for two-thirds of the day they have been together, in the same model schools, class-room, and play-grounds, and not one case of impropriety has occurred. It may be imagined that such a course might lead to imprudent marriages, but, so far from this being the case, only one marriage has taken place between two of the students a very prudent one-and the parties had been acquainted previous to entering the Seminary. During the day, all, both old and young, are under the superintendence of the masters of each department. After school hours, the children are at home with their parents, and the students from the country are lodged in respectable private families in the immediate vicinity of the Institution-thus copying, as closely as possible, the most natural and improving of all modes of education, School, under the master during the day, and at home, under the parents in the evening. Even where the conduct of the parents is not altogether exemplary, we prefer this mode to any other; the moral training of the school proving a powerful, if not a complete, antidote; and the moral conduct of the children is often found to have a reflex influence on their parents, promoting cleanliness and sobriety, and even piety, at home." We cannot but think this reasoning opposed both to sound argument and to experience. The intimacy of brothers and sisters, and the guarded intercourse of young persons in well-ordered society, do not apply to the case of large assemblages of "boys and girls of fourteen or fifteen," and of young men and women "from eighteen to thirty," in schools, factories, collieries, barracks, or prisons. We mean nothing offensive in this juxta-position. The analogy strikes us as just. If the familiar intercourse of several hundred boys and girls of "fourteen or fifteen and upwards, in a factory, is found to lead to much evil, can we reasonably expect that nothing but good will result from their consorting together "in the same class-rooms, galleries, and play-grounds," so that "they are never separated except (while the girls are) at needlework?" And does the Glasgow Educational Society really believe that it would conduce to good order, purity, studious habits upon the part of young men, and sensitive delicacy upon the part of young women, to mix two or three hundred young ladies of the higher classes of society with the young gentlemen of their own age and station, at Eton, Winchester, and Harrow, or at Oxford and Cambridge, assigning to them the same "class-rooms, galleries, and play-grounds;" so that they should never be separated during the day," except where their studies happened transiently to diverge? It may be said that the habits of the higher and the lower classes of society differ; and so they do: for the poor, especially in dense neighbourhoods, must often be exposed to miscellaneous consortings, which among the rich would be considered offensive and demoralizing but the Glasgow Educational Society does not restrict its reasoning to any particular class of persons; it lays down broad principles: it does not speak of the associating together of large numbers of boys and girls, and young men and women, in the school-room and playground, as an inconvenience unavoidable and to be submitted to; but as a thing desirable in itself, and to be urged upon the patrons of English schools as the "natural course," and the ground-work of "moral training." To us, with our English notions-or, as our Scottish friends account them, our prejudices-the project—we mean no offence, we only speak our mind--is preposterous and mischievous. We would not, even in our private families, invite two or three young gentlemen from "fifteen" to "eighteen," and upwards, to be class-mates to our daughters of the same ages, in order "to elevate the character" of the young ladies; nor would we send our daughters to academies formed upon this principle, to consort with young gentlemen in school and play-ground for the same laudable purpose. With regard also to our sons, we should CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 62. : N not think it advisable to send them to a College where young ladies would be their associates. We will not, however, pursue the subject; we will only urge the patrons of Education to pause and consider the matter well, before they are seduced by the eloquence of their Glasgow friends. to knock down partition walls. REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. MADDEN'S MEMOIR OF THE LIFE OF THE REV. P. ROE. WE left Mr. Roe at Kilkenny in Sunday.-Lecture, eight; catechise, ten; half-past eleven, service; vestry; general hospital; six, evening service. Monday.-Eight, M. G. meeting; ten, asylum; twelve, vestry; one, blankets; three to four, private in vestry. Tuesday. Factory; school; gaols. Wednesday. Gaols; eleven, church; twelve, catechism, Mr. L--'s; one, poor school; three to four, private in vestry; half-past five, lecture. Thursday.