No. CXL.

JULY.

1858.

HE Meetings of the Committee of this Society have been attended during the past month by his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Earl of Romney, the Bishops of Bangor and Llandaff, Lords Dynevor, Lyttelton, and Redesdale, Rev. Sir H. Thompson, Bart., Sir Thomas Phillips, Ven. Archdeacons Sinclair and Harrison, and William Cotton, Esq.

The Annual Meeting of the Society was holden at the Sanctuary, Westminster, on Wednesday June 9th. His Grace the President took the chair at twelve o'clock. There were present, His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury; the Earl of Romney; the Bishops of Lichfield, Lincoln, and Oxford; Lords Lyttelton and Ebury; Sir Robert Gladstone, Bart.; Rev. Sir H. Thompson, Bart.; T. Mainwaring, Esq., M.P.; Hon. W. Cowper, M.P.; F. H. Dickenson, Esq.; T. D. Acland, Esq.; Ven. Archdeacon Sinclair; the Rev. Canons Jennings, E. J. Randolph, J. H. Randolph; T. R. Bennett, Esq.; Robert Dimsdale, Esq.; &c. &c.

His Grace having read prayers, opened the meeting with the following words: In opening the proceedings of to-day, there is nothing with which I have occasion to detain you beyond the hearing of the Annual Report. The Society is keeping the even tenor of its way; and I do not know that there is any remarkable feature to present to you.

I am sorry to say, the most conspicuous feature in the report is that which is the least satisfactory, namely, as regards the finances of the Society, which its continued exertions have now brought very nearly to an end.

On hearing the report read the other day, I was reminded of an old anecdote connected with the Peninsular War. One of our generals gained a decided victory, with a great loss of men. He was naturally very much affected to think that so many of his brave companions were killed. When the commander-in-chief came to him, his first words were, "I have lost my army." The commander-in-chief said to him, "But you have gained the victory." The Society can likewise say, "We have expended our finances, but we have done a great work." It is no slight thing to have achieved so vast a work.

Now consider what the state of education was fifty years ago compared with what it is now. In every part of the kingdom there is a vast improvement in education, and the numbers educated in proportion to the population are wonderfully large. There is VOL. XII.

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also a great improvement in the quality of the education. Therefore I think the Society may claim to itself that stimulus which has been given to such improvements; and I trust that when the public, who are about to be made acquainted with the fact, learn that without further assistance it will be impossible to make grants towards the building of new schools, which it has hitherto been accustomed to do, they will heartily respond to the Society's claims, and exercise their influence on its behalf. That periodical supply which we were accustomed to depend upon, and which formed a very large part of the means of the Society, is now withdrawn. It is therefore absolutely necessary to apply to some other source by which the wants of our Society may be supplied. I think I need not detain you longer with any further preliminary observations, but will now proceed with the usual course of business.

The election for auditors of the Society then took place. John C. Sharpe, Esq., and John Shephard, Esq., were duly elected; the latter in the place of R. S. Lutwidge, Esq., who has acted as auditor for twenty years, and whom an increase of other engagements prevents from continuing this office. His Grace expressed his sense of the value of this gentleman's services to the Society, given for a long course of years. The ballot was then taken for members to serve on the Committee; and during the process, the Secretary read the Annual Report of the Committee. (This Report, with the usual appendices, will be shortly published, and sent to all Members of the Society.) After the reading of the Report, his Grace declared the result of the ballot to be, that the following members had been elected to serve on the Committee: Rev. Lord John Thynne, William Cotton, Esq., the Right Hon. C. B. Adderley, M.P., and Hon. Arthur Gordon. The Right Hon. W. Cowper, M.P., then spoke as follows:

My Lord Archbishop,-I am sure that all present will respond cordially to the words with which your Grace opened the meeting, and in which you spoke with perfect truth and justice, as well as with moderation, of the great services rendered to the Church and to the people of England by the National Society. The forty-seven years during which this Society has been in existence have marked its progress with incalculable benefit; and a great deal of the successful efforts which are now being made to promote the education of the people by parliament may be traced to the plans and schemes adopted by the National Society. (Cheers.)

I think we have heard with regret your Grace's statement that the only want at this moment felt by the Society is that of increased funds. Certainly there may be a prevalent opinion that that great branch of the operations of the National Society which has hitherto occupied so much attention-namely, that of aiding in the building of schools-was now less necessary in consequence of the grants of public money made through the Privy Council. On the contrary, I think it is clear that increased exertion is rendered necessary in order to obtain more funds to aid still further in the building of schools. The money expended by the National Society will show there are many cases where a small grant made by the Committee may just enable the applicants to claim grants that are offered by the Privy Council. Most persons who have attended to the subject are aware how often it happens that clergymen have completely exhausted all the funds within their reach, and have perhaps induced persons in the parish to give rather more than they otherwise 'would have done, in the hope of being able to meet the grant promised by the Government; yet, after all these exertions have been made, there still remains a deficiency of funds. In such cases as these, this Society steps in; and by a little additional aid, the voluntary efforts of the parish are made efficacious, and the promoters of the school are enabled to receive the grant offered by the Privy Council. There are many instances where aid has been given which have had a very great effect in the case of schools not entitled to receive the parliamentary grant, their requirements not having previously been sufficient to

satisfy the Privy Council; but there are cases where grants from this Society may produce great good.

