DIOCESAN SUNDAY SCHOOLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22060, 16 September 1933, Page 5

DIOCESAN SUNDAY SCHOOLS

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Diocesan Sunday School Teachers’ Association was held on Wednesday evening in the crypt of the Cathedral, the Rev. Canon Button presiding. The annual report presented stated that at the examination held last November scholars from 10 schools had entered, and out of 180 papers sent to the examiner eight had gained first class honours, 26 second class honours, and 51 pass marks. The prize giving was held in St. Matthew’s Schoolroom, when the bishop spoke briefly to the children and teachers and presented the prizes and certificates, after which a short programme of items contributed by children from the various schools was enjoyed by all present. The teachers’ festival held at “ Mount Lodge ” on December 6, thanks to the courtesy of Mrs W. F. Edmond, was an enjoyable function, about 50 teachers being present. No winter meetings had been held during the year, the response from teachers not being sufficient, but teachers were invited to attend addresses given to the Bible Class Union. The picnic was held at Mosgiel on February 18, nine schools joining in. The balance sheet showed a credit of £5 4s.

In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, Canon Button said that, although the meeting was a small one, he did not think that was an indication of what the association was doing, as most of the teachers were students and could not attend meetings, but as most of the parishes were represented it showed that interest was not lacking. He thought they should try to extend the scope of the association. In the face of the very distinct and anti-Christian teaching given to some of the children of the present day. they had to use every means in their power to try to keep the children in close touch with the Church. The trend to-day was anti-Christian, and they could only combat it through teaching the people and the children the great Christian truths; The work of the Sunday school was going' on, and the association was of great assistance in helping to keep the teachers together and letting them feel that they were members of a corporate body and not separate units working alone. In regard to the winter meetings, the response did not seem to warrant arranging addresses. The combined picnic had warranted itself, most of the schools taking advantage of it, as in many ways they found it convenient to join in with others, and it was a means of bringing the people of different parishes ’together in a social way. He hoped the festival would be held again this year, as it was always an enjoyable function, and was also a means of bringing clergy and teachers of the different parishes together. The following officers were re-elected: — President, the Rev. Canon Button; vicepresidents—Dean Cruickhsank, the Rev. W. A. Hamblett, and the Rev. A. Wingfield: secretary and treasurer, Miss E. M. Blyth. The following motions were passed:— “ That the teachers’ festival be held on Saturday, December 9, a sub-committee to consist of Misses Robinson, Gore, Ferry, and Watson, and Mr E. Bond.” “ That the combined picnic be held on February 10, a sub-committee consisting of the Rev. Canon Button, the Rev. W. A. Hamblett, and Miss Blyth to make inquiries as to a suitable place and grounds and report to a later meeting.” “That Dean Cruickshank, Canon Button, and the Revs. W. A. Hamblett and S. Hurd be appointed as a committee to draw up the syllabus for 1934,”