-Factory; charter school; poorhouse; lecture for the men. Friday.Ten, gaols; eleven, church; twelve to two, catechise in church; half-past five, lecture. Saturday.-Spend as much of it at home as possible; practise for singing at one o'clock. Read a little every day in the Greek Testament. Visit at least two sick people every day. Beware of procrastination. Mark on Sunday those who are absent, and speak to them on Monday. Every night before tea write the day's observations. Whom did you intend to visit? Whom did you visit? What prevented you? What letters are unanswered? Are you careful to lend books? Are you careful to distribute tracts ?,' period was remarkable. His income was only sixty pounds per annum, yet he devoted a large portion of it to the poor, and to the distribution of religious tracts and books. He always breakfasted on bread and milk; and if he dined at home, his dinner was bread and cheese, and a glass of ale. He never had a dinner dressed for himself. In his diary is the following entry :-"I find I am much to blame for the unprofitable manner in which I lay out my money. I find it wastes away by little and little, and that nothing is done. I trust that I shall resolve for the future to take more care of it, and use it as a gift from the Lord, for which I must give an account. Thus shall I be enabled to relieve the wants of the distressed." success. Besides his home occupations, to be crowded to such excess, that His self-denial at this early obliged constantly to stand the Though the Gospel has been long and faithfully preached here, it appears that the sun is only rising; and every event, every occurrence seem combined to say that this is the Lord's time to have mercy upon Zion. There is now, among the devoted servants of God, one hearty unanimous desire to disseminate the Scriptures from pole to pole; there is a zeal, an earnestness, and a liberality, which manifest the existence of a genuine spirit of true and undefiled religion. The state of Ireland is also under their consideration; and whatever measure seems calculated, under the Divine blessing, to be of service to our land, will be heartily and speedily adopted. I hope to be at a meeting of the Bible Society on Tuesday morning. “I have heard several of the Gospel ministers preach, and also have become acquainted with them; more particularly Messrs. Newton, Cecil, and Pratt. This morning I breakfasted with Mr. Newton. He expounded a portion of Scripture, and prayed most feelingly and fervently. His conversation is truly in heaven; and his heart seems to overflow when he dwells upon his favourite theme-the redeeming love of the Lord Jesus Christ. On Wednesday I heard him preach from, The works of the Lord are great; sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.' He can with difficulty be heard; but his very appearance, as a worn-out veteran in the army of the Lord of hosts, must make an impression, perhaps more strong and forcible than the most eloquent discourse. "Mr. Cecil is very original in his manner. He seems to have well digested his subject, but rests upon the occasional circumstances that may arise to apply and press it upon the minds of his hearers. He uses very bold_and strong language-sets forth the Lord Jesus Christ as all in all-sweeps away every other foundation and ground of hope, and applies it so practically that I have scarcely ever heard anything more admirable. He has a most happy art of connecting faith and practice. He has engaged me, contrary to my wish, to preach for him to-morrow evening, and I am to preach for Mr. Newton at noon. In the course of next week I have some expectation of seeing Mr. Venn of Clapham, and Mr. Wilberforce. 66 In Bath I heard the celebrated Mr. Jay, an Independent Minister. He is allowed to be a man of great candour and liberality. I heard also a Baptist Minister, a very plain man in his manher and speech, but apparently ardent and faithful in the Redeemer's cause. I have heard other preachers of different descriptions; and I think I speak impartially in saying, that the Ministers of the Establishment whom I have heard are far superior to them in manner, in excellence of matter, and in judicious observation and application. "Mr. Wilkinson is a faithful and impressive preacher, but appears to be somewhat high in his sentiments. His word, however, is blessed. The people seem much attached to him, and his brethren account him a holy man. "Mr. Pratt I have not heard preach; but he is a delightful companion—a sensible, clear, well-judging man. "Mr. Richmond is an extraordinary good preacher he gets through his sermons with more ease than any man I ever heard; compresses a vast deal of matter into one discourse, and is an excellent reader. him. "Saw Mr. Biddulph, of Bristol, and had a