ANNUAL FESTIVAL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16364, 8 November 1918, Page 2

ANNUAL FESTIVAL.

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. The Sunday School Teachers' Association, of the Diocese of Christchurch, held their twenty-third annual festival on Wednesday. There were two early celebrations of Holy Communion at 6.30 ajn. and 7.16 a.m., with breakfast afterwards at St. John's schoolroom. At 11 a.m. tnere was a choral Eucnarist, the Dean being the celebrant. The Rev. F. N. Taylor preached on Phil, ii?., 17. Merbecke's. Beautiful music was used througnout, Mr O'Donel Davis presiding at tne organ. in the afternoon a garden party was held in the beautiful garden of Air and Mrs H. I>. Andrews An exhibition of bunday school work and apparatus prov ed a centre of interest all tne afternoon. Tea was served by the teachers of St. Michael's and Holy Trinity, Avonside. A programme of exceiltut music, kindly arranged by Miss OUivier, was much appreciated by all. At 6 pjn. iiie teachers gathered for tea at St. Michael's Hall, a, feature of the meal being the smart waiting done by the Girl Scouts of St. itucnabl's troop, which reflected much credit on ' their Scoutmistresees. After tea the Rer. F. R. Rawle gave an organ recital, in place of Mr Alfred Worsley, who was indisposed. The annual meeting of the Association bei'>n at 7.30, lua Lordship the Bishop presiding. The year's report' was read by the chairman. Rev. J. R. Hewland, Miss Lawrell, and Rer. J. de B. Galwey were re-elected joint-secretaries, and Miss Merrett and Mr J arm an treasurer and auditor respectively; The Rev. C. G, Mutter spoke on tne Churoh. Convention to be held ihe last week in January. The Bishop in his presidential address, spoke of the lessons we might learn >rom the American people. The same extraordinary effectiveness which had put a well-trained and well-organ-ised anny of millions of men in France within a few months had been displayed also by the Church in America, it wis the American Church which was really going to achieve something towards the unity of Christendom. The same vigour and effectiveness was apparent in the work of religious education. It was only in. 1906 that tho Protestant Episcopal Church of America realised its responsibilities towards its younger members. Then the "Commission movement" began which laid down two principles: (1> That education must be taken up by the Church as a whole, (2) that Sunday schools must be real schools, in line with tho best educational thought of the day. Row strong Boards of Jikiucation exist in every diocese taking up primary, secondary, collegiate and theological education. Rer. J. de B. Galwey spoke of a plan to telp teachers to qualify themselves for superintending tho middle school, comprising children aged 8 to 14. Several gave in their names as willing to study for this purpose.