whole plan laid before us, and feel sure that the catholic principles upon which it is established, entitle it to the patronage and support of the friends of the Redeemer's kingdom." The Rev. Messrs. PORTER and CLARKE are in this city soliciting aid in its behalf, and we hope Christians will consider the importance of the institution, and lend a liberal helping hand. Collections have been taken up in the Rev. Dr. Romeyn's, the Rev. Dr. Spring's, in the South Dutch, and the Wall-street Churches. REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TEACHERS' UNION OF ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH. Read at the Anniversary, on the 7th March, 1821. The wisdom of Divine Providence has made industry, honesty, sobriety, and other civil and social virtues, not only beneficial to our country and our connexions, but conducive to our owninterest and welfare. The conscientious discharge of relative duties, like the vapours which the earth exhales, breaks forth into refreshing and reviving showers of comfort and peace to the mind, whilst the discontented and evil tempers which embroil civil life, corrode the heart that fosters them, no less than they embitter the minds of those within reach of their influence. In becoming instrumental in correcting and reforming these; to win the habits to the cause of religion and virtue; to convince the easily impressible mind of the young, and the more rigid and sterile mind of the adult, the value of cleanliness, regularity, and order; and, above all, to endeavour, with the Divine blessing, to implant in the heart the principles of that wisdom which is from above; these are the high and important objects which this institution is labouring to accomplish. In presenting this Report, the Trustees feel impressed with the difficulty of laying before the Union a full account of the rise and progress, and the present state of the five schools connected with St. George's Church. Indeed it might be considered unnecessary on this occasion, to do more than record the proceedings of the last year; but as this is the first time they have invited the congregation to a participation in the joys of a public anniversary, they will beg indulgence, while they briefly retrace the history of these schools. The first Sunday school established in connexion with this church, entitled "No. 10," was commenced in March, 1816, immediately after the formation of The New-York Sunday School Union Society, and became one of the earliest objects of its kind patronage and care. In this school both white and coloured boys were taught. In the month of April following, several ladies of this church united in establishing a school for girls, entitled "No. 6," under the patronage of the New-York Female Union Society. The school established for coloured men, entitled "No. 34," next claims your attention. The complete success which has followed the attempt to instruct this class of persons, and meliorate their condition, calls forth our liveliest gratitude to God. This school was formed in November, 1817; and the few coloured men, who were in the school first formed, (No. 10) were transferred to No. 34. ance. In the year 1818 it was ascertained, that of the large number of white labouring men employed about the numerous buildings erecting at that time in the city, most of them were unable to read or write; and that amongst the great number of seamen who visit this port, the larger part were in a similar state of ignorTo afford instruction to these classes of persons, school "No. 24," was instituted in April, 1818, and continued with various success until January, 1819; when, from the difficulty of procuring the attendance of both teachers and scholars, its total failure induced the Committee to change their plan, and receive coloured boys instead of white men. In May, 1820, the coloured boys from No. 10, were transferred to this school. It was found that the domestic engagements of female servants prevented their punctual attendance at the usual sabbath school hours; that their evenings were, in many instances, spent in the most shameful manner, and that the plans hitherto introduced were not so completely adapted to their peculiar circumstances, as to leave them no plausible excuse for indolence and neglect; with a view to overcome, if possible, these difficulties, several of the teachers in the female school, united with other ladies of the church, and in July, 1818, formed school "No. 33," for the instruction of coloured women. This school is taught in the Lecture Room, on Sunday evenings after candle light. At present the number of scholars that attend each school is as follows, viz:-school No. 10, white boys, 120; No. 6, girls, 130; No. 34, coloured men, 140; No. 24, coloured boys, 100; No. 33, coloured women, 50; total, 550. The whole number of scholars received into these schools since their formation, is near five thousand. About 500 persons have, at different periods, been engaged as teachers: the number at present is 100. The progress that the scholars have made in acquiring literary and religious knowledge, should be next noticed; but the labour of examining the numerous records, to ascertain the various degrees of improvement made by so many pupils admitted into the several schools, under such a variety of circumstances, obliges the Trustees to limit this part of the Report to the single remark, that their acquirements have generally been such as to meet the approbation of their teachers and friends. Many instances of surprising rapidity in learning, have been recorded on the books, from which we learn that several pupils, who attended no other school, and did not know the alphabet, have learned to read in three or four months. A favourable estimate of the value of these institutions will be drawn from the fact, that of teachers and scholars, about 100 have given evidence of a change of heart, and been unjted to the Christian church since they entered the schools. The Trustees will here present a few short extracts from the record books, that they deem interesting: "One scholar, about 50 years of age, said he would give one thousand dollars, if he could learn to read." This scholar, who was admitted in Jan. 1818, still continues a regular attendant, and is now able to read. It is a duty enjoined on the scholars, to inform the superintendents when they are taken sick, and they, or one of the teachers, immediately visit them. "MS was taken sick and visited. On being asked if he was prepared to die, he replied, I am a very great sinner, and fearful of going to hell, and I do not know where to apply for relief.' He was directed to Jesus Christ, the Friend of sin ners. "The following Sunday he was visited again, and when asked how he felt, said, 'I am a wretched man; I have been trying to pray.' His convictions became stronger, and the Saviour was pleased to manifest himself to this poor man; and he was brought, it is confidently