LIFE BRIGADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 189, 12 August 1939, Page 13

LIFE BRIGADE.

COMMUNITY CEREMONY. GROWTH OF MOVEMENT. Seventy members of the liirls' Life Brigade, and 2"> members of the Boys' Brigade, took part in the inaugural community ceremony at A\ondale, a parade which demonstrated the growth of this young people's movement in Auckland. Many girls from different companies spent niany anxious moments during the past fortnight, as they were sitting for both the elementary and advanced first-aid examinations. Before the girls can sit for an advanced examination, which entitles them to a badge if they pa.-s, they have to pa#s a preliminary test which entitles them to a certificate. In most of the brigade awards a certificate has to be won first, as it gi\es the girls a higher aim.

A number of tlio <>flii-ors are taking a very interest iug course in botany mi Friday evenings under tiie capable leadership of Mw. A. Hutching*. who has taken .great earo in the preparation of these talks.

Link With London. There is quite u difference between comparing 2:( companies in Auckland with the J7f>t 11 London, but there is an interesting link between 170 th London Company and 10th Auckland. This London company is attached to the Stock well London Company, which orphanage was founded by the Rev. Charles Iladdon Spurgeon in 1867. Originally, the home cams into being with a few boys, anil in 1870 it was extended and 200 fatherless girl* were admitted. Over 5000 boys and girls have entered and passed through tinhomes, taking with them not only the results of their training but happy memories of the years spent at Stockwell.

Just over a year ago the 179 th London Company of the Girls' Life Brigade was formed amongst the girls in the homes, and it has provided a new and vital interest in their lives.

At present there are 30 seniors, 50 juniors and 24 cadets, and when any of the girls leave there are many keen applicants for the vacancies. Already they hold three trophies—for junior and senior drill and for elementary home nursing. The company takes a prominent part in the drill display on Founders' Day Festival in June, and have already held their first annual G.L B. display when the. smart appearance and excellent work of all sections were lii^jlilv commended by the inspecting ofTcer.

They are confident that the Girls' Life Brigade will play a great part in the training of our girls for the life that lies before them in the la-grr world outside, and earnestly hope that when they leave the orphanage they will link up with other companies in the different parts of the country to which they go.

The son of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the Lev. Tlios. Spurgeon. wr.s the lirst minister of the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle and built the present church which is similar to the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, the church of his famous father.