THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 604, 4 September 1909, Page 7

THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

PRIZES DISTRIBUTED. REMARKS BY, HON. G. FOWLDS. • , The Wesloy. Church, Taranaki Street, was tb,o scene last.evening of a bright and happy gathering, of Sunday school children, with their teachers and.parents. They had come from all parts of the city and suburbs, and ■from .churches of several denominations, for ■the . occasion was the presentation of prizes and certificates .in • conueotion with the AVellington Sunday • Sohool Union. Mr. R. B. Davis (president) was in tho chnir, and.amongst those with him on'the rostrum was the Hon. G. Fowlds, Miuister forEducation. ■' ■ .:. : ..-,...■

' Tho opening devotions comprised tho Lori's Prayer, repeated by the 6oholars, led by tho. Kev. A. Dewdney.- Later, .tho Uev. S. J. Serpell led the scholars in'the repetition <it the latitudes. . - ,' ■.. .

j' Prizes aud cortifientes, in accordance "with a 'list which has already been published, were 'pressntcd to 350 scholars. . They were lintd up , in four succefsivo detachments in the araplo poroh of the church, and marched in singlo tile along the aisles to the rostrum, whero each boy and girl received the allotted reward of merit. This division of scholars into four contingents enabled tho prize-giving to bo dispersed amongst the other features of tho programme, thus .avoiding monotony. The'arrangements were carried but smoothly bv.Mr.. L. G. Garrard and teachers of the Wesloy School. . The prizes and certificates iwero distributed by the Hon. G. Fowlds, Mrs. G. W. Darvall, Mr. AV. Gray, M.A., Miss Helyer, and Mr.. T. H. Gill, M.A; •'■•The:Hon. G.'Fowlds, Minister for Education, said he desired to encourage those engaged in the very-important work .of Sunday . school teaohing. Ho was delighted to' meet so many teachers.and scholars. He-could not look at suoh a gathering of well-fed, clean, and nicelyclothed children without thinking that' the word? ho had heard that evening should go up from their hearts, "Bless the Lord, O, my ieoul, .and. forget not all His benefits." The children of New 1 Zealand should think of tho benefits that came to them with the Gospel, and should remember that . every benefit brought with it a responsibility. Ho' urged them to induce their companions to go -with them to tho Sunday sohool. They should also help the teacher to securo good order and d) - ciptine, and attention to the lesson. He knew the influence that one boy with a pin could have in'a'olass, and ho was glad to know that tho influence of a _boy without a pin and with his heart in the right place was just;as great'. Mr. Fowlds also, spoke a few words of encouragement to the teachers. It'was desirable' for them, as far as possible', and as soon as possible, to assimilate and apply the modern methods of teaching that wero used, in the Jay schools. Hβ rejoiced to'know that this had' been done iat some Sunday schools in New Zealand, and notably in certain infant olasses; This ; would lay a foundation in the child's mind that would last as long as life, and would create in the children a determination to keep Up their attendance at Sunday school. Ho ha« tho : highest appreciation for the work of the Sunday school teacher, no knew of no branchof service moro potent for tho' train-' ing aright of the rising generation in New lealand. :. -. •'■.- ' ■-.-' -,■'■"'■.-.■. .'.•• ■ • ; '■ ,-,

: An interesting feature bf tho programme was , the roH-call of sohools. As tho name of each Eohool was cnllcd by Mr.-; Groeott, the teachers and isoholars -present rose and repeated a teit nnd.sang a versa of a hymn. .. • :. ~!. ;