Teachers' Local Examinations. GLASGOW SABBATH SCHOOL UNION'S SCHEME FOR 1882-83. ALL the arrangements for the next Examination have now been completed. It will take place next March, so that intending candidates have ample time to prepare. Dr. Marshall Lang has kindly undertaken the post of examiner in Scripture History and Doctrine, in room of Dr. James Dodds, now removed to Corstorphine. Dr. Candlish and Dr. Thomas Morrison have signified their willingness to act again as examiners in Scripture Evidences and Practical Teaching respectively. The text-books recommended for study in these subjects remain the same as before-viz., Christian Evidences, by Whately, and The Sunday School • Teachers' Manual, by Groser; but a change has been made, and, we doubt not, an acceptable one, in the subject for study in branch A—viz., Scripture History and Doctrine. In place of burdening candidates with a separate subject of study, it has been thought advisable to prescribe for next Examination the last eight months' Bible Lessons in the current Scheme of the Glasgow Sabbath School Union. The improvement is obvious. Candidates for examination in this subject-in all cases, at least, where the Union's Lesson Scheme is in use-will now be able to prepare for their classes and for their examination at one and the same time. As a stimulus to study on the part of intending candidates, as well as in evidence of his interest in the success of these examinations, Ex-Bailie Scott, the President of the Union, has kindly offered valuable prizes in books to the most successful candidates in each of the three different subjects. It is to be hoped that ministers, superintendents, and all interested in the godly upbringing of the young, will give the Examination Scheme all the encouragement it deserves, and that a goodly array of well-prepared candidates will sit down to next year's papers. The Examination could not be in better hands; and no more carefully considered and perfectly practicable plan for the proper equipment of Sabbath school teachers for their work-no plan more worthy of general confidence and success, has ever been devised; and there never was more necessity for it. The cultivation of the intellects of the children in all the public and most of the private schools, is now more carefully attended to than ever; and the amount of instruction communicated in the different subjects of study is greatly in excess of what it has been at any previous time. There is thus a danger of our Sabbath scholars speedily becoming wiser than their instructors, amongst whom there continues to be a considerable number whose interest in their work largely exceeds their capacity for it. To reduce this number to a minimum, is the main purpose of the Local Examination Scheme, which, we doubt not, has a long career of usefulness before it. Any additional information wanted will be cheerfully given on application to the Secretaries of the Union, or to Mr. Thomas Gray, the convener of the Examination Committee, at No. 7 Room, Christian Institute, Bothwell Street, Glasgow, where copies of the Syllabus can be had by superintendents for distribution amongst their teachers. Senior Classes. THE following circular has just been issued by the Directors of the Glasgow Sabbath School Union to the Secretaries of all the Sabbath schools of Glasgow and suburbs. We understand that the Committee intend to follow up the appeal by sending deputations from the various District Unions to the Societies' business meetings, to ascertain the position of each school in reference to senior classes; to urge their formation where none exist; and to collect information as to any difficulties that may stand in the way of retaining their elder scholars. It will be remembered that this subject was much discussed at the Centenary Conferences held in London, and that one of the prominent resolutions adopted called upon Sabbath school workers everywhere to turn their earnest attention to it. Let us hope that this practical movement on the part of the Glasgow Union may have the effect of stirring up teachers to take a livelier interest in the matter, and that some system may become general by which the special wants of the senior classes may be more efficiently met:— DEAR SIR, Recognising that the Sabbath school is the nursery of the Church, and that one of the aims of the Sabbath School Society should be to lead the scholar all the way up to full communion therewith, the Glasgow Sabbath School Union have appointed a Committee to further the advancement of that high aim. The Committee are strongly of opinion that classes for senior scholars, meeting in rooms separate from the general school, are essential concomitants of every Sabbath school. They would, therefore, most earnestly urge those Societies which at present have no such classes, to take immediate steps to remedy that defect in their organization. The necessity is most urgent. When young people reach the age of fifteen or thereby, they naturally begin to feel that they are too old to be classed among children, and unless drafted from the general school into a separate class-room for seniors, they generally drop out of Bible-class tuition and supervision-at what is perhaps the most critical period of their lives. More especially is such a provision necessary in the case of mission Sabbath schools, as, unfortunately, the home influence of the scholars attending these is too often unfavourable to piety. The Committee are further of opinion that in a well-appointed and properly conducted Sabbath school, about one-third of the scholars in attendance should be above 15 years of age. Regarding the whole question of 66 Senior Scholars as one of vital importance, the Directors of the Union claim for it your Society's earnest and prayerful consideration.