proportion of our prizes. The children were left to choose for themselves, according to their merit: it being stated, that those who possessed a Bible should make choice of another book, or something else; and it was delightful to witness the preference which they gave to religious books, and to the sacred volume; not merely because they were neatly bound and gilt, but, I may safely declare, because they appreciated their contents; and if any regret was experienced, it was when a child was obliged to go without a New Testament, which it had so long desired to possess. * * * * * * P. S.-There are a great number of Chinese residing here, who are living in darkness and in the grossest idolatry. There is no one here that attends to them; but if I had a few Bibles or New Testaments, and Tracts in their language, I would endeavour to distribute them among them. If I do not receive a supply of Martin's New Testaments, neatly bound, from another quarter, I may probably have recourse to your liberality again. "FEED MY LAMBS." The blood of Christ was newly shed, And He, the blessed one who spake, And he, who heard with heart awake, For not again his spirit slept, The saint hath into glory passed, We bear the lamp apostles bore; And yet, to heathen isles afar, The quickening fire may fly, While clouds and darkness gathering are We must go forth o'er plain and hill, Through many an evil day; And in our land the word fulfil That shall not pass away. It shall not pass-it must be heard Perchance when flesh and soul are stirred, How then will faithless servants meet The Searcher of the heart, If from their doors, and from their feet, Ungathered, through a Christian land, That else, upon the Lord's right hand, BEFORE READING THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. Open, Lord, our understanding, May thy heavenly grace descending Heavenly Teacher, May our minds with truth be stored. If thy Spirit do not reach us, Driving darkness from the heart, Heavenly Spirit, May it please thee, light impart. CORRESPONDENCE. ON "THRASHING" IN SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. DEAR SIR, My attention having been arrested by a letter headed, "On Thrashing in Sunday-schools," in the "Teacher's Visitor" for August, I beg to offer a few remarks on it. It appears that the Superintendent of the principal School in the town advocates and practises corporeal punishment; in consequence of which, the Teachers find their work comparatively easy. But with what feeling, may I ask, do the children obey them, and receive their instructions? Dread of the rod, or love? Their obedience is the result of slavish fear, as the writer proves by the conduct of the boys in one of the other schools, where it appears they behaved pretty well, on account of the Superintendent enforcing obedience by the rod when he was present; but no sooner is his back turned than the signal is given for disorder, and that in the first class, when the writer was acting as Superintendent. The Teachers are shewn to have no command over the boys; and when the writer desired them to cease stamping with their feet, they, in defiance, increased the annoyance, which, if they had any respect for him, love to their Teachers, or sense of the sacred character of the Sabbath, would not have been the case. This is again proved by their throwing a snow-ball into the School-room-being, in fact, masters of the Teachers for it appears, that with impunity, they threw snow-balls at them and the writer, as he found to his smart. Now comes the question. Did he pursue a right course with those boys? I unhesitatingly answer, No. Although it would not have been prudent, perhaps, to have remonstrated with them then, could he not lift up his heart in prayer to the Lord, that he would forgive them for thus breaking his Sabbath, and, by his grace, renew their hearts, and seek the first opportunity of speaking to them, apart from each other-pointing out the consequences of their sin, not against him, but God-and exhorting them to repent, and flee to Christ for pardon and salvation, and thus obeyed the Saviour's injunction: "Love your enemies; do good to them which hate you; bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you"? (Luke vi. 27, 28.) And this course would, I am persuaded by experience, be much more effectual in the end, than that which he adopted, and of which he anticipates such happy results; for although the boys are now tame and gentle, time will prove the obedience caused by those severe means to be only temporary; and the oftener this severity is repeated, the greater advantage will they take of every opportunity they have of insulting, maltreating, and annoying their Teachers. Quell every revengeful and passionate thought that may arise, with the grace so given-remembering, example is far better than precept; for the moment the hand is raised to strike a child, the flood-gates of passion are thrown wide open; but love will keep the soul in a heavenly frame, and the most hardened heart must crouch before it. It is my opinion that thrashing hardens the heart, while love softens it, without respect either to place or district. Being obliged to dismiss boys, again shews the evils attending severe means, and that gentle ones were not properly carried out. I can never agree in the opinion, that Sunday-schools can never be conducted unless thrashing be resorted to; as I am convinced, the only effectual mode is mildness, firmness, and affection-so shewing to the lambs of the flock that we have their souls' eternal welfare at heart. "In meekness, instructing those that oppose themselves," (2 Tim. ii. 24, 25.) is a good rule for us all. A JUNIOR TEACHER. REVEREND SIR,-May I be allowed, through the medium of the "Teacher's Visitor," to dissent from and oppose the principle, that thrashing is indispensible in the management of Sunday-schools. Your correspondent, who advocates its necessity, at the same time graphically illustrates its effects in confirming a rebellious and disobedient spirit, for which he would use this as a remedy; for as soon as "enforced obedience by the rod" ceases, then such a burst of daring conduct as he describes ensues. Surely, if the Sabbathschool Teacher has no greater motive to influence his flock, than "that all should be love and harmony," and that " a heavenly and