children they admit, in order that the poorer and most destitute may come in, and children of a higher grade be drafted off to other schools." He said: Friends and fellow-labourers, in rising to-night, for the two hundredth time, to speak on behalf of the Ragged School movement, I cannot but feel that there is a beautiful appropriateness in the place in which we are assembled, the place in which, from time to time, the sweetest melody and harmony are to be heard; and I cannot help feeling, that a meeting of this description is a sort of undress rehearsal for the grand concert of the skies, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have clothed itself with immortality, when the instrumental music will be the harps of angels, and the vocal music will be the songs of saints, and the chorus be swelled by a multitude, which no man can number, among whom will be thousands and tens of thousands of those ragged children, snatched from destruction, set among the princes, raised to everlasting glory. (Applause.) I shall endeavour to put my thoughts under certain heads. I shall sound an Alarm, and then utter a Charm; and then open a Vision, and ask a Decision; and then I shall show an Example, and then I shall furnish a Sample; and then I shall aim at your Purses, and then I shall read you some Verses. (Laughter and cheers.) I sound an Alarm against Pope and against Cope, against Infidel, and against Holywell. Against Pope, for he is the Scriptural enemy of the Ragged School; as Lord Bacon said, "If the Apostle Paul's description of the 'Man of Sin' were put into the 'Hue and Cry,' the commonest parish constable would take up the Bishop of Rome." (Laughter.) Against Cope, for he is the official enemy of Ragged Schools. Personally, I have a great respect for him; but, in his office of Governor of Newgate, (laughter,) I consider him the official enemy of Ragged Schools, and, as our object is to keep boys and girls out of his custody, and out of the courts, I feel myself bound to blow the Ragged School trumpet, and sound an alarm against Cope. Against Infidel, for our object is to make every ragged boy and girl a Christian. Against Holywell, the name of a street in which all manner of trashy and abominable publications are sold; and I want the Ragged School to cleanse that street. Then I utter a Charm, consisting in the one word, Bible. The Bible is taught in our Ragged Schools, and, I believe, the reason why I have stood firm to the Ragged School movement, and now appear, for the two hundredth time, to advocate the Ragged School movement, is because the noble Earl in the chair, at an early period of our joint proceedings, sent to me a beautiful copy of Bagster's Bible, requesting I would allow it to lie on my table, as the Alpha and Omega of Ragged Schools. (Applause.) Then I open a Vision. Last night I had the satisfaction of going to a Ragged School, (as Dr. Duff recommends us to do, instead of going to hear popular preachers,) and here I exhibit a plate,* representing the interior of a Ragged School, with a large attendance of children, all attentive and orderly, and also showing the prin cipal champions of the Ragged School movement. But there will be a better vision even than this, when these chil dren, standing before the throne, shall strike their golden harps, and sing the everlasting song, "Hosanna in the high est." (Applause.) And now I ask a Decision. I say shall this movement go backwards? I am sure you will, with one voice, answer, "No." Shall it go forward? With like unanimity you will answer, "Yes." Then if this movement is not to go backward, but to advance, we must have more annual subscriptions, you must give your money to the Society, and by so doing, you will benefit yourselves, bless the rising generation, save your country, and glorify your God. The next thing is to show an Example. I shall do this by making a short speech. (Laughter.) I will now read you some Verses: Come, follow my Leader; his footsteps are sure, When seeking the haunts of the Ragged and poor; To share in the triumphs his labours have won, We'll cheerily after him, cheerily on! Cheerily, etc. Come, follow my Leader; his steps never tire, Though boldly he goes through the gutter and mire; Come, follow my Leader; when closing his strife, Cheerily, etc. The Rev. W. WILKINSON, of Sheffield, said he had much pleasure in seconding the Resolution. He hoped that England would, at no very distant period, show a different aspect in its criminal statistics from that at present the subject of regret. Allusion had been made to Cardinal Wiseman having preached against Ragged Schools. As an antidote to this fact, he could mention that the venerable Archbishop of Dublin was their advocate and patron, and that a Ragged Church was about to be built in Dublin. He also understood that the Archbishop's lady herself assisted the cause by teaching in a Ragged School. (Loud applause.) This was encouraging, and might stimu late many present to imitate so good an example. He could only say, if the cardinal offered his opposition, they must use every effort to support the movement. If the cardinal strove and worked, they must strive and work, and, with God's blessing, they needed not to fear the result. (Applause.) Protestant Christianity was able to overcome Popish antiChristianity, and as the battle went forward, and the fight waxed warmer, let them remember, that He who holds the destinies of the world in his hands, was *Mrs. H. B. Stowe. looking down, and would give them the victory. (Applause.) The Resolution was then put, and passed unanimously. JOHN MACGREGOR, Esq., moved the last Resolution : "That the noble Earl, who has presided at every Annual Meeting of the Ragged School Union, is entitled to the hearty thanks of all now present, for his kindness in presiding on this occasion, and for his continued zeal in behalf of