Primitive Methodist Sunday School Anniversary Soiree.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2512, 24 January 1877, Page 2

Primitive Methodist Sunday School Anniversary Soiree.

This Sunday School hating reached the eighth year of its existence the event was celebrated by a soiree at the Methodist Chapel last night, and notwithstanding that the weather was rather unsettled a large number of children, their parents, friends and others -sat down to a plentiful tea, the ladies of the congregation presiding over the tables. The tables being cleared away Mr Manners, senior, took the chair, and inaugurated the proceedings by calling upon the Sunday. School - children to sing the hymn " Glory to God in the. highest." This done the.. Bey.; >W. Tinsley engaged in prayer, after which—

The Chairman said that the next thing was for him to give the opening address. He had seen an article in one of their magazines about a little girl attending a Sunday School who had gone to one of the revival services in America. The little girl, after what she heard, was concerned for her soul, nd she went home and began lo seek the Lord in earnest. In the story of the leper and the Saviour she had. noticed that the Saviour said, "I will, be thou clean';" he made no "if." She prayed to the Lord to cleanse her, and salvation was hers. That showed the keen discernment of Sunday School children. The chief end of Sunday Schools was to impress on the children a knowledge of the Saviour. Mr Manners, junr., then read the annual report of the Sunday School as follows:—

" We refrain from inflicting the usually lenpthy report given on such occasions, but have pleasure in submitting the following :—We declare the school to be prosperous and creditable, whether in regard to numbers, teachers, money or behavior. We liave 95 on the books, with an average of 63. The attendance of teachers is 10 in the morning and 13 in the afternoon, and we are happy to say they are all workers. One has been removed by death during the year— namely, Samuel Winter—and I may say when he took anything in hand he did it with all his mind, soul, and strength. Though we cannot hope to realise the the numbers and imposing effect/of some other schools, yet we each and all are laboring assiduously to accomplish the next best—to emulate and excel in the good we believe it is possible to acornplish. Mr Hudson having resigned the position of honorary secretary and treasurer to the Sunday School Union, we gladly bear testimony to his courteous demeanour and readiness to oblige, and .we heartily thank him for the labours performed on account of our school. But we are pleased, nay proud, of having a teacher capable and worthy of taking Mr Hudson's position, and I believe I "may say Mr Ahier is prepared to do all that in him lies to further the interests of the Union, and the schools individually. The monetary position of the school is as follow ;—Eeceipts—Last anniversary, £7 2s 7d ; Mr Bennett, 2s 6d ; Sir George Grey, 15s; library, £4 Is 3d ; books and magazines, £8 19s Id—£2o 15s Id. Expenditure—Festival expenses, 15s Id ] magazines and books, £8 15s Id; prizes, and other goods, £9 Id; material for platform, £1; cash, £1 4s 10d—£20 lib Id. We thank all our friends who 1*:-; presence and aid has been conducive i"< making this anniversary so successful in all respects, and we promise to use wisely and well the moneys intrusted to us for the coming year."

The adoption of the report was carried by applause. " Something for Jesus," another hymn by the children, was then sung in an effective manner.

Mr Pocock commented at some length on the various items* of the report.

Mr Britt, superintendent of the Sunday School, was then called on to address the meeting. He said he had often addressed an audience of children, but never one ofthe kind then before him, and if he made a mistake he hoped they would excuse him. He felt very like a young man who wanted very badly to preach, and when

he was in the pulpit he gave out the texfc, " I am the good shepherd," and could not get any further. He repeated the text over several times, evidently trying to remember some of his sermon. At last a smart Methodist, who was one of the congregation, said, "You had better come down and be one of the sheep." (Laughter.) Referring to the teachers he said what they had done they only considered their duty, but they had great difficulties to contend with. He did not want to give offence, but he must say (hat the majority of the parents of the children were unconverted, and they -took no interest in the school. They did not care what Sunday School their children went to, as long as they got them out of the way to have a snooze on Sunday afternoon. The children sang " Arrayed in Glory." Some of the children then recited. pieces, a little boy named Arthur Bennett and a little girl named Annie Sincock especially distinguishing themselves. The Rev. J. T. Hinton said he experienced considerable pleasure at being present to offer his Christian greeting to them. He had been looking, over the report and was pleased to see that though they had only 95 children on the roll and an average attendance of 63, yet they were trying to do the best for these children.- Before he came to the Thames he had never seen such large numbers of children congregated together. At the time of their last anniversary when he/ had addressed the children in the Presbyterian Church he felt overwhelmed at seeing such a sea of little faces all looking up at him. Though it was pleasant to see such a lot of faces, yet it was not the thing' needful. A large 'badly conducted school was just a moral waste. Though they had only ICJ children these children would be the men and women of the next generation. . What they were imbibing now they would remember in after years. He congratulated them, and exhorted them to expect great things of the Lord. The Rev. W. Tinsley was next called on to address the meeting. He said, as the other speakers'' remarks had been brief his would be so too. He was pleased iat being present, and he had been gratified at the tone of the services that had been held. He was gratified to find the school in such a prosperous state.- He then delivered an earnest address to the teachers.

: Mr Renshaw, president of the Sunday School Union, also addressed the meeting, after which the meeting terminated as it began, by singing and,prayer.