friends, as to the propriety of raising a Fund for the purpose of building or procuring a School Room, the suggestion was readily acceded to, and the names of Subscribers to the amount of £117. 178. have already been given in, £85. of which have been received, and placed in the West London Savings Bank, in the names of Messrs. Adamson, Boyle, and Salter. With a view of extending the circle from which they may hope to receive further assistance, they have ventured upon this plan of publicity, feeling assured that there are friends in the Church at large who would gladly facilitate the accomplishment of an undertaking so likely eventually to realize a permanent benefit to their fellow-creatures. Committee Room, 29, Ely Place,

February, 1842.

THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CROSS STREET SUNDAY SCHOOL SoCIETY; Presented to a General Meeting, held January 20, 1842.-The Rev. Samuel Noble having been called to the Chair, the Report of the Committee and the Treasurer's Account were read: The following Resolutions were then proposed and unanimously agreed to :

1. That the Report now read be received, and printed under the direction of the Committeee about to be appointed.

2. That Mrs. Adamson be the Treasurer for the year ensuing.

3. That Mrs. Adamson be the Superintendent of the Girls' School for the year ensuing.

4. That Mr. E. G. Day be the Superintendent of the Boys' School for the year ensuing.

5. That the following Ladies be the Committee for the year ensuing :-) -Mrs. Adamson, Mrs. Bundy, Miss Bundy, Mrs. Cotton, Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Hodson, Mrs. Edward Hodson, Mrs. Maxwell, Mrs. Wm. Maxwell, Mrs. Penn, Mrs. Thomas, and Miss Twigg.

6. That Miss Russell and Miss Sarah E. Essex be the Auditors for the year ensuing.

The Committee's Report.-The history of an individual undistinguished by wealth

or talent, who pursues a course of humble integrity and quiet usefulness, in the unobtrusive paths of private life, affords little of incident or interest for the pen of the biographer to record. Experiencing no sudden vicissitudes, encountering no alarming obstacles or dangers, his uneventful life glides smoothly on,— like a narrow sylvan stream which, though devoid of picturesque features to attract the attention of the artist, yet fertilizes the valley in its course, and blesses as it flows.

In similar circumstances of mediocrity and obscurity, but performing with similar fidelity the duties of its humble station, is the little society, a Report of whose proceedings for the past year is now to be submitted to you. Prudence, activity, and diligence have obtained for it that moderate degree of success which it is the order of Providence should be their usual result. The difficulties at first experienced are now either obviated, or, if not entirely removed, exist only in sufficient strength to be felt as gentle stimulants to exertion. The number of children, the regularity of their atten.. dance, and their general progress, seem adequate to any expectations that could reasonably be formed; and the School appears to be established in a degree of prosperity which, though it calls for our grateful acknowledgment, furnishes no particulars of sufficient interest to be narrated.

The average attendance for the year has been precisely the same as in 1840; viz., 70 children,-22 boys and 48 girls. The number in the School is also the same as that reported last year; namely, 80 children,-25 boys and 55 girls.

The following are the rewards that have been distributed :-4 Bibles, 23 Testaments, 47 pairs of shoes, 28 flannel petticoats, 49 frocks, 29 shirts, 11 chemises, and 2 pairs of stockings.

The income of the Society has been rather less than in the previous years; but the diminution is too trifling to occasion any uneasiness, the receipts being still fully equal to the expendifure.

Though the labours of the Society, and

its means of usefulness, are confined within very narrow limits, yet there is reason to hope that it is productive of some degree of substantial good. Perhaps, as the most important benefits derived from it, may be considered the feelings of reverence for the Sacred Scriptures and their Divine Author, and for the ordinances of religion generally, which by early culture, are inseminated into the mind. Feelings, which, loving to recognize the hand of a Creator in the visible objects of the universe, and the care of a Father in the events and vicissitudes of life, act as preservatives against the withering spirit of infidelity,—to the assaults of which in its direst form, clothed in the most specious disguises, the poorer classes of the present day are particularly exposed-and which, by severing man from the only true source of blessedness, poisons his happiness on earth, and blights his prospects in eternity. In addition to this cultivation of the affections, the children acquire distinct principles of truth, by which to form their understandings, and regulate their lives. They are taught to know the Lord, and how to worship Him. To attempt to convince them by argument of the fallacy of established systems of religion, and the superiority of the doctrines of the New Dispensation, would, except in cases of extreme rarity, be absolutely futile. The course adopted is to teach the essential principles of New Church doctrine as simple undeniable truths. They are instructed that there is ONE God, in one divine person-with the additional information who that God is, and that a life in conformity to his revealed will, is the indispensable qualification for admission into heaven. many of them leave the school with these truths firmly impressed upon their minds, it can scarcely be doubted they will bear some proportion of corresponding fruit. Could we, indeed, follow these children into the world, and trace their progress through life, we could not expect to find their conduct uniformly consistent with the holy rules they had learned: we could not even hope not to discover much

