ST. KILDA METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14699, 6 December 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

ST. KILDA METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL.

LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE.

Tlio foundation stono of the St. Kilda Methodist Church Sunday School was laid on Saturday afternoon in the presence of what was, for a small community, a largo coneourso of persons. The main building will be 43ft by 28ft inside, and, apart from this, there will 'be two class rooms 12ft square, a room for library purposes, and an ante room. The architect for the building is Mr B. B. Hooper, and the contractor for the work Mr John Lunn.

The Rev. Mr Grigg, who presided, said the school would supply a much felt _ want. It was just seven years since the institution of the Sunday school, and already the number of soholars exceeded 200, 60 that it would lie well imdor.vtood that, fhey needed what was about lo bo erected for tho accommodation of tho scholars and tho facilitating of tho work. Ho mentioned that apologies for absence had been received from the Rev. T. Treslrail, tho Mayor of St. Kilda, his Honor Mr Justice. Williams and Mrs Williams, tho Rev. I{. Fairmaid, and Mr T. Colo. The Rev. P. \V. Fairclough referred to the effort being made to provide for tho religious education of the' young in tho neighbourhood. There wan a tremendous lot of parent* in the world who, whilst they would lot other persons teach their children religion, were not sufficiently inteiested to do it themselves, and it made one doubt whether such people wero entitled to the dignity of parenthood. On the oilier hand, there whs a large number of pecplo who felt a very kindly interest in tho rcligiou.s instruction of the young, and who were piepared lo give of their substance and -to devote their spare time in instructing tho young. There was a vast, number of children who got no instruction after their school days wero over, awl it was therefore necessary that thoy should make their schools as complete as possible, and make as drop an impression as imiihlo while thoy had the plaslio clay in their hands. Ho congratulated them upon the fact that they had so much need for the building, and so many scholars, and so many willing to oarry on the work. Ho also congratulated them upon so nearly having in hand the money required for tho building. The Kcv. Mr Grigg said it was true that they had received about £400, but they had to raise within tho next few months £160 on £170, concerning which they would hear something later. They had the Rev. Mr Slaclc with them, but his health forbade him speaking in the open air. Ho had scarcely fully recovered from his illness. They excused him from speaking when they remembered the good work ho had done during the last three years in connection with the Sunday School Advisory Board.

Mr H. Rascvcar, who wan called upon by tho Rev. Mr Grigg, mentioned the fact that ho had been a Sunday school scholar at South Dunedin, and said a child could never bo too old lor Sunday school, and uovor too old for the benefits to bo derived (rom the Sunday school. Ho wished tho school, the foundation stone of which they were about to lay, every success. Mr E. Aslin, sujierintendont of the Sunday school, then made a few remarks prior to laying the foundation «one. He expressed his appreciation of the honour done him, and said it was just 30 yeans fiinco no had, with his mother, come to this land «nd it was just 10 yeajyj since he had re' turned to it after an absence of sonic time, lie had bean living in tho district over since lie came back, and thoy had been lalxmnng in tho Sunday school happily togother. They looked back with picture on what had been accomplished, and had looked forward to having such a Sunday school as they were (0 have, for some time Mf Hooper, the architect, then handed • r ,?„ 6llvcr trowcl bearing the in£"Pt>on "St. Kihla Methodist Sunday ocnoo foundation laying, 4/12/09 Pr„. B."a Itoi-' 11 "' b * the tie gift of Messrs Ilolgatc and Frapwcl), ami declared du y hud by Mr Aslin, and the ZriSr, £ ~ ly" "\"" W* l fol ' sul '- •«iipl ons which resulted in £20 being colled, and votes of thanks ended the • unction.