anecdote, to pause and ask a scholar to repeat a verse, or to take some other means of rousing flagging attention. And once more, tact should teach when to stop. "I care not how the battle begins," said Napoleon; "study your plans to secure that it ends well." This is a precious lesson for teaching; and, indeed, I may say for speakers and writers of all kinds. Send the scholars away, not with a feeling of satiety or weariness, but with a desire that the exercises had been longer than they were. Trust.-I pass on to say a little in regard to the third head,—viz., Trustful faith in the results of your teaching. My first and second heads related to action, to preparation before hand, and to the teaching of the lesson. This head refers to the frame of mind and soul which should mark the teacher throughout the whole process. It is that of trust in the goodness of the cause, in the efficacy of the means employed, and in the ultimate good effects of the whole. Every worker who seeks to better his fellow-men is entitled humbly to aspire to be a fellow-worker with God. Emphatically is that so with the Christian worker for the young. Christianity is pre-eminently the Gospel to the young. I do not need to argue this at any length before such a meeting as this, but it has been too often forgotten by Christian men and Christian churches. Grant that our arrangements for the young are far from perfect, it is quite certain that they will never be improved by theorizing, still less by objecting. It has been well said by one, "Those who, after calmly considering the subject, retain the conviction that the Sabbath school is a misconception, a practical failure, or even a necessary evil, will probably utilize their time and energies better by engaging in some other Christian work, than by damaging with faint praise and fainter support a cause to which they are unable to give their whole-hearted allegiance." Depend upon it, then, your success will largely depend in the trusting faith in which your work is done; and surely it is right that you should have trust here. Spurgeon has grandly defined faith as sanctified common sense; and is it not the veriest common sense confirmed by experience that the time to learn is the time of youth, when all hopeful education should be given, and the best results may be expected? You may have much to discourage you; little fruits appear of your labour; you may be like those who engage in 66 Dropping buckets into empty wells, And growing old in drawing nothing up." But like your Great Exemplar, you must, for the joy set before you, endure the cross, and despise the shame, and the weariness, and the disappointment. We know that He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied. Judging from His earthly life, the very opposite appeared to be the result. The disciple is not greater than his master. If you do not see immediate fruits of your labours, that is no reason why you should despair. It is a law of the physical world, that no force, no energy once exerted, is ever lost. And it is equally true of the spiritual world, with this very important difference, that everything done for the young is transformed into energy done for Christ. "Inasmuch as ye did it to one of the least of these little ones, ye did it unto me." There is much in the present aspect of the Church and the world fitted to fill the observant soul with sadness; but there is much to cheer and encourage. One of the hopefulest symptoms is the attention now devoted to the education of the young. Education is now a great fact, wide as civilization itself. The Churches are being wakened up by the energy of the States; and I am convinced that we are only at an early stage of advancement in this great and good cause. Dundee Sabbath School Teachers' Union. THIRD ANNUAL MEETING. THE third annual meeting of this Union was held on Friday, 27th January last, in the Young Men's Christian Association Hall; Provost Moncur, the President, occupied the chair; and there were also on the platform the Rev. G. Barnley, the Rev. J. L. Skerret, Messrs. W. Small, A. W. Smith, James Low, and J. J. H. Henry. After tea,— The Chairman said he was very much pleased to be present at the third annual meeting of the Sabbath School Union. He was glad that the Union was not only still in existence, but lively, vigorous, and doing good work; and he trusted that as time continued the work would go on to prosper even more abundantly than it had been doing during the last three years. In concluding his remarks he referred to the death of the respected President of the Union, Mr. David Robertson. Last year he was there giving them wise, earnest, sagacious counsel. They were left here to toil and labour on; but he trusted that his departure might be the means of stirring them up to work more earnestly and energetically. They met that night for business-to elect their office-bearers for the ensuing year, and to consider the reports of the Secretary and the Treasurer. There would also be a conference, to hear suggestions from those engaged in the work; and accounts would be given of what had been done and what was doing in the various spheres in which they laboured, so that they might stimulate and encourage one another. They were apt to get into a sort of rut, out of which they had to be lifted, and get new energy and life put into them. Unless they had life, energy, and enthusiasm they could not be successful in any work. In the work of winning souls they might take an example from the fisher, who often plied his rod long, and patiently, and gently without success. As the fisher kept himself out of sight, so should they hide themselves in delivering their message from their Master. Humility, gentleness, and sympathy were most efficacious in the work in which the teacher engaged. They might get a lesson in this from that man who had been going about teaching the gospel of temperance. What was the great secret of that man's power? Was it not that they felt that here was a man with a big, warm, loving heart, who by his love, his kindness, and gentleness drew others to love not only himself but the lesson which he taught. With such tenderness and such a heart of love should they work, and he had no doubt many would hear their teaching. Mr. J. J. H. Henry (the Secretary) submitted the annual report, which shewed that the Union had proved itself to be eminently helpful to the Sabbath school cause in Dundee, and was rapidly extending its sphere of usefulness. The number of schools was stated to be now 50, being an increase of 6 during the year. The teachers numbered 948, an increase of 97. The scholars in attendance were 9,108, an increase of 985; the average attendance being 6,827. The efforts of the Union to promote intermediate classes had borne fruit; instead of 18 there were now 29 such classes, with an attendance of 670. The subject of infant classes had also been before the Union, and there were now 24 such, with an attendance of 943. Thirty schools had collected £183 10s. 8d. for mission objects during the year. The visitation of the schools by the