THE FORTY-SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING of the Union will be held in the HALLS of the CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE, 70 Bothwell Street, on Thursday, 19th April, 1883. The Business Meeting will be held in the Lesser Hall, at 3 o'clock, p.m. EX-BAILIE SCOTT, President, in the Chair. SIR WILLIAM COLLINS, J. CAMPBELL WHITE, Esq., and others, will take part in the Meeting. The Reports for the past year will be submitted, and Office-bearers elected for the ensuing year. It is expected that many may be able to attend this Meeting who cannot conveniently be present at the public one in the evening Ladies are specially invited. The Conversazione will also be held in the Lesser Hall, and Tea will be served from 6.45 till 7.45, p.m., for which Tickets (6d. each) may be had from Messrs. JOHN M'CALLUM & Co., 174 Buchanan Street; at the Union's Rooms, 70 Bothwell Street; and from the Secretaries of Sabbath Schools throughout the city. The Evening Public Meeting will be held in the Large Hall, at 8 o'clock, p.m. Addresses will be delivered by FRANCIS WM. CLARK, Esq., LL.D., Sheriff of Lanarkshire; REV. ROBERT BLAIR, M. A., Established Church, Cambuslang; REV. ALEX. BROWN, United Presbyterian Church, Pollokshields; REV. W. PATRICK, B.D., Free Church, Kirkintilloch. The Choir of John Street United Presbyterian Church, under the leadership of Mr. TAGGART, will give a selection of Sacred Music. A COLLECTION will be taken on retiring on behalf of the Funds of the Union. TEACHERS' TRAINING CLASS. This Class meets on Saturday Afternoons, in the CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE, 70 Bothwell Street, from Five till Six o'Clock. All Teachers are invited to attend. The Lessons of the Union's Scheme will be taken up as under : THE SABBATH SCHOOL MAGAZINE VOLUME for 1882. Cases for Binding this and previous years' Volumes, 6d. each. The Yearly Volume should be in every Teacher's Library. JOHN M'CALLUM & CO., 172 and 174 BUCHANAN STREET, GLASGOW. THE Sabbath School Magazine. NO. IV.] APRIL 2, 1883. [VOL. XXXV. The Sabbath School on its Practical Side: AN APPEAL TO SUPERINTENDENTS BY ONE OF THEMSELVES. WE attach a definite meaning to the words " on its practical side." Let us ask ourselves, What do we consider the practical side of our extended Sabbath school system? As I understand it, and I think I express the feelings of my fellow-superintendents, our Sabbath schools are attaining their practical end when superintendent and teachers are advancing in spiritual life and power; when many of those taught are being led to a personal saving knowledge of Christ; when others, already in Christ, are "walking in truth;" when those leaving the shelter of our schools for the battle of life, go out to fight that battle for God; when, in short, the kingdom of God is being continuously advanced in and by our Sabbath schools. That school, indeed, is attaining most the practical end of its existence which, by God's grace, shews most of such blessed results. Understanding, then, what we mean by the "practical side," we are prepared for the question, "How can we conduct our schools so as to obtain such results?" Dear fellow-labourers, as one in charge of a large school, who has experienced himself the intense moment of this question, as one who has felt that a satisfactory auswer must be found to it, and has prayerfully sought such an answer, let me say, that it seems all to lie in one single truth: let us have the Living Lord Jesus Christ Himself "in the midst" of our schools, and we shall have those practical results which we are seeking. As my object at present is to help my fellow-superintendents to make our work more fruitful, they will pardon me giving my own experience of the power and efficiency of this one truth. I have already hinted that the superintendence of a large Sabbath school weighed on me, the terrible responsibility of the charge of so many young souls oppressed me,-I spent hours in prayer about it, but my distress did not diminish. I had neither joy, nor peace, nor liberty in my work—the burden seemed greater than I could bear. About this time-now nearly three years ago, in the course of my reading, a new truth, to me, was brought under my notice. I found that the Living Lord Jesus Christ has one definite place, which, D if we allow Him to have it, He will fill, and from which He will command the blessing which we seek upon our work. That place is called in the Word of God “in the midst." Let me run over rapidly the connection in which this truth is brought out. John tells us, "They crucified Him and two others with Him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst." When next we see Him, He is in the midst of the throne; heavenly powers and redeemed men joyfully giving Him that place. In the Revelation of St. John twice directly, and twice under the typical name "Tree of Life," we find Him occupying this place in the midst of heaven. God's intention for our earth seems to have been, that it should be modelled on heaven's plan,—for “the Tree of Life was 'in the midst’ of the Garden of Eden." The Tabernacle, symbol of Jehovah's presence, was in the midst of the chosen nation, both in marching and encamping. Jesus himself described His embryo Church as two or three gathered together in His name, and Himself in the midst. It is His place in the Church militant, for the Apostle John saw Him, in resurrection power and glory, in the midst of the seven candlesticks, which, he tells us, are the seven churches. It will be His place in His millennial reign. Í am "the Holy One of Israel in the midst of Jerusalem, which is in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her." As I saw this truth with more and more clearness-as I saw that the doctrine ran through the whole Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation—as it seemed to me that this truth was meant by God to fit into all the circumstances in which a Christian could be placed-above all, as it was the very truth to suit my need, I determined to act upon it. I set apart a time for communion with the Living Lord about the school of which I had charge. I solemnly and finally made it over by a definite act of faith to Him, putting the future government of it upon His shoulders, whose name shall be called "Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace," how these names for the Lord seemed to meet my need under the circumstances !