OTAGO SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

Evening Star, Issue 12684, 12 December 1905, Page 1

OTAGO SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

DISmUBUTION OF PRIZES. The annual prize-giving ceremony in connection with the above was held in the First Church last night. The president, Mr W. L. Logie, was in the chair, and the church was well filled. The Rev. M. J. B. Bennett opened the proceedings with prayer. The Secretary (Mr John Shaw) read the examination report, which stated inter alia that the annual examination was held on Friday evening, September 29, and the essay competition on October 6. The subject of tho examination was, as usual, the international lessons for the third quarter of tho year, and the theme for the essay ‘ The Life and Times of Hezekiah.’ Forty-seven schools and Bible classes competed, and entered 621 scholars for the examination and 41 for the essay competition, or a total of 662, of whom 458 sat. These numbers show a considerable falling off from those of last year. This was due to two causes—tho Presbyterian Sunday School examination, which occasioned a large decrease in the number of candidates from Presbyterian schools, and tho difficulty of this year’s lessons, which deterred many scholars from entering. The difficulty of the lessons was, however, more apparent than real, as is shown by the fact that a larger percentage of the candidates satisfied the examiners this year than in the two preceding years. The percentage of passes in the whole examination is remarkably high, being 88.86. All the essay candidates have passed'; in both tlio first and second grades 95 per cent., and in the third and fourth grades 84 per cent, have passed. Over 60 per cent, of all the candidates who sat have gained either prizes or first class certificates. The papers, as a whole, show an improvement in neatness, and in many cases were exceedingly neat, and well and carefully written. The schools which cany off tine largest number of prizes are St. Andrew’s Presbyterian (which has gained 13), King street Congregational, (which has gained 9;, Kaikorai Baptist, and South Dunedin Baptist (which have gained 8 each). The highest number of marks gained in the examination was; awarded to Winnie Wakelin, of the Kaikorai Baptist School, who is first in the fourth grade with 98 jxs cent.

Special commendation is due to Violet M'Queen, of Ravensboume Presbyterian School, who, though laboring under the affliction of blindness, has gained a prize in the first grade with 78 per cent, of marks. The prize selected for her is the Acts of the Apostles, in Braille’s type for the blind. A very satisfactory feature of the examination is the success of country schools. Prizes are awarded for 75 per cent, of marks and upwards, first class certificates (for which books are given) for 60 per cent to 74 per cent,, second class certificates for 50 per cent, to 59 per cent., third class certificates for 40 per cent, to 49 per cent. Of the 458 candidates, 42 sat in grade 1, 114 in grade 2, 158 in grade 3, 121 in grade 4, and 23 in the essay competition. Jn all 134 candidates have been awarded prizes, 146 first class. 76 second class, and 51 third class certificates. The examiners were:—First grade, Eev. George Heighway; second grade. Rev. H. Ranston; third grade, Rev. D. S. Mason ; fourth grade, Rev. A. Don; essay, Mr C. R. D. Richardson, B.A To these gentlemen the Executive of the Union desire to express their gratitude. The Executive also desire to congratulate Mrs M. J B. Bennett on the capable and businesslike manner in which she has discharged the duties of examination secretary in her three years’ term of office, and tender her their sinceresb thanks for tlie work she has accomplished, and their regret that her projected departure from Dunedin will deprive them of ter services.

