answered the expectation. If a teacher possessed what perhaps might not sound very delicate to some ears, or appear upon the pages of a dictionary, though in his country it was a very common word,-he meant 'gumption' (a very good thing, whatever might be said to the contrary,) few instances would occur of failure in the work of education. He knew of the failure of systems of education, and instanced several, but as a preventive to disappointment, he recommended the exercise of patience and perseverance, and in the most energetic terms encouraged Sunday school teachers to continue their efforts in the great work of training the rising generation in the way they should go. Shotley Bridge, Durham.-Recently eighty children belonging to the Primitive Methodist Sunday School, of this rising and rapidly increasing country town, had tea given them in the Odd Fellows' Hall,' after which the teachers, parents, and other friends partook. A public meeting was then held, and addressed by some of the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist preachers of the place, viz.-Messrs. Greenfield, Tabraham, and Southren. Would that such admirable cordiality and good feeling subsisted every where amongst the ministers of those two kindred churches. O come the happy day when 'Ephraim shall no more envy Judah, nor Judah vex Ephraim !' The addresses were delivered in an affectionate and animated manner, and produced a happy effect. The children, too, passed through some little exercises of recitation, &c., which greatly added to the interest of the occasion. On the following day the Sabbath sermons were preached by Messrs. Greenfield and Tabraham, which were productive of liberal collections on behalf of the school. This festival seemed beautifully to draw forth and commingle the sympathies of ministers, teachers, parents, children, and friends, and it is hoped will (under the blessing of God) prove useful in the highest and happiest sense of the word. The writer of this little account has long endeavoured to get it incorporated with the rules and regulations of Sunday schools, that every child be requested and encouraged to subscribe for a Bible, by small weekly payments, so that on leaving school all may carry with them the book of God, as their own personal property; and to show how far the system is practicable, it may here be mentioned, that in his first visit to this school, less than two years ago, he took with him (as is his usual practice) some specimen Bibles and Testaments, and mark the result:-about eighty Bibles and forty Testaments have been ordered! On those visits specimens of small religious magazines are also taken and exhibited, and some Sunday School Magazines are invariably shown and recommendedstrongly recommended; and many of them have been read, circulated, and valued by this school; besides, thirty small ones monthly are cheerfully subscribed for, and prized, too, by the children. Now, if these measures, in addition to the ordinary routine of teaching and other exercises of improvement in Sunday schools, be found salutary-be regarded as advancing intelligence and multiplying the means and opportunities of usefulness in those delightful little seminaries for the young, might not, and ought not, teachers generally to adopt them? Credit is due to John Hymers, the secretary, for his zeal and assiduity in appropriating those valuable Sunday school appendages, in addition to a faithful discharge of the other duties of the office. Sheffield and Halifax :-Intelligence from these places will appear in July. Printed by JOSEPH GILLETT, Brown Street, Manchester. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL Magazine. JULY, 1845. THE PILGRIM FATHERS. founders of independency, the Pilgrim Fathers, on the shores of New England, North America. The pastor and governor, John Carver, is presenting an earnest supplication at the throne of grace, that they may be preserved and rendered successful in this, their great undertaking. But it is necessary fully to H understand the circumstances in which they were placed, and the trials that they had to endure, to take a survey, which must be very brief, of the history of Independency. In the reign of Elizabeth, when the people of England were beginning to emerge from the mental darkness in which they had so long been shrouded, a spirit of religious inquiry arose, to which we are indebted for the liberty and spiritual enfranchisement of the present day. The people who principally excited this commendable feeling were called Puritans. They were much persecuted by the Queen and her councillors, because it was evident that their doctrines tended to undermine the supremacy of the sovereign over the spiritual sentiments and worship of her subjects. About the middle of this important reign of Elizabeth, there lived a clergyman named Robert Brown, who advocated these doctrines, and after having suffered persecution for them died an apostate at Middleburgh, in Zealand. The people who inherited his principles were denominated Brownists, more as a name of ridicule than an admitted appellation. After Robert Brown's death, John Copping and Elias Thacker suffered the martyrs' death in 1583, and in 1592 Henry Barrow and John Greenwood were apprehended (together with fifty-four others) and were hung at Tyburn. After these came John Penry, a well-educated and talented Welshman, who, after an eloquent defence was hung at St. Thomas Waterings. These events only promulgated the very doctrines they were intended