OAMARU SUMMER SCHOOL. (From Our Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, December 27.

Otago Witness, Issue 2651, 4 January 1905, Page 61

OAMARU SUMMER SCHOOL. (From Our Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, December 27.

I The interest' in the Summer School is 'iricreasin.gr "and additional students arriving •bfifch ffrom 'the' north -and "South. The weather -is perfect, .and the visitors are ' -enjoying themselves immensely. The catering arrangements at' ..the camp are well organised,, .and the bill of fare , is a liberal,, one. Dining accommodation is provided for between- 100 and 150 at one sitting.. The school resumed this morning in St. PauLs Church; at 10 o'clock, when devo-. ticmal exercises? were conducted by th© Hey. W. "Wright, one of the vice-presidents. An exceedingly able' paper on " Causes of Failure in Bible-class Work " was read by jMr C. J3. Tomlinson, of 'JFirst Church, j Dunedin, which evoked a capital discussion. At 11 o'clock' "there was a 20-minutes' interval -for conversation, after which the Rev. J. C. Jamieson, travelling secretary of | the Bible-class movement, gave a book study of Galatians, -with blackboard illustrations. „ Sister Mildred, of the South Dune-din Young : Women's "Bible Class, followed with a' j thoughtful and earnest paper on " Living j Near God," which was highly appreciated "j j by the large congregation assembled in the* I church. The morning session concluded at half-past 12. In. the afternoon the visiting students were invited by the Oamaru ladies to a garden paTfcy in the Botanical Gardens, kindly lent for the purpose 'by the Mayor and councillors. -The function, which proved a- most delightful one, was attended by between 600 - and 700 ladies and gentlemen. The Gardens were looking their loveliest. The warmth cf ■ the sun was by a refreshing breeze, - and the .gay costumes and animated faces , 1 all conspired to enhance the .general enjoyment. The guests /were regaled -with afternoon tea, .which, sipped amidst such .pleasur- . able surroundings, was -doubly -enjoyed. . Before the gathering .dispersed the Rev. Dr Nisbet called -upon Mr Boal, of St. John's, Wellington, and Mr B. C. "Murphy, of St. Andrew's, Dunedin, tto .propose and second a vote of .thanks to the ladies who <had so • admirably planned and so successfully carried out such, a pleasurable .afternoon's entertainment. Both mover 'seconder agreed in- declaring that although in visitin? Oamaru they had expected to 1 be well treated, they had scarcely -anticipated such profuse 'hospitality as had- already been i meted out to them. The evening meeting, which was largely attended and was most enthusiastic throxtghout, was held in Columba Church. The Rev. Dr Nisbet presided. Mr D. Calder, of the Theological Hall, delivered a forceful and impressive address on " The Opportunity of the Missionary," in the course of which he strongly pleaded the claims of the heathen world upon tlie young people of New Zealand. Mr W. H. Rose sang "The Holy City," after which the Rev. D. M'lvor (Otepopo) gave a parable study based upon . the ,parable of the sower. Miss Dunlop (Dunedin) sang " Sowing the seed," the congregation heartily joining in the chorus. The meeting concluded with a rapid roll call, the students responding in groups corresponding to the provinces from which they hail. December 28. The Summer School resumed at 10 o'clock this evening, . when, .after devotional exercises conducted by the Rev. W^ Wright, an interesting paper on " How to Obtain New Bible Class Members " was read by' Mr -B. E- Murphy, of St. Andrew's, Dunedin. The paper was vigorously discussed. The Rev. J. C. Jamieson continued his book study on Galatians, his clear and vivid exposition of the subject being much appre-, ciated by. the students assembled: .Mr G. A., Troup, oKSt. John's. Wellington, read an excellent paper on "Living Near God," in whioh he interestingly elaborated the argument that the fatherhood of God implied' ; the brotherhood of man. He emphasised the j necessity of Christianity being practically ; presented to the world by all Christians in j such guise, thaj it wpuld attract rather than

