THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

OPENING OF ADULT SCHOOL.

OUT FOR PRACTICAL WORK.

Tiik now meeting-house and adult, school of tho Society of Friends, in Mount Eden Road, was formally opened on Saturday afternoon, in the presence of a number of lie members, by the Mayor of Auckland (.Mr. ('. J. Parr).

Mr. J. Uuik* explained to lie Mayor that the society was a child of Quakerism. Tho adult school movement, which played an important part in the society's work, was formed in 1830, with tho object of teaching adults to read the Bible. With the spread of education, most adults could now read the Bible, 'but there were other directions where teaching was still required, and the society employed able professois to give lectures on religious and civic mat ters, lie hoped the Mayor would at some future time address the friends oh municipal work. (Applause.) The members of the "society did not- think that they could yet jbope for the streets to be paved in gold; he thought that they must be satisfied with wooden blocks for the present. (Laughter). The society was eminently practical, and realised that it. was its duty to take an interest in municipal matters, and the adult school was prepared to make an effort in this direction, with the object of building up the ideal city. Therefore they had asked the Mayor, as head of the city, to pros id a at the opening ceremony. (Applause.) I

In declaring the building open, the Mayor said he was delighted to hear of. the practical side of the work carried on by the society. It would be well if all the churches took a keener interest in the life and work of the city. Referring to tho adult school movement, Mr. Parr said he regretted that there was not much heart in the continuation school movement. This work had been left to the school committees, and they had not taken it up enthusiastically. In a measure, the Society of Friends supplied this deficiency in their adult school, and they were doing a splendid work for the civ/ and the State. (Applause.) The Mayor then formally declared the building open.

Mr. W. H. Alexander gave an address on the history of the adult school movement, after which refresh-merits were served, and the function closed.