WINCHESTER SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2058, 12 June 1890, Page 2

WINCHESTER SUNDAY SCHOOL.

On last Monday afternoon, at 3 o’clock, tlie Sunday School in connection with St. John’s Church, -Winchester—the gift of Mr H. J. Gladstone—was formally opened by His Lordship the Bishop of Christchurch. The school is a really handsome and well-constructed building. It is 46 feet long by 23 feet wide, and 24 feet from floor to - apex, with a porch about 10 feet square. It is lighted by three large windows on either side, and one in the porch. An idea which we have never noticed before has been carried out with regard to these windows. Every pane is.double, and the frosting is put on between the two, glasses, so that it will be impossible to scrape it off. The studs of the buildings which are all wood, jafe nearly 14 feet, and the inside. is finished, and varnished, fhe seating accommodation, which is the gift of Mr E. Smith,, is,also excellent, and on the whole -it -is an . ornament to Winchester, and an infinite credit to the donor of it. In' the foundation of the porch is a table bearing the following inscription : “ Ad gloriam Dei, H. j. Gladstone, 20 Jan., 1890.” Precisely at 3 o’clock last Monday afternoon a large number of school children and their parents and friends collected in this building to witness the formal opening of it by the Bishop. On the platform with the Bishop were the Reys. T. A. Hamilton and J. Preston, and Messrs H. J. Gladstone, W. Deßenzy, and a. W. Ensor.

After the singing of a hymn 1 the Rev. T.'A. Hbmiltbri said they all knew their object in meeting was to witness the formal opening of their school by the Bishon. The building had a special interest, as it ,was to.be dedicated to training the young, and used for parish .meetings, and it was with feelings of deepest gratitude to Mr Gladstone that he now acknowledged his generous gift. In Church matters they could not do justice to themselves if their machinery was not' perfect and in full working order, and now he felt glad they had a resting place for the young, and a room to meet in for parish business They owed a debt of gratitude ;to Mr, Gladstone which could not be expressed in words, and to Mr Robert. Smith also they were deeply indebted for the seating accommodation, and the tea which would be served out presently. Mr Smith would have, been glad to have been present, but, as they all knew, he had left for Kngland and could not have helped it. He would now call upon Mr Gladstone to ask the Bishop to open the school. !

Mr Gladstone, who was received with great applause, said he could not find words to express his gratitude to' them for such a reception, of to their esteemed Incumbent, for the manner in which he had spoken of him. As a member of the Church he , thought it his duty to erect the school to the glory of God, so that the young might be taught the truths of the Gospel, He hoped that in due course of time the parents of the children would realise the truth of the maxim to bring up their children in the way they should go. He then handed the deeds of the land and the key of the school to the Bishop and asked him to declare the school open, His Lordship on coming forward received quite an ovation, and said he had great pleasure in complying with the request of Mr Gladstone, and declared the school open for the greater glory of God, for pariah meetings, and for the Sunday School. As Bishop of the diocese he begged to thank Mr Gladstone for his noble and generous gift, and he would assure liim that he would have the thanks of the whole diocese for it. He wished good work of this kind should be known, and that others would follow the example set them. The building was admirably adapted for the purpose for which it was intended, and it was a pleasure to know that it had

not been the result of a miserable bazaar. Pie hoped others would do similar work while they lived, and not i wait until they were dead, so that they might see, and enjoy it like Mr Gladstone. God grant that he may live long and enjoy the pleasure of knowing that he had done much for the service of his Master. The room was for the children, and under existing circumstances he could not exaggerate the value of it. It was too late now to complain of religion being driven out of their shools; it was the fault of the Churches that this had happened, for if they had taken a firm stand in the beginning it would not have been so. They may yet get it back, but, meantime it was their duty to train the young in the first principles of the truth of the Gospel. Mr Gladstone had done more than all their protests, in establishing that school, and thus had set an excellent example. The school would also be used for seniors classes, for mothers meetings and parish greetings, for tea drinking and talk, which went so well together. As an old minister, who had charge of many parishes in many lands, he coqld assure them this was a great work, and that the day would come when Mr Gladstone would see his grand work bearing fruit. He then made a touching appeal in simple, but telling language, to the children to profit by what Mr Gladstone had done for them, and told them there was no part of the Scriptures he know so well as that which he had learned when he was a boy. This was the great reason why he 1

valued Sunday Schools so much. He again thankedMr Gladstone and Mr Smith for their generous gifts. The Rev. Mr Hamilton then called upon Mr Gimson to read an address to His Lordship. ,V =/ ' the address. Mr C. W. Gimson then ascended the platform and asked the Rev. Mr Hamilton to read the address, which he did as follows : To the Bight Reverend Churchill Julius, Lord B shop of Christchurch.

