BISHOP JULIUS AT TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2291, 10 December 1891, Page 2

BISHOP JULIUS AT TEMUKA.

We continue our report of the proceedings in connection with the opening of the new Sunday School at Temuka : After the tea tables were removed, a work under the new arrangements very speedily done, the seating was re-arrahged and preparations made for the lecture, &c. The seats were speedily filled, and the entrance of the bishop, who was accompanied by the llevs. T. A. Hamilton, James Preston, and T. Jasper Smythe, was the signal for loud applause.

The Rev. T. A. Hamilton announced that the programme that evening would be a musical selection by Mr Inwood, some brief addresses from the clergy present, the distribution of diocesan certificates by the bishop, and the formal opening of the school, after which the bishop would deliver his lecture “ Outcast Loudon.”

Mr D. L. Imvood then played upon the organ “ Sound the Trumpets,” and was applauded.

The Rev, Mr Hamilton then delivered an address, in the course of which lie referred with thankfulness to the fact that they had at last a suitable building for a Sunday School. He spoke briefly upon the necessity for trained SundaySchool teachers, not so much to supersede as to supplement home training. He referred to the good done by the schools, but thought much more was still to be achieved. As a parish-room their building would be most valuable, and they would save at least £3O a year by it, The cost of the building was about £GO7, and the only debt upon it was £IBO. He was confident this would shortly be wiped out. Ho was glad to be able to say that since his arrival in the parish no less than £IOO a year had been paid off apart from the maintenance of the stipend fund. He had pleasure in returning thanks to all who had assisted in the work and to those ladies who had provided the eatables that evening. He also thanked Mr Harrison for his gift of tea. He felt the contractors were also deserving of special praise for the manner in which they had carried out their werk.

The Rev. Mr Preston, in the course of a brief address, congratulated them upon having acquired by their own exertions so substantial and convenient a building. He assured them they were doing the right thing in providing for tho religions training of their young, for when the Government of their country acted as it did, and banished the Bible from the schools, it behoved people with warm hearts to take the matter up. The clergy could not do it all, for in a district like his there were some ten or eleven schools, and other clergymen were similarly situated. They only had a short time allowed them, and had no control over the children. Mr Preston gave a few amusing experiences of his attempts at establishing Bible-classes in day schools, and concluded by again congratulating them upon the success qf their united efforts.

The Rev. T. Jasper Smythe also congratulated them. He had watched the building in course of erection, and could assure them that the contractors had put in very faithful work. Messrs Comer &

Larcombe had often worked for the Board of Education, and their work always gave satisfaction. There was no sign of " jerry " work about the building just completed, and the parishioners would have no grounds to refuse contributions towards clearing it upon the grounds that it was not worth the money. He assured them they had a very cheap building. Public schools when completed were estimated at about £3 per sitting. Their building he estimated cost £2 8s per sitting, and it was in every respect well finished. He prognosticated- an era of prosperity for South Canterbury. He calculated that the present harvest would yield on an average 15 bushels per acre over last serson, or an average of 5 bushels over ordinary years. Out of that they could afford to give a share for the glory of God. As to the religious question, he, as a member of the Board of Education, would never do anythiHg to weaken the system of national education, but he was as strong an advocate for religious education as anyone. Without it they could not hope to prosper as a country. The present system was not good without it were permeated with the Spirit of Life. Bishop Julius, who was loudly applauded, said he was not going to detain them very long. He had first to congratulate them upon having succeeded in erecting such a capital building, aud he could do so even more freely than the Revs. Smythe and Preston, for Mr Smythe wished he had it at Pleasant Point and Mr Preston wanted it for Geraldine, while he, as bishop x>f the diocese, had got it. He had been asked to present some certificates that evening won by scholars at the recent diocesan examination. Probably they were aware of the efforts they were making to systematise their Sunday School work. They hardly wanted an inspector, but they hoped to get him. There should be a regular syllabus for the schools and examinations of scholars and teachers. The synod were waking up to realise the value of religious education, and had granted an endowment to the Sunday Schools. This was a piece of land in Christchurch that could not be sold—• (laughter) they were not going to stop at that. The clergy intended next year to get a little ready money, and that would enable them to buy prizes, &c. He was sorry the- prizes- were not there that evening, the certificates were, however. The prizes would come later, and until then he would not reveal the names of the winners. He congratulated them upon the high position J Temuka held among the Sunday Schools, and then awarded the certificates to Mabel Wills, Nelly Fenton, Charles Opie, Grace Greaves, Edith Lee, and Johanna : Palmer. He then referred to the building, and said that it was a really good one, although built by contract. Evidently \ there were'soirie. >.gopd .contractors in the world, and.Temuka had a. .share of them. He was sure they would feel the comfort of the room in many ways. .Unfortunately it made their' church;;look; worse than ever. It really, was;. a. very shabby place, most disreputable. It was probably very good when first erected, but he hardly thought it. However, all they had to do was to build a new one, and he felt they would rally, as Temuka people always did, and have it up in no time. He would give them one word of advice : Their town did not admit of much extension except in the direction of Arowhenua, and he thought their new church should be somewhere nearer the railway line. There was always a difficulty about a church site, but people must look at it in a broad way and not want to have churches at their own doorsteps. He then, as bishop of the diocese, pronounced the building open for the service of God in the care of the little ones, and for Church purposes generally as long as it might stand. The address concluded, the bishop proceeded to deliver his lecture " Outcast London*" and kept the attention of his' audience fixed for over an hour. H« drew very realistic pictures of the struggle for existence among the " submerged tenth," and sketched very graphically the characteristics of London life. It was certainly the most interesting lecture ever given in Temuka. At its close the Doxology was sung, and the meeting terminated with the Benediction.