great deal of conversation with He is a steady friend to the church, and very liberal. Though not eloquent, his word seems to be with power. His congregation is large and attentive. He writes a great deal, and is much looked up to as a religious cha racter. But there was another person, a layman of no small note, both in the religious and political world, one long respected, and with whom he much desired to become acquainted, whom it was his good fortune to meet during his visit to London. He thus refers to it in a letter to his father :- My stay in London was particularly delayed by the hope and expectation of seeing Mr. Wilberforce, both of which were gratified on Monday. He is a man truly alive to every thing that concerns the Church of Christ; evidently possesses a very active and intelligent mind; and has the warmth and affection that never fail at once to gain the heart. If I could judge of his public by his private speaking, I should not hesitate to pronounce it most chaste, correct, and elegant,'" It will have been observed in the foregoing passages, that Mr. Roe, like some other pious clergymen of his day, allowed himself to wander to dissenting places of worship. We are not unaware of the apologies which have been made for their ecclesiastical irregularities; but, without impeaching their motives, sure we are that they acted unwisely, and in a manner inconsistent with their obligations as members and ministers of the Church of England; and they caused an unjust prejudice to go abroad against the doctrines which they promulgated, as if they had some connexion with dissent-a prejudice which it required many years to obliterate. Mr. Madden remarks as follows upon his friend's proceedings in this matter: "The announcement of Mr. Roe's attendance at Surrey Chapel and the Tabernacle, will of course produce various effects on various readers. Some, having no fixed principles of ecclesiastical polity, and believing all systems alike good, or equally bad, will hail the liberality which could lead to such free intercourse between Churchmen and Dissenters; and will grieve that, to a vast extent, an alteration has taken place. Others, fixed in their principles, and believing that as antiquity testifies, so Scripture proves, that Episcopacy is of Divine right, and that sound principles of ecclesiastical polity are obligatory on all Christians, will grieve that such conduct was ever pursued by Churchmen, and will rejoice that instances of it are daily becoming more rare. Such intercourse has ofttimes led to anything than good results; and by it, Churchmen (who profess the very soundest principles) have been placed in the unenviable situation of at least appearing to support, not schism alone, but schism and soul-destroying heresy combined. Such an instance was related to the writer by Mr. Roe himself. Passing the Lord's-day in an English town, the name of which is forgotten, being weary, both from his journey and from ill-health, and at some distance from the church, he and his party turned into a dissenting meeting-house, and took their places among the crowd. The preacher gave out his text, and preached plain and unqualified Socinianism. The meeting-house was crowded, egress impossible; and thus a Churchman and clergyman, with his party, were constrained to sit by, and listen to the damning blasphemy. It is needless to add, that the visit was not repeated; and the circumstance is related, only to shew how awkward are the situations into which a deviation from sound principles line of conduct, may bring one. towards what may seem a more liberal "It is, however, only right to add, that Mr. Roe by no means selected such places of worship; and that in latter years he gradually lessened his visits to them. The following passage, which is extracted from a tour made in England some years later, will give his reasons for visiting them at all:and heard Mr. went to 'I an Independent minister, preach from Job xxxii. 17, 18, 19. He was plain, faithful, impressive, and comforting. His object evidently is to win souls; and his plan for the accomplishment of it, is just what it ought to be-he preaches Christ and him crucified; and sets him forth as the Alpha and Omega in the salvation of guilty sinners. Oh! what a privilege to hear of him who died, that sinners might live; who has opened the gates of heaven to all believers; who will make good all his gracious promises to his people, and will hereafter confess them before his Father and before his angels. In conscience and from principle a Churchman, it cannot but be a grief to me, to be obliged, in order to hear the truth preached, to go to a dissenting meeting house. But really what has been preached at this church by the Vicar and his Curate, is not only so unedifying, but so opposite to the revelation of God, that I have felt it to be quite