NELSON SCHOOL SOCIETY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 97, 24 April 1878, Page 2

NELSON SCHOOL SOCIETY.

The 34th anniversary of this Society was celebrated yesterday by a tea party in the afternoon, which was attended by a very large number of the children attending the school and others, and a public meeting in the evening. Judge Thomas was to have taken the chair, but was unexpectedly detained at the last moment, and it was occupied by Mr Ashcroft, who, after a prayer had been offered up by the Rev. J. Beckenham, delivered au interesting address. The following gentlemen also addressed the meeting in fitting terms:— The Revs. J. Beckenham, Hamilton, and Bavin, and Messrs D. Moulder, Price, and Scott. On the motion of Mr Price, seconded by Mr Jessop, the following Committee was appointed for

the en&ning year:— Messrs W. Webley, R. Smart, J< Hill, C. Halliday, M. Campbell, •and I. M. Hill. The Secretary, Mr I. M. Hili, read the following ; Report. , With thankfulness we hail the opportunity affoi-ded iis of recording the love of God to lis during the yeat just ended. We also faamg with plfeasufce iaja . mark bf successful effort by which the Lord has' Mdfe' us his debtor, that is the harmony with which our workers have labored at their various posts, and likewise the earnest interest they take in the spiritual welfare of their charge. Now the children seeing this and appreciating it have repaid the same by a good and constant attendance during the year. This encourages us to believe that the word of God's truth has been read and taught with excellent promise and result. What will the harvest be? t Though known only to tbe mind of our infinite Lotd wfe fest asshtcd that the scattered Bread of Life ahail be found after many days, yes, found to the praise of Hita who said, " The word shall accomplish that which I please, aud it shall prosper in the thiUg whereto I sent it." This, the promise Of our Lord; then is the fountain of our hope, watering our sohls and quickening the sown seed, the Word of Life. Oh this Occasion we will not particularise the efforts of irif of our schools in town or country, for what we have already said we believe applies equally to all our members, adult and juvenile. Yet we are inclined to add for their encouragement that, to ensure future success, all must hold in remembrance these things— first, that Christ their Saviour worked without seeing the result of his labors, and in faith, without flagging, seeing it was the work His Palher had given him to do, and that when the seventy returned from an evangelistic tour the Lord did not say to them " Well, how many converts have you made," but he said " Lacked ye anything?" We would likewise have faith in God who has made them and us to be ambassadors of the same full, free, and precious message of his grace. We ask all our laborers to pray over every lesson given, and for every child they teach, and to sanctify themselves as Nazarites separated for a purpose, and the Lord in sympathy with them will sanctify them by His Holy Spirit. Wheu we have read the balance-sheet we shall say farewell for another year commending them all, together with every Sunday school teacher and scholar throughout the province, unto the keeping and blessing of the Shepherd and Bishop of Souls. Amen.

BALANCE SHEET.

1878, Receipts. April 23. Balance brought forward £g i_ 8 Sent of schools ... io o o £80 14 S Expenditure. Books, printing, &c £9 i _ Repairs aud other expenses of I Town School-room 8 6 3 Teachers' and other " teas " ... 2 9 6 Balance in hand 60 17 7 £80 14 8 Several appropriate hymns were excellently sung during the evening, and the proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman. We cannot conclude our report without mentioning that the room was most tastefully decorated with ferns and flowers, and that great praise was due to the ladies who had prepared the tea and presided at the tables.