DURHAM STREET WESLEYAN SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3201, 18 April 1871, Page 2

DURHAM STREET WESLEYAN SUNDAY SCHOOL.

The services of the sixteenth anniversary of the al'ovc school were held in the Wesleyan Church. Durham street, on Sunday and yesterday evening. The sermons on the Sabbath were preached—in the morning, by the Rev. W. Kirk, and in the evening, by the Rev. A. Rooertson Fitcbett; and the address to the scholars in the afternoon was delivered by the Kev. A. R Kitctiett. The spacious church was well filled in the morning, and in the afternoon and evening was crowded. The collections at the morning and evening sermons amounted to £2l 16s Bj. Yesterday evening, the annual public tea meetinz was held in the school-room, when near 400 persons sat down to a capital tea, presided over by the female teachers of. the school. After tea, the aonnal public meeting was held in the church, Mr F. J. Garrick in the chair. After the usual devotional services Mr Garrick expressed his pleasure in presiding on such an occasion, and notwithstanding there being no need for remarks from him in support of Sunday Schools, in consequence of the number of reverend gantlemen to address the meeting, be must be allowed to express his great interest in the right training of the young. He would call upon the secretary of the committee, Mr Dawson, to read the following REPORT. “ The comm ttee of the Sabbath School have much pleasure, on the oc asion of this another anniversary,, in submitting to this congregation a statement of the affairs of the school. In reporting favourably upon the attendance, the success which has crowned the labours of the teachers, who have thrown their energies into this department of the church’s work, and the general prosperity which has, under God’s blessing, attended be school throughout the Inst twelve months. The number of children on the roll at th* present time is 176 boys and 169 girls, total 315 ; average attendance, morning 110, afternoon 235. As compared with last year’s report, these numbers show a net increase of 65 scholars during the year, with a corresponding increase in the average attendance. There are at present 35 teachers on the roll; 21 male and 14 female, as against 23 male and 6 female last year. The commit:ee desire to remind you of the call for more female teachers made by the Superintendent at the last annual meeting. This has been heartily responded to, inasmuch as during the year eight have been added to their number. “ Besides the ordinary classes in the school, there is the young men's Bible class, established now for upwards of five years, and conducted in one of the vestries by Mr E. Onnall, the average attendance upon which is 18. The object of this class is to preserve a connecting link between the Sabbath school and the church, several of these young men have joined the church during the year. This agency strongly recommends itself to such youths as have outgrown the more juvenile classes, who too often then conclude hat their spiritual instruction is completed, and spend their Sabbath afternoons in enjoyments of a questionable character.

“ The young women’s class is being successfully conducted by Mrs Hitchie. The attendunce, however, is very fluctuating, as many of its members are engaged in service and are consequently prevented from enjoying the full benefit of 'he valuable instruction imparted by their zealous and experienced teacher. A large number of those whom this class was intended to benefit being connected with the congregation, the committee would take this opportunity of urging its claims, and reminding them of the privileges connected therewith.

“ The infant cUss is of a very interesting character, numbering 96 children, and is conducted in a separate part of the building by Messrs 8. Tally and Greenup conjointly, with much tact and spirit, and evident success. “ As regards the mode of conducting the school, the Catechism is taugbt in the morning, and in the afternoon, after the usual lessons on the first Sunday of the mouth, hall an hour is devoted to a prayer meeting. On the second and fourth Sundays an address is given to the scholars and on the third a series of missionary anecdotes are read, which ate found to be very interesting and profitable as a medium of communicating information respecting the mission field in an acceptable form.

