British public, providing a refuge and a home for the destitute offspring of men who, as a class, have done so much to raise this country to its proud position of commercial and political greatness. Up to the present time more than 650 children have found a shelter within its walls, and received at its expense an education calculated to make them useful and respected members of society. But if any other circumstance were necessary to commend the charity to the public, it would be found in the fact that it is not local, but cosmopolitan, in its character. The children of all seamen, irrespective of country, are admitted to its refuge, and are treated with like care and attention. After the loyal and patriotic toasts, never omitted in the company of Englishmen, had been duly honoured, the Chairman proposed, "Prosperity to the Institution," and in doing so briefly but forcibly enumerated the claims which it had upon the support of the mercantile public. He mentioned that it now numbered 130 children within its walls, and concluded by expressing a hope that by the end of the year the directors would be enabled to fill the new building, which was lately opened at Snaresbrook, with double that number. Subscription lists were then opened, and on their close Mr. Edwin Beedell, of Her Majesty's Customs, one of the Directors, announced that the total amounted to the munificent sum of £1,350. The children of the institution were introduced during the entertainment, and testified by their rosy, healthy looks, the care bestowed on their training. The musical arrangements were under the direction of Mr. E. Gray, assisted by Miss Messent, Miss Eyles, Mr. Smith, Mr. J. Howe, and Mr. C. Henry; and the dinner sustained the reputation of the London Tavern.

• ASSOCIATED BODY OF CHURCH SCHOOLMASTERS. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE YORKSHIRE DISTRICT.

ON Easter Monday, the eleventh annual meeting of the above association was held at Ripon. The members first assembled in the Cathedral School, when Mr. J. BOLTON, of Messrs. Walkers' School, Bradford, being the president for the year, delivered an introductory address, in the course of which he admitted that the battle of the augmentation grant in England had gone against the teachers, and although the contest might be said to be over, all was not plain-sailing. He alluded to the mystification and uncertainty which exist with reference to the re-Revised Code and the explanatory letters to inspectors; and in stating his apprehensions with regard to a new minute hurled so spitefully, and after so short a respite, at the training colleges, and their brethren beyond the Tweed, he said a determination to gradually withdraw Government aid from schools seemed to underlie the whole current of our present educational legislation. The new code rendered necessary new terms as to teachers' salaries, and as many would inevitably sustain losses, it would be their duty to bring into play all the good temper, moderation, and good sense which they could command. It seemed to him that where a decrease of Government aid resulted from the application of the new regulations that it might fairly be expected managers would make strenuous exertions to make good the deficiency by raising the school fees, and securing

additional voluntary contributions. If the deficiency could not thus be made good, then it was only fair that the managers and teachers should jointly bear the loss. He urged upon the members that there was now no less than heretofore necessity for organization among the teachers. There was still need for interchange of thought, for discussion of questions connected with their actual work, and for mutual encouragement and counsel. The very fact of a new regime, working a change in their position and prospects, indicated most strongly the necessity for still closer drawing together the bonds of union. In reminding the meeting of the resolutions to be brought forward by Mr. Walter in the House of Commons, he said he did not regard them with the least fear, but as a legitimate consequence of the present Lowe theory of popular education. If certificated teachers could not stand their ground in competition with others for the 8s. per head, they ought to go to the wall. Managers would, as a rule, employ regularly trained men; but others doubtless would be tempted to work their schools with a weaker teaching power, being content to obtain a less grant upon attainments. Schoolmasters could and should make themselves appreciated by straightforward and courteous conduct, in spite of all slanderous misrepresentations. He hoped no member of this association would aim only at mechanical proficiency in the elementary subjects, to which the Revised Code gave a decided prominence. But let them not forget the higher and holier aims of their vocation. The true dignity of the office rested not upon him who laboured only to turn out good readers, writers, and arithmeticians. The principles of the Christian religion it was alike the duty and the privilege of the true and faithful teacher to inculcate. If a teacher neglected this portion of his work-if he failed to seize upon the numberless opportunities which fell within his reach of implanting, nourishing, and strengthening the Christian graces in the impressible hearts of his young charge, his school might be regarded as a mere shop, and he deserved no more honour or esteem from his countrymen than did the shopman who sold good wares, or the artizan who worked well at his trade.

