KNOX SUNDAY SCHOOL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 August 1939, Page 6

KNOX SUNDAY SCHOOL

THANKSGIVING & COMMUNION

SERVICE YESTERDAY.

ADDRESS BY REV. JOHN DAVIE,

The lirst of a series of meetings in con uect ion with I Ik> opening- of 1 lie new building al Knox (’liureli was held yesterday, when the congregation met for 1 liuiiksg-iving and communion. The cliuri-li was crowded, and ihe service was an impressive one. An address was given by the Rev John Davie.

“You will remember that on March 9 or last year our Sunday School was burnt to the ground and on the following Sunday. March 13. Communion Sunday, while offering you my sympathy I outlined what I thought should be our policy and objective." said Mr Davie. “I am thankful that your session and managers, certainly not without considerable thought, anxiety and misgivings, consented to undertake the building of the Sunday School and Bible Class block which is now so near completion and which is to be opened on Wednesday next at 7.30 p.m. Confronting your managers, there were many problems governed largely by what*they thought were the congregations need and financial strength. Had it been possible to have built portions of the building which would have been adequate and economical, I believe your managers would have adopted that course. After many meetings and long arduous discussions it was ultimately agreed to go on with the whole scheme. There are still some people who think the place is too grand and too big. As to its grandeur there can be no place too grand to dedicate to God and His work. There are people who build adequate and beautiful homes for themselves who grudge making the Hou=e of God beautiful. I am not one of them. As to its being too big. do you realise that a census taken in the winter time reveals that we have 272 children in our Sunday School and about 100 young people in our Bible classes. Events have proved that your managers decided wisely to complete the whole scheme, because not only has the congregation shown by its generosity that it was 100 per cent behind the decision of the managers, but it is evident that had any part not been incorporated in the plan it would not be built insideQhe next 10 years. The arrangement of the rooms and -their equipment also gave your managers much thought, when you have an opportunity to look round the building you will see that every consideration was given to efficiency, comfort and economy. MAGNIFICENT RESPONSE. “During the whole of the period from the date of the fire until today, efforts have been made to secure adequate funds so that the building should be opened free of debt. I would have been very disappointed had there been a heavy debt which would drain the resources of the congregation. The response made to my appeal has been magnificent. I remember as a boy hearing my father and other elders in the Timaru Church discussing the matter of church-building, and one of them said it was a good job that they were a generation of church-builders, because the next generation would not do much at it. This response on your part has given the lie to that prognostication. I want to say here that I congratulate you most heartily on your efforts and to say further that I cannot find words which will adequately express my gratitude and thanks to you, the members and adherents of this congregation, and to my personal friends outside this congregation who have so generously provided the funds which have enabled us to build such a commodious and suitable place to house our Bible classes and Sunday School. The structure as you know is of ferroconcrete and brick, and as far as has been humanly possible, it has been made earthquake-proof, fire proof, and, we hope, debt proof. Already one man of vision has told me he is making an endowment to the Sunday School which will provide for all time a certain amount of money to help to run the Sunday School. He, with others, realises that to have completed the building is not the end but the beginning of our endeavour. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. “Tire greatest work any congregation accomplishes is the work among the youth of the church; the instilling into the minds of our children right ideas and right ideals, teaching them the laws of God, initiating them into conscious experience of His providence and love, rooting and grounding them in the conviction that in obedience to God's law is to be found the only road to unity, stability and salvation, and getting them to appreciate that Christianity is not a religion of getting but of giving, pot of being ministered to but of serving. The destiny of the future is in the education given to our children, the hope of the future in Christian education. Judges and magistrates as well as preachers of the Gospel are calling people back to the principles and teachings of Christianity. The only organisation which teaches moral obligations and religious sanctions is flie Christian Church. This teaching, alas, has been allowed to full into decay, with the result that the amount of lawlessness and crime is appalling. The number of youths charged with serious offences not only creates a very serious situation but constitutes a striking challenge to all Christian men and women. The task of youth-direction is becoming increasingly heavy and important. the church must accept the challenge of the widespread paganism of our age and today as we stand at the point where our outward equipment is almost complete I make my appeal to you. MR DAVIE’S APPEAL. “First 1 appeal to the Christians ol this congregation to re-consecrate yourselves to the cause of Jesus Christ while there are many tilings for which I must commend you. if 1 am to be a faithful minister of Christ, J must point out your lack of loyalty to the services of God’s House if you look around this congregation any Sunday morning you will find a congregation ol' young people. Where are the fathers and moth-1 ers of these young people? Do you' expect that your children will continue I to frequent God’s House while you | frequent the places of amusement or : ol indolence? As surely as you neglect your Christian duties, and absent yourselves from worship so surely will your children follow your example uid become more pagan than you are yourselves. No matter how incompetent or ■

unworlh.y your minister may be. that is not ini adequate reason lor del'anlt in regard to your duly to God. It is not easy for me to have to speak Io you in these terms, bill I must do so. It breaks my heart to think that many of th.c communicants of this congregation are here only on Communion Sundays. Ask yourselves what answer you will give to God when you have to give ;m account of how you have used the privileges and opportunities of the Lord’s day and His House. It is a very serious mailer.

"Secondly 1 appeal to I'nc parents to avail yourselves of the advantages and privileges of the Christian cdueai icn we can give to your children. Send them regularly and punctually, see that they have their home lessons prepared, encourage them in (-very way possible io identify themselves with Christian organisations and Christian principles. "Thirdly I appeal io all Christian workers io redediealo themselves, and to these who should be Christian workers and are not. to dedicate themselves to ihc work of God. We have at ih.c moment 272 children in our Sunday School and about K!0 young people in our Bible ch >:-es. u> provide teachers and loaders for these young people' no mean task. We want you to volunteer for service, you would be work!’: ; under ideal conditions, the smaller the classes the more cifeciive the teaching. I appeal *•> you today to come io < ur assistance. On March 13. 1938 I made an appeal to you for funds to build the Sunday School. Today. August 13. I!.’J9. 1 appeal to you for three things: di Loyalty to God and His cause: •”) that parents will see that there is not : single child in Masicrtoii that 1.; •• - lirivcd of the training the Sunda.v School can give, and (2> that volunteers for active Christian service should enrol forthwith.”