GOOD CITIZENS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 19 April 1922, Page 5

GOOD CITIZENS.

A WORK OF NECESSITY.

I "I promise on my honour, day by day, in word and' deed, to become a true and worthy citizen." This promise was solemnly made by six students of Wellesley College" on Thursday afternoon on being initiated into the Young Citizens' League by .Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M., of Auckland. The Young Citizens' League was recently inaugurated in Wellington on similar lines to the firmly-established Auckland League and the ceremony at Wellesley College was the first initiation to be made in this city (says the Dominion). Before initiating the lads, Mr Cutten spoke briefly of the objects of the Young Citizens' League in promoting the moral and spiritual welfare of the rising generation. There was need, he said, of impressing people with the necessity of having a more balanced system of education than we already possessed. New Zealand had a most excellent system of intellectual education, but the League had come into operation to provide what the system lacked on 'the spiritual side. The League^ which was more in the nature of a movement than an organisation, existed to encourage reverence and the making of good citizens, objects which were now so necessary because of the disordered condition of the world's moral outlook. Mr Cutten explained that the Leagne was open to all young people between the .iges of ten and eighteen, who would receive moral instruction in the clubs which it was one ■of the objects -of the League to provitle. ' The "boys to be initiated then came forward, and after giving their names, repeated to Mr Cutten the promise quoted .afro-ve. ''Can I trust you on yorar honour to keep this promise?" asked Mr 'Cutten of each of the lads, who all gave an affirmative answer. . ■"'Each one of you has made that promise on your honour, which is the highest promise you can make," said Mr Cutten. "If no reliance can be placed on your honour, no reliance can be placed on you at all." Mr Cutten next explained the meaning of the words of the promise in detail, reminding the boys that to be true and worthy citizens of the country they must be true and worthy citizens of God's Kingdom. He strongly urged the boys to a-ead the Bible daily, that Book being their moral .guide on the sea of life in the same >way :as the mariner's compass guided sailors over the oceans. FinftDy, Mv Cutten assembled the boys around the New Zealand Ensign said reminded them that if they looked 011 the British flag in the right frame of mind they would see that it was not only the aymbol of the British Empire, but it was a symbol of the struggles of the past. He spoke of the supreme sacrifice paid by so many soldiers in the late war, who had died for freedom, and then called on all present to stand and bow their heads momentarily in memory of the fallen.

MORAL TRAINING FOR THE YOUNG.