PITT-STREET WESLEYAN SUNDAYSCHOOL.

Daily Southern Cross, 11 April 1868, Page 4

PITT-STREET WESLEYAN SUNDAYSCHOOL.

The anniversary soir6e in connection with the Above-mentioned Sunday-school wm held, at six o'clock yesterday evening, in the school-room under* neath Pitt-street Church, and wm attended by over two hundred persons. After tea, the assembly adjourned to the church, where a public meeting was held. The Rev. J. Buller presided. Among the other gentlemen occupying the platform we observed the Rev. Messrs. Dean, Harper, Lawry, Hudson • Messrs. C. Arthur, R. Arthur, J. Fletcher, Atkyp, &c. The proceedings were commenced with devotional exercises. i The Rer. Chairman said : Christian friends, inasmuch as I do not think it is the duty of a chairman to occupy any considerable time in speaking, I shall content myself with simply expressing the great pleasure I feel this evening in seeing so many persons present on this interesting occasion. lam sure that it will be very cheering and enoouraging to the teachers and officers of the school, who will, I trust, go on in their work of faith and labour of love, feeling that the parents and friends of the children are taking so deep an interest in the enterprise to which they are committed. I take it &s an omen for good that on this occasion there are so many friends gathered together here, particularly as of late I have observed similar meetings have not been so well attended as they used to be. I hope we shall go on prospering and to prosper—that we shall have less occasion to complain or despond, and a great deal more abundant cause not only to thank (rod, bat to take courage. (Applauie.) Mr. J. A. Miller, Secretary, read the following as the

"Annfal Report. "The officers and teaebers of the Pitt-street WeBleyan Sunday-school, ia presenting their second annual report, do so with deep feelings of their own unworthinesi, and God's great goodness towards them during the past twelve months. ' ' The past year has not been marked by any very striking events, but some manifestations of God's grace have been visible among our scholars. And there never hat been a year in our school's history where there was a greater necessity on the part of the teachers to work, watch, and pray. Had the past year continued as it began, we should not have had to mourn on account of the unfaithfulness of some, but would have had a report glowiDg with gratitude to God because of the workings of His Holy Spirit in our midst, witnessing numbers of our scholars coming forward and acknowledging themselves on the Lord's side. It behoves us then earnestly to inquire where ; the fault lies ; and here we have to acknowledge as teachers that we have not done all that we might, or perhaps ought to, have done, but we feel we hare this assurance that we have laboured with a sincere and earnest desire thatthe children committed to our care might be brought to the Saviour. It may have been that in working in the Lord's vineyard as heretofore we have at times neglected to ' renew our strength ' sufficiently to enable us to combat with the strenuous exertions put forth by the emissaries of the evil one for the purpose of entrapping the unwary. In the course of the past year some two or three of those over whom at the beginning we had great reason to rejoice, have since oftentimes caused us to feel heavy at heart, because they have manifested a seeming carelessness and indifference to spiritual things, their example having a baneful influence upon the less experienced in the school. It would be well if not only the teachers, but also the parents and members of the Church.would take a greater interest in having their children brought to the Saviour, to secure not only their spiritual but temporal welfare. We have to thank God and take courage, although the past has been somewhat clouded ; still we hope that a brighter future is in store for us, and that the ' Son of Righteousness will yet arise with healing in Bis wings,' and that we may yet see many liring examples of the power of God unto salvation, through the instrumentality of our Sabbath-ichobl. "Many of our best teachers have been called away to other fields of labour, and we have necessarily felt their loss, resulting, from their places not being constantly filled, in a muoh less attendance of our scholars. And we would take this opportunity of urging upon the members of our congregation the necessity )of coming forward to the help of the Lord — to the help of the Lord against the mighty. And, we| would pray the Lord of the harvest' that He would send forth more labourers into His harvest. " The number of scholars on our books is, girls, 125; boys, 115 ; making a total of 240 children. The average attendance is, morning, 120 ; afternoon, 160. " Of teachers we have 23 males and 14 females, making a total of 37 teachers. The average attendance is, morning, 20 ; afternoon, 23. "A large number of children have been added to the school during the past year, about 160, but the number on our books has not been much increased, owing to a large number having left the school. It has been a matter of regret to us to see our scholars leaving, but it is satisfactory to know that it is caused, in a great majority of cases, by circumstances over which they had no control, by their parents going out of the province, or into the country, or to such a distance from the town as to render it impossible for them to attend. " The efforts put forth by the teachers for the effectual carrying on of the work are much as hereto, fore, except that the catechumen classes have, in reference to the boys, dwindled down to fie small attendance of two, but the girls still keep up a fair attendance. The teachers who have conducted these classes, and with success, having to leave the town, the classes have almost been left without a leader. " The library in connection with the school contains about 300 volumes. Wo have only been able to add some 20 interesting books, besides the Wesleyan periodicals, since our last report. We have not been able to add more in consequence of the state of our finances, the school being already some £21 in debt. "As to our financial position, the accompanying balance-sheet will make you fully acquainted : —

