have occurred, which deserve to be Domestic Bible," handsomely bound, gilt edged, and bearing inside the following inscription in gold letters, on a blue ground, recorded as an incentive to those who are engaged in the work of Sunday school instruction. The children of the Sunday school lately met in their capacious school-room to present, through their president, the Rev. Paxton Hood, a testimonial to their secretary, Mr. John Bull, on the occasion of his marriage, for the zeal and love displayed whilst connected with them. This testimonial consisted of a very handsome timepiece, bearing the following inscription: "A token of affection from the scholars of Offard Road Sunday school to their beloved secretary and teacher, Mr. and Mrs. John Bull, on the occasion of their marriage. November 12th 1858." "Presented to Mr. Robert Johnson, the Superintendent of Offord Road Chapel Sabbath School, by the Officers and Teachers of the School, as a slight token of affectionate regard and esteem, December 21st, 1858," were then laid on the table, and which the chairman, in his usual felicitous manner, presented in the name of the teachers, to their superintendent, Mr. Robert Johnson, who had presided over the school ever since it had a being. The recipient then addressed the meeting, and expressed his surprise, (for it had been kept a secret from him) at such a transaction, not having had the least idea of it, and his sincere gratitude to them for such a costly mark of their affection, and hoped that it would afresh stir him, to make the work more successful in which they were all united. The chairman having vacated the chair in order to attend another meeting, it was ably filled by Mr. George Cuthbertson, who having expressed his entire sympathy with the object of the meeting, called upon all the male teachers in succession, to speak; and in terms not of flattery or of envy, each of the teachers spoke their own opinion of their superintendent, whilst more than one, publicly acknowledged that he was the means of bringing them to the school, as well And indeed, it was given by the children, for they first thought of it, set on foot and collected the necessary funds for its purchase. The Rev. Paxton Hood presented it in a suitable address, when the secretary in acknowledging such an unexpected and unlooked for reward for services rendered, tendered them his, and that of his wife's best and warmest thanks for such a noble present. Mr. Johnson, the superintendent, then spoke of the pleasure thus received, and trusted that the affection there displayed, would induce them to give their warmest affection to Him, who gave himself for them. Messrs Jenkins, Webber, and J. and G. Williams then severally addressed the meeting in short but appropriate speeches, which as to the Lord. then closed, adding another striking instance that the labours of Sunday school teachers and officers are not overlooked by the children. RUGBY WESLEYAN SUNDAY On Tuesday evening, December 21st, THE annual meeting of the Rugby a soirée of the teachers and their imme- Wesleyan Sunday School teachers was diate friends was held; when after held in the Wesleyan school room, on partaking heartily and sociably of "the Thursday, the 30th December, 1858, cup that cheers but not inebriates," and after partaking of a very excellent tea, thanks having been sung, the Rev. provided by the ladies connected with Paxton Hood took the chair. Three the school. The Rev. G. O, Bate cccumagnificent volumes, being "Cobbins' pied the chair. Mr. Cleaver, senior superintendent, forget that their projectors found themcalled the attention of the teachers to selves surrounded with mountains of the importance of self-culture, and care-difficulties. That they were exposed to fully studying the lessons before coming opposition and ridicule from some, and to school to teach them. those that were most likely to assent, seemed to stand aloof waiting and wondering what good could result from such a scheme of education. The result has been what Dr. Guthrie stated at Manchester the other day, "Mendicancy has been reduced from hundreds to a very few in his own native city." Mr. Tombs said, as a proof of the good he derived from these schools, he would say, that he now had the honor of being a superintendent where he was formerly a pupil. Mr. Underwood, another superintendent, said, that when he was a teacher, he had seven boys in his class, and now four of them are members of the church. This result to his labors gave him great encouragement. He regretted to say, that some of the teachers were very irregular in their attendance; some were always absent, some very punctual, others, although always there, were never in time. We know that we have under instruction children, who, were it not for these schools, would be spending the Sabbath roving along the high ways and streets of our towns. Instead of this, they are congregated together to learn to read, sing, and worship God. And as the result of this, how many of those ministers that now adorn our pulpits owe their elevation to these schools? How many of our missionaries in foreign lands received their first training in them. How many of them are now among our most zealous teachers. How many good husbands, wives, sons, and How many have died in youth, bearing Mr. Maoral, a teacher, acknowledged that, through a misunderstanding with one he expected to have filled his place, he was absent once during the last twelve months. He was sensible that the difficulties to be encountered were so great, that to overcome them, punc-daughters, have been trained in them. tuality, regularity, earnestness, and perseverance were indispensable. Although the difficulties were such as would require our best effort, that should not deter us from persevering to overcome them. If there were no hin-are retarded from running headlong into -drance to our success, that would make our services the less valuable. That