THE YOUNG MEN'S MOVEMENT.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12190, 10 May 1905, Page 5

THE YOUNG MEN'S MOVEMENT.

AN INTERESTING OBJECT I LESSON. An effort, which is certainly without parallel in the history of the Young Men's Movement in connection with the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and which is also probably unique in the annals of Church movements in the colony, was successfully consummated on Monday evening last, when the Young Men's Social Hall, in connection with the Presbyterian Church,

St. Peter's, was formally opened by Mr G. Laurenson/M.H.R., and the Rev. J. C. Jamieson.s travelling secretary of the Young Men's Bible Class Union. The building itself—» pretty little Gothic structure, admirably adapted for the purposes, of the young men, and capable of seating about 100 been erected at a cost, with furnishings, of £195, all the labour in connection with its construction (with the exception of the plastering) being executed by the young men themselves. With the exception of £18 Ss, donated by outsiders, and £8 18s Gd given by members of St. JPeter's Church, the whole of the required funds were provided by the class. At the opening gathering, which was held in St. Peter's Church, the Rev. T. McDonald presiding, there was a very largo attendance of sympathisers with the Young Men's Movement, the .church being well filled. Congratulatory addresses were j made by the chairman, and by Mr G. Laurenson., M.H.R. (who, in an interval, led the way to the hall, and declared the building open), and by the Rev. [J. C. Jamieson. Three members of the class also gavo addresses. Mr J. Dalzdl spoko on the spiritual side of the movement, Mr J. Stout on the mental purview, and Mr A. y. Jamieson on tho physical aspect or the work the Biblo Class Union has in hand. Vocal items were rendered by Mrs Powell and Miss Bruce, and by Messrs McLean and Bills, tho proceedings being protracted to a late hour. " From first to last the hall has been tho young men's idea," eaid the Rev. T. McDonald, in conversation with a "Pro-a*" representative yesterday; "they -havo undertaken ell tlia responsibility of its erection, worked hard upon tho "building during their spare time, and are practically bearing the whole cost of its erection, fitting and furnishing, which has involved, roughly speaking, an expenditure ef £'200. The congregation of ist. Peter's could scarcely have undertaken tho work, as tho church had other heavy responsibilities to grapple with, and the young men, recognising this,, set to work to help themselves in very practical fashion, as you may soo from the completed building. " No, wo hevo no young men of moans; they are mosJtly all of the artisan class, and, each contributed to tho cost of the building, while all who wore able to do co helped with their own hands in its construction. " The class was started three years ago with some ten or twelve members," Mr McDonald continued, " the vestry behind the church being used as the meeting place. But the young fellows ! felt they were too muchycramped there, and as the claee grew the idea of a young men's social hall took shape amongst them. About eleven months ago they obtained permission to erect their hall on tho church.ground, and tho building was actually commenced seven months ago. The young men themselves financed the undertaking. Some who were in a position to do co, in addition to their own weekly contributions, advanced moneys for materials, etc., free of interest, and the little dobt which remains on the building is due to Jheae members, who will be repaid by the weekly contributions of the class. - " Yee, I 'agree with you, it is an interesting object lesson of what young men can do to help themselves, when they make up their minds to do so." " To what uses will the hall be put?" queried the. interviewer. "Well, the object of the class is'the development of tho whole' , inan-r----spiritual, mental, social, and physical, and the forty-one members liow forming the class are genuinely anxious v to help other young fellows. " They want to get hold of the lads who 101 l about the strlefc corners of an evening, and who find time- hangs heavily upon their hands. Aβ the Rev. J. C. Jamieson remarked last evening, it is hot love of drink that takes young men to the public house bar, or to tho gambling table, but the natural end legitimate desire they have .to enjoy the companionship of others. Thie social hall, which our young mon havo built, is intended as a common meeting ground fpr lads and young men. It has its library and will *be open of an evening for reading and recreation purposes. When not in use for meetings—debates, lectures, and so forth—it will be available for athletics and amusements of an innocent, and, therefore, harmless character. The young men will help each other to higher conceptions of life and in carrying out their ideal of 'the development of the whole man ' will be' doing really useful work for the community. The young men will manage their own affairs, without help from the church officers, and although they arc handing over the property to the church, it will be retained and used only as a Young Men's Hall. On Sundays, of course, it will be used for Bible class pnrposes, but even there the class has a broad platform, arid although the majority of the young fellows are, I am happy to say, soundly converted and desire to help their fellows to a realisation of the true intents and purposes of lifo, no compulsion is put Upon the members; the leaders prefer, indeed, to win their fellows by the very attractiveness of religion, rather than by forcing it upon them." . . Mr R. Stout is the leader of the class, Mr W. H. Sandford is its secretary, and | Mr W. Jamieson its treasurer. The subjects comprised in the syllabus for the current half-year cover such subjects as "Christian Charity," "Personal Work," "The Brotherhood of "Man," "Ideas About What w.e Live For," "Daily Religion," and "Self Help," while on tho debating eide the meetings include a parliamentary contest and tjoll, debates with the St. AndrewV and St. Paul's classes, and such subjects as 'The Healthy Life," "The Wages. Question," "The Young Man in Home Life," etc. It may be of interest to note that, following the example of, and encouraged by, the success which has attended the efforts of tho St. Peter's class, the young men's class in connection with the Sydenham Baptist Church have commenced the erection of a hall for themselves, on precisely similar linos, the foundations being put in on Saturday last. j