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the land, all has been dark. There has been a time when England has borrowed hence the sparks by which she kindled for herself the pure flame of learning and religion; when bishops and holy men, issuing from a Scottish isle, carried with them their treasure of divine things to communicate to our southern forefathers, and renewed for them the foundations of the faith which heathen conquerors had destroyed.* God grant that this foundation, so far as it derives its birth, in part, from English sympathy and English aid, may prove an everlasting monument of our gratitude for the benefits which we then received! God grant that we who are called to fulfil our offices in the same may bear in mind that, having been made partakers of your spiritual things,' it will be but a small, though a just and fitting recompense, that, according to the best of the talents which God has given us, we shall minister unto you in carnal things:' and, if it may be, shall seek, in some humble measure, to discharge that weightier debt, which it never can be unseasonable to acknowledge, or, so far as occasion may be given, too late to repay."

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REPORT OF THE YORK DIOCESAN SOCIETY..

YOUR Committee have sincere satisfaction in presenting to the members of the Diocesan Board a report of their proceedings during the last year, and though it is not in their power to record any great variety of incident, or to speak much as yet of results, nevertheless they consider it to have been a year of great promise; and that the progress which has been made justifies them in indulging sanguine hopes with regard to the future.

The chief event of the year has been the completion of the society's new training schools, a work indeed of great magnitude, whether the size and cost of the buildings, the comprehensive scale of the arrangements, or the important benefits likely to accrue from this measure to the progress of education in the diocese, be considered. Your committee therefore cannot but express their thankfulness to Divine Providence for having enabled them to bring to a happy issue a long cherished plan, the accomplishment of which, they doubt not, will be matter of sincere rejoicing to all who feel, as they do, that in order to extend the benefits of education it is necessary to improve its character, and consequently that it is of the utmost importance, that the teachers of the people should themselves be well educated persons, and qualified for the position which they occupy, not merely by the acquisition of a certain amount of knowledge, or even of skill in the art of imparting that knowledge to others, but chiefly by being moulded to a religious stamp of character which will lead them to watch as anxiously for the moral improvement as for the intellectual progress of their pupils. For indeed the office of schoolmaster should be required, not only as a means of obtaining a livelihood, but rather as invested with a degree of sanctity, as being a subordinate office in the church, instituted for the purpose of carrying out the intentions of Him who showed the most gracious care for little children, and commended them to the tenderest sympathies of the members of His Church.

The new buildings were opened in August last, and are reported by the Rev. the Principal to be conveniently arranged, and admirably adapted to the purposes for which they are designed. The cost of site, erection, and finishing, amounts together to the sum of £12,000.

They are calculated to hold fifty-six training pupils. The number of training pupils now under instruction is thirty-six. But your committee have sanctioned an arrangement by which the rooms not at present required for training

"It is certain that the bishops and clergy, who issued from the Convent at Iona, exercised their official duties, and even renewed the foundations of the faith in all the provinces northward of the Thames."-Bishop Russell's History of the Church in Scotland, Vol. i, p. 15. See, also, ibid, pp. 32, 69, and 70.