—and leaving the school, from that time forward, to be conducted by the skilfulness of His hands. The practical result has been a career of blessing for our school, under the direction of Him who called himself to Joshua, before leading him and his hosts in a march of victory, "The Captain of the host of the Lord;" or, as St. Paul styles Him in his Epistle to the Thessalonians, “Our Lord Jesus Christ himself." We are attaining the practical results of which I spoke-in measure. Our teachers,-not a few, but many of them,—are increasing in spiritual life and power. Our enquiry room, open from time to time on Sabbath evenings, and our other meetings, speak of young souls seeking Christ. The testimony of homes tell that some are walking in the truth; and of workshops, that some are brightly shining in the world for Jesus. We believe, from what we hear and see, that the kingdom of God is being advanced in and by our Sabbath school. We believe that we have solved the question of the practical working of our Sabbath school, by allowing Jesus to come into our midst in living power to carry on the work Himself. There are two questions some of us may be asking ourselves: (1) How can I get Him into the midst of my school? (2) When He has come in, what next? How did men get Him into their houses when He sojourned on earth as "The Son of Man?" Two examples,— there are many more in the Gospels,—A certain woman named Martha received Him into her house,-. e., she asked Him in, and He came in. Some simple country people of Cana thought that His presence would bless a marriage feast; they called Him, and He gladly went. Have we ever noticed that the well-known words, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock," &c., were addressed to the Laodicean Church,―i. e., a community of individuals; not to one single individual? Is not a Sabbath school a church in Christ's definition of the words "two or three," &c.; and does not the passage I have referred to indicate that He knocks at the doors of our schools where He is not yet in the midst, and will come in to bless them if we who have the power (superintendents by their position) will only invite Him? We are depriving Him of joy, and our schools of blessing, by keeping Him "at the door" when He might be "in the midst." To be practical, then, will you to-day, or as soon as you can make time for the interview, meet with Christ about your school; and if He is not yet "in the midst," see that He is kept outside no longer? But you are saying, "If He does take His place, what next? How do your teachers act towards yourself? Do they not expect you to undertake the superintendence of the school? You and I must act exactly in the same way towards Christ. No work must be undertaken until He has indicated somehow what He desires to have done. None omitted, however arduous, if He has shewn you that He wishes it. The school will have to be conducted by faith in the Son of God; and the superintendent will require to be much on his knees, learning there what the will of the Lord is for the school. More, the superintendent will have to live a life of close walking with Christ, otherwise he will not know that will; and he must be quick to obey, otherwise he will not do that will. He, the superintendent, will be carrying on the work of the school with fear and trembling; and will be learning day by day that "it is God that is working in him, both to will and to do of His good pleasure"-that God is conducting the school through him. Then the results,-the Lord will increase the power of the teachers. He will, through you and them, "Seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick." You will find that many of your scholars will be seeking and finding the Saviour; many will be found growing up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Yes, dear friends, this very practical truth literally carried out by you,-Jesus really in the midst of you; yourself coming to Him about all things-the very smallest-in connection with your school, will take from you all anxious care; will enable you to prosecute the work with vigour and in liberty; and will guarantee the results which you desire. I cannot enter into details, such as, what kind of meetings should we have in our schools? All this will depend on the position, spiritually, which the school has reached. Some schools should have evangelistic meetings; perhaps others, where a work of grace has been going on for some time, should have meetings to help young Christians; but a devoted, pious superintendent will never be left long in doubt as to what should be done. Ask your Head what He wants done. The prayer, "Lord, what wouldst Thou have me to do?" will not be left long unanswered. Perhaps some feel inclined to say, "This is very mysterious." Not more mysterious, dear friends, than the lives lived and the work done by those spoken of in the New Testament after the withdrawal of the bodily presence of the Son of God. We are told of them, that they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. "There is no practical side to Sabbath school work, or any other work in which Christians engage, but the spiritual side; and the closer we walk with Christ, the more intensely practical will the work become. Let us all strive to carry on our work along these lines, and we shall be able ere long to write over the entrances of all our Sabbath schools, Jehovah Shammah—the Lord is there ;" or, "Emmanuel—God with us." 66 Annual Charity Collection. WE beg to remind Sabbath school teachers of the Collection that is being made this year for the Glasgow Royal and Western Infirmaries. Up to date the sum of £240 has been received, which is a much smaller sum than was in hand, at the same date, for last year's scheme. We understand that the Cashiers of the two Infirmaries receive contributions every year from a considerable number of Sabbath schools, and that most of these, and other schools besides, have forwarded their contributions direct, instead of sending them to the treasurer of the Union. It will, therefore, be matter of no surprise if the Union's Collection for the two Infirmaries do not realize the large sum raised by the children, in previous years, for schemes for which the children were less frequently contributing. But there are probably some schools that have not yet responded to the appeal issued by the directors of the Union in December last, and that still intend doing so. We trust that any collections yet to be made will be arranged for as soon as possible, and that the amounts realized will be forwarded, without delay, to Mr. Kelt, the Treasurer of the Union. 66 The following short reports of cases treated at the Infirmary may perhaps interest the children, and help to give them some idea of the blessings they may confer by helping to support Institutions in which sickness and suffering are so much relieved, if not entirely removed :During last summer a little boy was playing in the back-court where he was staying, when he got a sad fall, injuring his knee. His mother being very poor, no doctor was got at the time, and when, at last, one was sent for, he stated that if the knee had been attended to immediately after the accident, it would have been easily put right, but that now it was getting worse every day. He did all he could for it, but it got no better, and he was obliged to inform the boy's mother that he would require to be taken to the Infirmary, and to undergo an operation. This was done; and he lay in the Infirmary for about four months, during which his knee was opened three times before it could be put entirely right. In spite of the operations Hugh enjoyed himself in the Infirmary. The doctor was very kind to him; so was his nurse. He got plenty of toys, toys which boys and girls sent to the little sufferers in the Infirmary |