BIBLE CLASS UNION. THE SUMMER SCHOOL. (From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, December 30.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 34

BIBLE CLASS UNION. THE SUMMER SCHOOL. (From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, December 30.

The Summer School was continued" Saturday, the various "■ meetings being carried on in a spirit of the greatest, enthusiasm. The most interesting item on the morning's programme was an address on the situation in Canton, by Rev. G. H. M Nexir, missionary in China. Mr M'Neur explained the very remarkable Changes that". ar% • taking place so 7 rapidly in the Chinese Empire. Almost uncredible changes have taken place in, Chinese education and -in Chinese military equipment during the last' six years, and Mr M'Neur . regards. China as .one 'of - the^foremost of oominff world Powers: -In rate "afternoon a - basket ball tournament • was held in the Eastern Reserve. Young women's teams from " St; Andrew's (ChTistchurch), Waimate, - Roslyn, Kaikorai, sLnd First Church; St. -Paul's Ohurch,and Knox Church (Inyercargill), took part. St; Paul's . (irivercargill) beat "Roslyn by 9 to- I- First Church (Inveroargall) beat Kaikorai by 8 to 5. St. Andrew's (Christ-ch-urch) beat Waim»te by 8 to 3. . Knox Ohuroh tlnvercargill) beat St. Paul's (In-s-ero»r»ai) fay sto I. B"irss Ghuron (Invercargill) beat St. Andrew's (Christchuroh)" by 10 to" 6. In the final, Knox Chuoh- (Invercargill beat First Church by 8 to 2— a result whioh does not represent the relative strength of • ifa& . teams, First Church having juat finished a. strenuous game — their second, — while their -opponents- had only fought one game, and had had half an hour's rest. Moreover, one 'of the First Ohur-oh team was sick, and the goalkeeper was handicapped by r having the heel and sole torn off her boot. The" teams are about equally good, Knox Church passing better than First Church, and hustling tiheir opponent more 'effectively. The championship banner, tHe gift of " Mrs Jameson, was .presented at .the .evening meeting in First Church, when Mr J. Crosby Smith __ intimated his intention of reooanising tihe^good play of the runnersU P oy presenting each member of the team with a memento. This tournament has oreatly popularised basket ball here, and the young men are beginning to recognise it as .worthy of their attention, the passing appealing' to their football instincts. K . - In spite of the unusually hot weather there, was a large attendance of the public, who followed the games, with keen interest. The oveninf? was given up to a conference on Sunday school work, tihe meeting being well attended, and the questions and suggestions 'eliciting a fair* amount of [ discussion. j December, 31. The Presbyterian Bible Class Summer School was continued on Sunday and Monday. On Sunday night there was a large meeting in the theatre, when Miss King, M.A., of the Inveroaririll High School, spoke op the ideals of the Bible olass movement, showing the high ideals they have set up, the Christian standa-rd — and showing the breadth of the ideal in that it includes the nhyeioal, mental, social, and spiritual. The Rev. G. H. Jupp spoke of the Bible as a factor in nafcion-buildinqr, that- the Bible affords the, only ethical basis for a nation, and also supplied the necessary moral enthu- | siasm for the carrying but of its high aims. On Monday morninar there was read sl paper by Mrs M'K<Miz*e- on the " Propagation of the Spiritual Life," and it elicited very keen discussion-. In the afternoon various sections of the sohooj^.met to discuss their own particular departments. The Manascinsr Committee of the Summer : Schrol movejnent decided to »*wept the invitation from. M-asfc^rton for 1908. The Rev. J. M'^ensie. M.A.. of Ohristfhnrch. was elected chairman of the Contra! Executive of the Summer School for 1908. In th» evening, on ibfl motion of Mr Tx^rberf "W^bb, of T>iiTj»di'n. seconded by Mrs .MTsnaie. of Chr'Vchureh. cordial votes of thanks were acrordfld to the neople of Invercarwnll for their stilend'd manasrement. Mr J. Hunter. M. .4., on behalf of the vounor men. and M ; ss Stran?.. M.A.'.on Hnlinlf of the vounsr women, spoke m terms* of the warmest apnreciat'on .pf the work done by the Roy. J. C. Jamieson durmg his five years' service as secretary, and expressed the vpry general reerr«t at his approaching rrti-rQ-m&rtt,. and, on behalf of tlio Summer School del-esß*es.-pr»<ien*«d Mr .tarrnpson. with a roll-tor> dpsV. Members of ' the Executive Committee followed with the

presentation of an enlarged photograph of Mr and Mrs Jamieson.-' Mr'Jamieson. briefly responded in suitable term's. * .' * The Rev. Frank Dunlop, Ph.D., delivered a very philoeophio address on ihe maintenance of the spiritual, life. The Rev. J. 0. Jamieson delivered 'a closing address on the conquest of the impossible. • - -- - -. -*"• It is hoped that." -an outcome •of \h& holding of the Summer Soho.ol.in. -InVercar-, gill will be a better .'recognition, of the extent and strength of the Bible cjasa_movenient, ln New Zealand, and the contact with otne* delegates must tend to the improvement oi local methods in - future ' conferences, * andi there must also be a considerable quickening of spiritual life throughout the whole school and a greatly increased enthusiasm which must result in the Masterton school of 1908 being very largely attended. The Rev. Mr Jamieson is retiring after five years to resume the work .of the ministry, and it is hoped to appoint two secretaries in his ulace — one. for the North Island and one for the South. Island.