A RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY.

NZ Truth, Issue 94, 6 April 1907, Page 6

A RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY.

Among other things with which Christchurch was surfeited this week was a dose of good young man. He Came from all parts of the colony, and didn't go to the races. There were about 500 of him, and he was yarded at the Agricultural Grounds, Addington, They all pigged together, so to speak. There were three separate brands of religion yarded— the pimply Presbyterians, the moody Methodists, and the bilious Baptists ; a beautiful trinity. They all subscribed themselves as members of Young Men's Bible Class Unions, and a great many of whose blessed countenances this writer gazed upon looked pretty hard citizens;. Perhaps praying hard gives them hard physogs ; at all events they'd pass for the all blue, bli'me street larrikin at any time, They aren't very early risers these pious, pimply purists ; at a quarter to 10 last Sunday morning they were kicking about the grounds m singlets and pyjamas indulging m Ijorse play what time they, wcron't washing their mugs. They evidently tucker up first and scrub their chivs afterwards. However, they enjoyed themselves, and that's the main thing. Each band of 'em held sports. They sprinted from 'all evil m fine style ; it was a case 'of take the hindmost, and the losers were soused m a cataract of wofe. There were Bible lessons and devotional exercises on the horizontal bar of spotless purity, and conventions and things where things mundane were discussed with a four-ply discuss. It is interesting to note that these kids are m favor of the abolition of the totalisator, and that they intend taking concerted action against it. If they didn't have the tote and beer and the age of consent to talk <about these saved^sinne'rs would be hard put to it to find something to rant over. The Scotchbyterian Young Women's Bible Class Union has also been going it hot and strong this week. They talked, and sipped tea, and went on their marrow bones, and debated " The reason why a young girl should make a definite decision." It was a luminous subject, but there's many a girl m this patch of dirt who doesn't get a chance to give a decision cne way or the other. Yea verily they gesteth no chance whatever. These young ladies went out to visit the young men's camp at Addington, which was very nice of them. The two .sexes also churched it together, and heard someone or other sermonise. They felt very good then.