BRITISH

A Monthly Journal,

FRIENDS' FIRST-DAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.

VOL. XIV.

Friends cannot have listened to the account of these

THE annual meeting of this Association was held in visits, without coming to the conclusion, that they the meeting-house at Ackworth, on the 3d ult.

The chair was taken by JOHN PEASE, who opened the proceedings by a reference to the meeting last year, when the objects of the Association were fully detailed. He had remembered that the work of Firstday school teaching was of recent origin, and in how simple a way it had been commenced. We must look back upon Robert Raikes as one of the benefactors of the human family, and to him, and the movement he originated, we ascribe benefits which can hardly be over-appreciated. Our own religious Society was late in this field of labour, but he hoped we might now say had entered upon it thoroughly. The schools already established were, for the most part, prosperous, and the teachers upon whom their duties devolved, well qualified for the task. He knew they were pleased with their avocation; and though it involved much self-denial-the giving up of ease and leisure on Firstdays-and was sometimes a discouraging occupation, yet it had its own reward in the answer of peace and comfort which was often felt, and well repaid the teacher's labour.'

have tended, in a remarkable manner, to increase the interest felt in the First-day school cause in the minds of the visited, whilst the intercourse had by the deputations with conductors of other schools, must have very materially enlarged the experience of the deputation themselves, and have fitted them for a further work in the same direction.

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Although this agency must not be considered as of permanent character, it was of great use as an occasional means to stir up an interest in these undertakings; and when conducted in the same spirit which had hitherto characterized it, was well calculated to yachieve its object. He hoped the necessary funds would be willingly provided to enable the committee to go on where any loor opening presented itself. The work of these deputations was no light ma, and it was because it had been heretofore distinguished by seriousness, and an earnest desire to do good, that it had been so satisfactorily performed. He would therefore encourage the committee to a further prosecution of the service.

The names of the representatives present from the several associated schools having been called over, the report from the central committee was read by JOHN THIRNBECK GRACE. It detailed the proceedings of the deputations, in accordance with the minute of the last annual meeting, at Leeds, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Bradford, York, Malton, Newcastle, Shields, Sunderland, Stockton, Middlesborough, and Darlington, mentioning, as one result, the opening of three or four new schools, and, in other places, much increased interest on the part of the conductors of those previously existing. Many interesting particulars of this service were given, as also some general reflections suggested by the varied circumstances of the meetings visited.

The audited accounts for the year showed a balance of £23 due to the treasurer.

JOSEPH ROWNTREE thought the report a very interesting one, and the narrative of the visits paid by the deputations was especially so. It was a subject very closely considered last year, and the meeting had now before it satisfactory evidence that the judgment then arrived at was a sound one.

EDWARD SMITH said that at Sheffield the increase of scholars, both adults and children, was to such an extent that it now required some ingenuity on the part of Friends to work the machine efficiently. He could bear testimony to the beneficial effect exercised upon the teachers by this work; it contributed to a greater seriousness, an increased interest in the Holy Scriptures, and was, he felt sure, a rightful exercise of the gift of teaching, given by the great Master surely to be used. It did not (as had been feared by some) detach our young Friends from our Society, but it did on the contrary, tend to increase their value for, and their interest in, our religious body, binding them together in a close bond of union. He thought, with this evidence before them, they could not hesitate to use their efforts to further the work. Much might be done by elder Friends, who, though not able to give their superintendence, might yet, by occasional presence and sympathy, by a kind word or seasonable counsel, be of use, and do their part in endeavouring to unite all classes together in the general aim. He considered these deputations were of good service, if well carried out as heretofore, and that their sphere