pupils are allowed to be temporarily occupied by pupils of the middle classes. It will be in the recollection of the members of this society, that at the commencement of the year 1845, a number of noblemen and gentlemen interested in the welfare of the middle classes, with Lord Morpeth at their head, having observed the facilities afforded by the existence of the training institution for improving the character, and extending the amount of education of the middle classes (ordinarily received by the children of those classes) entered into an agreement with the committee of your training schools, that, if they would allow a boarding school for the sons of yeomen and others to be added to the day school already attached to the training school, they would raise a subscription and erect a building on a site contiguous to that of the training school, in which such additional pupils should be lodged; which building is now approaching completion, and will probably be opened soon after Christmas. It was further agreed that, in the event of there being an excess of expenditure in the year over and above the receipts derived from those additional pupils, they, that is, the yeoman committee, would make up such deficiency. Now it appeared to your committee that the arrangement thus proposed was one by which they were not only secured from loss, but one from which they must reap pecuniary advantage, added to which it held out to them the privilege of joining in a scheme which would confer on the country at large advantages which had already been appreciated in the city of York, and would be likely not only to prove a material benefit to the middle classes, but would also indirectly promote the welfare of the poorer classes in whom they are more immediately interested-for it is notorious that the employers of the poor have a great and powerful influence over them, and that the general tone of feeling, whether good or bad, which pervades the middle classes is readily communicated to the lower, and therefore that if a sound Christian education be given to them, i.e., to the middle classes, if their minds be elevated, and their condition raised, not only by an increased amount of secular learning of such a kind as will enable them to discharge more skilfully the temporal duties of their situations in life, but also by an increase of religious feeling, by means of which they will become better citizens and better masters, considering that they also have a Master in Heaven; it will be probable that under such advantages they will take a livelier interest in the progress of education amongst the lower classes, and that they will help, by their example and influence, to raise them from that deplorable state of ignorance, of indifference, and of vice, too often to be met with even in our agricultural districts, once famed as the scenes of pious simplicity, order, and contentment, but now, alas! frequently the seat of waywardness, and confusion, and of a fearful amount of immorality. Under these considerations your committee did not hesitate to accept the offer made to them, and to show a readiness to forward the benevolent and important designs of the gentlemen of the Yeoman committee.

Your committee further believe that present appearances tend to show that they were not mistaken in the course which they then adopted, but that the Diocesan Society materially benefits by the amalgamation of these two institutions.

Immediately that the new buildings were opened there was an increase of thirty-nine pupils of the middle class, and there are now applications for twenty admissions after Christmas. This increase in the number of pupils produced such an increase of income, that in the first quarter after the opening of the new buildings the institution was almost if not quite self-supported, an event which has never happened in any previous quarter.

At the close of the quarter ending June 30, the expenditure was £398 6s. 2d.; receipts, £335 17s. Od; showing a deficiency of £62 9s. 2d. At the close of the quarter ending September 30, the expenditure was £498 15s. 8d.; receipts, £532 13s. 9d.; showing a surplus of £33 18s. 1d. In the latter quarter's estimate and expenditure, however, there are some items not included, such as rates and taxes, so that this sum of £33 cannot be regarded as positive surplus, but it will be a fair statement to say that in the first quarter after the opening of the new buildings the institution was what it never was before

nearly self-supporting, which must be attributed to the accession of Yeoman pupils, which an increase of accommodation enabled us to receive.

It must also be borne in mind that the existence of the middle school is of great use to the training institution, as it forms on the spot a practising school for the training pupils, wherein they become acquainted with general school discipline and management, and exercise themselves, under the eye of the Principal of the joint institutions, in the art of giving instruction to others.

Your committee cannot close this part of their report without bearing testimony to the zeal and diligence with which the Rev. the Principal continues to discharge the duties of his office. They feel also bound to state that they believe the instruction given in these schools to be in strict accordance with the principles of the English church as embodied in her liturgy, articles, and homilies. Your committee continue to watch over the rising institution with deep interest, and would in no case sanction the smallest departure from such principles. They therefore trust that it will continue to receive from the country at large that undivided support which it pre-eminently deserves, and that, under the blessing of Him, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, it will become a glorious instrument of good, in spreading sound knowledge and useful learning, and in promoting an increase of practical piety in the lives of many amongst the masses of the middle and lower classes of our countrymen to be found in the crowded cities and distant villages of this great and important county.

