Page:A Sermon Preached in Westminster Abbey (Lichfield).djvu/11

 The institution of the National Society cannot but be regarded as an event of no common interest to Churchmen; for it was the first movement on the part of the Church for the general education of the poor. To this institution therefore the many and great advances which have since been made in the same direction may with good reason, or rather must in fairness, be referred.

During a period, as I have said, of now little less than half a century, the Society has pursued its course faithfully and steadily, through "evil report and good report," in a spirit, not of party, but of moderation; firmly adhering to its own principles, but not seeking to dictate to the judgments, or the consciences, of others.

But perhaps it may be well to go a little into particulars; very familiar indeed to some who hear me, but with which others perhaps may not be so well acquainted.

First then as to the constitution of the Society.

Its affairs are administered by a mixed board of clergymen and laymen; partly official, and including all the bishops of the Church; partly elected by the subscribers at large, from among persons who, from their station and character, may well be supposed to have the cause of sound education at heart, and to be qualified to exercise a right judgment as to the best way of advancing it.

Next, as to the Society's objects. These, from its foundation, have been mainly three: first, the building of schools, and of houses for masters and mistresses; secondly, the training of those masters and mistresses for their work; and thirdly, the improvement of the means and machinery through which that work is carried on.

It is then a threefold labour of love in which the Society has been so long, and still is, engaged; and largely (thanks be to Him from whom all works of wisdom and charity proceed, and under whom they prosper!) has that labour been blessed.

For school-building, the grants made directly by the Society amounted, at the close of last year, to all but 350,000l.; of which amount, I may be permitted gratefully to say, about 30,000l. have come into my own diocese. That this application of the Society's funds has drawn forth from private bounty an expenditure of at least three times the amount cannot for a moment be doubted. A glorious exemplification surely of the Apostolical precept, "To provoke unto love, and to good works." And here it will be interesting to state, that the number of Church-schools believed to exist at the same time was 24,326; capable of containing above a million and a half of scholars. How large a proportion of these