SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

Press, Volume XXIII, Issue 2971, 27 February 1875, Page 2

SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

The eighth anniversary of the Canterbury Sunday-school Union was celebrated last evening by a tea-meeting and entertainment in the new Wesleyan Durham street schoolroom. Trays were contributed by the following Sunday-schools:—Congregational, Manchester street and Ferry road; Durham street, Wesleyan; St Paul's Presbyterian; Baptist, Hereford street; and United Free Church, St Asaph street and Addington. Between three and four hundred sat down to tea, after which the tables were cleared away, and on re-assembling, the chair was taken by Mr S. C; Farr, president of the Union.

The meeting was opened by singing the hymn " Come let us join our cheerful songs," when the chair/nan said tbat as they had a great deal of business to get through, his remarks would be very brief. He had presided over the Union for the past eight years, and during the last three he bad endeavored to get some one to take his place, and was now glad to be able to say that that position would be filled by his dear friend Mr George Booth. He felt very much pleased and encouraged at so large a gathering, and that the work of Sunday schools was spreading throughout the world. He was grateful that this was the case, as much good would be done by their means. He would not detain them longer, but would call upon the choir for some music. The ohoir sang" Oh, thon that tellest." The secretary, Mr S. C. Johnson, then read the following :— " It is with feelings of thankfulness to Almighty God that yonr committee again present their annual.report. During the year which has fust passed away, the Union has again been blessed by the Giver of all Good, and although not in so prosperous a condition as could be wished, your committee have good cause for encouragement. " The number of schools now connected with the Union is thirty-eight, as against thirty-two last year. The following schools have joined during the year .'—Congregational, Lebon's Bay ; Presbyterian, Kaiapoi, Saltwater Creek, Mount Grey Downs, and Ashley Bank ; and Wesleyan, Beefton. ♦'The-issue of magazines has largely increased, being 18,300, at a value of over £60 as against 12,459, in value about £40 daring the previous year. These monthlies consist of " Notes on the Lessons," " Bible Class," and " Youth's Magazines," '• Kind Words," ? Band of Hope Review," "'.British Workman/ " Children's friend," «' Missionary News,?' "Sunday Scbpol Teacher" -'Biblical Treasury,'' "Child's Own," "■ Sunday School Times," ko. " The usual quarterly prayer meetings have been held' in tbe various places of worship, but there is great room for improvement in the attendance at these meetings. ■ '■' dissolving views were received from -the parent society in April last, and have been exhibited eighteen times.; In addition [to 'the. town: and vicinity, the following places hiaye been visited, vis.:—Leeston, Rangiora, Greendale,. Belwyn, and Kaiapoi. Great piaise is due to Mr H. Waters for the trouble he has taken in superintending the exhibifipij of them'so of ten Without remuneration. It haa been decided tq send for a farther ropply R* glides, which it is hoped will arrive in.tiipe for exhibition during the coming winter. .'

" Yogr committee have to report the removal of the depot to tlje premises of Mr C. B. Lavender, Colombo street, the inability of ;Sjr.' Airman to continue it in consequence of ill "health. : "A circulari*as jeceived from the parent society, with'referebice to the special meetjngfTfoT; prayer thrpaghont the world} the same o ,as ;in former, years, and urging this committee to carry but''their wishes as far as ppeaiWe. by jettjng apart the 2Qth of October for this purpose, ¥oujr committee caused a pircular to be printed and forwarded to the various,gcboqls in connection with the Union; reqizeatibg them to observe it as far Special reports of these meetings have .nipt,been jreoehred, but it is believed that the request was very generally attended tp. 7. .7 7

, "Theusual anniversary services were held in the Wesleyan Church, Durham street, on r the last Sabbath of the year, and were well attended, a larger nujaber being present than ion any. previous occasion. A very earnest address was delivered by the Bey Samuel Macfarlane, and several hymns were sane under the. direction of Mr J. Roberts, who des&yes great credit for the zeal and ability displayed by him in teaching the children. The organ was' kindly presided over by Mr B.Bearell. ' * -

"In conclusion, yonr committee "would urge upon the teachers the importance of the work in which they are engaged, and pray tbat the spirit of unity may so bind them together, that, by Qod's bussing, the nextannual report, will record muchygreater o vorry/fj": -- i -•- ■'-~-.. Mr Staples moved, and Mr Voller seconded, 5 the adoption.Tof the report, which was unanititokaA? agreed to."' .; ■ - ' 7-^i^^^^ i Mtm(^ T in,Tead thefinancialrej»rt fortfeejear, jtywed tbifc*be Ppion W credit, ihclndin* stockip thedeppt,of £140. ' - ' "■;.Tl- «' The .electwin, of oncers for the following year was proceeded, with, and resulted *s ufeljws (Jed Booth, vice> presidents, Messrs #an> Pillow, Twentyman, Watt, and Caygill; treasnrer,! . M* D, .Haggett; minute secretary, Mr 8. O. Johnson ; corresponding secretary, Mr T. B. r Peto, trade secretary, MrJ. O. Lea. X*F%. fowler '&**•' "4« shaU feed his flock ''from the Messiah. / -*Qn fee motiPnof Mr Voller, a hearty vote : of thanks was passed to Mr 8. C: Farr, retiring president, conpled with tie names of the other retiiing officers/ '■ ry- ■ > i the vote. Mr J. H. Twentyman next addressed the Dieting, and referred to the great, amount of knowledge to be gained While iinpartiDjr Uingtraeiaon. ia others. This had been hia ; experience, and he was sure it would also be the experience pf all engaged in Sunday school work. Mr Twentymi^ concluded an interesting address by exhorting all teachers to persevere in the good work in which they: , -F_ere engaged, " r ; ~ * Choir— strike." J 7 - .7 addressed tha meet- ■ »g, and said lie had been connected witb wjßdap.ttbooteforjbout y%u9,

and during the whole of that period h*n bee», kept awajjfrom school twice n? 1 * in tearing had befcer feftmore the necessity fa.rfe*** help in the work than at present Th??* bis recent visit to the old conntrv hvs visited » school with which he had h«w_ nected for fifteen years, and wa_»_» ■*?**' to find only about twenty or thirtyof^?* l remaining who were in the school wit), v* This reminded him of how quickly m their number were passing away would urge all teachers to make the their time in their schools. Mr IWk °* ferred to the lack of zeal on then** 1 * ministers in this country with reeiwi °* Sabbath schools, and thought therhL* 0 come forward mora prominently, as iftha? he felt sore greater good would' result* n thanked them sincerely for having7!j * him to the high office of President „*«* Union, and would do his ntmoat to fo*tu_ its interest during his term of office. Ti plause.J *.*&• The singing of the Doxology broad* «_."" proceedings to a close. 6 *«• The choir was under the direction «rf ir J. T. M Smith, and sang seter? J* " during the evening in a very crediS? manner. The proceeds of the ten. *«&?*? devoted to the purchase of a Paaoiiil? - Palestine, for the use of the ing the various Scnday-schoolg. "**«B|^