BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 12975, 14 December 1910, Page 1 (Supplement)

BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS.

ANN UAL DEMONSTRATION.

(From "The Colonist," Dec. 8.)

The annual demonstration and prize giving in connection with the State Schools' Bible Teachers' Association took place in the School of' Music last evening. There was a large attend-

ance of children from the various city schools and a fair sprinkling of adults. Mr J. S. Evans, S.M., presided, and ther« were on the platform His Lordship the Bishop of Nelson, Yen. Archdeacon Baker, Revs. J. H. MacKenzie, J. P. Kempthorne, J. Crump. J. J. Lewis, and a number of sympathisers.

Apologies for absence were received from the Rev. S. Jenkin and'Mr A. T. Maginnity (Chairman of the Education Board). The proceedings opened with the singing of the 100 th Psalm, after which prayer was offered by tho Bishop

Bishop. • . Addressing the children the Chairman said that the time had arrived for the annual prize.giving, and the benefits they had derived from their teaching coxild not be measured by the awards they' we're to receive. They coiild not all be prize winners, and those who had not gained awards' must not be disappointed. The object of learning was not to learn for their school days, but for all their lives. The only /way to know life was to live it,, and he urged them to live useful, lives. He gave them a motto, "To live your life as though you were going to live for ever, a.nd to live ydur life a& though you had only one more day to r live." He. asked them to remember this at all- times. (Applause.) The hymn r "Lead us not into Temptation,", .wjeis then sung. The annual report was then, read by the Rev.* J. H. MacKenzie, .the ion. secretary, and was as folltfws : — "This Association, united for the purpose of imparting to the;pupils of our local national schools a' knowledge of the word of God, has pleasurein once, again meeting the public and presenting a-report., During the thirteenth year of our work we have pursued our way in quietness, assured that this service can be rendered to the cause of .God without special advertising.. When this latter is needed, it is supplied by those who are- opposed to ounnethods or to our work. For the school year now closing the children have been guided -through/ a *eyllabus of lessons taken-, from -the-; life of Moses and the Gospel according- to. St. John. The O'.d Testament stories still comiriand the interest of the. young mind and the New. Testament 'truths are ever to the awakening soul a holy dawn. The test' questions for. the written examination; just held wer© kindly set by Miss Lprimer, Lady; Principal of the Girls' College, and the returns have been judged by the Bible teachers- of the Central schools, in their respective standards, but of' the opposite schools. The results' •show something . accomplished and something more yet remaining ; to Me' done 2 The oral questioning; ••pf- Stan-, dards I. and 11. was jparned' o\iV in Brook street seho.al by the Rev. J. P. Kempthornej in Hampden street by the Rev. B. L. Thq.mas ; in Haven, road by Adjutant Bladin ; aaid in.Tasman street by -the Rev: J. J. Lewis. Through the liberal" support' extended to our work by those who value the Bible, we are able to encourage the children by giving a number of wards, and among these copies of the Scriptures are prominent;' Said visible gains of industry wilf be distributed shortly by Miss Pasley, a friend of the children, who has long been an enthusiastic worker in this good cause. Ori c breaking-up'- day over 400 floral text cards will be given out in the infant' departments. The Association again' acknowledges' the happy relations existing between the local Education .Board, the Schools Com? ihittee, and those; carrying on ■ this work. Our thanks ■ ar«> tendered to the State teachers, who, as good citizen*, have given their" sympathy and voluntary help . wiih. class arrange-, meats. We express our gratitude .to Miss Pasley and to Miss HtinferBrown- for coUwting-«iid ; to^gJli^ht) - have given to wards our. fluids," id Miss Lorimer, Mr -Evans, .S.