RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION CLASS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 932, 17 December 1910, Page 2

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION CLASS.

(Contributed)

Yesterday morning the prizes presented to the Rev G. Y. Woodward’s religious instruction class at the Foxton State School were distributed by Mr Hornblow, chairman of the School Committee, to the successful scholars. The headmaster, Mr Jackson, was also present. The vicar briefly introduced Mr Hornblow to the children, and read out the names of the prize winners. Mr Hornblow thanked the vicar for the honour conferred upon him, and spoke encouragingly of the work that was being done. He stated that the roll disclosed that one hundred and eleven children belonged to this class, with an average attendance of between sixty and seventy. Good as that was, yet it could be very much better, and he asked the children present to make a resolution next year of bringing another boy or girl with them. Mr Hornblow then went on to explain the object of the class —it was to teach the children something about Jesus Christ, who was Perfect Man, and not only Man, but God. The knowledge of His lile would help them to grow up to be good men and women, and useful citizens. He said in many homes Christianity was not touched upon, and this religious instruction class for half and hour one day in the week was an opportunity of learning something of the greatest and noblest Figure in the world’s history. The speaker told the children that like St. Paul they had to fight against wild beasts which lived within them in the nature of bad thoughts, temptations, desires, etc. Christianity was just the very thing that would help them to conquer. Mr Hornblow then touched upon the religious life, and said that without it there could be no real happiness. He wished to give them something to carry away with them, something that would be a motto for the New Year, and it was the grand, noble words of St. Paul: “ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the Faith, henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.” That was the ideal for each child to strive after, to battle to overcome', and on these Friday mornings they were learning to trust in One who could give them the strength, and not only the strength but the power of victory. He then presented the prizes, and encouraged the little ones to be successful again next year. In presenting a second prize to Leslie McCallister, he sympathetically referred to his zeal, and told the class he was an example to them all, considering his disadvantage and the distance he had to come. The prizes were awarded as follows: —Proficiency prizes by examination (given by Mr J. K. Hornblow), Doris Small; attendance prize for boys (given by Mr Bradley), Arthur Thompson; attendance prize for girls (given by Mr Badley), Olive Nye ; prizes for children coming from longest distance, Rene Easton i, Leslie McCallister 2; certificate of merit, Erica Chalmers; certificate of merit, Agatha Bowden.

The vicar thanked Mr Hornblow for his kindness, and called on the children to give three cheers for the Chairman, Mr Jackson, and the success of the class next year.