Wesley Church Sunday School.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7356, 2 November 1898, Page 4

Wesley Church Sunday School.

The annual soiree and social gathering in connection with the Wesley'Church Sunday School was held last night in the church. The hall and church had been very prettily decorated for the occasion with evergreens and flowers, lending additional pleasure and enjoyment to the proceedings. A most substantial tea was provided and "good digestion waiting on appetite " a large number sat down to partake thereof, the tables being presided over by Mrs Marehall and the Misses Common, Herron, Homer, Anderson, Irvine and Wansbrongh, assisted by Misses Olds (2), N. Watts, M. Herron, Crawshaw, Every, Copping, Sinclair, Ward (2), Grocott, andßyera, a "bevy" of honey pots which naturally drew plenty of willing masculine assistance. Miss Grenfell had control of the arrangements generally, ( and under her supervision the preparations, equally with the consummation and the consumption, left nothing to be desired. So the ball opened with a pronounced success which augured well for the success of the af'.er gathering. "Feed the beast "is the wife's well-known panacea for inducing good temper and pliability in the marital bresst, and it is doubtless on this principle, which is applicable to most sections of humanity, that the proper refreshment of visitors is always made S3 important a feature at church socials. Any way this provision was well looked after last night, and if the land was not properly prepared for the subsequent sowing of the seed at least the ladies were not to blame. THE PUBLIC MEETING. The public meeting was held in the Church in the evening, and the attendance thereat was so large that extra accommodation had I to be provided in the aisle to satisfy the I later comers.

Mr T. M. Cunninghame, superintendent of the Sunday School presided, and the proceedings were opened by the singing of a hymn after which the JRev. A. Dewdney engaged in prayer. The Chairman apologised for .the absence of the Rev. W. Wright.

The annual report was read by Mr J. H, White as follows :

With devout gratitude to Almighty God for His many favors, we meet you again on another anniversary occasion. The year has been, like those of former years, one of " sunshine and shade," but the " shine" h=>s been greater than the " shade."—We commenced the year with 130 scholars and 18 officers and teachers, and we clo=e it with 142 scholars and 20 officers and teachers, being an increase of 12 scholars and 2 officers and teachers for the years.—The personnel of the teaching staff has been somewhat changed. The Misses Homer, L. Wansbrough, and M. Every have removed from the town, and Miss Tempero (through a call to an important charge elsewhere) has resigned. These have all rendered excellent service, for which the school is grateful. On the other hand several fresh teachers have joined our ranks. Mr M'Fadgen has taken the young men's Bible Class, Mr Littlejohn one of the boys' classes. Miss Every a girls'' class, and Miss Ada Wansbrough the infants' class. These are all doing valuable work, and form a prized addition to our staff.—We regret that Mr Arthur Lane has been compelled through ill-health to relinquish work as assistant secretary, but his place has been well filled by Mr Grocott.— We are pleased to welcome home Miss May Anderson. who has been enjoying a well-earned holiday.—Death has twice \isited our ranks during the year. Miss Edith Lane (of Mrs Marshall's class) was the first He claimed, and then He took Miss Jeannie Bowler, an assistant teacher. These both died well "in sure and certain hope of a joyful resurrection." The work in ali the classes has been carried on efficiently.—The Junior Endeavour Society has been one of the promising departments of our work. Its numbers and usefulness have grown with the passing months. —The Young People's Endeavour Society, though not an integral part of the school, is one of its most useful helpers. We are thankful for the Spiritual and educative influence of both the societies. They have helped to lead several during the year to union with the Lord Jesus and active membership with His Church.—lt has been decided to re-form the Band of Hope, the first meeting of which will be held in about a fortnight. We believe its life will be one of strength and usefulness.—The annual treat last January, held at the beautiful grounds of Mr J. Williams, Whitstone, was one of pleasure. —The Library is much prized by the scholars and teachers. Soon a new and valuable addition of books will be placed on the shelves, much to the delight of our energetic librarian —Our funds stand well. The income for the year, including a balance of Lo 7s Id, amounted to L 29 15s lOd, and the expenditure to L2l los 4d, leaving a balance in hand of L 8 0s 6d, all of which will be utilised in the purchase of library books.— The officers are : Superintendent, Mr T. M. Cunninghame ; Assistant Superintendent, Mr M. Bell; Secretary, Mr J. H White; Assistant Secretary, Mr H. Grocott; Treasurer, Mr J. P. Every ; Organists, Misses Hilliker and G'rawshaw.—With more hope than ever we commence the new year, believing it has in store for us work and blessing.

The Chairman said he occupied his position not from choice, but as superintendent. Still his position was only administrative. Be expressed his pleasure at the attendance and gratitude at a most successful Suoday School year. He pointed to the distinction between the duties of teachers and parents ; the teacher's work did not supersede that of the parent, but the parents could help the teachers by encouraging their children in loyalty to their Sunday School, and seeing that their attendance was regular and punctual; also by taking an interest in their lessons, i' e urged the parents to help to raise the attendance in the coming year to the desired 200 and also not to be sparing in the much-needed financial support. Mr M'Kee Wright also addressed the meeting on the responsibilities of parents, who should not rely on Sunday School teachers solely for the religious instruction of their children. The children should go to school with their lessons prepared. Ihe parents owed the teachers a big debt of gratitude and should support the schools in every possible way. Be spoke encouragingly to the teachers, warning them that the good the-y did was not always apparent on the surface.

An excellent programme of musical and elocutionary items was submitted during the evening, the children being the principal performers and acquitting themselves admirably of a series of well-rehearsed and well-conceived items, their rendering of which deservedly won for them a meed,of appreciative applause. Miss Stella Alexander played a pianoforte solo very nicely, scoring an encore, and Misses Ferens and Ward fcoth acquittsd themselves well in vocal solos. Recitations—many really very meritorious, and reflecting credit on Mr Ward's training —were javen by the following:—Misses Agnes Hart, Greta Clayton, Maggie Sinclair, Ena Ward, Nellie Herron, Edith Hilliker, Flcrence Moscrop, and Doris Clayton, Masters Samuel wusbatch, Sidney Ward, James Olds, James M'.Fadgen, and P. Joll. Mr M'Fadgen moved hearty votes of thanks to those who bad undertaken the decoration, to the ladies who had superintended the tea tables, to those who had supplied provisions, to Mr IHamank and Misses Crawshaw and Hilliker for their training of the children, to the children! themselves, to Mr M'Kee Wright, and to the chair,'a comprehensive list, which was seconded by Mr Every and carried with the vigor of manifold acclamation. The meeting closed by the pastor pronouncing the Benediction.