ONE HUNDRED YEARS

Hutt News, Volume 13, Issue 24, 22 November 1939, Page 3

ONE HUNDRED YEARS

$ METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS AT LOWER HUTT The centennial celebrations of the Lower Hutt Methodist Sunday School commenced with three services held on Sunday last, at which interest centred in the singing of the scholars, who had been specially trained by Mr. C. Swift, the organist being Mr. Ron Horman, and the pianist Mrs. Dunkley. A pleasing effect was produced by the children, in white, wearing pale blue favours, against a background ot lilies and purple aquilegias. There were solos and duets by the children and special items by various sections in the school. There were large attendances, many old scholars being present. The morning service was conducted by the Rev. Percy Paris, who referred to the fact that the lesson had been read by Mr. N. A. Hunt, of Feilding, a past superintendent of the school and a great grandson of Mr. Charles Hunt, who had founded the school 100 years before. Mr. Paris said that a feeling of gratitude should be the lFeynote of the celebrations: gratitude to God that from small beginnings He had watched over the steady growth of the school; gratitude to the men and women who in the past and present had dedicated their lives to the service of the children, and especially to the founder of the school, Mr. Chas. Hunt, and the superintendents from his day to the present Mr. D. H. Payne; gratitude that all over New Zealand there were men and women who had been taught the principles of Christianity in the Sunday school and were now serving God and their fellows. Out of gratitude for all that had been done for them the boys and girls should dedicate their lives to God. The scholars had reason to be proud of their school. Mr. Paris told the Btory of the opening of the lighting of a science exhibition in Chicago by a moonbeam, caught by Galileo's telescope in Florence and thrown over the ocean. In a like manner Charles

Hunt had, over 100 years ago, in Sunday school caught the Light of the World in his heart and had brought that Light over the ocean to New Zealand. Down the years that same Light had passed from heart to heart till to-day it was brightening the lives of the present scholars. The preacher in the afternoon was the Rev. Harold T. Peat, minitser of the church, who gave an address illustrated by a number of bells, to the delight of the children. Ronnie Mitchell recited the 23rd Psalm. Noeline Lambert sang a solo and Harley Paton read the eson. Six boys gave a recitation depicting the origin and purpose of the Bible. The president of the conference, the Rev. Angus Mcßean, occupied the pulpit during the evening service, In the course of his address lie reviewed the" progress of the Sunday school from its small beginning a hundred years ago in a raupo whare. He paid a tribute to the pioneers, and to those who through successive stages laboured for the welfare of the young people till now they met for worship in a beautiful ornate brick church. The minister of the church welcomed the vast congregation which overflowed into the vestries and Wesley Hall. Many returned home to listen in to the service. Among those present were their Excellencies the Governor-General and Lady Galway, the Hon. Walter Nash and Mrs. Nash, the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Andrews), the deputy Mayor (Mr. J. Mitchell) and Mrs. Mitchell, Mr. N. Allen Hunt, a former Sunday school superintendent and a great grandson of Charles Hunt, the founder of the Sunday school, L. Wakefield, a grand-daughter of Edward | Gibbon Wakefield, and several exteachers of the Sunday school. The Governor-General read the Lesson and Jocelyn Benstead and Patricia Clark sang a duet and Bob Lambert a solo. < The anniversary celebrations will be continued next Sunday at 11 a.m., 2.45 p.m., and 7 p.m., concluding with the Centennial prizegiving ceremony and tea meeting on Tuesday, November 28. The preachers next Sunday at the respective services will/be the Rev. R. B. Gosnell, Rev. J< S. Murray, M.A., and the Rev. Harold T. Peat.