Wesleyan Sunday School.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1648, 2 March 1886, Page 4

Wesley an Sunday School.

ANNIVERSARY. TEA MEETING.

I The public tea meeting m connection I I with the Wosle.yan Sunday School Anni- | versai'v Service was held last evening, and was the largest gathering; of the kind that has taken pl-ice tor years past. Tea was partaken oE m the old church by a very large number indeed, all of whom appeared to thoroughly enjoy themselves. The public meeting was subsequently held m the church presided over by Mr Richard Leary. On taking the chair Mr Leary made a few introductory remarks m connection with Sunday School work. He stated that although he hud been little associated with Sunday Schools he could not fail to see the relation of the institution to the community at large . He referred, to thelarrikinisrri of the present day, and the importance of Sunday Schools as a strong andin fact only antidote to the strong growing evil. The State Schools wore entirely divested of religious instruction, and little or none was imparted to the children at their homes. Then, again, the pulpit seemed to be above their little heads, and so he considered that on theso grounds Sunday Schools were of vital importance ; they indeed were the main help and the very thing for the chil dren. ; Infidelity how so rampant should incite to greater and more combined action on the part of the teachers. Formerly the Freethinking communities had held a neutral stand, as far at least as the children were concerned, but now the case was different. Aggressive warfare was going on and institutions were ! actually formed for the instruction of little ones m no religion. They would have to look straight at this tenible evil and meet it with a. fir m stand- These votaries of superstition were teaching their children and guiding them into a nbmbelief, and they would grow up trained m the ideas imparted to them m their young days and without the knowledge of Jesus.. The children who attended these places would find it hard after having grown up to believe m anything else but what they had been drilled into believing, and therefore: he hoped that the Sunday" School workers would be largely increased and the evil stamped out from amongst them.-; It, was: the obvious duty 'or parents to send their children to the Sabbath schools. They could all unite m doing something. Those especially who sat Sabbath after Sabbath teaching the yonng should have their sympathy and assistance; He concluded by hoping that all thosepresent would, sp n 1 a pleas jntc-T.sning. The children then sang "Sunday School Battle Song," and were followed by the Secretary, Mr Dillon^reading the annual report and balance sheet : — The report showed a slight increase m ■numbers during tlre^year of 52. The' present number on the roll is 160, average attendance 100. The death of one, of the scholars was referred to, the sad | event having occurred on the first Sab-j bath ny the New Year. •, More* earnest; willing teachers are greatly nded'ed, there; now being' only ,15 officers- and teachers', to manage 14 classes. Reference was; made toi the. departure of Mrs Harvey and saisily for Australia. The balance-, sheet ■. showed receipts . from various'; sources of £18 19s 4d," and disbursements £17 lls G^d, leaving a ..balance m hand of £1 7s i 7£d ; though the sum 6f £12 19s 8d was owing for liabilities m • curred during the past year but not yet paid. Reference was made to thecirciH lating library, comprising 150 vols., which is well patronised. Master H. Mowlenr has been appointed librarian. Rewards m value representing about £8 10s had been given away to the scholars by the teachers. £8 15s was still owingj for, bobksas' prizes, and further liabilities' for catechisms re-introduced into the school. It was stated that probably the whole tff the proceeds of the anniversary service would be required for the pay-r menti of pliabilities incurred as. :ajbove shewn. There was much present need for school requisites, such as new Bibles; senior and junior class-books, and bpoks for the Library. The report - concluded with the expression of a hope that alle would give liberally and so assist th beneficial work of the Sunday School. The children then sang " Sins' Children, Sing." ''.'-■ The Chairman then called on Mr Grace, the Superintendent, to address the meeting. ' ' Mr Grace said they had heard the reporUof4he work that had. been done during the past year. -There had BOthirig startling transpired, nothing 'half 'so startling as they would like to have seen. There had been a good deal of up-hill work and plodding, but he did not think that they were altogether wanting m success, notwithstanding the many couar teracting "influences. They had not decreased m numbers ; each had done their best m the good work. All had worked for a labor of love, not for any remunerl ationri It was one great step\ m the direction of saviag souls, and % was therefore a; meritorious; work. ;If ■they wanted New Zealand to be a prosperous country, both commercially- and=~every other jway, they would have to make the inhabitants Christians. Bible teach J ing wjll give freedom. in the beat, pos* sible way, arid if not, success 6n the of Freethouglit would mean^nothingbufj red cap communism. > • The ; teachers felt the /depressing .effect of the outside in4 fluence on the children. Even m ,their homes very often the yery, first thing .on the littles ones getting there from Sun r day school is to hear bad language from the lips of the parents. He knew hundreds of instances where the teaching of the Sunday school was spoiled at home. They should all unite and ;' help to keep together this great structure which had taken centuries to build up, and which was principally assailed by the hordes of Freethought supporters. An illustration of what success can be attained by cheer- , ful and combined unity concluded, the address. - " i \ The children then sUtig "Beloved-, riow are We the Sons of God," and '.the Rev. Mr Lawry, of Marfcon, followed with a short address. He thanked the Palmerston Wesleyans for the assistance they had given their.. Marton. brethren at various times ; notably , spine 12 months back m giving them a concert, and later by eloquent sermons delievered by the Rev. -Mr Bunn. He .then explained to the children, the meaning of the word anniversary, its Latin origin, &c. He thought that at this time of their year they managed for a little time at least to forget the worry and anxiety, the toil and troubles of teaching; and it sr&va them also more heart to work during the ensuing year, when they saw the little ones around them as they were to night, bright and happy aud singing their anniversary hymns so beautifully. He wound up an instructive address to the children, plentifully illustrated witlv in T teresting anecdotes, by exhorting them to be sure of one thing, viz., to commit their lessons to memory and "to do it m good time, not leaving the task to the last moment. While Hymn 4 was beinjy sung the collection was taken up by two of the senior Sabbath school scholars, the' Misses Hartley and Carty. The Rev. Mr Bunn then addressed the meeting. He referred to the excellent remarks made by their Chairman .re their State School education, and -the consequent plague of larrikinism it so successfully propagated. He further gave for the children's special benefit a number of lllustratire tales of Australian aboriginal life and others. During the past he was sorry to say some boys and girls too, had not done as they might liave. A good many had been irregular m their attendance. He hoped the parents would assist the teachers as much as possible- In singing he would

