ASHHURST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 17, 17 December 1932, Page 12

ASHHURST

METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) ASHIIURST, Deo. 16. On Sunday and Wednesday last the anniversary celebrations of the Ashhurst Methodist Sunday School were hold. The children had been carefully and efficiently trained by Mr C. G. Dunham (choirmaster) and Mr J. H. Sumner (organist), assisted by Mr W. N. Brower (cornetist), Miss Grace Dunham (pianiste) and members of the adult choir. A large congregation assembled on Sunday morning, when Rev. F. Copeland (Feilding) was the preachor. The children entered into the spirit of the occasion and sang their somewhat difficult, though very tuneful, pieces very well, readily responding to the conductor. Mr Copeland spoke upon the words of I. Cor. 6: 19, “Ye are not your own,” and gave an address calculated to remain long in the memories of his youthful hearers. Scripture lessons were road by Miss Mairo Wilkin and Master Robert Currie. Miss Gladys Jofson and Master John Peck received the offertory, and Miss Kathleen Brewer sang a solo with pleasing effect. At the evening service, at which the pastor, Rev. R. E. Fordyce, preached, the congregation was somewhat smaller, but once again the children gave of their best. The Scripture lessons wero road by Misses Irene Woodroofe and Joyce Doreen, and Miss Marion Dunstall and Master George Fordyce were the stewards for the offertory which, with the morning offerings, will augment the Sunday school funds. Mr Fordyce took as his text the well-known words of St. Matthew, 5, 14 and 16,” “Ye are the light of the world; let your light shine.” The preacher gave an object lesson, using a candle as a means of illustrating and impressing his remarks. At the close of the day’s services, parents and friends expressed pleasure at the manner in which the children had carried through their alloted parts in a very happy day’s worship.

On Wednesday evening there was almost a full attendance of scholars at a bountiful tea provided by various ladies of the congregation. Mrs Shaw was in charge of the arrangements for the ten, and received much willing assistance from the other teachers and from the members of the Young Women’s Bible Class under tho leadership of Miss Shaw. After all had partaken of a good tea, Master John Peck thanked the ladies who had made such bountiful provision for the children. Merry games wero played on the church paddock until an adjournment was made to tho Public Hall, where an excellent concert programme was rendered to a large and appreciative audience. Tho members of the Cuba Street Methodist Pollyanna Girls’ Club graciously provided a well rendered and artistic programme. There wero about twenty-fivo membera in tho concert party and from the rising of tho curtain till its final fall some two hours later there was not a dull moment. Mr Fordyce welcomed tho members of the club, and presided during tho evening. As item succeeded item the enthusiasm of tho audienco increased and it was a very happy company which dispersed at about 10 p.m. The entire programme was given by young ladies who, ae occasion re-, quired, by donning male attiro made very gallant swains. Tho programme was a very varied one including choruses by tho full concert party, songs in costume, pianoforte solos, guitar solos, and monologue and skilfully rendered and very amusing dialogues. Mr C. G. Dunham (Sunday school superintendent) presented his report and made a statement with regard to the finances. He mentioned that the attendance of both teachers and scholars was good. The teachers loyally assisted him in the work, and tho children responded well to tho efforts made on their behalf. Ho expressed the regret he felt at the abscnco through sickness of several scholars who had been obliged to miss the tea and concert, and welcomed back one lad who had been very ill. The schools’ finances were encouraging under present national conditions. Messrs J. H. Sumner and W. N. Brewer were specially thanked for their ever-ready assistance in training tho children for tho Sunday services. Mr Dunham also thanked tho ladies for providing tho tea, and the minister for his constant interest in the work of the school. At a lator stage in the proceedings prizes were presented to the scholars, who received hearty applause. At tho conclusion of a very pleasant evening, tho chairman thanked tho members of the concert party, and their leader, Mrs Matthews, for their greatly appreciated kindness and courtesy in providing so excellent a programme. The audience’s thanks were shown by long sustained applause. , Rev. J. D. McArthur (Minister of Cuba Street Methodist Churoh) thanked the chairman for his appreciative remarks and expressed the club’s pleasure at having boon able to assist the local Sunday school teachers and scholars. The programme was as follow: —Gliorusos by the full concert party, “Pollyanna,” “How do you do?” and “Keep a Song in Your Heart”; pianoforte solo, Miss Rita Lavin; Maori songß, in costumes, Miss Gwen Young; Tableaux, “When Irish Eyes are Smiling,” Club members; “Rendezvous,” soloist. Miss Thelma Jackson, chords bv club members; chorus in costume, “Here Comes tho Sun,” Club members; duo, t ‘Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Misses Wenton and Finch; monologue, “The Divorce,” Miss Lucy Fraser; dialogues “Tram to Ashhurst,” and “In School,” Club members under Mrs M. McArthur as teacher; euitar solos, Miss Lorna Perrin; closing chorus, “Cheer Up,” Club members; pianoforte solo, Miss Findlay. The accompanisto was Miss Tonkin, whoso artistic playing greatly helped the musical portions of the programme. _