Ragged Schools." He remarked, that although this was a usual one, it was in this case by no means a formality. (Hear, hear.) For although there was no object of benevolence or religion which had not a place in his lordship's heart, yet, if there was one object which, more than another, had a cherished place in that heart, or which had been peculiarly aided by his benevolent assistance, it was the cause of the Ragged Schools. (Loud applause.) The Resolution having been seconded by ROBERT J. STAREY, Esq., was put, and carried with acclamation. The noble CHAIRMAN, in replying, said, he felt deeply the honour they had done him, and he need scarcely assure them, that so long as God should give him strength, he should never be wanting to urge forward that great and glorious work. He felt particularly well-pleased to be associated with his friend Mr. Macgreggor, who had done so much for the furtherance of the cause, and to whose efforts was mostly due the establishment of the order of Shoe-blacks. And to Mr. Starey, also, he was indebted for his first acquaintance with the Ragged School movement, which he had ever found, though a laborious, in many respects, a most happy and blessed occupation. (Applause.) The Doxology was then sung, which terminated the proceedings. Plans and Progress. THE SABBATH LOAN FUND. In a recent number of that excellent periodical the Leisure Hour, we read a graphic description of "The Poor Man's Saturday Night in London," and never did we more fully accord with a well-sustained conclusion, than with the closing sentence of that article, that "with such Saturday Nights, it is in vain to expect sanctified Sabbaths. We observe that it is too often by necessity, and not by choice, that the poor man and his wife are driven to the midnight market, or what is still worse, the Sunday Morning Market. The exactions of business are at the root of this evil, and from these he is in no condition to escape. What we should like to see, and what all the sons of labour have a right to expect, would be the release from toil of the entire band of the industrial host at an early hour on the Saturday afternoon. The Saturday night market would then wonderfully improve in character, and the Sunday morning market, an abomination of infinitely greater magnitude, which legislation has been trying for two hundred years in vain to suppress, would die out of its own accord. We shall have a higher standing of morality among the labouring masses, when employers improve their own, and give their workmen an opportunity, at least, of enjoying and cultivating the endearments of domestic life, and we have no right to expect it till then." The evils here referred to have ever been among the most difficult to cope with in the successful conduct of the Ragged Schools. Again and again has the subject been brought before the parents, especially in the " Meetings." The more thoughtful and promising of the number have explained their position, and with tears acknowledged they would gladly avail themselves of the early Saturday market, instead of that on Sunday morning, but this has ofttimes been out of their power; for they cannot obtain food on credit, and it is generally ten, sometimes eleven, and even twelve o'clock on Saturday night before they can get the little them. And in some cases not paid till Sunday morning, and even Monday. To some minds it is only necessary to detail the difficulties of a case in order to elicit a successful mode of meeting them. An instance of this kind occurred in connection with the Mothers' Class of the King's Cross Ragged School. The parents had no sooner explained their helpless position, than the lady teacher began to exert her ingenuity to assist them. The Sabbath Loan Fund crossed her mind, as being the most likely means of meeting the necessity of the case. We will now let the lady teacher speak for herself: under date of May 19th, she writes: Mothers' wages due to "The Sabbath Loan Fund is wholly connected with the maternal class, for this reason: great circumspection is necessary in ascertaining the proper objects to receive the benefit, and this can only be done by a personal knowledge and constant intercourse with the parties. The usual sum required is 6s., 8s.. or 10s., according to the number in family, which they receive by coming to the schoolroom on Friday evening-with the understanding that it is to be returned at the class on Monday afternoon. In case of default of payment at the time specified, we at first excluded the delinquent from all future assistance arising from the fund, but experience taught us that this rule was too stringent, cases having occurred where the husband's wages had not been paid till Monday evening; thus the delay under these circumstances was unavoidable. If the sum is not paid within the week, we suspend them for six weeks only, when they are again received on the books; if the money is not paid within that time, (one week,) we do not, under any consideration, allow them any future benefit. "The testimony of the recipients themselves is sufficient to prove the advantage of such a fund; and we do not find (as we feared might be the case) that the husbands remain out later on Saturday night in consequence of having their dinner already provided. "The mothers tell me that they save nearly one-third by purchasing on the Saturday, because it is a well-known fact that shopkeepers, knowing their regular Sunday customers, put an extra price on their articles on that day. "One woman, whose husband does not receive his wages till between 11 and 12 on Saturday night, told me that this fund was of the greatest benefit to her. She is a decidedly pious woman, and therefore nothing would induce her to desecrate God's holy day. Being able to obtain credit with her baker, she took care to provide bread enough for her family on Saturday to supply them on