SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2309, 30 November 1925, Page 3

SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY.

SERVICES AT ST. PAUL’S. CHURCH. The. anniversary services in connection with St. Paul’s Methodist Sunday School were held yesterday, when there were largo congregations throughout the day. Over 270 children, which number includes the Bible Class membeis, participated, and* the singing of the little ones was a delight to those privileged to hear them. The annL versary hymns proved a pleasurable selection, and met with full justice from the young songsters, who presented an impressive sight arrayed tier on tier before the congregation. Their voices blended beautifully* the infants' to no small advantage, and the effect was considerably enhanced by the conductor, Mr. A. Tregurtha and the organlste, Miss Maisle Bennett.

The morning, afternoon and evening services were conducted by the Revs. H. T. Peat, C. W. Duncumb and M. A. Rugby Pratt respectively.

The Rev. Peat took as his text Zechariah 13-1: "There shall he a fountain, opened for sin and for uncieanness.” He spoke first on the various kinds of fountains, and then pointed out that the fountain in the text was the best of all. There were three reasons why, the first being- because it was so easy to reach, needno journey to discover it, but al. ways near. Whenever people prayed “Oh, Lord, pardon my sin,” the fountain was alongside. The second reason why the fountain was the best because it was flowing all the time, and the third, because it had such wonderful powers—power to cleanse from sin, to heal the soul’s diseases, to beautify and make the soul resemble the spirit of Christ, and power to save. To save a soul from death, said the speaker, was the best thing that ever could be done. This was what the fountain accomplished. Jesus said "I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” All who washed in the fountain would be cleansed from every stain. In the afternoon, the Rev. Duncumb dealt with the keys that open the doors of success in life. These keys, he said, were patience, courage, integrity, kindness and prayer. In a talk to the children based on truth a»d echoing a simple appeal, he drew' by apt and arresting illustration on the possibilities of his theme, and dwelt particularly on the value of prayer,

quoting the portion of Scripture ‘•Call on Mo in thy day of trouble and I will deliver thee and thou Shalt glorify Me.” Home Life. At the evening service Rev. M. A, Rugby Pratt spoke on ‘‘Homo Life”. He said that just as the health of the body depended upon structural cells of which it was made up, so the welfare of the nation depended upon the homes of the people. The home was divinely ordained as a training school for service where were learnt the first lessons in discipline and government. The home was the real rampart of the State and if home life deteriorated, the social organisation would crumble. The home was the centre of power for fashioning a new and better life for the nation, for from the home the nation took its character. To-day many influences operated against the home. Life no longer focused there. Families were in danger of drifting apart, each member tending to move in his own circle and there was no real unanimity of interests and pursuits. There was a grave disregard of parental authority and a revolt against restraint. Many parents did not know their daughters’ acquaintances nor their sons’ friends. The 5 preacher proceeded to deal with the conditions confronting the young people of to-day and appealed for a larger measure of sympathy of youth. The old safeguards were falling into ruin whilst the perils besetting youth had multiplied. The young could not be kept from temptation but they could be fortified to resist the temptation. Nothing could strengthen the character of the young like a genuinely religious atmosphere in the home. The chief reason why the church failed to hold some of its young people w r as because it received so little backing in the homes of the people. The young folk were throbbing with the hammering pulses of awakening adolescence. They longed for adventure and were swayed by a splendid idealism and great though undefined ambitions. This was a period of restlessness that was yet full of tremendous possibilities. They must seek to develop in the young a sense of the grandeur of personality and to teach them something of the great and noble meaning of life and lead them to personal surrender to Jesus Christ for the service of society. At the afternoon service opportunity was taken to present the scholars with the prizes won during the year.

The anniversary celebrations will continue on Wednesday, when there will be a tea and a public meeting to follow.