5. Ordinary to make yearly returns of the names of parish schoolmasters in his diocese, numbers of children attending, salaries, and emoluments, with remarks, as a part of the returns which he is required to make by 43 Geo. III. c. 84, and 57 Geo. III. c. 99. 6. Officiating minister may at all times enter the parish schools, and examine the master and scholars; and is required to answer questions touching the state thereof to the ordinary. to be used or taught in lessons: no book without officiating minister's approbation; and no religious worship, except the Lord's Prayer, or other passages of Scripture. 4. Church Catechism to be taught half of one day in the week; and, if the offi ciating minister thinks proper, at a school meeting on Sunday evening, not exceeding three hours. 5. No child to be punished, rebuked, admonished, or otherwise molested, for being absent with leave of its parents, guardians, or persons having care of it, at the times when the Church Catechism III. ADMISSION AND TUITION OF is taught. THE SCHOLARS. This Branch consists of two parts. i. The manner of admitting scholars. ii. The manner of treating them. i. ADMISSION. 1. The officiating minister, with the advice of the parish officers, as assessors, shall fix the rate of quarter pense, as often as the master's place is vacant; not lower than one penny per week, nor above four pence, and affix the same in the school-room. 2. Pauper children to pay one penny in all cases. 3. Officiating minister, with parish officers as assessors, to recommend any poor child whose parents (not receiving parish relief) cannot pay at all, to be admitted gratis. 4. No distinction whatever to be made by the master in his treatment of different classes of scholars. 5. Master, if called on to teach any children at extra hours, or extra things, may agree for the same with the pa rents. ii. TUITION. 1. The officiating minister, on each vacancy of the master's place, is to fix the hours of teaching-not more than eight nor less than six hours a day-and the times of vacation not more than twice a year, and a fortnight each time, or a month if in one vacation; to affix the same in the school room. 2. The Holy Scriptures to be taught the officiating minister, if he pleases, directing, from time to time, any passages he may think fit to be tauglit among others. 3. No other religious book whatever 6. Scholars to attend the parish church once every Sunday with the master, unless they attend with their parents or others having care of them; but no child to be punished, rebuked, admonished, or otherwise molested, for not so attending, if the parents or guardians shall signify a wish to that effect, and that the child attends some other place of christian worship. 7. Reading, writing, and arithmetic, to be the things taught in all parish schools. At a Special General Meeting of the Committee of "The Protestant Society for the Protection of Religious Liberty," held at Batson's Coffee House, Cornhill, on Tuesday, July 18, 1820, "To consider a Measure announced to Parliament, For the General Education of the Poor." DAVID ALLAN, Esq. in the Chair, It was unanimously Resolved, 1. That this Committee appointed to protect the Religious Liberty of Protestant Dissenters, believe that wisdom and freedom mutually promote individual and public happiness; and desire that all men should enjoy the benefits of an appropriate and religious education, including instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic. 2. That this Committee have observed with satisfaction not only the numerous educational Institutions, liberally endowed by our forefathers; but the general diffusion of elementary knowledge among their fellow countrymen; and the great modern increase of attention to the Instruction of the Poor, manifested not only by poor parents-by Parochial Schools-by the National Society-by the British and Foreign School Institution--but especially by the estabJishment of Sunday Schools, which combine the great advantages of sufficient tuition with the due observance of the Sabbath day, and with moral and religious improvement. 3. That gratified by these observations -considering also the facilities to instruction afforded by the systems of Dr. Bell and Mr. Lancaster anticipating that the benevolent zeal already manifested, and yet progressive, would continue to increase-concluding that as parents, themselves instructed, would become the instructors of their children, or desire their instruction, the progress of instruction would augment with every successive generation and believing that spontaneous beneficence is more effective than extorted contributions, and that individual and cordial efforts, are more useful than prescribed and legislative systems, this Committee have cherished a hope that, without any extraneous interposition or parliamentary enactments, every benefit that the love of freedom, patriotism, philanthropy, and religion could desire as to General Education would be eventually, ly, and happily obtained. Church, as to the veto in the appointment of Schoolmasters, as to the quali fication of those persons,--as to the visitorial powers of the Clergy and Supé rior Officers of the Church,--and as to the compulsory contributions of Dissenters towards such Establishments, as must increase the powers of the Church, at the expense of Dissenters of every denomination, in a manner which not only the friends to Religious Freedom, but even the advocates of an imperfect Toleration, must condemn. 