BOYS' BRIGADE NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22719, 5 August 1937, Page 17

BOYS' BRIGADE NOTES

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“ The Object of the Brigade shall be the cdvancement of Christ’* Kingdom among Boys, and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-respect, and all that tends towards & true Christian Manliness."

THE OFFICER’S NOTEBOOK Referring to the aim and object of the Boys’ Brigade, shall we ask ourselves this question; “ Are we satisfied with conditions as they are—perhaps good, perhaps fair, perhaps bad? ” Or, do we view them with complacency? No one expects a Utopia to be reached in one day, but all effort should at least ' get great impetus from the thought that it will be reached in the “ fulness of time.” The 8.8. began with a splendid vision seen by a splendid man of God, that of helping boys on the way to the Kingdom of God. The moment wo lost sight of that vision the spirit will go out of our work, and the moment we become victims of complacency there will be no vision, because vision means progress towards realisation and fulfilment. It is no use, indeed, it is futile, to repeat that we stand for the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom among boys if we are not advancing that Kingdom at every opportunity. Let us be quite sure that the Boys’ Brigade can do in actual life what it professes to do in its object. DRILL COMPETITION. _ Entries for the annual drill competition, to be held on August T 4, close with the battalion secretary on Wednesday, August 11. Company captains are requested to make evesy endeavour to secure a good representation on this occasion. 8.8. WEEK RETURNS. ‘ Some 8.8. Week returns are still outstanding, and the completion of the battalion return is being held up as a consequence. Companies responsible are asked to make this a matter of urgency and let the battalion secretary have their returns immediately. 7th DUNEDIN COMPANY. The company was pleased to welcome as a visitor to the weekly parade on Friday last Mr A. Sneddon, a member of the battalion executive. Mr Sneddon took part in the inspection, and expressed pleasure at the smart appearance of the boys, adjudging Private J. Logan the best boy on parade. The squad competitions 'for July were verv close. Inspection was won by No. 1 squad, but the attendance medal will ho hold by two squads (Nos. I and 3) dur-

ing August, 91 per cent, being gained by each group. On Sunday morning next the company will parade at the North-east Valley Presbyterian Church, when the colours of the 7th Dunedin Company of the Girls’ Life Brigade will be dedicated. Bth DUNEDIN (SUNSHINE). The parade was well attended, reflecting keeness and smartness throughout. Private R. Ball was the neatest boy. After worship, conducted by the captain, Mr Duncan took the company for a period of drill. In place of the usual games a table tennis tournaui<">t was held, Private Ball being the winner. 11th DUNEDIN. Fall-in and inspection was followed by devotions, when Captain Sherriff read the 100th Psalm. There was then some drill in preparation for the drill competition. After the classes for instruction in signalling and ambulance several games of “ British Bulldog ’ and “ Two dogs and a bone ” -were played, in which the members from the 16th Company participated. The intersquad cup was presented to No. 2 squad for this month, and in the marks for the night No. 3 squad was first. The attendance was 16. 13th DUNEDIN COMPANY (FIRST CHURCH). The company held its half-yearly parents and friends’ evening, when a largo gathering witnessed some of the work which the boys have been instructed in in the past six months. The parade -k%s opened by the chaplain, tho Rev. W. A. Stevely, followed by inspection, company drill, ambulance, maze march, signalling, and gymnastics. The medal for the best dressed boy was won by Private W. Clark. Tho company is now working hard for the drill competition on Saturday week. 15th DUNEDIN (MORNINGTON). The company has now an average attendance of 10 members, a new member being welcomed last week. The evening commenced with inspection and a hymn, followed! by a prayer and a short talk. Following this came drill, formation marching, semaphore signalling, first aid instruction, and games and relay races, which the B squad won by a considerable margin. The evening was brought to a close with drill on the horizontal bar. LIFE BOYS. Another message from the Life Boyarea supervisor to parents and Sunday School teachers:— What Life Boys Do.—Teams usually meet on one evening in the week at an early hour, say 6.30, until 8. Short opening and closing services are held and a five-minute talk is given. The atmosphere should be rather that of an organised playground than of a schoolroom. so games of many kinds, marching to music, country dancing, and similar jolly activities take up a good part of the programme. Drill is re* stricted to what is necessary to secure orderly movement and prompt obedience. Many teams devote 20 minutes or half an hour to handicrafts such as soft leather work, picture framing, the making of wool balls, paper flowers, rugs, baskets, and mission requirements, and tho converting of cardboard. wallpaper, and other odds and ends into artistic saleable articles. In summer there is endless interest out of doors. Simplicity and elasticity are features of the scheme offered to you

in the Life Boys. There is no set programme, but plenty of skilled guidance. South Dunedin Team.—At the last weekly parade of tho team 32 boys and three leaders attended. Leader I. Craig and Leader Ivan Chivers inspected the team. Each week there is keen competition amongst the boys for the two, smartest lads on parade. Life Boy R. Olds and Life Boy J, Weir were the two boys to gain that honour. After the usual parade the leader in charge gave a very interesting talk on Temperance, illustrated by a series of pictures. Next week a Bible-reading contest is to be held. Twenty boys have entered and tho Rev. R. Turner will be the judge. The St. Leonards Life Boys held their second social evening recently, when the Rev. Mr Cairney gavo_ a short address. The rest of the evening was spent in games and items by_ the Life Boys. Supper was also provided.