S. PETER'S SUNDAY SCHOOL, HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2131, 6 March 1886, Page 2

S. PETER'S SUNDAY SCHOOL, HAMILTON.

Advantage was taken of. the visit of tho Re«. L)r. O'Cillashan in Hamilton to present the prizes m connection with the Sunday School of S. Peter's in the Public Hall on Thursday night. Notwithstanding the shortness of the notice there wa-s a fair attendance of parents and children. The Incumbent, who occupied the clmir, opened the proceedings with a collect, and the children then sang the hymn, " There is a Happy Land." Mr H. Logic, the retiring superintendent of the school, read the following report upon the institution for the year ending 31st Dec, 1883 :— Number of children on roll, 120, viz., 45 boys, 73 girls. Tho average attendance during the year has been 90. , \ sorry to bay that tho attendance has not been what it ought to be. This is very discouraging to the teacheis, who devote much time to impart religious instruction to the children. Parents should see that their children go to Sunday-bchool regularly, and that tho lessons set them are prepared at home before coming to Sundayschool, otherwise tho good sought to be matilled into their children by the teacher is thrown away. The statf of teachers has been (with one or two alterations) the same as last year; they one and all have evinced very great care and attention in the good work they have undertaken, they have attended Sunday-school regularly, and it is a great pleasure to see the interest they take in teaching their several classes. 1 may here mention that one teacher (Mi-s Kingsley), competed for the Bishop's prize on Church history, and although unsuccessful, I am pleased to recoid that sho received a certificate of merit. Our Sunday-school was again well represented in tho annual contest for Bishop's Prizes and took otf four; the following are the names of the winners :— Bossio Sandes, Jeanie Big«s, Alice Sandes, Martyn Hume. Ceitincates of merit were awaided to Bella Manktelow and Florence Hope. We are indebted to the kindness of Hit Loidship the Bishop for delivering a lecture upon " Our present troubles in India," on the 25 May Übt which was most interesting aud afforded much pleasure and also valuable information upon the subject which was then prominently before the public. We have to express our best thanks to the ladies and gentlemen (especially Mies Swarbrick and Miss Bessie Biggs) for the eutertainment given to the Sunday school at midwinter which they highly appreciated. The Rev. Dr. O'Callaghan, at the invitation of the chairman, addresssed the assemblage. He exhorted the parents that their children were a sacred trust placed in their hands bv the Almighty, and besought them to see to their education, and particularly to those brancheß of education, which would fit them for the life hereafter. He gave some words of wise counsel to the teachers, reminding them thnt the putting forth of their efforts was not only a duty, but a high privilege. Let them but consider for a momeut, that they were occupying the place naturally filled by Jesus Christ himself, and they would begin to realisethegroatimportancoof theircalling. No privilege could be higher than tint of teaching the ignorant. The portion of the lev. doctor's remarks specially addressed to the children was ot a most touching character. Under tho guise of & pretty legend of the "forget-me-not" ho showed them the beauty and the value of holiness, aud in 'affectionate .language desciibed the rewards reserved for those who love God and keep His commandment*. Ho urged tho unsuccessful ones not to be discouraged. He understood that it was in the power of every child in the school to get a prize, and he fully expected to see eveiy one of his little hearers attaining to that happy position ne\t year. Remarking on the number of big boys in the school, Dr. O'Callaghan said he was proud to see that they were manly enongh to profess their religion. He only hoped that they would never allow themselves to feel ashamed of it. (Applause.) The Rev. the Incumbent added a few words by way of exhortation to the parents to use their beat endeavours to let their children attend Sunday school. He regretted to say that there had been a falling off in numbers, but that was partly accounted for by tho closing of Mis o Hunt s branch school at Bretton. He had made efforts to re-rpen a branch in Hatnitun East, but the only suitable room ho could find, one of the class-rooms of the public school, had been refused him by the committee. The Education Act gave power to the committees to give the use of buildings for religious instruction after school hours, and he presumed this time embraced Sunday. The Incumbent then presented the prizes to the successful pupils, accompanying each with a few kindly words of commendation and encouragement. The following is the list of the prue winners for the year, with the number of marks attained by each :— Bella Manktelow, George Scorgie, and John Andrew, 4<iB ; Maggie Elliott, 467 ; Elizabeth E.lH'»tt, i 5 3; Alice Sandes, 448 ; Florrio L°gie, 431 ; Douglas ("jelling, James Kmgflley, and Colin LsQuasne, 42J ; Albert LeQnesne, 418 ; Bassio Bell, aud Willie Gelling, 412; Walter Hope, 404; Carry Hill, 402; Frank (Jelling and E-iwin Hone, 400. Rewards: Willie Hume, Roland Hope, and Geoffrey Gelling. The hymn, " Sun of My Soul " was then Bung, and the Graco brought the proceeding to » cloie.