ber of sittings obtained 34,338, of which 24,990 are free and unappropriated; the number of free sittings alone, obtained during the last year, exceeding the total number of sittings gained in any former year. The Committee are persuaded that this great increase in the demands for the assistance of the Society is mainly to be attributed to an increased attachment to the church of England, and a growing desire to partake of the benefits to be derived from apostolical ordinances, and sound instruction; and strong feeling on the part of the friends of the established church of the necessity which lies upon them to give facility to all classes to attend public worship. Nor can they consider this state of things otherwise than as being full of gratification and encouragement; for, while it must be gratifying in the highest degree, to the friends of the Society to witness the greatly enlarged measure of good with which their exertions have been blessed, they cannot fail to be thereby encouraged to proceed with renewed zeal and earnestness in their beneficent course. It may be hoped also that many who have not yet co-operated with the Society, when they shall behold its good works, now visible in every part of the kingdom, will be induced to enrol themselves among its supporters, and to add their contributions to a fund the distribution of which is every day becoming more extensively useful. The committee have very great pleasure in reporting, that, during the last year, a district committee of the society has been formed at Cambridge, from which the sum of 470l., in donations and subscriptions, has already been received; and they would strongly impress upon the friends of the church the great importance of establishing similar auxiliaries to the Society wherever an opening for them can be found. They have also to notice a diocesan society in aid of this Incorporated Society, established in the diocese of Durham; which, for the last four years, has annually, during that period, transmitted one fourth of the whole of its receipts to the Parent Society: an example of liberality which the committee would be most happy to see imitated by other diocesan societies established for similar purposes. They have also the satisfaction of stating, that, since the last report, the society has been benefited by a legacy of 100l., from Miss Sampson, and by donations to the amount of 14597. 178. In reference to the power of the society to act as trustees for the application of "donations or bequests towards the building or improvement of churches or chapels in any particular neighbourhood," the committee have to record the following liberal donations :-500l., 3 per cent. consols towards building two chapels in the parish of Bampton, from the Rev. Dr. Richards, (in addition to 1007., contributed some time since for the same purpose by the Rev. C. L. Kerby,) and 1007., from the Rev. John Rogers towards enlarging or rebuilding the church in the parish of Heavitree, near Exeter, if called for within five years. The King's letter, noticed in the last report of the committee, has produced about 30,000l. But notwithstanding this accession to the funds of the society, the large amount of the claims upon it in the year just past has reduced its disposable balance to a sum not exceeding 18,000l., the whole of which sum it will in all probability be called upon to appropriate during the current year. The committee however are most unwilling to anticipate a failure of the resources of a society which, during a period of seventeen years, has expended the sum of 188,2431., by which it has been instrumental in building or enlarging 1151 churches or chapels, and in providing 289,760 additional sittings, of which 216,153 are free and unappropriated. They humbly hope that the same good providence under which it has hitherto flourished, will still raise up friends for its support, and supply it with means of continuing to promote the glory of God, and the happiness of mankind. Why is not this done everywhere ?-ED. EDUCATION OF THE POOR. THE following important facts are gathered from the Report of the National Society, read at the Annual Meeting, on the 20th of May. It is presumed, as indeed it was stated in the Report, that the Committee will substantiate what is advanced by ample details in the Appendix, which is usually the most valuable part of their publication. The Report enumerates the means employed for (1) improving and (2) for extending education; and then considers (3) the work which has been and (4) that which remains to be accomplished. 1. The training and model school is described, — its especial design in instructing those who are to teach others. During the last year, 106 persons have been admitted for this purpose. On the whole, 2102 persons have been trained, and 684 schools organized by these persons during the time they were in training a practice which is found to be of eminent utility in preparing them for holding permanent situations afterwards. Sixty District Associations, with 43 model schools on a similar plan, exist throughout the country; in these institutions, considerably above 2000 persons have also been trained, though not (as in the case of the Parent Society) for so long an average period of instruction as five months. 2. The work of extending schools, by grants in aid of building, these District Associations also bear a part with the Society. They have expended in grants above 20,000l., while above 105,000l. has been collected and voted away by the Society itself. These two sums are stated to have produced a total expenditure in building school-rooms of above half-a-million. The Society, during the last year, has obtained 13,500l out of the Parliamentary grant of 20,000l. But it still has applications for aid before the treasury to the amount of 20,900l., by means of which it is proposed to make accommodation for 31,000 children. 