WESLEYAN SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 71, 12 April 1901, Page 2

WESLEYAN SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY.

WHITELEY MEMORIAL CHURCH. The tea meeting in connection with the anniversary of the above Sunday school took place last evening and was a most successful gathering. The tea wes laid in ihe Hall alongside tho Church, the tables being nicely decorated and very lavishly Buppliod with all eorts of delicacies and presided ovor in a most attsntive manner by the lady teachers of the Sunday School. There were nine tables the 1-tdies presiding as follows: -Missos White and Clover; Missus Cannell (2) ; Misses Cbatterton and Barlow ; Miss.g Whitburn and C. Douglas; Misses E. Veale and E. Chat erton; Misses Hicks and Emily Chatterton; Mrs Douglas and Miss Ford; Misses Avann and Hooker; and the Mis'.es Artold and Knight. The attendance was so large that not withstanding the extensive accommodation provided all the tables were filled twice and several of them three times. Tea being ever an adjournment was made to the Church where a public meeting was held.

THE PUBLIC MBEIING,

There was a large atten Jance later in th 9 evening in the Whitaley Memorial Church, when a public Masting was held. ,Rev. S. J. Serpell presided, and apologised for the absence of Mr, J. Hawken, who was prevented fiom attending through indifferent hfalrti. This gentleman h.d be n connected with Sunday School work in New flymouth 3£j years ago. After player by Rev. J. H. Whj e, the secretary (Miss Sadler) read the annual report, which; summarise.), was bs follows:

The year had been one of progrsfSj though tb? roll number remained about tho same as last ytar, lf6, the average attendance baing 130, and increase of 19 on last year's average, Teachers and officers numbered 25; average attendance, 20. New classes had bean formed during tho year, acd t<vo teachers gone in for the Methodist Sunday School examination with success. Thirteen scholar* com pet id in the Union examinations and eUv<n gained certificates, The report concluded with an expression rf thfwltfj that tv nupaber ef the youngor poopln had during tbe year identified tbemselvse with Christian work, and urged that all'people should encourage the attendance o? the children at the 3iwday spjaqql, The balance-sheet showed the principal items of expenditure to have baen;—Debit last year, £ll Is 10); prices, ££ 8s; advertising, i) 3 14s 6d ; Sunday School Union, 418 14s 91; library bipoka and cards, £5 12s 6d ; Home mission, £5 8« Id; piano, £3O ; miscellaneous, £lO 19j 7d. Income: Collections), £4O 18s 3d; from country school?, £ls lis lid; o'her sources, £4 3s. There was thus a debit balance this year of £24 6s Id.

, Mr. O. Carter, superintendent, then l presented silver . medals to Misses i Ethel Chattertoa and Mabel Stent, | and Qordqe Carter and ijidney t Griffiths, for the highest number of j marks obtained in class work during i tho year, In making the piesentai tions, Mr. Carter said that though tho school had nob progressed in numbe>s, it had been most successful in itt worki icigs, ap.d had now a brighter outlook ; than for many years past. Ho urged all present to do everything possible to help tie work of the school and to show an interest ju s}e yewng people's welfare. A large number of prizes were then presented to the small children by the Rev. W. Cannell, who made a few remarks of advice and encouragement to bach recipient. Rev. Serpell then called upon three of the scholars, Misses Nellie Oollis, Ethel Chattorton, and Mtbel Stout to , present a framed photograph of the school and groups to Mr, Edward Okey, sen., who had rendered fofty years'ser--1 vce. Miss Nellie Collis made the presentation in a few well-choaea words. Mr. Whittaker then presented an illuminated address io Mr. Okey on behalf of the church and congregation. Mr. Whittaker referred in highly eulogistic terms to the good influence which Mr, Okey had exerted among the young people of the church. The address reid as follows: - | To Mr. Edwakd Ok by, ' Dear Sir,—We, the congregation worshipping at the Whitsley Mem irial Church, unanimously wishful to voici ! our esteem for you as on honoured worker in Methodism, request your acceptance of this addn s« as a token of our respect and love. Permit us to e sprees our sense of 'indebtedness ti you, as one who has watched the progr<B3 of our church from'its infancy, jjver ready with unstinting and faithful Ferviee, you hivo worthily occupied nearly every office opened to hymen, while your practical, unassuming character as a business uian and a cit'z-n has expended a Christian influxicthroughout the community. Your counsel, co-operation, and generous aic), so willingly i end. red in every phase of God's work, hwe p a constant impetus and inspiration to your fellowworkers, and hivo won the grititudpuf those who hap been honoured by ngsociat'on with yoursjlf. Thaukfu' that yau have been spired to ua so hr,g, and rejoicing with jou that your childion and grand children are bo intimately connected with our church and its activities, wo desire, deir Father Okey, to expre>B our earnest heps that there are yet for you many years of service for the Master, and pray that to yoursslf and Mrs. Okey may be abundantly fulfilled the promise, " At Eventide ir. shall be light." (S'gned) S. J. Serpell, (Supjrin'endent minister), J. Whittakek, 1 , I j.T, White, } BtßWftrtJs ' W. A. Collis, Sec. of the Chuiph Tn:pt, C. CARTfjH, School B'jpe-intenden', A, Gray, Seoreisry of Choir. R*v. Sorpell p.dded a few woid;> of (ouimendatiou of the conduct of Mx\ Okey during many years pis 1 , both in church life and ns n citizen of the town, c Mr. N. K. M Diarrnid also spake of « the high fs eem it. which Mr. Okey, J vras held thrsughoat the town and dis-' I

trict, and congratulated him on his position in the Wesley an Church. Mr, Okay very briefly thanked the congregation for its presentation, which had been quite unexpected. He gave a snort outline of the beginning and early life of the church and school in New Plymouth, and resumed hia seat amidst applause. [The address was the work of Mr. Lee, of Mr. J. Hooker's staff ; and the photograph was the joint production of Messrs. W. A. Collis and H. White.] Tho Kev. Serpdl then addressed a few words lo the meeting, and mide eome observations particularly interesting to the Sunday School teachers. He sp.jke of the need of mare young men and women of the congregation joining in the oonduct of sohosl work. Mr. 0. Carter moved a hearty vote of thanks to all who had assisted in various ways, and the meeting claeed with the pronouncing of the Benediction. During the evening vocal items and hymns were given by a choir of children and an orchestra cansisting of Miss Collis (organ), Miss Ford (piano), Miss Chattertan and Mr. Arnold (violin), Mr. Rignll (flute), Mr. H. Cottier (cornet), and Mr. N. Okay ('cello), unJer the conductorship of Mr. Herbett White. Miss Mary Roberts and Masters Reid and Cannell were the soloists in the vocal numbers.