on the weekends. The Sunday school simply depended on inadequate light from the rows of dusty windows. The large room, with its V-jointed walls and dark, oiled floor, was brightened only by a tew pictures, and Bible texts. The spacious area bore signs of being well used- varied adult social acti,·ities, lumber-grading classes, and youth programs such as Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Scours. A few years later, it was to sern: as a sleeping area equipped with camp cots for rhe Royal Canadian Mounted Police who were called in to bring order during the difficult days of the mill strike of 1931. My father, who remained as store manager for some 30 years, was particularly pleased to see the room being used for children's activities, and sometimes arranged for his faithful Chinese custodian, Jim, tO come up and sweep the well-trodden floor. Jim also checked to sec that there was an orange crate well stocked with wood for the old stoveplaner ends, door ends, sl:lbs- all supplied from the mill which, at that rime, was rated as one of the largest lumber operations in the world. The firewood was always brought in a creaking, red carriage pulled by two strong Clydesdale horses, a familiar sight in Maillardvillc and Fraser Mills in those davs. The mill provided employment for laborers from many parts of the world. The children gathered tOgether in the room abon: the srore represented a cross section of the area\ multi-ethnic societyScandinavian, British, french Canadian, Gennan, Polish, and the occasional Chinese or Japanese child brought in by a friend. Chinese, Japanese and East Indian communities had
settkd ncar the fraser River bur generally kept to themselves t(>r their social activities. Childhood friendships, which developed through the public school classes, helped break down the racial barriers and often Glrricd over into weekend activities. Each child who attended Sunda\' school was made to feel welcome and relaxed in the little circle. Benches were noisily scraped back away from the heater as late arrivals entered or as rosv-faced children retreated from the reddening ~tov~-top and lengthy, crackling pipes. Reminiscing now on that Sunday afternoon many years ago, I can still fed the heat of the stove, the IO\'C of the teachers, the plcasu re of having childhood friends - and the good feeling of possessing a penny of my own! Tn an atmosphere of giving it is not difficult for a child to learn to share. Unselfish adults were dedicating their time, talent and money to provide a spiritual touch to the lives of young children. At the moment that the cardboard offering box was passed around, there was a brief struggle of indecision, then the satisf)•ing release and jingle of the precious coin! The simple ofTerings of childhood and the more complex gift.s of caring adults, provided the foundation tor the development of one of Coquitlam 's largest churches. It often happens that the history of a church reveals a fascinating picture of the changes that time and events bring to a fastgrowing district. From the seemingly insignificant Fraser Mills Sunday school, which outgrew the old store hall, a group of A maiu strat at Fraser Mills i1t 1924.