A YOUNG CITIZENS’ LEAGUE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 342, 9 March 1922, Page 4

A YOUNG CITIZENS’ LEAGUE.

Auxil in ry to, and probably :t rising out o( the lioy Scout movcinent in this country (lor \vc notice on its executive the names of gentlemen who have been associated with the scout movement almost since its inception), is the Young Citizens’ League, which has as its president Mr U. C. Cutteu, S.M., of Auckland, a gentleman who is devoting all his spare time and energies to getting hold of the young people—the citizens of the future —so that they may be stimulated to right ways of thought and act ion. The motto of the monthly journal that is published in the interests of the young people is “.Righteousness exalteth a nation,” and is in itself almost explanatory of the objects ol the League. Its watchwords are “Be prepared” (the Boy Scouts’ motto) and “Be strong.” its object is “the development of character on broad national lines, through various mental and physical activities and the encouragement of the young to aspire to the ideals of citizenship; closer and more systematic co-operation with school teachers and others engaged in promoting the future‘well-being of the young, and to increase the interest of parents and guardians in the important matter of home influences.” In its general policy “the League is designed to foster the truest ideals of manhood and to encourage a true reverence tor God. Its policy is turlher described as “non-; sectarian, non-political and non-class, and its membership is extended to all boys, youths and girls, whose ages are between ten and eighteen years, recommended by a schoolmaster, clergyman, or the chairman of a school committee or other local body, iuter the applicant for membership has signed the proscribed simple form of pledge, or undertaking, that he or she will do his or her “best day by day in thought, word ami deed to become a true and worthy citizen.” In further explanation ol the objects of the League its president (Mr Cntien) writes: “The Young Citizens League . . . is striving to meet the difficulties of the time by drawing attention to the need of a stronger moral training of the young. The fact is that God has entrusted our peoples with a great work-—the leadership of the world —hut we must execute our trust, or it will he taken from us. All must help. A tew people, no matter what then capacity and energy may be, except as leaders, can do but little, and without the co-operation of their fellows cannot accomplish much. It is true, as stated b v on American author, when writing in eulogistic terms of a great English public servant, that ‘such men are not merely the glory of a nation, they are the making ol a nation. But that statement implies that such men have the support of all the heller elements of the nation, the co-operation of then fellow-citizens. Without this support such a one might become a great man, but he would not in the same way lift the nation to a higher plane. I here is need for the help of all.” Recently the Young Citizens’ League extended its operations to Wellington, and we uncloistand it is branching out in other directions. Have we not some one sufficient iy public spirited to take the movement up in Palmerston North? There is an evident need for the wider recognition of the responsibilities and-duties ol citizenship, and if we can only get our voniii r , people thinking on the n.uht lines wc need have no (ears lor the Inline, since they are the citizens of the hiture.