signed by the Master, the Clergyman, and the School Inspector; but at present they are valueless, because they only indicate the possession of a certain amount of knowledge at a given time, and because the holder has no means of bringing them to bear upon employers. Mr. Yorke would make these certificates the basis of a comprehensive system. He suggests first, that employers should form themselves into an Association, the members of which should pledge themselves to give situations to holders of certificates, in preference to other applicants. Second, that for more responsible posts than those occupied by artisans, the holders of certificates shall be admitted to examinations, with a special view to cultivating the requisite qualifications. Third, that the Association should encourage the whole body of certificate-holders to study "special arts and sciences, for the gradual formation of an elite class of artisans, who would give a high tone to their order." As a means for the production of this class of artisans, Mr. Yorke proposes to found exhibitions, or studentships, in Science and Art (say in connexion with the Midland Institute), to be competed for at the examination mentioned above. These exhibitioners would be subjected to a special examination at the end of their term, and a creditable result would entitle them to diplomas from the Association (or from the Institute), showing that they had graduated in the special arts or sciences named. This part of the scheme is not new. It was suggested, early in 1853, by Mr. W. C. Aitken, in reply to inquiries from the Society of Arts; and Mr. Aitken's plan had this further advantage, that it would enable students, after gaining the diploma, to proceed to the completion of their education at a central metropolitan institution. A very grave objection to Mr. Yorke's plan is pointed out by Mr. Stephenson, namely, that the certificate on which the whole scheme is based, affords no real guarantee that the holder knows anything at all. The signature of the master must, of course, be taken with the qualification that he would desire to support the credit of his school, by giving as many certificates as possible. The clergyman must naturally depend, to a great extent, upon the report of the master; and the signature of the inspector would be utterly valueless, since it merely guarantees the genuineness of the other sig

natures.

Unless a compulsory enactment be resorted to, Mr. Stephenson's plan seems, at first sight, to be the most feasible, although exception may justly be taken to some of its provisions. To meet the difficulty of the too early withdrawal of children from school, Mr. Stephenson proposes that the

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half-time system shall be adopted, and enforced either by an Act of Parliament, or by an Association of employers. In some of the northern manufacturing districts, it is illegal to employ a child between the ages of eight and thirteen, without a certificate from a schoolmaster that the child has attended school three hours daily, on five days during the week. The operation of this law in Birmingham would, in Mr. Stephenson's opinion, not only ensure a larger attendance at schools, but would absorb into the working population the large number of children who are now neither at school nor at work; but who form the class from which prisons, workhouses, and reformatories are recruited. Having secured the introduction of the half-time system, Mr. Stephenson would institute a public examination, open to the "half-timers," and to any candidates who might be sent from the parochial schools. To the successful competitors he would publicly present a prize and a third-class certificate; in the next year, the holders of third-class certificates would contend with each other for higher prizes and second-class certificates; in the third year, still higher prizes and firstclass certificates would be open to the selected competitors. The holders of the last-named certificates might be gratuitously admitted to the Midland Institute and the School of Design, and prizes offered for further competition in higher. subjects. Finally, after the lapse of a sufficient time the more distinguished students might be invited to compete for public or private situations, placed by employers at the disposal of the Association.

The Diocesan Boards of York and Ripon have been pursuing their active course, notwithstanding their disappointment in the proposed Educational Conference, through the illness of the Archbishop and the practical vacancy of the bishopric of Ripon. The York Board has addressed the landowners, farmers, and clergy, on the great evils of the Martinmas hirings; and we are glad to hear that the address of so influential a body has produced a warm correspondence throughout the local press of that extensive agricultural district. The document circulated by the Board is signed on their behalf by the three Archdeacons, all the Canon Residentiaries, Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools for Yorkshire, his Grace the Archbishop's Inspector for the city (the Rev. Thomas Myers, M.A.), various laymen, and rural deans and incumbents of the locality. We quote the last paragraph of the Board's address, together with the concluding clause of a letter by the City Inspector of Church Schools "on the evils of hiring farm servants without characters."

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This important subject has attracted the attention of our York Diocesan Board. As members of that Board, we lament it as counteracting the benefits of a sound religious and scriptural education. What is learnt at school is in danger of being entirely rooted out by the temptations of these fairs and statute hirings. I will simply quote the last paragraph of the memorial of the board, to which the signatures of a few members are attached, and leave these remarks to find their own way to the hearts and consciences of all who are in favour of upholding this injurious practice. "Believe me, sir, yours, &c.,

THOS. MYERS.

"Oct. 1856. "It is with a strong sense of the vital importance of this subject, that the Board of Education for the Diocese of York press the consideration of it especially on the nobility, gentry, and landed interest of Yorkshire, to whose support the institutions for the education of the poor have been so largely indebted in past years. They owe it to their sense of duty to point out a widely-extended social evil, which goes so far to undo the benefit of early religious training at school; and earnestly and most respectfully request aid, from those quarters in which it will be most effectual, to bring about the discouragement and discontinuance of what is ruinous to the moral welfare and domestic happiness of the agricultural classes, and destructive at the most critical period of life, to the best ends which could be promoted by an improved system of education. "Signed on behalf of the York Diocesan Board of Education." [Here follow twenty-two names.]