—We are, Dear Sir, yours respectfully, JAMES RICHMOND, PETER MACKICHAN, › Secs. J. M. STORRAR, Convener. Fragments. BEGIN WITH THE YOUNG.-The crocosm, the human body, we shall question is often asked, "How shall find that the heart does not receive we get our working-classes to attend the blood to store it up, but while public worship?" The answer may it pumps it in at one valve, it sends be supplied by an incident of my it forth at another. The blood is boyhood. On the mantel-shelf of always circulating everywhere, and my grandmother's best parlour, is stagnant nowhere; the same is among other marvels was an apple true of all the fluids in a healthy in a phial. It quite filled up the body, they are in a constant state body of the bottle, and my wonder- of expenditure. If one cell stores ing inquiry was, "How could it have for a few moments its peculiar been got into its place?" By stealth secretion, it only retains it till it is I climbed a chair to see if the bottom perfectly fitted for its appointed use would unscrew, or if there had been in the body; for if any cell in the a join in the glass throughout the body should begin to store up its length of the phial. I was satisfied secretion, its store would soon beby careful observation that neither come the cause of inveterate disease; of these theories could be supported, nay, the organ would soon lose the and the apple remained to me an power to secrete at all, if it did not enigma and a mystery. But as it give forth its products. The whole was said of that other wonder, the of the human system lives by giving. source of the NileThe eye cannot say to the foot, "I have no need of thee, and will not guide thee;" for if it does not perso was it here. Walking in the form its watchful office, the whole garden I saw a phial placed on a man will be in the ditch, and the tree bearing within it a tiny apple, eye will be covered with mire. If which was growing within the the members refuse to contribute to crystal. Now I saw it all; the the general stock, the whole body apple was put into the bottle while will become poverty-stricken, and it was little, and it grew there. be given up to the bankruptcy of Just so must we catch the little men death. Let us learn, then, from the and women who swarm our streets analogy of nature, the great lesson, -we call them boys and girls-and that to get, we must give; that to introduce them within the influence accumulate, we must scatter; that of the Church, for, alas! it is hard to make ourselves happy, we must indeed to reach them when they make others happy; and that to get have ripened in carelessness and sin. good and become spiritually vigorDOING GOOD A BLESSING TO ous, we must do good, and seek the OURSELVES.—If we view this mi-spiritual good of others. "Nature well known no mystery remains," Intelligence. GLASGOW SABBATH SCHOOL Southern District Unions. UNION.-The monthly meeting of Directors was held in the Christian Institute, on Monday, 14th August. Mr. James Howatt, Vice-President, presided; and there were 34 Directors present. Reports were read from the Middle, Rutherglen, Cambuslang, Pollokshaws, Govan, and The Committee on Publications reported that the Scheme of Lessons for 1883 was being prepared, and would be completed before next Directors' meeting, so as to be taken up and fully considered then. The Committee on the Training Class and Conferences reported that they had SOUTHERN DISTRICT SABBATH SCHOOL UNION. The usual bimonthly meeting of the above Union was held on Monday, 3rd July. There were present 12 representatives. Mr. Robert Stewart, president of the Union, presided, and read a highly interesting paper on "Sabbath School Summer Vacations," the representatives present expressing themselves freely on this most interesting subject. agreed to resume the Class for was appointed to arrange for the Teachers on Saturday, 2nd Sep- annual sermon. Messrs. Morison, tember, when an opening address Jarvie, Agnew, and Bryce were apwould be given by Mr. Ross, Prin- pointed delegates to the Convention cipal of the Established Church to be held at Kilmarnock on 5th and Training College; and thereafter 6th October. Mr. Gustavus E. Woyka the meetings would be held weekly, read a paper on "Bands of Hope from 5 till 6 p.m., when the lessons and their relation to the Work of would be taken up by ladies, as in the Sabbath School Teacher." The previous years. The Committee subject was ably treated by the had arranged for a series of monthly essayist, and called forth a large conferences, on subjects specially amount of criticism. important to teachers, to extend from October till March, 1883. The meetings would be held on the third Thursday of each month, in the Christian Institute; and the subjects would be advertised in the Sabbath School Magazine monthly. The Committee on Public Meetings reported that they were making arrangements for the Autumn Public Meeting, which was proposed to be held about the end of September, or the beginning of October. Dele- GOVAN DISTRICT SABBATH gates were appointed to attend the SCHOOL UNION.