Kopu Sunday School.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8607, 11 March 1897, Page 4

Kopu Sunday School.

Kopu, Wednesday,

The anniversary services in connection with the above Sunday School were concluded by an entertainment in the Kopu Hall yesterday evening. There was a large attendance of parents and others interested in the school, including the Revs. S. J. Serpell and F. W. Boys and several young ladies from the Thames Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist churches whose kindness in assisting greatly helped to make the entertainment as enjoyable and successful as it undoubtedly was. Mr E. F. Tizard, Superintendent of the Sunday School, who occupied the chair, made a few remarks as to the object of the gathering stating the duty of parents to bring children up in the ways of Christianity, which he admitted was rather a difficult thing now when so mauy things around are not in accordance with the Master's teachings. He called upon Mr Serpell to open the meeting with prayer. The following programme was then proceeded with :—Sankey's Hymn 462, scholars and choir. The report of the Secretary (Miss Tizard) and of the Treasurer (Miss Kelsey) were read by Mr Garcia and adopted. The Secretary's report showed that the number of scholars now on the roll is 74, an increase of 13, the number of teachers 7. It expressed the great loss the ichool had experienced by the removal of two of the teachers, Mrs and Miss Gibbons. The balance-sheet showed the receipts to have been £5 13s 4d and the expenditure £5 3s Hid, as follows :—Sunday School requisites, £3 11s 7d ; books as testimonial to teachers leaving school, 17s ; Primitive Methodist Mission, 9s 6|d; Scripture Gift Association, 5s lOd, leaving a balance in hand of 9s 4|d. —Duet, " Hark there comes a whisper," Misses Flo and Maud Foster; recitation. "The last hymn," Miss Carrie Cox. A short address by Mr Serpell followed urgiug the children to study the art of self-mastery, which he said was of far more importance than that of selfdefence and the rev. gentleman showed that to be able to master oneself there must be regulation of thought and a curbtoimaginationandpassion. He also referred to the folly of reading trashy literature which only injured the mind. —Solo, ''He wipes a tear from every eye," Miss Walton (Thames); recitation, "Discontent Master," Mr Joe Evans; Sankey's hymn No. 557, scholars. A short address on Sunday School work was given by the Rev. F. W. Boys who stated that he was glad to see the interest taken in the gathering, for he thought nine-tenths of the good done by an anniversary was by reason of the interest the children took in it for some time previously, and he further said that he believed Sunday School work did really more good than all the church work afterwards did. -Solo, "Ora Pro Nobis," Miss Davis (Thames); recitation, "Go and tell Jesus," Miss Lily Evans ; duet, " I saw a sea of glass " Misses Davis and Walton (Thames); recitation, "No sect in Heaven," Miss Evans ; Sankey's hymn No. 609, scholars. All the items of the programme were listened to very attentively and greatly appreciated by the audience judging by the applause given. The" recitations of the children were very clear and distinct, Miss Carrie Cox being especially good, whilst the singing of the Thames young ladies was really most creditable, the duet, " A sea of glass,'' being encored. Votes of thanks to the ladies who assisted, and to Revs. S. J. Serpell and Boys, and also to Miss Evans, who has devoted much time in training the children, were carried with acclamation. The Rev. F. W. Boys then pronounced the Benediction, and the meeting closed with the singing of the Old Hundredth, At the conclusion of the meeting the sum of 16s was collected which will be devoted to the Sunday school funds.