ON this, as on the last occasion, the immense hall and gallery were densely crowded before the time for commencing. Many hundreds of persons afterwards came, but were unable to obtain an entrance. It is gratifying to observe, that the greatest order prevailed during the entire meeting.

The proceedings commenced with singing a Hymn, and the Rev. CESAR MALAN, D.D., offered up prayer.

The NOBLE CHAIRMAN, on rising, was greeted with hearty applause. He said: Having had so many opportunities of addressing you from the Chair on this subject, I have nothing new to say, and must go to our stores and draw out that which is old. I delight in seeing every year we have increasing audiences, or a manifestation of increasing interest. I do hope it will be accompanied by increasing contributions, (hear, hear,) because the cost still prevails, and without the instrumentality of money, we cannot carry into effect the blessings we propose. And when I look at this vast assembly, I am struck with the idea, that a very small contributionone shilling even- -from each one present, would go very far to educate, and put into a situation, or send out to Her Majesty's colonies, no less than 100 of these rambling and mendicant boys. (Cheers.) But how does the case stand? I am happy to say the number of schools has reached 116; the number of children in the Day Schools is 8,008; in the Evening Schools, 5,892; in the Sabbath Schools, 11,733; and we have in the Industrial Classes, which are the very foundation of our success, 2,040. (Applause.) The number of paid teachers is 221, and the number of voluntary teachers—and I delight to quote this fact, so greatly is it to the credit of those who give their time, zeal, and attention to this work-the number of voluntary teachers is 1,787; and when it is considered how many of these rob themselves of recreation and rest for the purpose of attending to the physical and spiritual wants of their poorer brethren, I know you will rejoice likewise in this cheering fact. (Applause.) Yet great as is the number, it is not at all equal to the exigency, We want more

voluntary teachers to aid the labours of the paid teachers; the combination of the two will effect the purpose we desire; and therefore, in the name of the Committee, I make an appeal to you here present this day, to come forward, and devote some portion of your time to this great, this profitable, and I may say, this God-like work. (Hear, hear.) But this is not the only good resulting from these operations --the ramifications are very numerous and of a most beneficial character. Readingrooms have been instituted in various parts of the Metropolis, and you know the Shoe-black brigade is an offshoot of our Society. (Hear, hear.) Then we have the institution of Penny Banks, and I am really surprised to see what hundreds and thousands have contributed, and what large sums have been collected in this way. So valuable do I believe these Penny Banks to be, that I very strongly recommend them to you; for I am of opinion when generally introduced, and superintended with the care they deserve, they will go a great way towards teaching working-people habits of economy and management-habits in which, generally speaking, I regret to say, they are lamentably deficient. Well, another branch has sprung out of this root, to which I shall direct your attention, because I have myself witnessed the benefit resulting therefrom. We have instituted in many parts of the Metropolis novel meetings, called "Mothers' Meetings," and I assure you it would be difficult to describe the great moral and physical, and, I may say, the spiritual benefit that has resulted from their institution. Many of the mothers, having large families, were unable to read or write, were unacquainted with the first principles of domestic economy, were not able to stitch a shirt or darn a stocking-I believe that is correct. (Laughter.) Many of these women are assembled together three or four times a week, and, under the superintendence of a careful mistress, are taught those homely domestic arts, and are thereby enabled to do for themselves what before must have been left undone, or been paid for from their too scanty means; and now he could testify many of these women deserve to

stand on a level with the best and greatest of their sex. (Applause.) There is no necessity for me to go into the evil we seek to remedy; that is fully known and admitted; but I should state to you encouraging facts, that may stimulate you to pursue with vigour the work you have begun. The Report will give you many details of the great and beneficial results which have arisen from the system of education adopted, and show how many of these children, male and female, have been placed in good situations, where they have done credit to the schools in which they were trained. There has been likewise a very great diffusion of Christian knowledge among the working people, (Hear, hear ;) and I will venture to say that, at the present time, there is a better feeling among all classes of the community, the poor among themselves, and the poor in relation to the rich, and the low in relation to the high, than has existed in any period of our history. (Applause.) You may view the benefits that have flowed from our operations in two lights. You may take them as negative, and as positive. You may consider how much evil we have prevented. I appeal to any man of experience, I appeal to any man of knowledge and judgment in this vast assembly, to tell me what would have been the state of things in this overgrown Metropolis, at the present hour, if God had not put it into the hearts of these good people, some fifteen years ago, to come forward in the great work of the evangelization of the poor children and adults of this great city. (Hear, hear.) Depend upon it, this city and this country would not have been governable by the largest standing army that could be brought together. (Hear, hear.) And now you see, what scarcely any foreigner coming from the continent of Europe will believe; he comes into this city and sees two millions and a half of human beings kept in order by two regiments, perhaps, of guards, and by a few hundred fellows, in blue coats buttoned up to their chins. (Laughter.) This is the result of going amongst these people, of training them in habits of self-control, and infusing into their minds those principles without which no country deserves, and certainly no country can long retain, its political freedom. (Applause.) But you have done another good. You have instituted examples which are now imitated Over the length and breadth of the land. Ragged Schools are arising, not only in every great town of this country, but are