7. That to this Committee the details of the Measure appear equally objec tionable with the principle of the union of such Parochial Schools with the Esta. blished Church-and they cannot doubt that the Bill, if passed into a Law, will produce parochial litigations, local feuds, expensive contests, and sectarian and party disputes, that would agitate every district of the country, and occasion additional animosities and disunion when the public interests and private prosperity especially require candour, conciliation, and unanimity among wise and good men. 8. That this Committee, from their observations and inquiries, believe that the information on which the necessity for the Measure has been founded, is speedi-imperfect; that Education is more generally diffused than the Proposer of this novel plan is aware; that the Measure is as unnecessary as objectionable,—and that it is especially ill-timed, at an era when unprecedented private exertions are made to diminish the existence and evils of Ignorance-and when public burdens and parochial taxation are already greatly oppressive. 4. That this Committee representing a large portion of the population of England and Wales, from whom many civil rights are yet withheld on account of their religious opinions, and who are yet subject to exclusion from offices, and to tests which they deem obnoxious and disgraceful-must deplore any measures that may increase the degradation they desire to terminate, and augment the powers and abuses of a system which they conscientiously disapprove. 5. That this Committee have therefore perused, with regret, some Charges and Discourses of Dignitaries of the Established Church, declaring that the General Education of the Poor would be connected with the Established Church, and that the Parochial Clergy would be invested with additional powers, to superintend that education, and to render it subservient to the increase of the members of that Establishment. 6. That such regret is augmented by the proposition of a Measure to Parlia ment, realizing all the apprehensions excited in their minds, and proposing to establish Parochial Schools at a great immediate national expense, and at considerable and permanent local charges: and so connected with the Established 9. That this Committee therefore experience not astonishment but pleasure at the disapprobation which the project has already excited, and perceive with satisfaction, that, not only in the Metropolis, but in every part of the Country, such disapprobation exists :—and that not only the Dissenters and Methodists connected with this Society, but the Wesleyan Methodists, Quakers, Jews, Catholics, and Religionists of every Sect, as well as many pious and liberal Members of the Established Church, who disapprove of many parts of the plan, concur in their disinclination to this wellintended but injurious design. 10. That acting however, on the principles by which they have invariably regulated their conduct, this Committee will seek rather to allay than to inflame that general discontent; and as the Bill is postponed until another Session, and may never be revived, or if revived, may be much modified and less exceptionable, they will, from respect to the benevolent motives and laborious exertions of the Proposer of the Measure, and from a desire to prevent agitation and alarm, abstain from all public op their Constituents, express their Thanks to them for their attention to the Subject -and for their meritorious exertions. DAVID ALLAN, Chairman. position to the Bill, until it shall be again General Meeting of Protestant submitted to the consideration of Parliament. 11. That, to tranquillize the anxious solicitude of their numerous and inquiring Members, the Secretaries transmit a short Letter to each of the Periodical Publications circulating among Protestant Dissenters, informing their friends of their attention to the subject -apprizing them of the delay that must now occur in its progress, and that will supersede the necessity for general and immediate exertions;-and assuring them, that if the measure should be again attempted, they will give them timely notice of the attempt, and invite or accept their universal co-operation to prevent its success. 12. That aware that such re-introduc-. tion and such success, must principally depend on the sentiments that may be formed of this Measure by His Majesty's Government-and rendered confident of their liberal principles, by past attentions and frequent experience-and especially encouraged by the particular and recent pledge of the King, that the Toleration should be preserved inviolate, this Committee think it respectful to apprize His Majesty's Government without delay of their Resolutions; and that the Secretaries be therefore directed to transmit them to the Right Honourable The Earl of Liverpool, and to request an interview with him, previous to the next Session of Parliament, whenever he shall have considered the subject, and his convenience will permit. 