GRAHAMSTOWN WESLEYAN SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1803, 13 October 1874, Page 2

GRAHAMSTOWN WESLEYAN SUNDAY SCHOOL.

ANJSIVEESAEY CELEBBATION

The anniversary soiree in connection with tlie Wesleyan Sunday School was held last evening in the hall of the Naval Brigade. An ample spread was provided, and the attendance was large. Different ladies, whose names we are unable to furnish, supplied trays, and presided at the different tables. The refreshment s having been partaken of to the entire satisfaction of everyone, those present, cr such as desired, adjourned to the Weslej'an. Church, where a number of gentlemen delivered addresses.

At the Church there were upon the platform the Eevs. Turner, Davies, and Sharp, and Mr. Kerniek, in the chair.

The Chairman explained that the Ecv. Mr. Crump was to have occupied the chair, but was absent, owing to the nonarrival of the steamer Golden Crown; and he (Mr. Hernick) had been requested to perform 4he duties' of Chairman in the absence of the rev. gentleman. He was pleased to see the large attendance—though not so large as it might have been, because of the weather —as he felt it was a »ign of the interest which was taken in Sunday schools, which he was happy to see were spreading far over the universe. It (Sunday school teaching) was a commencement of religious life, and the eternity was affected by that commencement. Eeferring to the groat good of religious belief in the actions of men in their daily walks, he dilated on the beneficial effects of Godly instructions in early years as a constant precept in the contemplation of wiiich we find support. As showing in more forcible colors the value of this knowledge the speaker referred to jibe misery experienced by men approaching the grave who had not been acquainted with religion. The Chairman then called the secretary to read the annual report. The report gave a • detailed statement of the operations during" the past year, from which it appeared that the labors had met with encouragement. The financial, report was then read, and gave a balance with which to commence carrying out the work of the school during the ensuing year of £12 18s Bd.

The Chairman remarked upon the pro^ mising nature of the Treasurer's report, being, he said, considerably better than he had expected it would have been. The Superintendent of the Grahamstown Wesleyan Sunday School then reviewed the manner in which the school had been conducted during the year, and made some suggestions as to how parents might further the objects of the institution.

Tlie Eev. Mr. Davies then came forward to address the meeting on incidents in connection with the revival of the last century. He said the first thing they had to look at was the state of society during the commencement of the past century, which had been at a Very low ebb. Among the upper classes he said the rights of marriage had been despised, and gross licentiousness in consequence had prevailed. He also referred to ths depravity of the magistracy in those days, when the' Bench was in the habit of presiding in a state of drunkenness, and often declared that it (the Bench) would never commit a gentleman, being of a gentlemanly character itself. Nothing but blasphemy and every wickedness rose up from the earth in the face of high Heaven. And the Church was asleep. He showed thus the work which the revivalists had to do. Ai to who those men were, he referred to the origin of the three great revivalists-— their birthplaces and youthful habits. He showed, the difficulties which were experienced from the absence of such institutions as are possessed at the present time; and illustrated this by depicting the selfimposed tasks and miseries of the great revivalist Wliitfield, and also the half shaded condition in which dwelt John and Charles Wesley. He then read two pieces of poetry written "by Charles Wesley, and contrasted the tone and quality of the pieces, the first having been written when he was young in knowledge, and the second when he had become to the full aware of all the beauties of the Gospel. He then referred to the principle evolved out of. the revival of the last century. That principle was doctrine. They would have had no revival but by the glorious doctrine of justification by simple faith. The Rev; Mr. Sharp next addresied the meeting on the mission of children. He called Sunday-school children missionanes —missionaries in their own homes and neighborhoods, where they unconsciously taught the lessons they had learned, and the influence of the children was thus spread. He firmly believed that many parents had been brought to ultimate salvation through the instrumentality of their children. Mr. Sharp then gave an anecdote of an infidel in Rochdale who had become converted while on a bed of illness, through the influence of a Sunday-School child, when all other endeavor /had proved abortive. The

