BIBLE CLASSES AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 38, 13 February 1877, Page 2

BIBLE CLASSES AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

To the Editor op the 'Evening Mail.' Sir,—During a discussion on the educational question by the Synod the Rer Mr Fancourt declared that religious education by Bible Classes and Sunday Schools was and must be a complete failure. I would kindly ask our friend if he means to imply that all the gratuitous labor spent Sabbath after Sabbath by members of every section of the Christian Church is of no avail: Does he mean to scatter, by one sweeping assertion, the mauy workers in the Lord's vineyard, and to close our Sabbath Schools, and turn the myriads of children out into the streets to finish their religious education, and yet at the same time profess to build up the Church of Christ? Our friend advocates teaching Church Catechism in the public schools, which would do in the good old times when schoolmaster, doctor, clerk, and parish beadle were all vested in the one and same person. I hope our friend will kindly give a word of explanation to the many who feel a very warm interest in the Sunday Schools and Bible Classes.—l am, &c, John Beckenham. Nelson, February 13,1877.

To THE EDITOE OF THH 'EVENING MAIL.' Sir— l understand that you have £1000 belonging to an old relief fund that cannot be used for the present distress at Motueka, We were in a similar strait at Wellington with four unused and unuseable balances from various funds. Four years ago an Act was passed to this effect:— Notice must be given by advertisement of the intention to divert the Original fund to a new purpose; a public meeting- of the subscribers is then' called, and at this mectiug the new plan is accepted. It is then sent to the AttorneyGeneral. If he assents the plan can be carried out. We use the balances for an Orphan Relief Fund.— l am, &c, , A. Stock. - Nelsoa, Feb 13, 1877.

To the Editor ok.the c Evening, Mail.' i Sir— Tbat the present manager of the Nelj son and Foxhill Railway has tried to make it a success, I am quite prepared to admit, ! though many people in the country think that the townspeople are often favored by being allowed return tickets at single fare. Be that as it may, both town and country will patronise the railway just to the extent of its convenience, and it should be borne in mind that the majority of the people in the country have conveyances of their own, and. will certainly make use of them if they do not find it cheaper and more convenient to make use of the railway. These remarks are called forth through the manager havingtold me yesterday that it was not his intend tion to run the trains at single 'fares* duringthe All-England cricket match. I. believe this to be a great mistake, as three-fourths of the Waimea people will attend the match, and the majority of these will use their own conveyances unless . they may go at single fares. I shall for one, by which the railway will lose five or six fares a day. Please insert the above and oblige ' ■ Yours truly,. • „ . ~ . W. White. > Spring Grove, Feb. 13, 1877. ■