Sunday School Anniversary.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4357, 18 December 1882, Page 2

Sunday School Anniversary.

The anniversary of the Primitive Methodist Sunday School wlTat;celebrated yesterday by special services.' The attendance in the morning was fair, th,e Rev; T. Buddie occupying the pulpit He chose as his text paitf of the 22nd verse of Genesis, 42nd chapter—"Do not sin against the child." After referring to the case of Joseph, and pointing out that' our. sins are sure to find us out, even though it may not be for many years after they were committed, he spoke on the "responsibility resting on parents to give their children an education which would fit them not only for this life but for that beyond the grave, Few parents realised this responsibility, especially with reference to religion, and too many Only thought it necessary to' instil into the minds of their offspring the lessons likely to serve them in this life,, forgetting that at most they could live here but a short time compared with the eternity which

was to follow. Then the question arose—* Who was to teach the child his or her position in relation to God and Christ's work p This was first the duty of the parents, afterwards the Sunday School teacher. He thoroughly agreed with the .present system of public schools, with the exception that he thought they should not shut out the Bible. All agreed that it was right to teach the moral virtues enjoined by the Bible, yet they would not admit the Word itself. There were certainly difficulties in the way of its admission into the schools, but no parent could be excused for neglecting the teaching of its great truths at home. Parents also sinned against their children by not training them aright, by not keeping their lives in conformity with their teaching, and giving them too much of a merely Spartan education—one that would, ofily fit them for hardihood and toil. After ; deprecating the little attention that was ' paid to infant baptism, he concluded by .' exhorting all.parents to start their chil- ! dren in life aright. Tho afternoon service , was well attended. The Rev. C. ' E. Barley gave a short address to': the scholars on "The Bible," and a number of the scholars then gave recitations, dialogues, &c, in a very creditable manner. The most noticeable of these was an address from the scholars' to teachers and friends recited by Master Balcke. . The Rev. Mr Barley preached . in the evening to a large 1 congregation. The choir sang special hymns at all the services, Master Bennett accompanying on . the _jiarrr|nnJHgl and Vfr 3?g^-&gthhta on - the cornet. The usual soiree and public meeting will be held tonight.; '