repel those at present outside the pale of Christianity. The unsettled weather interfered with the out-of-door lecreations in the afternoon. An impromptu concert was held in the ladies' parlour in the camp. This was followed by an organ recital in Columba Church, given by Mr J. B. Fergusson, organist of Columba Church, and Mr J. J. Hardman, organist of St. Paul's, assisted as soloists by the Misses T.-iit, Jean Campbell, and Efne M'Leod and Mr W. H. Rose. A conference of Bible class leaders and Sunday school teachers was subsequently held, when n^\ effort was" made to' define the lelations bucween the two organisations. St. Paul's Church was well filled in the evening, the gathering being the>largest yet held in connection with the school. Th© Rev. R. J. Porter (Oamaru), one of the vicepresidents, delivered a stirring address on "The Opportunity of the Sunday School Teacher." He dwelt upon the importance to the future of the colony of the Sunday school, and dilated upon the privileges and responsibilities of the teachers in their work of guiding and .moulding the characters of the children. The Rev. Dr Nisbet followed with a topical'study on "The Death of Christ" as set forth in the epistle to the Galatians, concluding with a powerful appeal to the congregation to live the Christ life. A sports meeting has been arranged for to-morrow afternoon., and the school conoludes at midday on Friday. December 29. The Summer School resumed -this morning at 10 o'clock in the Wear Street Hall, the opening devotional exercises being conducted by the Rev. W. Wright. A paper was read by Mr W. Rodger, of Knox Church Bible Class, on " How to Obtain Good "Meetings," which evoked consrHerable discussion. After the usual interval, the Rev. J. R. Shore (Maheno) ' gave a ! chapter-study, based on the 3rd Galatians, illustrated by a blackboard outline of the j method of exegesis as an essential introduction to the use -of the chapter for devotional and practical' purposes. The morning session closed with a number of sectional meetings for Sunday school '.teachers, Bible class leaders and secretaries, Bible class members, etc. In the afternoon a sports meeting was held in. the North Road Cricket Ground. Amongst the contested events were a 200 yds flat race for men and a 100 yds race for ladies, a running long jump, a slow bicycle race. A ministers' race, for which there were seven entries, excited much interest, and was won by the Rev. G. J. Chappell, with the Rev. J. R. Shore second, and the Re-v. J. C. Jamieson third. Dr Nisbet acted as judge, and Mre Porter presented the prizes. Afternoon tea was served in the grounds. The evening meeting -was held in the Columba Church, there being a very large congregation. Dr Nisbet presided. Mr John Reid, of the Otago Boys' High School, spoke on the layman's opportunity -for soul-winning.. -He -declared that - the world would never be won for Christ unless ■the ministers -efforts in 'the pulpit were supplemented by the work of the members ' •of the. congregation. He strongly appealed to the young men and -women to face 1 their -duty and responsibility in this respect, and by.personal influence make the best use of then- opportunities for soul-winning. The Rev. J. Mackenzie, M.A. (Christchurch), followed, with a topical study on the work' of the Holy Spirit, as- set forth in the Epistle to the Galatians. A shout after--meeting was conducted by Mr Jamieson, when testimonies were given to the help and. stimulus received during the SummerJ. " School. The school breaks- up to-morrow (Friday), and the bulk of the Otago delegates travel south by the first express. - . ~ ' . December 30. lne concluding session of the Summer School was held this morning in Columba Church, the opening- devotional exercises being conducted by Rev. R. J. Porter. Mr G. Miller, of the Russell Street Bible ' Class, read an exhaustive paper' on "The Value and Methods of Committee Work," which was briefly discussed. Mr D. D. Scott, of th© Theological Hall, followed with an address on " The Value and Methods of Bible Circles." The closing address was delivered by Mr "H. H. Davies, ' of the Theological Hall, the subject being "Personal Effort.". Very hearty votes of thanks were carried to Dr Nisbet (president), Revs. Wright and Porter (vice-presidents), Mr J. *S. Holme*' (Oamaru chairman), Mr W. Cron (Oamaru secretary), and to the ladies of Oamaru for their lavish hospitality to the students. The" Rev. J. C Jamieson was also thanked tor his efforts in organising -the school. The hope was expressed that the Summer School might be made an annual fixture., t and it is probable that Timaru will be asked to have -the school next year.