said bishop; and that it shall not be competent for any person, after the said bishop or his said official hath so pronounced sentence as aforesaid, to commence any prosecution under this act against any such spiritual person on account of the offence or offences for which the said judgment of the said bishop or his said official shall have been so pronounced as aforesaid: provided always, that nothing herein contained shall prevent or be construed to prevent any bishop from sending, by letters of request, if he shall think fit, any such suit so brought before him, either ab initio or at any time in the course of his hearing of the same, to the judge of the Court of Arches, if the diocese of the said bishop be within the province of Canterbury, or to the Chancery Court of York, if it be within the province of York, to be heard and determined: provided also, that nothing herein contained shall authorise or empower any ecclesiastical judge, being a layman, to pronounce any sentence or decree which he could not have pronounced if this act had not been passed, or exercise any power which by law is reserved to be exercised by the bishop in person.

Clause F.-And be it enacted, that whenever any bishop shall have probable cause to believe that any suit ought to be instituted for the correction of any such spiritual person, it shall be lawful for such bishop, if he shall think fit, to deliver or cause to be delivered to such spiritual person a written statement of the offence or offences with which such spiritual person may be charged, in like manner and form as hereinbefore provided; and that it shall be lawful for the said bishop to proceed thereon as it is hereinbefore provided in the case of any suit commenced by any person other than the bishop.

Clause G.-Provided also, and be it further enacted, that in case either of the said parties shall be dissatisfied with the judgment of the said bishop so pronounced as aforesaid, and shall, within

after

such judgment shall have been pronounced, give to the said bishop and to the other of the said parties notice in writing of his intention to appeal

from the same, it shall be lawful for the said party to appeal to the said Court of Arches, if the cause arise within the province of Canterbury, or to the Chancery Court of York, if the cause arise within the province of York; and the judges of the said courts shall, upon notice of such appeal, proceed to hear and determine the matters of the same, and the proceedings on the said appeal, in the said courts respectively.

Clause H.-Provided also, and be it further enacted, that in case the said bishop shall not within

after

such notice as aforesaid by the said party intending to prosecute, of his intention so to do, shall have been delivered to the said bishop, or left at his usual place of residence within the said diocese, think fit to issue his said notice or summonses requiring the attendance of the said parties before the said bishop as aforesaid, and to cause the same to be delivered to the said parties as aforesaid, it shall then be lawful for the said party so intending to institute such suit to appeal to the said Court of Arches, or to the Chancery Court of York, as the case may be, praying to be permitted to proceed in such suit in the manner and form directed by this

act.

Clause I. And be it further enacted, that if at any time during the pendency of any suit against such spiritual person, according to the provisions of this act, such spiritual person shall make confession of the offences imputed to him, and shall submit himself to the authority of the bishop in that behalf, it shall be lawful to and for the said bishop to pronounce such sentence and decree in the premises as he might by law pronounce upon a hearing thereof before himself or his official principal.

Clause K. And be it further enacted, that in any suit in which the bishop, after duly hearing thereof according to the provisions aforesaid, shall have pronounced the spiritual person so charged before him to be guilty of any offence or offences against good morals, or of having held and taught doctrine contrary to the doctrine or discipline of the Church of England, and shall have pronounced against such spiritual person sentence of suspension

ab officio or ab officio et beneficio, or deprivation, or deposition, or degradation, and such spiritual person shall have appealed against such judgment and sentence, it shall be lawful for the said bishop, and he is hereby empowered, to prohibit and restrain, by order in writing under his hand and seal, such spiritual person from officiating in any church or parish within the diocese of the said bishop, pending such appeal, and until the same shall have been finally heard and determined; and further, it shall be lawful for the said bishop to sequester all and every the preferments or preferment held by such spiritual person within the said diocese, pending such appeal; and the profits arising from such preferments or preferment shall be received by such person as the said bishop shall duly appoint (as in cases of sequestration) to receive the same, and shall be duly accounted for by the person so appointed when the said appeal shall have been finally heard and determined, and, if the judgment of the bishop be affirmed, shall be applied as is hereinafter directed in cases of definitive sentence of suspension: provided always, that it shall be lawful for the said bishop, after duly providing for the service of the church or churches of such preferments or preferment so sequestered, to allow, by writing under his hand, such sum or sums of money out of the profits of such preferments or preferment to be paid from time to time to such spiritual person, or to the wife or family of the same, for his, her, or their necessary support and main tenance, pending such appeal or appeals, and until the final determining thereof, as to him the said bishop shall seem fit, and also such further sum or

