BIBLE GLASS MOVEMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14537, 8 December 1920, Page 3

BIBLE GLASS MOVEMENT

MR RYBURN AT FRANKTON. Mr Morton Ryburn, travelling secretary of the Presbyterian Bible Glass movement, addressed a meeting of B.ble Class members and others interested at the First Church, Frankton, on Monday evening! Rev. J. T. Burrows presided. Mr Ryburn pointed out that Bible Class members were agents of Christ on earth, and unyielding service was demanded. The Bible Glass aimed at creating the allround man and woman, developing physically, mentally, morally and spiritually. Members were reminded that Hiey were looked up to by outsiders, and as members lived so would the movement be judged. Some of the ministers had the feeling that the Bible Class considered itself apart from the Church, while some of its own members were of opinion the Bible Class was too self-centred. Criticism was good, for without it they would not learn. One of the lessons they had to learn was that they were a distinct branch of the Church. That meant the movement was complementary to the Church's work. Its .justification was service in helping to build up other departments of the Church. If the Church leaders saw the Bible .Class doing -its utmost to help, that would disarm criticism. The Sunday School was a recruiting ground for the Bible Class. All Sunday School teachers should be class members,i as teachers who were old Bible Class members would encourage pupils on leaving school to join up and stop the leakage which now exists of scholars drifting away from the Church after leaving school. Referring to Foreign Missions, he said in some quarters there was a feeling that Home Missions should receive first consideration, but while admitting the need for maintaining these, he spoke of his experiences in Persia of the low level a country could sink to without Christ. We all could not give personal service, but we could give and pray, and prayer was a great influence.

Mr Burch (Home Missionary at Pio Pio) also spoke of Home Mission work.

Mr E. Marsh, on behalf of the Frankton young people, expressed the great pleasure they felt at having Mr Ryburn with them, and the clear and concise way he had emphasised the great sphere of usefulness which lay before the movement, and if members only took to heart the words they had listened to that night it would become a great power for good. Mr McLaurin and Bcv. Burrows supplemented, and a useful and pleasant evening concluded with the benediction.