persecution played around it, or from behind it came the harsh sound, "Embrace this, or die;" had he gazed on that cross as the emblem of love, and heard its voice still sounding in pity, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do;" in one word, had the cross been the symbol of spiritual power and self-denial and gentleness, and not the emblem of ambition and cruelty and oppression, the plea for rapine;-how different had been the Jew now! how open, how tender his soul!

If our limits would permit, we should gladly give, outlines of the other Lectures, and extracts from them. We trust, however, that many of our readers will gratify themselves by purchasing the volume, and reading its contents. The publication of these admirable lectures, is, an important service to the cause of Christianity; and will, we trust, call forth a large amount of Christian effort for the conversion of the descendants of Abraham. They are lectures which cannot fail to excite general interest, and will abundantly repay those by whom they are purchased and read.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CALENDAR, and Family Almanac for 1844. Compiled pursuant to a vote of the Annual Assembly of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. 12mo, 132 pp. JACKSON and WALFORD.

THIS is an admirable Work, and does honour to the very respectable body under whose auspices it is published. It is evidently prepared with great care, and contains in a small compass, a considerable amount of astronomical, legal, horticultural, historical, ecclesiastical, and statistical information; which must render it highly valuable and interesting to all classes of persons, and especially to all Protestant Dissenters,

THE FACTORIES' EDUCATION BILL REJECTED; or, The Respon sibilities of Sunday School Teachers at the present crisis. In two Letters, by HENRY DUNN, Secretary to the British and Foreign School Society. 12mo. 24 pp. T. WARD and Co.

THIS pamphlet is noticed in the Remarks, on The Extension of Education, contained in this Magazine.

THE EXTENSION OF EDUCATION.

THE discussions respecting the Factories' Education Bill, the opposition which it excited, and its ultimate abandonment by the Government, have aroused public attention to the all-important subject of general education. The National School Society has put itself into a state of unwonted activity, and manifested a determination to accomplish, by voluntary contributions, what some of its partizans thought to effect by the aid of taxes, exacted by the strong and resistless arm of the law. We believe, that about one hundred and thirty thousand pounds have been already subscribed, in aid of the special fund, for increasing the number of schools under the control of the clergy, improperly designated parish priests. This Society has declared. it to be its intention, in the appropriation of this fund, to give the manufacturing districts special assistance. We conceive that it cannot be truly said, that such special regard arises from the greater destitution of the means of education in those districts, but rather from a desire to arrest the progress of

dissent, and train up the youth of those localities to become adherents to the church by law established. We do not, on this account, reproach the supporters of this Society; they are only acting in accordance with their avowed convictions, of the importance of maintaining a state church, and opposing the progress of dissent. If they will content themselves with supporting their principles by their own contributions, and will not use any improper means to enforce the attendance of children at their schools, we shall admire their well intended efforts for the diffusion of knowledge, and the support of their principles; notwithstanding, we disapprove of their design to train up children in the belief of the dogmas relating to a state church, and the priestly authority of its clergy.

Among other large bodies who have been induced, by the proceedings to which we have already referred, to resolve upon extraordinary exertions in the cause of education, is that of the Conference Connexion. During the present month of November, a meeting of ministers, and other influential members of that body, has been held, in London, for this purpose. From the resolutions adopted at this meeting, we learn, that the most vigorous measures are about to be taken, to establish seven hundred additional day schools. It is proposed to devote £5,000 annually, for the next seven years, for training school masters and mistresses, furnishing school apparatus for the outfit of schools, and defraying the expense of their inspection by officers to be appointed by the General Committee. To raise this sum, an immediate application is to be made to the friends of education for private subscriptionsthe Conference is to be solicited to order a general public collection in all the chapels; and it is intended that, for seven years, from the year 1845, the amount of the General Chapel Fund is to be divided, and one moiety to be appropriated to purposes of education. From the Centenary Fund £5,000 has been already granted in aid of the establishment of day schools. By these means, it is expected there will be raised, in seven years, £35,000 for the General Fund; and it is calculated that £165,000 more may be raised in the Connexion, for the establishment of schools in particular localities. Thus it is intended to raise, during the next seven years, £200,000 to be applied to the establishment of day schools, which are to be placed under the control of the Wesleyan Conference.