Mr. WILLIAMS, of Sharow, Ripon, read the report of the committee, which deplored many of the results which had sprung from the operation of the Revised Code. The committee deeply lamented the severance about to take place between the Rev. F. Watkins, B.D., Her Majesty's Inspector of schools, and this portion of his district, after a connexion of twenty years with many of the teachers in this county. This association was reported to be in a prosperous condition, many new members having joined during the year, and abundant evidence was afforded of its practical value and increasing usefulness. The report was adopted, and it was unanimously agreed that the next annual meeting should take place in Leeds.

After the appointment of officers, and the discussion of business resolutions, Mr. THACKERAY read a paper on "The working of a School under the New Code." He believed the system of "paying for results" to be a right and proper one, and that it could be beneficially applied to national education; but contended that the new code in its present form would not accomplish what it professed to strive for. He described the modus operandi of his own school, and advised masters at the next examination not to present any children in a higher standard than the fourth. Their policy should be to present their children low enough to ensure the grant, although this would unfortunately show a state of educational progress and efficiency at least

20 per cent. below its real merits. Mr. Thackeray freely criticised the recent instructions to Her Majesty's Inspectors, and advised teachers not to trust to the promises of the Privy Council. If they wanted position, let them make it. If they wanted social elevation, let them work for it in their schools and districts. Let their meetings bear the impress of education. Let it be seen that their discussions were founded upon experimental evidence, correct calculations, and patient inquiry; and let their motto ever be, "Persevere in well doing, and in due season we shall reap if we faint not."-A discussion ensued, chiefly on the financial difficulties in which the schools would be involved by the operation of the new code. Most of the speakers opposed Mr. Lowe's scheme, which Mr. Carr, however, defended, declaring he was sorry teachers had assailed the first proposal of the Government with so much bitterness.-At the close of the discussion, the thanks of the meeting were unanimously voted to Mr. Thackeray for his paper.

THE ANNUAL DINNER

afterwards took place in the Town Hall, the Lord BISHOP OF RIPON presiding, supported by the Rev. Inspectors Watkins and Sharpe, Archdeacon Dodson, Mr. Greenwood, M.P., and many other clergymen and gentlemen. After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been duly honoured, Mr. WATKINS, in replying for "The Committee of Council on Education, and Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools," said he was exceedingly sorry to part with those to whom he must now say "Adieu!" because in the nineteen years and more during which he had laboured among them he had had occasion to know them thoroughly, and he could honestly say that he had appreciated them more heartily year by year. In leaving this part of his district he had great confidence in knowing that the masters who were still to work in it were with very few exceptions indeed-but there were exceptions, and must be in every large body of men-were now doing that work faithfully, honestly, and intelligently. It was not above thirteen years ago that he said to the then Bishop of Ripon, "I am sorry to tell you that Ripon is one of the three towns of the West Riding that has not got a school under inspection, and where education seems to be at a low ebb." The Bishop said, "I hope it will not be so always ;" and he (Mr. Watkins) could leave Ripon that day with the confidence that there was no town in Yorkshire where the schools were doing better, or where for years they had been telling more upon the population, or where greater results might be looked for. No doubt the present was a great educational crisis. This was the beginning of a year which must determine either for good or evil to a considerable extent the education of the country. Now that there was a code which had become law, the only way in which the teachers could do their duty was to work under it as loyally and faithfully and earnestly as they had done under schemes which seemed better to their views than the new system. What would be the result he did not know; but it was a consolation to a man to know that he did his duty; and therefore let Inspectors and Schoolmasters treat the new code well, and endeavour to do the best they could for it. But one thing did, he must confess, make him anxious. Much as he knew the honesty, the faithfulness, and the intelligence of the schoolmasters; much as he had reason to knew the liberality and truthfulness and candour of managers of schools; and much as might be said as to a con

scientious discharge of duty by the Inspectors, he felt great cause of anxiety as to the religious education of the children. Religious knowledge was not one of the things which would bring money to a school; and he feared that in the anxiety, bustle, and hurry of giving a great deal of time to those other things which would bring money, as well as through the pressure of the managers to get as much money as they could for the schools-and it was a positive duty that they should do so-more time would be given to elementary subjects, and less time to religious instruction, than ought to be fairly given. And there was great danger lest the managers also should neglect or forget that religious knowledge, in order that it might find full growth, should have a fair share of the time of the Schoolmaster. And the Inspectors, too, in the hurry with which they had often to do their work, might overlook it, and especially as, though the work was much increased, there was still only the same number of Inspectors for Yorkshire. Such would be the tendency, and whether it would have that effect or not remained to be seen. In his last words to the teachers of this district he would press this point upon them. He hoped they would take as his legacy the advice that whatever code they might have to work under they would not give up that one thing which they were bound in the service of their Divine Master to uphold above all things— the practical, earnest, and daily teaching of their children in the faith and fear

and love of Christ.