3. In estimating the work which has been accomplished, the Committee avail themselves of the two volumes of the Abstract on Education, lately laid before Parliament; these contain 31 counties of England, with a population of 10,117,800 souls. Taking this as three-fourths of the whole population (13,894,574), it is reckoned that there are about 1,268,000 children, including infants, under daily instruction, and 1,418,413 (many of whom are the same as the daily scholars) in Sunday schools. The Abstract shews the gross increase of Sunday and of daily schools since 1818 to be (in the 33 counties) 1,276,706, while the gross amount of scholars is 2,014,144. Hence the increase has been something more than 100 per cent. But the Society's schools in 1817, when its charter was obtained, comprised 117,000 scholars,these are now increased to above 500,000; and, allowing for the increase from 1817 to 1818, it is concluded that, in the period which has elapsed since 1818, the Society's schools have increased to the extent of above 300 per cent. So that education has been carried forward in the Society's hands with an acceleration three times greater than that with which schools in general proceeded.* 4. The work remaining to be accomplished is distributed under several heads; populous and other places to be provided with schools, existing schools to be enlarged as to their capacity for receiving children, and others to be improved, both in regard to what the children are taught, and the manner in which their instruction is imparted. For populous places, reference is made to the society's report of 1831, and the extent to which the promises of the committee made at that time have * Of course, if the national schools be separated from the schools of the public at large, and a comparison be instituted after this separation, (which is the only fair method of computing the proportionate increase of the different kind of schools,) it will appear that the rapidity of the Society's movement will be to the movement of the public in a still greater ratio than that of 3: I. been fulfilled. In regard to places of inferior magnitude, it is stated, on the authority of the parliamentary abstract, that not less than 2000 spots exist in the kingdom, with distinct populations varying from 50 souls and upwards to a considerable amount, and comprising small parishes, townships, hamlets, and extra-parochial places, in which there is not a single school. To these attention is promised in the course of the ensuing year. The enlarged sphere of the society's operations is then dwelt on, by way of shewing how necessary the enlargement of many existing schools must be, and how often it is requisite to build a second or a third school for one and the same place. And the report concludes with suggestions with respect to the improvement of schools; small payments from the scholars are recommended, as on former occasions, and the application of any charitable bequests (where possible) in support of schools. It is stated, that in the 300 applications for aid in building which have very lately been under the Committee's consideration, there are 58 cases in which small endowments have been so applied. The drift of the observations in this division of the Report, is to shew the necessity of augmenting the salaries of teachers, in confidence that if these be increased a superior class of persons will engage in the work of educating the young; whereas, if masters be much improved as to the standard of their qualifications, without a corresponding increase in the remuneration offered them, they will be constantly deserting the service for which they have been trained, to obtain more lucrative situations in the world. The building of dwelling houses for teachers of schools, in the immediate neighbourhood of the schools, and providing them, if possible, with gardens, is especially recommended as a species of endowment far preferable to an additional remuneration in money, and as a plan which would enable them at their leisure hours to exercise a beneficial influence over the young. PARLIAMENTARY GRANTS TO THE NATIONAL SOCIETY Proposed Outline of a Memorial to be addressed to the Right Honourable the 1. A brief petition for pecuniary assistance, with a statement of any peculiar difficulties. 2. A reference to the correspondence held with the NATIONAL SOCIETY, in the usual form, for all particulars.* N. B. The memorial should NOT enter into any details. 3. A declaration that the applicants are ready to submit to any audit of their building accounts which the Lords of the Treasury may direct, and to make such periodical reports respecting the state of their Schools and the number of Scholars educated as may be called for. 4. A declaration that there are not any charitable funds, or endowments which might render further grants unnecessary; or if such funds and endowments exist, a short explanation of their nature, &c., with the reason why they do not supersede the preceding petition. Dated and Signed by the several promoters of the School. Suggestions relative to Applications for aid in Building School-rooms. Object of the GRANTS.-The grants are made for "the erection of new School-houses," (meaning thereby School-rooms, exclusive of the accommodation for Masters and Mistresses). When Infant Schools are to be established, it is * Forms and papers for transacting the Society's business may be had on application to the Secretary. expected that the rooms will (if possible) be used for the instruction of older Children upon the Lord's Day. In case of building new School-houses for existing Schools, it is desirable to shew clearly what increase will be made in the number of Children to be instructed. A preference has, at times, been given by the Lords of H. M. Treasury to applications from large cities and towns, yet it is by no means the intention to exclude parishes of a more limited population from the benefits of the Grant. SITE FOR THE SCHOOL-HOUSE.