your

arising even in Ireland, and they have long flourished in Scotland. I take as a sample the Ragged School existing in the great town of Birmingham. My attention is drawn to it because that worthy, good man, the Rev. Mr. Miller, sent me the other day a little pamphlet, called "Gleanings from the Ragged School." [The Secretary here informed his Lordship that Mr. Miller was present.] I rejoice to be told he is here, I will not say another word, but let him speak for himself. There is another matter to which I would draw your attention, and no slight proof is it of the good that has been effected. I understand the Report states, that that very august person the Doctor Wiseman (laughter) has been about in the lanes and alleys, preaching against and denouncing Ragged Schools. (Hear, hear.) When I heard that, I could but remember that there was another great personage, who went about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he might devour. (Loud laughter.) Now you have undertaken a prodigious, and by no means an easy task, I should have said, some years ago, that the task we had undertaken was one that we ought to commence, because the will of God and every right principle required it; but I should have said that it was a matter to try our faith, that there was but little room for hope; but I entertain now a very different view. I see such great improvement among the mass of the people, owing to the various agencies that have been set on foot, that I am very sanguine of great success. We must not be indifferent to the beneficial effect that has been produced by the vast improvement of the periodical and penny literature. We must not be indifferent to the great fact, that much of that ignorant, vulgar, and obscene trash, which used to deluge our courts and alleys, has been removed, and a far healthier, literature been substituted in its place. (Applause.) For this result we are much indebted to that great and good Society the Religious Tract Society. (Applause.) And let me also mention a periodical which I may recommend strongly to your attention, because I think it has been greatly instrumental in producing this change; it is a publication called "The True Briton;" and I think you will see in that the very best principles, set forth in the very best language. I heard the other day, that so great was the effect produced by this periodical literature, that in a large lodg ing house, where there were 110 adult

working men, they met, and came to a resolution, that nothing of a low and immoral tendency should be admitted; they would keep outside the door everything of that description, and admit nothing but what might be submitted to the most modest eye, and the chastest heart. (Applause.) I must say that I think your interest in these matters is now greater than it ever was; and when I say your interest, I mean our interest, and the interest of every man in this country, and for this reason. Depend upon it, unless you (I say you, because I am sorry to say, we private persons are obliged to take the initiative, when the State should take the initiative,) I say unless you, acting vigorously together by yourselves, or acting forcibly on the Houses of Parliament, institute an extensive and an effective preventive system, I venture to say that, in the course of a few years, you will not be able to grapple with the mighty giant, but will sink under the accumulated weight of yourown numerous and irreclaimable criminals. Again, we see emigration is beginning to thin your ranks, emigration is beginning to take off the best of your workpeople, and we cannot interpose to prevent it; but this is what you must do-you must dive into the courts and alleys, and all the recesses of human vice and ignorance; you must drag their denizens to the light, and by every appliance you can command, under the blessing of God, raise these frightful and suffering creatures, and convert them, as they ought to be converted, and, as I know, by God's blessing, they will be converted, into good servants, good subjects, good friends, good allies in the work of the evangelization of mankind; and, joining with us, however low they may be now- -joining with us, be equal to the best of us in maintaining, under the blessing of God, the erect position, and the institutions of old England. (Applause.) Allow me to call your attention for one minute to a most important document that has just been laid upon the tables of the two Houses, a Supplementary Report from Captain Hay, the intelligent and admirable Superintendent of Police, who has carried into effect most vigorously, and most efficiently, the Lodging-house Act, that was passed a year ago, for the inspection and regulation of the common lodging-houses of this city. (Applause.) I think it was last year that, standing on this platform, I called your attention to the domiciliary condition of the working classes, and I ventured to say, and now repeat, that so