The report was received with applause. The Assistant Secretary (Mr D. J. Miller) then read the prize-list, as follows : ESSAY COMPETITION. Examiner; Mr C. R. D. Richardson, B.A Ages, 16 yearn and over. Prizes.—B7 Bella Farqnbarson (Mornington Presbyterian) and Margaret Young (Purakanui Presbyterian); 83 Bella Brinsley (Dundas street Primitive Methodist) and Winnie Girvan (Dundas street Primitive Methodist); 80 Ruby Crono (Port Chalmers Congregational); 79 Maud Ridley (Moray place Congregational), Mary Wright (St. Anmls Bible Clas), and Nellie White (Kew Primitive Methodist); 78 Florence Tait (Ravensboume Congregational). Also thirteen first class certificates and one second class. PRIZES. —First Grade.— Examiner: Rev. Geo. Heighway. Ages, 16 years and over. 94 Florence E. Tait (Ravensboume Congregational) ; 89 Alioe M’Lay (Kaikorai Presbyterian), Mary Wright (St. Anne’s Bible Class), Maggie • Wright (St. Anne's Bible Class), Nellie Stewart (St. Anne’s Bible Claes); 88 Amelia Henderson (Leith Valey) and Gladys Allnutt (Roslyn Methodist) ; 87 Edith Wakelin (Kaikorai Baptist) and Barbara Stewart (St. Anne’s Bible Class); 85 Gladys Rishworth (North-east Valley Baptist); 85 Susie Calland (Dundas street Primitive Methodist); 82 Jeanie Shuttleworth (St. Anne’s Bible Class); 81 Eliza Rodger (Tapanui), Bella Farqnbarson (Mornington Presbyterian), and Bessie Carswell (St. Stephen’s); 80 Mary Paterson (St. Clair Congregational) and Ivy Freeman (Roslyn Methodist); 78 Violet M’Queen (Ravensboume Presbyterian); 77 Fred Bayles (Choral Hall); 76 Ernest Driver (North-cast Valley Baptist). Ten first class, eight second-class, and two third class certificates. —Second Grade,— Examiner; Rev. H. Ranston. Ages, 14 and 15 years. 97 Margaret Milne (Maori Hill Presbyterian) and Vora Burnard (Trinity Wesleyan ; 95 Mainie Hare (First Church) ; 94 Bona Frame (Maori Hill Presbyterian) ; 93 Irene Purvis (St. Andrew’s Presby tcrian) and Sophy M’lntyro (St. Stephen’" Presbyterian); 87 Grace Anderson (St. Clair Congregational) and Elizabeth M‘Don aid (Tapanui) ; 86 Elsie Orange (Biccarton Presbyterian), Bebie Dnndon (Dalpeddar Bible Class), Ivy M’Kenzio (St. Andrew’s Presbyterian), and Stanley Aitkcn (Hanover street Baptist) ; 85 Eana. Jeans (Leith Valley), Charles J. Booth (Northeast Valley Presbyterian), Irene Haycock (Dundas street Primitive Methodist), and Percy Wilkinson (King street Congregational) ; 84 Nellie Ebndge (St. Andrew’s Presbyterian) ; 85 Mabel Given (St. Andrew’s Presbyterian), and Elsie Millar (North-east Valley Baptist) ; 82 Grace Mitchelhill (Kaikorai Baptist) and Dora Skinner (St. Andrew’s Presbyterian) ; 81 Chrissio Jefferson (Leith Valley) and Mina Kinnear (Knox) ; 79 Irene Taylor (Port Chalmers Congregational) and Charlotte Fisher (Middlemarch) and Herbert Adams (Hanover street Baptist) ; 78 Madge M‘din - tock (Tabernacle), Hudson Stephens (Kaikorai Baptist), Jessie Brown (Morning-tor Presbyterian), Isabel Forrester (St, Clair Congregational), and Frederick Horner (South Dunedin Baptist) ; 77 Olive E. J Growden (Mornington Church of Christ), Basil Hercus (Choral Hall), and Mildred Foster (Moray place Congregational) ; 76 Hugh M‘Donald (Tapanui), Ruby Kirk (Tapanui), and Rena Stevens (Dalpeddar Bible Class) ; 75 Ernest Johnson (South Dunedin Baptist), Jolm Thomson (Kaikorai Baptd.t), Oswald Mazengarb (Hanover strait Baptist); Alfred Stratton (Hanover street Baptist), and Frances Struthers (First Church) Forty-one first class, nineteen second class, and seven third class certificates. —Third Grade. — Examiner : Rev. D. S. Mason. Ages : 12 and 13 years. Prizes. —90 Leonard H. Booth (Northeast Valley Presbyterian) ; 89 Gertrude Burton (Tabernacle) and Vera Forrester (St. Andrew’s Presbyterian); 87 M illiain Aitken (King street Congregational), Alice Austin (Knox), and John E Jago (Mosgiol Baptist) ,- 86 Elizabeth Wakelin (Kaikorai Baptist); 84 Lament Thomson (Kaikorai Baptist) and Robert Bussell (King street Congregational) ; 8o Enc Burnard (Trinity Wesleyan) ; 82 Harold Clayton (King street Congregational) ; 81 Dona Halo (Moray place Congregational) ;_ 80 Vera Given (St. Andrews Presbyterian), Isobel M’Kenzie (St. Andrews Presbyterian), and Pearl Farrell I Tabernacle); 79 May Bond (South Dunedin Baptist), Andrew Doyle (St Stephens terian), and Lizzie Madaren (Knox); 78 Christina M. Connor (Mosgiel Baptist), Thomas J. Morrow (Maon Hill Baptist), Mabel Buckle (King street Congregational), Stanley Betting (Knox), and Annie Eustace (Trinity Wesleyan) ; 77 Hi da Betting (Bough Ridge), William Ashton (South Dunedin Bantist), and Lucy Millington (King street Congregational); /5 Grace Gibbs (North-east Valley Presbyterian), Ronald Abemethy (lung street Congregational), Lvndon Bastings (St. Andrew’s Presbyterian), Martha Phair (St. Andrew's Presbyterian), and Enid Inghs (Choral Hall) : 75 Myrtle Thomas (South Dunedin Baptist), Vera Robertson (Morey plaoo Congregational), and Lizzie D ishor (Anrowtown). Forty-three first class, twenty-nine second class, and twenty-seven third class certificates. ■—-Fourth Grade. — Examiner; Rev. A, Don. Ages: 10 and U years. prices.—98 Winnie. Wakelin (Kaikorai Baptist) ; 97 Vera Piddington (St. Chur Congregational) ; 92 Greta Scott (Maori Hill Baptist); 91 Arthur Thomson (Kaikorai Baptist); 90 William M. Addon (South Dunedin Baptist); 89 Oliver Begg (North-east Valley Baptist); 87 Nellie Kay (Trinity); 06 Ruby Connell (St. Andrew’s), Kellie'Rigby (Maori Hill Methodist), John Fisher (Arrowtown), and Lucy MTntyre (St. Stephen's! i 85 Evelyn, Mercer fSU An-

