St. Paul’s Sunday School

Southland Times, Issue 12010, 14 December 1907, Page 3

St. Paul’s Sunday School

The ceremony of 1 toying foundation stones in connection with St. Paul’s Church new Sunday School building, of which a detailed description was given yesterday morn ins;, was carried out in tlie afternoon. A groat many members of St. Paul’s congregation had grouped themselves in front of the building when the Rev. Geo. Lindsay accempauiod by the Hon- R. McNab, the Revs. J. Baird, oral R. Feifghson, Mr J. S. Baxter. Mr E. R. Wilson—the architect who planned the building—and others, presented themselves in readiness for the ceremony. Illness prevented the attendance of Mr John McKinnon, (the Superintendent of the Sunday School), who has taken a very

’ great interest in the building and has * advocated Its erection all alotofe". 1 ' After the devotional portion of the 1 ceremony had been carried out Mr J. S. Baxter presented the customary silver trowel to Mr McNab saying that it . would serve not Only as a memento of | the foundation ceremony, but would fur- | ther act as a reminder to the recipient of ! his former very close asaccinition with St. Paul’s Sunday School. Hr Baxter, menj tinned with appreciation the good work * which Mr McNab had performed with Jsuch enthusiasm during his long connec-l ; iion with St. Paul’s. The speaker made i flattering reference tc> the brilliant Parj linmcntary career of the Minister of I Lands. The trowel was suitaibjy inscribed. I Mr McNab said that already at the .Middle School break-up he had had recollections of his youth brought vividly before his mind. The ceremony in oonnec- , tion with the Sunday School reminded him pleasantly enough, but not without J a tinge of sadness, of his four years as teacher and as librarian of St. Paul’s Sunday School. Mr Baxter’s flattering ‘reference he modestly ascribed to that ’gentleman’s characteristic disposition to a kindly feeling towards his neighbours. Ur McNab stated that it gave him infinite pleasure to be able to snatch an hour or two from the Busy turmoil of public life toi soi/o such an Opportunity *of being amongst them. The public were ’ beginning to realise the immense amount of good” work that was being dono in Sabbath Schools, but too often the benefits were reduced to a minimum because of the adverse -conditions which obtained'. Now that first class accommodation was I,ring provided he trusted that teachers would work with renewed enthusiasm, tliat the older teachers would take heart and that a fresh band of workers would , come forward to offer their services. Without the self-sacrificing work carried on Iby citizens in their ow.n time, and on their own initial ive, the best legislative efforts of the Government would bo made in vain. The speaker emphasised the necessity of instilling into the minds of the young the necessity of obedience to ( the laws of God and of anna, and in this I connection ho looked upon all such institutions as tlie Sunday School as furthering a nohle work.

When the Minister Had "Well and truly laid” his particular portion of the edifice, the Rev. Mr Lindsay proceeded to lay the foundation stone which awaited ids constructive finishing touches. The Rev. gentleman referred in his kindly way to the unfortunate illness of Mr Melvinnon. Ho felt it a great’ honour to have been asked by his office-bearers to take such a prominent part in the ceremony but thought that it should have fallen to Hie lot of Mr Turnbull, the senior deacon of the church. But Mr Turnbull was absent in Victoria and consequently could not be with them to place the stone in position. It was over 32 years since the initial steps had Iteen taken in connection with the building of St. Paul s. The first meeting had been held on 15th Nov.,

1875, nud the contract for the building of the church was accepted oh l-sth January, 1876, the foundation stone having been laid on 3rd Mardh of the same year Purify all t|he following years the Sunday School liad been held in the Church and Vestry Hall. Mr Lindsay thorn, detailed the trying circumstances Under which the work had been conducted and referred to the liberality of the congregation ar»l the esprit de, corps existing amoiig his officebearers. The architect, Mr FI. R. Wilson, and the contractor, Mr J. C. Howie also came in for kindly notice.

The maifote slabs which were yesterday placed ceremoniously and well were presented to the Church by Mr Ferguson of the firm of Kingsland and Ferguson. The Mayor, Mr W. B. Scnndrett, spoke ns the leading citizen of the value of such public institutions as the one under ‘notice. The singing of the Coxology concluded the ceremony.