13. That the Secretaries also transmit copies of these Resolutions to His R. H. The Duke of Sussex-The Right Honourable Lord Holland-Sir James Mackintosh, and Mr. Alderman Wood, the late Chairmen to their Annual Meetings, and also to the Secretaries to the Deputies for defending the Civil Rights of Dissenters, and of The British and Foreign School Society-To the Committee for protecting the privileges of The Wesleyan Methodists-and to the Gentlemen who watch over the interests of the Society of Quakers, that they may understand the sentiments of this Committee, and the conduct they have determined to adopt. 14. That this Meeting, specially convened by their Honorary Secretaries, to consider a Measure vitally important to Dissenting Ministers in London and Westminster. A MEETING of the General Body of Protestant Dissenting Ministers of the Three Denominations in London and in Red Cross Street, on Wednesday, Westminster, was held at the Library January 24, to consider what steps should be taken respecting the proposed Bill of Mr. Brougham's, when a una nimous feeling of disapprobation of its enactments was decidedly expressed; and a resolution formed to use all the means in their power to prevent its being adopted. The Secretary, the Rev. Dr. Morgan, reported that he had received a letter from Coggeshall, informing him that the Associated Independent Ministers in the county of Essex, at a meeting held at Dunmow, July 10, 1820, adopt ed some strong and well-expressed resolutions respecting Mr. Brougham's Bill, expressive of their opinion of its obnoxious clauses, and of their readi ness to co-operate with the different bodies of Dissenters in London, in opposing that measure. We understand that a well-written pamphlet, for the purpose of showing the injurious operation of Mr. Brougham's Bill, will be published in a few days, by Arch, of Cornhill. Irish National Society for Premoting the Education of the Poor. Ar a General Meeting of the Roman Catholic Clergy of Dublin, convened by order of the Most Rev. Doctor Troy, and held in the Chapel-House of St. Michael and St. Jolin, on Wednesday, January 10, 1821. The Most Rev. Dr. TROY in the Chair, Mr. L'Estrange made his Report, and read the following Plan of an Institution for promoting the Education of the Poor in Ireland : No. 1. The name of the Institution shall be, "The Irish National Society for promoting the Education of the Poor." No. 2. The object of the Society is to diffuse, throughout this country, a wellordered System of Education for the Poor, which shall combine economy of time and inoney, and bestow due attention on cleanliness and discipline, and, above all things, promote christian charity and benevolence. No. 3. The leading principle by which this Society shall be guided, is to afford the same facilities for Education to all classes of professing christians, without any attempt to interfere with the peculiar religious opinions of any, or to countenance proselytism. and regular discipline shall be duly enforced, the funds of the Institution shall be devoted to the support of such schools alone; but the Society is willing to communicate information, and afford such assistance as shall not diminish its resources, to any seminary for the instruetion of the poor. Providential Preservation. EARLY on the morning of Tuesday, January 2, 1821, some men belonging to No. 4. That this, leading principle Sheriff-hill Colliery, Northumberland, shall be adhered to with perfect fidelity; to go down into the pit. Owing to the were waiting the arrival of the gin-horse and for the purpose of preventing any cleaning of the boiler, the regular enviolation of this principle, it is a funda-gine rope was not in a working state at mental law of this Institution, that it shall be, at all times, competent for any five Members of the Society, upon request in writing, to obtain a Committee to inquire and report whether this, our leading principle, has been in any respect violated, and to suggest the best means to prevent future violation. No. 5. That, with a view to attain the objects of this Society, it proposes, so soon as adequate funds can be collected, to use the following means:-It will establish and maintain a Model School, on an extensive scale, in the Metropolis, which shall at the same time exemplify the System of Education recommended by the Society, and serve as a Seminary for the instruction of persons to act as teachers; it will also assist in procuring properly qualified schoolmasters, and will provide suitable books, stationery, and other articles necessary for Schools, at reduced prices. No. 6. As it is conceived that Schools best adapted to the wants and circumstances of Ireland are those in which the appointment of Governors, Teachers, and Scholars, shall be uninfluenced by religious distinctions, from which all books of religious controversy shall be excluded, and in which catechistical and religious instruction shall not be given to any denomination of christians, except by persons of their own persuasion, separately and apart from all others, and in which the morals of the pupils and instructors shall be anxiously attended to, and the most strenuous ef forts made to promote mutual cordiality and affection, and reciprocal confidence, between