BOYS’ BRIGADE

Southland Times, Issue 23180, 22 April 1937, Page 9

BOYS’ BRIGADE

SOUTHLAND BATTALION NOTES (By “Haversack”) The Central Methodist Company had two recruits at its parade on Saturday night—and there are more to come. An ambulance class under Lieutenant S. Rizzi has opened on Tuesday evenings. The Teviot Street Church of Christ unit began parades on April 5, with 14 boys and two officers present. Last Monday 21 were on parade. Ambulance instruction is being undertaken and a team is to be entered in the 8.8. soccer competition. The battalion’s oldest company, the 4th Southland (Winton) opened the winter session on Saturday evening at 7 o’clock when a social evening was held. Games and competitions were played. The opportunity was taken to make the presentation of a barometer to Captain R. W. Goodall who was recently married. Lieutenant J. Thomson made the presentation and his remarks were endorsed by the Rev. A. C. Wedderspoon and Lieutenants G. Baker and L. Gerrard, Mr Goodall replying. Last session’s badges and certificates were also presented to the boys by Mr Wedderspoon, as follows:—One-year star, Corporal N. Gerrard, Privates J. Cross and M. Gardiner; three-year anchor, Privates E. Walker and G. Wildey; Gym badge; Privates E. Walker, L. Gerrard, D. Henderson, J. Pollock, R. Watson, J. Cross and M. Gardiner; education badge, Corporal N. Gerrard; Long-service badge, Corporal I. Fortune and Private J. Forbes; Semaphore certificate, Privates L. Gerrard, R. Robb and N. Beck; Morse certificate, Corporal N. Gerrard; Discharge certificate, Corporal N. Gerrard and Private J. Forbes. The Girls’ Life Brigade The battalion secretary has received the following communication from the New Zealand Dominion Council of The Girls’ Life Brigade:— “It is acknowledged that The Boys Brigade is a most effective means of helping boys, and drawing them into the happy fellowship of the various youth organizations of the churches and eventually to church membership and service. May we ask what you are doing for your girls? They need just as much help as their brothers. They are of at least equal importance to the future of the nation and the Kingdom of God. They must be trained, equipped, drawn into whole-hearted dedication of body, soul and spirit if they are to be true hand maids of the Lord. May we respectfully and very earnestly recommend to your consideration The Girls’ Life Brigade? Its motto is: ‘To Save Life.’ The centre word in its name defines its aim and purpose; it stands for life, life four-square, centred in life that is life indeed. In England, where the G.L.B. has proved most serviceable, and won the increasing commendation of outstanding ministers, a G.L.B. girl wrote: We strive tofit our bodies for the King’s service, but it is not enough to love our Lord with all our strength. He claims the love of all our mind—that member which although the most powerful is the least understood, without which our body is more useless more dangerous than a riderless horse. Tlie crown of service is to save life, but it is not an easy thing. It needs long, difficult training even to save life physical and that training the G.L.B. gives. ... to win us for Christ and to help us develop healthy bodies, pure minds, and Christlike characters. Will you give the girls of your church the privileges of this joyous, interdenominational and international fellowship? May we send you information about the G.L.8.?” , „ ■ Mrs Gilman Dunn, the Manse, Port Chalmers, is Dominion president and Miss I. Busfield, Box 124, Auckland, the Dominion secretary.

Notes on Recruiting The 8.8. system is intended for a company of at least 30 boys.. If a 8.8. company is smaller its activities are handicapped. It is unable to carry on a full and attractive programme of company work, and it lacks the inspiration to be derived from good numbers. Officers are recommended, therefore, to seek to raise and maintain the strength of their companies at the maximum numbers, which circumstances will permit. It is quite a mistake to think a company needs to be restricted, to the number of boys who can be drilled in the hall at one time. They can be drilled in more than one “shift.” And it is true to say that where 8.8. methods are strictly followed it is easier to run a large company, and of course when numbers are greater the attracion of the company for recruits is considerably increased. The well considered distribution of suitable recruiting leaflets should be an effective aid to recruiting. The leaflets published by the brigade, or special leaflets printed for the company giving exact information about conditions of membership, should be freely used. Possibly the most effective leaflet will be a combination of these two, and the coloured leaflet now obtainable with blank back page, on which may be printed company particulars, should prove useful. The use of some 8.8. posters (several varieties of which may be obtained) with local matter added will also serve to increase interest in the neighbourhood. The best recruiting medium is the boys of the company. They meet boys of the right age and type, and should be expected to do their utmost to introduce suitable recruits. Some time before the recruiting season it is a good plan to discuss the matter fully with the present boys, to get them talking and thinking about it, and thoroughly keen. A prize may be offered if thought desirable, but the higher motive of service should be the main incentive. A recruiting committee of the boys will produce good results. Such a com‘mittee should mainly consist of school boys, and should be representative of ail the neighbouring schools, and even of different forms in the schools. By this means it is possible to work the schools systematically through the boys attending them. The introduction of the competitive element between the schools, one vying with the other for the biggest representation in the company, may help. Another plan is to divide the responsibility by streets, boys undertaking to look after their own street. Boys should be encouraged to introduce their recruits personally on the recruiting night. One of the first sources of recruiting should be through the Sunday school of the church with which the company is connected. A talk to the boys over 12 years, and the distribution of recruiting leaflets should serve with the co-operation of the teachers to secure the available boys in the Sunday school. An active team of The Life Boys attached to the company provides a constant supply of excellent recruits. Companies which have no team and have difficulty in securing sufficient recruits would do well to consider starting a team. It should be borne in mind that if a company is to be sure of obtaining and retaining recruits it must offer an attractive programme which will compare favourably with neighbouring organizations. Once they have joined, every effort should be made to avoid losing recruits. Their homes should be visited promptly and the interest of the parents enlisted. Every recruit lost after joining is not only lost to the brigade, but is a reproach to the company as unsatisfying to his needs. Recruits should receive a carefully arranged course of training (see drill training of a com-

pany published by the brigade executive), which should include brief talks on all aspects of company and brigade work. They should not be allowed to undertake too much until they are thoroughly trained in drill and discipline. Their interest is best maintained by a reasonably prolonged anticipation of good things to come.