ANDERSON BAT SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL.

Evening Star, Issue 8772, 12 March 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

ANDERSON BAT SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL.

During the past nine months the Sunday sohool teachers of the Presbyterian Church, Anderson Bay, have been engaged in raising funds for the purpose of building a new Sunday sohool. For twenty-five years the sohool has been held in the church, but this was found to be very inoonvenient, for the classes were in full view of one another, so that any disturbance in one class attracted the attention of othors. The teachers have now had erected a new hall, the first of its kind in Dunedin or tho suburbs. The main room, which will hold 300, has a sloping floor, so that all the ohildren can bo easily seen from the superintendent's platform. The walls of this room are painted a French grey, with a darker dado about three feet high, the two colors being separated by an imitation dado moulding prettily painted in chocolate. Behind the platform are two folding doors, which, when the hall is used for entertainments, may be opened baok to give room for a stage. When doted, the space behind the doors forms a large room, whioh, having a fireplace, will be useful for a meeting room. Round the walls of the main hall are four mottoes, painted in three colors, a contribution from the contractor. Opening into the main hall on each side are four class rooms, each Bft square. Besides these eight rooms there are two other larger rooms, one on either side of the entrance porch, and a room at the back whioh may be used as a library. The porch is fitted on one side with pegs for the scholars' hats, etc., while on the other side are shelves for the scholars to return their library books on entering. The hall is built on sloping ground, and of this advantage has been taken to build a large room downstairs, which may be used for tea meetings. Adjoining this is a small room, fitted with shelves, a sink, and a boiler for heating water, which have been proved to be very convenient. The total cost of building and fencing is L 512, of which L3OO has already been subscribed and collected, Tnere is thus a considerable sum to raise before the hall is really free of debt. The contractor who erected the hall was Mr Agnow, of Roslyn, from plans drawn out by Mr J. A, Burnside, the ground being a gift by Mr Adam Begg. The hall was opened on Sunday, February 21, by the 11.v. DrStuart. Thero was a; good congicgatijn, the church services for' the day being lillu in the new building. In tho morning Dr Stuart read from the 35th chapter of Exodus. While congratulating the congregation on the building they had for their children, ho exhorted them to continue thoir liberality until the hall Bhould be free of debt. His address dealt with Bible Bchoole, their great antiquity, and the important part they formed of the religious institutions of the Jews. To these schools, he said, not only the boys, but thoir fathers, and even their grandfathers, came to be taught Bible truths. Seeing that nowadays the Bible was barred out from the public schools, the Sunday Bchools were all the more needed.

In the afternoon Dr Stuart again conducted the service. The Suuday school children were present in force, while there was a good attendance of parents and friends. The service was catechetical, the whole school being invited to answer the questions put by Dr Stuart. The evening service was conducted by Rev, R. R. M. Sutherland, who took for his text Matthow xix. U, xvii. 17, and dwelt on the duty of parents to bring their children to Christ. He pointed out how Christianity alone makes much of children, and then proceeded to emphasise the duty of parents, teachers, and all who have influence over children—(l) to suffer the children to come to Jesus ; (2) to forbid them not; and (3) to bring them to Him. On Tuesday, February 23, there was a meeting held for the purpose of reading the building reports of the Session, also of the Committee of Management. The Revs. Dr Stuart and Mr Spence gave addresses, and on behalf of the congregation the former presented Mr Cameron with a purse of sovereigns. He congratulated the church on again having their pastor after his long abaense through weakness of the throat, Mr Speuce gave an address on Sunday schools, and during the evsning the choir, under the leadership of Mr Fielden, contributed several selections. During an interval the teachers passed round a quantity of fruit, presented by Messrs Pryor and Son ; and subsequently a vote of thanks was passed to the speakers, the choir, and all who had helped to make the meeting a success,

On Friday night tho ladies of the congregation presided over a tea-meeting held at 6 30. Tea was served in the downstairs hall and tho two large class rooms, Cakes were baked by some of the ladieß of the congregation, while others gave butter, eggs, and milk. Outsiders, too, were not behind in their generosity, and the gift of a piece of beef by Mr Vanstone and a ham by Mr Peterson were a considerable help. After all expenses had been deducted the soiree brought the fund Ll7. From seven to eight, while tea was in progress in the side rooms, instrumental mußio was going on in the main hall. Misses Chisholm gavo a pianoforte duct, Misses Chisholm, K. Burnside, and M. Brunton pianoforte solos, Miss Davey an organ solo, and Mr Fielden a horn bolo, with organ accompaniment by Miss K. Burnside. After tea Mr Cameron occupied tho chair, and addresseß wero given by Revp, llintonand Gibson-Smith, Mr P. But (treasurer of the Sunday School Union), and Mr Todd (superintendent of Knox Church Sunday School) Between the speeches tho Sunday school scholare, under the leadership of Mr D. N. Pryor, gave five glees, Miss Pryor officiating at the organ. Songs were given by Miss Pryor and Mr Barmby. Votes of thanks wero passed to all who had helped in the preparations, to the speakers, and the performers. An enjoyable evening was brought to a close by Mr G. Smith pronouncing the benediction,