AUCKLAND SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 635, 24 January 1872, Page 2

AUCKLAND SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

The seventh annual meeting in connection with tho above association was held last evening in the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association. Thero was a splendid tea provided, and we had hoped to sue a much larger number to partake of it. After tea, the President of the Union, J. C. Firth, Esq., occupied tho chair, and in a most powerful and eloquent speech on the subject of education (and religious in particular), opened the proceedings. Mr. F. Battley, hon. secretary, read the report, which showed tho Union to be in a most flourishing position. There were 26 schools in association, 230 teachers, 2070 scholars, and a credit balance of £112 4s Bd, which speaks volumes for past effort, The Rev. Mr Bree next addressed the meeting upon the importance of religious knowledge, which was to be imparted mainly through the instrumentality of Sabbath Schools; showing that all knowledge, no matter how great and vast, was only a means to an end, the salvation of the whole human race from sin to God. The Rev. P. H. Oornford in his address, reviewed the past, and urged upon every teacher to be careful, that the past success should not bo a temptation to ease. Ho pressed upon them present duty, and not to bo " weary in well-doing, for they should reap, if they fant not." Mr. Glanville spoke of the importance of the work, and dwelling in particular upon the present Sunday excursions, which was an open violation of the Lord's day, and called upon every one to raise their voice against this system of Sabbath breaking. The meeting was brought to a clo3e, by a humorous speech from Mr. Jackson, and the singing of the Doxology.

The Bruce (Otago) Eifles competed for representatives for the colonial prize firing on the 12th inst., but all failed to qualify, none making 30 points in the first stage.