a total reformation. The parents, too, had expected to see him come muttering home, and were surprised to see him come smiling, and present to them the little note, saying, see what the teacher has given me and those only who know from experience how much parents are pleased with any notice that may be taken of their children, let them be ever so bad, can best judge what effect it had upon them. Benevolus called upon the parents the following Sunday as he had promised, and the reception he met with delighted him full as much as his visit pleased the parents. The boy, from that day, improved in appearance as well as in behaviour.

Benevolus, much pleased with the success of the method he had pursued, called during the week upon the superintendent, when the following conversation took place between them. I insert it here because I would turn the attention of Sunday School teachers to a subject that as yet has been unnoticed in your Magazine-the subject of punishments. "I was much pleased last Sunday with the behaviour of one of your boys whom you had turned out of school, for to confess the truth, I feared we had lost him, his parents are so careless." "I feared," answered Benevolus," the same thing from my rash measures, and you may rest assured I shall not risk the same course of conduct again. But how are we to get along without punishing them in some way? and surely we cannot proceed with the business of the day if we have not some method of making our scholars do what we request." The superintendent replied, "according to my ideas of punishment, there should be two kinds, to correspond with the two kinds of punishment that are necessary in large bodies. Punishment, I conceive, should be exemplary for the good of the school, and of course must be public; or it should be private for the benefit of the individual, then it should be corporal or mental. The punishment for examples should be very cautiously inflicted indeed, and as it must needs be corporal, it were better discarded altogether. I have known many a boy who has thus publicly been made an example of to his fellows; although it might have been of momentary service, it was always sure to injure the boy who was the subject of punishment. When individuals are to be corrected, we must

be careful not to correct while under the influence of anger. I do not say that Sunday School teachers get into a passion with the children when they commit a fault, but many of them being unaccustomed to the ways of children, expect more from them than they ought, and when they commit any little fault, if they do not instantly acknowledge it, they lose their patience, and too often act both rashly and indiscreetly. When a child commits a fault, he must be punished as a child, not as a man." "That was just the way with me," said Benevolus; "I was provoked at his behaviour, and acted more from impulse than reflection; and I made no allowances for his being a boy, and one, too, who probably was allowed to do as he pleased at home." "Then," ́said the superintendent, "it is almost useless to punish a boy while one is angry, and it ought always to be inflicted privately, for there is always a sufficient number of boys in every school to encourage them in their obstinacy by their laughter. To give a child admonition privately, or to forgive him, will often produce much better effects than the most severe public punishment. Many instances have I observed in my life of boys who have been made, as it were, to feel the folly of their conduct, and to repent in tears. I will give you a striking instance that lately took place in the school."

[To be continued.]

FIRST SABBATH SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES.

It is a pleasing, and certainly not an unprofitable task to trace any one of the great institutions of society, which have an influence on the age in which we live, up to its source, and to mark its progress to the present time. It is pleasing, because it makes us acquainted with the history of important events, and it is profitable, because it shows that very often from small and almost imperceptible beginnings, have arisen improvements in the state and condition of man, of which the original founders could have no conception; and that, therefore, every one should do what he can to promote the welfare and happiness of

society, since however little it may be in his own estimation, it may lead to what is great, and the end may be glorious.

In tracing the institution of Sunday Schools to their commencement in this country (that is throughout the whole of the United States) it is evidently difficult to arrive at an absolute certainty ; since the benevolent founders of such institutions were not likely to seek the notice or approbation of others, any farther than notoriety was necessary to the success of their plans. They were more likely to act in conformity to the divine precept, which requires that in such actions it should not be our aim "to be seen of men :" and while Sunday Schools were but little known in this country, experiments were more likely to be made of their efficacy by individuals on a small scale.

