RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21982, 17 June 1933, Page 7

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

By Animus. SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRESS. The magazine entitled Sunday School Progress, edited and published by Mr A. H. Reed, has recently completed its

eleventh year of publication, and. the latest issue proves its right to bear its title. The quarterly issue of this magazine contains valuable information and encouragement to all connected with Sunday school work. There is much to discourage workers at this time, and Sunday school teachers are so busy that they have not time to study all the periodicals they would like to read; it is therefore pleasing to be able to find in small com-, pass the choicest of the articles from current literature, such as are found in Progress; while encouragement can also be gained by words of cheer by prominent Sunday school workers throughout the world. In this respect the latest issue which comes from the publisher is no ex ception, and teachers are advised to read these articles. YOUTH WORKERS’ INSTITUTE. Sunday school and Bible class workers, leaders, teachers and members, who wish to equip themselves more fully for their task will no doubt be glad to take advantage of the Youth Workers’ Institute ■which is to be held in Knox Sunday School buildings from June 26 to 28, commencing each evening at 7.30. A glance at the programme will assure them that the meetings will bo fully worth while. The evenings will be divided into two periods. In the first period two addresses will be given to all the members. The Rev, Professor S. F. Hunter will give a series of addresses on “ The Message of the Prophets,” followed by short addresses of a general nature by the Rev. R. G. M’Dowall, Miss M. Salraond, and Professor J. D. Salmond, tlieir subjects being “Worship,” “Missionary Education, and “ The Teachers’ Preparation Class” respectively. The second period will be a sectional one, seven group meetings having been arranged for Cradle Roll workers. Beginners’, Primary, Junior, and Intermediate Departments of the Sunday School Bible class members, and Bible class leaders. These seven groups will discuss their own particular problems, under the leadership of experienced workers, the subjects for the three evenings, being “Worship,” “Instruction,” and “Expression.” At the close

Strolling through this remote fairyland for four miles we reached still another camp, and then went on for half a mile to the boat landing, where we took a boat and rowed for a mile down the broad bosom of this lovely river, which might well lay claim to the title of being the most picturesque river in New Zeala.id, so beautiful are its waters and so extraordinarily picturesque is its setting. Looking back, away up the valley, one’s attention was * caught by two fine peaks, which, in the absence of a name, and because of their shape, we called “The Pyramids.” So still and crystal clear were the waters that for a long way back the strokes of the oars could still be distinguished. Rounding the final bend we arrived at the mouth of the Camelot River, where it flows into the head of Gaer Arm of Bradshaw Sound. HOME OF THE WILD FOWL. Who could have irnag-.ied a more fascinating and,delightful spot? We were at once in the very heart of Nature, the home of the wild fowl, bush and sea birds, encircled by the finest forest, river, and mountain scenery in which the bush-clad mountain sides, thousands of feet high, plunged steeply down into the valley and into the deep blue waters of the Sound. Our arrival was immediately greeted by a noisy commotion among the birds—the honking of paradise ducks, the whistling of blue ducks, the calls of brown ducks, the peculiar whistling of oyster catchers with about six syllables in the centre of each effort, and the cries of the seagulls of several varieties, which circled overhead. There were black swans and white-throated shags, which flew off and settled down at a safe distance, while now and then from all around in the forest could be heard the notes of bellbirds, tuis, and .grey warblers, and' the chattering and screeching of the kakas aqd the smaller parakeets. The prettiest and most peaceful sight of all, however, was that of whole flights of native pigeons tumbling gracefully in the sunshine, in some cases actually over the waters of the sound. On the other hand the oyster catchers were the most interesting because they are so rarely seen. About the size of grey ducks, they are beautiful creatures with shining black plumage, long necks, and long, red bills, and are remarkable for the number of syllables they get into the centre of each whistle. Some time was spent in successful flounder spearing, and then we boarded the 32-foot launch Constance with a speed of 9 knots, and set out on the long cruise of 28 miles to Deep Cove, passing through the Gaer Arm and Bradshaw and Smith Sounds. 70 MILES OF MOUNT AIN-LOCKED FIORDS. Though, with the exception of Deep Cove and Hall’s Arm, these Middle Fiords are little known because they have been so rarely visited, and, for brevity’s sake, have previously been referred to as “ Doubtful Sound,” they represent, next to Milford Sound, the finest fiords in New Zealand,-and, in several respects, are superior even to Milford itself. Whereas Milford Sound is eight miles long and has within its upper basin such unique panoramas of concentrated and unsurpassable beauty (including the billowing Pembroke Glacier looking down into Harrison Cove, the Bowen Falls, Mitre Peak, and five snow-clad mountains), these middle fiords contain over 70 miles of narrow mountain-locked waterways comprising two outer and two inner sounds, four great “arms” and one smaller arm

