Church of England Sunday School Soiree.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3473, 11 February 1880, Page 2

Church of England Sunday School Soiree.

The annual soiree of the above* Sunday School was held in the old Church, Holies ton street, and fairly attended last evening.

The following ladies presided at the tables, which were liberally and beautifully furnished :—Mesdames Alloni, Bayldou, Cleveland, Fraser^ Hall, Marshall, Puckey, Osborne, Bead, Tiizard, Strange, aud Vernon.. ■.:,.. \;

" .Noticeable among the good things was the. fruit, Mulberries, grapes., plums, pears, and-peaches to a superabundance.

When the room was cleared of the tables the Rev^ Mr .Lush thanked those present for their attendance, but expressed a regret that the room was not more crowded, fcr the Sunday School deserved and demanded the countenance and help of all the members of the Church. On last Sunday there were 394 children present at the afternoon School, and a large school like that required a good income to keep it well supplied in books, <&c. After a few more remarks Mr Lush introduced to (he meeting the new Superintendent, Mr Gerring, whp read the following report and the Treasurer's account. Both balance sheet and report were received and adopted :— We Beg to submit to you the following .-reports of St. George's Church Sunday School, and in doing so have-no reason to complain of the state of its efficiency in comparison with former years, ami in one respect it certainly has improved, viz.; That we have been very successful in regaining pur .elder scholars, some of whom have bee,n occasionally employed in teaching and bid fair to~ become permanent and efficient teachers. The number of children attending the school is 430, and the average attendance 335. In last August Mr G. N. Phillips resigned the office of superintendent, and from that time to the end.of,the year the Huties of /thaj; office have been efficiently by Mr'Purnell. Since then Mr Gerring has been appointed. The children's quarterly Sunday afternoon services have been very successful, but it would be a great encouragement to the clergyman arid teachera ii they were better attended by t.bo parents. Since last yeW the'school accomddation has been increased by the addition of a claes-room, fitted with a gallery for infant classes. This addition is already paid for,

a 'la^fe portion of the money having been subscribed by the children. The best thanks of tli'e teachers, parents, and children are due to Messrs Purnell and Fletcher, who kindly gave their time and labour for the erection. Besides this addition to the building, we have been enabled to have the •whole school-house painted, which is also paid for, with the exception of between four and five pounds. The library is in good condition, an adequate number of new books to the value often pounds have been purchased at Christmas to replace those lost rand Worn out. With regard to the school's finances we are happy to say that the receipts were quite sufficient to meet the expenditure, and the year, closed with a fair balance in hand. Withregard to the apparently large" sum expended for library books and prizes, we must inform you thfit the amount covers the expenses for two years. For these two purposes we require about twenty pounds a-year. For the last-three years some members of the congregation have generously presented very valuable books to be competed for as prizes by the children, and they have been awarded after special examinations by written papers. :

Treasurer's account to 31st December, 1879—Dr: Cash, in hand, £1 14s 6;d; net proceeds of Boiree 1878, £19 8s; offertory Christmas Day, 1878, £7,8s 3d; do. 1879; £7 11s 8d; offertory at four children's afternoon services, £15 17s 8d; net proceeds of Oratorio 27th August, 1879,£5 9s 9£d; net proceeds of children's Exhibition and Christmas tree, £17 lls lid 5 collected from children for library, £1 os9d'; donations, £1 4s 6d. Total—£77 7s Id. Or: Purchase of 'Bibles, library books, prizes, periodicals; &c, &c, &c; £40 14s 4d; expenses of Sunday School-festival, 1879, £23 14s 2d; distribution of prizes, £1 10s; subscription to Diocesan Church Sunday School Association, £1 Is ', balance in hand, £10 7s 7d. Total— '£77 7s Id.

THE CONCEBT. The programme as published was then proceeded with, the choir singing the glee *■ To Rome!s,^lflHßertal = Leader.'^—~Mr Airey sang "The Free Lance " in good style, after which a very nice trio, "The Red Gross Knight," was rendered by Miss Coney, Miss Day; and Mr Catran. Several songs,, followed by Misses Murrish, Proberfc, and Messrs Coney and Airey, that by Miss Day, "The Cradle song of the Poor," being very sweetly suntr, and for which the fair singfr received an encore. Mr Catran, in his song " The Gold Finder," and Mr Brown in "ISil Desperandum," were well rendered. Mr G. N. Phillips gave one of bis amusing readings, which caused roars of laughter. The glee " The sisters of the sea " by the choir concluded the programme, after which all departed apparently well pleased with the evening's entertainment.