sums of money for the enabling the said spiritual person to prosecute such appeal as the judge of the Court of Arches or of the Chancery Court of York, or the Lord President of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council (as the case may be), shall from time to time, by writing under his hand, assign to be paid for such purpose.

Clause L.-And be it further enacted, that it shall be lawful for the bishop, in any case in which he shall have pronounced judgment of suspension ab officio or ab officio et beneficio for any term against any such spiritual person, and it shall appear fit to the said bishop, on due consideration of the state of the parish, and on satisfactory proof exhibited to him of the penitence and amendment of such spiritual person, by writing under his hand and seal to abridge the term specified in such sentence, and to permit such spiritual person to resume his functions, and to possess and enjoy the profits of his preferment or preferments from which he shall have been suspended, on such conditions as to such bishop shall seem fit: provided always, that before such remission of such sentence shall be valid and take effect it shall be transmitted by the said bishop to the archbishop of the province, who shall signify, by writing under his hand, his assent to or dissent from such remission of such sentence, and any conditions wherewith it may be accompanied; and if the said archbishop shall signify his assent to the same, the remission of the said sentence by the said bishop, and the assent thereto of the said archbishop, shall be entered and remain of record in the registry of the said bishop.

of the Church, and religious books and tracts, as well as of Books of general instruction.

III. Translations of the Scriptures, the Common Prayer Book, and other books, into foreign languages.

The Education of Children.

At the first meeting of the Society, one hundred and forty years ago, it was resolved, "To further and promote that good design of erecting Catechetical Schools in each parish, in and about London."

On the 10th of March, 1698-9, being the second meeting of the Society, the following resolution was passed, "That this Society will subscribe a stock for insurance of the charge of setting up the Schools for Promoting Christian Knowledge; and that Mr. Justice Hook do draw up an instrument of insurance, and a form of subscription, for the contributors in their respective parishes." The poor were taught to read, and instructed in the Church Catechism; and the attendance of the parents was frequently enjoined in the hours devoted to this requisite branch of teaching. For

many years successfully, an Account,' stating the number of charity schools, and of the children in each school, was printed by the Society, and transmitted to the members, and through them to the public. The Society also recommended, in circular letters to its correspondents, dated 1712, that with instruction in religion they should join all proper methods of training the children in habits of labour and industry.

From this time the progress of Charity Schools formed a leading feature in the proceedings of the Society. The following is a specimen of the numerous statements laid before the Meeting.

“13th January, 1700-1.

"Mr. Skeat reports, that the school for girls in East Smithfield, in the parish of Aldgate, was opened this day; above forty pounds being subscribed thereunto. Also, that there are three schools lately opened at Wimbledon, two for girls, and one for boys, erected by twenty gentlemen,

who have each subscribed four pounds a piece for ten years."

The next minute records the establishment of an office, which, being placed in the hands of a zealous and discreet clergyman, could not fail to have proved highly important to the interests of these rising institutions.

66

1700-1. Jan. 13. Resolved, that the Rev. Mr. Cogham be the Inspector of all the charity schools in and about London and Westminster."

It is an important fact, ascertained from original documents, that some of the earliest parochial and ward schools arose under the auspices of this Society, and that to the aid and encouragement which it afforded, is owing the origin of the annual assembly of the charity schools of London and Westminster in the cathedral church of St. Paul. Although the general arrangement of the affairs connected with these meetings devolves on a body of gentlemen, called the Society of Patrons of the Charity Schools, much interest has always been manifested in the object by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, which contributes a certain sum annually towards the expenses of the Anniversary, and, from time to time, undertakes to apply for the kind offices of a preacher.

