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APPENDIX N° 4.

SPECIMEN of a SUNDAY'S MINUTES.

Sunday Morning, 6th January, 1805.

Present.

William Punctual, Superintendent, opened 14 teachers. the School with singing and prayer.

Edward Last, teacher of the boys 3d class, came at 10 o'clock.

No. of children in the

School brought forward S

Admitted

192

3

195

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193

34.

193

Mrs. Grateful returned thanks for the care which had been taken of her daughter Mary, and the instruction she had received: stating, that as she is now placed out in service, she will not be able to attend any longer. Having been in the School two years, a Bible was presented to her, according to rule.

John Ramble, having on a former occasion been reproved for playing truant, was publickly admonished for a second

offence.

Query. Can any thing be done to get a better attendance of the scholars, at the opening of the School in the morning? Mr. A. B. concluded the School with singing, reading a portion of scripture, exhortation and prayer.

AFTERNOON.

William Punctual, being unavoidably prevented attending, has provided a substitute.

Present.

James Timewell, substitute for William Punctual,

opened the School with singing and prayer.

Brought forward.... 193

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13 teachers.

Boys 85
Girls 78165

Absent

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A note was received from Mrs. Lefevre, stating her son's absence last Sunday to have been occasioned by illness.

Mrs. Idle applied for the re-admission of her son John, who had been dismissed for non-attendance:-ordered to attend at the next meeting of the committee.

Mr. and Mrs. Benevolus (subscribers to this institution) with a friend visited the School, and expressed the pleasure they felt on seeing the order and regularity which prevailed throughout the classes.

Mr. Timewell concluded the School as usual.

The children were ordered to attend next Sunday morning half an hour earlier than usual, on account of the sermon to be preached for the benefit of this School.

SIR,

On SCRIPTURAL CATECHIZING.

Letter to the Editor.

IT may be necessary to make some apology for offering to your notice the imperfect performances of children; but should the perusal of the enclosed paper be the means of inducing those entrusted with the instruction of youth, to be more diligent in the exercise of their important trust, and more attentive to impress upon the children's minds the meaning of what they read, my object in presenting it to the public will be fully answered. It is not sufficient that the teachers exercise the children in reading mechanically; the greatest pains should be taken to teach them to understand what they read. This is best done by a plain, simple explanation of words, and then their meaning in context. My mind was deeply impressed with the importance of this truth when I first attended the Sunday School at Hinde-street, by observing that the children, as soon as they had read one or more chapters, had recourse to a spelling-book to learn to spell and explain words no way connected with their other exercise, and many of the words quite uninteresting to them. I immediately saw the evil, had recourse to spelling words in the lesson read, and after exercising them to guess the meaning, explained the words in as simple and familiar a manner as I could. The good effect was soon apparent, and I was both pleased and surprised at many of the children's answers. On confining my labours to the writing School, I found that by attending to the management of time, I could still devote ten or fifteen minutes to useful in

struction. I regularly explained the principal part of the hymn which was sung at opening the School, and then from time to time, as opportunity offered, explained the catechism and prayers which the children must learn to repeat, before they are admitted to writing.

After spending some time on these exercises, I became anxious to ascertain what profit the children had derived from instructions which they had listened to, with the greatest attention. As the Lord's Prayer is a most important composition, and in daily use, I thought that simple questions proposed in writing, to which the children were to return written answers, would give me an opportunity of knowing how far I had attained my object of teaching them to think and arrange their ideas and expressions on a subject proposed. I beg to observe that I have not altered any word or arrangement of words; I have merely corrected some mis-spellings, and inserted the punctuation: every expression remains just as it came to me. L. A. is not in the School, but the daughter of a friend to whom I had explained the prayer, and given some religious instruction. It will be seen that she has had the use of a dictionary. The only liberty which I have taken is, of omitting some answers which were not appropriate. Several answers given do not accurately correspond with the questions proposed; though they afford proof of the childrens good sense. After I had arranged the answers as they now appear, each girl wrote them into a copy book, for future reference and use. I will not, at present, enter into further detail; but should this specimen of catechising be favourably received, I will venture to trouble you further, on subjects connected with the instruction of the rising generation.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.

