A MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14700, 7 December 1909, Page 5

A MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

In continuation of the foundation btonelaving services connected with tlio now Sunday school hall to lie built by tho St. Kitda'Methulist congregation, ji musical fv*ival l>.v the schoj! scholars was given h;t nighi'. There werj between 60 and 70 prctttly-dtoi.-ed children, ranged tier upon tier, uml thoy went through a !oug programme of songs, choruses, and recitations in a highly creditable manner. Some of ilia lililfi folk that faced the audience were jinle tots, but acquitted themselves cleverly, whits 'the older scholars displayed welldeveloped elocutionary and vocal abilities. They were, of course, listened to with evident dilight by parents and friends. Their pjrformaiices were directed by Mr K. Aelin, the Sunday school superintendent, and were accompanied on the organ by Mr Herbert Brooks. A very telling addro=s was delivered by the Kev. G. Knowlcs Smith, who congratulated the congregation on having such an excellent school superintendent, and on their determination to erect n building suitable for Sunday school work. Thi-s showed that tho church wa« waking up. and ho trust«l they would for many jears to come see uuccc&sful work carried on in the .-ciicol. lie pointed out that the work dono in Sunday schools was most i'll'-vtam. fur in it were moulded the characters. of the children. He instanced well-known eases of men who had dono noble work for t.hc Church in mission fields and in Ilu? world, who had received their 111*! training | n Sabbath schools, and said (lie late Mr at. times would hum the* livums he had learned in his Sunday school days. To that early influence Was r.o doubt to bo traced many of tho numantUnaii measures that ho helped to place on the New Zealand Statute Book. k.ur.day schools, Jlr SmitJi pointed out, mill,, up Hie national character, widened tho influence of Church work, and heaven was made richer for tho work dono in blindly schools.

a ( S ' ,0 V d p c ,f? iT b y «» KOU. W. (who over tho fjtikws), F--Rands, aniby.lir Asljit.-