paid away. These payments have exhausted the whole of the sums received, as before mentioned, still leaving accounts due by the, school to the amount of £20 13s. 7cL, which accounts 'are as follow :

" in bringing our remarks to a conclusion, we feel that we might have said a great deal more upcm many points to which we have only alluded, bat this we would say,— if a necessity hat existed during the i past year for a more than uiual amount of earnestness, energy, and faith in God, that necessity still exists m strong, if not stronger than ever. And we would call upon parents and friends to be co-workers with us in bringing to bear, more especially upon the youth of our classes, all the weight and influence not only of precept but of example, in order to stay them when the weight of strong temptation comes upon them. The allurements of rice in this city at the present time are of such a nature that the victimi I verj often do not see their danger until it is too late.

" M»y God help us in all this matter, not only to preach, but to practise, so that we may not prove a * •tumbling block or rock of offence ' to any one of the children committed to our care." The Rev. Mr. Dean moved the adoption of the report. Mr. Atiyn, Superintendent of the Onion-street Sohool, seconded the motion, and the report was unanimously adopted. Mr. C Arthur moved, "That the following gentleman be officers of the sohool for the ensuing year : — Mr. R. Arthur, superintendent j Mr. J. A, ' Miller, secretary; Mr. W. Buttle, assistant-secretary; Mr. Nolan, treasurer ; Mr. Beaumont, librarian ; Mr. Oulpan, assistant-librarian; Messrs. Rhodes and Spraggon, visitors." The Bey. J. S. Hudson, Mahurangi, seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried. Several gentlemen, who take an interest in the school, addressed the meeting, after which a vote of thanks was given to the choir for their services, and to the ladies who presided at the respective tea* tables. The meeting was closed with praise and prayer.

To amount due to C. Arthur and Son for china, books, &c 3 18 7 To umount due to Rev. J»mes Buller for periodicals, &c. 15 n q To amount due to Rev. T. Buddie for hymnbooka and tickets 14 0 Malting a total turn of £20 13 7 now owing by the Sunday-school. The amount of the collections made on Sunday last is 10 15 8 A rough calculation of the proceeds of this tea^meeting shows a sum of ... 15 0 0 Making in all £25 15 3

■looy. £ g. d. April 14— To amount collected at last anniversary sermons : Collection in morning 5 15 H Collection in afternoon ... 4-4 3 Collection in evening 7 18 10 Proceeds of tea meeting 18 14 6 Subscription from Mr. Probert 0 10 5 £37 3 11 Balance in hand from previous anniversary 0 .6 3 Farther subscription from Mr. Probert ... 0 10 0 Making a total of ... £38 0 2 This sum has been expended in the following manner : Paid Mr. Carson for printing, &c. ... 417 6 Mr. Beaumont, for books, carting, &c. 3 5 1 C. Arthur and Son, for glass case, books, &c 7 15 ii Rev. James Buller, for books, &c. ... 15 9 6 For advertising in newspapers 2 2 8 Chapel-keeper, for work done 0 10 0 Mr. F. A. White, repairs to bookcase ... 12 6 Bible Society, for Bibles, &c. 2 17 0 Making a total of £38 o 2