BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2686, 16 December 1909, Page 3

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

PRESENTATION OF; PRIZES

The presentation of prizes in connection with theHßible study classes at the main .school took place yesterday afternoon, in the school, Mr. C. A. deLautour presided, and several of the Bible Class teachers Avere present. After proceedings had been opened with prayer, the secretary of the State -School Bible Class (Rev. F. W. Chatterton) read the folloAving report: “The Bible classes have been carried on in this school regularly every week throughout the year on Monday mornings, from 9 o’clock to 9.30. The attendance of children at these classes has been about tlie same ias last year. In some standards it has been not so good, in others it ha,s been better. Our regular attendance in this school (including the infant department) has ■been about 500 each A\eek. This, while gratifying as far as it goes, to those who give up their time to this important work, is not as good as it should be, and as avo .still hope it Avill be. We cannot emphasise too strongly that Avhile the lesson is a voluntary one, it is never intended that the children should please themselves Avhether they attend or not, but that it is for the parents, not the children, to decide, ■and Avhere parents have expressed the wish that their children should attend, tl/jy (the parents) should do their part to see that that attendance is regular. This, i s only due to those who give up the.r time to the Avork. We haA T e a staff of 18 teachers engaged in giving instruction, represeiiting the different denominations.. There lias been complete unanimity in the Avork, widen, while -a labor, is a labor, of love. In the three schools in the toAvn in which the instruction is given, the total number of children attending regularly is just under 800. We have to thank the headmaster and the school teachers for the courtesy and kindly assistance which they have extended to us. in every Avay in their power.’’ Before presenting the prizes, Mr. C. A. deLautour said that Mr. Cliatterton should be congratulated on the report that he had been able to gHe. It was splendid to think that 800 children in town wore learning something about the Bible, under a voluntary system on the part of the teachers and also the parents and scholars. The prizes Avere then presented as follows: Standard Vl.—Mildred Nicol (92), silver medal presented by Mr. G. Dar-t-on: Zelma Hooper and Alice How Chow (83); Charles Bull (90*), Charles Allen and Arthur Fyson (89). Standard V. —Elsie LaAvrence, Jane Scaly, Eric LeQuesne, Herbert Ibbotson, Eon ovendee. Standard IV. —James Morice (88), Raymond Hanren (Sl*) Rose Schwa be (79*), Freda Ludwig (70). Standard 111. —Muriel Miller (70), Alix Blair (68). Andrew Murray (07), Frank Smith (63). Standard ll.—Ethel Nield (80). Jessie Robb (81), Walter Robertson, Talbot Smith. Standard I.—Boland Poole, Kathleen Redward, May MoKeague, Eileen Hall. Phyllis Bull, Reginald Crafts. Matthew Young, James Lipsett, Stanley Johnson. Attendance.—Clifford Hawkins. Rita Kedia, Alfred Martin, EdAA-ard Netting, Arthur Gowland, Edward Read, Reuben Magnussen, Beatrice Simeon, Lulu Wack, Hazel Eaton, Rose McCallum, Eileen Boland. Florence McLaughlin, Rita Hansen, May Donaldson. Attendance Prizes.—Standard YI.: James. Dines, Cecil Ellery, Arthur Fyson, George Garrett. Herbert Ranger, Albert Wallace, Winifred East, Amelia Priestly, Miriam Thelwell. Standard V.: ICate Ambridge, Ethel Glassford, Ivy Morrison, Isabel Shaw, Zillah Steggall. Standard. IV.: R. Thomson. A. Jones, Alfred Coleman, Samuel McKay, Harry Allen, Sydney Wildish, Val. Steele, Leonard Lentil], Albert Fisher;"Willie Kennedy. Bert Martin, Alice Ambridge, Olive Atkinson,. Mary Bull, Elsie Clayton, Myrtle Harries, Eva Hepburn, May Kennedy, Lily Sealey, Florence Wilkinson. Standard III.: William McKeague, Arthur Sceats, Frances Davidson, Mary Dempsey, Elsie McDonald, Dorothy McKay. Standard II.: Mary Davidson. Emma Elliot, Hazel Glassford, Minnie Hatherall, Mariorie Magnussen, Phyllis Maidens, Kathleen Hood. Special prizes given by the teacher, Miss Morice, for ansAvering every question.—Ralph Bull, Cecil Ryan. Special attendance: Royal Tarr. The proceedings concluded with three cheers for Mr. Cbatterton and the teachers, and for Mr. deLautour for presenting the prizes.