long as the working people are left in their present domiciliary condition, so long all the efforts of the schoolmaster are vain, so long all your contributions and teaching are vain. The people are sunk low, and will continue to sink and go lower, so long as, in this respect, the present condition of things remain unremedied. Now observe what facility is offered you by the operation of this Actno less than 70,000 persons, nay, I have heard, that nearer 80,000 are living in houses registered by the police. (Hear, hear.) And what are the consequences of registration? I do not suppose there is any individual in this Meeting who ever went ten days without a washed face. (Laughter.) But when I tell you that there are many in London who have gone, not ten days nor ten weeks, but ten months unwashed, you will know how to estimate the blessings and advantages of what I now tell you. These houses, now registered by the police, have been in the most filthy and horrible condition, with 15, 20, 30, in some instances 40, sleeping in one room, so crowded that the inspector could not put his foot between the bodies lying together, amid every circumstance of dirt, and filth, and noise, and clamour, and indecency. These abuses, under the Registration Act, are remedied. Not more than a certain number are allowed to be in one room, the sexes are separated, the houses are whitewashed three or four times

a-year,

and swept every morning. (Hear, hear.) The consequence is, that the whole manners, and language, and appearance of these wretched creatures, are greatly improved. The inspectors tell me that they have been received with positive benedictions by persons who, a few months before, were in a state of the greatest degradation and filth; I say they have been received with positive benediction. And even the lodging-house keepers themselves find so great a benefit to their own health and comfort by the improved condition of their lodgers, that they come in great numbers, praying to be registered, because they feel it has added years to their exist ence, and abundantly to their enjoyment of life. (Applause.) I am quoting this to show you what a road has been opened, what means lie before you, and how many obstacles, that formerly stood in your path, have been removed. And if you do not avail yourselves of the oppor tunities now offered, I must say you will be more criminal than I believe you to be. On the contrary, I am sure you

will

hail with joy the occasion that these things present, and that you will take good care, under the blessing of God, that matters shall not revert to their former disgusting condition. (Cheers.) But there is one return connected with this paper which is singularly curious. A vast number of children roam about, and live by depredation, and violence, and pilfering of every kind. Captain Hay puts a no less total of juvenile mendicants and thieves than 3,098. Now just consider what a seed-plot this is of crime and violence! If you allow such a upas tree to grow up, and shed its deadly poison over the whole surface of society, how can you wonder at the number of crimes-how can you wonder at the astonishing violences recorded, or at the expenses of jails and prosecutions hourly increasing? How, in short, can you wonder at any result when, I say, there is, uncared for, a seed-plot of no less than 3,098 children of tender years, who are suffered to grow up without a word of instruction or advice, without the slightest control; and who, if they be neglected in their early and impressible years, will grow up into proportions such as will be too great for all the energies of this country hereafter to combat with? Having called your attention to these matters, we will go to the Report, and thanking God for all that he has been pleased to do through our instrumentality, let us make a resolution that, under his blessing, we will, by our future efforts and subscriptions, throw into the shade all that has hitherto been done. (Loud applause.)

The SECRETARY then read the Report, (for an Abstract of which see page 101.)

The Rev. J. C. MILLER, of Birminghanı, Hon. Canon of Worcester, moved the first Resolution :

"That the Report now read be received and published, under the direction of the Committee, which, for the ensuing year, shall consist of the following Gentlemen:[See List of Managing Committee in the Report.]

He said: They had had, in the Report which had just been read, a happy illustration of the fertility of one good idea; it was amazing to mark how one ramification had succeeded to another in this blessed movement. (Hear, hear.) We know not, perhaps, whether the old cobbler, John Pounds, was really entitled to the credit of being the Founder of Ragged

Schools, but whoever was entitled to that honour never dreamt, when he first ga thered his class of little squalid children around him, to what a great height that movement was destined, in the providence of God, to grow. In preaching to his congregation in Birmingham lately, in endeavouring to explain the rise of that mighty river, the British and Foreign Bible Society, he had found it was to be traced up, as his Lordship, and many in that meeting would know, to the tear of a little child. (Hear, hear.) Yes, the tear of a little girl in the streets of Bala, in North Wales, was the source from which, under the providence of God, the Bible Society sprang. That little girl had been unable to remember the text, owing to the bad weather having prevented her going across the hills to refer to the Bible. It occurred to her questioner, why should not every family have a Bible of its own; which thought led to a Bible Society for Wales, and, ultimately, that idea expanded into a Bible Society for the whole world, thus forming another illustration of the expansiveness of a good idea. It has been said, when works of that kind became expansive, they became also expensive, and so it was found in the case of our Ragged School movement, which, having become wondrously expansive, was now in want of a large income. (Hear, hear.) In Mr. Arthur's interesting work, the "Successful Merchant," he had noticed how, in the early part of Mr. Budgett's career, that worthy man was only able to work for any good cause. By and bye, however, prosperity came, and he could also give. He did not cease working when he commenced giving, but continued, as Mr. Arthur happily observed, to walk on two legs in his benevolence all the days of his life. (Cheers.) This was just what they wanted. Let them, if possible, be twolegged Christians and philanthropists. If they could only give a trifle, let them work ; but if ever they were blessed with riches, let them not only give liberally, but let them continue to work zealously. He should very well like to have seen one gentleman on the platform on that occasion-he referred to the author of "Bleak House." He was not going to enter into the question of novel reading, but without the slightest intention of giving offence, he must say, he did not think that Mr. Dickens had quite done them justice. In the narrative of the death of poor "Jo," in apostrophising her Majesty, her Majesty's Ministers, and the Right Reverends,