sufficient, and that merely because I am a clergyman, to attend at the afternoon service. As I was disengaged, I felt it to be my duty to seek my own edification; and I can rejoice that Christ is preached, though by persons without my circle. The deepest wounds the Established Church has ever received, have been from the apathy, the ignorance, the inconsistency, the improper walk, the pride, the worldly-mindedness of her own clergy. If they preached the doctrines of the Church, and lived in the spirit of their Ordination vows, they would be indeed as lights in the world; their word would sound, not as the word of mere men, but as it would be in truth the word of God; they would conse crate their talents to that service which is perfect freedom; they would be recognized as subordinate officers under the great Captain of our salvation, leading on the soldiers of the militant church; pointing out to them the length and breadth of the promised land; and, at last, launching with them into the Jordan of death that they might enjoy heaven." Mr. Roe visited London again in the year 1810; and we find the following among his notes of his tour. 'May 20th. We went at mid-day service to St. John's Chapel, Bedford Row, (formerly Mr. Cecil's) and heard Mr. Robinson, of Leicester, an able and perspicuous speaker, bold and energetic; though apparently near seventy, he has the vigour of youth. He has borne the burden and heat of the day, and suffered much in the cause of Christ; but he is a wonderful instrument in the Lord's hand, who has blessed the word from his lips, and caused it to turn many from the path of disobedience to the way of holiness. "May 23rd. This evening I was at the Parliament House, and heard several remarkable characters speak: Messrs. Perceval, Whitbread, Adam, Wilberforce, Horner, Giddy, Sir Thomas Turton, &c. &c. They were all inferior to what I expected: Mr. Adam spoke very well, but I liked Mr. Wilberforce better than any. He throws light on whatever subject he takes in hand; and his whole deportment, manner, and expression, bespeak the Christian. He was heard with great attention. "I spent two days with the excellent Mr. Wilberforce, who goes far beyond any idea I had even formed of him. His conversation is, indeed, in heaven; and I do not think I ever felt myself so humbled in the presence of any man. He is a sun in the religious hemisphere, which eclipses all those little stars which appear so bright, and are so useful while moving in their respective orbits. "May 27th.-Spent this day with Mr. Wilberforce, a man of whom I am utterly unable to give anything like an adequate character. His mind is truly spiritual, and he loses no opportunity of speaking on the best things. He seems a most affectionate and kind husband and father; he feels a lively interest in whatever concerns the spread of Divine truth; and walks in all respects as one, who, though from his situation, distracted with a multitude of cares, is yet sitting with Christ in heavenly places, and living by and circumstantial account of the state of "The Report was afterwards read at the New London Tavern. Having been appointed to move a resolution, I had to address the Society; and I have reason to praise the Lord, that by his help I was enabled to get through this arduous task. Messrs. Robinson, Scott, and Babington (who was chairman) spoke. "June 13th.-Went to St. Laurence's Church, and heard a great sermon from Mr. Scott, delivered on occasion of the Anniversary Meeting of the London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews. "June 20th, Clifton.-Wherever I go, or turn my eyes, I behold the spread of the Redeemer's kingdom and glory. Great things are doing in the earth; and these are, I trust, but as the drops which precede the coming shower. Oh! that all who name the name of Christ, departed from iniquity; and that all who are called of God, to know and experience the power of Divine truth, might walk in every respect worthy of their high vocation." In 1805, Mr. Pidgeon, finding his health sinking, and also that of his diocesan, Bishop Hamilton, who was the patron of his benefice, disinterestedly resigned it in favour of his curate, lest, in case of the Bishop's death, it might not be so well disposed of. well disposed of. Mr. Roe thus became minister of St. Mary's, Kilkenny. In 1806, he married Miss Gore of Kilkenny, who survives her beloved husband. Mr. Roe had the high satisfaction of seeing the work of the Lord He did not prosper in his hands. sow for another to reap; for as he sowed, he reaped. This was remarkably the case with his Sun"June 12th.-Dr. Buchanan preached the Missionary sermon this day, at Black-day School labours. He was able friars Church, from the words, Ye are to reckon up no fewer than eighteen the light of the world.' He gave a clear ordained clergymen, all of whom faith in him. |