Sunday School Union, says, "I wish every one who becomes a Sunday school teacher would qualify himself or herself to pass the Scripture examination of the sixth standard of the London School Board." There are many, including our good friend Mr. Inglis (who knows more about the Sabbath school than any man in Britain), who are afraid to introduce or give prominence to the word 'examination' in connection with this subject. They know the difficulty of obtaining teachers on any termsor on no terms at all,-and they deprecate anything which may act as a barrier in keeping up the number of the teaching staff. At the same time some guarantee of a teacher's qualification for the work will require to be aimed at. When one considers what is expected of the Sabbath school teacher now-a-days, the necessity for a thorough qualification is evident. According to the International and other schemes, certain topics run through the quarter; and it is the duty of the teacher so to teach his scholars, that at the end of that period they will be prepared for the review, and be able to give intelligent answers on the Scriptural illustrations used in the lessons. Suppose our ministerial brethren were to try the same plan with their congregations, they might have as great a difficulty in securing satisfactory results. For a man may preach whether men will hear or forbear, but no one can teach unless some one learns.

Mr. Mundella, in the same address as formerly quoted, says, “What teachers have to think of is, how they shall qualify themselves to discharge the grave and responsible duty they have undertaken-to convey religious truth to the children. The teacher who goes to the school without preparation, without study, without thought, without prayer, is hardly qualified to stand face-to-face with the children." No doubt the first requisite for an efficient teacher is personal godliness. Without this all other qualifications, however brilliant and attractive, may prove like sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. At the same time, where earnestness is the only qualification, the teacher may fail in securing the intelligent respect of his pupils, and his means of usefulness be greatly limited. Taking it for granted, then, that personal godlinesslove to the Saviour and the lost-is a sine quá non, there are three things which should ever be kept in view in preparing teachers for their work:

1. Personal Training:
2. Mutual Training:

study of the Word.
study of the Scholar.

3. Co-operative Training: study of the Method. Or, What to teach? Whom to teach? and How to teach?

1. Personal Training.—As an aid to the private study of the lesson, no end of helps are within the reach of the teacher; and nothing can exceed the exhaustive and practical nature of the notes and illustrations that are published in so many forms, and by so many different parties engaged in Sabbath school work. It is just possible, however, that in the gathering of these attractive pearls, which are scattered so profusely, the real rich mine of wealth-God's own treasure Word-may be overlooked. A good Reference Bible, a Concordance, and "Inglis' Bible Text Cyclopædia," in the hands of an intelligent and prayerful teacher, will prove the best helps in the preparation of Sabbath school lessons; and the teacher who uses these implements diligently and prayerfully will be the best prepared

for the work, either in the school or the training class. It is of the utmost importance that the teacher set apart a portion of time, however limited, every day, for the private study of the lesson; at the same time realizing the necessity of prayer for God's Holy Spirit to enlighten. He will thus be in a position to avail himself of illustrations and incidents which may occur during the week, and which, in other circumstances, might not present themselves to the mind.

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2. Mutual Training: the study of the Scholar.-No teacher can be truly successful who does not take every possible means for becoming intimately acquainted with his pupils. This, to a large extent, can be accomplished in the school, by the teacher placing himself upon a level with the scholars, and carefully observing their manner, conduct, habits, and dress. The better educated the teacher, the less difficulty will he have in accommodating himself to his scholars. But in these days of School Boards and standards, is it not possible that some of the scholars may require to come down to the level of the teacher? Quite recently, in an infant class, a teacher was giving a lesson on the fifth commandment. The verse had been put up with the moveable letters, Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land." One little fellow held up his hand and said very modestly, "Please, sir, it's upon!" The teacher might have excused himself by saying the word was the same, and he might have reproved the scholar for his correction; but this would have been disheartening, and so the teacher gave his scholar credit for his attention. But the study of the scholar cannot be complete without visiting the home, and ascertaining how the filial obligations are discharged, and whether the home circle is brightened or blighted by the spirit and temper manifested there. A diligent and practical teacher can accomplish this without much labour; and who can calculate the reward of such effort? The knowledge thus gained by the teacher will be of incalculable service to him in his class labours, and the influence of his visit upon the family may prove of equal importance to the teaching in the school.

