HUMOURS OF A SCRIPTURAL EXAMINATION.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 2, Issue 127, 10 July 1895, Page 3

HUMOURS OF A SCRIPTURAL EXAMINATION.

(Melbourne Aoe.) Tho ordinary school boy, labouring to evade tho pitfalls of tho pitiless and inquisitive inspector, occasionally quite unconsciously makes excellent jokes. That this peculiarity is not solely confined to tho scriptureless scholar of tho State school, however, was amply demonstrated at tiie sitting of tho commission of the Presbyterian Assembly. In connection with tho church there is what is known as the Allan bequest scheme of examination, and written queries aro sent to and received from a great many of tho scholars of the Sunday Sohonl of that denomination. Tho secretary, Mr Wishart, reported on tho working of tho scheme recently to the commission, and showod a Special thoughtfulncss by delighting his audienco—both clerical and lay—with somo question wrung witticisms which had been received by tho committee. Iloro are a few samples : Question : 'What is effectual calling?' Answers : (1) ' Calling two or three times at once, or calling all the time.' (2) ' A work of God's grace whereby wo aro removed into another world.' Question : ' What is required in the tenth commandment ?' Answer : 'To do everything without covetousness and look upon ourselves with full contempt.' To the request for a brief 'est showing that prayer should be offered up for what is required for the support of lifo, a scholar answered, ' We should pray that Christ would be kind to our parents, deliver us from all evil dinners, breakfasts, bread and meat, and other requisites.' Another question put was, !'Y/hat two classes of men came to see the child Jesus ?' To tins one boy replied, ' Wild men of the East;' whilo another wrote, 'AVise men of tho East offored Josus the franchise.' Mr Wishart explained that the boy probably referred to frankincense. The following are a few other answers, the reading of which greatly amused tho meeting. Question —' Who was the first Christian martyr, and what wero his last words ?' Answers : ' Martin Luther. His last words—' I am the light of the world.' ' ' Agrippa. He said, 'Be suro and kill David.' ' Question—- ' What would have saved Sodom '?' Answer : ' Water. They had no Fire Brigade.' Question—' Name three «r four ways in which the Sabbath was brokon in Nohemiak's time ?' Answer —' They married infidels, worshipped asses, and trpd. wine presses.'