SABBATH SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 15539, 8 July 1914, Page 9

SABBATH SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING. A largo number of those in Sabbath school work attended the First Church Hall last night, on. -the occasion of tho annual meeting of the Dune dip Presbyterian Sabbath School Association. Mr D. S. Beath presided. The executive submitted, a lengthy report for the year, from which we quote tho following items : —“ During ihe year a forward movement was made in the direction of holding meetings for teachers every month. Tho meetings—held alternately at First Church Hall and at a suburban hall — were on ibe whole well attended, the attendance ranging from 35 to 90. There are, however, over 400 teachers in Dunedin and suburbs. We believe that these meetings have been of great benefit to teachers. By pointing the way to newer and better methods they arouse a desire to get away from old, disheartening, ineffective methods of work. Your association made an effort to get 100 delegates to attend the Oamaru Oojnference, numerous handbills and circulars being issued and placed in the hands of every teacher in the Presbytery. Tire result was an attendance of 50 delegates—this number representing one-fourth, the total number at the conference. Fortyfour new volumes were added to the library- daring the year, there being now 83 volumes on the shelf. The librarian’s report shores that'there are 54 regular users of the library, and that 149 books have been taken out during tho year. The second year of the training class was commenced immediately after Easter, and the classes are still iu progress. Wo regret to report that, compared with last year, the attendance shows a failing off of from 60 to 40. Our first examination in .Scripture memorising was held on October 3 last. There were 536 entrants from 16 schools, but of this number only 113 fated tho examination. In last year's report inference was made to the fact that a scheme for improving the exiting system of grading questions and divisions in catechism had been forwarded to the Assembly’s S.S. Examination Committee for its consideration. Wo regret to report that the scheme was not adopted, and at the Assembly’s examination the number of candidates was: Scripture 252, catechism 331, and essay 101—a. total of 584 (an increase of 176 compared with the previous year). It will be remembered that last year’s figures showed i decrease of 170. so that this year’s figures are practically the same as' those for 1911. In the 30 charges in the Presbyfeiy there are 65 schools. At the end of the iast church year tho number of loaders and officers was 606—a decrease of 9 compared with the previous year—-92 tea-hers having resigned and 83 joined. The number of children on the- roll waj 5,419. an apparent decrease of 188 compared with the previous year, and the average attendance was 4,021, a decrease if 465. These decreases are partly expained by the fact that one large schoo’ had tho previous year included its EiMe- class attendance with its Sunday eofool attendance, the error being rectified /his year. When this is taken into account', we find that there is a decrease of 1 in tbs number of teachers, of 22 in the rrii number of children, and of about 300 hi the average attendance. We had *x ported that teachers would show an ijerease this year as the j result of the establishment of primary departments at sA’eral of our schools. The explanation seeps to be that last year Sunday schoo] (fficers were included with teachers in the..Blue Book statistics, and this year they ire not included. Contributions from congregations for the support of schools anptnted to £SBO, an increase of £216; contributions from schools for self-support i-736, an increase of £46; for missions £ZtJ, a decrease of £215; for youth fund £ls, and for other objects £s3—a totd of. £1,362, This year was commenced <rith a credit balance in the general aCcuut of £l2 18s 7d. Tho receipts toid'ed £ls 13s 4d, and the expenditure £l9 2s Id, leaving a credit balance of jJ9 9s lOd. Annual subscriptions out stand ng amount to £4 10s. The credit balance!® the examination prize fund account fom last year was £22 Ss 9d. The receipt! totalled £3O 19s 6d, arid the expenditie £3l 19s 4d, leaving a credit balarm of £2l 5s lid. Th/ Chairman, in moving the adoption of iA report, remarked that it required littl comment from him. He laid stress upd tho importance of schools sending repr«entatives to meetings of the associaiiq. Their grateful thanks were duo to M G. W. Carrington, tho secretary, for very full and able report he had pro died. (Applause.) The report was adopted. 'Tire following office-bearers were elected;— President. Mr K. Duncan (who j was welcomed by the chairman and presided over the remaining portion of the proceedings) ; vice-presidents, Messrs D. 8 Beath and J. Reid ; secretary and treasurer, Mr G, W. Carrington. The Rev. J. C. Jamieson intimated that First Church was going to hold a Bible study school from the 10th to the 14th August, and that about six from each congregation would be welcome.