last year; while in Branch C,-viz., "Principles and Methods of Teaching," the number was the same as last year,-viz., 13. Had the whole of the intending candidates in this branch come forward, the number would have been 21. While there is, therefore, a decided advance under the first head, there is no falling off under the other two. Of course the Directors are as anxious as ever to see larger numbers coming forward for examination than have hitherto offered themselves; and as the merits and objects of the scheme become more widely known, this will, doubtless, be the case. The Directors have never thought of recommending their scheme as the best possible solution of the question as to how Sabbath School Teachers should be trained for their work. This question, the settlement of which, to the cost of Christianity, has been too long delayed, will not be satisfactorily solved until the churches face it, as fully and as fairly as they have done that of providing for the training of candidates for the Christian ministry. In the meantime, all that the Directors claim for their scheme is, that for accomplishing the end it has in view, it is, so far as known to them, the best in operation within the area of the Union.

The classes instituted last year for the study of Branches B and C, were resumed in January last, and were attended by increased numbers in both. John Hutcheson, Esq., M.A., of the Glasgow High School, again kindly undertook the care of the class studying the Christian Evidences; while the Convener of the Committee, in the absence of Mr. Ross, the Rector of the Established Normal School, Glasgow, who was prevented, by the pressure of other duties, from giving his valuable assistance this year, took charge of the class studying the Principles and Methods of Sabbath School Teaching. To both of these gentlemen the best thanks of the Directors are due for the practical interest they continue to manifest in the success of the Examination Scheme.

In evidence of the importance which our President attaches to the scheme, he has kindly intimated his intention of following the example set by his worthy predecessor in office, in providing a Prize of Two Guineas for the writer of the best set of answers in each subject given in at the late Examination. For the first time since the institution of the scheme, the prize in two subjects has been won by the same candidate,viz., Mr. John A. Shannon, of Pollokshields U. P. Church Sabbath School Society, who stands first in subjects A and B respectively, and who has further distinguished himself by dividing the prize in subject C with other two competitors,-viz., Miss Jessie M'Indoe, of Bath Street U. P. Church Sabbath School Society, and Mr. James Robertson, of Blackfriars Established Church Sabbath School Society; all of whom, to their credit be it recorded, sent in papers which were considered by the Examiner entitled to the maximum number of marks. With respect to these papers, Dr. Morrison reports, "I don't think I have ever examined for you better papers than these three."

The prizes consist of books likely to be helpful to the winners in their work as Sabbath school teachers; and the President has kindly left the selection of these to the successful competitors. They will be presented to the winners at the Annual Meeting.

In conclusion, we would note, as the outcome of the recent examina

tions, that eight of the candidates have won diplomas. Of these, five sat in March last for the first time, and took the whole of the subjects in succession. Of the remaining candidates, ten have passed in two subjects, and twenty in one.

To Drs. Marshall Lang, Candlish, and Thomas Morrison, the Examiners under the scheme, the Directors take this opportunity of again recording their best thanks for the labours they have so willingly undertaken in connection with the scheme, and for the interest they continue to manifest in its success.

SENIOR SCHOLARS.-The importance of retaining our hold of the Senior Scholars is duly appreciated by the Directors, and their labours in that direction have been continued during the past year, and with encouraging results. Boys and girls, when they reach the age of fifteen, or thereby, naturally decline to continue in attendance on the general school with the younger children, and it is therefore absolutely essential that arrangements be made whereby they can meet by themselves - either in a separate room or at a different hour. This the Directors have sought to impress upon every Sabbath School Society where the necessity existed; and it gives them pleasure to report that their action in this matter has resulted in the establishment, during the past year, of several such classes. Much, however, yet remains to be done. The barrier which most commonly stands in the way of such classes being formed, is want of accommodation. To permit our scholars to slip from our hold at such a critical period of their lives, is too serious an evil to be allowed to exist because of such an easily surmounted difficulty as want of accommodation." The Churches will assuredly do their duty in this matter if the necessity is clearly brought home to them; and it is for each Sabbath School Society, where necessary, to see that that is done. PUBLIC MEETINGS.-During the year there have been two Meetings of the Union,—viz., in April and October.

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The Meeting in April is the Annual Public Meeting of the Union to receive the Annual Report. Last year, however, an innovation was successfully tried-the transacting of the business at a Day Meeting, leaving the usual Evening Meeting free to speakers on subjects connected with Sabbath School work. The speakers at the Evening Meeting were — Sir William Collins, who presided; Rev. Alexander Brown, Pollokshields; Rev. Robert Blair, M.A., Cambuslang; and Rev. W. Patrick, B.D., Kirkintilloch.

The object of the October Meeting is to stimulate and encourage Sabbath School Teachers at the beginning of their winter's work. Stirring and interesting addresses were delivered at this meeting by the President, Rev. J. H. M'Culloch, B.D., Gourock; Rev. John Smith, M.A., Berwickon-Tweed; Rev. John Torrance; and Rev. James Leslie Murray; and, notwithstanding the unpropitious state of the weather, the City Hall was well filled. To all the gentlemen named the Directors desire to express their thanks for their valuable assistance.

The Committee also interested itself in the Programme of the Sixteenth Scottish National Sabbath School Convention, held at Paisley in October last, and which, they are glad to report, was one of the most successful which has yet been held.

SABBATH OBSERVANCE.-Your Directors unanimously agreed to petition the House of Lords against the opening of Museums and Picture Galleries on Sabbath. This petition was presented by Lord Balfour of Burleigh ; and it is gratifying to report that the prayer of this and of many other such like petitions from all parts has been granted, and that National Museums and Galleries remain closed on the day of sacred rest.