all classes and persuasions; where habits of decency and cleanliness shall be considered indispensable; where reading, writing, and arithmetic, shall be taught in a cheap and expeditious manner, and in which good order the moment; but about 20 fathoms of it, with the chain, were hanging into the shaft. One of the men, John Wilson, having, in the dark, gone incautiously gently till it came under his feet: he extreme. Being questioned minutely, shaft to ascertain whether his comrade he said he had gone to the brink of the being deceived by a glimmering of light was calling upon him from below, and through the crevice in the lattice partition, his feet slipped. He was conscious at the moment he dropped in, but has no recollection whatever how or when he caught hold of the engine is expected to be erected; and in that where the tent was fixed, the people having raised part, and friends having come forward to assist, a commodious chapel would be commenced immediate rope. The first thing he was sensible of was the rope sliding on his breast, and next its stripping his left hand, which he held mainly on, as well as with his legs and feet. He had in his right hand a small stick, of which he kept firm posly, did not the season of the year presession all the time, and brought it up with him. There was a chasm of 450 feet perpendicular depth yawning beneath. Utility of Tent Village Preaching Letter from an Itinerant of the Surry Mission Society, to a Minister in London. YOUR TENT has fully verified your opinion of its utility, as a mode of accommodating a village congregation previous to the erection of a place of worship. Since you kindly lent it to me in the summer of 1819, I have availed myself of the opportunity of employing it in some of the villages of Surry, and in several it has proved a comfortable tabernacle, filled, I trust, as of old, in the wilderness, with the glory of the Lord. Like that it is easily erected, and easily removed. The last village in which it has been pitched, is the centre of a dreary region of British heathenism. Here the preaching of the gospel was common in the street; and soon afterwards this moveable temple was reared. A young man (former ly very profligate,) to whom the word seems to have been blessed, with his father, took the charge of it, and without any trouble to myself or others who have laboured there, we have found it prepared every sabbath, for nearly half a year. Here upwards of three hundred peasants of all ages, from the children with ruddy faces, to the decrepid leaning upon their sticks, farmers, ploughmen, &c. have listened to these tidings of mercy, which were to them a new sound. The judgment-day will reveal those things of which we cannot now be positive; but we have reason to believe that sons and daughters have been born unto God. We have been favoured to behold the sabbath-breaker revere that holy day, the drunkard become sober, and the adulterer break his sinful connexions. In that neighbourhood the Lord has been pleased so to bless the labours connected with those above alluded fo, that one place of worship has been already fitted up; in another village, one *This tent, when fixed, forms a room 34 feet long, by 27 feet wide. With the poles, &c. it is 380lb. weight; and it cost enly thirty guineas. vent. I am sure, Sir, that it will afford you pleasure to reflect, that you have so largely contributed to these things; and I doubt not that if the plan were adopted of employing tents in itinerant labours, ferable to rooms, it would be found by they being on many accounts so far premany, who are glad to preach Christ in highways and hedges, a privilege to have such a comfortable shelter. I have been often reminded, while preaching in it during heat and storms, of Him who is "a shadow from the heat, and a covert from the tempest." Yours affectionately, J. R. G. Loss of the Abeona Transport. THIS vessel destined to convey free settlers to the Cape of Good Hope, took fire at sea on the 25th of December, 1820, through the first mate taking his candle from his lanthorn to see something he was looking for more clearly. The distress which prevailed on board was indescribable. Only forty-nine persons, by taking to the small boats, were saved, and these, as if by miracle, out of one hundred and sixty-one; the whole number besides perished. One of the survivors says, "A few minutes after I quitted the wreck, the main and mizen masts fell; the flames rapidly advancing forwards, drove numbers of the poor wretches on the bowsprit, where it was our hard lot to behold them frantic, without being able to lend them any assistance, You may judge how the boats were crammed, when husbands who had wives and children still clinging to the wreck, exclaimed against more being received."-Times of Jan. 17, 1821. CAUTION. A person named BENNETT, sir feet three inches high, with very red hair, assuming the character of a Baptist minister, has been collecting for the Bap tist Meeting-house at Bishop's Stortford. He has been within the last few weeks at Colnbrook for that purpose, where he was suspected. This method is taken to put our friends upon their guard against a very wicked man, and a vile impostor. J. BARFIELD, Printer, 91, Wardour-Street, Solio. |