of usefulness might be much extended, but they ought GEORGE SATTERTHWAITE cordially united with the not to be looked upon as a permanent organization. remarks in the report as to the effects upon the visitThey were the best means of effecting the establish- ing and the visited. He had been on the Yorkshire ment of new schools, in giving seasonable counsel in deputation, and was not aware, until that evening, cases of depression and difficulty, in suggesting re- that a school had been since established at Huddersmedies for existing evils, and in stirring up to zeal field, and which was a source of encouragement to the those who were lacking in it. He had no doubt but Friends who had been there engaged. In some places the funds would be forth-coming, and urged Friends the deputations had a little exceeded their duty as set to subscribe liberally to pay off the present debt, and forth in the words of the last year's minute, having enable the committee to enter further upon the ser- visited schools which could not be said to be "declinvice which the meeting had pressed upon them. ing." He thought the minute to be adopted this JOSEPH PEASE hoped none of the objects contem- year should be so worded as to meet these cases, and plated by the Association would be lost sight of. He to admit of visits to schools already existing, where had no doubt funds would be provided. All the So- they might come in the way of the deputations. ciety of Friends required was a good cause, and when JOHN FORD Could add his testimony to the benethey have found one they will not let it lack the funds ficial effects upon the minds of those who were ento carry it out efficiently. He could assure those en- gaged in these schools; and as there were many gaged in this good cause that they had his warmest present who were not so engaged, he thought it was sympathy. He felt that he had not, in his youth, a duty they owed society to do what lay in their discharged the duty he owed to those who had not power to further it. He then read some extracts had the same advantages as himself, and therefore from a letter, written by a First-day school teacher, was doubly anxious to strengthen the hands of those which concluded with the words "It is easy to now engaged in First-day schools. teach them when you have gained their love." John Ford added, he could endorse that sentiment-It is easy to teach children when you have gained their love.

In his association with the mining population of a large district in the north, he had been often struck with the feeling that they required much help in this way. He had lately had occasion to look into the condition of First-day schools in the district he had named, and felt bound to say that it was to the careful, wise, and pious exertions of those engaged in First-day school instruction, that we owed no small portion of that progress so apparent in the population of the mining districts. In some parts there is no place of worship within three or four miles, but the First-day school is there, and is largely attended by the youth, who listen to the instructions of their teachers in the school; and, on their return home, are provided with a tract, which they, in turn, read to their parents and friends, who have not had the opcounsel for themselves. He portunity of ha called at the cottages of the poor miners, and heard many simple and touching narratives of the good the children had received in this way; parents spoke feelingly of the texts and hymns lisped by the dying lips of their children, to be sung hereafter in far higher numbers, we may reverently believe, in heaven above. He thought many Friends, who might be badly situated for commencing First-day schools on a large scale, might attempt it in a very simple way, and be the means of doing much good; and gave a pleasing instance of the successful attempt of some persons, in humble station, to do this in their own dwelling. He believed that the work of First-day schools experienced largely of the Divine blessing, and claimed all the assistance and all the sympathy we could render it.

WILLIAM BALL had been prevented, by various circumstances, from attending the meetings of the Firstday School Association on previous occasions, and could hardly now do less than acknowledge the sense he felt of the value of the movement. He had often rejoiced that Friends had entered upon this important effort to spread the Redeemer's kingdom. He thought it was calculated to do much good to the young Friends engaged in it, and he heartily desired their success.

JOSEPH THORP, though not connected with any First-day school, had witnessed the effect these institutions had exercised on the character of those engaged in them. In teaching others they experienced sometimes, in remarkable degree, the blessing to rest on their own spirits; their best sympathies were expanded, and in those meetings which had undertaken the work, the teachers had been drawn together in a bond of union of no small value.

J. D. APPLETON hoped that the deputations would not confine their attention to the north of England, but would turn their steps southwards. In London, Friends had only one First-day school, and he considered there was ample room for several. He thought that a deputation to London and its neighbourhood would find a ready field for their labours, and be likely to succeed in their object.

JOHN PRIESTMAN said that the visit of the deputation to Bradford had worked very advantageously to their school. IIe thought First-day schools were productive of great benefit to our young people, and would encourage them to persevere in the work they had undertaken. Teaching was a gift which all had not possessed, and success was sometimes attributable to a few individuals. But our gifts, small though they be at first, grow as we employ them; and this gift of teaching was given us as a talent to be used, and of which we should assuredly have to give an account at some future day, when it would be well if we were found not to have been hiding it under a bushel.