the contrary being the case, when our labors succeed, their importance is greater. To all of us who are destined to earn our bread by the sweat of our brow, what good ever comes within our reach without difficulties being in the way of obtaining it. And should it happen that we could obtain it without putting ourselves to much exertion, as we are so used to hard pulling for our fare, we should be inclined to undervalue it. Great schemes are always surrounded with great difficulties. We are all familiar with the good resulting from Ragged Schools, but we must not vice? The fact that all the branches of the Christian church in Britain are unanimous in their adoption of these schools, is one of the best proofs of their importance. Politically, the good resulting from these schools is considered as of the utmost importance. Mr. BRIGHT says, "I don't believe that all the statesmen all those officials who set us down for knowing nothing about public affairs, I don't believe that all the efforts they have ever made, tended so much to the greatness, to the happiness, to the security, and to the true glory of this country, as have the efforts of our Sunday school teachers.” The success INTELLIGENCE. already attained ought to stimulate us to persevere, and we know that perseverance overcomes great difficulties; and if our motto be onwards, the time will come, (we shall not see it.) when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our God and his Christ. Mr. Hogg, Mr. Morly, Mr. Smith, Mr. Faulkener, Mr. Symes, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Oldham, Mr. Towers, and Mr. Satchell, subsequently addressed the meeting in appropriate terms. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. Letter from the Hon. George Fife Angas, as President of the Institution. It may be interesting to many of the readers of the "Teachers' Magazine" to know, though not unassociated with a feeling of regret, that at a recent meeting of the committee of this Union, the accompanying letter, from one of its oldest and best friends, was read by the secretary. "My dear brethren. The time has now arrived when it seems proper for me to resign my connection with the affairs of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Sunday School Union. "It is not probable that it will be in my power henceforth to render any further active service to the institution as its president, and I think that some friend should fill the office who resides in the neighbourhood, whose heart is in the work; and who will give his best attention to a faithful discharge of the important duties thereof. labor may be as far apart as the "I trust that the presence and bless- "With much esteem, "My dear Brethren, "Yours very affectionately, "GEORGE FIFE ANGAS. "To the Treasurer and Secretaries, with the Committee, of the Sunday School Union of Newcastle-upon-Tyne." This communication did not come unlooked for. It was received with much emotion, and accepted with mingled feelings of regret and esteem. following minute was unanimously passed, and ordered to be placed on the records of the institution: The "The committee of the Newcastle Sunday School Union has received, with much concern, the resignation of their venerable president, the Hon. George Fife Angas, and would record on their minutes a cordial expression of the valuable services he has been enabled to render the institution for a long course of years; associated with their sympathy and fervent prayer to God, for the like prosperity of the Australian Sunday School Union, over which their honored friend presides. A copy hereof they respectfully tender to Mr. Angas, with their best wishes for his happiness, and that of his esteemed partner in life and family, here and hereafter." Signed by and for the Committee, J. HARRISON, Secretaries. "While tendering to the society my resignation, permit me to express to you, as corresponding secretary, and tó the committee, my warmest gratitudė for the uniform kindness and co-operation which, for so many years, I have received from you all. I hope there will still continue to exist between us a mutual and earnest desire for the success of each other's efforts, under the divine blessing, although the field of Stinday-school in this town determined DORSETSHIRE. SHERBORNE. The superintendents and teachers of the Independent Chapel tree. The project was greatly aided by the gift of a guinea from Mrs. Digby of Sherborne Castle, and the like sum from W. C. Macready. Esq., of Sherborne House; and some help was received from clergymen of the Church of England. HORBURY SUNDAY SCHOOL, NOTTING HILL. on a plan for rewarding the scholars honored with a Christmas gift from the who gained tickets for early attendance during the past year, so that they may better appreciate punctuality in coming to school-a point most desirable to be gained in any way, not only at this season of the year, but in these times of idle indulgence. A "Christmas tree" was proposed, and met with a ready response; and through the untiring exertions of Dr. Williams, our respected superintendent, and his lady, aided by a few other friends, a tree was planted in the middle of the spacious schoolroom, and hung with articles of almost every useful description, such as ruffs for the neck, pinafores, dolls, knives, books, scissors, &c., as prizes for the early comers. On the evening of Friday Jan. 14, the tree was illuminated with variegated lamps and tapers; the schoolroom adorned with evergreens and flags; and at half-past six the children assembled, the spare room being quickly occupied by visitors and parents of the scholars. The proceedings were opened by the singing of an appropriate hymn, "We'll away to the Sabbath school," after which the superintendent briefly stated the object of the meeting, and at once began the distribution. The articles, each ticketed with the name of the youthful recipient, were then cut from the tree; and