CANTERBURY SABBATH SCHOOL TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1853, 30 January 1880, Page 3

CANTERBURY SABBATH SCHOOL TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

The inaugural meeting of the Canterbury Sabbath School Teachers' Institute took place last evening, in the Oddfellowß' Hall, Lichfield street. The occasion was celebrated by a Bocial tea meeting, whioh was very largely attended. A public meeting afterwards took place, presided over by Mr C. B. Taylor, the president of the institute. The ChairmaD, referring to tho hearty response made to the committee, as evinced by the very large attendance, called on the secretary to read the rules of the institute and the objects aimed at by its formation. The Secretary having complied, The Chairman resumed by saying that the organisation owed its origin to the energetic efforts of a few gentlemen, who, eaeouraged by the success of Bimilar institutions elsewhere, thought they were justified in assuming that the establishment of a Sabbath School Teachers' Institute here would be attended with similar beneficial results. The next speaker was the Rev. W. J. Habens, who began by expressing his pleasure at finding that the Sabbath School Teachers' Institute would in no way clash with the Sunday School Union. He had to speak of the necessity of a higher standard of Sunday School teaching, but could not do that without assuming that a low standard was the rule. This, however, was not the case ; still, although there was a great amount of firstclass teaching, there were types of teachers found whom it. would be good to improve off the face of the earth. After describing several such types, he went on to refer to the quality of the teaching of the earlier days of Sabbath Schools in England, and the advances that had been made in the present day, which was apparent in the increased intelligence of the children. A strong argument for rendering Sunday School teaching better and more effective, was the capacity of the children they had to teach to imbibe the lessons taught them. Compared with what he had seen in England, both from a moral and intellectual point of view, the children they had to deal with were in every way better prepared to take in and profit by the very highest standard of teaching. Another point he would refer to was the necessity of imparting that moral and religious instruction which the secular system of education did not supply. What the day schools formerly did the Sabbath schools had to do now. What was wanted by the teachers was a higher standard of religious knowledge The Bible was not an easy book to deal with. It taxed the intellect of the highest. In this connection it should be the aim of the teachers to concentrate all their energies on their work week by week, and study their leesons with all the help they could get before attempting to deliver them. A great help in this direction would be co-operativo work amongst the teachers. He was a Sundayschool teacher himself, and he had experienced the value of this system. Let the teacher only fill his mind thoroughly with his lesson, and he would need no picture book to impart it to the children. In America there was a system of international teaching which gave the special results of the studies of some of the best men of all countries on every conceivable subject that could interest and instruct children. In conclusion, the speaker

gave some valuable suggestions on the details of teaching by the use of appropriate hymns, of illustrative maps, &0., as adjuncts to the imparting of Biblical history. The Rev. H. O. M. Watson was the next Bpeaker, and said that, although the objects of the newly formed institute were similar to those of a sooiety to whioh he belonged, there was room for any number of new ones with kindred aims. He deplored the want of interest of the congregations in the Sunday Schools, and therefore he earnestly desired to see a more intimate rela tion between the churches and the schools. Referring to the absence of religious instruction in the publio schools of the present day, he sa d he regarded the Sunday Schools as the nurser es of the church. They imparted the only religious instruction which the bulk of the children received. The objects of the teaching in the church and Sunday School were identical, and therefore should inspire the greatest amount of interest in the congregations, and excite them to greater liberality in their support. Evon in the matter of fur - nishing the schools with the appliances of religious instruction, the congregations could, if there wee a larger amount of interest taken, do a great deal towards improving their efficiency. If he had a hundred pounds at his disposal he would make St. John's schoolroom a model of what a c'unday School should be. At present a few boots and a few pictures constituted the furniture of many a , Sunday School. Some of them did not eveu i potsejs a map of Palestine. The upeaker coni eluded by illustrating the result of early religious training of the young. The laat speaker was Mr Richards, from i America, who spoke on " Institutes, their i objects and aim." The object wag to teaoh ) the " Word ef Gl-od to the young. The , question had been miaed—Was there a neces-

ai:y for a higher standard of Sabbath School teaching ? From hie own experience ho cnnld say there was tho greatest. It was only the other day he heard a teacher say that the two fir:-t chapters of the Bible wero played out. If that was a sample, he Bhould say that a much higher standard was noeded. If any one called him a hog, why, without those chapters he could not prove ho was not. Tho difference in America and in New Zealand was, that in tho former the parents went to the Sunday school as well as the children, and took as great an interest in it. If the parents of the children came to the Sabbath schools it would give greater vitality to them, as a boy would not play truant if his father went to the school with him. Tho aim they had was to bring to the Sabbath school Church members and scholars who went to no other school. The object and aim of the institute was not opposed to anj thing but tho devil and ignorance. The spiritual teaching in Sabbath schools turned out very d fferent children from the ordinary schools. Tho spi'aker dwelt at great length on the facilities given in America for the establishment and encouragement of Sunday schools, even in the matter of froe travelling to ministers and scholars attonding them. The Pre<s, too, gave them every assistance, and ho was very glad to see it was the same in New Zealand, especially in Chris' they showed the greatest interest. Tho concluding portion of the speakers' remarks was devoted to inculcating the necessity of training and teaching the teachers so as to qualify them for tho task they had undertaken. This could not be done without special training. Tno speaker's remarks were illustrated by many humorous and appropriate anecdotes, and he concluded by complimenting the ministry of tho city, and thanking the meeting for the patience with which they had listened to him. Mr J. W. Crabtree moved a vote of thanks to the speakers. In alluding to one remark of the first speaker, he acknowledged with pain tho difference between what Sunday schools were in England years ago and what they were in New Zealand. That was, however, sixteen years back, and vaßt improvements had taken place since, although there was still room for improvement. A marked feature now in England was special childrfn's services, which might be adopted here. He had much pleasure in moving a vote of thanks to the gentlemen who had spoken. The motion was carried with acclamation.

Votes of thanks were passed to the choir, the ladies who had furnished the tables, and the reporters. In the courße of the evening a number of hymns and anthems were sung by the choir, which was made up from the various churches. The choir was conducted by Mr Corrick, Mr Richard S arell acting as organist. The meeting terminated with the Benediction.