-The bi-monthly Fifteenth National Sabbath School business meeting of this Union took Convention, to be held at Kilmar- place on 31st July-present 14--Mr. nock, on 5th and 6th October next. M. Paterson in the chair. InterestThe Convener of the joint Com- ing reports, both written and verbal, mittee on Evangelistic Effort gave were given of visits paid to various a lengthened statement of the Sabbath schools in the district. work the Committee had taken up They were found to be in excellent since last meeting, and the nature working order, and a friendly welof the special services amongst the come had been given in all cases to young. They had conducted meet- the visitors. Mr. R. Kilgour was ings at Busby, West Kilbride, unanimously elected to fill the office Greenock, and Kilchattan Bay; of vice-president, rendered vacant and in every case there had been by the resignation of Mr. W. B. large attendances. of young people, Greenshields. It was arranged that and distinct indications of bless- some minister should be asked to ing. The report was cordially re- give an address at the next prayer ceived, considerable interest being meeting, on 10th September. manifested in it. Various other committees having reported progress, the meeting was closed with prayer. POLLOKSHAWS AND THORNLIEBANK SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.This Union met on Monday, 7th August,-Mr. George Somerville in MIDDLE DISTRICT SABBATH the chair. The only business of SCHOOL UNION.-This Union met general interest before the meeting in the Religious Institution Rooms was the arrangement for the next on Tuesday, 8th August. There quarterly meeting of the teachers, were 20 representatives present. which, it was resolved, should take Mr. William Jarvie, vice-president, the form of a conference, and be occupied the chair. A committee held in the beginning of September. A committee of one member from each society was appointed to make all necessary preparations. public meeting in St. Andrew's Hall on Friday night. Mr. John Burns has very kindly invited the members of the conference on Wemyss. Much good is expected to result from this gathering. Friends willing to entertain the delegates during the sitting of the conference, are invited to communicate with Mr. Oatts, 70 Bothwell Street. SCOTTISH NATIONAL SABBATH SCHOOL CONVENTION. - The four- Friday, 8th September, to Castle teenth Scottish National Sabbath School Convention will be held at Kilmarnock, on Thursday, 5th, and Friday, 6th October next. A programme of the subjects to be considered will be issued shortly. Meanwhile, Sabbath School Unions and schools in country towns where no Union exists, are invited to appoint gentlemen to represent them at the Convention. The names and addresses of the delegates should be sent to Mr. H. J. Reyburn, Kilmarnock, stating whether they will require accommodation, and whether for one or two evenings. was THE DECLINE OF ROMANISM.The population of the United States for 1880 has been officially returned as 50,152,866. Of this number the Roman Catholics claim_6,000,000. The population of Great Britain and Ireland is estimated at 36,000,000. Of this number 6,000,000 are Roman Catholics. Total population of the YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN As- United Kingdom and United States, SOCIATION.-The British conference 86,152,866. The population of the of Young Men's Christian Associa- United Kingdom in 1801 tions will be held this year in the 16,237,300; of the United States, Christian Institute, Glasgow. 300 5,305,925; total population of the delegates are expected to be present two countries in 1801, 21,543,225. from all parts of the kingdom, and Without including the Colonies, the the Glasgow Association is expected English world has thus quadrupled to entertain the friends when in in eighty years. In 1801 the Roman conference. The meetings begin on Catholics in the United Kingdom Wednesday, 6th September, and and the United States were about continue for four days. A reception 6,000,000, to 15,000,000 Protestants; will take place on Wednesday, at that is, they were a little less than 11 o'clock; and in addition to one in three of the population. In meetings for prayer and diets for 1880 the Roman Catholic population business, the following topics will of the two countries was 12,000,000, be discussed:-1. How to extend the to 74,000,000 Protestants; that is, sphere of Young Men's Christian in eighty years, from a-third it has Association work and influence come down to about a-sixth of among the upper classes. 2. The the whole. In other words, while temptations of early manhood, and how the Young Men's Christian Associations fortify young men against them. 3. How can Young Men's Christian Associations contribute to each other's welfare? 4. Christ's method of dealing with inquirers considered as a model for Association workers. Lord Provost Ure will give a conversazione chief support to Romanism, does in the Corporation Galleries on not seem to be increasing much Wednesday evening, and Lord more rapidly than France. The Shaftesbury will preside at the wars of Napoleon made considerable Roman Catholicism has doubled, Protestantism has become five times greater in the eighty years. France, the eldest son of the Roman Catholic Church, in 1801, had a population of 27,347,003; in 1876 it had increased to 36,905,788; that is, it has added a-fourth to its population in seventy-six years. Austria, another |