One proof of the past success and usefulness of the Training Institution must here be cited as an earnest of the future. A return has lately been procured from thirty-two parishes to which trained masters have been sent, of the numbers under education in the schools to which they were sent at the date of their appointment, and of the numbers at present in those schools; by which it appears that the number of scholars on the books at the date of appointment was 1565; number now on the books, 3493; showing an increase on the books of 1928. The number of scholars in actual attendance at the date of appointment was 1365; number now in attendance, 2490; increase in attendance, 1125, which makes an average increase of attendance in each school, to which a trained master has been sent, of 34 scholars. From hence it surely appears that education becomes more appreciated, as its quality is improved; that, wherever a good school is established, with a competent and painstaking master at its head, scholars are sure to be found, and therefore, that the soundest way of extending education is by improving its quality, or, in other words, by securing an improved class of masters and mistresses.

The occupation of the new buildings has given your committee the opportunity of applying the old buildings to the purpose of an enlarged training school for mistresses. This school was opened in August last, under the superintendence of the two Misses Cruse, of whose energy and apparent fitness for their post your committee are happy to be able to report as confidently as the shortness of the time in which they have been engaged in the work would justify. The number of female pupils in training since the opening of this school has been nine.

To this training school there is likewise annexed a boarding and day school for girls of the middle classes, which is likely to confer advantages on this institution of the same kind as those conferred by the Yeoman School on the training school for masters. There are several applications for the admission after the Christmas holidays of girls of the middle classes.

The demand for mistresses is much greater than the supply; there have already been several applications, which your committee have been unable to meet; they trust, however, that when the institution has been longer open, and become better known, that the supply will increase; still it seems that young women of the age required, viz., from 18 to 25, have either at that period entered on some other employment, or find great difficulty in raising the sum required for their maintenance in the Training School, which is £18 per annum; hence more assistance is needed to aid this class of persons than the Board have it in their power to offer. It is therefore earnestly hoped

that the public, and ladies in particular, will be specially interested in this department of the society's labours, and that they will use their influence in encouraging young women of active habits, of steady manners, of pious dispositions, and of good bodily health, to desire the good office, and to qualify themselves for it, as being one that is eminently useful and honourable. And that they may be effectually encouraged so to do, it is hoped that they will be assisted in providing the means requisite for their support in the Training School, either by being supplied with help from private sources, or by grants of exhibitions to be awarded by your committee in the way of rewards, to those pupils whose circumstances seem most to require such aid, and whose general conduct and industry seem most to deserve it. Your committee are happy to announce that four such exhibitions, of the value of £6 each, have already been granted by four clergymen for one year: and that they have received a few separate subscriptions from the Scarbro', Buckrose, and Driffield Boards, and from some private individuals, to be applied to the female training school, which they hope will become more general. Your committee must now briefly advert to the general operations of the society in the diocese. First, as regards the district boards. Some of these boards are still in active operation, and, we trust, doing much good. As an instance of this, the Pontefract board deserves particular mention; that board has this year published an interesting report, to which some valuable and elaborate educational statistics relative to that part of the diocese are appended.

Your committee also cannot but acknowledge the support which they continue to receive from the Doncaster board, the remittances from that board being more ample than those from any other district board. The remittances also from Buckrose have been much increased during the past year, through the zeal and activity of the secretary of that district. The Rotheram board likewise is a very efficient board.

The Whitby board at one time promised to be an active one; a few years ago they published a good report, and your committee regret that they have discontinued their meetings and reports. This loss, however, is in some measure compensated by the exertions of the judicious and indefatigable secretary of that district, a layman, who is in frequent communication with this board, and has forwarded a summary of the state of education in that district, by which it appears that schools have increased in number, and been better filled since the establishment of the board, and that they are still on the increase. Your committee are sorry to perceive a great diminution in the support rendered by the Malton board. They also lament that exertions in favour of the society should have been suspended from local causes in the large and influential town of Hull: they trust, however, to see them revived. As your committee view with regret the falling off of any of the branches of the Parent Society, they have, during the past year, instructed one of their secretaries to attend, in cases where it is desired, at the meetings of any District Boards, to assist in their reorganization, or to communicate any information that may be required on the proceedings of the society. They have also further determined, that in future all applications for assistance must be forwarded to the Central Board at York, through the Board of the District in which the parish requiring assistance is situated. Your committee are desirous that the business of the society should be transacted, as much as possible, through the secretaries, and to facilitate this arrangement one of the secretaries attends every Tuesday, between the hours of twelve and two, at 33, Monkgate, to see persons on the business of the society, and to receive communications.

