BOYS' BRIGADE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 85, 9 April 1936, Page 5

BOYS' BRIGADE NOTES

(By "Haversack.")

.Royalty and the 8.8.—1n 1897 when he was Duke of York the late King became the patron of the Boys' Brigade. As Prince of Wales he continued his patronage, and at the coronation of King Edward VII he reviewed a great parade of Brigades for.Boys. He was patrou for a period of 39 years.

The letter which Lord Home, the brigade president, sent to the Hoyal Family was the formal expression of the heartfelt sympathy of the whole Boys' Brigade movement.

It was in the reign of Queen Victoria that the brigade was first founded, and Lhe movement has thus seen four reigns. With the accession of King Edward VIII, however, the Boys' Brigade is more closely associated with lhe Throne than ever before. As Prince ot Wales, King Edward saw much of the activities of the 8.8. He reviewed the Glasgow battalion in 1923, and on many occasions he inspected guards of honour provided by the brigade. His Majesty's most intimate contact with the regular work of the brigade was when in its jubilee year, 1933, he visited the Ist Glasgow and spent half an hour in the hall where the 8.8. first started. He went from room to room and talked with the boys, who were en; gaged in all the different departments of company work, and showed the keenest delight and interest as he, made friends with the gymnasts, signallers, ambulance boys, buglers, and those engaged in preparation for display work. What is a Boy?— What is a boy? He is one- who will pick, up the world when we are done - with it. He will discover our mistakes. He will make mistakes of his own; but he will be wiser than we are. He will make some of our dreams come true. Time was when the. boy's duty was to be seen and not heard.- Today his is the most clamant voice in the world, and the future is in his hands. Since the early, days of the Boys' Brigade thousands of faithful men-have devoted themselves to the boy and his needs, many giving a lifetime of service. As they pass on their places must be filled, and they look to the young men of today to take the torch which they have borne so faithfully and-so-well. Men are needed who as officers of the Boys' Brigade will serve their.day and generation by helping t>oys.. Our great need today is good leadership. Doings This Month.—On Sunday, March 29, a battalion church parade was held at the South, Wellington Church of Christ, where ah inspiring address was- given by Mr. G. Mathieson, captain-chaplain of the 7th Wellington. Several companies have held private church parades at their own churches. A special gathering for. prayer was arranged for 8.8. and L.B. officers throughout the Dominion on Thursday, March 12. The Wellington Battalion met for prayer on that night. The Herbert Smith Trust has granted the Wellington Battalion*'a handsome shield for annual competition in swimming. ■ ••;i : ■■'■'.■ ■■' ■'■■"'■■ .' .

Battalion Council.—The first meeting of the Battalion Council was held on Thursday, February 6, with a good muster of officers present The Brigade Headquarters are using quite a few of their officers who are fortunate in being able to make a trip round the world", to visit the/8.8.' companies in foreign lands and to pass on the best' wishes of headquarters in their activities. Such a visitor 'Wellington had recently, when Mr. Mason, captain of the Ist West Kent Company, made a flying tour of the Dominion in the interests of the 8.8. Mr. Mason has had a great experience of 8.8. work and is a mine of helpful information to those' who desire light .on the better way of doing 8.8. work. Mr. Scott Miller is having a good time collecting 8.8. information and atmosphere during his sojourn in the Homeland. , .

Railway Concessions.—ln the past, in order to obtain railway concessions for 8.8. boys travelling in uniform, it was necessary for officials to make applica-

lion to the Railway , Department by special letter. The Railways Board lias now extended to the Boys' Brigade the same concessions as that held by the Boy Scouts. In future '-members of the 8.8. not exceeding sixteen years of age, in parties of no fewer than six in number, travelling in uniform to attend parades or instruction camps, will be issued second-class return tickets at half fare, minimum :harge 9d, on production of a certificate >y the officer in charge.

Humour in. the B.B.—These spots, of .jumour were found in certain English uattalion examination papers:—Question: Explain the difference between dressing and covering. Answer: Covering yourself is just to ■ wrap something round you. so that it bangs down anyhow. Dressing is to array yourself in two or three separate garments which fit the shape,of the limbs and body. Question: Who is in direct charge of an orderly squad at camp? and from whom does he take his orders? Answer: (a) The captain'; tb) the cook..

Dominion Headquarters are at present preparing a special training course handbook, and when this . has been published. a compulsory system of training will be instituted. Thereafter, no person will be enrolled .as an officer in the Boys' Brigade until he has satisfactorily completed a cours* of training in all the essential subjects.