BOYS’ BRIGADE NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21581, 29 November 1933, Page 3

BOYS’ BRIGADE NOTES

[By Chum.]

THE BOY. What is a Boy? He is one who will pick up the world when we are done with it. Ho 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 dreains come true Time was when the Boy’s duty was to be seen and not heard. To-day bis 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 you to take the torch which they have borne so faithfully and so well, As an officer in the Boys’ Brigade, you will be enrolled among those men who are seeking to serve their day and generation by helping boys. The Boys’ Brigade has long since passed the experimental stage. The past forty-six years have abundantly proved that the 8.8. system is the best one for leading Boys to become real men—men of character—true Christian men. The wonderful success of this, the pioneer organisation for boys, is duo to what we call ‘ The 8.8. Spirit.’ And this little booklet is placed in your hands to convey to you the secret of that wonderful motive power. It is easy to state what is expected of the ideal officer, and you will probably realise much of this already, but it is hoped 3*oll will find in this book something of the deeper instinct of our movement, so that the 8.8. will grip your heart and soul, and be the biggest thing in your life. BATTALION COUNCIL MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Battalion Council will be held on Tuesday evening, December 5, in Messrs Barr, Burgess, and Stewart’s board room. As this is the last meeting for this year a full attendance of officers is hoped for. CAMP. Preparations are now well under way for the annual camp at North Taieri, when a great crowd is expected from the various companies. The following are the details of some of the competitions for which all companies are busily preparing:— Choir Competition.—Here every company* entering chooses a h 3*olll and a song, which it practises as much as possible in order to give a good account of itself on the night selected. If it is necessary for a company to have am* officers to assist it, then there is a penalty of five points for each person so helping. Playette.—We hope that there will he a good entry for this event, which usually provides one of the best nights in camp. Do not choose anything too ambitious, and the fun of preparation will prove as enjoyable as the winning of the competition. Squad Drill.—This, a real test of a company’s efficiency, for success must mean a great deal of preparation. But it will be worthwhile, and will be great help to your company in the next session. The squad consists of eight boys under an n.c.o. to be examined on anything up to page 48 in the Drill Book. Signalling and Ambulance.—Teams of six and four respectively will take part in these efficiencp competitions. BRIGADE BOYS TO THE RESCUE. The following is taken from the October issue of the ‘ 803*5’ Own Paper’; Considerable publicity was given in the newspapers to an incident which occurred recently during holiday week near Plymouth, when a boy who had fallen from a cliff was rescued by H.M.S Rodney following a Hash-lamp S.O.S. The actual details were not clear, and it should be of interest to the 8.8. for the facts to be stated, for “ B.B.” spirit, training, and resource are at the back of the incident. Three Birmingham companies were in camp together during August holiday week at Down Thomas, South Devon, and one evening Arthur Hill, a seventeen-year-old visitor to the camp, attempted (contrary to camp rules) to climb a cliff on the edge of the sea. In doing so he fell on to the rocks below, sustaining injuries which left him helpless to move. Boys who were with him gave the alarm, and Lieutenant Leslie Whittingham (28th Company) and Warrant Officer Wm. Eastwood (10th “ A ” Company) went immediately to the rescue, descending the cliff at a dangerous altitude, wading and swimming through treacherous water to the boy’s assistance. Meanwhile a 8.8. part3’ above lowered Staff-sergeant E. Jones (10th “ A ” Company) down the cliff 113 a rope, with first aid equipment. By reason of the shortness of the rope he had to drop some 15ft to reach the others. The injured boy’s wounds were bandaged up, while others at the top of the cliff sought to attract the attention of H.M.S. Rodney, lying not far out at sea. A local visitor who had been an Army signaller, by means of a flashlight, sent an S.O.S. message to the warship. This was answered and a boat was lowered,* and a party of bluejackets took the boy and the others from their dangerous position and sent the injured boy to hospital. Press reports place emphasis on the part played by the visitor who sent the S.O.S. and the crew of H.M.S. Rodney. But the initial efforts were carried out by the 8.8. Fellows, who reached the boy and rendered first aid. THE LIFE BOYS. (By Campfire.) The Life Boy year has now officially ended, the eagerly-looked-forward-to week-end has passed, and fortune has been kind—the weather, which for many weeks had been so unsettled, could not have behaved better. Over 18U bo,ys assembled on Saturday afternoon at the St. Kilda tram terminus, from where they marched to Tahnna Park to join in a songster sports programme which had been prepared for their entertainment. The sports events, including races, tug-of-war, football kicking, etc., went with a great swing, and afforded a very interesting sight for the visitors. The sports over, the hoys sat down to tea, and judging by the happy faces, the noise, and the speed with which the lunch disappeared everyone was enjoying himself to the full. Tea over, the Scripture reading and choir contests took place, the presentation of trophies to the winners rounding out one of the most enjoyable events which have taken place in Life Boy history in Dunedin. The council was very fortunate in securing the services of Messrs G. W. Johnson and Goo. Scott as judges of the Scripture and choir competitions respectively. Both judges spoke very highly of the work done by the contestants, and ex-

pressed their pleasure at being invited to judge the competitions. The results of the day’s events are as follow: Sports events.—South Dunedin 1, Seventh Dunedin 2, Eighth Dunedin 3. Scripture .Reading (Junior). —South Dunedin 1, St. Peter’s and Green Island (equal) 2. Scripture Reading (Senior). —First Dunedin 1. St. Peter’s 2. South Dunedin 3. Choir Contest.—Mornington. Baptist 1, Sixth Dunedin 2, First Dunedin 3. The winners of the greatest aggregate points for the day were; South Dunedin 1, First Dunedin 2, and Sixth Dunedin with Mornington Baptist (equal) 3. The contest right throughout was very spirited, and not until the results of the last event had been declared was the final issue decisive. Mr Carter, the district president, then presented the trophies to the winners, Mr Young, on behalf of the South Dunedin team, accepting the competition flag, the Rev. G. C. Reay, on behalf of Mornington Baptist, accepting the Carter Cup for the choir while Colin Cochrane (South Dunedin), R, Tyree (St. Peter’s), R, Morrison (Green Island), G. Melrose (Caversham), and A. Chotwin (St. Peter’s) received medals for the Scripture com test. The thanks of the council are due to the judges for the very able manner in which they assisted, and for the very kind and instructive criticism with which they reviewed each contestant’s effort, to the visitors for their attendance and the inspiration their presence gave the boys to do their best, and to the ladies for their assistance in presiding over the tea table, also to the domjrs of the very tine trophies.