of thousands, both teachers and scholars, are known to have become enlightened and saved, by means of the lessons given and received at Sunday-schools. But a whole volume would not suffice to unfold all the benefits conferred by this blessed institution, to which may be emphatically applied the words of the celebrated Adam Smith, in speaking of popular education in general, that it is "the cheap defence of nations."

CHAPTER XV.

BIBLE-CLASSES.

Indeed, the former,

AKIN to Sunday-schools are Bible-classes. conducted as at present in America, are little more than an assemblage of the latter.

What are commonly called Bible-classes are composed of a comparatively large number of persons, all taught by the pastor of the church, or some other individual whom he engages to act for him. To preside over a Bible-class of twenty to some hundreds of persons, the greater number, if not all, of whom are adults, and some of them, perhaps, remarkably intelligent and well-informed, requires far higher qualifications than simply to teach a small class in a Sunday-school.

These Bible-classes are generally conducted by the pastors, and so highly are they valued as a means and occasion of good, that few settled ministers have not one or more among their flocks. In some cases, one for each sex is held once in the week-that for gentlemen in the evening, that for ladies during the day. They meet, according to circumstances, in the church, lecture-room, vestry-room, schoolroom, or in some private house. The pastor sometimes devotes his Sabbath nights to a Biblical service, for the benefit of all who can attend; a practice feasible only where the population is compact, and the flock within an easy distance of the place of meeting. In country churches, these classes often hold their meetings in church before the regular service commences, or in the interval between the morning and afternoon services. This is convenient, but is apt to produce fatigue.

I have known pastors in country churches who had no fewer than five hundred persons in one Bible-class, if I can call it so, which met in the afternoon instead of the regular service; and others, whose Bible-classes included the whole adult part of their flocks, and met

previous to the forenoon service, or in the interval between that and the afternoon service.

In conducting these classes, the common method is to go through some particular book of the sacred volume in course, and some system of Bible questions is generally pursued. Upon this plan, all who have time and inclination for the task, prepare themselves, by reading and study, for answering the questions to be found in the book of questions that is used.* But it is not the practice of any wellinformed pastor to confine himself to the questions contained in the book. These he employs as he sees fit; by the questions he puts he assists in sustaining the attention of the people; and he takes occasion to give a great amount of scriptural instruction.

To conduct a Bible-class in a manner at once interesting and profitable requires no little preparation; and, when well done, few methods of instruction are more edifying, either to the people or to the minister himself. The Divine blessing has rested most remarkably upon it. Nor could we expect that it should be otherwise. What more likely to secure the Divine benediction than to bring the mind to the study of that which God himself hath spoken? "The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple." "Sanctify them by Thy truth; Thy word is truth."

CHAPTER XVI.

MATERNAL SOCIETIES.

I MUST not omit, among the means which there is reason to believe that God has greatly blessed to the advancing of His kingdom in the United States, the Maternal Societies-institutions that have not been of very many years' standing among us, but which have existed long enough to produce much good.

These societies are composed of pious mothers, who meet in parties, not inconveniently numerous, once in the week, fortnight, or month, for the purpose of conversing on the subject of bringing up their children for the Lord, listening to the reading of valuable remarks and hints on the best means of discharging this great duty,

* Several excellent clergymen of the United States have written systems of Bible Question, among whom may be mentioned the Rev. Drs. M'Dowell, Tyng, Barnes, Jacobus, Professor Holdich, and the Rev. Messrs. Covel, J. Lonking, and Newcomb. The Bible Questions published by the American Sunday-school Union are good, as are, also, several of these printed by the denominational Sunday-school societies.

and mingling their prayers before the throne of grace in behalf of themselves and their beloved offspring. These little meetings prove very precious seasons to many an anxious, perplexed, and disheartened mother, by communicating grace, and strength, and support, and light, for enabling her to fulfill her fearfully responsible part. God has greatly blessed them. For the benefit of mothers, some excellent periodicals have been published in the United States during several years past. Among these let me mention "The Mother's Magazine," issued in New York, and re-published in London. It appears once a month, is neatly printed, and costs only a dollar a year. It has a very extensive circulation, and furnishes much admirable matter for reading at the Maternal Societies' meetings, as well as in the family circle. Another valuable periodical is published at Utica, in the central part of the State of New York, and is read in several thousands of families. It is conducted by a talented lady of the Baptist Church. A similar journal has been commenced at Boston; while all our religious newspapers contain many articles on the same subject.

On the other hand, several publications have for a time appeared for the benefit of fathers and of entire families. One such was published in the city of New York, and was entitled "The Christian Family Magazine, or Parents' and Children's Journal." It is said to have had an extensive circulation. Other journals of like character, and having the same object, have been published in other parts of the country. Moreover, almost all the religious newspapers, now very numerous, and some one or more of which are read in almost every Christian family, contain much that bears upon the religious education of children, and the whole economy of a Christian household.

