WELLINGTON'S 50 YEARS OLD SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXVII, Issue 234, 15 October 1891, Page 2

WELLINGTON'S 50 YEARS OLD SUNDAY SCHOOL.

(Post, October 12.) v - Wesley Sunday School, Tarariaki-street^ which was established by some of the pioneers of Wellington m 1841, is this week celebrating the completion of its fiftieth year of existence. The series of jubilee gatherings was commenced yesterday, when three very remarkable services were beld m the church. They were remarkable chiefly for the general tone of jubilation that permeated every stage of the proceedings. The decorations inside the church were admirably carried out, consisting of the wreathing of the pillars with evergreens and flowers, the decking of the pulpit and the organ m a similar manner, and the bestowal about the walls of bannerettes and scrolls bearing appropriate texts. But the great feature of the day was the wonderful singing of the school children's choir. To the number of about 600, they had been trained by Mr W. Billman to a degree of proficiency that could hardly by credited by one who has not heard them. The cheerful voices cf such a multitude of little ones, supplemented by the contralto, tenor, and bass parts furnished by the eldee scholars and the Wesley choir, made up a volume of sound that was quits electric m its effects upon the hoarers. The class of music taken m hand, too, was what is generally considered, far beyond the capabilities of children. Even with an adult choir, such choruses as the ." Hallelujah' from "The Messiah," Haydn's "The Heaven's are Tolling," and tho Gloria from Mosart's Twelfth Mass are no small undertaking, and it might well have been thought almost impossible to train children to render them presentably. The astonishing degree of success gained iv this instance is a monument to Mr Billman's industry and perseverance. Every lead m these difficult works was taken up with absolute precision, and the rendering of the oratorio choruses, as well as the numbers of anthems and Jubilee hymns, and the harmonised setting of tho Lord's Prayer, were as near perfection as one may reasonably ever hope tho work of children to be. A poworful oroheßtra was stationed with the choir m the galleries of the church, and gave valuable assistance. Mr Billman acted as conductor, and Mr W. J. Harland presided at the organ. [UNITED PBES3 ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, October 14. The Jubilee celebration services of Weßloy Church Sunday School have so far been most successful at all the services. On Sunday last, and at last night's musical festival hundreds were unable to gain ad« cnittance to the capacious church. It is • estimated eight thousand have attended the meetings. On Friday next a reunion of aid scholars and teachers will be, held, a great many of whom have come from all parts of the oolony to be present,