PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCRIPTCRE CLASSES.

North Otago Times, 5 December 1908, Page 1

PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCRIPTCRE CLASSES.

The second annual distribution of prizes in connection with itlio Scripture classes conducted by Mie Minister's Association in connection with tbrj Onmaru public schools 'took place in the Opera House .last -evening, There was a good attendance of parents and friend.?, though the dross. airclc was not so well filled as dt« might Jinvc been, this being probably duo to another oittnactlon clsowhero. In addition <to addresses by several of the speakers, a numjljer .of items, were L'iven by tho pupils ol Iho threo schools, to the ovidouti pleasure o! the adults and the delight o! 'the vouiifcr portion ol the audience, to- ; other with a solo by "Mi* C, James Alter, the •sinking of a hymn and 'the Lord's Prayer, led by the Itcv J, G. S. Bartlctt', the Rev, R, J, Porter inviictl tlio Mayor to kite the chair, saying that lie had taken a live interest in tho work, Tho Chairman thanked .the liev. R. J. Porter lor the manner in which he had introduced him. lie need not say ithathe was very much interested in-the work done by tho Ministers' Association. He read an apology from, Mr : Miilncr, rector of -tihe Waitalu Boys' illiglt School, for his inability -to attornl, Whatever diversity of opinion there might be in regard to the manner ill wh ! ch religious instruction should be imparted, there could he 110 disacreement as to the need for that instruction and that it should, lie undertaken by accredited ministers of the Gospel. Tho work done by tho ministers ot Oamaru was of an excellent chnraoter, and it \vi\6 of an entirely undenominational character, which was fitting,. The whole ot the ministers weita united, and provided an object lesson to tlio whole of 'theDominion. 110 uiado mention oi 'tho manner in which the school 'committees oi the (town, the .teachers of the three schools, and the parent's had co-operated. Tho Eov. ,E.' J. "Porter, President of -the Ministers' Association, who was received with , great applause,, .referred to the origin ot the present system-of giving religious instruction in Nelson, and mentioned how, it had spread -to Hawkcs Bay, and 'then to Oamaru about' four years ago,-Since then it had continued lo crow, .and whereas when a start'- was, made here there were only 3-5 classes in exis't'enqq. the number on the flflith June last was MM, and others had been started since then. Probably next year tho number would be 374, He then gave details of tlio olasses in various parts of New' Zealand and siid that there were now sonic thing l'.ko. 'lfyOOO boys and girls | mooting onco a week to rcccivo in-; struction,' [He mentioned that a Home! missionary in a very wide district rodo long -distances to' ; hold classes of the kind, and if. that could lo donciby a young, man under such difficulties surely; ministers ivliose parishes .were small could do ihc ..work required of them," He had mentioned the figures and faO'ts in orclo'r to elicit the interest' aw' assistance of

parents, and; took- opportunity of again making his acknowledgement?) of ijio help that had- • been given',j,y .tho school committees of Oamaru, who : lmd shown .hearty sympathy with the work, and not' only the headmasters, but all the assistant teachers, had cordially ".co-operated. ■ Tho Rev, F, G, Buckingham said no had pleasure in taking part in

the work 0 f Scriptural instruction in the Schools jn Nelson and 'then again since he cimio to Oamaru. It would l;« a positivo misfortune if tlio children wero allowed to grow ,up without a knowledgo of tho Bible, the" I class book of all Christian religion, til? _ aourco from which tho proat Uwtian litcraturo had sprung, which contained tho liiistoa'y/lijfe and teaching of tho Suprema Person iof the aged. , They had solved by experience the problem of .whether or not religious instruction; "could be imparted to the ehildrein' without! tional propagandism.* fle added his acknowledgement of tlio assistant receivecl, and said" that if nil school ooninnttccs wero ffliliditcrwl no

,r «"UKuwiieu as tiiose ot. Oamaru tlliey would hav c oci'iptui'nl instruction in every school in tho Dominion, .The annual report', as already puj} -hshed, wa a read by tho flew T. N Willin, Secretary to itlio Ministers Association. The -distribution of prizes was the made according! to itlie follbwinclist: : NORTH SCHOOL. / Standard Vl.—Frank Tempero il-, Dorothy Henry 2 1 . Standard V.-Lily Godfrey and Milent Cook /equal) 1, Irene Cunninjrliam 2. Standard IV.-Janetta G. 1 Ivy Amies 2. ' Standard 111.-Madge Grave 1, Elsie Moscrop. and Kato Allan .(equal) 2i ' j Standard I,—John M, Young 1 John Meldruni 2, Standard I.—Kenneth Scoon 1, Clara Grev 2. •'

middle school. Standard VI,-Elaine Nontih 1, Lena Simkin 2, ■ Standard V.—Winifred Stewart 1 Katlileou Milligan 2, Standard IV,—Laurel Badoley 1 Olive Watson 2. ' o^. nc ' Q , r( ] Hl,—Alan' Stevenson 4; lliyllis Adamson 2, Eva Kimiri 3, .Standard 11,-Howard Sumpter 1, William Harper 2, Mail's Kinir 3. SOUTH SCHOOL. " Standard VI,-Stewart Gibb 1, Katie Hunter 1, Harold GraVo 3, Standard V.-Florence Mi lien 1, Graco Johnston 2, John Lucas 3. St am l ar( i IV.-Ivy Kenn 1, F, M'Kenzie -2, Yvonne Lucas and Eileen Ramsay (etiualV 3. Mr T. H, Matlicson proposed a cry hearty vole of thanks to the school committees and to the teachers -for ilia assistance accorded totlic ministers. This was accorded by acclamation, Mr J., Mitchell moved votfe'" of thanks to the ipisters' who lmd given instruction, to tho 'examiners, ai)d to ■ tlie Mayor for presid'n?. The motion was ctrntetf- by acclamit on, followod by three hearty cheers for tho ministers. The swing of n hymn, and the Benediction pronounced by (lie Rev T. n. Posjveare, brought tho mce'tin® fo a closo. ' ' '