3. Co-operative Training; study of the Method.-This branch of study can be most effectually accomplished by the co-operation of the teachers and others; and it is here where the Church is specially called upon to take action, and to make provision, by Normal and other classes, to train the young men and women in our congregations in the art of teaching. At present the supply of teachers is being obtained in spite of any special means being taken to prepare them for their work. But there is a great change in the character and attainments of those who now come to our Sabbath schools. A few years ago the scholars were ignorant and untu tored, and it was not uncommon to see the infant class composed of boys and girls from 10 to 15 years of age. Now the children who enter our Sabbath schools are five days of the week under the tuition of skilled and trained teachers, who, to some extent, give instruction in religious truth. It is therefore a duty, yea an absolute necessity, if the Sabbath school is to continue a power for good in the land, that the Church take special means to see that those who are called upon to teach in the Sabbath school are thoroughly qualified to impart the saving truths of the Gospel to the receptive minds of the young immortals who are committed to

their care. The object of the memorial which is now submitted for your consideration is to stimulate the Church to look at this question, with a view to the adoption of some systematic plan for the training of teachers. It is not to be supposed, however, that nothing is being done at present in this direction. Not a few congregations, and several Sabbath School Unions, have interesting and successful classes in operation, and are doing good work; and it might be both stimulating and instructive to know from members present to what extent this is being carried out in the different parts of the country. All that is being done, however, is comparatively little, when we think of the vast number of young persons who are, in a manner, pressed into the Sabbath school service without the slightest attempt at preparation on the part of the Church, who have, at least nominally, the oversight of this department of Christian work.

Many schemes have been proposed to accomplish the object in view. The most feasible seems to be that which has been discussed in the Sabbath School Magazine by the gentlemen formerly alluded to:-viz., Normal and Training Classes in connection with every congregation. All that can be accomplished by Union Training Classes, however useful these may be, is powerless to meet the real wants of the case; and the only hope of getting at the root of the matter is to get the Church to realize its responsibility, and make every effort to utilize the power within her. It has been suggested that there should be a Normal and a Training Class connected with every congregation—the former to be conducted by the minister, and the latter by a professional teacher, or some one having a special aptness for the work. This is certainly desirable, and in those churches where the two classes can be organized, the results would no doubt be satisfactory. But it is to be feared that in a great many congregations there would be no small difficulty in organizing even one class, either Normal or Training. Perhaps it might be better, in the first instance, to aim at the establishment of one class in each congregation-it may be called Normal or Training; but let the chief object of the class be to prepare young persons for becoming teachers, or to train more efficiently those who are engaged in the work. This class may be conducted by the minister of the congregation, or some other who may be qualified for the work. But let it be understood that no church organization is complete without a class of some kind for training young persons for the important office of instructors of the young in the truths of the Gospel. Such a training will prove a valuable means of selfimprovement; and if the young men and women engage in this for the sake of the Great Teacher, they will find that in their endeavours to instruct others they are taking the most effectual means of increasing their own knowledge.

Memorial to Church Courts on the Training of Teachers.

WE have pleasure in giving the terms of the Memorial to which Mr. Parlane refers in the preceding article. We understand that copies

of it have been sent to the principal Church Courts in Scotland, including the Presbyteries, throughout the country, of the Established, Free, and United Presbyterian Churches. We earnestly trust that it will have the fullest consideration, and that practical measures will result :

"The following Memorial, prepared by a Committee appointed at the Sixteenth Scottish National Convention of Sabbath School Teachers, held at Paisley, on 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th October, 1883, and adopted at the Seventeenth Convention, held at Kirkcaldy, on 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th October, 1884,

RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH

That the above Conventions have had under consideration the question of the better training of Sabbath School Teachers for their work.

That, in the opinion of these Conventions, the question is one of urgent importance, and requiring the careful attention of the various Church Courts of the country, with a view to making the Sabbath School a more powerful agency for good among the rising generation.

