EMPIRE'S YOUTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22629, 18 January 1937, Page 13

EMPIRE'S YOUTH

CORONATION RALLY GREAT MEETING PLANNED DOMINION REPRESENTATION [from a special correspondent] LONDON, Dec. 'JG A Coronation rally of Empire youth, which may be the start of a vast youth movement in this country and the Dominions, will be held at Westminster Abbey on May 19 —seven days after the Coronation. The King and Queen and tho two Frincesses may attend. This service of youth will probably bo followed bv a similar rally at the Albert Hall, at which the foundations of an Empire movement of youth will be discussed, and at which representatives of youth movements in other parts of the Empire will bo present. All countries of tho Empire, every denomination and all youth movements have been asked to co-operate. Tho Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Cosmo Lang, has promised to bo tho preacher at the abbey if his engagements permit. Every Country Included The suggestion of a Coronation youth rally comes from the Dominions. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Dean of Westminster, Dr. W. Foxley Norris, willingly agreed to lend their support and already the interest of youth organisations is assured. Those attending the rally will be between the ages of 16 and 18. They will come from tho universities, public and secondary schools, Toe H., the Boy Scout and other youth movements. It is hoped that every country in the Empire will be represented.

Every cathedral in the country will be asked to hold a similar service and the Roman Catholic Church is to he invited to make its own arrangements 011 the same lines. Dr. Foxley Norris stated this week: "The rally will be held during the period when the abbey is in charge of the Office of Works, but both this department and the Coronation Executive Committee have assented to the holding of the service This means that POOO young people will bo able to attend. Network of Services "We hope that the abbey will be the centre of a nation-wide network of similar services. This is a very great opportunity. Every great country is pressing forward the organisation of youth, and we in England are doing almost nothing. This rally may start a really good non-political youth movement in this country and in the Empire."

Major F. J. Nc.v, executive secretary of the National Council of Education of Canada, said: "A\o have set up the nucleus of a committee in London under the chairmanship of Mr. L. S. Ainery. It includes the Archbishop of Canterbury. Lord and Lady BadenPowell, Sir Edward Peacock and Sir Josiah Stamp. Various sub-committees will be set up, one in particular to organise a great rally at the Albert Hall, where we contemplate discussing, if not actually laying the foundation of, an Empire movement of youth."