LAWRENCE WESLEYEN SABBATH SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 140, 13 October 1870, Page 6

LAWRENCE WESLEY EN SABBATH SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY.

The anniversary of the Lawrence Wesleyan Sabbath School was celebrated by a tea and public meeting on Tuesday the 4th instant. The chapel was crowded to excess, notwithstanding the threatening nature of the "weather. The tea, which was provided out of the general funds, was an abundant one. The company was an extremely social one, and, being a Sunday school anniversary, was properly distinguished by a large number of children. After the tables were cleared, the Bey. Mr. Keall, circuit minister, who occupied the chair, made a few remarks ; after which, one of the hymns, specially printed for the occasion, was sung. lie then called the secretary, Mr. Coverlid, to read the report, from which we glean the following particulars : — The Sabbath school is, upon the whole, in a healthy and rising state. Begulations had been adopted and printed, a copy of which had been given to each teacher. The school bad been conducted during the past nine months on 36 Sabbaths out of 39 — three having been lost through rain and flood. The average attendance had been 41. The school was conducted by eight teachers, a superintendent, and a secretary, and occasionally some extra assistance. During the nine months 5,124 verses had been committed to memory by the scholars. Bewards were given yeai'ly based upon the number of verses committed to memory, the attendance, and behaviour. Tho report attributed the want of punctuality in attendance to the parents not sympathising sufficiently with the work. The Bey. Chairman then addressed the meeting, commenting firstly upon the report. He considered the basis on which rewards were given a good one. He gave the teachers credit for working hard, and hoped the parents would co-operate more heartily with them than they had been doing, and send their children regularly and punctually. He then read the following interesting statistics of the Wesleyan Sabbath Schools in England. At the Conference held there in 1869, the following showed the numerical strength of the schools in England :— Schools, 5,328 ; scholars, 601,801; teachers, &c, 103,441; members ordeal, 77,050. At the Now Zealand Conference held this year the numerical strength of the Sabbath schools for the three divisions was as follows :

or an average of 61 scholars to each school. The Lawrence circuit at last Conference showed 4 schools, 133 scholars, 20 teachers and officers,, or an average of 33 scholars to each school, which he regretted was too far under the general average. The rev. gentleman, spoke highly in commendation of Sabbath schools, which, he gaid, were merely intended as an assistance to parents in the instruction of their children, and by no means intended to relieve them of their responsibilities. Mr. Bioxham, on being asked to address the meeting, said that although the average of the attendance at the

schools in the Lawrence circuit was below the mark, he had no doubt before long the attendance would be improved. If they looked over the columns of the Tuapeka Times, under the heading of " Births," they would find a good sprinkling of Methodists amongst them. Mr. Bloxhain then referred to the great benefits Sabbath schools were to a community. He said all his spiritual enjoyments had been received at the Sabbath school, and he stood forth a monument of their instrumentality. The speaker enlarged upon the benefits of those institutions, and in an eloquent address concluded by expressing his conviction that these institutions were calculated to make good subjects and good servants of the Lord. The Chairman then told a very interesting tale for the encouragement of teachers, which proved the truth of the scriptural quotation, " Cast your bread upon the waters, and it will appear in many days." A hymn was then sung, after which Mr." Gilbert, of Balclutha, delivered an excellent address to the children on tho power of littles. He quoted often, and very appropriately, from " John Ploughman," and thoroughly captivated the attention of the children by his simple and telling address — such an address, indeed, as we very seldom hear delivered to the young.

The Chairman here stated he had forgotten to mention sooner that an apology had been received from Dr. Copland, who would have been with them had some pressing engagements not called him away.

After another hymn was sung, The Bey. Mr. Menzies addressed the meeting. He congratulated them upon the report, and was pleased with the mixture of singing which had been

introduced. He considered it an improvement on the general style of soirees. He was pleased with Mr. Gilbert's address on the philosophy of small things, which showed that the smallest effect was not lost. No person could tell t'-e result or influence of any act, and there is no telling where their influence might be felt. Mr. Menzies took as his text Home Influences, and illustrated his remarks by referring to the influences on John Newton of the eai'ly training of his mother, who did not spare to teach him in the paths of righteousness. As a young man he grew up quite a profligate, but in after years he was arrested in his course by a casual reading of the Bible, which portrayed to him his heart, and revived the early teachings he received from his mother. Mr. Menzies then traced the influence which the writings of John Newton had upon Claudius Buchanan, an East Indian Missionary, and how a book of Buchanans influenced Dr. Judson, and so on down to the present day. He also showed how Newton's influence was exerted on AVilberforee, whose " Practical Christianity " again was the means of converting Leigh Bichmond. The mother of the celebrated St. Augustine was a very pious woman, and he, like Newton, was very dissolute in bis youth. His mother was noted for her importunate prayers on his behalf, and one day, observing her anxiety because of her son's wickedness, was comforted by the priest, who told her that "the son of a mother of so many prayers could not be lost," and such really was the case, for x^ugustine lived to be an ornament to the church. So the good effects of an early religious education are carried down to be a blessing to posterity.

A concluding hymn was sung, and after a few remarks by Mr. Keall, and a vote of thanks to all those friends who had given any assistance at the tea meeting, had been passed, the benediction was pronounced, and the meeting dispersed.

forth liddle South Schools ... 40 ... 14 ... 38 Scholars 1859 1185 2574 Teachers & Officers. ... 213 ... 173 ... 360