and, to crown all, the debates, and want of union and attention to the spiritual concerns of societies, which are produced among the leading friends and officers of a society so circumstanced ;—these evils will be amply and effectually removed by the maintenance of the Chapel-Fund, and the relief it will afford. Opportunity will be given to infant societies to strengthen themselves; the confidence of Trustees will be felt by congregations; union will be promoted; the ministry exercised with much greater comfort and success; and hope, the animating principle of exertion, be then a rational and salutary feeling, and spread an enlivening influence over Ministers and Trustees, over societies and congregations." To the lovers of scriptural truth as preached by Wesleyan Ministers,—to those who delight in our sanctuaries,—to those who cultivate the feelings of brotherly love and connexional sympathy,-to those Trustees who have not experienced the troubles arising out of pecuniary difficulties, or who have been relieved by the liberality of others as well as their own exertions,-to those whom God has blessed with wealth, and to all those who can sympathize with the distressed but innocent, the Committee commend this cause, with the consciousness that, in reference to these cases of peculiar embarrassment and difficulty, they have done what they could! We remain, dear sir, on behalf of the Committee, Your obedient servants, METHODIST EDUCATION IN MANCHESTER. Is our last Number we inserted an extract from the Report of the Wesleyan Week-Day and Infant Schools in Liverpool; and from the Report of the Wesleyan Sunday-Schools in Manchester, which has since been forwarded to us, we are happy to learn that our friends in that large and influential town are alive to their responsibility, and nearly twelve months ago engaged in the same benevolent and Christian service. The following is the "Report of the Provisional Committee for the Establishment of Wesleyan-Methodist Week-Day and Infant Schools." The example will doubtless be extensively imitated in other parts of the Connexion.-EDIT. THE appointment of the Provisional Committee took place in the year 1837, and, therefore, its transactions more properly belong to the next than to the present Report. The Committee think, however, that a brief summary of their proceedings up to the present period (March 10th, 1837) cannot fail to be in teresting to the Subscribers to the Sundayschools. Attention was first called to the important subject of week-day and infant education by the able letter of a member of our society, who signed himself "A Working Mechanic." The letter, which will form an appendix to this Report, was shown to several of the influential friends in the Circuit, and it was speedily determined that active measures should be adopted for the establishment of these institutions. The Sunday-school Committee immediately took the matter into consideration, and, at length, a set of Secretaries. rules were agreed upon for their management, in connexion with the Sundayschools already in operation. It then became necessary to call the attention of the public generally to the importance of the object, and a public Meeting was held in the Grosvenor-street chapel, at which this Committee was appointed, the following Resolutions having been previously carried unanimously : 1. That this Meeting, whilst it duly estimates the increased facilities now furnished for the spread of general knowledge, is solemnly persuaded of the paramount importance of religious and scriptural instruction; and, consequently, regards any system of education, which does not include the regular and sedulous inculcation of the verities and principles of Christianity, as being essentially defective, and likely, in its practical results, to be delusive and injurious. 2. That on the grounds before-stated, together with the principle that the duty of providing for the religious instruction of young persons generally, and of the children of the poorer classes in particular, is laid upon the Christian church, it is expedient and necessary that Wesleyan-Methodist day and infant schools for children of both sexes, be forthwith established in the Third or South Manchester Circuit, in addition to and in connexion with the Sunday-schools already in operation. The Provisional Committee first directed their attention to the selection of suitable rooms in which to commence the schools. They found that those in Wesley-street, Islington, and Chancery lane were most desirable, the former for an infant, and the latter for day schools for both sexes. A second object was to adopt the best systems of education. As the result of their inquiries, they ascertained that the British or Lancasterian is the best model for the day-schools, and that of the Home and Colonial Infant-School Society for the infant-schools; each affording opportunity for the addition of such Wesleyan instruction as might be thought desirable. Another object was the selection of suitable masters and mistresses. The Committee had many applications; from which they selected Mr. and Mrs. Bate for the day-school at Chancery-lane, and Mr. and Mrs. Jagg for the infant-school at Wesley-street. The Committee have great pleasure in informing the Subscribers, that the school at Chancery-lane was opened on Monday, April 24th, and that thirty children are receiving instruction in that institution. It is to be expected that some time must elapse before the children will be quite accustomed to a system altogether new to