rather that they ivolild receive lessons m this department than m sewing, the latter could be taught :it home. He was sorry to hear repeatedly m their public streets boys singing on Sunday e-venings with good voices which might be trained to sing the praises of the children's Master. He referred to the boys as buing the making of oitf future senators and representatives m Parliament; they would hold positions of trust and wealthy ami he hoped he would use them to the Glory of God. In the olden times there was a society established for young people called a "a Band of Hope," not , the same as the band of hope now so called, this society had an excellent motto, which, he thought,', could be well applied at the present day, when their youths ! were being assailed by the teaching of freothought principles, viz., " Tremble ye tyrants, we are growing up." The children should be fraught the dangers to which they are exposed by the teaching of the anti-christian sects that are becoming so numerous at the present day. The Rev gentleman further illustrated his address, and concluded by "proposing a vote of thanks to the various ladies and gentleman who had assisted to bring about the success attained that evening. Mr Grace seconded the motion, and referred particularly to the assistance rendered hy Miss Mowlem for so many years past, a work voluntarily performed which they could never repay. • It was stated by the chairman'that the balance sheet had shown a deficiency of £11; this, had been reduced by yesterday*^ collections, and to-night there only remained a small sum to make up the required amount. He would give £1, and he hoped the balance would be made np by a few ss" subscriptions; the amount collected that evening had been £1 16s 2d. : Mr Grace undertook to ask those present for donations, and succeeded m getting promises to the amout of £2. A number of other hymns were siing and the adoption of the report and balance-sheet . was carried without dissent, it having been, before omitted. Mr Dillon, senr., moved the adoption on behalf of his brother, tho secretary of the Sunday school. Seconded by Mr Grace. • . .... During the' 'evening Mr Hartley con ducted the singing with his usual success, Miss Mowlern presiding at . the organ, where her customary care and attention to the singers helped considerably to make the musical portion ot the programme a success.