DUKE ON IDEALISM

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 July 1931, Page 6

DUKE ON IDEALISM

WORLD’S SOREST NEED.

LONDON, May 24.

The Duke of York, addressing the Christian Endeavour Union Jubilee Convention in the Royal Albert Hal last night, said that fifty years ago there were very few religious societies for the young. Td-day there was scarcely a church without such an organisation. In this jubilee year no fewer than 4,000,000 boys and girls were meeting to help one another and to prepare for future service by the methods and principles of the Christian Endeavour Society. The Christian Endeavour Union started with fiftyseven members, with no thought of publicity or extension. To-day, throughout the world, there were no fewer than 80,000 societies with more than 4,000,000 keen members. While it existed in every part of the British Empire, its work extended even more widely. At the present time there were at least 10,000,000 former members of Christian Endeavour societies who were doing active and useful church work. At least 4,000,000 associate members had been brought into Church membership largely through the influence of the Society. Some 50,000,000 meetings of boys and girls had been held with a total attendance of no less than 1,500,000,000.

It was not surprising that the jubilee of a movement with such records had aroused world-wide interest and enthusiasm “In this Convention, as in all Christian Endeavour conventions and teachings,” the Duke continued, ‘‘emphasis is rightly placed on the supreme importance of young men and women holding high ideals. It is that spirit of idealism that the world so sorely needs to-day, and without it the many and difficult problems which beset the nations cannot be solved.

“Without vision the people perish; with it they may go forward to success and victory. You believe that it is your bouden duty to keep the ideals of Christianity well to the front in public and private life. Hold fast to that belief, act on it, and you will be giving to your fellow men and women the highest service in your power.”