The BISHOP proposed "Success to the Yorkshire Church Schoolmasters' Association." He applauded the objects of the association, and reviewed with satisfaction the remarkable change which during the last thirty years had taken place in the work of education. The improved social position of the teacher in the present day also came under his Lordship's notice; also, the training schools, and the peculiar requirements in a schoolmaster who desired. to impart an education which would make the children useful for time and happy for eternity. His Lordship, after enumerating a long catalogue of advantages which attended the existence of such an association as this, agreed with Mr. Watkins that it was the paramount duty of the teachers to take the law as they found it, and to make the best of it. For his part, he did not entertain such gloomy apprehensions as to the working of the new code. He trusted it would be found that the work of education went forward with the same efficiency as hitherto, and what had appeared to be working for the injury of the cause would act only as a stimulus to the use of redoubled effort in trying to make the work effective for good through the blessing of God. After some remarks by his Lordship on the valuelessness of education not based upon religion, his Lordship urged upon the schoolmasters the importance, whatever might be the pecuniary result as regarded the Inspector's visit, of remembering that they had a solemn trust, and that in every child there was not only a man to be educated, but a soul to be saved through being brought to a knowledge of the Scriptures.

The proceedings were concluded by the ARCHDEACON proposing the health of the Bishop as chairman, which was drunk with great cordiality, and kindly acknowledged by his Lordship.

SCHOOLMASTERS' ASSOCIATIONS.

THE GENERAL ASSOCIATED BODY OF CHURCH SCHOOLMASTERS IN ENGLAND AND WALES.-A committee meeting of the above-named Society was held on Saturday, March 28th, in the School-room, Curzon-street, Derby; present-Messrs. Macintosh (General President), Bulman, Cummings, Olorenshaw, Tandy, Woodcock, White (Dis. Sec.), Barnacle (Dis. Sec.) The following Resolutions were unanimously adopted :

1. That Mr. Bulman (St. Peter's School, Derby) be appointed Secretary to the Committee.

2. That the General Officers of the Associated Body unite with the Council of the Royal College of Preceptors, in endeavouring to obtain a "Scholastic Registration Act."

3. That the General Secretary of the Associated Body be empowered to advance the sum of £1 1s. to the Secretary of the Social Science Association, in order that the Associated Body may become a corporate member of the same; but that the question of sending a deputation be deferred to a

future year.

4. That the Secretary of the Associated Body be instructed to convert the postage stamps in hand into cash, and pay off as much of the debt as possible.

5. That, in order to extend the operations of the Associated Body, a short circular setting forth the aims of the Body, be printed and sent to the district officers, who should use their utmost personal endeavours to procure as members every Church Teacher in their district. (The following gentlemen were appointed as a sub-committee to draw up the circular, Messrs. Bulman, Cummings, and Woodcock.)

Memoranda. 1. The Committee took under their consideration the suggestion of the President of the Birmingham District, viz., that the General President should be an eminent member of the profession, or some distinguished educationist (e. g., the Bishop of London, Dr. Temple, or Sir J. Kay Shuttleworth); and came to the unanimous conclusion that such a course would be detrimental to the best interests of the Associated Body.

2. The Committee do not consider it desirable to take any steps with respect to Mr. Adderley's bill of 1855 in regard to the employment of children under 13 years of age.

NORTHERN ASSOCIATION.-The Spring meeting of the Northern Association of Certificated Church of England Schoolmasters, was held in the Waterloo Hotel, Durham, on Friday, April 10th; Mr. Wm. Lawson, of the Durham Training College, in the chair. The following resolutions were discussed, and carried unanimously:

1. That in the opinion of this meeting it would conduce to the best interests of popular education, and to the improvement of the social position of teachers, if all persons, before they take upon themselves the office of a teacher, be required to register themselves as properly qualified for their duties.

2. That this meeting pledges itself to use its best exertions, in conjunction with the Associated Body of Schoolmasters, to procure the sanction of the Legislature to an Act to be called "The Scholastic Registration Act.”