We, the-undersigned inhabitants of the Winchester district, desire to - ’heartily welcome Your Lordship. and 4o tender our - congratulations upon yuur e'evation-to the Episcopal bench of New Zealand.'< sUpon this, the occasion- of th’e formal opening of the iew Sunday-School and Parish Room by Your Lordship,">,wa wislf't'o express our lasting obligations lo a Mr IT. J. Gladstone- for ids splendid benefactions to t tie Church, and especially in caring for our youth and chi dren by the gift' Df this room for education and parochial purposes. We also gratefully recognise ’ his services as Lay-rc-ader as being most acceptable to us, as enkbl ng the services of the Church to be regalarly k» pt upi in a radah : efficient ‘ manner. In token of our appreciation of Mr GI idstone’s efforts for the we'fara'f’of - the Church And. distinct, we. beg, to subscribe ou'rselvcs, 'his ninth day of : -June, in the year of Our Lord one> thousand eight hundred and ninety,—William Deßer.zy, A V W. Ensor, 0. W. Gimson, J. A- Young, C.iTryhgroye, C. Taylor,; AdamyßaiJl'% vV. Carbton, Wm. Philp, W- C. Birritt, J; hn Philp, James Frirea, Henry E. Smith, Dayfd Louden, J. Curtis, W. Shallardi, J. Haar, Mrs J. Q. Hart, Anriie Hart, VVilham Page, Edwin Moss; E Moor?, W. Harrison, S. Pepperi'l, B. Chiverson, Mclntosh, Aitken, J. Cripps. His' Lorship said this was more: of an address to Mr Gladstone, but he was so bashful that he . could., not induce him to reply ,to it. Od ' His own and Mr Gladstone’s part he thanked them from the bottom of his heart.

PRESENTATION. Mr W, Deßenzy then handed His Lordship a. watch and chain, and asked him to nresent them to Miss Gimson in token of the esteem in which she was held by the congregation, and in recognition of her services as. organiste of the „Church. Since Miss Gimson took charge*of the prgan they had never been without music, and the thanks of the congregation were due to her. C j His Lordship said he had great pleasure in handing Miss Gimson these tokens of the estimation in which she was held, and he would accompany them with his own thanks for the services she was rendering the Church. It was of great advantage to the Church that she possessed the gift of being able to play, and that ■she was 'willing to exercise it. ■ s 7 >

The Rev. Mr Hamilton .returned thanks on behalf of Miss Gimson. The thought of making the presentation originated with Mr Deßenzy. The Prizes. ' The Bishop then distributed the Sunday school prizes (which consisted of splendid books, Bibles, and Prayer Books) as follows: ’ , LESSON MARKS. Boys —lst Class: Samuel Shallard, 1; Walter Hawke, 2; Arthur Hawke, 8. 2nd Class: Willie Gimson, 1; Joseph Shallard, 2 ; John Philp, 3. 3rd Class: Charles Gimson, 1; John Cripps, 2; Francis Donnithorne, 3. 4th Class: Henry Ddnnithocnej 1; George Taylor, 2; Strebley Donnithorne, 3.

Gibes— lst Class : Sarah Cripps, 1; Florence Moore, 2; Mary Wilks, 3. 2nd Class: Maud Moore,!; Harriet Cripps; 2 ; Ada Cripps, 3. 3rd Class: Emma BailUe, 1; Elizabeth Trengruve, 1 ■ P, Lcella Trengrove, 3. . .. . 4th Class : Emma Bailhe and Grace Baillio, equal, 1; Edith, ! reugrovej 2. ATTENDANCE Boys—lst Class: Samuel Shallard, Walter Hawke, \rthur Hawke, and James Moore, equal, I 2nd Glass; John Philp, . Charles Wilks and Wiliam Gimsou, equal, 1. 3rd Class; Cuarles Gimson, Francis Donnithorne and John Cripps, equal,!. 4th Class, George Taylor and Henry Donnithorne, equal, 1; Strebley Donriitborne, 2. Gibes— lst Class: Florence Moire and Mary Wilks, equal, 1: Sarah Cripps, 2. 2nd Class: Maud Moore and Maud Philp, equal, 1 (special prize presented by Mrs H. Smith); Harriet Cripps, 2. 3rd Class— Emma Baillie, 1; Eliza Taylor, 2 ; Elizabeth Trengrove, 3. 4th Class : Louisa Bail lie and Grace equal, 1 ; Lena Barfatt, 2. The Bishop, in giving , away the prizes, accompanied each with most amusing remarks, and kept the audience in roars of laughter, ’ Hymn 293 having been sung, and the benediction pronounced by the Bishop, the room was cleared, and in a very short time it was transformed into a dining-room. The viands were abundant and excellent, and large numbers sat down to tea, the tables being presided over by Mesdames H; E. Smith, Gimson, Hart, Curtis, Moore, and Messrs Gimson (2), Haft, Shallard, and Klee. After grace had been said by the Bishop operations were commenced, and the juveniles were very soon at work with a will. After having thoroughly enjoyed themselves the proceedings came to a close about 5 o’clock. Messrs Gimsou, H, E, Smith, and Stewart deserve credit for the way they worked during the evening.. 5