to eradicate, and a band of devoted men arose who were determined to read the Word of God, and act according to it whatever penalty they might suffer. From these originated the Pilgrim Fathers, of whom we will now give a brief account. Amongst those who embraced the Brownist creed was a clergyman named Robinson, who is frequently denominated 'the Father of Independency.' At this time the people, knowing that they would not be permitted to hold such opinions in their native land, determined to try in foreign climes where they would be unmolested by the hand of persecution. Robinson and many others fixed upon Holland, and after being betrayed and disappointed both at Boston, in Lincolnshire, and Hull, they at last succeeded in reaching the city of Leyden. Here they continued some time, till they found that the principles of many were degenerating by intercourse with the immoral and irreligious Dutch, and they determined to try some other country. After much consultation and prayer, it was resolved that they should go to England in two ships (the Speedwell and the Mayflower), and then to the coast of North America. The Speedwell went first and returned, and after another general council, in which much feeling was evinced, and many pious sentiments uttered by their pastor, Robinson, it was determined that a band should embark, leaving Robinson behind, and should they find it successful the others could follow. A solemn and affecting parting ensued, and they embarked and landed at Plymouth, whence they proceeded to Dartmouth for repairs, and thence to the shores of New England, North America. They disembarked at the bay of Cape Cod, and after many curious adventures, and much suffering from cold, disease, and famine, in which many were carried off, they planted the colony of New Plymouth in 1620. The Indians soon became acquainted and friendly with them; they succeeded in establishing a traffick with surrounding towns, and in 1626 their brethren joined them, but without Robinson, who died before they embarked. This was the emigration of the Pilgrim Fathers, who formed a model for their posterity, in zeal and piety, which we may hope they will always endeavour to copy. "What sought they thus afar, Worcester. 'Ah call it holy ground, The soil where first they trod: [found, They 've left unstain'd, what there they Freedom to worship God!' Go Red fad Beautiful proof impressions of the Engraving, on Ivory Cards, suitable for presentation, rewards, portfolios, albums, and parlour ornaments, may be had, postage free, on enclosing, to Mr. GILLETT, 2, Brown Street, Manchester, four stamps, and the address of the party to whom it is to be sent. POPERY IN MADEIRA. On the 2nd of May, 1844, a poor woman, the mother of seven children, the youngest at the breast, was condemned to death, for her disavowal of the Roman Catholic dogma of Transubstantiation, and for having said that images should not be adored!-A poor woman in the nineteenth century, in the year 1844, sentenced to be hanged by Roman Catholics in a country called Christian, for confessing her faith in Christ, in opposition to the false doctrines of that infallibly persecuting church! SMALL BEGINNINGS. Ir is related of Chantrey, the celebrated sculptor, that, when a boy, he was observed by a gentleman in the neighbourhood of Sheffield very attentively engaged in cutting a stick with a penknife. He asked the lad what he was doing; when, with great simplicity of manner, but with great courtesy, he replied, "I am cutting old Fox's head." Fox was the schoolmaster of the village. On this the gentleman asked to see what he had done, and pronouncing it to be an excellent likeness, gave the youth a sixpence. And this may be reckoned the first money Chantrey ever received for the production of his art. This anecdote is but one of a thousand that might be cited of as many different men who from small beginnings rise to stations and influence; and shows the importance of not despising the day of small things, in any condition or circumstance of life. All nature, in fact, is full of instructive lessons on this point, which it would be well for us more thoroughly to study and appreciate. The river rolling onward its accumulated waters to the ocean, was in its small beginning but an oozing rill, trickling down some moss-covered rock, and winding like a silver thread between the green banks to which it imparted verdure. The tree that swept the air with its hundred branches, and mocks at the howlings of the tempest, was in its small beginning but a little seed trodden under foot, unnoticed; then a small shoot that the leaping hare might have for ever crushed. Every thing around us tells us not to despise small beginnings; for they are the lower rounds of a ladder that reaches to great results, and we must step upon these before we can ascend higher. Despise not small beginnings of wealth. The Rothschilds, Girard, Astor, and most of the richest men, began with small means. From pence they proceeded to pounds; from hundreds to thousands; and from thousands to millions. Had they neglected these first earnings, had they said within themselves, what is the use of these few pence? they are not of much value; and I will just spend them, and enjoy myself as I gothey would never have risen to be the wealthiest among their fellows. It is only by the economical husbanding of small means that they increase to large sums. It is the hardest part of success to gain a little; this little once gained, more will easily follow. |