PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 277, 27 October 1925, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

BIBLE CLASS RALLY. About 150 young men and women attended the Labour Day rally of the Palmerston North district of the Presbyterian Bkble Class Union yesterday, delegates being present from Dannevirke, Eoxton,. Atvahuri, Feilding, Bulls, Halcombe, Kiwitea, Itangiotu, Rongotea and Palmerston North.

la the morning Mr G. A. Troup, of Wellington, the honoured founder of the movement, who has just returned from a trip abroad, delivered an address upon the history and future of the Bible Class Union. At the outset he declared that he knew of no other country in the world where in holiday time one could get such a number ol young people for such a rally. When, in 1888, as a youth lie had gone to Wellington as a civil servant, lie had been sorry to find no youth organisation in the Presbyterian Church, and when later he was asked to take over a little Bible class he did it with a good deal of nervousness, yet with secret pride. It was a small class of five, hut instead of going forward by leaps and bounds as lie had hoped, it gradually dwindled to two, and he was tempted to -forsake the class. Instead, lie redoubled his efforts and succeeded in gathering together twelve young men. Of necessity he was forced to adopt co-operative principles, as he felt he was not capable of being their teacher. It was no new principle, but it seemed to be the one necessary for success in such a work. The result was that the class grew and prospered, and for years they had a 50 per cent, increase in membership. In the meantime at Itussel street, Dunedin, and at St. Paul’s, Christchurch, a similar method had been adopted with a like success, and the new method gradually swept over the country, with the result that 24years ago the first Bible Class Union was formed. The original class had done excellent work in establishing other classes, in founding the Boys’ Institute in AVellington, which now owned property to the value of £30,000, and in sending one of their number, Bcv. H. Davies, ALA., to the foreign field in China. He' also made reference to the recently established hostel in Wellington, where boys could get decent and reasonable lodgings. Dealing with the movement at present, the speaker made mention of the effect that the war had had, and appealed to the young people to repair by their fidelity the wastage caused by the world upheaval. It had recently come to his knowledge that many Anglican clergy had determined to establish Bible classes because they had as chaplains been .so impressed by the way the Presbyterian Bible class men had stood by their colours during the war and had held meetings among themselves, even in the front line, where no other religious activities had been possible. If members of the movement went forward with the same faith that had inspired the men and women of the past, even greater results might be attained, concluded Air Troup. Lunch was provided by the local classes, and delegates were then left to their own devices. A number visited the Esplanade, while others indulged in tennis on the High School courts. A tea in St. Andrew’s memorial hall followed, and at the conclusion Kev. E. AlcDonald, of Poston, gave an inspirational talk up.pn the real

function of the Bible class movement. It, as part of the Christian Church, was not an .end in itself, but was merely a piece of the machinery to be used in the accomplishment of Christ’s great aim—the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. While it was pleasant and perhaps profitable to meet in rallies and enjoy the fcllowship of each other, members should consecrate their energies and efforts to that great end. At tho conclusion, thanks were returned on behalf of the visitors by Mr Pagan, of Feilding.