The Congregational Union of England and Wales, representing the numerous and highly influential portion of the dissenting body, belonging to, what are usually designated, the Independents, met last October, and appointed a Committee authorised to take measures for exciting their churches to the adoption of immediate vigorous operations, for the extension of education, by the establishment of day schools. This Committee has just published an Address, designed to arouse to action, and raise the means of establishing a large number of good schools, to be provided with efficient masters and mistresses, who have been trained in the Normal School of the British and Foreign School Society. These schools, it is suggested, may be either denominational, or otherwise; that is, exclusively conducted by Independent churches, or by the united efforts of the members of various religious bodies. To devise the best means of extending the benefits of education-a Conference is to be held in London, on the 13th and 14th of December; to which the pastors and other members of all the churches desiring to be represented, are invited. Among other measures proposed, is that of simultaneous collections, on the Lord's day, in every year, as near as can be to the anniversary of the abandonment of Sir James Graham's Bill.

An appeal, also, has recently been made to Sunday School Teachers, in two Letters published in the Patriot Newspaper, by that enlightened and ardent friend and labourer in the cause of general education, Mr. H. Dunn, the Secretary to the British and Foreign School Society. These Letters have also been printed, in the form of a pamphlet, for more general circulation;

and, in order that they may get into the hands of the Sunday School Teachers in our Connexion, their respected author has sent us a sufficient quantity to furnish gratuitously one to each of our Sunday Schools, and for this purpose they will be sent by the book parcels for December, to the superintendant preachers, who will, we believe, have no objection to be at the trouble of distributing them.

Mr. Dunn makes his appeal to Sunday School Teachers, on the ground, that they materially aided in procuring the abandonment of the Government educational measure. This he, properly, urges has brought upon them a responsibility, which requires them to endeavour to provide some better means of imparting the benefits of general education. In our Connexion the members of our churches and congregations generally, opposed the Government measure; on them, therefore, is entailed the responsibility of now exerting themselves to provide means, by which the children of the poor may be enabled to obtain the advantages of a good education.

The object of Mr. Dunn, in his first Letter, appears to be the discouragement of the establishment of denominational schools. His objection to them arises from, what he regards as, their probable sectarian character and tendency. It does not, however, necessarily follow that day schools specially connected with any denomination of Christians, must, in any degree, violate the rights of conscience. To guard against this, the receiving of daily instruction must not depend upon attendance at the Sabbath School, or Chapel; nor ought the scholars to be required to learn any catechism. If all denominations of Christians could be brought to unite in supporting and conducting day schools, we should prefer such united efforts, to those which are merely denominational; but such, in many instances, is found to be impracticable. The Conference Methodists have already a considerable number of day schools, and have determined upon establishing seven hundred more, under their own exclusive control. In many instances the Independents have established day schools in connection with their respective churches, and the number of these will shortly be greatly increased. It is impossible, therefore, if it were desirable, to prevent the establishment of schools under the special management of separate sections of the church; and if, in these schools, due care is taken not to infringe upon the rights of conscience, we believe that Mr. Dunn will rejoice in the establishment of such schools.

There are, however, many localities in which, if day schools were separately established by two or three denominations, it would be impossible to obtain for them a sufficient attendance of scholars, or other means, by which they might receive proper support. One British and Foreign School, well supported by the united efforts of Christians of various denominations, will be productive of incalculably greater benefit than a larger number of schools, for which competent instructors cannot be obtained, because adequate compensation for the labours of talented instructors cannot be raised. We hope that the friends of education will be careful not to attempt to establish, in any locality, more day schools than can be properly sustained.

Mr. Dunn's second Letter contains important suggestions, which well deserve consideration. He, in his Letter, states, that he is not opposed to the establishment of congregational schools, and adds, "Where the supply of education is deficient, and facilities exist for daily instruction, I think it very desirable that congregations, as such, should maintain schools. A place of worship, under such circumstances, is incomplete to which a day school is not attached." It appears, therefore, that Mr. Dunn does not intend to discourage the establishment of schools by separate congregations, or denominations, but would very properly guard us against those evils resulting from conducting schools upon principles which violate the rights of conscience.

We have written the preceding remarks, to introduce the following en

quiries: What Ought, Can, and Will, the WESLEYAN METHODIST ASSOCIATION now do in furtherance of the cause of general education?

The last Annual Assembly desired the Connexional Committee "to devise some efficient plan for extending the benefits of education, by Sabbath and day schools." We think that it is important the Committee should enter upon this work as early as possible. It would, however, we presume, materially assist the Committee, if our friends were, without delay, to talk over this subject in their respective localities, and endeavour to ascertain, what are the general sentiments in reference to this subject. We are satisfied, that it is the duty of our Connexion to take a decided part in this all-important work; and we hope that it will receive that attention and liberal co-operative support which its importance demands. We shall be glad if any of our correspondents will favor us with a good article on this subject, in time for insertion in the coming January Magazine.