As

that was at variance with them, and that all enlightened judgment must lament and condemn. But could we pursue our inquiries further, and examine the history of the inner man,-in the admonitions of conscience, and the frequent and successful struggle maintained, from a principle of duty, against the solicitations of vice, and the allurements of the world, we should surely find evidence that our exertions had not been ineffectual; and should have reason to rejoice that though unable to restrain them within the strict line of rectitude, we have at least prevented their wandering far and widely from it.

Our Sunday School may not add many to the numbers, nor greatly increase the strength, of the New Church, as established outwardly on earth; but we trust it will aid in forming happy candidates for that Jerusalem above where we all hope finally to assemble.

The receipts last year were 261.6s.10 d., and the expenditure was about 251.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE LADIES' READING MEETING AT THE SOCIETY IN PETER STREET, MANCHESTER. -The first anniversary of this meeting was held in the school-room adjoining the church in Peter Street, on Tuesday the 26th of April, when a numerous company of ladies and gentlemen assembled to tea, at 7 o'clock. The great advantages of this useful meeting, were the subjects of conversation on this interesting occasion. To awaken a greater interest in the reading and study of the New Church doctrines, especially among females, is the principal object of this institution. During the past year, the greatest part of the Universal Theology, had been read at this meeting, and after each section, the subjects had been more deeply impressed on the mind by interesting conversation, tending to illustrate and confirm what had been read. Several speakers, especially the Rev. D. Howarth, Mr. A. Haworth, Mr. Kenworthy, and and Mr. Shadwell, particularly interested the numerous assembly by their excellent remarks. The holy subject of conjugial

love, its exaltation by instruction, its advancement in proportion as the church advances, the awakening of the female mind to a proper use of the intellectual powers in the search of truth, and particularly the daily temper with which our respective duties should be performed, were the principal topics on which the several speakers descanted to the instruction of the meeting. The female mind is, in general, peculiarly sensitive as to religion and piety; and much, very much depends on this feeling's being guided aright by the light of genuine doctrine. In the great religious excitement of the present age, by the so called evangelical preachers, by whom the doctrine of faith alone and other erroneous tenets are powerfully advocated, and exhibited as the great luminaries of Christianity, by which we must be guided to heaven, women in vast multitudes throng these places of temporary excitement, and strengthen by their zeal and their presence the cause of false doctrine, and of spurious Christianity. They little know, for the want of proper instruction, that they are wondering after the beast" (Rev. 13, ver. 3). But not so the daughters of Jerusalem; it is their privilege and blessing to know the true doctrines of Christianity, if they be so disposed, and to enjoy an enlightened piety, which will powerfully contribute to the building up of the Lord's New Church upon earth. It was also very pleasing to hear that from this meeting, new projects of usefulness to the Society had emanated. All were extremely delighted with the evening, and it was hoped that these meetings would become more numerous in the church.

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Testimonial to the Rev. J. H. Smithson. At the conclusion of the same meeting, when W. Lockett, Esq., took the chair, two children walked up to the table, bearing a neat and chaste silver pocketcommunion service, for visiting the sick and infirm, and also handsome surplices, as a present from the ladies of the Peter Street Society to their minister. The inscription on the paten is as follows: "Presented to the Rev. J. H. Smithson by the

ladies of the Peter Street Society, as a token of their affection, Manchester, April 26th, 1842."

