RALLY OF YOUTH

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 55, 3 September 1934, Page 7

RALLY OF YOUTH

A BIG GATHEKING

LIFE IN THE WORLD TODAY;

NEED OF SPIRITUAL VIEW

Practically all seats were occupied at the annual rally of youth in the .Town Hall yesterday afternoon, when tho young men and women of Wellington were addressed by his Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and the Bey. Herbert Leggate, M.C., prganising padre of Toe H, England.: Tho meeting was organised by the Wellington Christian South Council, with which is affiliated the Young Men's and Young Women's Bible Class movements of the Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, , Baptist, and Congregational Churches, the Young People's Department of the Churches of Christ, the tf.W.C.A., the V.M.C.A., the Student Christian Movement, and the Nurses' Christian, Onion. ;

Tho Governor-General ivas accompanied by Lady Bledisloe, and also present were' Bishop Sprott, the Rev. J. E. Blanc.hard, the Bey. L. J. Boulton. Smith, members of the Christian Youth Council, and representatives of the churches in Wellington. Mr. M. A. Tremewan, president of tho Youth Council, presided. In welcoming their Excellencies, the chairman expressed keen appreciation of the influence exerted by them in Wellington and throughout New Zealand. It was probably the last occasion that the Christian youth of Wellington would have of gathering in the presence of their Excellencies, and he wished to tell them how much what 4hey had done was appreciated. New Zealand and the world had gone through a difficult period during their Excellencies' 6tay here. ECONOMIC DISLOCATION. '.. "We have.seen an economic dislocation with the resultant terrible toll of poverty and unemployment," said Mr. Tremewan. "We have seen the rise and growth of nationalism, which has led to much bitterness. It has led to an increase in armaments and has made possible a future war. We have seen the fall of various Governments throughout thi world and the rise of dictatorships. It seems that the system we have known is collapsing about us. It is being borne upon as more and -more conclusively that the failure has been a moral and spiritual failure . . . and we begin to realise that the only hope for the future lies in an understanding of the Golden rale, do nnto others as yon would have done onto yon. What was required was for men to love God and to love their fellow-men. \ ■ "His Excellency, during his period in; New Zealand, has never failed to stress that fact and bring before ns those great spiritual truths that really are universal," continued the chairman. Whatever, the future mightihold, •f they huilt on those foundations the future would hold goo£ for thsm. Whatr ever their fears and hopes in the future the future lay with them/and as they built so tha future would be. ""We fee! 'hat their Excellencies have served a ?reat purpose here." said Mr. Tremewan, In conclusion. "They have kept before us those highest ideals, and ivhen, the time comes ;for •them to leave New Zealand they will carry witf. them the regard and friendship and appreciation of all the youth of the Dominion." Lord Bledisloe then addressed the gathering. His remarks are reported soparately.

AGAINST REAL ODDS.

The Rev. Mr. Leggate gave an interesting addießS, stressing particularly; the necessity of a spiritual view of life.' Today, he said, they were fighting against real odds.;; There was not a young person in the AaU who ought not to feel proud to be living in the world at the present day." Many Christian countries were almost pagan, but they were too well bred to admit it. It looked as though the odds.were insuperable. But, quoting Marshal -Foeh's remarks, "the sitnation is excellent, and we are attacking." There was a conflict between the materialistic and the spiritual views of life. There was' nothing more monotonous in the world than priggishness, he continued. Today thousands of young people were bored with life. God. had intended that we should find life always adventurous. He himself had found that.there were always glorious conquestsi left -for young men Who were keen for adventure.

Ho spoke of many features of the world today, with all its new scientific discoveries and its wonderful machines. 'It'was necessary now to learn how to | live. The great task they faced in this strange new' world - was the task of finding ont what living meant. The life of Jesus should be taken as an. example: He was their leader. They ought to1 be .thinking and finding out more about Him. The speaker appealed to the young men and women listening to him to get together and belong t* one family. He expressed dissatisfaction with what he termed "the emascu" lated,life" of some young people i# churches, and urged them to be up and doinjj,'/joining together as loyal Christ ians to face the new world.

L: During the proceedings Miss Ngaire Coster sang "The Lord is My Light," and the Madrigal: Singers sang thf double quartet "God So Loved th* World." Mr. H. Temple White played the accompaniments to • the and hymns, and also supplied "incidental music on the grand organ. Prior to th« rally mass choms singing was led by Captain P. C. Pearce, : of the Church Army in New Zealand.' The Rev. J. R. Blanchanl. led the devotions. \