TEMUKA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1879, 16 April 1889, Page 2

TEMUKA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

\ A very interesting ceremony took place at the District High School, Temuka, yesterday afternoon, viz., the presentation of Jubilee Testaments to the scholars. It was arranged that the ministers of the several Protestant denominations should be present on the occasion, and shortly after three o’clock, the senior scholars to the number of about 120 being duly arranged. The Eev. T. A. Hamilton, as the ' oldest resident minister present, invited them to join in prayer with the Eer, Mr Bunn. He then stated that they were assembled that day to each receive a copy of the New Testament, the gift of the British and Foreign Book Society. The gift was in com--memoration of the Queen’s Jubilee* and each copy of the Testament contained Her Gracious Majesty’s autograph. The Society that presented , this had done much good, was estabT hshed in 1804, and it published about 9000 Bibles annually. The London Book Society, established on a similar basis, sent out 40 millions of Bibles in 60 years. The Testaments given that day were issued at the price of only one penny, and he contrasted this with the first Bibles printed, which, were thought cheap at £2O. Then they were kept chained in the churches, and people used to cluster to hear the precious Word read. Martin Luther had said that it was his high? est ambition to merely possess a copy of the Epistles, What -value then should they put upon the Testament as a whole, even if they only considered the actual labor and cost of printing. They must remember, however, that it was the Word of God, and that it, and it only, was the secret ot civilization and progress. The greatest of men acknowledged civilization’s debt to the influence of the Bible. The Queen herself had pointed it out to certain African, monarchs as the key to England’s greatness. With a few remarks relative to his own efforts in the direction of the establishment of Bible classes in schools, and also the general aim and utility of the Sunday Schools, the rev. gentleman concluded. -A,. The Eev. Mr Dickson had great pleasure in being present at the distribution of Testaments so generously

given by the Bible Society. The hooka were not much to look at, but they were the Word of God, the foundation of all secular and the source of all saving knowledge. The distribution was associated with the Queen’s Jubilee, and the Testaments contained the autograph of Her Majesty, and might be looked upon as a royal gift. She herself believed in the Bible. She read it in her own home, and it was her guide in discharging the duties of State. She carried it also to the homes of the and the bedside of the sick. might the tie that so happily bound this country to the mother land be strong and indissoluble, and might the time soon arrive when by beneficial rule and legislation all grumbling might be hushed, and Great Britain and Ireland and all the British colonies pursue common aims, propagate a common civilization, gather round a common Bible, honor the common King of Nations, and secure for the whole world the blessing of freedom, truth, righteousness, and national and religious peace. Edward VI. at his coronation was presented with three swords, indicative of his dominion over three empires. He asked for the Bible, the Sword of the Spirit, which govern those who used the sword for the government and protection of the people. That was a thought our governors might ponder over. They had attempted but could not exclude the Bible from the schools, It was in their histories, their chronologies, and Wesson books, even on the pennies that paid for their pens and in£. He hoped tojlive to see the day when the voice of the people would no longer be disregarded, but when the Bible would take its proper place as a text book, and lay the foundation of morality and love of God and their fellows, and thus enable them to play well their part in life. At the conclusion of another fifty years he trusted many would be living to say that they had the best system of education, the best teachers, and the most intellectual, spiritual, and happiest age the world had ever seen. The Rev Mr Bunn did not believe in detaining children long, a remembrance of certain teaching experience. He moreover could not add much to what the previous speakers bad said of the Testament. It was the flower of flowers, the light of lights, and the gift of God. Now it was a royal gift to them. He was pleased to see so many assembled that day to receive this gift, and more especially to witness their good behaviour. He would not keep them, hut asked their due appreciation of the gift that they would be reeeipients of that day, The Testaments were then distributed to the classes in order of ''"Seniority. The books were neatly hound m cloth, and bore on the fly-leaf the following inscription, a fa<t simile of Her Majesty’s handwriting,— “ On Earth peace goodwill towards men.” VicTOEii Reg. Windsor Castle, March 8,1887.