D. E.

An Explanation of the Lord's Prayer by Question and Answer.

The answers given by the female children of Hinde-street Sunday School, who are taught writing on two evenings in the week; their ages from ten to sixteen years.

Question 1st. Why is it called the Lord's Prayer?

Answer.-B. aged 15. Because it came from our Lord's own lips, when teaching his disciples to pray.

S. 114. Because the Lord Jesus Christ made this Prayer. T——. 14. Because it came from our Lord only, when teaching his disciples to pray.

VOL II.

C. 12. Because Jesus Christ taught us in the 11th chapter of Luke.

L. A———. 13. Because Jesus Christ made it.

F. 15. Because Jesus Christ made it, to teach us how we ought to pray,

R. 144. Because Christ himself made it, teaching us it as a set form of prayer, and how we ought to pray.

Ca. 13. S.-. 16. N -. 144. Because our Lord Jesus Christ made this prayer.

D. 13. Because he gave it to his disciples.

Ques. 2d. What do you understand by prayer?

Ans. B-—~. Applying to God, to grant us his mercy, and to bestow us his blessings.

S——. I consider it my duty, as God has commanded us to pray.

T- The breathing of the soul to God in prayer.

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C. The desires of the soul.

L. A

F

Asking or imploring of the Lord.

I understand that it teaches us to pray for all things, necessary for soul and body.

R. Same.

Ca

D

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Nheart.

To pray to God to forgive us our sins.

It is the breathing of the soul to the Lord.

Prayer is the ease of the mind, and the joy of the

Ques. 3d. Why do you say our, and not my Father, when you pray alone?

Ans. B. Because he is the Father of all, especially the righteous among men.

T-. Because we are desired to pray for all men.

C. Because he is Father of the whole human race.

L. A. Because we pray for every body else, as well as for ourselves

F. Because God is the Father of all, and all good Christians ought to pray for one another.

B. Same.

Ca Because he created us.

S. Because we are all his children.

D. Because he is Father of all.

N-. Because he is the Father of all mankind, and we are taught to pray for our brethren, that is for all mankind, and not for ourselves alone.

Da. 16. Because he is Lord over all.

Ques. 4th. Why do you call God Father?

Ans. B. Because he is the Creator of all living.

S- -. Because he made us.

T. Because God made us, and he has a right to our best services.

C. Because he has created us.

L.A. Because he made all things.

F. & R. Because he is creator of all.

Ca▬▬▬. & N——. Because he is able and willing to give us all things we ask him for.

S. Because he is merciful to all.

D. Because he commanded us, when we pray, to say, our Father.

Ques 5th. Why do you say, Who art in heaven?

Ans. B. Because heaven is his dwelling place.
S. Because God's throne is in heaven.

T. & S Because God dwelleth in heaven.
C. Because he is more particularly in heaven.
L. A. His glory is more particularly in heaven.

F. Because it teaches us to lift up our hearts to God, as often as we go to pray.

R. Same.

C▬▬▬▬. & N▬▬▬▬▬▬▬. Because heaven is the place where he most shews forth his majesty and glory.

D. Because God is in heaven, and ruleth over all the kingdoms of the heathen.

L.A. 2d. Because the world is full of evil, and as the Lord our Father is full of glory, his glory is more particularly in heaven. Ques. 6th. Is God in heaven only, and no where else?

Ans. B. He is omnipresent every where, and in every place.

S. God is every where, only not visible to us.

T. L. A——————. F————. R———. S. D. D. God is every where. C. He is every where present.

Ca—. He is every where and knows every thing we do.

of us.

Yes, God is every where present, and near to every one

Ques. 7th. Give Scripture proof for calling God Father. Ans. T. Matth. vi. 8. For your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

C—. John xx. 17. I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God and your God.

N. Ephes. iv. 6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. *

If we had room we should have felt pleasure in adding the whole of the questions and answers. Many of the answers are very intelligent, and shew considerable acquaintance with the word of God. For the benefit of teachers who wish to

• We just hint to our correspondent that N. has borrowed occasionally from the assembly's catechism. See answers to 18th and 20th questions, and elsewhere.

B 2

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