of the architect, Mr. Charles Bell, we are able to give a reduced ground-plan, which, with the following explanation, will enable our readers to understand the complete arrangements for Sunday School work provided on the new premises. It will be observed that the American radiating principle, which was described and illustrated in the pages of this Magazine some time since, has been worked with good effect by Mr. Bell:— The schools are situated behind the chapel, but open on all sides. The large central room is 50 feet by 36 feet, and 17 feet to the wall-plate, the roof being carried up a further height of 20 feet, and open timbered. The platform is at the south end, and opposite to it are four small class-rooms, two 9 feet by 14 feet, and two 14 feet 6 inches by 14 feet, opening into the schoolroom by folding doors. All have windows and fireplaces, and the outer rooms have separate entrances. On either side of the main front are two rooms 21 feet by 18 feet, for Bible classes, opening into the school-room by folding doors, and with separate entrances, this being a feature specially planned, in order to allow the classes to enter without going into the general school, an arrangement which has been found conducive to the retention of the elder scholars. A good room for the library, 12 feet by 7 feet, is also provided, opening into the school-room, and serving also to isolate the Infant school-room, which is 30 feet by 18 feet, with a gallery and separate entrance, forming a good room for the separate service for infants. There is also a Secretary's room. A hot-air apparatus, by Grundy, warms the large room, but all the other rooms have open fireplaces. The heating chamber and coal-store are below the kitchen and lavatory. All the windows of the large school-room are twelve feet from the ground line. They consist of three at each end, and two at the sides, over the roofs of select class-rooms. Every room is ventilated by vertical tubes, with window openings in addition; and on the roof of the main building there is a powerful air-extractor for the escape of the vitiated air. WE were a very small party on that memorable Sabbath afternoon, and it was with a sigh that the teacher took her seat at the table, and opened the hymn-book. Presently she looked at her watch and sighed again, for that persisted in proceeding rapidly towards the hour of three p.m., and the meeting should have begun at half-past two o'clock. It was a rare thing not to be punctual, but then it was a rare thing to have so few present at the proper time. Not that I think paucity of numbers is any excuse for wasting the time set apart for the service of God; there is nothing makes young people more careless about the minutes than the thought-"The meeting won't begin exactly to time." But as I happen to have been in the confidence of the teacher of whom I am writing, I will tell you what her real trouble was. She had carefully and prayerfully prepared her lesson for the day, and that morning, while looking it over, there had stolen into her heart the thought of how good it was-how effective it might be. Surely there would by that lesson be trophies won for the Redeemer! And so, listening to the enemy's suggestions, she was expecting great things, but not right things. Instead of looking that God's word should not return to Him void, the thoughts of her heart were taken up with "my lesson." "I hope the room will be full," she said, as we entered it; "it is so much easier to speak when it is." But the room was not full, and in the teacher's mind came thoughts of changing her lesson. However, the first hymn was one she had selected, and with tremulous voice she gave out After the hymn, followed a brief prayer, and then rose again the voice of singing By this time the teacher had resolved not to give her prepared lesson, and with no very defined idea of what she might do or say, she chose for reading the 18th chapter of St. Luke's Gospel. Verse by verse it was read through, and of course contained far more than could be even cursorily glanced at in the twenty minutes which was all that was left for the lesson. Now casting herself on the promised help of the Spirit of God, and forgetting self in her sense of utter need, she took the few verses describing the visit of the rich young ruler to Jesus. "One thing thou lackest was the point she strove to drive home, and strange indeed was the power of the word. Tears were in all eyes, and conviction in all hearts, but then none spoke. Only one thing wanting," concluded the teacher, "but that was the most important! the absolutely necessary! and I, too, can but say when I look at some of you-amiable, pleasant, affectionate, and lovable-but the one thing is wanting. God in His mercy supply the need!" Then came the words "And can I yet delay My little all to give, To tear my soul from earth away I can hold out no more; I sink, by dying love compelled, Before the verses were finished, the voices of many were hushed; the pianoforte was giving out the notes of the old-fashioned tune of "Sarah," and the pianist was the only singer of the last two lines. Then again on their knees, broken petitions ascended to the throne of grace, and while his servants were speaking, God heard and answered, and out of the ten present, two at any rate gained the " one thing needful," and there was great joy in that little room. |