and 9000 people. The Societies enumerated were twenty six, of which twenty four held their meetings at public houses. The average number of members in each club was fifty nine. The average yearly payment was 17. The average weekly allowance in sickness was 7s. The whole number of members was 1,540. The whole amount payable during the year by all the members to their respective funds was 1,5447. 13s. 6d. The additional sum which they were bound to contribute to be spent in drink, at their meetings, was 7707. or 10s. a year on an average for each member. Besides which sum they probably spent at least as much more at their yearly feasts, and in sashes, flags, and bands of music. The greater part of those Societies have become bankrupt since 1827, leaving their members with no provision against sickness in old age.

In the year 1834, a Friendly Society was established on principles of undoubted security, confirmed by the Legislature. It had the sanction and support of all the clergy and gentry in the parish. Its members have hitherto never exceeded thirty in number. But there is little doubt that with patience and perseverance it will outlive, and eventually outnumber, all the others in the parish put together.

Full instructions for establishing Friendly Societies on a safe plan may be obtained by addressing a letter, by the general Post, "to the Barrister appointed to certify the rules of Friendly Societies."

A letter sent to the same address will also obtain valuable information as to Government Annuities, and as to Loan Societies, two other most valuable helps towards bettering the con

dition of the poor. On the last subject see a very interesting pamphlet, "Remarks on the advantages of Loan Funds, by the Rev. F French." Ridgway.

E. (TO SERMON IX.)

The rules of the National Society, relating to the obligation of taking the children to church, and to the use of books on the list of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, are often misunderstood, and are thought to be more exclusive than they are. The following extract, from the Report of 1835, (pages 31, 32,) shews how much is left on the first point to the discretion of the managers of the school, and how entirely the restriction on the second point is limited to religious tracts; nothing being said as to those used for the purposes of general education.

“ It is required that all the children received into these schools be instructed in the liturgy and catechism; and that in conformity with the directions in that liturgy the children of each school do constantly attend divine service in their parish church, or other place of public worship under the establishment, wherever the same is practicable, on the Lord's day; unless such reason for their non-attendance be assigned, as shall be satisfactory to the persons having the direction of the school: and that no religious tracts be admitted into any school, but such as are or shall be contained in the catalogue of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.' And in the Report of the Christian Knowledge Society for the same year is the following remark upon the above rule. "It has been

supposed that by the rules of that Society, (The National,) no books whatever can be used in National Schools but such as are in the list of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. But the rule merely relates to religious books; and the schools are perfectly at liberty to use whatever books the managers may think proper upon secular subjects.” Pp. 15, 16.

F. (TO SERMONS X, XI, XII.)

Some security against future misunderstanding between the managers of schools and the masters and mistresses, as well as some insight into the moral and religious character of the persons appointed, might be obtained by the use of the following

STATEMENT AND QUESTIONS,

to be given to every candidate for the situation of schoolmaster or schoolmistress:

Candidates for the situation of master (or mistress) at the

, county of

school, in the parish of

are informed that pounds a year,

the salary consists of to be paid quarterly on March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31; also a payment of one penny (or-pence) from each child weekly in advance; the school accommodating

children; also one penny extra from those children who use pens and ink, which are supplied by the master; (mistress;) also the (joint) occupancy of a dwelling house (in case master and mistress can conveniently occupy it together,) or otherwise half the estimated rent to be paid to one party out of the salary of the other, which half rent is estimated at £.—s.—d.

The managers of the school supply coals, —,

The master (mistress) is accountable to the managers for on every pane of glass broken,

and

on every slate broken.

Every candidate is to answer the questions overleaf, and to send them directed to

on

or before -, and is expected to appear in person at the school on the

o'clock.

at

QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED BY CANDIDATES

FOR THE OFFICE OF SCHOOLMASTER

(SCHOOLMISTRESS.)

1. What is your name?

2. What is your age

?

3. Where were you born?

4. Where were you baptized?

N.B. You will be expected to produce if possible, a certificate of your baptism, on the day of election.

5. At what school were you educated?

6. What are you qualified to teach?

7. Where have you lived, and in what business have you been engaged since you left school, up to the present time?

8. What are your reasons for becoming a candidate for this school?

9. Are you married? and if so what family have you? if any, state name and age of each child.

10. Are you now a member of the church of England? And have you been so constantly?

11. Are you a communicant? If you are, how long have you been so? and how often in the year are you accustomed to communicate?

12. To what clergyman can you refer for

your moral and religious character for the last two years?

13. If you have kept a national (Sunday, infant) school, where was it? and to whom do you refer for testimony as to your discharge of the office? State the proper address of the party and the post town.

14. If you have never kept such a school, to what master (mistress) can you refer as having trained you, and as being able to vouch for your understanding the system, and being duly qualified to superintend a national (Sunday, infant) school?

15. Here make any further statement you think fit; taking care to answer all the questions in your own handwriting, and to sign the paper at the end with your name.

It is to be regretted that no such questions are kept for circulation by the National Society. In default of better the above will be kept for sale by the publishers, printed on writing paper with proper blanks.

G. (TO SERMON XII. p. 198.)

The value of infant school education, in case of the early death of children, has been forcibly shewn in an infant school, newly opened at Ettingshall, in the parish of Sedgley, where a child, scarce five years old, having its clothes catch fire, and being so badly burnt as to die within twenty four hours, never uttered a single complaint the whole time, but was continually repeating the little hymns learnt in school, and up to the moment of death was actually singing "Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing 5" and this