holy feeling should pervade the minds of all"-if only morality, and what ought to be, are his persuasives to obedience then we need not wonder they will not pay any attention to such lessons, since "the wild and unruly passions of our nature must first be subdued." But we have seen that these unruly passions, though for a season restrained by fear of the "rod," are not subdued; our Church teaches us that God alone can order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men. To that source, then, let the Teacher apply; let him earnestly and daily pray to God for the conversion of his chargeconfessing his inability and weakness-imploring for himself all that meekness, gentleness, love, and wisdom which he needs-and on the Sabbath let him, in faith, set before them their state before God, his anxious and affectionate solicitude about their souls, urge them to flee to Jesus that they may be saved, that their hearts may be changed, and that they may take the Lord for their God and Guide. These are the only lawful and the only effectual means the Teacher of Christ's religion is warranted to use. We know that correction, and even corporeal punishment, is incumbent on those who have the management of the young, and both parents and daily Teachers see its necessity; and, when judiciously administered, its good effects; but, in Sabbath-schools, the holiness of the day, the nature of the instruction, and the meek spirit of Christ, which ought to exhibit itself in the Teacher, alike forbid resort to brute force, and, doubtless, such zeal for Christ would meet with the reproof, "ye know not what spirit ye are of." In no Sunday-school with which I have been connected has "thrashing" been used; but very obstinate cases, that have hardened their necks against the affectionate intreaties of the Teacher, and the reproofs of the Superintendent and the Minister, have been dismissed, much to the benefit of the school at large, and the preservation of order. Hoping that in the schools with which your correspondent is acquainted, and any others in which "thrashing" has been used, it may henceforth be dispensed with, I am, Rev. Sir, Yours respectfully, S. B. REV. SIR,-Delighting as I do in your little publication for Sundayschool Teachers-feeling that it was much wanted-and thankful it has fallen into so good hands-yet knowing the difficulties connected with the work, I cannot but agree with one of your correspondents respecting the occasional use of the rod; and although by the use of the word "thrashing," inserted so conspicuously, you may wish to condemn those who thus disagree with you, and even go so far as to say, "that you would sooner shut up your Sunday-school than allow of any corporeal punishment whatsoever," I must and cannot but think that the word of God and the experience of all ages sanctions it. The insubordination that now so unhappily prevails among the young, (caused, I fear, in some degree, by the anti-thrashing opinions of Robert Owen and his disciples, subtilely spreading through the community,) needs prompt and vigorous measures to check it in the bud; and it is extremely tiresome to a Superintendent or Teacher to be perpetually reasoning with boys on the necessity of being orderly, who are allowed to revel in disorder throughout the week-"every one doing that which is right in his own eyes." Besides, in many places, there is a lamentable insufficiency of Teachers, and a person might wear out his lungs in vain; while a salutary example made upon a disorderly boy would at once remove the grievance; and, if performed in a right spirit, would cause the Teacher to be both feared and loved. It appears to me, that a Sunday-school Teacher ought to regard those placed under his care as a parent should his children, and such means as a pious parent is authorised and commanded by the word of God to use in restraining his children, the Teacher is also justified in using. (See 1 Sam. iii. 13. Proverbs xix. 18; xxii. 15; xxiii. 13, 14; xxvi. 3; xxix. 15, 17, 21.) If, however, upon Scriptural grounds, and taking into consideration the various circumstances in which Teachers are placed, you can suggest means whereby the rod may be laid aside, I feel that a debt of gratitude will be due to you from "thrashing" Teachers; all of whom, I am persuaded, will agree with me, that "it is more painful to give than to receive." Yours very respectfully, E. S. I AM thankful to say, that one of the rules of our School is, "No corporeal punishment allowed." I have had the privilege of more than thirteen years' Sunday-school teaching, and am satisfied that your view of this subject is correct. Our children meet on the Sunday only some attend our National Schools, others the Lancasterian or British Schools, some attend private week-day schools, and others no school at all: the Superintendent (myself) is a layman: and, notwithstanding these drawbacks, as they may be considered, to good order and discipline, we find "thrashing" quite unnecessary. I am sure that for some years I have felt, whenever I may have been tempted to strike a boy, positive harm, and not good, has been the result. We have 240 boys and girls, including an infant class, for which we have a room fitted up with gallery, &c. J. E. PUNCTUAL ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL. THERE may be a difference of opinion as to the propriety of having rules for the management of Sunday-schools; but I hope that all parties are agreed, that where there are rules, they should be strictly observed. I make this prefatory remark because I am wishful to draw the attention of Teachers to the immense importance of one rule, which I am almost inclined to think every Sunday-school has adopted, that is, for their attendance at stated hours of the day. In our school, for instance, the rule provides for the duties of the morning being commenced at nine o'clock; at which hour the door is closed, and we unite in singing a psalm or hymn, and supplicating the blessing of God on our labour. O, how cheering! how delightful to commence our services with a full school! how absolutely injurious to have the Teachers absent! I have been eye-witness, during the past year, to the very opposite effect of one Teacher being always punctually at his post, and another only occasionally so. Y., a young Teacher, seemed deeply |