^.'y foT pfesick ing and /speaking words of excellent counsel and to all, who have, graced our platform "this evening. -We regret that some provinces are still deprived of the. r'eligioii§ advantages which" our children enjoy. : Several Education Boards, in spite of the legal opinions in our favour^ are "still uriconvinqed that our system i& in harmony with the Education^'Act. Recently, however the South Canterbury Board, to,: its credit, passed a resolution as fpv' lows : 'That this Board willingly "givea permission to any school contmittee that wishes to have Bible-reading once' ! a week, and can make suitable arrangements for the same, provided always that teachers and pupils having conspientious Scruple® " ah^but attending school Be exempted. ans $&X on that day the ordinary' sjj{iQb} ; h<iur^ tie-reduced t? four and ; "a half hours.': Where parents are wise and school committees forcef ul,other Boards need have no difficulty in following this good example. We rejoice with the childrenin their prospect of the long summer holiday's arid we trust that ' the" j good lessons learned from God's Word wjll teach them to find "their most golden happiness in bringing~joy. •■• ■tff-.other§^J';-:^. : H':'-" '■;'•:.' '■■'':. :■'.••; ';.: ~, : ' ". Prizes were then r distributed; as under:— : .-" "."-.. '7- - ORAL EXAMINATION. ; ' Broqkg gtreot. school.— Standard 1./; Ruby Day 1, Reginald Martin 2, ' Keith Baumfield 3, Hoy Hawk 4. Standard 11., Robin Smith 1, .Albert. ■ Eades 2, Clive Newport 3, Andrew .- Webley 4. " ■'.""■• .'-"; '• ■'"''. Hampden street schqel.— Standard 'I 1., Pearl Elvy 1, Norman -. Sonni 2, A Charles Goodman 3,Frank Guinness 4. Standard 11., Harold Glover ly Violet Smith 2, Noel Elvy 3,- Muriel ' •Burch. 4. ■ "-'.•■ " ■"s.--.-.'t':-s-r- 1 ? ] ' Haven road school.— StancUniL 1.., .! Kathleen Simpson. 1, Norval Fowler ; ; and Leslie Lipscpmbe (equal). 2; Mona ':'■ BradQock 3, Alfred Williams \., ; §^v- '< d.ard 11., Maggie.. Moore/ l/'May Voa- ■ per 2, Wir.iam. Seaton 3j; s Bertram , Davy and Lily Ricketts (equal) 4i * ■ ' ' : Tasman street school.-^l.tandard 1., ' Gough Rainkinvlj Jessie Gfimnlett 2| : \ Richard Osborn 3, Annie Bovd 4, . |3tandard = 11,, OgUyie Winxw-t* 1, ■ Beatrice :Dargay«l 2, Bertha --Lucre- 8, i Fred Gardiner 4.- .. .:Ji ,v - j WRITTEN EiAMINATioN: 'Girls' ' school.— Standard 111., Mar- ; garet McNab 1, J. Taylor; 2, S. Pope and K. Percival (equal)' 3l' l. Riloy.4. 1 Standard IV., M. Davy I', -Joyce Rob- j ertson 2, H. McT.-.clik'n 3, Ethel Esfc- ' court 4: Standaid V^-Vera. Perrin - and Margaret Christfcv ("(p-il)!/ Ma-' A , rian Snpdgrass 2, MunV.: -Moore 3, ] Mary Hamilton 4. Standard VI., E. : Smith. l,. Olive Yon Sturnier 2, Vanda- - Ellis 3,; Ettie Eyles, and 0.- Talbot >! (eq"ual) 4i'- -, -■-•.:. ; ■..-■[ >.; ;J -.Boys'- school.— Standard- IIL, Ken- ■ neth Gookl, John Vosper 2, ! Tom ' Somervill© A. Ha'rkness 4/ Standard IT., O. Page 1, H. Em^ry,?, G. ! •Kliapp 3; P. Bh'ncoe an<l li. Tiller ' (equal); Standard. V;, TP, Bpy«s J 4 ! H. Rose 2, L. Robertson 3; S. Cihis- v holm 4,' S.tandard VI.^K. Griffin lr Murray August i 3'< WKliarn Walk^ g, Mark Christian 4; J . :, The Rev. J. J, Grump, the hon." treasurer, repprted on the state of the Association's finances, which: showed a small debit-balance. '. ■;' ;' • The customary Votes of thanfei i. were then carried. and the gathering • closed with the Benediction. ■ '