Anniversary Soiree.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4347, 6 December 1882, Page 3

Anniversary Soiree.

The fourteenth anniversary of the Shortland Wesley an Sunday School was celebrated last evening by a soiree and public meeting. There was a good attendance, the Eey. H. Bull occupying the chair at the meeting, which was opened in the usual way. The Secretary read the annual report and balance sheet as follows:—The number on our books are as follows.: Teachers, 19; average attendance morning, 4; afternoon 15. Scholars, 260; average attendance morning, 62; afternoon, 181. Our young men's and young women's classes have not been as well attended daring the latter portion of the year as we should have liked, but we look for improvement in this respect during the coming year. As our library is getting the worse for wear we intend devoting a portion of the proceeds from the present anniversary towards replenishing it. We have already obtained a new library case at a cost of £7, of which £6 were special donations. During the year we have introduced the Methodist Sunday School new,-hymn book, and find it very much' appreciated. Having to obtain , several hundred of these books it has , been an extra drain on our funds. You I

are already aware that having completed * the new school room we handed it over to the trustees for church purposes, believing that what was for the benefit of the church

would be for the Rood of the school. HXving'taken over the old church building as it then wa9, we proceeded to improve it by having it painted and varnished at a cost of about £25, which, has been paid almost wholly by special efforts made'for the purpose. In order to rais* funds for our school festival, on the 29th of next month, we held a Christmas tree from which we realised a net sum of over £20. The following is the balance-sheet for the year:—Receipts, December Ist, ]881: Credit balance at this date, £9 4s 9d ; nett proceeds last anniversary services and soiree, £24; donation towards

inaproTements, £7 8» 4d ; proceeds of two concerts, £17 9s 6d; gross proceeds Christmas tree, £22 lls lOd ; donations towards book case, £6 ; miscellaneous receipts, £3 10s 7d. Total, £90 ss.—Expenditure: Cost of festiral, 1882, £13 lls; Sunday School Union (periodicals, &c, and new . hymn books), £16 4s 2d ; improving interior of schoolroom, £2414s 6d; expenses concert and Christmas tree, £4 5s 6d ; bookcase for library, £7 ; sundry items of expenditure, £9 18s 3d.—Total, £75 13s sd.—Balance to credit, £14 lls 7d, which Will be absorbed in providing the next festival. In conclusion, while we rejoice

at our material success, we have to regret no apparent spiritual fruit has been reaped during the year; nevertheless we should not be discouraged, but continue to labor on with the assurance that the promise of God cannot fail, for He hath said, "My word shall not return unto Me void, but it snail accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." The following are the officers for the ensuing year: Mr Wm. Ashby, Superintendent ; Mr J. A. Miller, Secretary ; Mr John Nodder, Treasurer; Mr J. L Walton, Librarian; Mr Samuel Coad, Assistant Librarian ; Mr James Cocks, Visitor. Mr Miller proposed that the report be adopted, and Mr Henshaw seconded, encouraging teachers not to be weary or faint because they could not at once see the result of their labors, but to remember thai; God had promised to bless the work of spreading a knowledge of His Word. The resolution was carried by acclamation. The Rev. R. Laishley impressed upon his hearers the importance of parents storing the minds of their children with Scripture knowledge, and related an incident proving the truth of the text, " Cast thy bread upon the waters, and thoushalt find it after many days." The Rev. C. F. .Barley also spoke a few words, following the same, strain of thought as Mr Renshaw, and Mr Ashby, who followed, spoke on the valuable assis*. tance parents could give to Sunday School teachers by taking a little more interest in the work, and also upon the lasting influence of a mother's teaching to her children. The Rev. Mr Spence addressed himself ohiefly to the teachers, urging them to take a sanctified interest in each scholar, to be in sympathy with theirclasses, and to keep their lires in harmony with their 'teaching, for scholars were very quick at passing jndgment. Much good would also result if the teachers visited the scholars at home. The Rev. T. L. Davics followed with a short speech, and the meeting was brought to.a close by singing and the pronunciation of the Benediction.