The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-26 00:00:00

SCHOOL

A gentleman who was induced by the appeal of an excel-
lent clergymen in this town to undertake the instruction of
a class in a ragged school, wished me, as I was a stranger,
to accompany him, and see how it was conducted.
I had never been in a ragged school at the time of in-
struction, so I consented to go with him merely for curio-
sity, not intending to remain more than a few minutes, as I
always had a repugnance to such society.
We were rather early; none of the teachers having ar-
rived. The room, however, was tolerably filled with a
curious assemblage of strange creatures, both male and
female.
The girls conducted themselves very well, and were sitting
in quiet expectancy; but the boys, who were more numerous,
amused themselves in a variety of ways.
The moment we entered the room, their attention was
directed towards us ; we immediately became the object of
their criticism, and they expressed themselves in so comical
a manner in our very hearing, that I was quite amused.
We were scarcely in the room when we were made
sensible of our want of manners by the cry " ' ats of !" to
which we, of course, gave prompt attention.
Several of them then came round me and asked me to
teach them, laughing all the while, and evidently caring
very little whether I did or not. I asked them would they
wish me to teach them. "Yes, to be sure," said they,
" cum, teach us."
One of them then took from the wall a board, on
whicil come short and expressive sentences were printed,
and coming tv me with it, read over in an indistinct and
rapid manner the ilmt three, which, if my memory serves
me, were, " Learn to read," Learn to write," —Teach
me to pray," indicating the words, as he went along, with his
finger. But his irregular spirit could no longer submit to
such restraint; so he introduced some original sentences
about "bread and plums and buttered rolls," pretending all
the while that he was reading these, too, off the board.
The effect of this was a general laugh among his com-
panions.

I could not help smiling at so strange a scene ;„and I felt
an interest for these poor neglected creatures.
Though I had only intended to look about a little, I could
not resist the impulse to say a few words to them, so I made
him replace the board, and bade them to be seated ; but this
restless little urchin appeared to think of nothing but how
he might amuse himself and excite mirth among his com-
panions. I was quite at a loss to know how to deal with
him.

After a little thought I reslved to try what effect an ap-
peal to his sense of shame would have upon him, so I showed
him how he had become the laughing-stock of his com-
panions by his buffoonery, and that he was mistaken if he
considered that room a place for amusement.
I was surprised to find how soon this course had effect
upon him. He sat down quietly and looked quite abashed. I
told him how glad he should be to have such a place provided
for his benefit, where he might derive instruction if he
wished to receive it, and that he would be acting the part
of a very silly, foolish boy, if he did not resolve to profit by
the opportunities presented to him 'for becoming a good
man.

I pointed to the board, and made him read over aloud the
sentences it contained, and after making a few observations
on the first two, I dwelt more particularly upon the third,
" Teach me to pray." I asked him did he understand
what prayer meant, and did he pray ? He replied, " I says
God's prayer, and more, too," but could not for a long time
induce him to repeat it for me. He thought he would be
ridiculed by the others, " Think I'll have all them 'eer
laughing at me ?" I promised I would not suffer him to be
laughed at, and to encourage him made all the other boys
repeat it. He then at last began, and I felt so gratified
that I thought to encourage him more by helping him on
with it ; but I was well nigh losing all by this presumption.
•He got quite offended, and would not say any more. " Think
I don't know it without your telling me—l ain't no soft. "
I was taken quite aback by this unexpected display, and did
not well know what to do. I had all along adopted the
gentle treatment ; but here was behaviour which called for
rebuke, and I was at a loss to apply it to so much combus-
tible without the certainty of an explosion.
My first method of appealing to his sense of shame suc-
ceeded so well that I thought I would adopt it here also.
Accordingly, I showed him how unbecoming his exhibition
of temper was on such an occasion ; that he surely could
not have been thinking that he was repeating a prayer to
God ; he could not have understood the meaning of " hal-
lowed be thy name," "thy will be done," "forgive us our
trespasses, " because that he could not suppose, that flying
into passion and saying bad things were pleasing to God,
that God would not listen to the prayers of wicked people,
ko 1.10 ilquao ;.1 cervix nliiltit
they were addressing him in prayer.
He listened to all I said in silence and evident attention ;
and when I asked him to repeat the prayer once more, ho
did so without hesitation.

