IV.—committee on Sabbath Schools.

Your Committee beg to report that soon after the rising of the Synod last year, they, in order to elicit and collect information regarding our schools, issued a schedule of queries asking the information desiderated. Thirty-eight schedules were issued, and of these thirty-six were returned with answers. Two congregations made no returns, viz.—Clutha and Switzers; and of the thirty-six congregations which made returns, two of them report that they have no Sabbath School in connection with their congregations. These are Mount 1da and Winton and Forest Hill. In connection with the remaining thirty-four congregations there are 63 Sabbath Schools. They are as follows—Within the bounds of the Presbytery of Oamaru there are 6 schools, with 425 scholars and 40 teachers, of whom 9 are office-bearers; within the bounds of the Presbytery of Southland there are 11 page 22 schools, with 637 scholars and 71 teachers, of whom 10 are office-bearers; within the bounds of the Presbytery of Clutha there are 21 schools, with 561 scholars and 64 teachers, of whom 10 are office-bearers; within the bounds of the Presbytery of Dunedin there are 25 schools, with 1848 scholars and 199 teachers, of whom 48 are office-bearers. Together there are reported a total number of schools, 63; of scholars, 3471; of teachers, 374, and of that number of teachers 77 are officebearers.

Before making a few suggestions calculated to promote the efficiency of our Sabbath Schools, your Committee would draw the attention of the Synod to the comparatively small number of office-bearers who take part in the religious instruction of the young in these schools. Of the 374 who give their time and energies to this good work, only 77 are office-bearers. In no fewer than ten of the congregations which have reported, it appears no office-bearer takes part in the Sabbath School instruction of the young, and in each of five congregations only one officebearer is engaged in Sabbath School teaching.

Your Committee would also call attention to the fact that in a few cases a very large proportion of the children of people connected with the Church do not attend the Sabbath School, viz.—in one case 77 are reported as attending, while 50 are not attending; in another 53 are attending, while 50 are not attending. It is worthy of note, that the sexes of both scholars and teachers are on the whole very equally balanced. Of the 3471 scholars, 1678 are male, and 1793 are female. Of the 374 teachers, 199 are male, and 175 are female. This is so far satisfactory, for there is a strong tendency for the older boys to break away from the restraint necessarily involved in Sabbath School attendance.

Although our Sabbath School teachers constitute a noble band of Christian labourers, and are doing a great and good work, for which we have reason to give God thanks, still it appears that they do not sufficiently meet the exigencies of our schools. In several instances ministers and Superintendents complain of the difficulty they find in obtaining the services of a sufficient number of competent teachers, and of their being forced in some instances, in the absence of such, to take those who are too young and too inexperienced for the important and arduous work of leading the lambs to Christ. To remedy this state of matters, your Committee can suggest no other means than these—that the ministers and elders of our Church endeavour as far as possible to impress the more qualified of our Christian people with a sense of their obligation to devote a portion of their time to this most important work, and that ministers' bible classes be conducted with a view to their being as far as possible nurseries for the training of Sabbath School teachers.

Your Committee, after mature consideration of the suggestions made in the schedules, and of the whole subject of our Sabbath Schools, would make the following recommendations:—

First—That each teacher should make it a matter of conscience to attend regularly, for almost nothing is so calculated to destroy the interest of the child in the class, and to disperse and destroy the class itself, as irregularity in attendance on the part of the teacher.

Secondly—That teachers be earnestly encouraged to visit periodically their scholars in their homes, and especially if any one is absent on a particular Sabbath that the teacher shall visit the child at its home during the week, and ascertain from the parents the cause of absence. This practice, where followed, is attended with the most happy results.

Thirdly—That teachers should meet together once a week, or at least once in two weeks, for the purpose of preparing lessons, and prayer for the success of their labours.

Fourth—That there be appointed by the Synod a central standing committee to be called "The Synod's Committee on Sabbath Schools." whose object shall be to procure and distribute a Sabbath School literature, e. g. books suitable for Sabbath School libraries—books fitted to assist them in the preparation of the lessons, such as a scheme of lessons, notes on the Scripture lessons, and other publications which are calculated to enhance the efficiency of our schools as a great Christian institute.

Fifth—That a short address to Sabbath School teachers be printed and circu- page 23 lated, containing such considerations and hints as are fitted to deepen their interest and to stimulate their efforrs in their work.

P.S..—

Since this report was written, a return has been received from Clutha, which it appears has one Sabbath School, with 20 scholars and 3 teachers. This makes a grand total of 64 schools, with 3491 scholars and 277 teachers.—J. G., C.