them; the Committee have, however, every reason to be satisfied with their arrangements respecting this school. The infant-school at Wesley-street will be opened on Monday, May 29th; and the Committee confidently expect, that a large number of children will be found ready to receive instruction. The Committee refrain from producing a financial statement, because it would be necessarily incomplete: they cannot, however, conclude this Report, without pressing upon the attention of the subscribers and friends to religious education, the extra claims which these united institutions will have upon them. It is hoped that, eventually, the receipts will nearly balance the expenditure of these new institutions. The cost of establishment and maintenance, in the first instance, will have to be defrayed out of the general fund; and, as the Sunday-schools are now barely supported by the subscriptions, it is extremely desirable, that the new expenses should be met by increased efforts upon the part of our friends. Your Committee are aware, that they have taken upon themselves a great degree of responsibility, by entering into engagements for the establishment of these schools; but they cannot for a moment doubt, that their friends will come forward with energy, and subscribe liberally to so important an object. The Committee gratefully announce that seventy-two children were admitted on the day on which the school was opened. Copy of a Letter referred to in the above Report. To the Reverend Robert Wood, REVEREND SIR, I have for some months past been wishful to write to you, on a subject that appears to me of very great importance, as affecting the permanency of Methodism in Manchester: and I write the more readily, from seeing a Resolution of the last Conference, that bears, I think, to a considerable extent, on my views, and, I believe, with equal or superior force on your own mind, and the minds of the excellent men associated with you in the pastoral care of this Circuit. It has been a matter of surprise to myself and to many other persons, that, although this Circuit ranks so deservedly high for its liberal aids to the various public funds of the Connexion, yet, in one branch of its local affairs, it should be "found WANTING," in the subject of DAY-SCHOOL EDUCATION for the children of the poorer members of the Me thodist society. I will not in the least depreciate the Sunday-school instruction, so kindly and zealously afforded to the thousands who statedly attend those excellent institutions; but a very casual inspection of them fully shows, that the instructions imparted are of a very limited character on subjects referring to the worldly situations of the scholars; and, I think, such limitations most proper and scriptural. I go to the entire extent of the Conference regulations on Sunday-schools; and do trust, as those rules are now introduced into this Circuit, they will never be de parted from, and that nothing but religious instruction will be permitted: every other teaching, however useful, will desecrate the day of the Lord. What I most respectfully submit to your consideration is, the great necessity existing for day-schools established on sound principles, under careful inspection, and to be intimately connected with Methodism. Schools so founded would very nearly support themselves. In reading a Report recently published by the Manchester Statistical Society, on the state of education in the town, I must say I felt rather painful sensations; seeing that the Churches both of England and Scotland, Catholics, Independents, Swedenborgians, Unitarians, &c., all sects but the Methodists, had their day-schools; and this too in the town that raised, in a few days, upwards of a thousand pounds for the day-school education of the emancipated slaves in the West Indies. It may perhaps surprise you, Sir, but the fact is undeniable, that, in consequence of the expense attending education in decent and respectable schools, some Methodist parents have sent their children to the Unitarian day-school connected with Cross-street chapel: the children have therefore been compelled to attend the Sabbath-school and services in that chapel also. Very recently, an infant, a girls' and boys' school, under the superintendence of a Committee composed of persons holding Unitarian sentiments, has been established in a splendid building erected for the purpose, in Lower Mosley-street. The Irish system of education is introduced under the able management of a person, who, I hear, is a Wesleyan Local Preacher. A public service is held on the Sabbath in one of the rooms. It will be evident, that in schools so circumstanced, the Teacher will be restricted in imparting what we, as Methodists, consider the fundamentals of religion. Nevertheless, the school is otherwise wellmanaged; and the expense in the infantschool 2d. per week; the girls, who are also taught sewing, &c., pay 3d.; the boys above seven years of age are instructed in reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, &c.; in fact, an education will be given, quite equal to that now bestowed on the middle classes of society, for 4d. per week. A subCommittee of gentlemen attend weekly; they also publicly examine the scholars every month. The Mechanics' Institution day-school only professes, I believe, to impart literary and scientific instruction: these constitute, in the opinion of its noble Patron and acting Committee, all the truths necessary for man or boy to know. Surely Methodism is worth perpetuating to the next