yearly occasion of distributing premiums for regular and punctual attendance. I therefore congratulate you; and I am sure you are all thankful that you enjoy such an opportunity of being taught, not only to read, but to understand the Scriptures of truth, which contain the best instructions for regulating your conduct in this world, and which are the infallible guide to teach you how to obtain happiness hereafter.

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It is about fifty-eight years since the first Sunday-school in Britain was founded, by the celebrated Robt. Raikes, and the state of society which suggested its establishment, contrasted with the happy result of the experiment, will testify to the great importance of such institutions. In passing through an obscure street of London, he found an immense number of poor ragged children playing at different games, cursing and swearing, and profaning the Sabbath in the most shocking manner. This lamentable state of so many poor children suggested the idea of the Sunday-school. After much labour, he succeeded beyond all expectation; and, in less than two years, had between 200 and 300 scholars in regular attendance.

The next Sunday-school that we read of was that established, about seven years after, by the no-less-justly-celebrated Hannah More, a lady who, for the purpose of making herself useful to mankind, retired from the society of royalty and nobility, and from one of the most brilliant circles of learned men that Britain ever witnessed, to a villa near Bristol, called Cowslip Green, close by a village called Chaddar, where her first Sunday charity-school was established, for the purpose of removing the gross ignorance and depravity which abounded there. Her own words would best express the deplorable depravity of this place, and could not fail to be interesting; but briefly, there were 2000 persons of a poor population, and the prevailing characteristics of every family were ignorance and vice. There was only one Bible in all the parish, and it was propping up a flower-pot. After great exertion and opposition, the school was established, and in the sixth year 200 children, and 200 old people, were in constant attendance.

Permit me next to allude to a Sunday-school, established at Moneyrea, my native place, about twenty-six years ago, where I was a teacher for several years, and where more than 200 children attended every Sunday morning and evening. My chief design in noticing this one, is to draw the attention of my young friends to the regular, I may say universal, practice of the scholars, with regard to attending public worship. Every one was prepared for remaining after school to attend public worship, and there was no such thing as going home, till divine service was over. I have often regretted that many who attend this school do not remain for public worship; but I hope you all so fully feel the importance and advantage of doing so, that you will not require to be again reminded of it. It must be left to your own good sense, as no compulsion can be used; but I can tell you from much observation and experience, that regular attendance on public worship leads to regularity of conduct, not only during the remainder of that day

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of rest, but on every other day, it lays the foundation of good habits, paves the way to a life of virtue and peace, and ensures the respect of the wise and good for all who practise it. I have always observed, that there is little danger of children who are regularly in the house of God being bad members of society. And does not your Bible tell you, that a day spent in that house is better than a thousand elsewhere.

My young friends, I am much pleased to find that so many of you have been rewarded for merit and punctuality of attendance: but this is not all you are to look to; you must consider the instructions you receive here, which are chiefly drawn from the New Testament, as the principles by which you will regulate your conduct through life. You must all endeavour to act in accordance with the great principle of Truth, the most sacred bond of society, and without which the purest character or best man could never feel safety. Not only in your words, but also in your hearts, must you feel that you are speaking truth. Live in the constant exercise of kindness and forbearance, which by reading this book you will soon learn how to practise.

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Go on in the straight-forward course pointed out in the Scriptures, and let it never be said of any Sunday-school scholar that he has been tempted to join the wicked in their evil ways. Never let the finger of scorn be pointed at the young professor of Christianity, as one who had gone to the Sunday-school in the morning, and had associated with the idler, the swearer, the blasphemer, during the remainder of the day. Let your conduct be such on every day as becomes Sunday-school scholars and Christians, that others seeing your good works, and hearing your well-regulated words and conversation, may go and do likewise.

