THE CHURCHES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 157, 27 March 1908, Page 9

THE CHURCHES.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS. A SATISFACTORY REPORT. .The twenty-seventh annual report of the Wellington Sunday School Union states that tho year lias witnessed much good work, and tho schools aro bolter taught now then ever before. Sunday school teachers arc anxious to learn of new methods, and in most cases ready to adopt any promising'schemes. "We thank our God for tho many devoted mid able men and women who toaoh in tho schools,,and wo look to the future with much hope that our Sunday schools will be increasingly used by God for the ingathering of our scholars. The committee aro pleased to ■ notice that all Church Courts now-give much attention to matters affecting the young people." Schools not now represented on the committee are asked to appoint delegates. ' . •'

Olio new school, Island Bay Baptist, joined tho Union during the year, wliilo one, Kumeroa Undenominational, withdrew. There are in tho 72 schools 935 teachers and 9894 scholars. The a'verago attendance shows about tho same proportion as in former years j 2062 of the scholars are over 16 years old. There are 28 Christian Endeavour Societies With' 775 members, and 16 branches of the Hand of Hope'with 986 members. Tho number of who are Church members .shows" a slight increase, svhilo 114 joined the.' Church during the year. The committee think that -these • numbers are leSS' thsiv .they Should 1)6, as some schools do not. keep, a record of members who join the Church."; The; branch of tho International Bible Reading 'Association, conducted by tho Union,- is doing good work. - 'Tho ; loan libraries have bceii fairly Well used, hut tho committee haVOviioW three boxes On hand which 'are available for any. school, whether affiliated ' or-; not.. The boxes contain'" between ~so' and GO books, '.which are loaned for; : 10s. per year t6 any .school' without ft. library of its own. One school obtained a grant of books from the parent' Union at one-third of the 1 published pricos, ' Any. school can" obtain this Concession on application. 1 ' One outfcomo'of the anrtiial ConventiOli at Blenheim was a keen interest in black-board work. Fifty-six teachers - joined a blackboard class in 1 Wellirißtoii, and attendance was splendid. Mr. Paiuo mado an excellent instructor! Tho committeo- to see .black-boards much- moro used ~ in .- schools, both by superintendents arid: .by; teachers in the. classes. :-A class .for . Sunday. school teachers is-being Carried on at tlio TechnicalSchool by Mr. Paine, and anyoiio Can join, tho.fcc being.os, pel' quarter. •' : The examination showed the, record number,, of Vol. candidates, of whom's4s gained prizes or certificates. The committee lirgo teachers and parents to help forward this •matter.as much as possible. His, Excellency tho- Governor kindly distributed the prizes, n'nd showed much sympathy with the work. Special thanks, arc accorded to the examiners, Miss Helyer, Miss C. K. Kirtf, Mrs. ; A. R. Atkinson, : Mrs, G. .W. Darvall, and Mr. W. T.. Glasgow. The secretary, finds the ! sub-urban-schools .well-Staffed and tho SUpftrin-, tenden.ts and' secretaries most dcrtitcd to their work. - As regards the. proposal, for holding .-ft NeW Zealand . Convention of Teachers, in ."NVclliuntdn, tho eoinmitteo have deckled liot'tp'hold a convention iii 190S, b.lit .hflpo 'to .havo one at' I'alnlerStoli North in 1909: - - . ' ....

■ Thanks are.t accorded to numerous helpers! ,I)llo...committed are ■ glad '-'that : -.6g.: ; many itoacliers;. realise that ; good Ms,., grilled -by; be--'longing to ;s\ich a body-as th<?;iUniom -,Thpy" beliovo .-that- •• c.Wrjv school ..that.* -joins-- will .Kelp- to make the Union 1 more.,useful, andtrust thnt it wiir.be a means of. strength .to:till 1 affiliated schools,. Soma denomination 6 •have Unions of their. own, and;it.-is certain that a quarterly gathering of, the'teachers Will result .ill- bringing the teachers closer together, aiid - must mean more entllusin sm and greater efficiency. u Thb work.of'the Wellington-, Sunday- School- tJilion -.in- ; no: way 'claflhes. With ,the-denominational Unions, and there is,no .reason-iwhy.-.the-.two bodies Should 'not wor.k sido-byyside;.-! ■ The -o.fficers for : 1908 are as follow:—-Pre* 'sident;-,j\lr. J;, G. ,-W, Aitken,- M,P: ( vice-: president,. .Mr.-i R. B. -Davis ( corresponding ; secretary.-Mrj;H. J. Thompsbn ; minute see- . rotary/ Mr.' H,-.; D. .Gfrocot.t; tMftsVirpr. Mr. W. G> Hol'lswnrth; secretary of the LB.U.A.j Mr.- -Wv,-J-. Pal'sollsJ- Visitor; :Mr.' H. D, .Clrocott; auditor, Mr. D. R-.-Purdie:" - \;. MISSIONARY- CON VERS AZIONE. The Christian Endeavour Societies of Tarallald Street Methodist : Church held a missionary conversazione in the Wesley Hall on Wednesday night. ■ Mr, L.- J, Clal'k presided over a.-very large . attendances Songs and recitations, were giveli by, Mrs. Reed,■Misses -Kellawriy,.. Brit'thin; (2),-. and MeSSrs.crßbbin's, Cooper, and' r lvomsley:', -Mrs." W.- ;(Willianisi -of DuA»ediii, gave, an address.":! Tilt) Rev,- A. Ballailtone, of. Now Guinea, who is enjoying : a short furlough after nil attack,of fever,'gave of. missionary difficulties in that ' country; Tlio Chairman; announced • that it Was intended by tho ( Christian Eiideilvoilrers t6;&ise £50-for- 110 also stated that. 6. - Stokes, a twelvc-yeaf-oid member' of the junior society, had Collected.£4 9s. od. in: one-penny subscriptions,

t.M.C.A. ; About ninety boys attended a meeting of the Junior Department; of the YiM.OiA. Inst evening. Mr. H. N. Holmes ,presided. Alt entertaining and instructive ■ address oil "Keys" was given by Mr." Richard Blowiii A farewell' letter was read from Mr. W. Eg,lin, who has loft on a trip to England, wishing every success to the boys' department.