The Sun.
London, England, 1819-07-24 00:00:00

THE BANISF FREE-SCHOOL.

" On the 15th instant, the Anniversary of this
Schbol was held at Canonbury House, Islioittow.
After the Sitbscribers had dined together, to the
untidier of about 120, the children were in:ro-
duced to he examined ; 9n d a gre.►t number of
Ladies Caine to witness the iutrresti't►g scene,
whet eby the long room was completely tilled and
overflowing. Tice examination was conducted by
the Master in the catechisms used in the school,
in one of which (Mr. Paliner's,) the tinSwers are
all given in the very words of Scripture, by which
Means the 'children's minds are stored with the
nips( important trutl►s of divine revelation. The
rest ut the examination extended to the contents
of the two first Books of the Old and New Testa-
ments, which, if perused throughout the Scrip-
tures, must form in the minds of the children it
copious and valuable treasury of sacred knowledge.
The answers were promptly and correctly given,
to •an extent which excited the admiration of all
present, and were closed by u poetical address front
the head boy of the School.

" After this the Rev. Mr. EDWARD,' (who was
in the Chair) elotptently addressed the Company in
behalf of the School, awl of the system of 'wive'.
sal education, connected with religious princi-
ples. • Ile endeavoured to impress upon the Meet-
ing the important consideration, that we are as
well accountable for our influence as for our ta-
lems—that all have a sphere of influence, more or
less extended; ti►at those ►►• ho can do but little
individually toward such objects of benevolence.
have the opportunity of urging the duty upon
others; and that there is, in tact, no person who •
is not able to contribute, in One way or other, to
the great work of Christian benevolence ; that
therefore to suffer the riing generation to remaitl
in ignorance, without sonic eff.ar for their
in-
struction, incurs a high and awful degree of re.
snonsibility. Mr. E•lwards remarked, that he was
twenty years old before lie saw a man that could
not read, and then every body looked at him
with suspicion, or with pity and contempt. Where
he was brought up (in Scotland), so much was
ignorance considered As a reproach, that when et►
gitl was asked the question, " Can you read ?"
she indignantly tehlietl, " Drt you think that I
was born in England ?" This reproach Mr. E.
hoped would be wiped away front us by the spread
of Education among the Poor ; and it w►is im-
portant that they should receive it early, because
the difficulty of attaining it greatly increased in.
after life. •

• "Rev. Mr, ELVEY adverted to the Origin of the-
School, and to some encouraging prObta of its.
wilily—Rev. Mr. CLARK of Chelsea mentioned
the late amiable Mr. Austin (Mr. Elvey7s prede-.
censor) as the Founder of the School ; and in fa-
vour of the importance of early instruction, ad-
verted. to the well known opinion of Dr. Ford,
(late Ordinary of Newgate) that ignorance was
the parent of crime.
." Mr. KEEN, observing a great number of Ladies
present, strongly recommended the formation of
a Ladies' Auxiliary Society in aid of the Institu-
Lion, and Mr. Edwards offered his services to be
their Secrecary. Rev. Mr. IIUTCk-lINGS also ad-
dressed the Ladies, ,commended them for bringing
(heir clinchen with them, to train them up iLL
habits of benevolence and phihinthropy ;
,and
concluded his interesting speech by prOposing
vote of thanks to The Chairman, which was car-
tied by acclamation, and the company separated,
as we hope7--to practice what they. had beard."