SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 300, 19 December 1922, Page 6

SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK.

CANADIAN PRAISES N.Z. ECHO OF REGENT CONVENTION. (From Our Own Correspondent) VANCOUVER, November 2. There is one extremely strong admirer of both Australia and New Zealand who has returned to Canada delighted with the progress of Sunday school activities in the Antipodes, for Mr. \V. C. Pearce, secretary of the World's Sunday School Association, for ibeen 'busy singing the praises of what he observed during hie recent visit to the Commonwealth of Australia and to the Dominion of New Zealand. In the course of an interesting disquisition covering his impressions, and published in the "Toronto Glclbe," Ontario, Mr. Pearce says Australia's Sunday school work has made great progress, each denomination having given to the Sunday school an official recognition 'by creating "youth departments," whilst a large amount of work has been done in the matter of lesson course selection and adaption and in literature development. He referred in high terms to the establishment of the State unions whioh were reorganising so that the co-operative work might be under the direction of the official leaders of the co-operating denominations. He stated that they had all felt the need of a larger, fuller interState co-operation, and had welcomed his messages in behalf of forming a national association, council, or union as a section of the World's Sunday School Association. IN SEW ZEALAND. "Sunday school work in New Zealand has also kept pace with the other developments. In Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin, we found strong, efficient Sunday School Unions, with provision for the dissemination of the 'Dest literature, some promotion of teacher training, and a very keen desire for a laTger advance. At Christchurch there was held a Dominion conference to consider the (basis of » national organisation. Each of the provinces, all of wihich we visited, voted favouring the forming of such an organisation as a section of the World's Sunday School Association. This conference was no doubt epoch-making in the work of religious education in New Zealand. Its conclusions were sent to the various constituencies participating in the conference for ratification. As these conclusions were reached so harmoniou-Iy and the delegates present representative of all denominations, as such, and the Sunday School unions also, it promised definitely ft National Council of great power. The programme for the new organisation tentatively discussed at the Christchurch conference revealed a clear vision of the need, a fine spirit of unity and a determination to inaugurate a programme practical and far-seeing. '"All hail to New Zealand as a section of the World's Sunday School Association. Most gladly did these leaders discuss the suggestion that they take a part of the woTld field, and at the proper time they will do so. Those who attend the Glasgow Convention in 1934 will find New Zealand present with a fine delegation, an accurate statistical report and an exhibit worthy of a place beside the best that may be there. "With New Zealand and Australia so effect ive'ly leading in the work of religious education, a leadership is provided for much of the Southern Hemisphere. As the light shines in these lands it will eljed rays of hope and gladness to tb* ▼hole Melanesian and Polynesian w.tjj In New Zealand, »« in Australia, there was great interest in American prohibition. I was continually interviewed ahout it. The 'lav T left Wellington a Dominion prohibition conference was in session. This fall they are to vote on prohibiaion and there is srreat hope that national prohibition will (be carried."