Each child has the opportunity of getting seven tickets on a Sunday; and if the child is short of any, the parents must find out the reason. 28 Little tickets merit one large ticket. 6 Large tickets obtain a first prize and a medal. 5 Large tickets obtain a second prize. 4 Large tickets obtain a third prize. 3 Large tickets obtain a fourth prize. Twenty-eight tickets may be exchanged for one large one, at the Rectory, on the first Saturday morning of every month, at half-past nine o'clock. Factory and working children may come up the same evening at seven. By this plan every child will be rewarded according to merit. May God prosper the endeavours of both parents and Teachers; and may we have the spirit of wisdom poured down upon us. This is the sincere prayer of your faithful and affectionate Minister, D. BARCLAY BEVAN. PROVIDENT INSTITUTIONS. 66 REV. SIR,-The time has arrived when the Clergy, Sunday-school Teachers, and all Christians, who desire to secure the attachment of the poor to our venerable Church, and to promote their present and future welfare, must take up the subject of Provident Institutions, or else others will occupy that place in the affections of the people, which may easily be, if immediate steps be adopted, secured to the Church. I consider that you have rendered a very important service in bringing the subject before the readers of the Teacher's Visitor." The question may be asked, What will be the habits and morals of the million and a half of children under instruction in the various schools connected with the Church as they grow up into manhood? That the blessing of God will abundantly follow the labours of his faithful servant, we freely admit; but temptation may overtake even the most promising of our youth, and that whilst they are, with a measure of prudence and forethought, making provision for a day of sickness and necessity. Now, this question may be answered by another; Have not the working classes shewn their need and anxiety for sick clubs, by the fact that there are upwards of one million and a quarter of the labouring poor connected with them in England-that the majority of these meet in public-houses-and that it is computed that they spend upwards of £250,000 per annum in drinks and other things perfectly foreign to the object. Now the rising generation, may it not be supposed, will follow the example of the past, unless Institutions founded on better principles, and held at unobjectionable places, be provided for them. Who can tell, therefore, how much this subject involves the habits and morals of the numerous children in our schools. That the labouring classes gladly set apart their earnings to pay their club, all who know any thing of their habits can testify; and if evidence were required, we might point to the £1,121,289, which has been invested by Friendly Societies in the Savings' Bank, up to the year 1834. The question, then, for consideration is, what is to be done to meet the wants of the people to preserve them in the paths of temperance to prevent crime-and to secure their affection to the Church? I hesitate not to say, establish Provident Institutions, and you will have the most powerful auxiliaries to the Clergy, Schools, Temperance and good order, which can be devised. The sketch given (in page 181) of the Birmingham General Provident and Benevolent Institution appears most comprehensive and well adapted for general adoption; and the following outline of the leading features of a safe club may not be without use in stirring up your numerous readers to this most important work. 1st. That by embracing various objects in one Institution they are more immediately brought under the notice of the members, and a considerable saving, both of time and money, is effected in the management. The scales of payments being graduated according to ages and wages. 2nd. That the Institution, instead of providing for one member of a family only, and excluding the women, the children, and the aged, as is the general custom, should be open to both sexes, and to all ages and trades; and thus enable numbers to provide for themselves in sickness, who have hitherto been compelled either to resort to parochial and gratuitous assistance, or to contract debts which they are unable to pay; and the husband is thus enabled to secure those advantages for his wife and family which he may possess himself. 3rd. That children should be admitted during their connection with the Schools, and thus "trained in the way they should go." 4th. That all meetings should be held in the school-room, and by avoiding the inducements to intemperance, it is hoped to prevent the evils which it is often impossible to cure. 5th. That the Institution being enrolled, the members would be enabled to partake of the full benefit of those laws of the realm, which have been instituted for their especial protection, and which no society can claim without being enrolled. 6th. That all funds should be invested by Trustees, either in Real or Government Securities, and a statement of all accounts published annually, and presented to every member free of expense. 7th. That all payments should be included in one sum, and no extras ever demanded for feasts, funerals, secretaries, or any of the purposes for which the members of public-house clubs are so frequently called upon. 8th. That several surgeons should be employed, and every patient having the privilege of choosing and changing his medical attendant, that confidence of the patient, and thus that prompt and regular attendance of the surgeon, would be insured, which are often essential to the preservation of life. Lastly. That members should be enabled to insure Annuities and Endowments, without loss of principal or interest, in the event of death or inability to continue their payments; and that, by extra payments for a few years, they might become independent of their contributions to any assurance, and thus not only prevent the possibility of losing the benefit of their club in old age, from inability to continue their payments through life, but leave a larger sum, to their families at death, than they would have paid into the club. I conclude with wishing you every success in your important labours. W. E. H. Nov. 19, 1845. ACTIVITY OF ROMANISTS. "THE Papists," says a correspondent, "are filling the country, particularly those neighbourhoods in which they have chapels, churches, schools, etc., with tracts and small publications against Protestantism. Hawkers and pedlars sell and lend them, and, at the same time, make a considerable impression on many of the lower orders, by representing the injury done to the poor as well as to the true church by Protestantism; declaring, that before the Catholics were deprived of their churches and revenues, the poor were maintained out of church property, and that then there were no poor-laws nor union-houses, and asserting that if they can recover their rights, these wrongs of the poor will, at the same time, be done away. Some time ago, there was a magnificent ceremonial in the church of St. Barnabas, in Nottingham, consisting of a procession of priests and choristers, young men and women, boys and girls, arrayed in white and adorned with flowers, a canopy, with tinkling bells attached, borne over the host, banners, five hundred lighted wax tapers, incense burning, &c., with musical accompaniments. Yesterday there was a Catholic funeral, when the corpse was borne from the church to the general cemetery, attended by a procession, a splendidly gilded and jewelled cross being borne amid lighted wax candles at noon, or in the afternoon, with incense burning, &c., by which a large concourse of people was attracted, and subsequently addressed by the priest on the wrongs and persecutions inflicted upon Catholics, and endured by them for three centuries together, throughout which they had continued to cling to their religion, worshipping God as their fathers had done, to whom the churches. and church revenues of the land had belonged, and which they themselves had a right to hold. Sisters of mercy are seeking out the sick and dying, and gaining over families to the priesthood, by the relief they afford, and the arguments they employ, in the season of distress and bereavement. Missionary priests, and jesuits in disguise, I am told, are mingling in general society, and making impressions in favour of Romanism wherever they have the opportunity. THE FAR COUNTRY. Far off by many a sorrow, Far off by many a sin, When shall we gaze upon thee, Fair land! that we would win? In earth's most lovely places, The dove's unspotted wing, Oh vain and idle yearnings! We sit us down and weep. The starless night is coming; If we will linger so, We shall not reach thy borders, Before the sun is low. The hireling's pace may slacken, Our Father's voice can hear. A holy dream is pleasant, How often in the vineyard When most the sunbeams scorch, These unawares are standing Hard by the Master's porch. Hard by thy goodly borders, (From a small Volume of Poems, just published by Hatchard, London, entitled "A Thousand Lines.") Never give up! it is wiser and better Never give up! there are chances and changes Never give up! though the grape shot may rattle, Providence wisely has mingled the cup, |