day School Teachers, to make it a matter of serious deliberation in their counsels, what is the best method of keeping the several records, required in the course of the duties of Sunday Schools. In order to supply some useful hints, and as a farther facility for them, we present the following plan, nearly similar to the specimen above alluded to, as taken from the Sunday School minute book for it is necessary that a daily minute book be kept of the transactions of each Sabbath; and the following we deem a very simple and useful manner of stating such records : : We have given this plan in preference to any we have yet seen, on account of its plainness, and because it exhibits at all times a precise account of the numerical state of the school; for it is always desirable to expose as many particulars as possible concerning the school at one view; and while touching upon this important subject, we feel inclined to extend our remarks, and would urge upon all the conductors of our Sunday Schools, if they, It have not yet attended to a part of their duty, so useful and so "Even from the body's purity, the mind The following anecdote, communicated by a teacher, practically illustrates some of the above remarks: "A new class book and new books, (testaments) were procured for my class: each book was labelled with the scholar's name on the cover; also his number in large characters. I soon observed that the whole class felt an interest in the new box, on the outside of which my own name, and the name and number of each scholar was marked. I appointed my monitor as usual, and was pleased to notice the unusual gratification he evinced on receiving the charge, and I secretly remarked that much of the importance of the office then lay in the care of the new box, and in a few Sundays I was fully convinced of it, when, on entering the school room unnoticed by my pupil, I found him alone with great earnestness, arranging the books, squaring them in the box, dusting the form, and rubbing the covers with his handkerchief, and then setting the box on the desk, he stepped occasionally back to survey its appearance, doubtless with something of that glowing ambition that an artist surveys the new touches of his pencil. I was delighted with the complacency evinced by him, as he sat down in his seat with silence and decorum; and in the afternoon was more firmly convinced of the utility of order and neatness, in the arrangement of my class, when on one of the books being missing, he with diligence and anxiety searched the school room; and every class box, reluctant to put his own away without No. 12. It was gratifying to me to reflect that this moral influence would, at least, keep my boys from base conduct and low company, and win them the more to habits of receiving bible instruction, which with the blessing of God, might be rendered profitable to them for this life," and that which is to come." Thus it is discoverable that method and neatness in the records and arrangements of a class, will be followed by order and attention among the scholars. This anecdote needs no comment of ours, but is the best argument we have given for order and neatness in the arrangement of Sunday School records, papers, and school furniture; and we will only add our admonitory application to the conductors of all schools--" Go and de likewise." A PLAN OF RENDERING INSTRUCTION AMUSING. "With the education as has been already stated, are combined amusements and recreations; and the result of the whole will be to render the children intelligent, active, industrious, well-informed, virtuous, and happy."-tract from the Report of an Education Society, formed in Guilford-stret Est Spafields, England.) NOTE.--Nothing is rvient to the advancement of the mind in knowledge th omote a healthful and vigorous elasticity of its faculties by due proportion of recreation and amusement; to use a hackneyed proverb, the "bow that is always bent looses its spring:" but we would hint to preceptors that a decided advantage will be gained if those amusements can be made otherwise subservient to the ends of wisdom, by instructing by recreation. Some of our schools are in the habit of convening the individual classes at the homes of their teach ers, or alternately at the scholar's homes, for the purpose of reading to them amusing histories, bible stories,, illustrated by plates; and natural history, illustrated in the same manner: and in one of the Sunday School departments of Philadelphia, a farther improvement has been, we understand successfully attempted, by the illustration of scripture stories, with the magic lantern. We highly approve of these plans, and think that simple and philosophical experiments, illustrating the common phenomena of nature may lead the young mind from nature up to nature's God; and when combined with an amusing elucidation of history, either scriptural, general, or natural, would, it must be readily allowed, in the language of the above extract; "render the children intelligent, well-informed, virtuous, and happy." INTELLIGENCE. Proposed union of the S. Schools, in the neighbouring towns and counties, with the Utica Union S. S. Society." 66 We In the last number of "the Sabbath School Visitant," it is communicated that this subject will be proposed at the approaching meeting of this Society in September. We cannot better express our feelings on this proposed plan, and our cordial approbation of it, than in the terms of that publication, which we sincerely do, with the alteration of a single word"this is a proposal we rejoice to see, and we trust it will create a new era in the history of the Sabbath Schools of OUR WESTERN WORLD. Let the energies of the faithful BE COMBINED, and with the blessing of Heaven, what may we not accomplish?" say "Sabbath Schools of the western world," as we hope that this happy precedent will be followed by all other counties in this state, where there are Sunday Schools; and the example, by every other state in the Union; so that we shall have a Sunday School Union in every county; and those county Unions combined in a state Union; and that state Union with the AMERICAN SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. Then indeed we may adopt the expressive motto by which the article is prefaced in the Visitant Union is power"-Yes-we trust in this case, a "power unto salvation," through the teaching of the scriptures, by Sunday Schools, to the peace and happiness of the sons of these United States, "who shall be free indeed”—when "the TRUTH shall make them free." 330 POETRY. (Original.) [From the Port Folio of a Sunday School Teacher.] REFLECTIONS ON SUNSET. Thy sun shall no more go down."-Isiah lx. 20. 'Tis power divine that gilds the scene, Now, now its purest rays are shed; Now dark the shades of death are spread, O'er what was mortal.-But the ethereal soul (Selected.) THE LAST LINES OF THE POET COWPER. TO JESUS, the crown of my hope- And waft me away to HIS THRone. My Saviour! whom absent I love; Dissolve thou the bands that detain Then that happy era begins, When arrayed in thy glory I shine; The above stanzas are said to be the last that Cowper ever wrote. For acknowledgments, notices, &c. to correspondents and subscri ders, and notice of the Association of Teachers, see cover. |