WESLEYAN SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 6066, 27 September 1894, Page 3

WESLEYAN SUNDAY SCHOOL.

THH ANHIVERBABY TEA. The festivities relating to tho 29th anniversary of tho Wesleyan Sunday School were brought to a close last evening with a sooial tea m the schoolroom, and a pleasant publio meeting held m the church afterwards. There web a very good attendance at the tea, estimated to be more than usual; and an hour was pleasantly spent m disposing of the excellent refreshments provided by the lady friends of tha school. Those wbo did the honour* at the tables were Mrs F Smith, Mrs J Holdgate, jun., Mrs Badcliffe, Mrs Oil* christ, Mrs iiargefrede, Mrs Quilbert, the Misses Whittaker, and Miss Dale. After the tea the large company adjourned to the ohuroh, when the minister, the Her 0 E Beecroft, occupied the chair, and the Her Frank W Isifct, who had preached ao aocopt. ably on Sabbath last, was an honoured visitor. There was a large choir present, including a great many of the scholar?, and with the large prchestra lent valuable aid to the musioal portion of tho evening's entertainment. The annual reports compiled by Mr 0 G Vogeler, the superintendent of the school, were read by Mr George Oreemer, astistant secretary, and the gist of them is as follows— In the last report they looked forward hopefully to a year of usefulness and blessing ; although much had happened to militate against the fulfilment of their desires yet tboy thought they would be wanting m grati. tude to their Heavenly Father, if they were not thankful for the measure .of blessing and enoouragemont they had had m their labours. They had several timei been m want of teaohers, but their extremity had been God's opportunity for raising up helpers. The average of teachers and officers had been on,e above that of last year, and the number at present was 24 with an average attendance of 18. There were 235 soholarson the roll, with an average attendance of 176, or 12 lower than last year* Tbe attendance had, however, improved during the last quarter of this year. Cause* that had operated to the fall were wet Sundays, the ill-health of lomo of the teaohere, and the marked prevalence of influenza. Deep regret was expressed at the loie of a beloved elder soholnr, Lizzie Penroee, and heartfelt sympathy was extended to her relatives. With tk full staff to commenoe the new year, they hoped to be able to note a substantial increase of scholars at no distant date, Aft regarded the finances the jnoome had b6en £§4 5s Sj, and th.c expenditure £53 l(ss 2d,a small p.redit balance beiDg thus oarried for* ward. They had hoped, as a result of their last aeniveriary, to be able to restock their library, but were baffled, the oast of the picnio owing to wet weather, being £18 more than what was received for tickets, "etc. To avoid a loss m future they were thinking of oharging 6d instond of 3d for picnic t^okets, but m no otse would the oh,arge. be more thin 2s per family, The picnio shquld be made to p,ay its way. They were hopeful this year, without extra effort, to put £10 worth of books into the library, aud any donations to this fund would be heartily welcomed. The library was opou to members of the congregation whom the officers would be. pleased to see avail themselves of this privilege. There were 171 subscribers, 670 books, with 2180 exohanges during the year. Ihe Band of Hope (reported on by Mr 1 Holdgate, jun.) continued with great success, under the supervision of their pastor. 'Ihe meetings were the moans of providing enter* tainment for the good of the children, both spiritually and morally. During the session 17 meetings bad has* held, with an average attendance of 7i-'^m concluding the officeis of the school again impressed on the parents to see that childrer? are regular m, theis attendance j that they carefully prepare the short le-BOria set for them, 'ana that when a chil i is ill, or unavoidably absent, that the teachers bo njade acquaint »d with the causa. We are infovaed, m addition to tho above, that the resu^s of this anniversary's labours are so far vory satisfactory. After passing the usual votes of thanks, the remainder, of tbe evening was moat eojoyably filled m by Mr Igitt who delivered a stirring lec'ure on • The Hero of Hayti," the meeting being brought to a close m tho usual manner. m _, I