But I, for one, should think that the other operations of the National Society are more important, and still more calculated to further education, than that of making building-grants; for there is a wide field of exertion left for the National Society in those operations where the Privy Council cannot interfere. I am sure the exertions of this Society, represented by its practical wisdom and skill, may accomplish great things in more fully occupying those fields of exertion. (Cheers.)

I attach great importance to the organising masters who have been employed by this Society. That is a branch of operation which is particularly left to this and other societies. The Privy Council is very properly restricted to ascertaining by inspection the result of the labours in the school, and of expressing an opinion either upon the success or want of success in that school; and its impartiality in inspection would be very much interfered with if the Privy Council, in the slightest degree, were to take any steps so as to interfere with the management of the school. I think assistance in organising could not properly be given by the Privy Council; but manifestly, at the present moment, one of the greatest needs in our schools is the visit of an organising master,—his remaining in a school some few days, seeing what advice the master of the school most requires, suggesting to him the best methods, showing him by example as well as guiding him by precept. The result of such a visit will exhibit a marked difference in the whole management and success of that school.

I was very glad, when I was in office (at the Privy Council), to receive an application from the Society for the ordinary rate of augmentation to be given to the organising masters; that is a branch which I think this Society may very advantageously continue to uphold. I also think the Depository and Local Depôts are a branch of the operations of the Society which it is desirable to continue and extend.

The books now placed in the hands of children for reading-lessons are not altogether suitable; I think they have not that interest for children that they might have. I can conceive books being much better adapted to produce a love of reading. Every year the Catalogue of the National Society is improving; it is getting more and more the sort of books we require: but still I think much more may be done in that direction.

The statistical return, of which we have heard in the Report, shows also a very great effort. It seems to show in a highly satisfactory manner that the Church of England has not been remiss in extending the education required for her children. We find by these returns (and they are probably more complete than any other inquiry would be, unless, perhaps, the census obtained by act of parliament) that the increase of children in the schools is more than commensurate with the increase of the population.

Now I think the Society most useful, as being a centre of union and communication with the diocesan boards. (Hear.) It seems quite essential to the proper organisation of Church schools that there should be such a centre as this National Society at present alone affords. The diocesan boards themselves are most useful in giving a local and diocesan centre to all parishes within the diocese. This Society is the centre for the diocesan boards; and if they were deprived of its useful work, in conveying, communicating, and giving help,-in being in every way the centre of the diocesan boards,-very great harm would arise to the education of the country.

Diocesan inspection is certainly of very great value. Of course this mode of inspection is generally found not to be of so complete efficiency as that official inspection which is the entire object of a man's life. But diocesan inspection, I think, is found in this way of very great advantage; it reaches a school which is not likely to be visited by the Government Inspector, and is often received in a more easy and familiar way than by the Government Inspector, and is looked upon with rather less awe; and the Diocesan Inspector is certainly of the greatest use in giving those di

rections which other persons visiting are unable to afford. I think, upon all these grounds, and many others I could mention, this Society deserves the support of all interested in education. I am quite sure the training colleges, of which we have heard an account to-day,-viz. Battersea, St. Mark's, and Whitelands,-do deserve the most hearty and cordial support of all persons who are interested in improving and in keeping up the standard of our masters and mistresses.

This seems to be just now the great work to be done, namely, the sending forth masters and mistresses who are able to give that sort of practical special teaching to the children under their care which will fit them for their duties in after-life. This Society, almost in all cases, has turned its attention to the art of teaching what is to be taught, and how it is to be taught; not merely in making well-educated young men and women, but in making well-trained schoolmasters and mistresses. If that very great difficulty can be overcome, then I think we shall see education in this country taking a fresh start, and getting a fresh hold upon the minds of the people of England.

The resolution concludes with an earnest hope that the Appeal about to be issued will be liberally responded to.

This Society can no longer appeal to the people who are charitably disposed under the sanction of a Royal Letter; nor can it, it seems, trust to its episcopal patronage. It must, then, appeal to the people whose contributions it desires, upon its own merits, upon its past services, upon its present work, and upon its future intentions,

If the operations of the National Society are well explained to the public, if they are brought vividly before the minds of those interested,—I have no doubt that it will receive, as heretofore, the cordial support and approbation, and the pecuniary contributions, of those interested in the welfare of their fellow-creatures." (Cheers.)