hoped, to be a true disciple." "JS has become a follower of Christ since he joined the school: he was very thankful for the instruction he had received. The condescending love of the Saviour, and the interest he trusted he had in his precious atonement, and his desire to be absent from the body and present with the Lord, were the constant themes of his conversation. He died in full faith of a glorious resurrection." "I visited NC, and found him very low: he is about 70 years of age. When he entered the school he could not spell, but can now read fluently in the Bible. He praises God that he had ever been permitted to attend a Sunday School. It would do your hearts good," says the visiter, "to hear this old saint speak of his religious experience." "A Bible was presented to LH, on his leaving the school for a voyage to Lisbon. During the passage, he read the Bible through, and commenced it again. He frequently read to the officers and seamen; and, on his return, gave the Bible to a shipmate." RP, on leaving the school to go to sea, said, "Tis very grievous for me to leave it-I hope you will remember me in your prayers. I have learned to read the Bible since I came to school, and it shall be my pilot and my treasure, while tossing on the great sea.' He was very much affected, and with copious tears expressed his sorrow at parting." Several of the pupils in No. 34, went with the colony to Afri ca. The Trustees will here transcribe a letter addressed by one of these, to his teacher. (See C. H. Vol. VII. p. 127.) Some of the scholars in this school, when absent from home, have attended Sunday schools in foreign ports. On the recommendation of the teachers, the scholars have held prayer meetings at their own houses. The Trustees have no doubt these meetings, if properly conducted, will be the means of promoting the spiritual interest of a great many of our coloured people, especially if they should become general. We hope that it will not be thought improper, to present the following extract of a letter, addressed to one of our teachers, when our obligations to do all in our power for the moral improvement of the blacks is considered. Dated at Alexandria, Dis. Columbia. "Dear Sir-Knowing that you will (as well as all Christians) sympathize with me for that much neglected part of God's creatures called negroes, induces me to write you this, to acquaint you that a few of us have commenced a Sunday school exclusively for their benefit. Our first attempt was three sabbaths back, when we had but twelve; the second sabbath we had one hundred and fifty, and on the third two hundred; and will no doubt continue to increase. The opposition here being so great to our undertaking, that I should despair of success, was I not certain that the hand of God is able to support us.' Some of the scholars have deposited in the "Bank for Savings" from 25 to 125 dollars. One scholar, residing at the distance of eight miles, has been a regular attendant at school, and many scholars have manifested their attachment to the schools, by coming without waiting for their ordinary meals. "On conversing with one of our pupils," says the Superintendent of school No. 6, "on the privileges she enjoyed as a Sunday scholar, she replied, 'I do think it a privilege now, but have not thought so always. so always. I never knew any thing of a Saviour, (as our minister told us on New-Year's day,) until I learned it here. The same child, on hearing one of her classmates say, she had not learnt her lesson, replied, 'your teacher wishes you to learn for your own good—it is not for her you are to learn.'” The following extract is from the same book : "With feelings of much pleasure, we notice a circumstance which illustrates the attention paid to the study of the Scriptures in our school. A child was found guilty of swearing; and immediately on the Superintendent asking whether some scholar present would not prove to her from Scripture, the sinfulness of swearing, several of them repeated very appropriate sentences from the Bible: this scholar melted into tears, and on being asked the reason, she said, 'Because I am so wicked.'" Notwithstanding there are many more interesting and animat ing facts recorded on the journals of these schools, we must pass them over, as further extracts would surpass the proper limits of this report. The principle laid down by the Parent Societies is, "that the word of God constitutes the foundation on which the whole system is constructed." In perfect accordance with this position, the teachers in these schools have laboured to impart a knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, as the essential means, with God's blessing, to improve their hearts and lives, and bring them to an acquaintance with their own characters as sinners, and teach them to feel their need of a Saviour. More than five hundred thousand verses of Scripture have been committed to memory by the pupils in these schools, besides catechisms, hymns, and their ordinary lessons. The amount of Scripture recited by some, is truly astonishing: one scholar repeated the whole of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, in four lessons. A still more important part of the plan is, giving out questions relative to Christian duties, to be answered by the pupils from the Scriptures. This exercise familiarizes them with the contents of the Bible, and will fix many particular passages in their remembrance, which will be "profitable" in after life, "for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness." Several of the boys who entered the school five years ago, are still found in them as pupils, or assistant teachers; several have been able to procure good places as apprentices in various trades. Of the boys who formed a class of seven, at an early stage of the schools, one is in the country with his father, a promising lad; one is in a grocery store, with a liberal compensation; one is an apprentice to a tinman; one to a saddler; and one to a brass founder: one a clerk in a hardware store, and the seventh a member of Trinity Church Charity School. In walking along our wharves and slips, we not unfrequently see our older scholars, during their hours of leisure, attentively perusing their books. It is with pain we record the fact that four of the pupils (two coloured men and two coloured boys) have been convicted of theft; these are, however, the only instances recorded of any scholars in the five schools having been convicted of crime. At the commencement of the first school, the teachers held a weekly prayer meeting, which in the course of a year and a half became a more general meeting, in which the congregation unite every Friday evening. This meeting is attended by our pastor, who usually delivers a lecture. Since this change took place in the character of the first prayer meeting for teachers, they have organized another, which is still continued. We have abundant VOL. VII. 4 Z |