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speaker dwelt upon the fact—suggested by the^ above touching incident—that those who were entrusted with the teaching of such small but important instru± ments for good should be carefully chosen and truly pious. > The .Key. Mr.' Turner was called upon at tin's period of the evening to address the meetinjr upon "the influence and power of illustrations. 1' Mr. Turner delivered a most eloquent speech, fully bearing out the reputation he has gained as an orator. He said he had been pleased at the reading of the report of the Sunday school operations during the year. It was wise thus to look back upon the past, and see what they had been doing. It was not theirs to sigh; it was theirs to rejoice that God had so far blessed them in his cause.. It was theirs to look forward, and by still hoping to give effect to that hope. If they had not accomplished all they could wish, they could accomplish more another time. Mr. Turner then proceeded to point out the important power of illustra-/ ( lions in connection with Sabbath school' objeet3 He did not wisli to lay down a law for their guidance but simply purposed making a few suggestions, ; and of theso his hearers could pick the grain from the chaff. Some persons sighed to be ministers, others sighed to wield the pen; but the teachers had a great work before them, and in order to accomplish that work, they must remember that every child was subject to. the full influence cf the teacher. They should seek to interest the child ; if they could not interest him they could not instruct him. It was impossible in clear reason- ; ing to suppose that children would hang ! upon their lips for what they had to say if it were not made interesting—if they took irom their teachings this illustrations. The reverend gentleman then referred to word painting as being equally as beautiful and ftruthful as the pictures painted by the hand. They had .seen this in the pictures painted in the Bible, the.greatest pictures being the, parables of the lost sheep and the prodigal son. He then gave, examples of illustration in oratory, and pointed to the Eev. Ward Beecher among others as a great picture painter, he paving the power to^ command the attention of his hearers in that, manner. As further showing the power of illustration and figure upon the mind, the speaker dilated upon the demand for a certain class of books. On entering a library they found works on theology neglected, cast aside for the special bshoof of the Ministers; works of astronomy and art were also in little demand. The class of literature that took were novel a—works of fiction entered the heads and hearts of the people, and had wrought beneficial effects. And this demand for figures was amply supplied: illustrations dropped from a million hands—shot through the clouds like the wings of angels, and dispelled the dark clouds of ignorance. He then showed the progress made in certain schools when the teacher had acknowledged this power." Illustrations conveyed truth. But they should not only have a purpose, but be natural and chaste. He warned them to avoid too much gauze and too massive frames* As an instance of exaggeration in the matter of illustration, he related an anecdote of a German who was in the habit of placing spectacles over the. eyes of his young horses so that the stones on the road might be magnified, the purpose of which was that the horse might see what he had to do as he got older—lift-his legs well that he might not stumble. The same was the case with some teacher*— they were inclined to exaggerate. He told them if they were talking about the sky they should not leave out the stars ; or if talking about the sea not to leave out the fishes. The pictures, then, should be truthful, but, above all, simple. They should be made so as to be clearly understood. (The speaker here gave some amusing illustrations as to how orators and speakers were,, frequently misunderstood, through.', the use of , long '" dictionary words.") The greatness of a preacher was not manifested in his mystification, but in plain illustration in the words of our everyday language. Another important consideration wag that the anecdotes should be fresh. He dwelt upon the mournful sameness of the usual anecdotes, which all commenced and ended in the person of a little boy, who was good to parents, died curly and went to heaven; This was not a happy way of telling a story. It had always appeared to him (Mr. Turner) that goodness wag s disease, since all good little boys according to these stories appeared to die* Thus it was also the manner of telling the anecdotes. There were men in listen-' ing to whom one would go to sleep. The speaker then proceeded to inform his hearers that although the power of illustration was in a great measure constitutional, and wts possessed mostly by poetic minds, that it depended also upon circumstances, and was frequently to be acquired. Mr. Turner concluded a most admirable address, which had been listened to with deep attention-j amid rounds of applause. The Choir then sang a hymn, during which a collection was made, and prayer by the Chairman concluded the proceed-