After this was given up, another was established for the Sunday-school teachers. There were twelve members, all young, in the same rank of society, and on terms of intimacy with each other and with their respected pastor, at whose house they met; and these circumstances, together with the cheerful easy manner in which it was conducted, combined to render it pleasant, as well as profitable. Each member learnt by heart a short portion of a catechetical work on the “Elements of Christian Knowledge,” which they repeated by turns, and afterwards gave verbal answers to questions, previously written out, on miscellaneous subjects connected with religion, such as the evidences of Christianity, the history of the Old Testament, or doctrinal subjects. Questions were prepared by Mr. Mortimer for this purpose, and other questions were copied by the different members from a book of “Questions on the Old and New Testament, and the Book of Common Prayer, by the Rev. Edward Thompson.” The different subjects thus brought forward, always drew forth many interesting and profitable remarks in connexion with the duties of Sunday-school teachers. At other times, they were addressed as professors of Christianity. These meetings were very much liked, and are still looked back upon with feelings of pleasure and grateful recollection by, at least, some of its members. They only lasted one winter, as the summer evenings were not found so convenient for them, and the following winter Mr. Mortimer was unable to resume them, as his whole time was devoted to other ministerial duties.
AT the beginning of the year 1837, Mr. Mortimer opened a “Library for Sunday Reading.” It contained, at first, about 150 volumes, and, as the books were very much read by all classes of persons, about 100 more were afterwards added to the number, all of which were furnished at his own cost. They were lent gratuitously, and were changed weekly in the vestry. The different readers were furnished with a printed catalogue of the books, that they might have the opportunity of selecting those that they preferred, as being most suitable to their taste or circumstances. These books were in circulation up to the time of his death.