Ruahine Mounted Rifles.

Bush Advocate, Volume XIII, Issue 2184, 27 January 1902, Page 2

Ruahine Mounted Rifles.

ANNUAL TRAINING OAMP.

The annual training camp of the above corp*s was commenced on the n»f:ocourse on Saturday evening, and at the present titue there are over 60 moi! under canvas. Captain HartgUl is in command, ftnd Staff SergeantMrtjor Tuck is drill instructor. The tents have bpen pitohed in a snug place withiti the saddling paddock, ni j ar a high-boarded -fen'og,'- bo tbttt. both men. and horses are sjielteretl at ;;^j night from the previiilin^^wind, It - is Tilt'asing to note thut the men have quickly settled down to their^yrork, Mud the week's drill should be pro* ductive of satisfactory results. The commissariat and other arrangements are snpervised by GusjteruiasterSergeant Bickf ord, who 13 r qufait in the discharge of his duties. •

Yesterday ufternoon the camp was ; invaded By townspeople, including a large sprinkling of ladies, and it naturally presented a lively and attractive appearance, particularly when the To«rn Baud arrived atid contd^ bnted a number of s^ectkms. - ia, a^ most ple^sm^-tnufiuer. Shortly af;er 3 o'clock divine service was held by Bey. E. Robertshawe. The troopers were paraded in frout of the grandstand, while the structure was crowded witk civilians who, in conjunction with members of the corps, entered heartily into the ser — -v. vice. The rev. gentleman preached a most interesting sermon, based on the seventh verse of the second epistle

of Timothy, "I have fought a good fight,. I have finished my course, I have kept the. faith." Ref srebce was made to the South African war,' after

which the preacher proceeded, to impress upon the miuda cf those present the fact that Englishmen 1 ad afeed their blood in all parts of the world in the efforts to uphold truth and righteousness. He pointed out the difference between the fighting in ancient times and that which • was taking place in the preseut war. In former times there was the shock of battle, the clash of arms, and the close encounter, but th^sehustics hud greatly changed. A call was being made by the Empire for more men, and iL^ would- be necessary for those wUS^ responded to bear and endure great trials. Those to whom he was speakiug might not be called upon at present to serve their country, but he reminded them that there was other fighting to be done apart frouv that in warfare, and no matter what they were called upon to do he hoped that they could b« able to s-ty, "We have fought the good fight and we shall struggle to the end." To attain that result they would need moral courage, but if the Lord Jesns Christ wo s taken as a model of a soldier they would not fail. The rev. gentleman pointed to the crucifixion of the Saviour in order to emphasise the valueof endurance and courage, while' at the same time he alluded to the . lesson of forgiveness found in the words, " Father forgave them they know not what they 4 d0." As citizens they needed courage to speak "to a man when be was doing wrong, and they wanted courage to make themselves prop? against ridicnl?. To secure this help he would <Ur«et-.ihem to the Saviour. The preacher next referred to the time when his hearers would be called upon to give up their earthy existence, aud sinceiely hoped that when it .came they would be able to say' "l have feught the good fight of -faith ; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness." During the service the following hymns were sung: — "Onward Ohristiun Soldiers," " Fight the good fight," and " Lest we Forget" (Kipliug). After the last hymn had been sung the Band played the National Anthem.

Later in the day the corps entertained a large number of friends at afternoon tea, and the gathering dispersed about 5 o'clock.