WILLIAM THISTLETHWAITE had attended these meetings from year to year with increasing interest, and was glad to believe that the Association might now be said to have taken deep root in the hearts of Friends, and to be already growing up vigorously and producing fruit. In our religious Society we were, when young, excluded from some of the vocations in which the youth of other religious bodies were engaged, to train them up in works of usefulness; it was therefore most desirable that we should encourage the early cultivation of feelings of beneficence in thus teaching the children of the poor. He was particularly struck with that portion of the report which spoke of the individuality of character in communities of Friends, and the diversity of circumstances in various meetings. He would desire to promote the establishment of small schools where larger efforts could not be made; and where this service was undertaken to a large or small extent, it would be twice blessed, especially to the giver. He had had some experience of the effect which this movement had exercised in some of our larger meetings, and it had been altogether for good. The result, in country districts, had also strengthened him in this opinion; and he would urge upon his young friends everywhere to endeavour to be of some little service in this cause; as years in

GEORGE RICHARDSON, JUN., referring to the commencement of schools in a small way, stated that one had been vigorously carried on at Cornwood by three Friends since 1849, and in the lower part of Newcastle a father and two sons had carried on a very useful school for some time on First-days. It was held in an attic, and an evening school had lately been added to it.

JAMES BACKHOUSE mentioned that when Friends at Cornwood began their school, they found the people so anxious for instruction, that they added an evening class, and shortly after established a library, which excited so much interest, that parties came five or six miles to borrow books. In this way a handful of Friends, isolated in a country district, were the means of furthering the best interests of the surrounding country.

creased upon them, the thought of this work would particulars of a First-day school, conducted by persons cheer them in the retrospect. of various religious denominations, in a very low disJOHN NEWBY having made some inquiries respect-trict between Westminster Abbey and Pimlico; and, ing First-day schools for adults, and whether such in conclusion, recommended the establishment of scholars attended our meetings for worship? good libraries in connection with all our First-day WILLIAM WHITE replied, that in Birmingham they schools. had a large number of adults in their First-day school -about 350 male and 150 female scholars, all above fourteen years of age. Increasing attention was now directed to this class, as they were so occupied in manufacturing districts as to have but very small op portunities for improvement; and had, in many cases, been removed from school at an early age. It must be evident that as to the attendance of public worship, no obligatory influence could be exercised in this way on persons of mature age. Several encouraging instances, however, existed in their school of the scholars attending our meetings regularly, and one or two had become convinced of our principles. He believed some of our women Friends might be very beneficially engaged in this cause, commencing in a small, way with two or three poor children of their neighbourhood, whom they might instruct with very simple means, and in this way lay the foundation of a good school hereafter. Friends should not give way to discouragement because there was no suitable place at hand for children to meet in. Some schools with which he was acquainted had risen to be successful institutions from very small beginnings, and this was the right way in which to commence. It was thus a labour of love, and as love begets love, so the teachers draw scholars around them. When you see GEORGE SATTERTHWAITE quite united in the rea teacher always loving, that teacher is always suc- marks which had been made, as to the desirableness cessful; the class soon becomes crowded, and others of attracting young people on leaving school to our are anxious for admission. He expressed his pleasure First-day schools; this had been done in several inat the presence of some of the elder scholars of Ack-stances he knew with advantage. He thought in this worth School, and hoped they might become First-day way Friends would be carrying out the concern of school teachers after leaving the institution. He the Yearly Meeting respecting our younger memnarrated a pleasing instance of the successful exercise bers, &c. of the power of love upon a class of unruly girls; in one particular case with permanently happy effects, as evidenced on the death-bed of the child. Whether we were permitted to see present results or not, it was our duty to sow the seed-not sparing labour to till the soil well for its reception-and the fruit would appear in due season, if we but sow in faith.

A minute was then read, adopting the annual report, and directing its printing and circulation under the care of the committee; also encouraging further service in the way of deputations, and recommending Friends to contribute the required funds. A list of donations received for the object was read, and any further sums will, we understand, be gladly received by the Treasurer, ALBERT FRY, Bristol.

