CHRISTIAN CONVENTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 93, 23 April 1946, Page 3

CHRISTIAN CONVENTION

MORE THAN 600 IN CAMP AT MARTON (0.C.) Marton, April 22. The annual Christian Convention which begaie on Friday morning at the Marton Racecourse, concluded this (Monday) evening. Challenging and inspiring addresses have been the keynote of the convention and a number of young men and women have given their testimonies. There are 670 registered campers who have come from all parts of NewZealand, and this attendance was swelled to 1000 to-night, when the climax to a very successful convention was the address given by Mr. R. A. Laidlaw, a very forceful speaker, whose spiritual work and challenging words, have inspired his listeners. For 54 years, Mr. Laidlaw, who is an Auckland businessman, was a member of the Scripture Readers' Association and worked among the troops in England and France. He was in the Dunkirk evacuation with the British Expeditionary Force and returned to France 10 days after "D" Day to continue with his work. At Marton he gave two addresses on his experiences with the forces. Other . speakers at the convention were missionaries oil furlough—M. and Mrs. M. Perry (Bolivia) Mr. and Mrs. R. Gracefield (India), Mr. H. Robertson (China), Mt ano Mrs. J. W. Clapham (Palestine) and Miss L. Salisbury (Central Africa). Three meetings have been held daily —morning, afternoon and evening, and each is proceeded by a half-hour community sing. The song leaders were Messrs. E, Whitelock (Marton), E. Gilding (Palmerston North), L. Taylor (Wanganui), R. Compton (Napier) and G. Hicks (Auckland, and Director of the Postal Sunday Schools Movement of 5000 members). . The

subjects for the brief morning studies were “My Responsibilities to my Local Church, My Fellow Men.” The camp management is being well looked after by Messrs. R. J. Finn (Lower Hutt), L. Taylor (Wanganui), E. Whitelock (Marton), while the secretary of the camp committee is Mr. E. Price (Wellington). For such a camp a great deal of thought, initiative and enterprise has been necessary and it stands as a credit to the organisers, that proceedings to date have gone smoothly and without a hitch. The work entailed in screening in half the main grandstand where the meetings are held, and the erection of a stage, was certainly no sinecure. One of the difficulties associated with a camp of such dimensions, is the satisfying of the “inner” man, but no stone has been left unturned to provide the campers with splendid meals. Of several interviewed all agreed that the food was first class, and paid tribute to the two cooks. Messrs. O. T. Bower (Auckland) and F. J. Aish (Nev/ Plymouth) and the willing band of voluntary ladies, whose tasks have never been light. Men attending Ihe convention are sleeping below the main grandstand while the women arc quartered in the stewards stand. Meals are served in the public buffet rooms below the stand and as there is seating accommodation available for only 550. two sittings are held. Thirty-six tables are in use. Each camper has been allotted his special table and two mess orderlies are appointed daily. Some two dozen tents and caravans are pitched in the car parking area. Nothing but praise for the spacious buildings, appointments and conveniences, was voiced by Mr. E. Price, the camp secretary, who. in an interview to-day, wished to thank publicly, the Marton Jockey Cluh for their generosity in allowing the convention the use of the Racecourse. As this was the first post-war reunion, a souvenir booklet has been issued to campers, depicting on the opening page, a photograph of the venue of the camp.