shall the holy useful teacher, attended by the children he had been the means of reclaiming, be presented before the face of an assembled universe, arrayed with infinite honor and glory : not the mighty host of patriarchs and prophets-apostles and evangelists,-reformers and martyrs,-ministers and missionaries, pressing to receive their crowns shall throw him into obscurity, or deprive him of his reward; but amidst surrounding millions he shall stand single and apart to receive the public plaudits of his judge. "In as much as you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me. Well done good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of the Lord,”

APPENDIX.

No. 1.

On the improper manner in which Anniversary Sermons for the support of Sunday Schools, are sometimes conducted.

IT has of late years become lamentably fashionable to introduce into the service at the time of charity sermons, a grand selection of sacred music. In some cases, the vocal performance is attended by a complete instrumental band. Musical effect is as much studied as at an oratorio: and as in the case of theatrical amusements the public are lured to the entertainment by a printed bill of fare. Were a stranger from Rome to pass the doors of our chapels, at such a season, he might fancy from the sound of trumpets and kettle drums, that it were the time of high mass in some catholic chapel. I can easily conceive with what force a thinking papist would say to

"To

a protestant, on such an occasion. make this scene complete you should have painted windows, gothic arches, broidered vestments, and splendid pictures, for is there more harm in pleasing the eye than the ear? Now it would be quite bad enough if this profanation of sacred subjects and holy times were confined to the musicians, and the congregation, but the children in the Suuday School partake of the mischievous effect, and that in various ways. First they are led insensibly to conclude that all entertainment is not forbidden even on the christian sabbath. For surely it is too much for the credulity of childhood to believe, that this performance, as it is generally conducted, is intended for devotion. They thus have their views of the sanctity of the sabbath considerably lessened. Even in the most quiet and simple method of conducting the business of an anniversary sermon there is much bustle and disquietude. The children look forward to it for many sabbaths, with feelings of hilarity as to a sort of breaking up day. By this means the powerful association which should connect devotion as the end of the sabbath, and moral benefit, as the ultimate object of the Sunday School

system, is considerably weakened. How much more is this the case when the sermon is attended with all the influence of a grand musical performance.

Secondly. In these cases the best singers among the children are frequently selected to bear a part in the performance: some for duets, others for solos. To prepare them for this, much time must be spent in private tuition. At these exercises, where no seriousness of mind can be preserved, and which are generally seasons of great entertainment, they are accustomed to treat the most solemn and affecting topics of religion with lightness and irreverence, till the mind grows gaily familiar with them, and the heart becomes insensible to all that is awful in their nature, and impressive in their influence. It is a most destructive effect when children acquire the habit of treating sacred subjects in any way, and on any account in a trifling manner. Thus injured by preparation, their hearts are stil more corrupted by the performance. Exhibited to the public, sometimes dressed beyond their station, to please by their appearance and captivate by their melody, they cannot fail to perceive how completely the end of their exhi

T

bition is answered. From that hour they lie exposed to all the pernicious influence of pride and vanity. Older, and wiser, and holier minds than are possessed by the children of a Sunday School, have found that admiration has a poisonous effect upon genuine virtue; who then can wonder if the latter amidst the weakness of their age and station, feel its deleterious influence? Even the ordinary singing of every sabbath worship, where children have been employed in the choir, and exposed to the view of the congregation, has been known in many instances, to generate a love of display, and a feeling of vanity, exceedingly injurious to their intellectual and moral improveHow much more on those extraordinary occasions to which I allude? Let children be once led to imbibe the idea that they are taught to sing for entertainment, or any other purpose than as a part of genuine devotion, let them once be led to associate it with the idea of obtaining applause, and they are then in a fair way of seeking to display their vocal powers for the sake of gaining admiration in company and places, very unfriendly to every principle of sound morality and genuine piety.

ment.