Page:History of Knox Church Dunedin.djvu/50

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T the very commencement of his ministry in Dunedin Mr Stuart started his Sabbath morning Dible Class, which has ever since been continued with most encouraging success, and with an increasing attendance. It meets in the class-room of the Old Church at 10 o'clock a.m. The minister and his office-bearers have ever attached the utmost importance to the Bible Class, regarding it as the connecting link between the Sabbath School and full communion with the church, and as calculated under the blessing of God to be a powerful means of preserving the young of both sexes from yielding to the temptations and snares of the world on which they are just entering, besides training them for future usefulness both in the church and in the community. Dr Stuart has stated that this class has a place in his heart next to that of the pulpit itself. A considerable number of the most active and useful men and women of the congregation—some as office-bearers, and many as Christian workers—have been members of the class. There can be no doubt that very many of those who have passed through it have had their knowledge and their love of Divine things greatly enlarged by the lessons they have received.

In the beginning of the present year (1891) Dr Stuart was prevailed upon, though with difficulty, to resign his beloved Bible Class into the hands of his colleague, Mr Davidson, whose work in connection with it promises to be attended with much success. The number at present on the roll is 148 (58 young men and 90 young women), the average attendance l)eing 115.

About the beginning of 1877 Mr John Reith opened a Bible Class for senior boys drafted mainly from the Sabbath School. The class met in one of the side rooms of the new church. It was conducted