generation. What! will Methodists suffer their children to be warped from the truth by cunning and deceitful men, and imbued with systems of morality that leave God out of his word or works, for the sake of a comparatively trifling expense? I cannot but think, that those excellent men, the conductors of our Sabbath-schools, will readily assist in organizing day-schools, seeing that their establishment would, in a few years, materially abridge the mechanical part of their Sunday labours, and allow of increased opportunities for sacred tuition. There are many young men of talent and influence who would confer most essential obligations on Methodism, by engaging heartily in this good and very popular work. It should also be remembered, that, by the Factory Regulation Act, children under thirteen are prohibited from working, except under restrictions respecting education. Perhaps there are several hundred children of Methodist parents thus circumstanced in this Circuit, for whom no education can be provided in dayschools that have a character for moral and religious teaching: consequently, while the parents are at their several employments, the children are roaming the streets, learning vice and immorality wholesale, and bringing on their parents the most painful anticipations. O Sir! I speak from experience in this matter. I am a working mechanic, having a family dependent on my daily exertions. I wish my children to enjoy the advantages of a common education, founded on God's law, and directed by Methodism; but the day-schools are generally conducted by men little qualified for such an employ. The Report of the Statistical Society presents glaring facts, not only of incompetency, but of gross immorality. I dare not, in the sight of God, entrust my children to the care of the man who will undo in an hour the labour of many a day's anxious perseverance and prayer; and, in schools of credit and respectability, the expense places it entirely beyond the means of a working man: so our children must remain ignorant, or by improper connexions, in badly-conducted schools, be morally ruined in their early days. O Sir, come to my help, and to the help of many parents thus situated; and let our children be under religious training, not only for a few short hours of the Sabbath-day, but for the remainder of the week, and thus be trained for useful life, and even for heaven. I write with a full heart. I glory in Methodism : I wish that this blessed form of divine truth may be perpetuated; and that my children and children's children may drink of that stream which gladdened the hearts of their ancestors, in one unbroken line from the commencement of Methodism, now nearly a century ago. How can this be done in this crowded town, so full of every abomination, where my instructions and prayers are exposed to constant ridicule, and my children taught to profane the name of their father's God, and scoff at the church for whose success he daily offers up his prayers? O Sir, help me by your powerful influence and commanding talents. There is a circumstance which will materially assist in this holy work. No expense need be incurred for the erection of school-rooms. In this Circuit alone there are six or seven places admirably qualified these are unoccupied all the week, and situated in crowded neighbourhoods. All that is wanting is, to go forth and compel them to come in, that these houses of God may be filled with the children of the pious poor, learning useful lessons, and being fitted for the church and the world. I believe such institutions would endear Methodism more firmly to the great mass of the society, and tend to preserve them from the delusion of religious demagogues. I have taken the liberty of writing this anonymously. Were I an official character, I should consider it a duty (subject to your approval) to recommend such institutions for the support of the Leaders' and Quarterly Meetings; but as a private member, I thus address you in this (to me) unusual way of writing. WESLEYAN THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTION. I HAVE perused with extreme satisfaction the Report of the Committee of the Wesleyan Theological Institution, given in your Magazine for the last month. I should expect two results likely to accrue from the reading of this Report; namely, the removing of prejudices from the minds of any persons opposed to the Institution; and the impressing on all those already conscious of its utility the positive duty of supporting it by becoming subscribers more or less to its funds. No plans yet adopted by the Wes leyan Conference could more effectually meet the views of the Methodists generally, and answer the design of the venerable Founder of Methodism, "to spread scriptural holiness through the land." It is unquestionably not an innovation, but a decided improvement in the system and discipline of Wesleyan Methodism. With these views, I delay not to hand you the annexed five guineas, subscription for the present year, 1838, and which I shall feel happy in continuing. S. N. Dublin, 15th Feb., 1838. THE ORKNEY AND WICK MISSION. Ir has for some time been my purpose to give you an account of Methodism in this town, and of the progress it has made hitherto. I shall now endeavour to accomplish my intention. Wick is the principal town in Caithness, the most northern county of Scotland. The site of the famed John O'Groat's House, at the extremity of our island, is not quite twenty miles beyond Wick. Some years ago the herring fishery of this place was so abundantly