We find by the Society's first Report, that "at the first meeting of the gentlemen concerned in promoting the charity schools in and about the cities of London and Westminster, the masters and mistresses were present, on the 8th of June, 1704, at St. Andrew's church, Holborn, with the poor children under their care, in number about two thousand." This was the earliest annual assembly of the charity schools. The space in St. Andrew's church proving insufficient, and the poor children of Wapping and Whitechapel having been excluded, in consequence of their alphabetical place in the procession; on the Thursday in Whitsun-week, in the following year, the schools assembled in increased numbers, at St. Sepulchre's church, Snow-hill.

In October, 1715, the Princess of Wales having expressed a wish to see the charity children at their next

anniversary meeting; and it having appeared that her Royal Highness had not been invited on the previous occasion, "upon account of the straitness of the room," an application was made by the Society to the Commissioners for finishing St. Paul's Cathedral, for leave to assemble them there at the ensuing meeting. Statements were accordingly prepared, and the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's were applied to; but after an interview which the Committee had with Sir Christopher Wren, the scheme was abandoned. The anniversaries continued to be held at St. Sepulchre's until 1738, in which year the schools resorted to Christ Church, Newgatestreet. They met there for forty-four years successively. In 1782, they were, for the first time, assembled at St. Paul's Cathedral, where they have met every year since. The average number of children annually collected, is calculated at between five and six thousand; to which amount, if adequate accommodation could conveniently be provided in the building, large additions might be made from the schools in and about the metropolis. The total number of persons present, including the schools, may be generally estimated at nearly 17,000. Comparatively few, perhaps, who have witnessed the impressive and affecting scene, and listened to the chorus of praise ascending from so many thousand children's voices, are aware of the origin of this meeting.

The members of the Society will not be displeased at this mention, however slight, of a national celebration, which has been pronounced one of the highest interest and importance; and which, it is to be hoped, will never cease out of our land. Nor will the benevolent society of patrons, who rejoice in the opportunity afforded them of contributing to the preservation of the national faith, and attaching the children of the poor to the doctrine and discipline of the Church, fail to receive the grateful acknowledgments of all who seek the prosperity of England itself.

Very soon after its formation, the exertions of the Society for Promoting

VOL. XXI. NO. IX.

Christian Knowledge, in the cause of christian education, were extended to different parts of the kingdom; its first care having been bestowed on the metroplis. By the year 1741, nearly two thousand charity schools had been established, through the means of the Society, in Great Britain and Ireland. At a subsequent period, on the introduction of the system of Sunday schools, about the year 1780, the Society gave its support and encouragement to this excellent object, which it has continued to afford up to the present time.

In affording its sanction and aid to Sunday and other schools, the Society proceeded on the express and avowed principle, that Religion, as inculcated by the Church of England, should be the basis of education. From this distinct line it has never deviated; and the blessing of the Almighty has abundantly accompanied its efforts for the present and future welfare of mankind.

The general adoption of parochial schools on the National system, which is sometimes called the Bell's or the Madras system, completed the great work, of which the foundation had been thus laid upwards of a century before. The establishment of the National Society for the Education of the poor in the Principles of the Established Church, in the year 1811, and the incorporation of that Society by royal charter in 1817, became the means of increasing and regulating the efforts previously made in this important department. It must not be forgotten, however, that the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge still cheerfully cooperates in the work, which prospered so well in its hands, by supplying large quantities of Bibles, New Testaments, Common Prayer Books, and Tracts, to these schools, at a rate far below the cost price, and frequently by bestowing large gratuitous grants of books, where the means of purchasing them are wanting.

The Society has recently manifested the regard which it entertains towards the objects of the National Society in a very substantial manner. A copy of the Resolutions, unanimously adopted

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