WESLEY CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1248, 6 October 1911, Page 9

WESLEY CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL.

70th .ANNUAL REPORT. The 70th annual report of > Wesley Church Sunday School states. It is with feelings of deep gratitude to * Almighty God that we present the 70tlf annual report of our Sunday school. The number of teachers on the roll is 40, with an average attendance of 3G. _ The number of scholars on the roll _is 486, with an average attendance of 305. This is not at all a satisfactory average, and wo would ask the co-operation of the parents in sending their children regufarlv and punctually to school. Owing to the constant removals to the suburbs our school has lost 203 scholars, but against this 143 have joined during the year. No expense has been spared in bringing the infant class into a very high state of efficiency. A specially-trained staff of teachers keeps the little.ones interested for an hour every .Sunday, and by black-board and. sand-tabJc the children have impressed upon their- minds, through eye-gate and car-gate, lessons that must tell in the building up of their charactors. So wide is the reputation of this class that visitors from far and near, to the number of 588, recorded their names in the visitors book during the year. The cradle in connection with this class is always full, and during the year 15 babies were added to the cradle roll, making a total of 759- • „ ■ '. .:,. :-\ Sunday School Union Examinatioti.—. During the year twelve scholars entered for,. and nine, passed, .this, examination with credit to themselves' : arid'tho te'hbpl; but it is a cause of deep regret that 60 few compete at these examinations, and wo Would Bpecially ask the parents to assist the officers and teachers in making those examinations a leading • feature of our work. Compulsory Military Training—As a number of our boys come under this Act, the parents will be pleased to know that arrangements were made with the i.M.C.A, to enrol our scholars in their corps, so that under wholesome conditions they may be safeguarded from all the evils that accompany militarism. Resignations.—Wo regret to report that one of our- oldest and most valued teachers has been compelled to retire from tho active work of the school, and in relieving Mr. Fitchett, the . officers and teachers desire to express the high appreciation in which he-is held,' and tho self ■' denying, faithful, and efficient service he has given to the school during the many years of his association with üb. Wo have also suffered a very great loss by tho removal to Grey-mouth of Mr. Aston, who" for thirteen years was one of the organists of the school, aad in l-e-Mgnition of his valued services the superintendent, on behalf of the school, presented him with a long-scrvico gold medal, suitably inscribed, and .wishes i him every success and prosperity in his new sphere. The resignations of Messrs. Strong, assistant seoretary, and T. Ward, teacher, were received with regret aad expressions of appreciation for the services they have rendered to the school. Home and Foreign Missions.—As a school we have contributed during the year the sum of .£6l 10s. Old., all' of which has been made up by the pence of the children. Based on the average attendance, tho amount per scholar is a little over is., and is a very creditable contribution. Our. infant class supports by their collections two native orphans in the Indian Orphanage at Fiji. Owing to tho move-on system of cur Church during the year we had to say good-bye to the Rev. S. J. and Mrs. Serpen, both of whom were very zealous and interested in the work of out school; and we have heartily welcomed the Rev. J. G. and Mrs. Chapman and family. We would take this opportunity of bringing under the notice of parents tho Sunday morning church service, which is made so interesting and attractive by tho helpful addresses given to the children by our minister. Wo regret to record that oming to Mr. J. L. Garrard being unable to devote tho time that tho office of superintendent demands, after six years of devoted and loyal service, he has beoi reluctantly compelled to resign; but we are pleased to state that the school will still retain his valued services as teacher of tho intermediate Young Men's Bible Class. The officers elected for tho ensuing year are:—Superintendent, Mr. H. T. H. Grave; secretary, Mr. Howard B. Grave; librarian, Mr. W. A. Grenfell; musical conductor, Mr. F. Billman.

We face the new year conscious of the importance of tho work in which; re are engaged; and, encouraged by_ the results of tho past, wo go forward with a greater determination and with a moro earnest prayer that our school may be won for Christ.