Geraldine Primitive Methodirt Church.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3559, 13 March 1900, Page 3

Geraldine Primitive Methodirt Church.

The anniversaay services in connection with the Geraldine Premitive Methodist Church Sunday school took place on Sunday last, the chapel being filled to the doors in the morning, afternoon, and evening. For the occasion the pulpit and lamps were very tastefully decorated with flowers, and the school children taking part in the singing were placed in tiers facing the audience. The singing, which was exceptionally good, was taken part in by the children, assisted by the choir and a string band. Miss Maslin officiated at the organ. On Sunday morning the Rev. H. Williams preached an interesting sermon to the childbren from Ecclesiastes xii. 13 : “ Fear God, and keep His commandments ; for this is the whole duty of man.” It was a very serious thing to have started to live, and philosophers of all ages had tried to fathom the meaning of life and show how wo ought to live. The preacher, according to the chapter read, showed that true happiness in life did not depend on “ studying to become learned or clever “ ambition” ; desire to serve one’s country as politicans, etc.; ” “ the attainment of wealth.” All these things were, simply vanity of vanities, and the only real happiness could be found in remembering God, There was nothing wrong in the desires mentioned, but it was when they were made to take the place of God that the mistake was made.

On Sunday evening the Rev. Mr Williams preached to a large congregation from Psalm xh, 4: “ Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust.” The singing in the evening was very pleasing. On Sunday afternoon a large gathering of children with their parents and friends met to witness the prize giving. Sir W. S. Maslin, superintendent, presided, and the Rev. Williams was also on the platform. Mr Maslin mentioned that they were not only celebrating their anniversary that day, but they were meeting for a two-fold purpose, because they were also saying good-bye to the Rev. Mr Williams, who had served them for the past 3 years. Owing to his having to prc ioh at Temuka on Sunday afternoons the Sunday school at Geraldine had not seen a greac deal of him, but they knew that his heart was with them, and as this was the last day Mr Williams would speak to them for a long time to come he had asked him to address the children before the prizes were handed out.

The Rev. Mr Williams spoke to tho children on the privileges they bad in this enlightened Age of attending Sunday school to be instructed in the Word of God, and impressed upon the parents and teachers the value and importance of Sunday school work, trusting that the parents would give the teachers every encouragement, and that the teachers would thoroughly realise the responsible work they had in hand to mould the young characters for God. Before handing out tho books Mr Maslin mentioned that they had enough this year to go all round, and nearly every boy and girl in the school would get a book of some sort. PRIZE LIST. Girls—lnfant Class, taught by Mrs Kennington-Esther Ineson 1, Katie Sutherland 2, Fanny Tetheridge 3, Olive Baughen 4, Lillie Tozer 5, Ada Kennington 6, Reta Gibson 7. Prizes were also given to Dorothy Brown, Lottie Penn, Nellie Ward, and Violet Gray. Miss Skelly’s Class—Dorris Maslin 1, Idrene Tasker 2, Annie Billings 3, Ellen Bryant 4. Miss Maslin’s Class—Ruth Ineson 1, Druce Bowkett 2, Violet Billings 3, May Rowe 4. Miss Pizzey’s Class—lna Logan and Jane Fox (equal) 1, Mary Johnson 2, Violet Gardner 3. Miss Leech’s Class—Alice Bowkett 1, Lottie Maslin 2, Bella Bryant 3, Maggie Quinn 4. Miss Bowkett’s Class—(First Class Girls) Florence Maslin and Lizzey Billings (equal) 1, Jane Gore 2, Bella Groundwater 3, Bella Quinn and Emily Chesterman (equal) 4. {Boys.—Mr Fred. Wallack’s Class— Humphry Bowkett 1, James Turner 2, John Sutherlands 3, Percy Tasker 4, John Billings 5, Edwards Billings 0, Leslie Wbetton 7, Bertie Frame 8, Herbert Bryant 9, Norman Tasker 10. Mr Walter Maslia’s Class—George Gore 1, Ben Ineson 2, Bruce Logan 3, Bobert Kennington 4, Norman Dyer 5, Clarence Dyer 6, Bertie Lord 7, Ernest Lord 8, Leslie Dyer 9, W. Brown 10. Mr W. Maslin’s Class—John Gore 1, George Rowe 2, Andrew Sutherland 3, Harry Rowe 4, Robert Tozer 5, John Billings 6, David Turner 7. Mr W. Fyfe’s Class—Peter Billings I, Mark Sutherlands 2, Richard Tozer 3, Willie Turner 4, William Rowe 5. Mr John Prouting’s Class —John Bowkett and Caleb Maslin (equal) 1, Thomas Tozer and Robert Pizzey (equal) 2, Walter Ineson 3. Mr Maslin also presented a prize to Robert Sutherland, and distriputed a large number of small books to boys and girls who had not received a prize in the ordinary way. He also stated that the boys in the highest class had made a request to have bibles given to them instead of prize books, and this would be attended to.