YOUTH RALLY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 211, 19 June 1933, Page 6

YOUTH RALLY.

SERVICES AT ST. STEPHEN'S

CAPTAIN BANYARD'S ADDRESSES.

A most successful youth rally was conducted at St. Stephen's Anglican Church during" the week-end and attendances at all services were very large. The principal speaker was Captain S. R. Banyard, of England, advance agent for the Church Army Column, which will arrive in Auckland on July 5 to tour the Dominion. There will be six men in the narty and two sisters and a mission will be conducted in Aehburton from August 7 to 13. A special service was held in the church on Saturday evening and was attended by 150 young people. This was followed by tea in the parish hall, over 200 being present. The Rev. A. J. Petrie presided at the mass meeting held later in the evening and extended a welcome .to the visitors. The proceedings opened with community singing, after which Captain Banyard gave a most interesting address. The Rev. Basil Tayler (Hinds) also spoke, and greetings were conveyed by Miss D. White, of Christchurch (secretary of the Anglican Girls' Bible Class Union) and Mr L. G. Anderson, of Christchurch (secretary of the Anglican Boys' Bible Class Union). Mr Murray Fountain, of Christchurch, sang the solos, "Draw Near, O Lord" and "Jesus Stands Waiting." The whole meeting was most inspiring. There was a large congregation at the communion service at 8 o'clock yesterday morning. Later, Captain Banyard and Mr Fountain visited the Sunday school.

Both morning and evening services were conducted by Captain Banyard yesterday. .In the morning about 300 parishioners attended and the preacher based his remarks on Isaiah 9:6: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Members of the boys' Bible classes assisted at the service. Messrs A. Protheroe and E. Johnston read the lessons, Messrs L. Armstrong, A. Osman, G. Gudsell and R. Greaves acted as sidesmen and Messrs 0. Moore, B. Miller, K. Bathurst and !D.. Attwood as ushers. There were over 350 present at the evening service when Captain Banyard preached from Revelations 3:20: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear mv voice, and open .the door* I will come unto him, and will sup with him and he with me." The lessons were read by Messrs B. Hampton and O. Bathurst, while the sidesmen were Messrs E. Doherty, M. limes, R. Chambers and V. Gabites and the ushers Messrs R. Biggar, H. Harper, E. Furby and P. Harris. Mr Fountain sang the solo "Nothing But Leaves," in the morning and "You Must Do Something With Jesus" at the evening service. Captain Banyard related his experience of conversion last evening and asked for any who would dedicate their lives to Christ to come forward. Some 80 people responded to the invitation and 60 of these met later •in the Vicarage after the evening service. The captain also made an appeal on Saturday evening.