A member of the York Board of Diocesan Education has just published a pamphlet complaining of the "Mangled Liturgy," in use at the Male Training School; and also of some proposed changes in the United Board of Management, selected from members of both dioceses. We cannot enter into this question here, however important: it is one of those which will immediately claim the attention of the new Bishop of Ripon, as soon as he is installed in his most responsible office. The two Diocesans of York and Ripon are unitedly responsible for the manner in which the religious services are conducted: it is understood that the Principal has his grace the Archbishop's sanction for the omissions which he has made in the week-day devotions of the training pupils; but the question is of the greatest importance, and will need much wisdom on the part of the newly-appointed Bishop of this populous diocese.

Lord Teignmouth has published a pamphlet on the Ragged Schools of Bristol. His lordship has been an active supporter from their first establishment; he has issued questions

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to the incumbents of the parishes in which the schools are situated, has obtained very interesting replies, and has published the result of his inquiries. These schools are situated in St. George's parish, St. Michael's, St. Philip's, Trinity, and Temple. St. Philip's School contains 500 children; Temple is as full as it can be; the three others as full as they can be, without an increase of teachers. His lordship states that"Her Majesty's Inspectors have entertained prejudices as to the benefit of Ragged Schools ;" and "that at a meeting of their body they unanimously expressed doubts to that effect, though none of them had any personal knowledge of Ragged Schools." (p. 17.) We rather suppose his lordship means official knowledge; and that the prejudices said to exist, arise from the kind of masters and mistresses employed, who are usually very worthy persons, and very useful in their way, but not quite as well educated as Her Majesty's Inspectors can venture to approve. His lordship's pamphlet is a very interesting one.

CLERICAL MEETINGS ON A LARGE SCALE.

DURING the month of October last, a meeting of clergy of the County of York was held in the metropolitan city. lasted two days, and numbered nearly one hundred and fifty. Its object was mutual conference for religious exercises, scriptural addresses and personal intercourse, and discussion on spiritual subjects. The following Yorkshire clergy took part in the proceedings of the meetings:-the Rev. John King, Hull, chairman; the Rev. W. Sinclair, Leeds; the Rev. Canon Hey, York; the Rev. Thos. Myers, Sheriff Hutton; the Rev. W. S. Lewis, Ripon; the Rev. J. Thomson, Bridlington; the Rev. Canon Sale, Sheffield; the Rev. Chas. Hodgson, Barton. It was proposed to continue these meetings annually, and to form a society to be called "the Yorkshire Clerical Meeting;" but as the clergy came from various parts of both dioceses of York and Ripon, and were personally unacquainted with each other, such a movement was deemed premature, till the experiment thus tried should be found successful. All subjects of exciting interest, or of public policy, either in Church or State was excluded. It was thought that as the clergy in distant parts of a diocese have little opportunity of meeting each other, it would be found profitable thus to enter into social union for prayer, praise, exposition of the Holy Scripture; the statement of parochial plans, difficulties, and discouragements, and the dis

cussion of questions bearing upon the religious, intellectual, and spiritual improvement of all classes of their parishioners. A committee was appointed to consider the propriety of continuing these meetings in future years; and from the great satisfaction expressed by many present, and the large number who assembled, it is confidently expected that the central meeting at York will be continued, and will become more and more an object of interest, and a source of spiritual edification to all present.

RECREATION FOR THE PEOPLE ON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES.

DURING this season of the year, various associations are formed, especially in the provinces, for conducting the recreation and instruction of the working classes on Christian principles. The clergy have, in various places, felt it their duty to originate, and support these meetings for mutual improvement and social intercourse. At Birmingham, Mr. Aderley has given ground for a "People's Park," and a building has been erected at the entrance to contain a library, museum, and reading room. The Hon. and Rev. G. York, Rector of St. Philips, is the chairman: other similar associations had been formed under the auspices of the clergy at Ashsted, and in St. Martin's; and we should not have noticed these proceedings had they not given rise to a controversy in a London journal, in which a correspondent objects to the clergy being mixed up with such movements. In the neighbourhood of Castle Howard, Yorkshire, there is a flourishing association of villages for this purpose, under the superintendence of the parochial clergyman; and a Manchester clergyman has replied to a letter by the late president of the Castle Howard Village Libraries, in which it is argued, that St. Paul, were he now alive, would not sanction such societies. Their opponent quotes" Bridges on the Christian Ministry,” and treats such societies as an infringement of a divine obligation. The vicar of Sheriff Hutton has replied to this argument as follows He has stated that were St. Paul alive now, and a stationary minister of a parish in Birmingham, Bristol, or Hull, there is the highest degree of probability that he would sanction these gatherings for mutual instruction and recreation on Christian principles. The clergy who promote them do not exclude religious feelings-they do not go in a worldly spirit, as to a ball or concert, for their own amusement, but from a sense of duty, and to seek the spiritual welfare of the souls of the myriads who swarm around them.