STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 215, 1 April 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

I From Our llesid-. ut Reporter. ( Oflice: .Next l.i'.u & .'.iercatitile Agency SECTARIAN SCHOOLS A FALSE IMPRESSION. •■This is what you art; credited, Mr. -Masters, with saying: "That a Catholic child attending a Catholic school sliall have a, scholarship without being educated at the State school.' You are also credited with having opposed the right of a Catholic child to take a scholarship and hold it at a Catholic College." This was a, remark made yesterday to Air. Robert Masters, member of the Education Board of Taranaki. by a wellknown resident of the town. The Daily News reporter was present at the time, and when Mr. Masters had referred the other gentleman to the report of the Education Board meeting appearing in the Daily News file of January 23 last, he had a conversation on the matter, with a view of clearing the atmosphere. Tt should be mentioned (hat the third partv went away perfectly satisfied that Mr. Masters, instead of being opposed to Catholic Schools, was in favor of Catholic children being given every facility—even greater facility than they have now—to obtain the best education possible. "I believe," said Mr. Ma iters, •'■' that people of every denomination should have the right to educate their children ! at any school they wish, whether sectarian or otherwise; and that any scholarship a boy or girl may be fortunate enough to win should be tenable at any college. But I am further of opinion that part of the grants made to the education boards should be spent in the examination of the sectarian colleges by the Hoards' inspectors, and to prove this, when a. request was made bv the Catholic High School at New Plymouth at the last meeting of the Board for a visit of the Board's inspectors, I moved that the request be granted. For several years past, the primary schools so I excellently conducted by the Roman Catholic Church have been inspected by ', the State inspectors, and I believe that this privilege should be extended to their secondary schools also." ! | THE HALF-HOLIDAY The Retailers' Association will discuss the half-holiday question to-night. All j retailers, members of the Association or | otherwise, are invited to attend and take part, in the discussion. As far as can be ascertained, the tradesmen of' the town arc opposed to the change I from Thursday to Saturday, principally j becav.se there is no guarantee that the oilier towns along the railway line will 1 adopt it. Bnt the tradesmen are not ! ebb' to dictate the half-holiday, for the 1 matter will be submitted to a poll of I he electors. As every person over 21; •■ears of age is entitled to a vote it will', be seen that, those interested in ath- J letics ean, if they organise, carry the poll. Possibly, when the matter is discussed and fully reported, it will be more j seriously considered by the bulk of the j electors than it is at present. ' THE MINISTERIAL VISIT | [ The banquet to the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Public Works on : I Wednesday evening 7>romises to be very ' I .largely attended, and it is hoped the ! gathering will be representative of all | shades of political opinion to do honor to the Prime Minister and his colleague,' who occupy the highest positions it is in the power of the people of New Zealand to bestow. Mrs. Brooking, whose reputation for, catering is well known throughout the province, is in i l charge of the commissariat, so nothing j need be feared on that score. The toast I list will be handled by the best speak-1 ers obtainable. Tickets can be obtained j from Mr. J. B. Richards, secretary. It should bn noted that the banquet is J tendered bv the Borough and. County Councils and the Chamber of Commerce. PERSONAL Captain Lampen left yesterday for Palmerston North. Dr. ITutson, a Stratford High School ''old boy," left for Taihaue on 'Monday j morning. TTe has been offered the posi- | tion of medical superintendent of the j Taihape Hospital. Mr. C. .7. McKonzic left yesterday morning for Wellington to take up his j new duties as inspecting engineer in the } Public Works Department. Mr. A. Coleman has been elected to the committee of the Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Society of Accountants. METHODIST UNION On Sunday the Methodist Church of New Zealand and the Primitive Methodist Church of New Zealand were, as far as Stratford is concerned, actually merged into one. The services through- { out the day were very largely attended, and the members and adherents of the hitherto separate sects mingled freely, giving every reason to predict a happy union. The Rev. B. Metson preached to the united congregation at Wesley Church in the morning, and the sermon was notable as being bis farewell utterances to Stratford. His lesson was drawn from the Acts of the Apostles, and he quoted as his text verse 2fi, eh. xi.: "And the disciples were called Christians for the first time at Antioch." The name of the Christian, said the preacher, bound us together more closely than any denominational tie; more should be taught of our unites than our differences, and less should be thought of the incidentals than the fundamentals. In the United Church it must he the endeavor of McLhodists to be Christians above all things, and there should be no desire to put the mime of Methodist above the name of Christian. The name "Christian" implied a serious task; it imposed a life-long devotion to our Lord. But Christian life must be known by its fruits. Tn the world to-day, there were four types of Christians —the ''minimum Christian," wdio would reach Heaven as cheaply as possible; the "speculative" or "theoretical Christian." good at talking at meetings, though his talk was as the chattering of magpies; the "narrow-minded Christian."' and the "surrendered Christian," who gave all there was of him to Christ. In'the United Church no minimum Christian?, no theoretical Christians, and no narrow-minded Christians should find a place. Tn the afternoon the children of the United Sunday Schools walked in procession, headed by the Stratford Municipal Brass Band, from the Broadway Church, via Broadway and Juliet street central, to Wesley Church, the home of the united school for the present. The evening service, at Broadway Church, was conducted by the Rev. A. Reader, senior minister in the Stratford circuit, assisted by the Rev. Metson. The sermon was based on the gospel of St. John, chapter 17. verse 21: "That they all mav be one as Thou Father are in me, and in Thee, that they may be one in Us that the world may believe that Thou hast sent me." The preacher addressed himself to the three ties mentioned in the passage—the tie which'

bound Jesus to his Father, the lie wind] j liountl tin l disciples to ,lcsus, and thr J lie. which bound ih;' disciples to caeli jollier. Tn tlic tie h ■'. ween Father and Son there was pence; rliytlim, Imniiony and concord: liie iii-ci]i!cs were bound to Christ by tlic same indissoluble love. In Hit* new church he hoped llrcsc ties would lie very stron,;;' and that the people would go forward, determined to lie characterised by the spirit of brotherhood and love. The choir rendered special music, and . Miss Cameron contributed a solo. There l'. was a gratifying response to the inviI tatioti to the celebration of llolv f'oni- - ninnioii at the close of the evening s-er- ) vice. t.