SUNDAY SCHOOLS' UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21736, 30 August 1932, Page 16

SUNDAY SCHOOLS' UNION

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Dunedin Presbyterian Sunday Schools' Union was held in First Church Hall last evening, the president (Mr H. Booth) occupying the-chair. There was an attendance of about 20 members. A vote of condolence Was passed with tli- relatives of the late Mr W. Anderson, a warm supporter of the union. The annual report was as follows: " Your executive have pleasure in presenting the annual report of the union for the year ended June 30, 1032. For such success as has been ours we give thanks to God, and pray that he may direct us to still further efforts during the ensuing year.

"Finance.—The union is in a much better position than for some years past, though some schools are still in arrears with their subscriptions. Early in December of last year your secretary on behalf of the union forwarded to Sister Dorothy (Te Whaiti) a case of goods and a sum of money for the Maori Christmas Tree Fund in connection with the Te Whaiti Maori Mission. Three meetings were held during the year. The first was most disappointing, only 17 delegates representing five schools attending. The second meeting was more heartening, 44 members representing 13 schools being present. At this meeting we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr Salmond, our new youth director. The final meeting, which was open to the public, was most successful, St. Andrew's Sunday School Hall being filled almost to capacity. Thanks are due to Mr Magnus Johnßton and Dr Salmond for addresses given during the year; also to all those who have assisted the union in its work. In conclusion your executive wish to thank all the members who have supported us by their attendance at the meetings, and hope that this coming year will see a greater interest taken by the teachers in the union's activities."

In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, the chairman referred to the excellent state of the finances. If the activities of the union were greater there would be less in hand, and for that reason he would be pleased to see a smaller balance. In order to extend their activities, a larger measure of support from the Sunday schools was necessary.

Mr D. Beath seconded the motion, which was carried.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year::—President, Mr H. Booth; vice-presidents, Messrs D. Beath and M. Johnston; secretary and treasurer, Mr D. Craigie; Little, Miss Glendining, Mr N. Mollison, and.Mr J. Kirby. The Rev. A. Watson (Mornington) gave an address on "Preparing the Lesson." He urged that the Sunday school lesson should be very carefully prepared in order to secure efficient teaching. The need of this would be adniittedt when it was recognised that many of the children received no religious instruction in their homes. The Sunday school had the young people for only one hour in the week,-and so that the most might be made of that hour the lesson given to them ought to be thoroughly prepared by the teacher. The speaker stressed several points that ought to be observed. Let the teacher read the Scripture passage over carefully early in the week, and re-read it at every opportunity, pick out the parts or terms that required explanation, taking nothing for granted, and explaining all references fully; pick out the main theme and concentrate on it, read everything it was possible to get on the subject, especially anything giving local colour; use the imagination, and develop the lesson into a story' forin that would interest the children in order that they might be taught and guided to the highest ideals; and prepare the questions carefully, so that the children would be led to think and, in that way, to get the information for themselves. Mr Watson also referred to the parable of the Good Samaritan as the ideal model lesson for teachers. The parable put the lesson in the form of a story which interested the pupil, and then the question was asked that fixed the idea in the mind. . > A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Watson for his address.