directors had been both pleasant and profitable to all; and the action of the directors in this matter had stirred up at least one presbytery to arrange for a similar visitation. A number of interesting conferences of teachers had been held during the year, when important topics had been discussed. The improvement of the service of song in the schools had engaged much of the attention of the directors with gratifying success. A public service of song had been given on Thursday, 12th May, when Provost Moncur, who presided, offered a number of prizes to the best sung Sabbath school, by way of incentive to still higher results. Particulars of the prizes and conditions of the competition had been issued to all the schools. During the preceding year there were only 17 classes for music practice, whereas now there were 27. The teachers' model and training classes, which used to meet in different districts of the town, had been held in the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms, as being more central and less expensive. As on former occasions, the Union had the services of Mr. Wm. Small as training class lecturer, whose rare abilities and deep interest in the welfare of the Union are well known. Several other professional teachers had laid the directors under deep obligations to them by their kindness in conducting the model classes-the most experienced teachers having found them to be alike interesting and useful. The attendance of the teachers was excellent. Toward the close of the report reference was made to the great loss the Union had sustained by the death of the president, Mr. David Robertson, who had been so helpful in the formation of the Union. His removal had been mourned by the entire Christian community of Dundee. The work of the Union during the past year had been in every respect encouraging. The superintendents of many of the schools had reported cheering instances of spiritual good having been done. After the reading of the Secretary's report, the election of the officebearers and directors was proceeded with, when the following gentlemen were elected for the ensuing year-viz., Hon. President, Provost Moncur; Hon. Directors, G. Armitstead, Esq., M.P., Frank Henderson, Esq., M.P., Sheriff Cheyne, Thomas Smith, Esq., H. B. Fergusson, Esq., William Lowson, Esq., Bailie Hunter, W. O. Dalgleish, Esq., A. J. Buist, Esq., W. Y. Blyth-Martin, Esq., James Logie, Esq., James Shaw, Esq., Rev. R. S. Warren, Rev. R. Waterston, Rev. C. Jerdan, LL.B., Rev. G. Barnley, Rev. I. W. Cox; President, Mr. William Small; Vice-President, Mr. A. Watson Smith; Secretary, Mr. John J. H. Henry; Assistant Secretary, Mr. James M. Miller; Treasurer, Mr. James Low; Directors, Messrs. D. Buchan, W. F. Chalmers, W. Mackison, J. C. Robertson, William Doig, W. R. M'Kelvie, Peter Murray, D. M'Intosh, Thomas Don, J. B. Hyslop, P. Hunter, John Ross. KEY B FLAT. Love the Saviour. Words and Music by MRS. JOSEPH C. WITHERS. p | --:t.ls, s, Thus to act the suppliant's part; f dr : t, | I, s, │m: : ed, With blessings rich and free; : ms :-.m❘ r :d r : d t : 1, ❘s, :d ❘m: -.r|d : To give thee righteousness and peace, And dwell for aye with thee. CHORUS. MANY people adopt a regular course of Bible reading, beginning with Genesis and taking each book in turn. This popular method must not be underrated. It is valuable because--It breeds a ready familiarity with the Scripture history and language. It impresses upon us the unity pervading the sacred volume. It gives us the grand drift and development of the whole plan of Divine grace. Passing rapidly from one book to another, we see the organic relation of the various parts, and the steady unfolding of God's purposes. Others study by epochs of history. There is the Patriarchal era, the Mosaic period. What were their central ideas, and their peculiar place in the purposes of God? There are the royal and prophetic periods; there is the Christian dispensation. What are their distinctive features, and what specific end was secured by each? and see what you can glean concerning it. period read the five books of Moses, and all Galatians ii. and iii., and Hebrews. Take one of them at a time, For example, on the Mosaic such passages as Romans v., Others again study the Bible book by book. The Bible is a library composed of various writings. Why various, and how differing? Why does Exodus stand alone? Its key-thought is redemption. Numbers shews God's guidance in the wilderness. Esther discloses God's providence at work in secret behind the scenes of human life. Ecclesiastes presents a man of the world dissatisfied. The Song of Solomon follows with the joy that springs from Christ. The four Gospels portray Christ in four essential phases of His character. Seek the key-note on which each book is written; then study that book, and see the harmony of its various parts with the key-thought and with one another, always noting its relation to the books with which it stands in close local relation. There is also the topical method. Study by subjects occasionally. Take the Blood, or the Conditions of Prayer, or the Guidance of God. Search the pages of the Word with this topic in view, using a concordance or text-book to assist you. See exactly what God says on any given subject. Never wrest a passage from its real meaning in order to make a neat point in a Bible reading. Take God's Word just as it stands, and as He meant it. This method, wisely followed, will amply reward any time or care it requires.-S. S. Times. Fragment. ness is passed off for simplicity; 66 COMING DOWN TO THE SCHOLARS. | blood-curdling or laughable. Silli—There was a time when it was necessary to warn teachers, and preachers to children, against being too dignified, against using too big words, and not coming down to the level of their scholars in their manner and Sunday school scholar of to-day does matter of speech. Probably this not need to have a teacher come warning is still needed by some. down" to him in any such sense-or But it is certain, also, that just the in any such want of sense-as this. contrary warning is needed by not a He must be able to look up to his few. There are preachers to child- pastor and superintendent and teachren, and also superintendents and er. He doesn't come to the Sabbath teachers, who insult their young school or to the children's service as hearers, and degrade both their office to a show or a circus. He comes and themselves, by their promiscuous with a good stock of common sense, coming down" to those whom they a fair amount of intelligence, and an would uplift. They treat their instinctive apprehension of the proscholars as if they were wholly prieties of God's day and God's lacking in good taste and intelligence, and could only understand a dialect that has an admixture of "baby-talk" and slang; or again, as if they could be interested only in what has in it a touch of the 66 house. Upon this level he is able and willing to meet his elders, and be instructed and moulded by them. To come down to any lower level than this is degrading to both teacher and scholar.-American S. S. Times. |