officers  appointed  over  them.  As  many  of  the  Churches  are  large,  numbering
from  five  hundred  to  one  thousand  members,  this  system  has  become  absolutely
necesaary  to  a  proper  supervision,  especially  aa  in  the  country  the  members
reside  in  villages  Bome  miles  apart  from  each  other.  Thus  again,  our  leading
black  men  become  practically  exercised  in  the  art  of  government,  and  the  people
in  the  duty  of  subordination  to  constituted  authority.
Another  efiicieut  means  of  training  is  in  the  periodical  meetings  of  teachers,
both  day  and  Sunday  school.  The  schooliiiastera  of  Jamaica  have,
during  the  last  few  years,  formed  themselves  into  voluntary  aaso-*'*'^^**'^'^'
oiations,  with  a  view  to  mutual  improvement,  and  to  deliberate  ^^j^^^^
on  schemes  of  school  work,  togetlier  with  such  kindred  objects  as
occasion  may  bring  to  the  front.  There  are  also  numerous  assnciattous  of  Sunday
school  teachers,  in  connection  with  which  periodical  meetings  are  held.  I  have
noticed  with  satisfaction  the  pnictice,  on  the  part  both  of  male  and  female
teachers,  of  writing  and  reading  essays  on  the  practical  methods  of  Sunday
school  work.  I  have  read  some  of  these  essays  with  astonishment  and  delight.
Twenty  years  ago  not  only  were  no  such  associations  in  exiatcnce,  but  no  such
papers  as  are  now  commonly  read  could  have  been  produced.
