Church Education Society in Ireland.— It is almost needless to remind the public, that of late years, not only have parliamentary grants been withdrawn from all Societies based upon Scriptural principles, but these grants have been applied to further a system of education essentially defective, or seriously objectionable. Under these circumstances, the population of the country being exposed to the evils consequent upon the absence of any provision for sound religious education, the Church felt herself called upon to put forth her best energies in this important cause, and to assert her legitimate right to be the guardian of the education of the people. The result has been the formation of the Church Education Society for Ireland, with the cordial sanction of the Lord Primate and a large majority of the Episcopal Bench.

The foundation of the system of the Society is, instruction in the Holy Scriptures, which, it provides, shall be taught daily to all children capable of reading them; and no teachers shall be appointed but members of the Church of England; and no interference allowed with the direction and control of the Parochial Clergyman. To him is also left the arrangement of the time and manner in which particular instruction in the formularies of the Church shall be given. While the most complete system of education is thus established, with especial reference to the wants of the children of the Church, the Society is desirous of extending its benefits to the children of other denominations. The primary object being to secure suitable instruction for the former, no modification can be allowed that would interfere with having it fully provided for them. But, this being attained, the Society is anxious that the latter should share, as much as possible, in the same advantages. It, therefore, invites all children to its schools; and imposes no other condition, as to their religious education, upon the children of Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and other dissenting parents, than requiring them to learn the Scriptures in the manner, and under the regulations that have been mentioned, without the catechism or the formularies of the Church.

To carry out the important ends above stated-1. The Society has connected

itself with all the Diocesan Societies at present existing in the country, and desires to promote the formation of others where none have been yet established. In connexion with these Societies are 1,189 Schools, and the number of pupils attending is 68,214, of whom 20,544 are Roman Catholics, 2,096 Dissenters, and 45,574 members of the Established Church. 2. With a view to improve the qualifications of teachers, by a suitable training, a Model and Training School has been established in Dublin. 3. Model Schools have been formed in connexion with the several Diocesan Societies in Ireland. 4. A large supply of books and school requisites has been obtained, and a depository for the sale of them opened at the Society's Office in Dublin. During the past year the supply has been greatly increased, and the selection of the books improved. The Society is deeply indebted to the venerable Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, for the munificent aid it has, upon various occasions, given to this department. The Society has commenced a system of inspection of its Schools throughout the country, and is happy to have secured the valuable services of Messrs. Lewis Mills and Henry Wm. Purdon.

5.

Government Scheme in Ireland.-The National Board has been obliged to cease extending its schools, the funds allocated for that purpose by act of Parliament being exhausted. It is a curious fact, that whilst Munster has but 482 schools in connexion with the board, Connaught but 208, and Leinster 642, Ulster, where the opposition to the system was considered to be strongest, has 1,005. The number of schools altogether amount to 2,337.

Church Schoolmasters' Association.Patron, The Lord Bishop of London.Between three and four years ago, about half a dozen of the Metropolitan Church Schoolmasters agreed to meet periodically at the house of one of their number, for the purpose of mutual improvement; each undertaking to read in his turn an original paper on some topic connected with schoolkeeping, which was to be followed up by a friendly discussion. They soon began to form classes for instruction in various branches of useful knowledge;

the main design, however, being mutual support and brotherly counsel. "In this Society," it was said in an early prospectus, "the older masters may give the younger the benefit of their experience; and in return be stimulated by the zeal and energy of those, who, with all the freshness and ardour of novelty, are just entering upon their difficult though interesting course; and all may learn to think more deeply of their responsibility, and to provoke one another to love and good works.'

1. A Monthly Conference according to the original design, begun and ended with prayer, and presided over by a clergyman.

2. A Reading Room with a small but increasing Library, consisting chiefly, but by no means exclusively, of educational works.

3. A Monthly Meeting of the Committee, for the general management of the affairs of the Society. The Committee consists, in addition to the President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Librarian, of twelve Members, appointed at the Annual Meeting, and eligible for re-election.

4. Occasional Lectures, or Series of Lectures, of which there have been several of great value, that would have done honour to societies of much higher pretensions.

5. Regular Classes for Instruction, designed to serve the double purpose, of increasing the members' stock of knowledge, and of improving them in the art of teaching. In these classes stress is laid upon written exercises, and other methods of testing individual progress.

6. Small District Associations, subserving the various designs mentioned above. In some of these Associations, e. g., those connected with the Language Class, a leader is appointed, who hands in a monthly report to the President.

The Society has been honoured with the approbation and assistance of the

National Society, and the London Diocesan Board, and of several of the most distinguished friends of sound learning and religious education."

Any gentleman wishing to join the Association, or to contribute towards its support, may learn further particulars by addressing, either the Rev. G. MOODY, Gilston Rectory, near Harlow; or Mr. WINFIELD, Secretary, Church Schoolmasters' Association, Exeter Street, Strand.

