BIBLE CLASS CAMP.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17103, 26 March 1921, Page 11

BIBLE CLASS CAMP.

GATHERING AT PURAtf. Three hundred and seventy members of tho Presbyterian Young Men's Bible Classes of New Zealand registered to attend the animal ■ Dominion Easter Damp and Conference

of their union, which is now in progress at Purau. Delegates are present from north of Auckland to the Southland district, and from Westiand. The first arrivals came an on Thursday evening, but yesterday'*'ferry boat and southern expresses brought the majority of the campers. It is the twentieth Easter camp, wliich alternates between the itiwo islands. The gathering serves as the annual parliament of the Bible Class Union, and for the greater part of yesterday delegates wea-e occupied with the business aflsira of their movement. One of the principal decisions come to was to» increase thei size of'"Four Square," the unrbn's official puMioaition, from sixteen to at least twenty pages monthly. At tho same time, .!\ better quality paper will be provided for illustrations, and the Magazine Committee has taken power to increase the annual subO'ption if necessary, "he statistical report for • 1920, ns laid >re the annual meeting of delegates, allowed a marked increase in junior (under eighteen years) membeisbip ( but a falling off in seniors. The comparator© figures are: — 3319. 1920. Junior classes .. G9 81 Junior membership .. 954 1172 Senior classes .. .. -134 141 Senior membership . .. 1772 1684 During hist year 14 senior and J 5 junior classes were granted affiliation. 'Discussing the report, various ' prominent members spoke of the lack of leaders, and one point made was that there should be some recognised echool or conferonco for the training of leaders. At present that is lacking, and it is felt -that, if thegmion cannot train more lenders, the movement may go down-hill. As showing it 3 present active nature, the report stated that 1000 badges had been sold to members in 1920. Morning call in camp comes at 0.30 o'clock, and the captain of each terit leads his fellows in 4i Bible study circle for an hour before breakfast, which is served in a big marquee at. 8 o'clock. The general theme of this series of morning studies is "Life ait its Best," tine text being Christ's promise, a£ given in John x., 10, of tho life more abundant. After breakfast yesterday, Mr D. G. Wilson, 8.A., president of the union, conducted a. slrort devotional meeting, in which ho emphasised the wonderful opportunities of the camp, and its power for good in the upbuilding of tie all-round man, which is the B.C. ideal. At a mass - meeting- in the afternoon, official welcomes were extended to the visitors by .the Bev. E. W. Walker (Moderator of the Christchurch Assembly), and Mi- W. T. Lester (Mayor of Lyttelton). Both gentlemen, with Mrs Lester, wero the givests of tlie- caiiip «t dinner. Following- on ,the official welcomes, Mr T. C. Brash (convener of dhe Bible Class Committee of the General Assembly), and Mr Vic. French, the newly-appointed travelling Fccrelary to the movement, spoke briefly. Mr Brash, "who has recently examined young people's work as conducted by the churches iu Europe and North America, eaid that the New Zealand ideal of a work amongst young nen, for young men, by young men, had no pirallol anywhere. In .the. whole of the rest of the, world there was no such gathering as their own Easter camp. They had reason to be proud of what New Zealand was doing, but much moire remained to bo done, and .wonderful opportunities were at hand. Mr French, who, lake Mr Wilson, is a »turned soldier, touched shortly on the ,need of to-da.y. "I like to stand full in the'fuce of all tlie .facts in the world," lie said. "And when on« does that the only thing to say is: 'What «n hour.' We stand to-day on the threshold of .grent things, which cost ithis world and our'movcrnent tremendous sacrifices to purchase." The crisis, of to-day, explained Mr French, was failing upon the Christian. Church, for men were looking to Christianity and clinging to it to bring them rafe'y through the dawning of the new day. T h?ir Movement and the Church, were to-day aiding for men's lives against a bigger world than in the old days, fo that ifcc crisis was more acute ithan ever. But the ultimate victory of Christ's cause was nover mo;; 6Uie, and ho urged ;the Bible Class men. vzsenib'ed to rea-rh out and frrasp the big opportunities of the present hour.