UNDENOMINATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL AT PAREORA.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3354, 3 January 1884, Page 2

UNDENOMINATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL AT PAREORA.

[To the Editor.]

Sir, —In your issue of tho 28th inst.,. appears a letter on the above School, which is calculated to misla id. Kindly allow me to reply. Your correspondent says, “ It is now plain to many residents that the school is losing its unsectarian . character, unJ becoming distinctly Wesleyan ; owing, in a great measure, to the arbitrary action of the Superintendent, Mr Ohivers.” Such a statement is not in accordance _ with facts. The school is carried on in the same way, under the same management, and on exactly the same lines as it always has been. No alteration of any_ kind has been made,- certainly not in the direction indicated by your correspondent. During the first two years our Wesleyan friends generously came to our assistance, and rendered valuable help; but, during the past year, owing to a change in their preaching a ppointments —such help has been withdrawn. The school is, therefore, now (if possible) less Wesleyan than when, according to your correspondent’s own admission, “ the arrangements worked well." With regard to “ arbitrary action of the superintendent, Mr Ohivers" I cannot conceive to .what action of mine your correspondent' alludes. Outside the routine of the school, I have taken no - ‘ - action without the full consent and approval of the ■ teachers. Then, with regard to the organ, your correspondent says “it was obtained by public sub- , scription, for use in the new Sunday school, and placed in the Wesleyan 1 Church, where it was used both for the Wesleyan Church and the unsectairian school.” The simple truth is, subscriptions were moved for the twofold purpose of altering the church, so as to give increased seating accommodation, and also for the purchase of an organ, it being dinstinotly understood that the organ was to be for the nse of both church and school. The money was spent accordingly—part in altering the church, and part in purchasing an organ. Church and , school both nse the organ. _ Had your correspondent said u a few” were desirous that the school should bo transferred to the day school and not “ many,” I think he would be nearer the truth. lam convinced that a large majority of the residents have no such desire. Besides, we could not afford it. Wo get the present building rent free, and if we went to the day school we should have to pay for it. If your ‘ correspondent really desires' the goou of tho school, and can make any suggestions by which its usefulness may be ■ extended, if he will kindly forward . them to mo I will undertake to lay them before the teachers at our next meeting. They will T am sure give them every consideration. By so doing ho will be more likely to benefit tho school than ■ by writing anonymous letters to a news- ' paper. —I am, &c. f ;,- ; i 0. Ohivers, Superintendent, Pareora Sunday School, , ■■■■ ■, iv‘; '! V-' ■ , ~,-vCJ.^liil