Easter Bible Class Camps

Northern Advocate, 30 March 1937, Page 4

Easter Bible Class Camps

Bible class camps held over Easter were unfortunate enough to Strike the inclement weather, but this did not hamper activities, and each was voted a success.

Eighteen Northlanders went under canvas on Puketutu Island, on the Manukau harboui', where the Methodist boys’ camp was held. Here the roll was 256, which included a Tongan, three Fijians, a Chinese and a few Maoris. The Rev. E. W. Hames, M.A., of Auckland, was in charge, assisted by Messrs G. C. Waddell and R. Salmon, also of Auckland. The camp opened on Thursday night, and broke up yesterday afternoon. Study circles were held each day, and sports on Saturday and yesterday. Although the wet weather made tent-life a little unpleasant, the boys, all enjoyed their, experience. There were 32 in the Methodist girls’ camp at Port Albert. Two attended from Whangarei, seven from Auckland, and the remainder came from alFover the North. Mrs J. R. Blayney, of Auckland, was camp mother, Miss Grace Bennett, of Port Albert, chief officer, and Miss L. George, of Whar ngarei, secretary. Daily study circles, talks by various members of the camp, and the camp-fire on Saturday night, were features of a splendid mission.' Another batch of Methodist girls, representatives of eight classes, went into camp at Kaikohe. Five from Whangarei were among them. Mrs E. J. Lane, of Rawene, was camp mother, Miss Vera Hirons, secretary, and, Mrs O. Burnet, of Whangarei, chief officer. At the outset, the girls called at the camp of the Pilgrim Way, and. were divided into two sections, Wayfarers and Crusaders, for competition purposes. This theme was carried right through the camp.. The sports yesterday were attended by visiters from the surrounding district.

The study circles had their climax in a community service on Sunday evening.

Presbyterian Camp at McLeod’s Bay. A Bible Class camp attended by members from the Presbyterian at Whangarei, Titoki, Mangapai and Maungakaramea broke up this morning. Those attending numbered 27, and the camp commenced on Thursday, at McLeod’s Bay, Whangarei Harbour.

The camp father was Mr G. K. Melville, and the Rev. N. C. Hall, of Kaikohe, was in charge of the devotional part. A special Easter study book by the Rev. E. N; McDiarmid, of Napier, was used. This book is used throughout New Zealand by Presbyterian Bible Classes.

The camp was most successful from every point of view. Yesterday a number of people from Whangarei visited the camp.