“ A new feature lias lately been introduced, namely, lectures to the teachers, proposed and initiated by tho Kev. Mr Heid, who delivered a course of six lectures on the Geography of Palestine; two were also given by Mr Armitage harmonising difficu't passages of Scripture, and two by Mr Cumberworth, being an exposition of the Ist chapter of Genesis, and the best mode of instructing the young. “ The Committee would take this opportunity of expressing their sincere thanks to these gentlemen for their valuable assistance to the teachers in their studies, which was highly appreciated by all. “ The Library is now in a very flourishing condition. In July last the sum of jE2O was voted for the purchase of books, and a subcommittee appointed to make a selection in the best market This was carefully done, f'om the catalogue of the Sunday School Union in London, and the result is, that 314 well bound and suitable volumes hare been put upon the shelves of the library within the last month—l 7 of which were not charged fur, being a donation from the Union. “ It is worthy of note that among the more advanced scholars there are 27 who are now recorded as members of the Church, meeting regularly in class. Thus, encouraged by past successes, trusting in Divine assistance, and inspired with hope concerning a still brighter and more prosperous future, the Committee would now embark thi« department of our common cause upon the efforts, liberality, and prayers of the congregation.” The Treasurer's report showed the income for the year to be £37 I6sSd, and the expenditure £35 18s 8d -, showing a balance m hand of £1 7s 9d. Mr Muunings, the superintendent of the school, moved the adoption of the report. He referred to the value of absentee visitors, and as the school was in need of one or more, ex-

rested a hope that suitable gentlemen of the congregation would manifest a willingness to undertake tbe duties of such office. He also expressed himself in iavour of a library, specially for tbe use of the teachers. The Kev. W. Keall seconded the adoption ef the report. Heferring to absentee visitation, he said that it always appeared to him to be the duty of teachers to visit'their own absentees. Parents hl.-o should evince an interest in the welfare of their children as Sunday scholars. The rev. gentleman spoke of the value of Bible classes as 1 a means of attaching senior scholars to the church. The report was u.mmaioudy adopted. The Rev. R. 8. Bunn said that (he fact of tbe large number of children who pass out of the Sunday •School, and do not eater into the church, was truly to be deplored, and recommended that the Christian ministry, in conjunction with Christian parents, should make farther efforts to attach children at tbe ages of from 1* to 16 to the church. The prop or tion of those thus attached bore no relation to those under actual instruction. He recommended tbe formation of a Methodist Sabbath School conference for Canterbury, to meet, »ay, on Good Friday in each year, for the consideration of such great questions connected with child training as belonged to their various schools. Mr Connall, in referring to the education movement of the piesent day, advocated the necessity of the churi h’s taking advantage of it, for the purpose of educating the mind in religion. He maintained that no education •could be perfect which overlooked that element. He believed that if the t-abbath-school was to be effectively employed in this branch of educational work, a higher position should be given to it; and he r .priced to see that, in London, competitive examinations were being' employed, with 'he view of securing greater efficiency in Sunday-school teaching. The Rev. W. Morley alluded to some of the histories! facts connected with the rise of Sunday-schools, which he maintained were but a modern development of an cid Bible principle. The Jews, under theMosaicdispeneation, were charged to show great care in the moral and religious training of their children. Martin Luther and John Knox instituted Sunday Schools, come of the nonconformists and John Wesley established them. These were all before the reputed founder of such institutions—Robert Raikes, of Gloucester. Alluding to the extension of Sunday-school agency, he advocated some further means of recognition by the Methodist Church, of the spiritual status of Sunday scholars. And as religious usefulness was always in proportion to personal excellence, he concluded by urging all teachers to farther consecration of themselves to God and His service. The Kev. A. R. Fitchett moved the following resolution “ That the following gentlemen be elected a 8 the committee for the ensuing year :—Messrs Rowen, Partridge, Highway, Harrington, Cress well, James Wood, Rutland, Martin, hossiter, W. H. Mein, Searell, and Hunter. Also, that Mr Mannings be appointed superintendent; Mr Melon, secretary ; Mr Buddie, librarian ; and Mr Mouldy, treasurer.” The rev. gentleman passed a high euiogium upon the officers of the school, especially referring to the zealous labour of tbe superintendent, Mr Mannings Mr Fitchett stated his intention of giving as much attention as possible to the Christchurch Sunday School, especially on Sunday afternoons, and would gladly offer himself ash teacher to the superintendent, if he would receive his services as often as his other duties would allow of his giving them. The rev. gentleman (amid applause) expressed the thanks of the school and congregation to Mr Spensley for his assiduous labours in the musical tuition of the chi dren. The Rev W. Kirk briefly seconded the resolution. A principal feature of the services of this anniversary has been the excellent performance by the children and choir (under the leadership, of Mr Spensley) of their hymns and anthems. The proceeds of the tea meeting were about £l7, and tbe collection at tbe public meetiog was £7 Os Bd, which, with the collections at the Sunday services, make the entire proceeds of the anniversary £4517s 2d.