The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-10-22 00:00:00

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL INSTITUTE

The annual meeting of the Liverpool Sunday School
Institute was held last night, in the school-room, of the
Pembroke Place Chapel. There was a very numerous at-
tendance, the room being completely filled. At half-past
ick the chair was taken by the Rev, Dr. P,AFFLES, Tea
was served round, after which a hynin was sung. Letters
of apology were read from the Rev. Messrs. Bevan, Cran-
brook, Beryl. ILIS. Browne, and other gentlemen.
Mr. HILL, librarian, then proceeded to read the seventh
annual report of the Institute. The report stated, amongst
other matter, that the library remained much in the same
state, and the committee repeated that they were not able to
increase it much beyond what it was seven years ago. Con-
siderable attention had, been given to the subject of raising
a sum o f £5OO for the purpose of improving the library, and
about £9O had been already subscribed, and the committee
hoped by following out the means they had employed, that
the sum required would be finally procured. The atten-
dance for study the reference library was most encourag-
ing. The demand for books in the circulating library,
exceeded the ability of the committee to meet, and had beets
the cause, of no small embarrassment to thein for some time
past. The attendence in the reading room was fre-
quently so large as to be inconvenient for the si'ze
of the room and at all times there was at least
a steady attendance. In the selection of works the
committee knew no distinction of sect or party, and only ex-
cluded frivolous and useless publications. The course of lec-
tures which had been delivered in January, February, and
March last, formed most eloquent contributions to the eluci-
dation of the influence which had gone to form the character
of the English, as a religious and a Protestant • people, and
the committee expressed their thanks to the !Rev. Messrs.
Graham, Cranbrook, Kelly, Beryl, Bevan, and Raffles, not
only for their having lectured without reward, but for the la-
bour and care which they had bestowed upon their task.
(Applause). During the six months from the Ist of April. to
the 30th of September, they had received £63 65., nearly
half as much more as for the same six months in the pre-
vious year, while they had an increase of 81 subscribers over
the previous year, 52 of whom were new members. In
February last, the committee issued an appeal, and used
every means to augment the amount of their subscriptions.
They expressed regret that a larger number of the Sunday
School teachers had not responded to the call, which was
much more warmly responded.to by other parties. The re-
port also announced that steps were being taken to restore
the Sunday School union, and that a meeting was held for
that purpose, at which 33 delegates attended. The reading
of the report was received with loud and general applause.
Mr. Hale stated that in consequence of circumstances
which prevented the Secretary from being present, he was
unable to lay before the meeting an exact statement
of their financial position, but he could inform them generally
that they were not in a worse situation than at any previous
period. •