The right honourable gentleman concluded by moving the following resolution: That the thanks of this meeting be given to his Grace the President and the Committee of this Society for the report presented by them; and that this meeting desires to express its earnest hope that the Appeal about to be issued, with a view to obtain the funds hitherto collected under authority of Royal Letters, may be promptly and liberally responded to by the friends of Church education.

This was seconded by T. Mainwaring, Esq., M.P., and carried unanimously. The Archbishop then pronounced the usual benediction, and the meeting separated.

Annual Meeting of Secretaries.

The Annual Meeting of Secretaries and Treasurers of Diocesan and Local Boards of Education, was holden at the Sanctuary, Westminster, on Tuesday, June 8th.

The Lord Bishop of Oxford took the chair at twelve o'clock.

There were present the Lord Bishop of Salisbury, Rev. Sir Henry Thompson, Bart., Rev. J. G. Lonsdale, Rev. A. Wilson, Rev. Harry Baber, F. S. Warren, Esq., and the following members from the undermentioned dioceses :

CANTERBURY: Rev. B. F. Smith, Rev.
M. Onslow, Rev. C. B. Riddell, Rev. R.
Vincent, Rev. J. Y. Stratton.

YORK: Rev. E. J. Randolph.
LONDON: Rev. C. J. Dyer, Rev. R.
Chaffer.

WINCHESTER: Hon. and Rev. S. Best.

CARLISLE: Rev. J. Brunskill, Rev. A. M. Wilson.

BATH AND WELLS: F. H. Dickinson, Esq.

ELY: Rev. J. C. Ebden, Rev. J. H. Blunt. EXETER: Rev. W. Heberden, Rev. G. W. Procter, Rev. R. K. Cornish.

NORWICH: Rev. W. Potter, Rev. E. S. Yates.

OXFORD: Rev. J. Slatter, Rev. H. H. Swiney.

PETERBOROUGH: Rev. J. H. Blunt, Rev. Canon Fry, Rev. W. L. Clay, Rev. J. H. Brookes.

ROCHESTER: Rev. J. Bramston, Rev. J. Pearson, Rev. G. B. Blomfield, Rev. W. B. Ady, Rev. A. Pearson.

SALISBURY: Rev. N. Smart, Rev. W.
D. Morrice.

ST. ASAPH: Rev. H. P. Ffoulkes.
WORCESTER: Rev. G. Peake.

The meeting having opened with prayer, the Minutes of the Meeting of 1857 were read and confirmed.

The following subjects were then discussed, being those which were announced in the May Number of the Paper.

I. The expediency and best mode of carrying into effect a system of Diocesan Examinations, with prizes, for children above thirteen years of age. The prizes to consist of apprenticeship-fees, places of domestic and other service, and pupilteacherships.

On this subject the following resolutions were, after considerable discussion, carried unanimously :

That it is desirable to carry into effect, with as little delay as possible, a system of Diocesan Examinations, with prizes, in such a manner as best to encourage the children to remain at school for a longer period than at present; and to stimulate improvement and solidity of attainments, and proficiency in such subjects as are of most importance to the children of the labouring class.

That in such system of rewards special regard should be had to character and sound religious knowledge.

II. The most practicable mode of extending more generally to schools the pecuniary advantages offered by the Committee of Council on Education.

The following resolutions on this subject were agreed to:

That the Committee of the National Society be requested to urge on the Privy Council the modification of so much of their Minute of April 29, 1854, as confines the capitation grants at the girls' rate to "mixed schools under certificated mistresses in rural parishes containing fewer than 600 inhabitants," by extending the limit of the population to which that minute shall be applicable.

That the Committee of the National Society be respectfully requested to press anew on the Government the desirableness of granting aid to schools on the ground of the standard attained by the school, and not, as now, exclusively on that of the attainments of the teacher.

III. The establishment and support of evening schools, especially in the agricultural districts.

On this subject the following resolution was unanimously agreed to:

That the Committee of the National Society be respectfully requested to urge on the Committee of Council on Education the expediency of allowing a class of unprofessional teachers to be registered expressly as evening-school teachers; and of permitting also two or more parishes to unite in securing the services of one of such teachers; and also that the sum to be raised in order to meet the grant from the Privy Council in aid of such teacher may be made up partly of private contributions an partly of school-pence.

IV. The expediency of arranging returns from Diocesan Inspection on one uniform plan, so as readily to furnish statistical information.

On this subject it was agreed that some of those present should meet the SubCommittee of the National Society appointed on Diocesan Inspection, for the