Wesleyan Anniversary At Conisboro’

The anniversary sermons in connection with the Wesleyan Sunday School at Conisboro’ were preached on Sunday, by the Rev. H. G. Payn, of Headingley College, Leeds.

At the morning service an excellent sermon was preached by Mr. Payn, from the text, ‘Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will pay the day wages,’ the discourse dealing chiefly with Sunday scholars and their usefulness. The children and choir sang remarkably well, the selection of hymns and anthems being well rendered, and the assistance given to the musical portion of the services, by the string band, was al that could be desired.

In the afternoon what is known as a children’s service was held, when the parents and scholars were addressed by Mr. T. Handley, of Dewsbury, who gave in his address numerous interesting details, and likewise catechised the children, who attended in large numbers.

At the evening service the chapel was crowded to excess every available seat being occupied, it being found impossible to find sitting accommodation for all present. The Rev. H. G. Payn again occupied the pulpit, and took for his text, ‘Unto you is born this day a Saviour,’ from which he again preached a most able and elaborate sermon. The children and choir very creditably acquitted themselves in the hymns and anthems, in addition to which a solo was introduced and well rendered by Mr. Edmund Badger, late of Conisboro’.

The ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ was substituted for the second anthem, and well rendered by the choir, the musical portion of the rest of the services being in every way a success, and reflects great credit on Mr. Batson, the conductor, who must have spent considerable time and trouble to bring them to such a pitch of excellence. The collections made during the services amounted to £22.

On Monday the teachers and scholars, headed by the Conisboro’ brass band, paraded the streets, singing their anniversary hymns at different points along the route, but owing to the unfavourable weather a part of the undertaking had to be abandoned.

The children then adjourned to the Sunday school room, where upwards of 300 sat down to tea, but unfortunately the weather continued wet and they were dispersed, the arrangements made for their after enjoyment being prevented from being carried into effect by the weather, a misunderstanding having likewise arisen with respect to the loan of a field, but this was easily got over, and the recreation meeting was adjourned until the next afternoon, when the weather was all that could be desired, and taken altogether the celebration of the anniversary again a great success.