BAPTIST UNION

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 103, 1 April 1929, Page 11

BAPTIST UNION

BIBLE CLASS CAMP. YOUNG MEN’S ACTIVITIES. The Easter camp of the Baptist Young Men’s Bible Class is being continued on the Hokowhitu rifle range reserve, and about 100 campers are having a thoroughly enjoyable time. Bible study circles and prayer meetings have been held every morning under the direction of Mr M. A. Tremewan. The sports held on Saturday were most successful, and quite a number of visitors were present. The Berhampore class annexed the championship shield from the previous holders (Lyall Bay) aiidVivian. Street class were the runners-up. The outstanding performer was K. Patience (Berhampore) who showed great promise in noth sprints and jumps. He won the junior championship, while W. Foweraker (Vivian Street) won the senior. Results were as follow, the various classes being denoted by the abbreviations: Viv., Vivian Street; Ber., Berhampore; L. 8., Lyall Bay; 1.8., Island Bay; R., Ridgeway; Br., Brooklyn; N.P., New Plymouth; P.N., Palmerston North. SENIOR EVENTS. 100yds.—Foweraker (Viv.), 1; Pennington (Br.), 2; Sheppard (N.P.), 3. 880yds.—Carter (Viv.), 1; Shoppard (N.P.), 2; Dawson (Viv.), 3. 220yds.—Foweraker (Viv.), 1; Bade (Ber.), 2; K. Grover (Ber.), 3. Mile Walk. —Eade (Viv.), 1; Goylis (Br.), 2; D. Carr (P.N.), 3. Mile Flat Race.—Carter (Viv.), 1; Dawson (Viv.), 2; Eade (Viv.), 3. 440yds.—Carter (Viv.), 1; Fowerakor (Viv.), 2; Dawson (Viv.), 3. High Jump.—Sheppard (N.P.), 1; Patience (Ber.), 2. Long jump.—Henry (P.N.), 1; D. Carr (P.N.), 2; Sawden (Br.), 3. JUNIOR EVENTS. 100yds.—Patience (Ber.), 1; McKee (N.P.), 2; Wallis (I.B.), 3. 880yds Walk.—Clark (L. 8.), 1; Bado (Ber.), 2; Hughes (R.), 3. 220yds Flat.—Patience ’(Ber.), 1; McKee (N.P.), 2; Smallbone (Ber.), 3. 440yds.—Patience (Ber.), 1; Smallbono (Ber.), 2; McKee (N.P.), 3. High Jump.-—Patience (Ber.), 1; Bado (Ber.), 2; Smallbone (Ber.), 3. Long Jump.—Patience (Ber.), 1; Wallis (I.B.), 2; Hunter (Wanganui), 3. On Saturday evening, the camp concert was held, the large audience being augmented by the attendance of a number of visitors from the Palmerston North Church. Rev. F. A. Crawshaw directed the programme and the performers gave a most enjoyable and amusing programme, which largely featured topical references to members of the camp. The annual meeting of the Wellington district Baptist Young Men’s Bible Class Union was held during the camp, the election of officers resulting as follows :—President, Mr A. Eldridge (Petone);. vice-presidents, Messrs G. Thompson (N.P.), and G. Scott (Berhampore) ; secretary, Mr H. H. Harris (Berhampore); treasurer, Mr B. Edwards (Vivian Street) ; mission collector, Mr R. Fear (Wanganui). The annual report recorded with deep regret the death of two members of the union, the late Mr C. Charles (Wanganui), and the late Mr D. Guthrie (Berhampore). CHURCH SERVICE. Those in camp, with their leaders, assembled yesteruay morning for worship at the Baptist Church. Tho service, appropriate to the day, was followed by Uommunion, and was conducted by Rev. F. A. Crawsliaw, assisted by Rev. Mr Betts (Island Bay), Messrs 'i'remewan (Wellington) and Homer (Hawera). The text chosen was 1 Cor. -XV. 34: “Awake to righteousness and sin not, for some have not the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” The dual nature of St. Paul’s message to the believer, relative to the spiritual significance of the Lord’s Resurrection, was emphasised by tho preacher as peculiarly appliacble to the Christian to-day. The positive sign, “awake to righteousness,” was in sharp contrast with the negative warning, “and sin not.” It was not simply awako to an easier pose, but awake and do right; and the negation o£ error expressed comprehended the wrongs of omission and of commission. The former embraced indifference, selfishness and procrastination. People were hard to rouse, were unconcerned for the needs of others; or postponed their interest with the words, “later on.” He deplored the hypocrisy which permitted white residents to desecrate the day of rest while the despised Chinese, for similar misdemeanours, were penalised. In our own land to-day some people were actually without the knowledge of God. Many children, especially in the backbloeks, only heard the name of Jesus when used in terms eff blasphemy. The proverb “out of sight and out of mind” wa s true in such cases. A skeptic accosting a barefooted urchin from a Sunday School learned from the child that his God was a God of love. “If,” said- the enquirer, “He is a God of love why are you without shoes P,” “Oh, I suppose He told somebody, and somebody forgot,” replied the urchin. The needs of rural outposts and mission land were similarly forgotten. Christ, resurrected, exclaimed: “All power is given to me, go ye.” Hitherto, as a Guide He had but inculcated the urge which, now, in resurrection power, He commanded as a Ruler. “Someone objects ‘I am not called to foreign service,’” stated the preacher. “Ax - e you then called to sit at home? If you can’t go in person send another, or support those who have gone; and they want your prayerful sympathy as well as coin. In the Solomon Islands,” remarked tho speaker reminiscently, “I was once for five months without a letter from the outside world; and when the mail did arrive, few were the letters desired, of sympathy and comfort from friends. “Don’t wait for letters from the missionaries,” said he to the boys, “send them a line about your camp. People say, ‘Oh! the heathens are quite all right with their own religions.’ No—they are not. There is no salvation, and no name for salvation except Christ’s. Thirty millions of persons are dying annually without Christ. Some 800 to 1000 millions remain unevangelised. Does the thought of the magniHie work,” asked the preacher, “appal mid deter you? It did not Christ, who died for you and others.” Concluding, the speaker warned his hearers that this generation of Christians will have yet to face this generation of heathens and answer for neglect of duty. “Remember the privileges we enjoy indicate and are commensurate with our responsibilities,” he stated.