I hope I may be excused for mentioning a circumstance connected with Sunday-schools, which made a strong impression on my own mind, as it may not be inapplicable or uninteresting. On going to visit the mother of a family of four children (a widow) in the last stage of consumption, I found her listening to her eldest daughter, about ten years of age, reading from the New Testament She was about to stop on my entrance, but I encouraged her to proceed, and listened till the chapter she was reading was finished, and I am confident I never paid more attention. Here was a Sunday-school scholar performing the part of minister in the poor family, imparting consolation to a dying parent, and instruction to all who would listen. The mother said it was one of her greatest comforts that two of her children had been educated at a neighbouring Sunday-school, as she never could have had them taught to read the Bible in any other manner, her husband having been only a labourer, and they all very poor when he died. I hope the instrucyou receive here may enable you all to imitate this little Sunday-school scholar, and that you will all be a comfort to your parents.

tions

To the teachers I would again address myself in concluding, and say, persevere in your good work. You are engaged in the transcendent occupation of guiding immortal minds to the truth as it is

in Jesus, and moulding these youthful hearts into the form of that Divine Being. The sentiments you inculcate cannot fail of enlarging their benevolence, and making them more interested in the happiness and virtue of their neighbours and of all mankind.

I would not be going too far in saying, that your efforts are advancing a great national cause, that national character from which Britain derives her highest and best energies. Compared with other nations, her religious and moral character adorns every page of her history, and by these she is destined to extend and perpetuate her renown and dominion over every quarter of the globe.

Aided by Sunday-schools, their teachers, and scholars, and all her other enlightened, liberal, and benevolent institution, may she go forth, with the Bible as her guide, an instrument in the hand of Providence to accomplish the moral and religious regeneration of the habitable globe, and the fulfilment of the happy time alluded to in that beautiful allegory, where nations shall beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

INTELLIGENCE.

NORTHERN SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.

WE beg to direct the attention of such of our readers as reside in the Province of Ulster, to the NORTHERN SUNDAY SCHOOL AssoCIATION, lately organized in Belfast: and to urge upon them, the duty of contributing to its support by their influence, their co-operation, and their pecuniary contributions. The Sunday School Society for Ireland having laid it down as a principle, to afford no aid whatever, to schools in connection with or supported by Unitarian Christians, having, in fact, refused to circulate their own publications, and even the Holy Scriptures, among persons labouring under the imputation of this odious heresy, the greatest difficulty was experienced in providing books and school requisites for the numerous children, now receiving instruction in many of our Congregational Sunday Schools. To remedy this inconvenience, the founders of the NORTHERN SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION formed themselves into a reunion, for the express purpose of affording every possible facility to the formation and support of Sunday Schools, without reference to the religious opinions professed by the children, the teachers, the conductors, or patrons. Through this Association, Bibles and Testaments, Class-books, School Registers, &c. can now be procured, on terms as reasonable as was possible, even through the Sunday School Society for Ireland. An excellent first book for children has also been published at a price which is low almost beyond precedent. Another work for more advanced pupils is in a forward state of preparation. A Book of Hymns suitable for Sunday Schools, can be procured through the committee: so that, if the conductors of Sunday Schools are henceforward in want of any of the requisites for teaching, they can only have themselves to blame.

An Institution such as this, stands in little need of recommendation. To state its objects, is to recommend them to the support of every benevolent Christian. We trust, the Association will largely experience such support. We know that the aid now solicited would be doubly valuable, if promptly afforded: as it would thus enable the committee to issue their publications at a very low price: which, without subscriptions, cannot be effected.

ANNUAL MEETING AND SOIREE OF THE UNITARIAN SOCIETY, BELFAST.

THE anniversary sermons of this religious Association were preached on Sunday, 6th ult. by the Rev. George Armstrong (formerly a Minister of the Establishment), and the annual meeting was held on Monday evening, in the Commercial Buildings. The assemblage was one of the most respectable that ever graced the Assembly-room, and numbered about 350—a large proportion being ladies. A judicious arrangement of the committee had combined the business of the evening with the pleasure of a very elegant and tasteful soirée, which promoted a flow of social feeling, and an interchange of kindly sentiments, that lent a heightened charm to the proceedings of an assembly composed of members of religious persuasions, some holding widely different doctrines, but all meeting on the common ground of Christian charity and good fellowship.