the superintendent, in presenting the prizes to the children, made suitable and pleasing remarks. Nothing could give the friends more pleasure than to see the happy faces of the scholars as they gazed on the beautifully illuminated tree, and received the rewards from the hands of their kind superintendent. When the children had nearly dismantled the tree, the distribution having occupied fully an hour, the teachers were unexpectedly called out to receive each a book, judiciously chosen as bearing on the subject of instruction of the young. An amusing incident was the spontaneous clapping of hands by the children, when they saw their teachers DEATH and change have been busy amongst us during the past year. Only two months of it had passed, when, after an illness of some weeks, a dear girl, who had formerly been with us, was called away from earth. She was a bright child, full of rosy health, and her smile was like sunshine gladdening all around. We should not certainly have fixed on her as likely to be the first to leave us. Life seemed to be opening before her full of bright hope and promise; but fever came, and laid her low! And thus, withdrawn from outward scenes, she sought and found the Saviour, of whom she had so often heard, even from earliest childhood. At the beginning of her illness, she desired longer life, and was only feeling after Jesus; but, some time before she died, her will was brought into beautiful submission to the Divine, and she could lean upon the arm of the good and tender Shepherd as she passed down into the "dark valley of the shadow of death." When she thought herself dying (and indeed but a little while before her death), she sent for all her family, to bid them adieu, giving words of warning and earnest love to each, and charging them all especially that they should meet her in Heaven; and then she left a solemn message to be given to the Sunday School children. "Tell them," she said, "to be sure and seek Christ while they are in health; for, if they leave it to a sick or dying bed, it may be difficult to seek and find Him then." This message, from that dear dying child, was faithfully | tion, and the impression made was delivered to the children in our school sought to be followed up in the week on the next Sabbath after her death; and it is hoped that its warning of love was not in vain. Soon after this, another scholar (who had been with us for many years) was removed from us in the midst of life and health, under most mysterious and distressing circumstances. In the case of both families, too, we had soon to bid them a long adieu, as they had arranged to seek another home in New Zealand; and we have now to think of and pray for them as in that distant land. We specially and unitedly commended them to God before they left, and still feel a deep interest in their real welfare. by a letter of faithful expostulation and entreaty; but ere that letter was delivered, the spirit so addressed had been summoned into the presence of its God! What shall we say to these things? Is there no warning voice to us in them? We have these enquiring, sinful, immortal spirits round us on the Sabbath; we know Him who hath Eternal life, and is ready to bestow it as a free gift on all who seek it at His hands. Again are we reminded-by the almost sudden death of an earnest teacher in a neighboring school, who often united with us in our meetingsthat our day of labor is fast drawing to a close, and that the end of it may be much nearer than we are sometimes wont to think. "He rests from his labors, and his works do follow him." Happily they were works of love done for Christ and souls. Are we doing all we can in Several parents too have died, some of whom left behind them a clear testimony to the preciousness of Jesus, and His all-sufficiency even in the hour of mortal weakness. Said one, only a few weeks since, to the superintendent when he called, a little while before the same blessed service? Let us soher death: "He is faithful! not one of lemnly remember that the journey of His promises have failed. I have not life cannot be travelled over a second a care for earth, except for my children." time to correct mistakes, and make a Then she added, "God has been a hus- better improvement of precious opporband to me, and I am sure he will be a tunities. We are hasting to its final father to them." She had been a widow close. Why should we be heaping up some few years, and the calm and al- regrets for a death-bed review? Who most joyful trust manifested in these would not earnestly desire the approving few earnest words, in the near approach" well done" at last, given only to the of the King of Terrors, was most cheer- faithful servant? Who but would seek ing to witness. to crowd the precious fleeting moments In these death-bed experiences we of this earthly life with holy deeds of are vividly reminded how solemn and love for Him who poured out His soul momentous a work we have undertaken on the high altar of Calvary, to save us in the training of immortal spirits for all from the second death? Men are the skies! What a light is thrown on eager and earnest enough about the the necessity of being intensely in things that pass away; they need no earnest when the soul is in peril! The appeals when engaging in the strife of teacher of the girl who was suddenly commerce and the race for wealth. cut off, had, on the previous Sabbath, been urging most strongly the point of religious decision; having a special reference to this girl, who was about leaving for New Zealand. "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve," had been the subject of the afternoon's exhorta- "incorruptible crown," for the honor of The hurrying step, the restless eye, the anxious brow, proclaim the story of the ceaseless toil for perishable gain or glory. For things that men must part with for ever at death (if not long before), what will they not do and dare? Yet- for the |