PRESBYTERIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2303, 25 May 1886, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL.

The anniversary of the Presbyterian Sunday School was celebrated yesterday with a tea at the Church, and was quite as much a success as on former occasions, The tables were supplied with an unlimited quantity of edibles from Messrs Ohamborlain Bros, baker', and »vere duly appreciated. After the bodily comforts had been attended to the tables were cleared and tho Church was opened for the meeting. The Rev. Mr Fulton occupied tlie chair, and was supported on the platform by tho Rnvs, J, fl. Buttle, J. Petersen, J. Johnston (of Petone) and Rogers, ■■

The Rov. J. N. Buttlo opened the proceedings with prayer. Tho Chairman said their first business that ovening was to receive the report and balanco sheet,, and he would call upon tho Secretary to road tho same. Mr A. Thompson, the Secretary, read the following report :

"Mr Chairman.—Again we are spared' to assemble hero to enjoy the luxuries of another of our Sunday School' Anniversaries. It is just about twenty years.ago sines Mr McGregor, our present superintendent, started the Presbyterian Sunday School in Masterton, and from that time up to the present it has gone on increasing, so that very often Mr McGregor is at a loss to know where to scat the large numbers of children that attend, Tho present number of children on tho roll is 150,' against 80 last year, and the average attendance 87 against &1 last year, This does not include an advanced class taught by Mr Scott and attended by about 1C youths and maidens, who, judging by their regular attendance, take a very deep interest in the lessons taught, We have 15 teachers on tho roll, with an average attendance of 11, During the year wo hare lost a very valuable teacher in the person of Mr Thos. ■ James, who lias removed to Pahiatua. Mr James, although not belonging to the Presbyterian Church, attended our school. He was a regular attendant, and took a very deep interest in the" welfare of the School and < pupils, with the latter of whom he was very popular, Our financial position still continues good. This we ought to feel proud of in many ways, During the year we have added about five pounds worth of books to our library; and have had printed now catalogues which cost us two pounds fifteen, We also spent about three pounds on prizes which were awarded to the girls of boys who had attended the best and hail' the most cards. Our picnic as you know' had to be postponed on account of the i weather; consequently the numbers that; would have attended were unable to do so, on account of harvesting going on when it was held, and there being no holiday. Our loss from the picnic was £4 19s. This we considered not so bad as we had spent about threo polmds on providing seats for the visitors, and which will always be ready for future occasions when we want them. Our incomo for the year has been £54 9s Bd, and our expenditure £54 lis, leaving a debit balance of one shilling and fourpence. These few remarks I think will prove to you that our school is quite capable of holding its own with any other school about, and we can only hope that it will continue to do so for a great many years to come. 1 lipo, Ac, A. G. Thompson'."

Tho Chairman said thoy ought to thank the Secretary for giving them such a lucid roport (cheers), Their gratitude to God should be expressed for the progress mado during tho past twenty years in the Sabbath schools. Ho passed a high eulogium on Mr James McGregor for his conscientious zeal and scrupulous attention to the work with which he had' been connected during the whole of that period as teacher or superintendent of tho school. He prayed that tho superintendent might be spand another twenty I years to continuo the work. Ho referred to tho growth of the school during tho past year, also to tho fact that several who were now teachers had been once scholars thero, Ho was gratified to find important additions had beeumado to the. library, Tho books were' appreciated by both parents and scholars, and many parents were reached by that means who would not otherwise bo influenced. He drew attention to tho necessity of looking after the welfare of boys and girls, who, growing in stature and years, got ashamed of attending tho Sabbath school. JH<5 referred to the advent in their midst of Mr Scott (cheers), who had instituted a bible-class which the older scholars wore attonding. Everything in the report was encouraging to tho congregation, and every teacher should be filled with fresh zeal, knowing what good was being done, He would not take up moro of their time as there wore sovoral speakers to coma after him.

