THE MODERN BIBLE CLASS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11872, 20 April 1904, Page 9

THE MODERN BIBLE CLASS.

—♦ i ■ A PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT.

The camp of the Presbyterian Young Men's Bible Claee Union, held at Professor Bickerton's grounds, "Wainoni," New Brighton, during Eaeter -week, wae remarkable in many waye. The movement was organised during Easter, 1902, and the two camps held since then nave bees ■marked by a. gradual increase in the number of delegates in attendance. At the camp held near Wellington in 1903 there were present 170, whilst at the camp last Easter there were 300 present. In 1902 only twelve classes -were repreeented, whilst last Easter forty classes tent delegates, who represented a-total membership of over 1300. Some account of the. movement, which has made such rapid abides in so short a period, will doubtless be interesting, and a representaihre of "The Press" hae obtained from the Her. J. C. Jamieson, the organising lecretary, eoroe details pi it. "Hie term 'Bible Class' in connection tith this movement," Mr Jamieson remarked, " is a little bit misleading, as these tlasses are so different from the oldfashioned Bible classes which were conducted by a teacher, and were devoted to Biblical subject* solely. There is no teacher in connection with tlie Union's Bible classes, but a chairman is elected by the class, and in addition to Bible cub- i fccts, otber matters, such as biographical rftudiea of great men, present day-,topjcs, and the athletic and social sides of life are ,»fto dealt with. The Union's classes differ .lisa from Young Men's Christian Associations in this respect, that membership of those Associations involves a pledge or profession of faith, but them is nothing of that kind connected with membership of the Union's classes. Our membership is. broader, and intending members are not asked questions about their belief or spiritual condition and any young taaa may become a member. The feeling of companionship and sociability has j ■Rrtatly helped the movement, and & large number of those who belong to- it are i young fellows living in lodgings, who find j a homo away from home in our club and class-rooms. Owing to this we are strongest in Wellington, where there are, perhaps, more young fellows in lodgings than in *ny other cRy in the coldny. Then? we have five different classes, one of which has j an average attendance of about one hundred. From these classes two football trams are entered for the football tournaments, and twice in succession the Senior Association Football Championship has bsen won by the St. John's Bible Class team, and four or five of the Wellington KWesentatiTO footballers liave been chosen from the same c i ass-> AII the Tj nion - e «as«* in th* colony a r« connected with churches, but their niember- '■• tw!* j yonns fclloTrs * ho Wong l?h~£.f dwsolD,Mti «». and a good many to no church « all. Tfhe movement is Presbyterian to this extent, that A !k?? «««»«•. chiefly of Presbvteriar.s, and the Presbyterian Church has backed it up I>t prtmding buddings, ud b y giving financial assistance. ,, J h s Regarding the camp last. Easter, Mr Jamieson «ud that amongst important matters dealt with at the Conference it jras practically decided to transform "The Young Men's Magazine" from a. quarterly publication into » monthly one An endeavour is being made through the agency of the magazine to encourage colon- ' iai authorship, and prizes an offered, raryiatj from one guinea to five guineas' j for stories, poems aud essays. There' J competitions are open to any colonial writers, whether they ore members of the Union's classes or not. One of the chief benefits derived from the camp was the opportunity it gave to members of isolated classes to gauge the strength of the movement, of which they form part, by coming in contact, with representatives from all parts of the colony, and noting th character of those belonging to the movement. Some time was tfpeut in discussing the best methuds of carrying on the class meeting*, awl tlie most Suitable topics for discussion ?t them. A motion was proposed witli the object of gwing less promin-noe to the social and athletic phrases of the movement, but the almost unanimous opinion was against, any I •Iteration. And the reason for this wa'a I

apparent. Most of those in tlie movement have kvn, or are atliktos, and they cauld in it *•.'-' wliv they fhould bar their fotmer sports, simply because they w<?re interested in the movement, their ideal being that tinLiin."Ma:i >iiou!<l mix in life generally and rvHgiou." feelings strong fiiougn to . |ar:ici]i.:t • without injury to hinw.lf or i !i!S f< iiuws in ull that pertains to humanity. i'l'h-j (.hrittir.n younp man who shut- him- •■ if o!f fru.'n ?« w ia! life and from atlikt.ics riicr cii:i>i'liT"-"d ir.'.mps hi'ti-tlf aiid liiiiil , ! \i>*' !•<«■.*; >!■■• u.v:'u'.:.es.«. "Our ideal," Mr i said, -is the pliVNiol. mental, '■ soiia!. :i:.d sp:ri - .uj! of youiisr kmi." ', Aiu.llii.-r fc-wJUTf whifh ii-'is tyii.nl^utorl • not only to ih-- suc«.s« of the I nnA--.!i.e:it bu'. also of I.:-- wmi ~ in that ' vie win)!'. , in:::i;:cm t'.t of Vie c!j>. ; *;< and tlV' c.nn;,s is in tin? b;:nd.-; of tin: im-nilx-re. : liio sotund -Liy i.i <- :, 'P lApnl 2u.i| wa? i dfvrit-. il, a!mn-t cn::r-.'T. to nthk-tic com- ' petitid!:.*:. and ilk srh.C''. poss:u!o inter*.ct , ivus taketi m the various evt.'it;*. T}w ; b:i!i:: r was u'.:i by ;':r- --t- Paul's (Christ--1 chup.-i). but :lic Auc»iJind<.rs made a bold i bid for it. and h:.d w..ir full Uam b<v?n i pivM.nt. tin? »•■= '" ! " T thoy would : h.av earned off the cov<-t-d horiiiur. j In ttdditi-.u to tin- c!...--."c« in tins city ' tin. I.' ar-.> «.l.ks>c>s in ill-.- provincial district I<U 'J'imaru, I-ceston. kulinchy, Dunsand.'-l, Ashburtoii. Onl'lii!.'. Fairlie. ana Lytt^ltoii. Tli<» new r-rvsid«.'iit of the Union is .Mr C. .S. Falo.r:-:-, a son of Mr A. l<. \ F.iluoner. the f-aniaii m:s«ii.:iary of Dun-t-diii. and tl.e imuiortali>.«-d by Builen in hie autobiography. lit concluding his chat, Mr J.imi?.-un expr.'.ssi d the opinion that the 1 movement should, in tho ih-ar fuluiv, prove j a considerable , - force in tlie colony, and should a liberalising uifliu-iice oil the Church built m n-giird «»» idvas* and practices. It Rhould bring into Christian life a liood of masculinity and of enterprise, and remove from young mon many of th«ir Tw-judicfs religion, and Church life will be more manly and athlt'tic, and social life more Christian. It,is liojwd that the Union may. in. toin? small measure, do in New Zealand wliat nas Ineii done by Drununond and Mott and tho Student Federation in other counttk's, in raising up h new type of Christian—broad-minded, up-to-date, and in full sympathy with modern thought and human life. Up to ltie present Mr Jamie-son's organising labours have bfeu devoted to the Wellington. Wanganui, Auckland, and "Westland districts, but hi y is now starting on a. tour of Otago und .Southland to spread the movement in. those districts.