DIOCESAN SUNDAY SCHOOLS

Evening Star, Issue 21518, 16 September 1933, Page 22

DIOCESAN SUNDAY SCHOOLS

TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION The annual meeting of the Diocesan Sunday School Teachers’ Association was held on Wednesday evening in the crypt of the cathedral, the Rev, Canon Button presiding. The annual report presented stated that at the examination held last November scholars from ten schools had entered, and out of 180 papers sent to the examiner 8 had gained first-class honours, 26 second-class honours, and 51 pass marks. The prize giving was held in St. Matthew’s Schoolroom when the bishop spoke briefly to the children and teachers and presented the prizes and certificates, after which a short programme of items contributed by children from the various schools was enjoyed by all present. The teachers’ festival bold at “ Mount Lodge ” on December G, thanks to the courtesy of Mrs W. E. Edmond, was an enjoyable function, about fifty teachers being present No winter meetings had been hold during the year, the response from teachers not being sufficient, but teachers were invited to attend addresses given to tho Bible Class Union. The picnic was held at Mosgiel on February 18, nine schools joining in. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £5 4s. In moving the adoption of tho report and balance-sheet, Canon Button said that although the meeting was a small one ho did not think that was an indication of what the association, was doing, as most of the teachers were students and could not attend meetings, hut as most of tho parishes were represented it showed that interest was not lacking. He thought they should try to extend tho scope of tho association. In the face of tho very distinct and anti-Christian teaching given to some of the children of tho present day they had to use every means in their power to try to keep the children in close touch with the church. The trend to-day was anti-Christian, and they could * only combat it through teaching the people and the children the great Christian truths. The work of the Sunday school was going on ; and the association was of great assistance in helping to keep the teachers together ami letting them feel that they were members of a corporate body and not separate units working alone, iii regard to the winter meetings, the response did not seem to warrant arranging addresses. The combined picnic bad warranted itself, most of the schools taking advantage of it,_ as in many ways they found it convenient to join in with others, and it was a means of bringing the people of different fiarishes together in a social way. He loped the festival would be held again this year, as it'was always an enjoyable function, and it was also a means of bringing clergy and teachers of tho different parishes together. The following officers were re-elected: —President, the Rev. Canon Button; vice-presidents—Dean Cruickshank, the Rev. W. A. Hamblett, and the Rev. A. Wingfield; secretary and treasurer, Miss E. M. .Blyth. The following motions were passed: —“ That the teachers’ festival be held on Saturday, December 9, a sub-com-mittee to consist of Misses Robinson, Gore, Ferry, and Watson, and Mr E. Bond.” “ That tho combined picnic be held on February 10, a sub-commit-tee consisting of the Rev. Canon Button, the Rev. W. A. Hamblett, and Miss Blyth to make inquiries as to a suitable place and grounds and report to a later meeting.” “ That Dean Cruickshank, Canon Button, and the Revs. W. A. Hamblett and S. Hurd be appointed as a committee to draw up the syllabus for 1934.”