V.M.C.A. ACTIVITIES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 83, 5 October 1910, Page 3

V.M.C.A. ACTIVITIES.

A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS. "The efficiency of our boys"»was tlie subject dealt with at the V.M.C.A. convention yesterday afternoon in a paper read by Mr. W. H. Babcock, the secretary of the boys' department for Christchurch. Between work for hoys and boys' work there was, he said, as much dinerenco as between a chestnut horse and a horse-chestnut, or a bath sponge aaid a sponge bath. Ini contending that a proper hold over a boy in Sunday School was a very difficult thing, the | speaker said that, for one thing, a lad generally objected to being taught by a lady teacher. The association ought | to supplement the. work of the Sunday School through a meeting of boyo for club life and Bible *>tudy in suburban districts, week by week. Mr. Babcock also touched on the faa--reaching influence of the boy scout movement. A motion wa-s tabled recommending each Australasian secretary to give every assistance to the boy scout movement. A paper on the life of Robert Birrney was next contributed by Mr. H. Armstrong. The life of Burn'ey was, he explained, Tvrappeed up in the. life and history of the American Young Men's Christian Association. So far as monetary matters were concerned, his early labours in the V.M.C.A. were of a vary modest character. The first secretary to enter the foreign field was trained by him. He was first president of the Springfield Training College for Y.M.C.A. secretaries and physical directors, being foundei' of the institution (to which he bequeathed one-fourth of his estate). He filled other important positions, and died in. 1898. Other business discussed embraced country association wcrk ; the work of a corresponding membership, and Y.M.C.A. territorial camp work. ANNIVERSARY MEETING. The eighth anniversary of the Y.M.C.A. will be celebrated in the Town Hall this evening, 'at 5.50, by an "Olde English* tea." At 7 p.m. the pupils of Mi*. Dpvey will give, a gymnastic display, to be followed at 7.45 with a public' demonstration over which Mr. J. G. W. Aitken will pieside The gathering will be addressed by Mr. A. Jameson, of Perth, and Mr. j. J. Virgo, of Sydney.