THE SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16695, 2 December 1919, Page 10

THE SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS.

On Sunday, at St. Luke's Church, a new departure was made in Sunday school work. Tho Intermediate School (age 11-14) has been re-organised on the educational principles of _ the Boy Scout movement. Every child who joins the Soldiers of tho Cross (as it is now called) must pass tho novice test before ho can be enrolled and receive the novice badge. Ho then joins a patrol (not a class), named after a Saint, with its patrol leader and patrol standard (bearing tho emblem of the Saint). Further badges will he evolved with appropriate tests. Thirty-six novices were enrolled on Sunday, nnd a short play was acted in the church. The first part showed some Crusaders on their way to Palestine; in tho second a modern "Soldier of the Cross'* was shown enlisting in the arniy. watching his armour before the altar, taking the oath, and being armed with the gocpol armour by Grace. Christian ' was well acted bv Patrol Leader Harry Gapes, of tho St. Lawrenco Patrol. ; and Grace by Pntrol Leader Gladys St€-wart, of the St. Nicholas Patrol. ' After that the thirty-six children and { teachers took the promise to fipht against sin, the world, and the 'devil, ' nnd to bo loyal to Christ and His Church, nnd to obev God's law. 'To i pass tho test they had to know this 1 oath, and God's law (Thon shalt love the Lord thv God with all thy heart, nnd thv neighbour as thyself), understand the meaning of certain Christian devices, know the lives of four , siints. and have come to church four Sundays. Tho interest among teach- - ers nnd pupils has been very great, nnd much is to be hoped from this new ■ experiment. ;!