THE SUMMER SCHOOL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3080, 30 December 1908, Page 7

THE SUMMER SCHOOL.

Yesterday this gathering of Bible 'Class members continued their meetings in the Presbyterian Church. -After the regular morning devotional at which Mr H. Davies ■ spoke, the members met to hear ?paperson "The Junior Bible Class" byJWiss Stevenson and Mr W. A. "Cameron. Miss Stevenson introduced her subject by speaking of the methods -of attracting and retaining members. She advocated the use of an attractive class-room in which the members might arrange furniture and decorations to suit their own wishes. -'Speaking of the syllabus she urged the value of serial studies in order to give completeness to the work. The co-operative system of •class work was strongly supported in the paper. Miss Stevenson closed her address with a word concerning the r : necesnityfor the leaders taking an ■ active interest in every member. Mr Cameron pointed out that the Junior Bible Clasp system dropped the method of teaching which obtains in many Sunday Schools with regard to the Senior scholars even while the end desired to be reached was still the same. He urged the need of ■allowing the Junior Bible Classes to close their meeting apart from the Sunday School, and pointed out to those present the many ways in which it was possible to help members who were diffident to take part in the regular class meetings. Emphasis was laid upon the necessity of meeting in some church bu'lding even untie* real inconveniences, and pointed out the value of a class library. The paper concluded with a section upon the work and opportunities of the leader, and emphasised the need ■of self-sacrifice -in -this matter in view ot the great returns which would surely be reaped. At 11 o'clock the ladies went into the Sunday School Hall to hear an address on "The Ideal Bible Class Member" from Mrs McKen;zie. At the same time the men listen's ed to an excellent address by Rev. A, T. Thompsunon "What a Conv -gregation Should Do For Its Men." Illllliillfifiiw <om of neU, ill k iil methods were both inadequate and harmful because they attempted to meet changed conditions with old methods. 'iheunaccompliahed mission of the Church is to reconstruct -society upon a b?.sis of brother.hood. There was a far too limited •outlet for Christian activity. This had resulted in creating a class of Christians who had no "crucifixion material" in them. It was fatal to ' : give meu noihiag to do. The speaker referred to the Salvation Army, Y.M.C.A., Brocherhood movement, and other movements which gave men something to do, and pointed to '■the success which has attended them. He urged that'tne men must be given a vision of Empire. The Kingdom of •God wus universal and required men of dash and caring to extend it. Mr , ; r k Thompson urged the formation of T various committees—stranger's com- -* mittee, employment committee, civic committee—to take charge of various | departments of the Church's work. | The adcress closed with an exhortation to members to get out of the igroove—for a groove differed from a grave only in depth. Last Evening Rev. J. Pattison spfiktjon "Christ's Clarion Call to the Youth of To-day." Speaking from the incident in which Jesus called the Galibean fishermen to Him, the speaker pointed to the variety of ways in which Christ calls men to Him. But. he said, this call comes specially to young men and women. In later life it becomes increasingly hard to accept Him and His salvation. The question which faced those \ fishermen on Galilee was the walking "With or without J 3sus. That wax-, the question now. Christ called to service fir Him and for our fello..d, to the highest honour He can bestow.' .vThe speaker concluded with an earnJfest appeal to his hearers to respond V-as unhesitatingly as did the fishermen to the call of Christ. To-day the sessions of the school will conclude. After the devotional meeting Dr. Gibb, of Wellington, ' will speak on "Young People's Work j in Great Britain," and then specimen Bible classes are to be conducted by Miss Strang and Kev. G. H. Jupp. The members of the school go by special train to Carterton in the afternoon, where they are to be entertained at a garden party in Dr. Johnston's grounds, and in the evening Rev. J. Pattison will give the closing addre3d of the school on "Christ and Victory."