Your Directors observe with sorrow the increase in the running of tramway-cars on the Lord's day, depriving many of their much needed opportunity for rest and spiritual improvement, and presenting temptations to our scholars to secularize and desecrate the Sabbath. Believing in the Divine institution and perpetual obligation of the Lord's day, your Directors feel bound, by representations to the Tramway Company and otherwise, to have this temptation removed; and they earnestly seek the co-operation and prayers of all Teachers for the success of their efforts, and that the "quiet and sacred Sabbath "-long a distinguishing feature of our beloved land-may still, under the Divine blessing, be preserved to us.

JOINT COMMITTEE ON EVANGELISTIC EFFORT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FOUNDRY BOYS RELIGIOUS SOCIETY.---The work of the Joint Committee of Sabbath School Union and Foundry Boys Religious Society has not presented any new features in the past year. The Week-day Evening Meetings, and the Children's Sabbath Dinner, continue in operation.

The special week evening services for children, begun by the Joint Committee in April, 1882, have been continued throughout the year. The Committee have been greatly aided in this work by the United Evangelistic Association, and by Churches of all denominations.

During 37 weeks, large meetings have been held in various city churches, and in many other towns in the West of Scotland.

During 1883 the Children's Sabbath Dinner at 2 p.m. each Sabbath, has been carried on by the Committee in concert with the United Evangelistic Association, in the same way as in former years, in the Halls, James Morrison Street.

All the other agencies which are linked with the Dinner are in full activity, and practical help has been given in various ways in 984 cases, or 5472 since we began to tabulate.

ANNUAL COLLECTION.-The object selected this year by the Directors of the Union for the Ninth Annual Collection, was the Children's Day Refuges, a charity which is conducted partly under the auspices of the Union; and they have the satisfaction to report that the amount received to date is £327 16s. Id., shewing a considerable increase on the sum collected for the Infirmaries last year.

It is gratifying to know that this collection has been the means of maintaining these Refuges for this year in a satisfactory financial position, as without it there was a fear of their operations being crippled for want of funds.

STATISTICAL.-Under this head the Directors have the satisfaction of being able to report a considerable increase in the figures on nearly every point; and it is pleasing to know that this progress is very general, it being spread very equally over all the City Unions. A notable feature of the returns is the large increase in the number of Infant Classes meet

ing separately, no fewer than 73 Societies reporting such, in addition to those of last year. It is well that Societies are awakening to the importance of keeping these scholars apart from the others, from the double benefit thereby gained of being able to deal with them more satisfactorily than can be done in a general school; and by keeping the general schools for the more advanced scholars, enable them to retain their hold on them for a longer time than would otherwise be the case.

This year the Directors eliminated from the schedule the inquiry regarding Ministers' Classes, the returns formerly received regarding these being of a very unsatisfactory and partial kind.

The figures under all the heads are as follow:—

282 Societies are reported upon; of these, 270 report this year, and the figures for the other 12 are taken from last year's Report-increase 3. Number of Schools, 631, composed of 193 separate classes, and 438 general.

Having become Teachers,

Amount collected for Missions and benevolent purposes, £3,888 17s. 4§d.

—increase, £149 8s. 81d.

97 Societies have special classes for young men.

have special classes for young women.

93

have infant classes meeting separately.

have occasional Evangelistic services for the young.
have Band of Hope meetings.

131 Societies have Classes for the practice of Singing. have Penny Savings Banks.

92

84

230

وو

46

255

29 181

have Sabbath-day services for the young.

70 give their average attendance as 10,990. 41 of these meetings report to the Foundry Boys Society.

meet regularly, and 28 occasionally, for business.
have preparatory meetings.

use prepared Schemes of Lessons-213 use the Glasgow
Union's Scheme-42 use various other schemes.

canvass regularly for scholars; 37 canvass occasionally.
have regular meetings for prayer.

The Directors cannot close this Report without referring to the loss which they, and indeed the Sabbath schools of Glasgow, have sustained by the death of Messrs. Henry Clow and Matthew Wotherspoon, two of the Honorary Directors of the Union, and whose jubilee as Sabbath school teachers the Union commemorated by the presentation of addresses at its Annual Meeting in 1881. For the past fifty-three years they occupied a position in the forefront of the work, never ceasing in action, nor abating in heart and spirit; but the rather, as the years passed on, growing in interest and earnestness. It was their happy privilege to see some results of their labours, and to witness the Sabbath school cause growing in the estimation of the Christian Church to the important position it now holds. They have left a brilliant example to those who remain; and the Directors trust that, animated by the same spirit, many will be found making it their life work to "feed the lambs," and gather them into the fold of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the Report, said that, three years hence, those who were spared to that time would be able to hold the jubilee of the Glasgow Sabbath School Union.

MR. GARDNER seconded the motion, which was adopted.

SIR JAMES WATSON, in moving the election of the office-bearers for the ensuing year, gave a few interesting reminiscences of the teaching given in the Sabbath schools in earlier times-50 years ago—stating that it was then more of a doctrinal than a practical nature; and it gave him very great pleasure to see the great progress that had been made in Sabbath school teaching since his young days.

BAILIE BERTRAM seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

Office-Bearers for 1884-85:

President-SIR WILLIAM COLLINS.

Vice-Presidents-MESSRS. JAMES HOWATT and JOHN GRAY.
Treasurer-JOHN S. KELT, Esq., 207 Ingram Street.

Secretaries

MESSRS. JAMES RICHMOND, Burnside, Rutherglen ;
PETER MACKICHAN, 26 Bothwell Street;
JAMES MACNAIR, 28 Buchanan Street.

The Annual Conversazione and Public Meeting took place in the Christian Institute in the evening, at 6.45, when tea was served to a large number of teachers and friends in the lesser Hall. The public meeting