MINISTRY AT WARRINGTON, [Chap. IV. 



is the index of the teacher. The children soon go away if 

 they are not interested." The whole school was an "index" 

 to his punctuality, thoroughness, and religious feeling. The 

 singing and the liturgical service were of no ordinary excellence. 

 He had a fondness for boys, which they could not fully recipro- 

 cate ; but " they were attracted by his good-humoured, laughing 

 ways," and by his efforts for their happiness 1 . They were 

 trained to contribute to the school treats, which they valued 

 all the more. He has described one Christmas party at which 

 he was host : at subsequent ones, when tickets were bought, 

 he exerted himself to make them successful; and sometimes 

 he invited the elder scholars to tea at his house. Of one of 

 those occasions he writes : " The size of their stomachs was 

 very wonderful. I gave the invitation to ' all who wished 

 to be good lads ; ' they all came — except the nicest of the lot ! " 



A Wednesday night meeting he devoted to the elder 

 members of the congregation ; most of the other evenings were 

 at the service of the young — night classes, mutual improvement 

 societies, Band of Hope meetings, etc. "Those youths who 

 came more directly and personally under his influence well 

 know of his earnest words of advice, encouragement, and 

 reproof, when needed. He was easily accessible, and his study 

 was often the place of devotion and repentance and the 

 beginnings of a new effort. If one were to speak of conversions, 

 there were far more conversions in his study than in the chapel." 



He early saw the importance of Bands of Hope. The 

 pledge was a simple one : "I promise to abstain from all 

 intoxicating liquors as a beverage ; " there was generally added, 

 " and also from opium and tobacco." " We make the children 

 take hands, and repeat the words of the pledge to me, and 

 then end with prayers." " His Band of Hope meetings were 

 always sources of pleasure. In winter months they were held 

 in the school-room ; but in summer they were more frequently 

 held in the lanes, like a camp meeting, or in the Cobbs at 

 Stockon Heath " — a somewhat wild, picturesque spot, with a 

 small natural amphitheatre where his audience could seat 

 themselves. His party sang as they walked along, and would 