JOHN PEASE mentioned two or three instances of the good resulting from First-day schools, which had recently come to his knowledge. He hoped Friends would endeavour to induce the children educated at Ackworth, Rawden, Ayton, and others of our schools, to enter upon this work, which would be the means of keeping them under the notice of Friends, of fostering the good impressions received in these schools, and of retaining their interest in our Society.

JOHN HODGKIN said, he was one of those who, in his youth, had not had the zeal to undertake this service; and it was cause of some regret to him, in looking back, that such had been the case. It was cause for encouragement that Friends in London had been able for some years to maintain a school in degraded Spitalfields, which had been productive of much good. Nevertheless, he quite concurred with J. D. Appleton relative to the opening there was for a deputation to the south, as there was still a wide field of labour unoccupied. He gave some interesting

JOHN RICHARDSON, as reference had been made to the efforts of persons in humble life to promote Firstday schools, wished Friends to read a book lately published, entitled, Early Death not Premature, being the memoir of Francis L. Mackenzie, a son of Lord Mackenzie, and affording an example of a person in the higher ranks of life zealously labouring in the same good cause.

JAMES COOKE believed tha ng Friends might now assure themselves that they had the sym pathy of their elder Friends, even although it was not evident in many cases. This movement, having the effect of binding the young more firmly to their religious principles, had strong claims on the sympathy of their elder brethren and sisters.

WILLIAM ABBATT mentioned that the Bolton Firstday school, although now more vigorous, had passed through times of great depression, sometimes having been almost sustained by those who had formerly been scholars in it.

JOHN ASHWORTH narrated to the meeting some incidents connected with the management of a First-day school near Bolton, which he frequently attended; after which, the following Friends were appointed as the Central Committee for the ensuing year-viz.: ALBERT FRY, Treasurer,

JOSEPH STORRS FRY, Secretary,
WILLIAM S. CAPPER,
JOHN THIRNBECK GRACE,
ARTHUR NAISH,

FRANCIS JAMES FRY, and

WALTER STURGE.

OF BRISTOL.

CIRCULATION OF THE ARABIC SCRIPTURES
AMONG MAHOMETANS IN AFRICA, &c.

The following extract describes efforts to circulate the Arabic Scriptures amongst Mahometans in

Africa:

"One conversation with a Jaloof Marrabu, a more intelligent and better informed man than most of his class, was rather interesting. He believed, in common with all Mahometans, that Moses and the other writers of Scripture, both of the Old and New Testaments, were men inspired by God; and he as firmly believed the Mahometan fable that the Koran was written originally in heaven, and brought down in small portions, at different times, to Mahomet, by the angel Gabriel. He admitted, in course of conversation, his belief that God is a Being of perfect truth, and eternally unchangeable, and that He could not say one thing at one time, and something quite contrary at another. I spoke to him of the agreement one with another of all the writers of the different books composing the Scriptures, who had lived in different ages of the world, and pointed out to him that the Koran, which was written long after the Bible was completed (to all which he was willing to assent), flatly contradicted the Bible in many places, besides being full of contradictions in itself, showing that the Bible and the Koran cannot possibly, as he supposed, be alike the Book of God, but that one or the other must be false, and I put it to him to consider for himself in which of the two the falsehood lay. He listened calmly to all I said, but put it off by saying he knew there were differences between the Koran and the books we call the Scriptures, but did not yet know how it was that they existed.

"In giving him a copy of the Scriptures, which he was very anxious to obtain, I spoke to him of that eternal world to which all are hastening, with its everlasting joys laid up for the righteous, and endless misery awaiting the wicked; of the strict account which all of us will have to give at God's judgmentseat, for the deeds done in this life; of the tremendous consequences to himself if he should find, after entering the eternal world, when it would be for ever too late to repair the error, that he had been in delusion with regard to the truth or error of Mahometanism and the true way of salvation; of the blessed prospects of life and immortality which are brought to light by the gospel, and of the lively and confident hope of everlasting life possessed by all true Christians, grounded on the conscious assurance of God's forgiving love and favour which He imparts to all His true people; and expressed my persuasion, that if he would carefully read and study the sacred volume I gave to him, praying to God to guide him and enable him to understand it, he would discover the truth, and learn from it for himself the true and only way