Mr. HALL again rose, , and begged to state that
upon the accession of Dr. Raffles, Mr. William Browne,
M.P. for South Lancashire, had very kindly remitted to him
the sum of £2O for the use of the institute. (Loud applause.)
They had also received a subscription' sent in voluntary,
from Mr. Robertson Gladstone, of £5. (Applause.) Mr.
M‘Fee had contributed £2O. (Renewed applause.) Seve-
ral other gentlemen had contributed £5 and £lO towards the
funds, and whenever the objects of the Institute were men-
tioned they were met very charitably and generously by all
parties. (Hear, hear.>
The CHAIRMAN then said, I am sure it must be gratifying
to the friends of this Institution to hear the estimation in
which the society is held by gentlemen occupying such
position in life as these gentlemen. Mr. W. Brown highly
values all institutions of this kind, and is always concerned
to promote their welfare ; and I may say that the £5 pre-
sented by Mr. Gladstone were sent in with a letter higgly
gratifying to myself, because it expressed large and liberal
sentiments, with regard to this and all similar institutions,
and regretted that the number of claims upon him, especially
at this time, did not allow him to remit a larger sum.
(Applause.) These things are pleasant, as they show that
you are in good repute, and amongst those not immediately
within your own circle. I was very much gratified, indeed, to
hear from the report that the Sunday School Union has arisen
from the dead. (Hear). I must confess that I for one was a
deep mourner at its funeral, although I do not think it was
very decently buried (hear, here, laughter, -and applause)
—no sort of funeral obseques that I was invited to attend,
neither did I read of them in the public prints—(laughter).
But I do rejoice extremely to find that this instituti,n has
risen from the dead, and that in a few weeks it is to walk
abroad, and we shall see its face again, and I hope shall
welcome it in some way or other, for I confess I have
that feeling about me that I rejoice at seeing a large num-
ber of young people together, and a large number of those
who wish them well. (Heat, hear.) We used to have
delightful days in the times past, when we had our large
breakfasts in the morning—hen all the various teachers
and their friends met together, and when we used to have
frequently 400 or 500 at breakfast—then in the afternoon,
Great George's Street chapel as full as it could hold of
children— and then in the evening each one had a tea-party
in his own neighbourhood, his own immediate school, and
so finished the day with great satisfaction and delight. I
should like to see something of that sort again, and I hope
the commencement of the resurrection of the Sunday School
Union is at hand, and that it will be actively sustained, for
unless it is to be a busy and active agent in doing good, I
think it is better that it should be buried outright. (Hear,
hear, laughter, and cheers.) I now have the pleasure to
announce that our excellent friend Mr. Picton, who is en-
gaged in every good work, has come to testify his regard for
this institution by moving the first resolution. Applause.)
• Mr. Picrox then addressed the meeting, and said he re-
joiced to see so goodly a company assembled there. It
angered well for their past success, and for the future
prosperity of the Liverpool Sunday School Institute : and
he rejoiced to find, by several passages in the report that,
making every due allowance for circumstances, the cause
was prospering, and the institution was in a somewhat pro-
gressive state. (Here, here.) He thought that when either
an individual or a society passed the helpless years of infancy,
and rose up to be a tolerably stout child of seven years old,
the prospect of its future life was very satisfactory, for they
found, in societies as well as individuals, that there were
certain diseases, certain dangers, certain rickittiness, and a
certain amount of ignorance of constitution, which naturally
prevailed at the early stages of existance, and which very
frequently resulted, by wrong treatment, and consequent
disease, in death from inanition or want of nutriment.—
(Hear, hear.) Such, however, was not the case with that
society : au they now knew where their difficulties lay,—
what their strong points were; and what their weak ones,
—from what source they could obtain aid, and in what
manner the force which they commanded could be best ap-
plied---where theiipractical work lay, what object they should
principally turn their attention, and in what direction they
were likely to be able to do the greatest amount of good.
(Loud applause). Now, that they began to know themselves
that they knew their own strength, understood their weak-
ness, and knew where their powers could be most effectually
used, and when they were as well officered as at present by
their excellent friends, Mr. Hall and. Mr. Little, they had
every cause for congratulation and for hope of success in the
time to come. (Hear, hear). Mr. Picton then spoke at
considerable length, and with great eloquence of the in-
fluence exercised by Sunday School institutions, and benfits
which they had conferred upon, as well as received from, the
Bible and Missionary Society. In whatevef form these
institutions presented themselves, at the lowest depths or in
the middle classes, they gave equilebrium and tone to society
at large, and even climbed to the upper order of the world
to teach them all, gladden them with their beneficial in-
fluence, and leave always good behind them. (Applause).
.Mr. Picton suggested, in conclusion, that the funds raised
for the library should be devoted chiefly to the circulating'
library, as a public i! -titution was about to be established
which would answc-: :;1! the purposes of the library of re-
ference. Mr. Pictea resumed hit seat amid loud applause,
having moved the resolution, which was, that the report
just read be received, printed ane circulated.
Mr. WOODWARD seconded the resolution and stated that
the library consisted chiefly of critical works illustrative of
the Holy Scriptures, and that every night a number of his
fellow teachers might be met there diligently studYing.
There was not, he was sure, a more interesting occurrence
in the town of Liverpool, than to see these young men
assembled there, evidently studious to prepare their minds
to meet their classes. He stated that there were established
in connection with the institution, a French class, and an
eclectic class, where young men discussed historical and
other subjects, and improved themselves in speaking.. In
reference to Vr. Picton's suggestion -regarding the library,
Mr. Woodward expressed his opinion that a very, great
advantage was found in having the library of reference,
when parties who had no such place in their own homes,
might come and study.

The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously.
Mr. HAMILTON moved that the committee receive power
to appoint a paid Secretary, who should act as librarian,
should record the minutes, and be responsible for the due
execution of their orders. They had at present a most
efficient honorary Secretary and Librarian, but the reason
for proposing that resolution was, that there were a great
many of the routine duties connected with the institution
which had hitherto devolved upon the honorary Secretary.
Now the committee conceived that it would be very desira-
ble to throw some of these duties, without any additional
expense, upon the librarian, who had ample time to perform
them. In order to do that a resolution should be passed,
calling the librarian a paid secretary, as distinguished from
the honorary secretary, and it was requisite that the resolu-
tion should be passed by a meeting of the whole society.
Mr. ALLISON seconded the motion, which was carried.
Mr. MOUNSELL proposed a resolution, giving the com-
mittee power to elect vice-presidents, in addition to- the
president, as the committee thought it would be an ad-
vantage to have a number of the mfluential gentlemen of
their congregation appointed vice-presidents.
Mr. HALL seconded the resolution, which was unanimously
agreed to.
- The Rev. Mr. GRAHAM proposed the following resolution :
—" That the Sunday-school teachers are called upon by the
circumstances of the times, to avail themselves of every
means of improvement which the Liverpool Sunday-school
Institute affords, and, by every means, to prepare them-
selves for the discharge of their important duties." The
Rev. gentleman proposed the resolution in a very few words,
congratulating the society upon having attained their present
period of maturity.