WESLEYAN CHURCH, PITTSTREET, ANNIVERSARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6664, 28 March 1883, Page 5

WESLEYAN CHURCH, PITTSTREET, ANNIVERSARY.

The anniversary soiree and public meeting of the Sunday-school of this church was held yesterday evening in 1 n church building, Pitt-street, Mr. James Buttle in the chair. About 300 of the friends of the Church, parents and guardians of the children partook of tea in the schoolroom. The trays were provided by Mesdames Crowe, Froude, Bottrel), Tremaine, Misses Buddie, Graham, Grubb, Speace, Shorland, Davh s, H»!yday, Garty, Gunson, Crago, Lawson. The proceedings were opened with de otional ex ercises. The Cijaiehax addressed the congregation upon the indications of success iu Sundayschools. Mr. Mitchell (Secretary) read the report of the Sunday-school for the pa-%t year, from which we take the following : —Regret was expressed that the usual amount of progress could not be recorded. The officers and teachers were 43 as compared with 45 in the previous year. The average attendance of teachers in the morning was ]1 (being the same as the previous year), in the afternoon 33 as against 35. The number of scholars on the roll was 4GO as against 4SO, and the average attendance 292 as against 255. Though these figures might not be deemed satisfactory on the whole, yet it was felt that the visible measure i f spiritual success which oui;ht to have attended the efforts of the school had r.ot been realised. There was one death during the year— Miss Hollingdrake a member of the Young Women's Bible Class. The library contains 400 volumes. Funds did not allow the number to be increased. The circulation of books was 30 per week. The Band of Hope, under Mr. Caughey, was making satisfactory progress. There Were 232 names on the roll last year and 272 this year. The attendance averaged 71 members, exclusive of parents and friends. The school hoped to have had a surplus, but as it started with a deficiency of £2(f at the commencement of the year, the actual deficiency of £2 would not be deemed, unsatisfactory. Ihe scholars had expressed a wish to have a banner, and facility was given to collect for that object. had be en collected and contributed by the senior ?i)ble Class. The school wSSTabout to'lose the F.crvicesof Missesßuddle,and Shorland. It had lost the services from various causosof Mrs. Garty, Messrs. Birch, Hooker, Rhodes, Barton, and Tanfield, who were all excellent workers. The receipts were as follows : Anniversary, £68 13i 6d ; sale of school books, £S 19s4d; Festival, £3(5 10<7d ; collections for Home Mission, £40 Is l£d ; total, £104 4s 6Jd ; expenditure, £156 10s 31 d ; balance due to Treasurer, £2 5s 9d ; library fund (collected), £9 Ss od ; expended, £S2s ; banner fund, £21 12s 0d ; tent fund, £6 63 9d. The Rev. J. RoßnitT.-sos (Beresford-street i Congregational Church) addressed the congregation up m the " Sunday-school in Relation to the Family.He said'although the report set forth that the operations of the year had Dot been blessed to the extent desired, there might have been some mistake. There might have been eomo inisap prehension. A golden harvest often followed a season of little promise. In tiie Old Testam • the Jews were told fo speak of the works of God to their children. It threw the responsibility of teaching their children on parents. They were to lead their children's footsteps in the way of peace and righteousness. The Sunday-school did much, but it could never do what parents could do in respect to the religion of the childreu. Parents did appreciate the Sundayscliool—for the purpose of getting rid of their children for an hour or two. No doubt the parent, by that means, gt.t a little additional rest. Sometimes they sent the children too late, and so bothered the Superintendent to make some new arrangement. Then they took a book, read a sentence or two, and then went to sleep. That was the appreciation shown by many parents. But the true appreciation was to teach the child something in the way of preparation. They might make their children punctual and regular in attendance. The negligence of parents was at the root of much of the nonsuccess "of the Sunday-school. If parents would only help the Sunday-school by active encouragement, as the teachers tried to he/p the parents, the result would be great, and there would bo no complaint of non-success. (Applause.) Kev. J. S. HjLLsaid he desired to address the children upon a text from the gospel, which told of the fruit which was found to be on a certain tree. There was a fruit of life—good fruit of a good life and bad fruit from misconduct. The Rev. Mr Hill treated the text with copious illustrations. Rev. Mr. Parsonso.n' addressed the congregation upon the art of communicating religious knowledge to children. The great secret was to aim at simplicity and concrete form and homely words. Mr. Winstone moved a vote of thanks to the ladieS who provided the trays, to the speakers for their addresses, to the organist, (Professor Lambert), the choir, and the Chairman. Mr. Richard Artuor seconded the motion which was carried with acclamation. The meeting terminated with the Doxology and the Benediction pronounced by the Rav. Mr. Hill