WESLEYAN ANNIVERSARY TEA MEETING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5638, 25 April 1879, Page 7

WESLEYAN ANNIVERSARY TEA MEETING.

A tea meeting was held on Tuesday, April 22nd, in connection with the anniversary of the Manners-street Wesleyan Sabbath School, and als» to welcome the Eev. William Kirk, the new pastor. A public meeting was afterwards held in the adjoining church, at which Mr. James Smith presided. The following report was then read by the secretary, and the financial statement by the treasurer:—-"

“In presenting their report, the committee desire to give expression to the pleasure they experience at again meeting the parents and those friends who take an interest in Sundayschool work.

“The number of teachers on the roll is 14 ladies and 22 gentlemen, making a total of 36, with an average attendance of 8 in the morning and 24 in the afternoon. “The number of scholars on the roll is 139 girls, 154 boys, and 92 infants, making a total of 385 j with an average attendance of 75 in the morning and 241 in the afternoon. “ The system of lessons used in the school is that prepared by the Horae Union under the editorship of the Kev. W. O. Simpson. By the adoption of this system, we have a connected series for the whole year, and the scholar being furnished with a list, is able to read the lesson before entering his class. Then the fact that the twenty-four classes are studying. the same-subject enables the one who addresses the school to make it the basis of his remarks, and thus doubly impress the minds of the youth. ’

“ Luring the last few months a special effort has been made to induce the scholars to : bring their own Bibles. Thus far the attempt has been attended with a fair amount of success. We hope,, however, soon to see each scholar provided with his own book. “ The library, consisting of 733 volumes, ia' well appreciated, the average number of re aders being 130. Additions to the extent of 6S volumes have been made, and a further supply is projected. , “ The distribution of periodicals has been continued, so that during the year over 300 copies Of pure literature, consisting of the “ British Workman,” “Band of Hope Review,” “ Child’s Companion,” “ Early Days,” &c., have been circulated in a large number of families, and much good has thereby resulted. “ The system of children’s services has been reintroduced: under the superintendence of ML Bell, so that those who are too young to affitend the morning service receive suitable in- & tmnetion. . ““Hk addition to the sums the scholars colle ctedtor the Home Mission fund they subsc, -ibed .during six months £ll, representing an am lual iolitribution of £22. i >. "■ The re view calls for little of special cornmen t while we cannot say that we have not been -withoir.t success of any kind, we cannot but ? >dmit tbai' - - it has not been commensurate with our opportunities and needs. »Ve nave no 1 ack of material in the shape of children will! a" to receive instruction, and it may be that if our appeal for teaching aid to Church mem ibers generally had been more liberally responded to our report of to-day would have been of a more satisfactory character.

“ The condition of the school during the year has presented many features that call for thankfulness, not the least being the fact that out of the large number of children attending our school, and in the midst of sickness that has proved fatal to so many little ones, only two of our number have been removed from us by death.

“ Our report would be incomplete if no reference were made to the Wednesday evening service for children, conducted by the Eev. A. Reid. That effort was attended with a very gratifying measure of success, and not the least of the many grateful remembrances of our lateesteemedsuperintendent minister willbe the deep interest he at all times took in the religious welfare of children. “ The office bearers for the next yeir are—• Messrs. T. F. Reeve, superintendent ; J. Gell, secretary; W. Helyer, assistant secretary ; M. Goddard, librarian. The committee consists of the Rev. Wm. Kirk, Rev. W. J. Williams, the Messrs. Helyer, Moxhara, Webb, Harbot, Fuller, Warren, Messrs. G. Bennett, Elliott, W. Tustin, Danks, Williams, Ralph, Moxham, Goddard, Fitchett, Warren, Staff, Helyer, Gooder, Bell, G. B. Clarke, Beaglehole, X’rince, H. Bennett, Reeve, W. Helyer, and Gell, general secretary.” Balance Sheet of the Manners-street Wesleyan Methodist Sabbath-school, for the year ending March 31st, 1879: — Receipts— April 11, 1879—8 y Sabbath collections at school anniversary, £l7 14s. 4Jd. ; proceeds tea meeting, £2O 4s. 6d. ; collection public meeting, £3 ss. 3d. ; Manners-street school share of the £SO bequeathed by the late Hon. W. B. Rhodes, £22; January Ist, 1879 —Cash taken tor visitors’' tea at Sunday-school treat, £6 3s. 9d.; donations from teachers and friends for Sun-

day-school treat, £l2 Bs. 9d.; hymn books, &c., sold in school, £2 Is. sd. ; total, £B3 18s. Old. Expenditure —To balance Dr. from last year, ss. 4d,; providing trays for Sunday-school anniversary, £4 10s.; advertising, £1 Ss.; printing hymns and cards, £4 6s. ; printing hymns for service of song, £3 155.; books for library’, £l2 18s. Id. ; periodicals given to scholars, £25 2s. 1 Od.; hymn books for sale in school, £3 11?. Cd. ; school requisites, £5 Is. 9d. ; reward books, £3 ss. 3d. ; repairs to books, -7a. 4d.; January 1, 1879 Expenses Sunday-school treat, £l7 19s. 7d. ; balance to credit, £1 7s. 4Jpl.; total, £B3 18s. (Rd. The Chairman, in alluding to the report, called attention to the importance of the work, encouraged those who were laboring, and after making a touching allusion to one who during his lifetime had labored in the school, exhorted all who were able to engage in this labor. At the call of the Chairman,

Mr. Prince stepped forward, and on behalf of the teachers presented Mr. Moxham, the retiring superintendent, with handsomelybound copies of “ Dr. Livingstone’s Life and Travels ” and “ Tennyson’s Poem’,-” in a few well chosen remarks. He referred to the twelve years Mr. Moxham so well filled the office of superintendent, and expressed his regret that failing eyesight had compelled him to retire from a work in which he loved to

engage. Mr. Moxham replied in suitable ■ terms, and alluded to his entrance into the school as a teacher a fortnight after his arrival in Wellington. He then referred to ; the fact of his appointment to the office of superintendent during the former ministration of their new pastor, and cordially welcomed the Rev. Wm. ICirk on behalf of the church and congregation. The Rev. William Kirk, in acknowledging the welcome, called to mind his previous labors in this circuit, and spoke very feelingly when referring to the hearty support he had' then received, and also alluded in a pleasing manner to the presentation that had just been made.

After Mr. W. H. Lewis had delivered an' excellent address, the Rev. W. J. Williams proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies, and Mr. Moxham one to the chairman.

The meeting was then closed with the benediction.

The receipts for the anniversary are as follows :—Collections, Sunday morning, £8 9s. 3d.; afternoon, £2 13s. 4d.; evening, £8 6s. 8d; Tuesday evening, £4 16s. ; proceeds of tea meeting, £ll 19s. 6d. ; total, £B6 4s. 9d. The last two items would have been' much higher had the weather proved more favorable.