This handsome testimo

nial was presented to the minister on the part of the ladies of the Society, by the Secretary of the Committee, Mr. Irving, who accompanied the presentation with a few emphatic remarks. After which the minister gratefully acknowledged the present, not only as a token of his feeble services to the Society, but chiefly as a testimony on the part of those who presented it, of their love and veneration for the truths which he is the humble instrument of communicating from the Holy Word, explained according to the doctrines of the New Church of the Lord, who is the Truth itself, and to whom belong all merit and praise.

WHIT-WEEK IN MANCHESTER.-The festivities and rejoicings of this week in Manchester, especially as connected with the numerous Sunday and day schools of this populous district, have been often described in this periodical. We are happy to state that the present year, although much suffering has been experienced on account of the bad state of manufactures and trade, has been signalized, as much as any former season, by the benevolent interest felt in affording instruction and comfort to the children of the poor. The Christian friends of humanity have indeed exerted themselves in a most liberal manner to mitigate and relieve, as much as possible, the destitute condition of those whose subsistence is dependent on the state of trade, which for some time past has been so depressed and forlorn. Numerous processions of children, amounting together to more than thirty thousand, have this week been treated with a journey into the country, either by railway, by boats, or by procession, and have been innocently regaled with entertainment and amusement of various kinds. The Botanical and Zoological Gardens, and the Museum and other institutions, have been thrown open at a small cost, and densely thronged with the youthful visitors, under the superintendence and care of their numerous teachers,

guardians, and friends. Wednesday, as usual, was the day fixed for the procession of the schools belonging to the New Jerusalem Church. The procession consisted of about one thousand children; who having assembled at the church in Peter Street, proceeded, attended with numerous friends, to a pleasant spot nearly two miles distant, where having formed a circle, and having sung a hymn, they roamed at large, and amused them. selves with athletic sports of various kinds. A band of music accompanied the procession and contributed much to the enlivenment of the scene. Buns and milk were liberally dispensed; and all appeared very cheerful and happy. Young and old were seen sporting together, and the tout ensemble was a delightful scene; especially when we consider, that had the children not thus been cared for, many of them would most probably have gone to witness the dangerous, brutal, and disgusting scenes exhibited on the race course not far distant. Much gratitude

is due to the kind friends who so zealously undertook to manage the arrangements, by which the procession and amusements were conducted. All agreed that a happier day of the kind had not been enjoyed for many a year.

J.

DALTON SUNDAY SCHOOL.-The festival of this school was fixed, as usual, for the Wednesday in Whit-week. Senior, esq., the indefatigable friend and supporter of this institution, has great reason, we think, to rejoice in the success of his zealous efforts to instruct the children of the surrounding district, and to inculcate into their minds the genuine principles and doctrines of Christianity. For more than twelve years he has been thus zealously employed from Sabbath to Sabbath in this labour of love, assisted by numerous friends and teachers in promoting the good cause. Early in the afternoon the children were assembled in the church, and the Rev. J. H. Smithson, who had been invited for the occasion,

addressed them on the necessity of having their minds instructed in the truths and doctrines of Christianity, shewing that every thing good formed in their character can only arise from a religious principle implanted in the mind; that we must "sow to ourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy, break up our fallow ground, and seek the Lord, that he may rain righteousness upon us.' These were the different topics which were opened and elucidated to the children. After which, several girls recited some pieces of considerable length, in a very correct and emphatic manner. The procession then formed, which consisted of about 250 children, and made a tour to the house of Mr. Senior, where they sung two hymns. The sister of that gentleman, who, on account of severe indisposition, could not attend at the chapel, was exceedingly affected and delighted at the sight, which brought powerfully to her remembrance the great interest which her late excellent father had always experienced in promoting the instruction, comfort, and happiness of all around him. The children were plentifully regaled with refreshments. The teachers and friends afterwards assembled in the school-room to tea, after which Mr. Smithson gave them an address on the great uses of Sunday schools, and on the causes of encouragement and zeal with which the members of the New Church should labour in this vineyard of the Lord. These institutions, he observed, are among the signs of the Lord's second coming; and none can have so great reason to hail these signs as the members of the New Jerusalem, &c. The day was most delightful and happy; and may many such, of the Divine Mercy, be accorded to the Dalton Sunday school!