That the Sabbath School workers present at these Conventions desire to bring before the Church Courts the necessity of increasing the efficiency of Sabbath School teaching, in order that Sabbath School organizations may keep pace with the improvement in Week-day School teaching, with the wants of the age, and with the needs of the young.

That they believe that, for this purpose, not only is individual preparation required for the work by each Teacher, but that there is urgent need for a systematically arranged scheme of training, which would aim at instruction in the theory and in the practical work of teaching the young by means of teachers' meetings, conducted on a common basis in every town and district, and, if possible, in connection with every congregation. Where, owing to the number of other religious meetings, or from other causes, it is difficult to maintain the attendance of Teachers, a limited series of meetings annually might be found beneficial. At such meetings the following or other suitable subjects might be taken up :— 1. Books on teaching for home reading.

2. Preparation of school lessons.

3. Teaching of a class in presence of teachers.

4. Lectures or papers on the method of teaching.
&c., &c., &c.

That they are further of opinion that, in the training of the ministry, much good would result from keeping before the students the wants of the young as one of the prominent parts of their preparation, and securing that their curriculum shall embrace the subject of dealing with the young, both in the way of preaching and teaching.

May it therefore please

to

take the subject of the better training of Sabbath School Teachers into your serious consideration, and to frame or adopt such a scheme of Training for Teachers, either alone or conjointly with the Church Courts of other denominations, as may secure efficiency in

carrying on Sabbath School work; or to adopt such other means as may seem fitted to promote this object. R. C. MUNRO FERGUSON, Esq., M.P., of Raith and Novar; REV. JOHN CAMPBELL, B.D., Minister of Kirkcaldy Parish Church; PATRICK C. SWAN, Provost of Kirkcaldy;

ALEX. DAVIDSON, Esq., Kirkcaldy;

REV. I. E. MARWICK, Bethelfield U. P. Church, Kirkcaldy;

MICHAEL BEVERIDGE, Esq., Kirkcaldy;

Chairmen of Kirkcaldy Convention Meetings.

CHARLES S. INGLIS, 12 Dick Place, Grange, Edinburgh;

JAMES PARLANE, 97 High Street, Paisley;

March, 1885.

Conveners of Convention Committee."

Dumbarton Sabbath School Union.

ANNUAL CONVERSAZIONE.

THE Annual Conversazione of this Union was held in the Lesser Burgh Hall on Friday evening, 3rd April, and was attended by a large gathering. There were present Rev. Daniel Gunn, the retiring president of the Union, who presided over the company; Rev. William Watson; Rev. J. Jardine; Rev. J. H. Paterson; Rev. H. S. Yates; Mr. Andrew Henderson, as representing the Glasgow Union; and Messrs. M'Lean and Kinloch, the Vale of Leven Union. Letters of apology for absence were received from Rev. Messrs. Alpine, MacBain, Tait, and M‘Lean. After a drawing-room tea had been much enjoyed,

The CHAIRMAN said the third year of the Sabbath School Union's. existence had ended on the 28th February last, and as they would learn from the report, there had been steady progress and considerable advance in the work, and trusted that in the fourth year there would be still greater progress and advance. It was to be an important year in the Union's existence, as the National Sabbath School Convention was to take place in the Burgh in October,—a circumstance the preparation for which had been engaging the attention of the office-bearers. The programme already sketched, if successfully carried out, as he had no doubt it would be, was fitted to be exceedingly interesting. He hoped the visit of the Convention to the town would rouse their Union to greater enthusiasm in the work before them. One of the best characteristic features of the religious life of the times was the growing interest in Sabbath school work. Hitherto he pointed out that proper value had not been put on this work, because its importance had not been realized as laid down by Christ in the injunction," Feed my lambs." Mr. Gunn strongly impressed on the teachers present the great responsibility of their position, as in a sense spiritual guardians of the young, and pleaded that they should go to their work with prayerfulness, and not as if it

were to be a pastime.