FOR THE YOUNG.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13524, 4 November 1911, Page 5

FOR THE YOUNG.

EDUCATIONAL METHODS. Mr. Newton Jones's Visit. “Better than all the ironclads and conscriptions put together is the work of the Sunday School Union in it# varied forms in all parts of the world,’’ said the enthusiastic missiouer, Mr. Newton Jones, who arrived in Wanganui yesterday to conduct a two-days’ mission here. Those remarks were addressed to a reporter who had a brief chat with the visitor. Mr. Jones said that the Sunday School Union, with headquarters in London, is “the” Sunday 1 School Union of the world. It is 108 year sold, and was the pioneer institution for religious education among voung people. All the other Sunday School Unions are branches of this one. Since tho incoming of the century, the Sunday School Union had made a tremendous forward movement on the lines of Sunday school revival reform. Leading members of every church had fallen in line with the new methods of Sunday School grading, and tho improved equipment necessary for tho carrying out of the new plans. It was considered by tho Council of the parent Union that ho (Mr. Jones) should make a tour of Australia and Now Zealand in the interests of the movement. Ho left England on this mission March 3rd, and with the exception of 23 days, ho had been engaged ever since that time in holding conferences with Ministers, and talks with Sunday School teachers. Ho had also given nightly studies on tho blackboard, the book to use, and How to use it, besides illustrated lectures describing the work in its various phases. He had also r given chalk talks to children wherever opportunity served. Since his arrival in the Dominion (on July 30) ho had visited tho North and South Islands and had succeeded in floating six Sunday School Unions. This number he hoped to double before leaving on November 16, and to form a Federation of all the Unions, thereby bringing tho Sunday Schools of tho Dominion into up-to-dato methods of organisation. Mr. Jones does not confine himself to educational methods. Ho also engages in evangelistic work among young people ; and ho expressed tho opinion that more could bo done in five minutes upon plastic clay than in five hours on hard brick. % The visitor spoke with evident pride of his work at Margate. For 14 years he had conducted his work on tho sands at Margate with tho assistance of five others. Tho work there, lie explained, was for children in the summer vacation, and it was all done in the open air by the sea-side. Tho first class began at half-past seven in tho morning, when hj« took a class of boys for swimming. At 9.30 a.m. lady teachers took the girls. At 10 a.m. another assistant arranged the choir seats, the boys arriving at 10.15 to arrange their scats in the sand “cathedral.” At a quarter to eleven they had chorus singing accompanied by piano and seven or eight violins, and following this ho gave a talk to ,tho children, and once a week ho secured tho services of the best missionaries representing every foreign field,'to give an address. He also hqd the co-operation of science lecturers who gave talks on the evil effects of alcohol. These services were a delight to tho children, and an inspiration to Christian workers. There wore many families who every year choose Margate for their holiday resort, simply because of these services, which always proved a source of spiritual uplift and re-invigoration, and a happy memory until summer time came round again. In connection with those meetings, there wore not only solo and chorus singing, tho presentation of the Gospel by speech, song; limelight, and blackboard demonstrations. but Bible readings, text-mak-ing competition?, museum services, excursions into the country, sports and games, swimming races, and last but by no means least a harvest festival.service. All this variety tended to interest tho youthful mind, and all alike aimed at tho one supreme object of loading tho lad or tho girl to tho Saviour. Mr. ‘ Jones went on to say that ho would like to see more of this kind of work in Now’ Zealand, they required more bona fide teaching .among the children. In addition to the direct religious teaching they had on tho sands at Margate, they had all manner of games, such as cricket, tennis, croquet, bowls, etc., all attending the services being allowed to take part. Tho whole work built up tho whole child. Mr Jones said ho hoped to conduct one or two services of this description at Auckland. At the close of his visit to New Zealand ho intended going to the Argentine, where ho and his son would visit all the mission stations, besides spending a few days in Buenos Ayres and Blanca holding conferences with Christian workers, and speaking on Sunday School organisation, as well as methods of Biblo study. Those who know of Mr. Jones and his work, speak highly not only or the missioner himself, but also of tho valuable assistance rendered him by his son, Mr. S. Victor Jones, who not only loads tho music as a baritone singer, lus singing being highly appreciated everywhere. Tho son obtaniod twelve months’ leave of absence from his employment at Homo in order to come out on this mission. Before taking up his work with the. Sunday School Union, twenty-one years ago, Mr. Newton Jones was a commercial traveller. He speaks highly of New Zealand—tho picturesque country, the warm disposition of the people, and their generous hospitality all appealed to him strongly. Ho also expressed gratification at tho marked strides New Zealand was making towards tho elimination of tho drink traffic, and said that in spite of the great vested interests at Homo they were making prepress there also. Mr Newton Jones visited New Zealand once before, thirteen years ago, when ho came out for health reasons. TO-NIGHT. At 7.30 o’clock in Trinity Wesleyan schoolroom, Mr. Newton Jones addresses a meeting of Sunday School workers. A cordial invitation is extended to all inteerstod. TO-MORROW. Mr. Newton Jones will conduct a combinod service at 11 a.m. in the Gonville Town Hall, and in consequence there will he no services in the morning in tho Baptist and Wesleyan Churches at Gonvillo. During the offertory Mr. S. Victor Jones will sing a solo. In the afternoon at 3 o’clock a combined children’s service will bo held in ■ St. Paul’s Church. In the evening at 7, Mr. Newton Jones will speak in Trinity Wesleyan Church, and will hold a combined service in St. Paul’s Church at 8.30.