[The account of new schools opened during the past year, or now in course of erection, we omit.]

Your committee are sorry that it has only been in their power to make one grant during the past year, viz., £10 to a school lately opened at Frodingham. They trust, however, that some increased efforts will be made to assist in the establishment and maintenance of schools in poor places, and in for

warding the other general objects of the society, such as a system of inspection, the employment of organizing masters, the establishment of model schools, and the opening at York of a depository for school books and the most approved school apparatus. The funds of the society are but limited when compared with the wealth and importance of this diocese, and have hitherto been almost entirely consumed in the support of the Training Schools; and, though the male Training School is now more nearly self-supporting than it has hitherto been, it must be remembered that the opening of the female school on a larger scale will, during the infancy of that institution, be an additional burthen on the funds of the society.

After this summary of their proceedings, your committee trust that it will appear that they are engaged in a comprehensive work, requiring and deserving increased support. They trust that the members of this Society will each in their respective neighbourhoods promote the cause of education in the principles of the church, and that they will not forget the claims of this society upon their affection and support, which serves to guide, assist, and strengthen local efforts. They hope that the time will come when there will be seen in every parish the national school rising up under the shelter of the venerable parish church; a nursery for the church. Your committee are persuaded that amidst the conflicting statements and theories on the subject of education in the present day, the system pursued by the National Society as the organ of the church, is the safest, the soundest, the holiest. Your committee cannot admit the principle of separating secular and religious education. They believe that education to be worth anything, must be, in all its parts, essentially religious; that as the mind expands for the acquisition of human knowledge, so also, in the same proportion, it should expand in the reception of Divine truth; that, in fact, all learning should be the handmaid of religion; that history, if rightly studied, will be regarded as the account of God's dealing with His creatures, wherein we see the gain of godliness, the misery of sin; that geography is useful not merely as describing the proportions of land and water, the shape of countries, and the size of empires; nor yet again merely as serviceable to commercial enterprise and naval glory; but that it has still holier uses, as a witness to the accuracy of prophecy, and a help to the understanding of Holy Writ. Again, that science, arithmetic, mathematics, are to be pursued, not merely as clearing the head for business, and making us worldly wise as worshippers of mammon, but rather as quickening our apprehensions for the perception of religious truth, and for detecting the fallacies of error. That in some such way as this, knowledge may and ought to be made subservient to the growth of religion in the heart; otherwise it only puffeth up and edifieth not. Besides, the work of a Christian education is not achieved merely by the inculcation of holy precepts at stated intervals, or by the delivery of a set of dogmatic lessons on points of doctrine; it is a work of training, as well as teaching. The conscientious teacher of youth must watch the risings of evil, and as occasion serves, directly and indirectly, he must strive to regulate the habits, to correct the taste, and to give a Christian tone to the dispositions of his pupils.

Intelligence.

University of Oxford.-The public examiners have communicated to the tutors of the various colleges and halls the following notice :

"That in consequence of the great uncertainty which exists as to the portions of authors sufficient for books for examination, they have resolved, during their continuance in office, to receive

"Not less than 12 books of Homer,
"" Not less than 12 books of the Eneid.

"Not less than 12 orations of Cicero. "Not less than 6 books of Livy, "Nor the Satires and Epistles of Horace without the Epistle ad Pisones.

"Nor Sallust without the 4 Catiline Orations of Cicero,

"Nor the bare text of any book without some knowledge of the subjects or contents,

"Nor the Anabasis of Xenophon as the only History."

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