Whilst I was thus engaged, the regular teacher came, and
I retired, not without the reflection, that our poor ragged
children are in a deplorable state, and that, withal, their
hearts hardened, though they appear quite accessible if ap-
proached in the right way. Not one of those thoughtless,
wild, and wicked little beings but could be made serious,
gentle, and pious.
I could not help thinking that ragged schools might be
made the means of thoroughly reforming these children, now
sunk so low in ignorance and degradation--unguided in any
action by fear of God or regard for man.
It is to be regretted that the higher classes know so little
of the state of these schools. They are aware of their exist-
ence, but few have any experience of their internal manage-
ment. They cannot bring themselves to take a personal
interest in, and busy themselves with, such filthy little
creatures. But if they reflected for a moment, what a
world of good they might do, they would not hesitate to
endure a little inconvenience for so praiseworthy an object,
and instead of feeling repugnance to, they would, in a little
time, feel an interest and a _pleasure in the occupation.
They would not only go themselves, but they would strive
to enlist others in the work, and endeavour to respond to
the calls of the clergy, who invite their needed assistance.
All, lay and clergy, should join in making known the claims
of these poor children. Nor should they rest, till they know
that not a single child in this town was neglected, but had
the opportunity of learning his duty towards God and man.
Liverpool, Soy. 23rd, 1853. AItMATOS.

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SELECT
VESTRY.

Yesterday, a special meeting of this body was held in the
Parish-offices, Brownlow-hill, to elect a registrar in the
room of Mr. Parr, lately deceased. The Rev. Rector
Campbell presided. The other members present were,
Messrs. Came, Gardner, Troughton, Hand, Savage, Craw-
ford, Shakeshaft, Whitby, Luff, Clarke, Mellor, Denton,
Blain, Whitty, Moss, Bradley, and Hughes. There were no
less, than twenty-three applicants for the situation, but those
numbers were reduced by the finance committee, who
selected three parties whom they recommended to theboard
for appointment. The parties so recommended were Messrs.
John Pilkington, Andrew Rourke, and John Pemberton,
sen.

Mr. HUGHES proposed Mr. Robert Bryden, whom he
described as an old rate-payer ,of Liverpool, and who, in
addition to being a man of many virtues, could lay claim to
he the founder of the Liverpool Licensed Victuallers' Associ-
ation, an institution which in the course of time would be the
means of a very considerable saving to the funds of the
parish. Mr. Bryden was a respectable man, and, although
advanced in years, his intellect was as clear as ever. He
possessed methodical habits, and such a kind of character as
admirably adapted him to fill the situation.
Mr Moss
Ry cpronficse Mr Tirvripn',2
Mr. admitted t e justness of the eulogy pronounced
on Mr. Bryden, who no doubt deserved well of the licensed
victuallers of Liverpool; but Mr. Hughes had not laid
down any sufficient reasons for proposing him as a candidate
for the situation. He (Mr, Moss) should support Mr.
Pilkington on the principle laid down by the board for
some time past, and which he considered a very healthy
one, that was of advancing meritorious servants, men who
could look back with confidence to their past acts, and who
had been faithful to their trust. Mr. Pilkington had been
the parish schoolmaster, and subsequently the clerk of the
parish cemetery. They would not be doing justice to them-
selves if his claims were overlooked.
Mr. GARDNER proposed Mr. Smethurst, and after some
conversation as to the mode of voting, the board proceeded
to the election, and Mr. Pilkington was appointed registrar
by a large majority.
For Mr. Pilkington ;—The Chairman, Messrs. Carrie,
Clarke, Mellor, Whitby, Moss, Savage, Hand, Crawford,
Shakeshaft, Denton, and Troughton.
For Mr. Smethurst :—Messrs. Blain, Bradley, Gardner.
For Mr, Rourke :—Messrs. Luff and Whitty.
For Mr. Braden :—Mr. Hughes.
The proceedings then terminated.

THE STRANGE ISLANDERS. —The British brig Chatham
was lately wrecked on an island of the Pacific hitherto un-
discovered. The captain gives an account of the adven-
tures of himself and crew thus :—" We were distributed
among the people of the island, where we spent a most
wretched night, expecting to be speared every moment. The
next morning commenced our naturalisation. We were all
drawn together and armed with spears, and marched off to
the north end of the island, as we supposed, to be there
sacrificed to their gods, for they have many; but the train-
ing ended well, and we were each taken to respective
houses again. For several days this training was carried
on, differing only as their modes of worship differ, according
to which of the gods they worship. We then found out
that we were considered supreme beings, and that we had
nothing fear
as icing as they thought so. The natives
worship idols, departed spirits of their own race, and have
god-men, or a species of Pagan• priest, among themselves,
whom they worship on particular occasions."