ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 192, 12 February 1912, Page 8

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

SUNDAY SOHOOL ANNIVERSARY. There were crowded congregations at the several services held in St. Andrew's Church yesterday in celebration of the Sunday School anniversary. At the morning serviee Jthe children occupied the centre of the ch'iijch. Special children's hymns were sung,' and a sermon appropriate to the occasion waß preached by the Rev. Roseveare. In the afternoon the annual distribution of prizes took place, and solos, a duet and a quartette were rendered by lady members of the choir. There was a speeial service for young people in the evening, the minister preaching on "Temptation of Youth." Special collections, were taken up at all the services for the Sunday School. A GOOD YEAR'S 'WORK.

In his annual report, which was read at the afternoon service, the superintendent of the Sunday School (Mr. N. K. MacDiarmid) stated:—

"As it is only right that parents and members of the congregation should know something of what the Sunday School is doing, I take this opportunity of making a few remarks upon the working of the Sunday School. But before proceeding to speak of the work of the past year, let me say that the school, as it is now constiuted, dates from January 1, 1893. A Sunday School existed prior to that date, I know, and good work was done by the Rev. Wm. Grant, the late Mrs. Bauchop, Mr. Thos. Brash and by one of the teachers now teaching in the school (I refer to Mr. James Sanderson), but we have no records prior to Ist January, 1893, on which date there were 24 scholars in the school. Since that date we have enrolled 1215 scholars, and the number attending this year is 152, with an average of about 100. Last Sabbath there were present 10*1. There are 16 teachers, all of whom attend very regularly. I am pleased to be able to report to parents that Mr. James Sanderson has. charge of the Junior Bible class, which meets on Sabbath' afternoons, and works in conjunction with the Sunday School. I have also the satisfaction of reporting that the infant department is entirely under Mrs. Ewing's care, while Mrs. Roseveare is in charge of the Cradle Roll department, a new and important departure in our Sunday School work. Respecting the attendance for the year just gone by, leaving out January, when the attendance' is always more or 1e39 broken by reason of scholars being away on holidays, there were 16 who never missed during the year. These receive a .first-class prize and a medal, inen there were 22 who missed not more than twice; these receive a secondclass pnze and a medal. There were a turther 23 who attended very well, but, who just missed obtaining a prize. These receive an attendance medal. For the Presbyterian Assembly's examination, 14 sat. One obtained 97 per cent in marks, another 98 per cent., another 85 per cent., and the others were below this. *ive take first-class prizes and certificates;.five take second-class certificates, and two take third-class certificates. For the Auckland SJ3. Union examination one takes a third-class certificate. One scholar (Dorothy Blanchard) to-day competes a twelve years' attendance at this Sunday School, having been enrolled on February 11, loqo, and a special prize is being presented to that scholar.