-A secure legal tenure is indispensable; and a certificate to that effect is required before any grant is claimed, that a site of this description has been vested in the hands of proper Trustees, &c. It is not, however, required that a site should have been actually obtained when the application and memorial are presented; the applicant need only certify the sufficiency of the tenure of the ground he expects to build upon. ESTIMATE OF THE WORK, &c., including Purchase of Site, Building Schoolhouse, and Fittings up.-The form of a common barn furnishes no bad model. The neighbouring parishes may probably supply specimens, and the exact cost of these may be ascertained; or, an estimate, from a respectable builder, will suffice for the basis of the memorial. The NATIONAL SOCIETY'S suggestions on building may be procured. The first point, is the securing of not less than six square feet upon the floor to each child, and of a sufficient height for the purpose of ventilation. N.B. A dwelling-house for the Master or Mistress (an object of great importance) is not contemplated in the grants of H. M. Treasury, nor in those of the NATIONAL SOCIETY. If such a building is to be raised, the estimates of the two works must be kept distinct. MEANS TO MEET THE ESTIMATE, and to qualify the case for consideration by the Lords of H. M. Treasury.-Their Lordships, in important cases, have at times granted one-half of the estimated cost; and where peculiar difficulties exist, the NATIONAL SOCIETY has made up a small portion of the other moiety, previously to transmitting the memorial; still it is needful, in every case, that local contributions should be made, either in money, materials, labour, &c. &c. It is not requisite that they should have been collected, nor even that specific promises should have been obtained from persons residing at a distance. The probable amount of their donations may be specified; and when the result of the greatest possible exertions is calculated in this manner, and communicated to the NATIONAL SOCIETY, with the other requisite particulars, the Committee will use their best exertions to secure the success of the undertaking. The amount of private subscriptions of every kind must, of necessity, have been "received, expended, and accounted for," before any grant from H. M. Treasury can be claimed. When subscriptions are made for a Dwelling-house, as well as for a Schoolhouse, the proportion of the total sum raised or expected, as applicable to each object, must be distinctly explained. Comparative Statement, taken from the " Abstract of Education Returns, 1833," County of Middlesex-vol. II. Just circulated to the Members of Parliament. Why is there so much ado about granting a charter to the London University when the Returns before Parliament shew that it is the second, not the first, institution of the kind in the metropolis? N.B. The above is sent by a correspondent. Such documents are very valuable; and corrections of them, if incorrect, are most desirable, whether from friend or foe. CHURCH MATTERS. RELIGIOUS DESTITUTION OF GREAT CITIES. INSTEAD of giving the second letter of "J." this month, the reader's attention is claimed to the following extracts from a Scotch Minister in Montrose, which speak the exact truth, and shew how the same difficulties beset all great cities: "What we have to lament is, that there are no churches to accommodate the people if they would come to church, or that there is no provision of cheap-enough and gratuitous sittings to accommodate the poor who can pay little or nothing for them; and that there are not ministers enough to overtake that constant frequent visitation of all the families which might be instrumental in restoring them to church-going habits, and in sowing and nourishing among them religious and moral principles. What we pray for is, that Government would aid in endowing new churches, so as to provide religious instruction and pastoral superintendence for those who have not the means or the disposition themselves to pay for these things! And in order that the bounty of Government may be made available for the supply of spiritual privileges to the poor, it has only to stipulate, that in return for its bounty a certain number of sittings shall be set aside on low terms, or gratuitously, for the poor. In this way, the proposed endowment would be, in regard to its principal feature, neither more nor less than a necessary and dutiful provision on the part of Government to meet the wants of the poorer portion of our great national family. Is that an object to awaken your opposition? Is it an object to awaken the opposition of any one who wants to be considered a friend of the people? Especially, is it an object against which the wrath of the poor should be awakened, the wrath of the very persons for whose benefit it is principally intended?" "We crave that, in populous towns especially, there may be provided ministers to visit the outcast inhabitants, and churches into which to allure them; and we are willing to stake the existence of the Church, on its capability, if thus dealt with, of proving to all classes, from the highest to the lowest, a great-the greatest national blessing. You refuse this reasonable request: you insist that we shall make our Church, with its present means, a blessing to the people at large, although it has neither ministers to visit the people, nor places of worship into which they can be received. Sir, unless you unite the enlargement with the reformation of the Church, to talk of giving it a fair trial is just as if I were to talk of giving you a fair trial as a legislator, while yet I helped in preventing you from ever opening your mouth or setting your foot within the House of Commons, and from ever having, even by epistolary writing, any communication with your constituents. 4 Y VOL. VII.-June, 1835. |