At the conclusion of the entertainment, Mr. M. Andrews moved, that the chair be taken by Wm. Boyd, Esq., J.P., of Fortbreda. Mr. John Montgomery seconded the motion, which was passed by acclamation. The business of the evening was commenced by

singing the 192d Hymn.

The chairman then rose, and, having thanked the committee for the honour they had conferred on him, by selecting him to preside on the occasion, briefly stated the object of their coming together. Having always held the principles of Unitarianism—those benign principles, which he ever should hold it was natural, that he should feel a warm interest in every thing relating to their Tract Society, for the diffusion of Christian knowledge, of which the present was the annual meeting.

On

Mr. JAMES MARSHALL read the report of the committee. It gave a succinct history of the progress of the society from its establishment in 1831, for the dissemination of those religious views entertained by Unitarian Christians, down to the present time. the committee entering on their duties, they found that, for two years before, the society had been nearly inoperative-that the funds were at a very low ebb-that the shelves of the depository contained few works of value-and that the debts were considerable. The committee actively set about remedying this state of things,in the first place, by collecting funds. £62, 8s. was raised in their first year of office in the town and neighbourhood of Belfast; and application was made to the ministers in country dis

tricts to aid the society's exertions. This application, the committee regretted to say, had not produced the effect anticipated. With the funds contributed, the committee proceeded to repair the depository, and to replenish it with a supply of useful works, among which were those of the most eminent Unitarian authors in the new world. They had already succeeded in disposing of books to the amount of £80, which exceeded the sales for two years before. The committee had no doubt that the depository had been the instrument of effecting great and substantial good, and that its efficiency would yet be considerably increased. Want of the necessary funds had prevented them from publishing any original works, except "The Child's Guide," and "The Child's Book of Hymns," of which they had procured the copyright from the Rev. C. J. M'Alester, and issued an impression of 8,000 copies. In Feb. 1839, in consequence of overtures made by Mr. M'Alester, the committee undertook the management of "The Bible Christian," the only native periodical advocating the principles of Christianity. The Rev. W. H. Doherty had consented to conduct the editorial department of the work, under whose auspices it promised to progress in circulation and usefulness. The committee had opened a communication with bodies in England, similar to this society, for the interchange of publications; but, of course, the limited number of works they had to offer, had hitherto restricted their operations. For the success of their object, however, they entertain little fear,-seconded, as they hope they would be, by the Unitarian bodies in Ulster. The committee suggested the rescinding of Rule IV. of the society's code of regulations, and the substitution of another, to the effect, that, at each annual meeting in October, a committee of ten laymen should be elected to manage the society's affairs; and that a consulting committee of five clergymen should also be chosen, to whom were to be submitted such works as were proposed to be placed in the depository; but that, should they not return their decision in fourteen days, the committee of management should be empowered to place them in the depository without further reference to the other committee. At a subsequent period of the evening, a resolution embodying this was passed. The committee concluded by appealing, on behalf of their successors, to the known liberality of the Unitarian body.

The following officers were balloted for: Consulting committee, Rev. Dr. Montgomery, C. J. M‘Alester, J. S. Porter, John Porter, H. Moore.-Committee of management, Messrs. G. R. Smith, J. M'Intyre, J. R. Newsam, Andrew Patton, M. J. Andrews, Dr. W. Burden, Wm. Campbell, York Street, Wm. Marshall, W. J. C. Allen, James Marshall. W. Hartley, Secretary; M. Andrews, Treasurer.

Mr. JOHN MONTGOMERY moved, that the report be received and printed, with the treasurer's account, and a list of the books in the depository. Seconded by Mr. C. Dobbin and agreed to.

Mr. M. ANDREWS, treasurer, read the statement of accounts, which gave much satisfaction, as showing that the funds in band were almost sufficient to discharge the existing liabilities.