ON SENDING COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE

MR. EDITOR-SIR,

MAGAZINE.

YOUR forthcoming number will complete another volume of the Magazine; and on looking over the various contents of the monthly issues for the current year, and perceiving the great paucity of contributors who have assisted you in your arduous duties, I am led to the conclusion that the Connexion at large has not done its duty towards, either the Magazine, or, its Editor. Everybody knows that variety constitutes one of the most important elements of a periodical; and the variety which is most acceptable to the great mass of readers is not merely a diversity of subjects, for that may be affected by one pen; but variety of thought, and feeling, and language, which is the natural concomitant of an enlarged number of its contributors; and which, in its operation is like viewing subjects from different altitudes of mind, and under the varied circumstances of education, position, and, it may be, prejudices of life; but all which may have a tendency to elicit truth, and create an interest in its discussion.

I believe no injustice is done to any party concerned, when it is said that, there is, probably, not a Magazine connected with any religious body in the kingdom, which lays so few minds under contribution to enrich its pages, as that of the Wesleyan Methodist Association. There are, it is true, the biographical sketches, and the communications reporting the progress of our Societies, all which require very little mental energy; but how seldom, comparatively, do our preachers, or other friends, venture on an original communication. Shame on us; I blush at the statement of the fact; for as I may possibly be able sometimes to put two lines together, I feel the guiltyes guilt, and condemnation, to extend to myself as well as others! I feel perfectly confident that, were our preachers and other friends to forward such contributions as they are able to furnish, that the insertion of a proper selection from them, in addition to the insertion of, what I feel no hesitation in pronouncing, the very able reviews, and other editorial articles given in our Magazine, that our valuable Periodical would thereby excite more general interest, and its sale could hardly fail to be considerably augmented.

When we direct attention to our Societies in Liverpool, Rochdale, Leeds, Sheffield, Darlington, Sunderland, and the Western Churches, as well as many others; and reflect upon the small number of original communications

488 On Extending the Circulation of the Magazines. sent to the Editor, it really does imply a want of interest, which, on the part of many individuals, amounts to great culpability. I certainly do not imagine that all the articles sent to the Editor for insertion were such as could, with propriety, have found their way into the pages of the Magazine; that would, indeed, be a species of good fortune, of which no other person sustaining the Editorial office could ever boast: nor do I apprehend that the circumstance of articles being occasionally declined, has induced any one to refrain from contributing; as it is but fair to presume that the Editor has willingly availed himself of any communication he could, with propriety, insert. The fact is, and it may as well at once be confessed, we have been indifferent, inattentive, and neglectful of duty; one person has, very probably, been depending on another, and the consequence is, that nearly every body is at fault.

But now for the remedy! The past cannot be recalled, or 'amended; but who will be better for the future? Well; for one, I will try; and if spared, and in health, during the year 1844, I intend that the Editor shall, at least, have the OPPORTUNITY of inserting one article sent by me, in each number of the Magazine; and if, on doing my best I am unable to offer anything which ought to go before the public, I shall possess the satisfaction of knowing that I have "done what I could," and with that may rest better satisfied than I now can on reviewing the past. May I be permitted to ask my respected brethren, itinerant and non-itinerant, to whom I have referred, if they too will not resolve to contribute "according to their several ability," in what ought to be a common object, because it possesses a common interest? Can they sit down, and, on carefully considering the claims which the Magazine, and the Connexion at large through that medium have upon them, neglect any longer to render to both the assistance which so many of them are capable of affording, without sacrificing their peace of mind? My fervent hope is, that the few remarks now made may have the effect of leading to an increase of able correspondents to our Magazine, and be the means of rendering it increasingly acceptable and profitable to a greatly augmented number of

readers.

A Class Leader in a Manufacturing Town.

ON EXTENDING THE CIRCULATION OF THE

MAGAZINES.

To the Itinerant Preachers, and other Officers and Members, of the
Wesleyan Methodist Association.

DEAR BRETHREN,

WE beg respectfully to solicit your attention to the subject of the Circulation of our Magazines. Although they have a larger number of subscribers than some other very respectable Magazines, yet, the number of copies sold bears but a small proportion to the Members of the Association; but if we add to them the seat-holders in our Chapels, and other friends of the Connexion, we are obliged to conclude that the circulation may and ought to be considerably increased.

From circumstances which have transpired, to which we need not further advert, there is reason to believe that many of our Members and friends are not purchasers of the Magazines merely because their attention has not been sufficiently directed to the importance, to themselves and families, and also, in a Connexional point of view, of their becoming so. And as the season is now