Lichfield Training and Commercial School. The annual examination of the pupils took place on Friday, December 16th. This school is of a mixed character, containing twelve pupils who are training to be masters, and about forty commercial pupils, chiefly day scholars. They are all educated together, under the superintendence of the Rev. J. Dainty ; the principal difference being, that those intended for masters are sent in rotation to teach at the National School. Several young men have been already sent out, as masters or assistants, to diferent parts of the diocese.

The examination was conducted by the Dean of Lichfield, and was highly creditable both to the master and scholars. Two classes were formed for examination in the doctrines of the Church, Scripture history, and the Prayer-book. Afterwards, the Latin class was examined in the two first books of Virgil's Æneid, the second class in Ovid's Fasti, the third in Phædrus, and the fourth in Delectus. These, as well as the historical and geographical classes, had got up their subjects very well. About twelve boys, and these chiefly the training pupils, went through some of the problems in Euclid with great accuracy. On the whole, the boys exhibited a degree of intelligence, unaccompanied by any pertness or flippancy, which spoke well both for their intellectual and moral training. The walls were hung about with maps, plans, and drawings, by the pupils, which evinced their industry and dexterity.

The institution, though yet in its infancy, promises to be of the greatest value to the diocese, by sending out a continual supply of well qualified and right principled masters to undertake the superintendence of the various parochial and commercial schools. Its importance is scarcely yet duly estimated, or, instead of only twelve training pupils, there would be from twenty to thirty. It is particularly requested, that the clergy

and masters of schools will recommend clever boys in their respective parishes or schools. Particulars may be had, by applying to the Secretary, the Rev. W. GRESLEY, Lichfield, or to the head-master, the Rev. J. DAINTY. The charge for board and lodging is £25 per annum at the head-master's house; and £15 per annum at the second master's. There are also three exhibitions of £10 each, given by Lord Harrowby and Lord Sandon.

Lincoln Diocesan Board.-The Diocesan School is now full, as far as boarders are concerned; the house containing 40, the number for which it is calculated. The day-boys have increased to 35; so that altogether the attendance amounts to 75. A third master has just been appointed. We regret to say, that the training school has yet made little progress. This is, however, too easily accounted for in the report which has just appeared. "So long as the pay of the village schoolmaster is less than that of the labourer, and such it is in most of the villages in this diocese, so long we cannot reasonably hope that parents will educate their children for teachers."

Salisbury Diocesan Board.-At a meeting of the Standing Committee, held December 17th, in the Board-room in the Close, it was determined to provide Wareham and Blandford with specimens of the new school apparatus adopted by the Christian Knowledge Society. Specimens will be kept at Sarum, Devizes, Dorchester, Wareham, and Blandford, that the Clergy of the Diocese may see the improvements made in this very important branch of school business, and also ascertain the prices for which they may be purchased.

Portsmouth.- The Winchester Diocesan Board of Education have recently directed their attention to the state of religious education in this town and neighbourhood, for the children of the middle classes. With the exception of Portsmouth Grammar School, St. Paul's, St. George's, Mr. Frost's, Mr. Prince's, and Mr. Bradley's Schools, there are none professing to give a Church of England education, while some of the masters openly avow, that they give no religious instruction whatever; they deem the matter quite foreign to their particular duty. Those, however, who are at all accustomed to children, are

aware how utterly insufficient the religious instruction of the Sunday must be, even in an intellectual point of view, when compared with the more engrossing topics which for six days occupy their attention. In consequence of this, the local board have communicated with the masters of all the schools in Portsmouth and Portsea, to ascertain if they were willing to adopt the Church of England system of instruction. In default of this, it has been deemed essential to found a new Middle School in the borough. The principal of the school, Mr. Andrews, has been one of Dr. Burney's assistants, and besides the ordinary branches of education, is fully competent to instruct youths in navigation (practically), and to prepare them for the Royal Military Colleges, &c. All the clergy of the two parishes approve of the school, and it will be under their immediate supervision. Terms, by the year :-Boarders, 28 guineas; Day Scholars, 6 guineas; Washing, 15s.

Worcester Diocesan Training and Commercial School.-On Monday week the exhibitioners connected with the Training School, and the pupils of the Commercial School, under the tuition of the Rev. George Elton, S.C.L., of Caius College, Cambridge, were examined in Scripture history, chronology, Church history, English history, ancient and modern history, geography, and the classics. They underwent a long and thorough examination, and exhibited considerable proficiency, some of them, indeed, answering questions which would, for the moment, have puzzled many much older students. Prizes were distributed by the Lord Bishop of the diocese in the chapter room of the cathedral, in the presence of many of the cathedral and city clergy.

Liverpool Collegiate Institution.-Patron, The Right Hon. Lord Stanley, M.P.; Visitor, the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Chester.-The Rev. W. J. Conybeare, M. A., has been appointed principal, and the schools will be opened immediately after the Christmas vacation. The course of education in the upper school will include the usual instruction in a grammar school; the modern languages, Hebrew, drawing, and music, will be taught to all who require them. Terms, per annum, payable quarterly in advance, twenty guineas. In the