SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 758, 5 March 1910, Page 10

SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

REPORT FOR 1909. ENCOURAGING RECORD OP GOOD WORK. Tho report of t'ho Committee of tho Wellington Sunday School Union states: The year 1909 witnessed much good work done by tho 82 schools which, aro joined together under, tho stylo of tho Wellington Sunday School Union.. Upwards of 7000, scholars, hayo met. together every Sunday of tho year to study tho Biblo under tho-instruction of over 800 men and women 'who liavo realised tho need of our young people. Tho fact of there being one rallying point for all tho teachers cannot but make for,better working and for more opportunities for development along tho best lines. Sunday School work wants every ounce of help that can bo given to it, and, it is an undoubted fact that a federation of Sunday Schools must always bo-stronger an- more effective for good than a number of unrelated schools.

The convention hold at Palmcrston North during Easter was in every way a success. A largo ■ number of delegates were present, and tho PalmorstOn people themselves attended the meetings in .largo numbers. Much,. perhaps more than even its best friends realize, has been done by our schools, but we cannot deny that bettor buildings, bettor appliances, . and better trained teachers can accomplish infinitely more than' has yet been attained. \ We are looking forward to a useful gathering at Masterton -during Easter.

Mr. R. Faulkner,, president of the Auckland Union, was present at our Palmcrston Convention, and discussed with us tho matter of an association to cover the districts in the North Island and poison and Marlborough. A sub-commit-teo was later on appointed to bring up a report on this and several other matters raised by Mr. Eaulkner. On-the recommendation of tho subcommittee it was resolved to endeavour to get auxiliaries instituted in Nelson, and • Wairarapa, these, as well as the Palmerston subunion to undertake tho work of furthering- tho interests of the smaller school! m their neighbourhood. . The matter of engaging Sunday School experts, of the formation of depots for tho salo of Sunday School supplies, and tho starting of a Sunday School paper were all reported on as being entitled to the most careful consideration, and will doubtless be adopted as opportunity offers. The number of competitors at the Scholars' Scripture Examination was 754, being the highest number yet attained. A larger percentage of candidates . gained prizes than for many years past.We gladly : acknowledge our great indebtedness to Miss Helyer,' Miss Cybele Kirk, . Mrs.-G. W. Darvall, Mr. T. H. Gill, M.A., L.L.8., and .Mr. W. Gray, M.A., for- their efficient conduct of the examination. The ■ examination is to be held this year in July, and : we trust teachors will start early in April, to get their scholars interested. Two new schools, viz., St. James' Presbyterian and Brooklyn Methodist, joined us' during the year. We now have 82 schools with 10,683 scholars, and 1048 teachers. Thirteen city schools show a gam of 125 scholars, and nine show a loss of 305, while nineteen schools outside the city show a gain of 378, and eighteen show a loss of 185. This ■ leaves us with a net gain of thirteen. Although .wo cannot point to a tig increase in number on. the rolls, the. average attendance .is nearly 2J per cent, higher than last year, and 5 per cent, higher 'than in 1907. Owing to 'some" schools i .not counting their,, Bible Class members, the statistics, are perhaps not quite as accurate as we could desire, but this will bo remedied later on when we settle down to what is really a hew order of things. Tho numbers over 15 and in the infant class show a decided increase, this has been noticeable for several years past, • and ip an encouraging feature, unless the-'boys aro drifting away between the ages of 13 and 15. - Wo suggest that those schools that show a loss, should inquire into the reason of it... One hundred and forty-two scholars joined the Church during' the year, and 692 scholars'arei returned as Church members. We, again urge ,on ministers and officials'"a close co-operation in tending young converts;, there aro a very large number of schools returning no scholars as Church members, and we respectfully suggest' that' the . authorities should in- 1 vestigato :the system which is at , work. Twenty-seven schools have Christian Endeavour, Societies with , 947 members.There, are .1(5 branches of 'the Band of Hope with' 1139 members. It is pleasing to know that many schools are adopting tho cradle roll although it is not. .yet goneral enough to include in 1 our statistics. : :

; During the year Mr. W. J. Parsons; who' has'been for many years secretary of the International Biblo-Keading As- 1 sociation,, removed to Taranaki, and we have to acknowledge with gratitude the splendid work he .did in getting tho 1.8. R.A. known as an efficient means of inducing tho scholars to read every day a portion of Scripture, bearing, on the lesson for the coming Sunday. Mr. C. 0. . Jorgenson, 188 Charles Street, Kilbirnie, has taken over Mr., Parson's duties, and will gladly answer 'any . inquiries sent to him. There are ,43 branches and 2G96 members in connection 'with our union.

The . days of - prayer-for Sunday Schools were observed as usual by the schools. .In some cases, united meetings were arranged for, and in others tho schools hold special meetings in their own rooms. Our balance-sheet 6hows a sum of £10 Os. id., due to our treasurer. Unless we are to severely curtail our prize-list for tho examination, it is inevitable that wo must ea.ch year spend more than our ordinary income, and wp must look to our _ friends to help us out of the difficulties which have to incur, knowing that if wo spend less, the work would seriously, suffer. Three of our'schools have generously doubled their annual subscription, for which kindly, consideration wn are very grateful. Unless soino kind friends come' £0 our. help promptly, we propose, asking the churches to take up a retiring' collection for our fund. Two schools have availed themselves of the. grant of books at one-third published prices, given by the Home Union. . Wo again remind librarians that they can replenish their libraries to much advantage by accepting the help offered by the London Union in this way. We proposo shortly convening a meeting of city librarians to discuss the best means .of making libraries more useful and attractive. We' liavo several boxes containing about 60 good books, which we are prepared, to loan to schools having no library. Wo have not had one application for a grant for a diploma for long service. We think there must be a goodly number of ladies and gentlemen- entitled to. a diploma, arid it would be" a- graceful act for any school to see that any who have earned it, should receive this recognition of their labours. Tho. conditions are that the recipient should have served -25 years continuously in Sunday Schools, it does not matter , whether the schools- have been in tho -same place or in tho samo denomination. The union joined with tho Ministers' Association in a deputation to tho Minister for Defence to protest against calling. a parado of cadets on Sunday afternoon. Wo were most cordially received, and as a consequence of our protest, the orders for the parado wero cancelled. Wo are very pleased to notice that the- authorities have declined to allow the artillery to fire on Sundays and wo urgo all who are interested in young men to do all in their power to prevent any further encroachment 011 the sanctity of the Sabbath. Wo are very pleased to hear that the unions of Australia aro hying to got Mr. G. H. Archibald, the great Sunday School organiser, to visit the Commonwealth and the Dominion in 1911. The officers for 1910 are as follow:— President, Mr. H. D. Grocott; vice-presi-dent, Mr. W. Hopkirk; corresponding secretary, Mr. H. J. Thompson; minuto secretary, Mr. East; treasurer, Mr W G. Holdsworth; secretary, International Bible-Ileading Association, Mr. C. 0. Jorgenson; visitor, Mr. W. Allan; auditor Mr. D. R. l'urdio. '