YOUTH RALLY.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20905, 12 July 1933, Page 10

YOUTH RALLY.

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR WORK. ADDRESS BY REV. S. VARCOE COCKS. A weil-atter.ded rally or young people and members of Christian Endeavour Societies in the city was addressed last evening by the Rev. 55. Varcoe Cocks, vice-prc-sider.t of the World Christian Endeavour Union, who is at present visiting Christchurch. Mr J. L. Hay, national president of the j Young Men's Christian Association, \ presided. "We are very glad to welcome Mr Cocks to our city." said Mr Hay, in opening the meeting. "He has been a leader of youth for many years, and to-day holds the responsible position of youth director of the Methodist Church of New South Wales. He in also deputy-president of the Christian Endeavour Movement of Austral i> and New Zealand, and he represented the rr.ovc-rr.er.'. a*, the world conversion at Berlin in TP3O. His wide expedience in all matters relating to youth work entitles him to .speak with authori'y. ar.d I feel sure that his visit to New Zealand will he of great value not only to the Christian Endeavour Movement, but also to all other such movement.-."' The Rev. Clarence Eaton. of tivDurham Street Methodist Church, r, which the rally was held, also welcomed Mr Cock*. "We know him to be an honoured servant of our church in Australia." he said, "and it is only 20 years since we were a part of that church ourselves. Therefore I welcome him as a member of my own church, and as a cousin from Australia." Messages to New Zealand. Mr Cocks read messages to New Zealand from the president of the World Christian Endeavour L'nion, from the president of the Australian and New Zealand Christian Endeavour Movement, and from the Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher, leader of the movement in New Zealand. "Mv own message to you," he said, "is that this is youth's day. Many are striving to avoid their responsibilities—reckless because they are thoughtless, heedless, perhaps, because th«?.v do not feel any need for God. These irresponsible* among the young are insensible to beautv and to moral feeling, but they must be sought after by the church since they are the chief moral responsibilitv of the church." There was another but a smaller group, said Mr Cocks, whom the church must aid. who were pessimists becaus« they were lntrosnectivc and because in their introsoection they had „„. i—, n j n themselves. This class was feeding on the of some of the world's chief leaders, who believed that in the present strife in Europe an age was dying.

Youth and Discontent. "I am concerned to-day with youth and its discontent." said the speaker. That discontent must be harnessed, he claimed. If we could not have the millennium at once, we must wnrk for it. We must dare to say that with Christ's help we could do anything and then, instead of pessimism, we should have the right kind of optimism. Holy discontent had alwavs been the incentive behind the world's great attempts and achievements, and God was to be found in the overcoming of handicaps and obstacles. were many young people today. Mr Cocks continued, who thought that the Bible was a most uninteresting book. On the contrary, there were many exciting stories in it. not the least exciting of which was the story of Uzziah. who had succeeded to the throne of Judah at the age of 16 years. He had been a leader and had himself reached to heights of moral and spiritual excellence. What the Christian Endeavour Movement, the Young Christian Association, and the Class Movement reauired in these days was leadershic that they too mi<?ht attain to the heights. As Uzziah had attacked the Philistines so must they attack the strongholds of irreligion, fortified by the strength of their own convictions. The church had been defeated over and over again in recent years, but the battle must continue" In Australia only lately it had been heavily defeated over the gambling evil, immorality was rife in society, and disgraceful things were shown in the theatres and picture houses. Mr Cocks in conclusion called on the members of his audience to band themselves together to fight these evils and to protect the young people of their own country from them. At the conclusion of the evening a vote of thanks to Mr Cocks. Mr Hay and Mr Eaton was moved by Pastor J. Crawford.