or, as Mr. Dickens called them, the Wrong Reverends, Mr. Dickens used the words: "And dying thus around us, every day!" He thought there was here a want of recognition of the various efforts, especially so of those of the Ragged School Union, now being made to ameliorate the condition of such poor outcasts; and that the account would be fairer if it purported to refer to a period of fifteen or twenty years ago. (Hear, hear.) He rejoiced to think that efforts were, at the present time, being directed to the relief of almost every ramification of human misery. He referred to a school which had in his own town been established by the munificence of Mr. Chance, and another by the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Yorke, and which latter had been so successful that, of the number received into it since its establishment, not a single boy had been once brought up before the magistrates. Mr. Miller referred also to his own school, and gave several instances of practical good. He felt very desirous to see the so-called Ragged Schools kept to their proper use, and hoped that this would be carefully observed, otherwise those classes for whom the instructions were primarily designed, would lose the contemplated benefit. He rejoiced to hear that 1,000 of the Ragged scholars had been taken regularly to the house of God. They might depend upon it—and all who knew much of the matter had come to the same conclusion-that nothing wanted looking to so much as the attendance of the children on public worship; and he advised that increasing watchfulness should be given to that end. It might be worthy of consideration also, what were the best means of securing attention and profit to them, when once under the sacred roof, for he felt there was a great lack now existing; too many of the sermons preached flew over the heads even of the other classes, and how must it be with those just taken from the lowest degradation ? hear.) He was of opinion that the institution of special services, of judicious length, and of appropriate simplicity, would be highly advantageous. When he looked at that vast mass, he was reminded how much might be effected if all were workers, and how glorious was the work they had undertaken. (Applause.) Their designation was a homely one, but they had not forgotten the striking connection of those words in David's Psalms: "The Lord doth build up Jerusalem." How did He do it? "He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel." And so it was,

(Hear,

a great part of the work of building up Christ's Church consisted in gathering together the outcasts; and, when that church was found in its blessed aggregate and glory, how many of those who would shine resplendently around the Redeemer's throne, would be such as for a long period of their earthly career, were the tenants of our alleys, aye, almost of our gutters; who came from our convict hulks, and the cells of our jails! Among the many noble works we were engaged in at the present day, inasmuch as eternity is more important than time, this movement was more important than the mightiest efforts for the mere temporal advancement or prosperity of this or any nation. It was a great thing to have bridged over the Menai Straits, and to have laid the telegraph through the midst of the deep; the high-level bridge of Newcastle-on-Tyne was a wondrous exploit of human energy and skill; but the work in which they were engaged transcended them all; and, when all those works of genius had passed away, then would this work be seen in its full grandeur, and in its eternal importance. When his Lordship should have exchanged the coronet of the noble house of Shaftesbury for that brighter coronet which he believed to be in store for him, and for men like himand when the children in our Ragged Schools should have exchanged, not only the rags which covered their bodies, but the spiritual rags of their sin-stained souls for the beauteous garments of salvation, then, and not till then, should be known, to the glory of God, the whole results of Ragged Schools. (Loud applause.)

The Resolution was seconded by the Rev. HUGH ALLEN, of St. Jude's, Whitechapel. He said: I have ever been struck with a contrast existing in this great country. No country ever has been so signally blessed, No country ever has had such a long-continued prosperity. No country has ever arrived at such a high pinnacle of prosperity. View that prosperity in any way you may think proper, whether intellectually, or com mercially, you will find that this country has arrived at a very high pitch, an unprecedented pitch of prosperity. The wealth, not only of the country at large, but of this Metropolis, is unparalleled in the world. The merchant princes, and the princely bankers, of this city, are spoken of every day. Besides, we have added to our territories an immense ex