of the sectional meetings each evening a short devotional service will be held. No fee is being charged for the institute, but a thankoffering will be taken up to defray expenses It will be seen that a varied and comprehensive pro-, gramme has been arranged which should enable all to “ study to serve.”, WHAT KIND OF A TEACHER? Three teachers there were, in a certain Sunday school. The first, an attractive young girl, had but six months before become a teacher. She had been a faithful attendee at Sunday school all her life. She had come to a point where she felt that she should be recognised with an office. And then it would be such fun tc teach these little children. So the superintendent had hailed her request with joy, and placed her in the primary department. Her enthusiasm at the start was great. Her own interest was contagious, and passed on quickly to the children. But the superintendent soon found that- her attendance at workers’ meetings was very sporadic. (She found them so dull!)' The elementary magazine which the school furnished to all teachers she left where the secretary put it. (“ Who do you think I am, that I should read that stuff! I can teach -without it.”) His ■ efforts to interest her in the community training school classes were vain. “I’d just love to go,” she said, “but you have no idea hoiv hectically busy I am! ” The charm of teaching the dear little ones had by this time worn off for her; she was usually late for Sunday school, often absent, and never bothered about sending a substitute. • The second teacher, when invited by the superintendent to take a class, had accepted only after some coaxing, and with the words, “ I want to do my full Christian duty.” And thus >he continued her work, as a duty. She was scrupulously on time, and rarely absent, but her manner lacked the buoyancy of doing a task with joy. She sighed whenever time came to think about Sunday school. She would not attend outside meetings or read magazines or books. “ There are so many other things to keep me busy,” she said. Small wonder t.iat the class lacked enthusiam. And thus she will go on, a halfhearted teacher, until she has satisfied her conscience at having done her full Christian duty, when she will become a teacher no more. The third teacher was one who rejoiced in her task, “ as a strong man to run a race.” It is true that she had accepted her class with some misgivings, but her interest and enthusiasm had grown by leaps and bounds. The public consecration service of teachers had been a real crisis in her life, and when in answer to the formal pledge she had said, “I do!” it

(which is not named), and the mountains throughout these defiles rise from 3000 feet to 6000 feet and more, in many places almost sheer from the sea water. Behind- these mighty walls, which are clad with magnificent hush from top to bottom, rise still higher peaks capped with snow. The outer sounds, Thompson and Doubtful, which enter from the Tasman Sea, are separated by Secretary Island, a huge mountainous mass shaped like a right-angled triangle with its base fronting the ocean and its apex jutting 13 miles inland from the sea in the ease of Thompson Sound, which lies north, and eight miles inland in the case of Doubtful Sound, which lies south, and contains one large and several small islands. The waters of those two outer sounds merge into a broad channel at the eastern apex of Secretary Island. Thompson Sound, in the north, then merges into Bradshaw Sound (eight miles long), which, in turn, splits into two arms, a short one of three miles, which is unnamed, and the Gaer Arm (six miles), making a total penetration of 27 miles in from the sea to the mouth of the Camelot River. Doubtful Sound, on the south 4 of Secretary Island, runs into Smith Sound (12 miles), and Deep Cove (two miles), the maximum distance in from the sea thus totalling 22 miles. The southern wall of the continuous Doubtful and Smith Sounds is pierced

had been with a will to make this task her very life. And she did! She it was who, oh Sundays, was there ahead of her pupils and who lingered with them for final words after all the others "had gone. Her cheery voice was known by all the mothers who took down the telephone receiver—and not many weeks went by that there was not a friendly chat about some assignment, some problem, or about a particularly goad deed which a child had done. She was the life of the teachers’ meetings. These teachers were in a certain Sunday school. Even so, they are in every Sunday school® In which of these classes do you belong ? METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL, UNION. At the Otago Methodist Sunday School Union’s annual meeting, the president (Mr W. Ashby) presided, and opened with devotional exercises. Routine business was transacted, after which the annual report was presented. This revealed that the union had been of real service to the teachers and officers, not merely by their regular attendance, but in the instructive addresses given from time to time throughout the year. The union was reformed seven years ago, and has made considerable progress in the,ycar s following. A special branch of the work is the conducting of the annual examinations in the British lessons now in use in the schools. _ This work has proved a success, and is being advanced this year. After the adoption of the report the president referred to the work of the secretary (Mr E. Bush), who has held

by three fine fiords, which, commencing opposite the broad channel connecting the four sounds, are named First Arm (three miles). Crooked Arm (eight miles), and Hall’s Arm (six miles). These four sounds average about a mile in width, while the four great arms are only half a mile wide and in many places considerably less than that distance. PORPOISES AS A “ GUARD OF HONOUR.”'

Through these sublime waterways, which presented ever-changing panoramas of superb scenery, enhanced by magnificent cloud and lighting eii’ects, the launch ploughed steadily on. Soon we turned into Bradshaw Sound, and wo had not gone far along this noble channel before we were confronted with a remarkable spectacle—all the porpoises in the sound making for us. We could see them coming for miles distant, from as far as Secretary Island, leaping out of the water and making straight towards us. On, on, on they came in shoals, aggregating from 40 to 60 all told —and there was no doubt about their intention;, it was certainly the launch they were making for. Arriving alongside, they immediately formed a guard of honour, ranging up on either side of the launch and also in front, and so piloted us for miles along practically the whole length of Bradshaw Sound, leaping and

the office for the past four, years, and has also been a member of the union during its seven years. * Mr Bush is relinquishing the office and passing from the union owing to his appointment as a home missionary in the Presbyterian Church. A presentation of some suitable and valuable books was made, the president remarking that behind the gift lay the thanks and appreciation of the union for valuable services rendered. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr W. Ashby; vice-presidents, Mrs A. T. MTndoe and Mr P. Nixon; seex-etary, Mr A. Hancock; treasurer, Mr W. 0. Brown; reporter, Mr T. 0. Kennedy: secretary to Examination Committee, Mr Gordon Adams. Miss Doreen Moss was present and gave a helpful and instructive address on “ Children’s Expression Work,” illustrating her talk by specimens of scholars’ work in the various grades. The president expressed the thanks of the meeting to Miss Moss for her address. _ Thanks were also expressed to the retiring officebearers, and to the Valley teachers for their hospitality. The singing of a hymn and the pronouncing of the benediction brought the meeting to a close.