Sunday; and when, on her husband's return, it has been too late to go and to purchase food, they have often been compelled to live on dry bread during the whole day on Sunday. Now this fund, in such a case, is most useful. "During the ten months this fund has been in operation, only one failure has occurred, and that was from misfortune rather than delinquency-the husband being seized with a fit after the money was borrowed, and therefore being obliged to forfeit a part of his wages, which were so trifling in the whole, that he was unable to pay the 8. which his wife had borrowed; but even this they have promised to pay up by weekly instalments-and I have no reason to doubt their word. "Three members have been suspended, but as the time of probation has expired, they are again receiving the benefit; and it is pleasing to see their caution-in not borrowing quite so much, lest they should be unable to repay it. We nominally limit the loan to 10s, but there being no rule to this effect, we have sometimes increased to 12s." The friends of Ragged Schools will do well carefully to consider this subject with a view to its more general adoption. The better observance of the Sabbath among the families of our scholars must be attended with the very best results. It may, perhaps, in some cases be requisite to require something by way of security when the loan is granted. In the above, this has been dispensed with, and the reason assigned by our friend is, we know the individuals to be honest and deserving; but it would be attended with immense risk, and result in total failure, if the recipients were not personally known to us. Poetry. TO RAGGED SCHOOL TEACHERS. poor CHILDREN of the and needy Young although in life they are, Do we wonder at the evil These, though young, so oft display ? No! for 'tis from bad example Thousands learn to go astray. On each soul is writ "Immortal," 66 Tell them of their lost condition, Out of "Truth's" unerring standard, Be not weary, let not patience Yield, though long and sorely tried, And whene'er your supplications Doubt not but a sacred blessing Rests upon your work of love, And when summon'd from earth's labours H. C. C. Addressed to the Author of an "Appeal to Royalty," in the May Magazine, page 95. POET of the Ragged Race-clan, Poet of the trodden down, You have made a wretched case, man, In your charitable crown. Though in crowns, as you say rightly, Charity may brightly shine; It in Sovereigns shines more brightly; A. [We shall have no objection to receive other Impromptus of a like shining character. EDITOR.] Editor's Portfolio. A LONDON DEN. CHARLOTTE'S BUILDINGS, GRAY'S INN LANE, BY NIGHT. WE will enter the worst of these courts, Charlotte's Buildings, which, whether viewed in the bright sunlight, in drizzling rain, in the twilight, or the dead of night, still has the same dismal, dreadful aspect. During the day, and particularly in the evening up to about ten or eleven o'clock, the narrow area is filled with strange-looking and ragged figures, whose dresses and complexion harmonise with the grey, mouldy, and dingy-looking walls of the buildings. So wild and haggard is the scene, that few who have not had experience of these places and people would venture to the bottom of the court. There are fifteen houses in this narrow place. Let us take one at random, and examine the interior. We have, Asmodeus-like, removed the outer wall from the top to the bottom that our readers may examine without fear, and at their leisure, the extraordinary and distressing scene it presents. Let us schedule its contents, beginning with the ground-floor front. There are no bedsteads, chairs, or tables, a few ragged clothes are drying before a little fire in the grate, above the mantel are a looking-glass about three inches high, and some torn prints of the Crucifixion, etc.; in the cupboards, without doors, are pieces of broken crockery; a kind of bed in one corner, with children asleep; the floor rotten in many parts, the walls and ceiling sadly cracked. The rent 2s. 3d. per week, which is called for every Monday, and must be paid on Wednesday. The ground-floor back presents a sad scene of distress-the man, his wife, and some children earn a living by chopping fire-wood; the man had been ill and not able to rise for two days; he was lying on a quantity of wood-shavings, and was partly covered with an old black and ragged blanket; his skin did not appear as if it had been washed for weeks; he was very ill, and evidently in a state of fever; his wife was almost equally dirty. "We have no wood to chop," was the expression of their ultimate distress. This room was much dilapitated, and they had suffered greatly during the late severe weather, owing to the broken condition of the windows. The rent was 1s. 9d. per week; the window overlooks a back yard, the condition of which was shocking. The first-floor, both back and front, was crowded with inhabitants. The people acknowledged that fifteen persons slept in the two little rooms last night; the walls were cracked and dirty, and the ceiling constantly falls upon the floor while the inmates are taking their food; one woman said that a part of the cracked hearthstone from above had fallen amongst the children. The rent of the front room is 2s. 3d.; back, 1s. 9d. Continuing our way upstairs, we found the state of the staircase and the rooms worse and worse. In the front room two-pair, when our eyes had become accustomed to the Rembrandtish gloom, we found fifteen persons: some had been selling onions, etc., in the streets; some begging; one or two were seemingly bricklayers' labourers; and others had been working at the carrion heaps in the neighbourhood. It was a motley group: a characteristic Irishman was seated on the top of an iron cooking-pot, engaged in conversation with one whom he called "Mr. D." at the chimney-corner. They were |