RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Evening Star, Issue 21706, 28 April 1934, Page 3

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

[By Forward.] PRESBYTERIAN YOUNG WOMEN'S EASTER CAMP. The 3.934 Otago Easter camp, attended by seventy girls, was held at Waikouaiti, which is picturesquely surrounded by the hills and the sea, and, with favourable weather conditions, the camp proved a very successful one.

We were very fortunate in having for our camp mother Miss Macfic, who understands the girls and takes a great interest in all parts of the camp life. We have also to remember Miss Elder, who assisted the camp mother, and the girls who undertook the preparation prior to our being at camp. It was their splendid work beforehand that made the camp what it was. A very marked factor of our camp life was the co-operation of all the girls, who helped to prepare vegetables, waited on table, kept the school tidy, while taking their parts in the working out of our programme. To our cooks we owe our thanks for the splendid way in which they carried out their duties, and gave us such attractive and satisfying meals.

The aim of the camp is to live the abundant life in all its aspects, and so our theme this year was ‘ The Christ Uplifted’ (“And.l, if I he lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me ”), and this gave us a renewed and a clearer vision of Christ.

One of the most important features was the fellowship among the girls; no one felt strange or “ out of it,” for all were bent on making friends of everybody. As it was late when we reached our destination, we went in search of our straw palliasses, on which we were to sleep for the next five nights, instead of feather beds. This was a trivial matter, as we were all too happy and eager to see what the following days held in store for such things to be disapproved. Those following days did not disappoint us, and on Friday afternoon we went for a ramble, which was quiet, though enjoyable. Our walk led us to the top of a vei'y steep hill, from which we had a wonderful view'of the surrounding country. On Saturday, by means of buses, we left Waikouaiti at 11 o’clock for a picnic to Trotter’s Gorge. . There we met the girls from the North Otago camp, held at Kakanui, and we all spent a very happy time roaming among the beautiful bush and playing various games.

Saturday evening was “ the ’’ frivolous time for us, apd with our jovial energies wo produced a concert at which all humorous incidents of camp life were reacted and other items given that required a great deal of imagination on the part of the audiences, but which, of course, added to our merriment. As the concert was impromptu, the costumes were unique and original, many of the girls discovering their wearing apparel used in a most weird way.

Monday afternoon was devoted to sports of novelty events, which were keenly competed for._ The camp is divided into study circles of about eight girls in each, and the circle winning the most races is presented with a cup. This year, after unexpected results, the honours were divided, and two circles share the trophy. The Tuesday afternoon being fine, we went for a walk to the beach, taking our afternoon tea with us and coming back in time to catch the homeward train. At both services on Sunday the pretty country church was filled, the Rev. Wilson Potts, the minister, conducting the morning service, while the evening one was taken entirely by the campers, Mrs Portcous, of Dunedin, giving us a very interesting and vivid talk on the work of our mission in the Punjab, especially as regards the hospital work there. We were delighted to have her with us, even if it were only for a short period, and all made the most of their opportunities of getting to know her. On Friday evening, we wore shown the ‘ Christ Uplifted ’ as portrayed in famous pictures, in song and in story, several of the campers taking part in service, and interpreting to us the pictures thrown on the screen. The whole service was beautiful - and impressive, and made a very fitting climax to all our Good Friday activities. Each study circle represented the name of a country which is being won for Christ, and on Monday evening the circles dramatised some phase of mission work being done in India, China, Japan, Arabia, New Hebrides, South Africa, Labrador, New Zealand, and South America. Each circle also had a badge with a significant drawing and a motto, and before the scenes were acted one girl from each circle explained the symbol, and why that motto was chosen The pageant finished with all the girls, dressed as teachers, missionaries, nurses, and natives of these countries, grouped on the stage, and singing ‘1 Hear Ten Thousand Voices Singing.’ An hour of each day was set apart for study circles, before which we had time of quiet and preparation. The studios we re taken from the study book, ‘The Meaning of the Master/ and centred round the cross, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, and the lessons for us. This part of our camp life Was very uplifting, and inspiring, and the time seemed only too short when we were trying to get a glimpse of the deeper and fuller meaning of the Christ who died and rose again that we may live. For our camp worship in the evenings, our theme was ‘Roads,’ and the one taken on Friday was th© road to Jerusalem—the road of steadfast purpose, which told how Jesus had followed a road of steadfast purpose, even though it led to the shameful death on the Cross. Saturday’s road was “ The Road to Bethany—the road of believing, loving friends,” and here we wore taken into the homo of Lazarus and his sisters, arid shown just what this home had meant to Jesus—His earthly me, and just what we call mean to Him now, “ the Road to Kininaus the road u*ith tho risen Lord, was taken on the Sunday, and wo saw what a difference walking the 1 oad with Jesus can make—from the sad despondency of the two disciples, to their joyousness and eagerness to share their good news with others. On Monday it was the “ Road to Damascus—the road of meeting God,” and here we were made to realise that we too must ‘‘see the Lord,” and he willing to give ourselves to Him, and to do the work Ho has for us to do. file wonder of this road was vividly brought before each due of us. After our out-of-door dinner on Tuesday the “ road ” theme was brought to a dose m “Travelling the road, of abundant living.” This was an impressive climax to our study elides, and the theme of camp This was held in the beautiful ’sun-lit church, the peace and stillness of this house ot God adding much to a wonderful worship atmosphere. No one will easily forgot the moment when the words ol Jesus came to us again : “ Go, 1 am with you always, even unto the end ot the world,” and wo realised, some of us for the first time, some with renewed vision, that Christ is indeed our contemporary, and walks beside ns

every day. and all the way, guiding and directing our life, and making it indeed the road of abundant living. It was fitting that onr vamp should he closed with the words of that great praise verse. ‘ The Doxology,’ for truly all had much for which to praise God. “ A First Camper.”