In reading a few days ago a valuable and interesting publication, entitled, The Power of Faith exemplified in the life and writings of the late Mrs. Isabella Graham, of New-York," the editor met with an intimation, in page 49, that the eminent saint whose history it records, had established two Sabbath Schools in New-York in 1803, one of which she superintended herself, and the other she placed under the care of her daughter. It would have been injustice both to the living and the dead, for a writer on the commencement of Sunday Schools in this country, to suffer this fact to pass unnoticed. The editor, therefore, states it here, and has the satisfaction to add, that from Mrs. Bethune, one of these two benevolent ladies, (who survives her inestimable mother, and still resides in New-York,) and from some original memoranda of Mr. Bethune, he has been enabled to ascertain the precise time when and the place where the first Sab bath School was opened in this city, with the circumstances which led to it. Mr. and Mrs. Bethune had spent part of the years 1801 and 1802 in Great Britain, where they had observed the progress Sunday Schools were then making in that country; and on their return, they conversed on the subject with their pious, and excellent mother, Mrs. Graham, who resided with them, and it was determined that as soon as possible they would try to introduce them here. Accordingly, in the autumn of 1803, these three Christian philanthropists opened the first Sabbath School in this city for religious and catechetical instruction, at

their own expense, at the house of Mrs. Leech, in Mott-street, which was attended by about forty male and female scholars; and their punctuality of attendance was secured by pecuniary rewards, which were given to Mrs. Leech to distribute on the Monday mornings, and by frequent donations of tracts, shoes, &c. to a considerable amount. Mrs. Graham and Mr. and Mrs. Bethune then established two other Sabbath Schools in other parts of the city; and Mrs. Leech states, that they attended them personally every Sabbath day, during the summer in the afternoons, and during the winter between the services of the church, when they brought their provisions with them from Greenwich, (where they resided) as there was no time to return to dinner; and this they continued for many years, and had the gratification to see their labours of love rewarded in the improvement and edification of many who are at this moment enjoying the beneficial effects of an early education, and some of whom have been since actively employed in teaching others. A Sabbath School was also opened for the children of the almshouse in New-York, which was attended by Mr. Bethune at the Health office, and produced very good effects among the children in that establishment.

The school which Mrs. Graham superintended herself was relinquished only a few months before her decease, when her ttention became the less necessary, on account of her pupils having then the benefit of religious instruction one day in the week from the gentlemen of the Evangelical Society.

Thus, it is evident that Sabbath Schools were set on foot in this country as early as 1803; for although they were opened by only three individuals, they were not the less a commencement of the institution here than Mr. Raikes's schools were a commencement of the original institution at Gloucester.

It is to the same source, too, that adult schools owe their commencement in this country, or at least in New-York. Mrs. Graham opened the first adult school at Greenwich, on the second Sabbath in June, 1814, only about two months before her departure from this scene of active benevolence to the promised rest. Some adult schools had been formed at Bristol, in England, and Mrs. Graham having received a report of the society

from Mr. Stephen Prust, a merchant of that city, and one of its most active and benevolent members, "was so delighted with the perusal of it as immediately to undertake the formation of such a school in the village of Greenwich." She called on several families for adults willing to be instructed, and on the young people who were at work in some neighbouring manufac tories, and requested them to attend her for this purpose every Sabbath morning at 8 o'clock. In the short time allotted her, she collected eighty scholars; and it was continued as a Sunday School after her decease.

In less than two years after this event, the daughter of this indefatigable Christian and her female friends formed the first Union of Sabbath Schools in the United States, mentioned in our number for January last, p. 54.; and other Unions of Sabbath Schools have followed in rapid succession throughout the States, to the great advantage of the institution, and the promotion of its pious objects.

It was not until 1809 that churches or public bodies began to institute and to patronize Sabbath Schools in this country. The printed constitution formed for the Sabbath School at Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, in 1809, has been kindly sent to the editor for publication, and shall be subjoined. It was probably the first school formally instituted on this side the Atlantic by a society or public body, and for this reason, as well as for its intrinsic merit, deserves to be recorded. We regret that our limits do not allow us to add an excellent address to the inhabitants of Pittsburgh and its vicinity, which was printed and published with it.

Articles of a Sunday School instituted by the Pittsburgh Moral Society.

1. This school shall consist of children of both sexes from six years old and upwards, who shall have obtained leave of their parents or guardians, and who, on coming under the care of the school, shall promise to yield due obedience to the teachers and superintendents.

2. The teachers shall be appointed by the society, and no VOL. I.

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