SOUTH DUNEDIN BAPTISTS

Evening Star, Issue 22459, 2 October 1936, Page 7

SOUTH DUNEDIN BAPTISTS

SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY To celebrate the sixty-third anniversary of the foundation of the South Dunedin Baptist Sunday School special services were held on Sunday last, and were attended by some large congregations. The morning and evening services were conducted by the Rev. T. Keith Ewen (minister pro tern), and the afternoon meeting was addressed by the llev. J. Ewen Simpson, of Hanover Street Baptist Church. On Tuesday the scholars’ annual tea was held in the Sunday school hall, recently built at the cost of approximately £I,OOO. It was the first time in the long history of the school that this function had been held in a hall of its own, and, naturally, it was an occasion for much rejoicing and stisfactiou. The scholars’ annual concert was given in the church in the evening, when a long programme of a most enjoyable nature was given, Mr Alex. Young, the assistant superintendent, being chairman. The school choir, trained by Mr David Robb, singing leader, and ably assisted by Miss Ashton, organist, sang special anniverary songs in a most pleasing manner. One unrehearsed event of the evening was the presentation to Mrs W. I, Ashton, wife of the superintendent, of a miniature silver trowel, suitably inscribed, commemorating the laying of the foundation stone of the new school hall, Mrs Ashton having performed this ceremony on February 9 of this year. To Mr Ashton was presented a goldplated key, to which was attached a plate, also suitably inscribed, marking the occasion of his official opening of the hall on March 24. Sentimental value was attached to the key by reason of the fact that it was the actual one used by Air Ashton when he carried out the opening ceremony. In making the above presentations on behalf of the teachers, Air Carter referred to Air and Mrs Ashton’s splendid gift to the school building fund, and voiced the warm thanks and appreciation of all interested. The prolonged applause which immediately followed the presentations was a striking tribute to the esteem in which these two good friends of the school were held, in rising to reply on behalf of Airs Ashton and himself Air Ashton was accorded a rousing reception, and. in a few words, acknowledged the gift of the souvenirs and the good wishes that went with them.