YOUNG PEOPLE'S RALLY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11056, 23 August 1907, Page 2

YOUNG PEOPLE'S RALLY.

The meetings m, connection with the Rev. J. C. Jamieson's visit were cojnmanced last night m St. Andrew's Church, when a social rally was tendered to himself and Mrs Jamieson. Bible Class, Christian Endeavor members, and Sunday school teachers were well represented, and altogether the attendance was a very fair one. Some of the ladies had been at work during the afternoon, and the •schoolroom was artistically decorated for the occasion. The rev. gentleman gave a homely and practical address on how tlie Bible classes might make progress, basing his remarks on the proverb, "Because they have done well, they could do better." He congratulated them on the progress their classes had made. Never before was there, even a fraction of the Bible study that was going on at the present hour. In every country where Christianity was, the most striking thing just now was the tremendous increase m Bible study. Mr Jamieson then gave a number of instances to show what great progress the classes had made during the last dew yeare m America, and also mentioned several m New Zealand. In a very short time the membership m one young womens' class was increased from* 16 to 68, and m a young men's class, from 4 to 25. Several necessary methods were given as to how the progress was to be made. First, they should put up a niark— all agree to do a certain thing. It may not be more members, it may be better meetings. If they aimed at nothing .they would hit it. Tlie second reason was they should use tlieir brains. It was necessary m Church work to use their brains, if they were to succeed. A numoer qf cases were enumerated showing what could be accom-. plished by those who used their brains. There was no difficulty on earth that could not be overcome, and their difficulties were an opportunity for them to use their brains: Tlie next point was that everybody 6lwuld work, which was one of the great secrets if the Bible Class was to go ahead. The essential thing was to see that tks work was distributed, that everyone had a part, instead of one or two doing it all. Then sacrifices must be made for the. sake of the class. To make a sacrifice was to give up something they liked very much for the sake of the class. The idea that refraining from drinking, smoking, ,or going to dances was self-denial was -a delusion. There must also be real earnest prayer and have a heart of sympathy. People with large and sympathetic hearts were worth more than scores of evangelistic meetings. If progress was to be made there must be prayer and progress m their own spiritual life. The Rev. Grant thanked the 'speaker for the very kind and searching words he had spoken. At the close of the meeting supper was provided by the young ladies, when a pleasant opportunity for social intercourse was given.