After a hymn to sung, The Rev J. Ptteraon addressed them. He was cheered on rising, and expressed the great pleasure he felt in coming before them, fie had listened with peculiar interest and pleasure to their report, and was delighted to hear the progress they had made. In the earlier years there was but ono Sunday school, to which all denominations came. The work had been carried on under the excellent superintendence of ono who was nover absent if afchome, andwasseldoinaway from home, and he thought they were most fortunate in that circumstance. He referred to the vast importance of Sabbath schools, and quoted passeges from the* 144 th psalm, "Happy is that people whose God is the Lord." They would bi happy if the religious institutions were maintained in tho land. The Sabbath Schools were a great and important factor to that end. He spoke strongly upon home teaching, and urged upon parents to take a lively interest in the lessons of the children and home training. The influence of'thetraining of the mothers would be felt all through lifo. He thought it was important to teach children the catechism. He pointed out tho duty, of parents to sond their children punctually and regularly to school, to hear them repeat their verses, and to instruct them upon the lesson they would have to say. He also urged upon them to.be liberal and do all they could to assist the work, He said a few words to the teachers, pointing but that it was quite as necessary for them to come prepared to teach as it was for their minister to preach. Tho speaker interspersed his address with two or three telling anecdotes and was frequently applaudod. After a hymn by the choir, the Rev. James Johnston of Petone addressed the meeting. He said he felt somewhat like tho girl who sat down on the minister's I door-step, ■ When the minister came out he said, " Well, little girl, what do you want}" "1 don't want nothing, sir," said she, '' I want to «it down" (laughter) The former speaker had, to'useacommon expression, taken the wind out of his sails. He said the end of a sermon was action, and the end of ajecture information, but what the end of a tea-meeting speech was he was not quite sure (laughter). Ho alluded to the object of Sabbath school They were first established with the object of giving religious instruction to ; those who could not obtain home teaching, Now an attempt was made to throw the whole responsibility of religious training on Sabbath school teachers. He referred to the remarks made by Mr Paterson upon teaching children the catechism. He did not quite agree with the advisability. The effect was to give a disliko to it. He spoke from his own experience. Education ought to be graduated according to age. What was to be ' expected to be the outcome of ittompfcing

to teach infants " oifectUal calling" and "•'adoption,' After some further remarks he brought his address to a close by congratulating them upon thoir report In introducing tlio next Bpeaker the Chairman said he must apologise for bringing him thero, ;•' According to the old Jewish law it man was not compelled to take service for a, whole year on taking ft wife, and Mr Buttle had only been ■afew weeks married, and yet he was dragged from his warm fireside. The Rev. J, N. Buttle, who was received with applause, said that there was no exemption under tho Methodist law, They were supposed to bo' at work always, and for that reason he was. before them. -He was there also because the Sunday School Institution found a warm placo in his heart. Ho liked- to encourage it by wor4,.or, h preseuco, and next • to ■preaching the Gospel he thought Sabbath Schools were most important. Ho spoke. of the noble example of the superintendant and he would liko to see some of the same sj irit instilled into the officers of all' schools. He hold up to his hearers the example of Elijah and pointed out that if they would bo truly auccesaful they must place their.dependence Upon God. He usged them not to let the" circumstances of life depress them, but come what would to-be steadfast. He trusted and hoped that during the next year their progress would be equally great. : (Cheers). Mr R. H. Scott ascended {lie' platform by invitation, anlidst'cheers. Ho thanked them for tho kind manner in which they had received him. He traversed hiß past experience .as a teacher, and related instances of several Sabbath School boys of his class who had made their mark in life. He said it behoved those who were going out into the world to equip themselves, no as not to be driven back. The two weapons they should bo \ armed with wore the broad sword and the bible. They should buckle on the broad sword of knowledge, and with the Bible in their hearts, not in their hands or pockets, thoy were bound to conquer. He informed the meeting that it was- proposed to form a Mutual Improvement' Society, and for that purpose they intended to call (►meeting for Thursday next at 8 o'clock, die pointed... out to Christians the necessity of becoming well versed in the Bible, that they might hold their own against sceptics, He recited very touching verses from'the times of the early Covenanters on the Bible and sword, He concluded with an appe/il to mothers to mould the minds of their children iwWist ' 1% Ohatrmaa eatf the next to afldiess l t£w) he should li&Siduea withcysg «n» ; apnlos aa he owed Mm (tho chiittinati)'/ ! decp_ debt of gratitude. It had beetj told ; to him tliat the RofMn Rogers Bald he i always considered hlfnsilf ver,y small until ho had spen the ftev. Mr Pulton. i (Laughter.)

The Rev, Mr Rogers said it gave him very much pleasure in being with them again. He was glad to find the Sabbath School had niade such progress since he was with them last year. He told them of the foundation of Sunday Schools by Robert Raikes, which began in a very small way, and tho teachers 'wero paid. At that present timo there wore in Great Britain alone, 500,000 Sunday School teachers, who were giving their services gratuitously, and who, amidst the cares and burdens of life, yet found time to devote to the service' of God, He appealed to the parents to give all their sympathy to the toaohcrs and schools, and by all means to give home teaching, Ho conoludod an interesting and touching address by urging them to prize and cherish tho Sabbath School institution. Tho Chairman in concluding the meeting alluded to the foreign Mission Fund. He said it had not boen commenced yet, but fchoy were about to start it by taking up penny subscriptions every Sabbath, They would seek to raise enough to : support a native teacher under Mr Murray at New Hebrides. That would only cost £6 'a year, and at their next annual meeting, he hoped they would bo able to report that it had besn done,

Mr Holdawny proposed a voto of thanks to the speakers. In doing so he said he laboured under Ihe disadvantage of not being a Scotchman but he did tha next best tiling he could, he had married a Scotch wife, The proposition was carried by acclamation. The whole audience then joined in singing- the first verse of the National Anthem. The proceedings elosed with a benediction,