RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2934, 8 June 1910, Page 79

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

A SUNDAY SCHOOL CENSUS IN DUNEDIN. The Sunday School census, undertaken by the Otago Sunday School Union, the Presbyterian Sunday School Association, the Anglican Sunday School Union and the Salvation Arm*’ (representing practically all the Protestant denominations! has been brought to a successful issue, and the results form interesting re'ading. The object of the census was to ascertain how many young people are not in attendance at any school, and to make an effort to secure their membership in any school of their choice. The plan of campaign was modelled on that in vogue in America, where a similar visitation is, in many districts, carried out annually. A central committee was appointed, representative of the above organisations. The city and. suburbs were divided into 13 districts, for each of which a convener was appointed. Each district was again sub-divided into smaller blocks, and one or more Sunday schools made responsible for the’ visitation of each. In all it is estimated that not less than about 500 voluntary workers took part in the undertaking. It was only to be expended, of course, that here and there someone would fail and the work be imperfectly done, but, considering all things, the campaign seems to have been carried out with great thoroughness, and the information resulting may, in the aggregate, be taken as showing the true position as regards Sunday school attendance. Visitors wbre supplied with cards, one for each home, the following being the infroraation asked: (1) How many boys and girls in the home under four years of age. (2) How many between four and 21? (3) How many attend Sunday school? (4) How many attend Bible class. (5) Name of Sunday school or Bible class attended. (o) If not attending any, name of Sunday school or Bible class preferred. In America these visitations have generally disclosed the fact that about half the children are not attending any .Sunday school. > ihe following table gives the general results of the local canvass;—

Denomination. Children under four. Between four and 21. 1 Attending S.S. | or B.C. , .Between four ; and 2V,not 1 attending. Percentage 1 attending.

The general result, showing a membership in the Sunday schools of three out oi every four of the young people belonging to the various Protestant denominations, may be looked upon as very satisfactory. After allowing also for some over four years of age who are still too young to attend, and some under 21 who consider themselves too old, it is clear there is no indication that the Sunday schools are. losing their hold of the young people. The general result should be gratifying, not only to the churches and schools concerned, but to the community of Dunedin, for it would be a bad day should the Sunday schools eve'- fail to hold and influence cur young life. The Rev. Dr Waddell gave it recently as his conviction that but for these institutions the Church might almost close its doors. The census has shown, hovyever, that there arc still a number of children outside the tschools. The homes where these are \x> be found will no doubt be visited again by the various schools, and it is hoped that as a result of the campaign several hundred' new scholars at least will be secured. The work was characterised by the hearty co-operation and goodwill of the different denominations, and by the cordiality with which the visitors were almost invariably received. The census was not devoid of either pathos or humour. In several cases_ children were unable to attend school on account of want of suitable clothing. In more than one home where there were anumber of children no- school was attended because the parents belonged to different sects and could hot decide which was to' get the preference. One householder was described as “ bachelor —neither wife nor family.” The remark on another card was “ Do not send children to any Sunday school, but intend sending them to spiritualistic meetings.” In another home the children were returned as attending the Socialist Sunday school: hut there was an explanatory note: “This Sunday school is not held at present, and no other school is desired.” Mr Duncan Wright, as president of the Otago Sunday School Union, was chairman of the Executive Committee, and Messrs Arthur Wiison and Gordon Sutherland were joint honorary secretaries,. Though many willing helpers bore a share in the work, it is only fair to say that to the two latter gentlemen is mainly due the success of this, the first Sunday school census to be taken in any part of New Zealand. CONFERENCE OP TEACHERS. A conference of Sunday school teachers was hold in First Church Hall on the 3rd. There was an attendance of over 200, Mr Todd occupying the chkir. The proceedings opened with the National Anthem, after which, at the request of the chairman, all present paid a silent tribute to the memory of Mr Charles Young, late head master of Caversham School, who, since the institution of the Sunday School Teachers’ Association, had been an active and valuable member, and only a few days before his death had attended a meeting of the association. One of the main features of the gathering was a model lesson on the Parable of the Vineyard, given by Mr W. Martin, of Fairfield. This was followed by Mr Crow, of Oamaru, with an instructive and interesting paper having as its subject “The Trained Teacher.” In the course of his paper, Mr Crow gave credit to the Presbyterian Church for having initiated, in the first place, the scheme for the training of Sunday School teachers, and stated that in that respect the “ kirk ” had done good work. The lecturer made it quite clear that the untrained teacher was in most respects deficient, and ha also made it dear that, the realisation of this fact

was a sine qua non to success by whose predilection it was to teaoh the young. He mentioned that the untrained teacher frequently know that something was wrong, but was not able to locate the defect. It was only by proper and thorough, training that the teacher was able to know just where his tuition was at. fault. The value of mode! lessons was insisted on. but it was made quite clear that apparent results must not always be token as absolutely conclusive. Refreshments having been served round, the. papers presented by Mr Martin and Mr Crow were thrown open for discussion, and the opportunity was very freely availed of.

M Presbyterian Anglican Methodist ... Baptist Prim. Meth. Congregational Brethren 1199 631 349 231 144 96 95 4216 1963 1321 1078 706 486 468 3105 1469 1114 889 510 379 386 1111 494 207 189 196 107 82 74 75 84 85 73 78 83 Church of Christ Salvtn. _ Army 80 46 298 188 236 136 62 52 80 73 Denomination 268 34 234 13 not stated 380 Totals ... 3251 10,992 8258 2734 av 75