The subject is one of vast moment. The world has never yet seen the full results of the Christian education of children. Parents have much to learn in this respect, and need all the helps and appliances possible to enable them rightly to discharge their important duties. Were all fathers and mothers in a nation such as they ought to be, how mighty would be the influence of the Gospel upon it! Were the fathers and mothers in the Church of Christ such as they ought to be, how different would it soon become from what we see it now! A praying, devoted, holy mother! What an interesting being! Such was the mother of Samuel, of Timothy, and of thousands besides, who have been eminently useful in the world.

I have known Christian fathers who met once a week for years to pray together for their children, and their meetings have been eminently useful and happy. I have seen another kind of meeting which I wish were more common-a quarterly prayer-meeting specially for parents and children. It was affecting to see parents, the unconverted

as well as the converted, bringing with them their children, dear to them as life itself, into the sanctuary on such occasions, that they might share in the earnestly-sought blessing.

CHAPTER XVII.

EDUCATION SOCIETIES.

ONE of the most interesting developments of the voluntary principle in promoting religion in the United States, is seen in the Education Societies: institutions of comparatively recent date, and having for their object the granting of assistance to pious youths of promising talents, but small means, in preparing for the ministry.

One of the first of these was the American Education Society, formed at Boston in 1816. Hence it has been in existence for forty years, and rarely has any society been the instrument of more good.*

In all denominations of evangelical Christians in the United States, there are to be found among those classes of society whose means are too limited to give their sons a college education, young men of talent, to whom God has been pleased to impart the knowledge. of His grace, and in whose hearts he implants a strong desire to preach the Gospel. Now, before the Education Societies appeared upon the field, such youths used to find it very difficult, and sometimes even impossible, to obtain such an education as was required by the rules of the church in whose ministry they wished to place themselves. Some, indeed, might succeed by their own exertions; by dint of industry and economy they might lay up enough to enable them to commence a course of study at college. By interrupting their college studies occasionally, in order to recruit their finances by teaching a school, they might, after long delays, be able to complete the requisite course at last; and then, by similar efforts, carry themselves through the required theological course at a seminary. Others, more fortunate, might be so far assisted by a church or some wealthy and benevolent

*This Society published from the year 1827 to 1843 a valuable periodical, entitled "The American Quarterly Register." It was originated by the late Rev. Dr. Cornelius and the late Rev. B. B. Edwards, the Secretaries of the Society at the firstnamed epoch, and continued by the latter gentleman to 1843, aided for several years by the Rev. Dr. Cogswell, successor of Dr. Cornelius; and afterward by the Rev. Mr. Riddel, who took the place of Dr. Cogswell.

patron or friend.* But the greater number, in despair of success, were likely to renounce all expectation of being able to preach the Gospel, and to resign themselves to the necessity of spending their lives in the ordinary pursuits of business, not in making known the "unsearchable riches" of Christ to their fellow-men.

These remarks, it will be perceived, apply to such youths as conscientiously cleave to those churches which require a college education, as preliminary to a theological one, in all aspirants to the sacred ministry. This is the rule, except in very extraordinary cases, with the whole of the Presbyterian churches, excepting the "Cumberland Presbyterians;" with the Episcopalians, and with the Congregationalists. The Baptists and the Methodists, as we have seen, are less strict, and are satisfied with a common English education, and a competent knowledge of theology. But even among these, great and laudable efforts are now put forth in order to give a higher education to as many of their candidates for the ministry as possible; and it is on this account, as well as for more general objects, that they have established so many colleges within the last few years. God is granting His rich blessing to their efforts in this great cause; of this every year furnishes cheering evidence.

To meet the demands of the churches for a vastly-augmented number of ministers of the Gospel, and to help those young men who desire to respond to this demand, the American Education Society was formed on the broad basis of rendering its aid to all pious young men, of suitable talents, who appear to be called to preach Christ, and who belong to any of the evangelical denominations. The only conditions imposed upon the recipients of its bounty are an engagement, 1. To go through a full course of collegiate and theological education in some approved college or seminary; and 2. To refund the sums advanced to aid them, should the providence of God, in after life, give them the means of doing so.

Such are, in few words, its principles. A rigid supervision is maintained over those who accept its patronage. And setting out in its admirable career with a few young men, it has gone on, under the

* Several of the colleges possess funds bequeathed to them for the express purpose of educating poor and pious young men for the ministry. The Rev. Dr. Green, in his historical notices of the College of New Jersey, relates that, nearly three quarters of a century since, a pious young man of the name of Leslie was educated at that institution for the ministry of the Gospel; but, fearing to assume the responsibility of that office, he devoted himself to teaching a school of a high order, in which employment he was eminently successful. At his death he bequeathed to the College the sum of $15,000, the interest of which was to be devoted to the education of poor young men for the ministry. This fund has already educated a large number of excellent ministers.