had presented my hawking license, and then entered
the very next house to his. Here I found a very
elderly woman; What books have you there?' said
she; 'I and my husband are very fond of good books.'
'Then this book will please you,' I replied; it is the
entire Bible, the Old and New Testament.' 'Indeed,'
said she; 'so you have the whole Bible-then I must
go and borrow the money next door till my husband
returns. With these words she went, bringing an-
other woman with her, who immediately bought a
copy, who told me she had once had the Bible in her
house a whole year, and had learned to love it so
much that she could not forget it, but it was not her
property, and she long wished to obtain another;
and now,' she continued, 'the dear Lord sends you
here, to give me this good opportunity of acquiring
it, and for this I shall not be able to praise Him
enough throughout eternity. A colporteur entered
another house, where an old man, 85 years of age,
stood up from his arm-chair, and after examining the
title-page, and looking through the book, drew out
his purse and paid the price, saying, 'Now my wish
is fulfilled-I am rich enough;' and tears of joy attested
the truth of his assertion."

"The depôt of the Bible Society at Nice is now confided to the care of Francesco Madiai, whose cruel persecution in the dungeons of Tuscany will be fresh in the memory of all. One thousand copies of the Scriptures have been circulated, since it was confided to the charge of this excellent individual, in four months, and the number is rapidly increasing."

NEW ZEALAND.-The following letter was addressed by Hoani Wiremu, a New Zealand chief, to the Committee of the Bible Society, on February the 18th,

1856:

"My Fathers in the Lord Jesus, the Chiefs of the Committee who print the Bibles,-Your books have come to me, and your love; for they are a true sign of your love to me. Great was the joy of my heart in seeing your books. My coming here is like to the coming of the chief of Ethiopia, who came to Jerusalem to worship. On his returning to his own place in his chariot, he was reading in the book of the prophet Isaiah, where he says, 'Like a lamb before the face of his shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.' The Spirit of God saw him and the place of the Scripture where he was reading, and the Spirit told Philip to go to him and to stop with him: and Philip went and stopped with him and read the book of Isaiah, and then he asked him if he understood what he was reading? and the chief of Ethiopia said, Who is there to teach me? and Philip preached to him about Jesus from the prophets and the law of Moses, and afterwards he went away on his return, happy in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. I, also, now that I have seen you, the printers of the Bible of God, am going away happy on my return. The Bible is a tree: I have put forth the hands of my heart, and I "I shall not soon forget his reply, uttered in a have gathered the fruit into my heart, and the Spirit thoughtful manner, and with a plaintive voice. He of God which He gives sanctifies the things in the was aware, he said, that there is an eternal world to hearts which are loving unto him. My fathers, you be entered after death, with everlasting joys for the have not hid the Bible in a corner, but you have held righteous, and everlasting woe for the wicked, for his it up for all places of the world. Therefore, my desire religion taught him so: But,' said he, 'that world is was this-that I might see you, the chiefs who print all dark to us;' meaning that the doctrines of Maho- the Bibles; that I may think, when I return to my metanism afford its votaries no comfortable or sus- own place in New Zealand, that I have seen your taining hopes with regard to the future, but leave eyes the chiefs who print the Bibles-and the eyes them all to dark and dreary uncertainty."- From the also of those who are the carers for the Jews, that Bible Report of 1856. they should turn to the faith in Jesus Christ with one FROM GERMANY.- I cannot express the joy," says heart and one mind, that we may grow together into a colporteur, "which was experienced by two neigh-one temple in our Lord Jesus Christ. You are the bours, when I presented the entire Bible to them. I blacksmiths who are making the wedges to open the had just left the house of the burgomaster, where I strong trees, that they may be broken, and the hard

to heaven.

T. B. MACAULAY'S DESCRIPTION OF GEORGE FOX. obediones to this act of manifested duty? He says,