draw’s), Jack Austin (Knox), Muriel Anderson (Broad Bay Methodist), and George Phillips (St. Leonards Presbyterian); £4 Wm. Phillips (St. Leonards Presbyterian.) ; 81 Adeline H, Bridges (Morgiel Baptist) and Jessie Allan (Riccarton); 80 Winifred ML Laird (Mosgiel Baptist); 79 Ruth Bell (South Dunedin Baptist); 78 Annio Aitken (King street Congregational) and David A. Bathgate (Maori Hill Presbyterian); 77 Daisy Ontram (Caveretain Baptist) and Stuart Kemshed (Broad Bay Methodist); 75 lan Kicol (St. Andrew’s), Hedley Heighway (King street Congregational), Annie Dove (North-east Valley Baptist), Florence Kemohan (South Dunedin Baptist), and Lizzie Gamble (Riccarton). Thirty-nine first class and nineteen second class and fifteen third class certificates.

The Rev. W. Hay, who, as the chairman announced, had come to speak' to the boys and girls, delivered a fitting address. He tod his hearers that the sight of such a meeting as the one he had to address had the effect of d great stimulant on a minister. The Christian Church, he said, held the future of the word in its hand. The supreme object of Sunday school work was not the mere winning of prizes. Some who had received no prize might have drawn nearer to the goal than those who havo won. The prizes were merely an encouragement towards the ultimate prize. Strength and beauty were the two attributes of Christian character which their teaching aimed to brinsr out. He himself had never seen Jesus Christ, but he was sure that His face was strong and beantifnl and winsome and attractive to the boys and girls. The beauty of the soul shining through the outer life was what Christ gave to those that put their trust in Him. They must first know Christ as their Saviour and their Master and their Lord, and then they must let Him have sway over their lives.

The prizes were then presented to the winners by Mr A. C. Begg, Mrs Bennett, Rev. W. Hay, Mr W. L Logie, and the Rev. G. Heighway. The latter mentioned that until ho had. got to the end of bis examining he did not know that Vio'u-t M‘Queen (referred to above) was blind. She hod won her distinction fairly and conscientiously against those who had all their faculties. Miss McQueen .was warmly applauded as she came forward. Votes of thanks were accorded to the examiners, the secretaries, the Press, and other helpers and friends.