productive, that a new town was built for the reception of the numbers who came to reside here to pursue that business, and the several trades connected with it. The name of the new town is Pulteney, or Pulteney-town. The population of Wick and Pulteney-town in 1831 was five thousand; and of the parish of Wick, nine thousand eight hundred and fifty. Of late, for several years, the trade in her rings has not flourished as formerly, which has occasioned many removals; so that now the number of inhabitants is probably somewhat less than in 1831. The first Methodist Preacher, of whose visits to Wick I can get information, was the late Rev. Robert Harrison; who came down occasionally from Inverness, and preached in the Independent chapel here. His preaching was well received: it does not appear, however, that he attempted to form a society. About five years ago Mr. Brotchie, a Local Preacher from Inverness, came into this neigh bourhood to visit his relations, and frequently preached in Wick. Some were Bakened at that time, whose good impressions remained; and when the Preachers appointed by the Conference of 1835 to visit this place commenced their labours, several of those individuals, together with five others, who had been members elsewhere, were received into society. The Conference of 1836 ordered that of the two Preachers appointed to Orkney, one should reside at Wick; and that the sphere of their labours should be called "The Orkney and Wick Circuit." Accordingly I have lived in this town since that time. It We have a tolerably good chapel. was formerly used as the Masons' hall, and sometimes as a theatre. It will seat about four hundred persons. On Sabbath evenings it is frequently the case that numbers go away, unable to enter for the crowd; but the morning and afternoon congregations do not generally fill the place. Prejudice and vice have thrown up formidable barriers in our way; but, blessed be God, when He comes down, the mountains melt. Our doctrines have been objected to, particularly those which are peculiarly Alethodistic, and which we must continually insist upon, or betray our trust: such are, that the atonement of Christ and its benefits extend to all our race, without exception; the attainableness of a present salvation; the witness of the Spirit; and entire sanctification. Dram-drinking, smuggling, and using many words in buying and selling, are prevalent evils here: too many, both in the established and dissenting churches are borne into these by the tide of sinful custom. Our scriptural rules raise a defence round us, within which, by divine aid, we intend to keep. We have preaching three times on the Lord's day, and once a fortnight on Wednesday evenings. Nearly every evening in the week we have a prayer-mecting in some part of the town. Our Sabbathschool is pretty well attended, though efforts have not been spared, by parties I will not name, to induce our children to leave us. Many of our young people carry out tracts; and I occasionally preach in the remoter streets, at the cottages of poor persons, in the middle of the day. The Lord has graciously added to our number every quarter. We have now in Wick fifty members of society, and twenty candidates for membership. This winter has been in spiritual things a spring season. Lately, a week has not passed without some conversions. One very blessed case took place on Friday, January 12th. Thomas Reid, a young man, son of one of our people, had been long ill of a dropsy. He paid no attention to divine things, either before or after his affliction, till he had reason to think that it would be fatal. He then began to listen to instruction, but was extremely unwilling to speak of his own feelings. A little circumstance transpired during the last conversation I had with him before he found peace, which gave me great hope that he would be saved. I pressed him to say something of his inward state; he made a long pause, and then broke out, "O for a heart to praise my God, A heart from sin set free !" Our Hymn-book had been put into his hand, and he had fixed upon these words as expressive of his own spiritual wants and desires. On the evening of the day, I had just come in from my country appointment, when I was called to visit him. I endeavoured to go, laying hold of the promises on his behalf. As I entered, he was crying aloud in prayer for pardon; and shortly began to cry, "He is opening my heart; the Lord is opening my heart; yes, and filling it with his love." He soon obtained a clear sense of forgiveness; and then immediately called on all around him to pray, and praise God. A young man of his acquaintance was so deeply affected by his earnest cries to him to fly to Christ, that he could scarcely eat for some days; but he has also obtained peace. Many have been powerfully wrought upon by the vehement addresses of this afflicted youth: and our own people have by the same means been much edified. In Every alternate week I have a country round of four days. I preach at Stanstill, Lyth, Scarfskerry, and Thurso. each of these places we have some members in society; and in Scarfskerry thirty; the greater part of whom were brought to God by the instrumentality of Mr. Brotchie, and continued, by the divine blessing upon the endeavours of Mr. Lyall, a vigilant Leader, to hold our doctrine and discipline for several years when there was no Methodist Preacher in this part of the country. I trust we are advancing in every place; though our power of doing good in the country places is limited for want |