Musings by the Way.

Waiapu Church Gazette, 1 October 1910, Page 2

Musings by the Way.

(By"8dtor")

Last month the smiling landscape led me into a dissertation upon Nature, and various strange cults which have arisen of late years. Now, you must understand, dear reader, that these musings of mine are m very deed nothing more than musings, and that I have not the space to enter into any one thing thoroughly. You must do the thinking yourselves, and if you are of a sensible turn of mind (as I am sure you are), you will see that m these musings I wander not at all from the truth. I may not say all I think, perhaps, — not for lack of inclination, but for lack of space, — and m no case can I undertake to answer any criticisms. I don't want to preach sermons — not even after the "Dean Stanley" style, of about 3 or 4 minutes' duration. " Tell it not m Gath," but now don't you sometimes — sometimes — wish for a Dean Stanley ? Admirable man ! I wonder how on earth he contrived to teach anything at all m those few minutes. But if people worshipped more, and criticised less, and read their Bibles at home, perhaps a two minutes' sermon would be enough for us. So I am not going to give you more than about two minutes whilst I ask you to think about the Body. And here again — m a sort of continuation of last month's " Musings " — lest any should think that the Church does not set enough store by this Body of ours, , let me remind you that m our highest and most solemn act of worship we hear these words : " The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul." Body, you will observe, is mentioned first — even before the soul. » It is wonderful how blind we al are, and how we all, more or less, disregard the teachings of the Bible, and the rules of common sense. Our bodies ! Why don't we take more care of them? Why don't we use every effort to make our bodies as noble and as beautiful as possible? Why don't we get back to a more rational costume for both men and women? We have done so to some extent with our boys, for what can be better than the college cap, shirt, and V shorts." But our men ! Stovepipe or bowler hats, cylinder legs, and

coats just so nicely short that they sweep the things off the table. And colour — why there isn't any! But, you will say, this is only on the surface, so to speak, So it is — or so they are — very much on the surface. Well, then, let us go below the surface. Why those thin mis-shapen legs — that puny chest — those bent and stooping shoulders — that hideous slouching walk, or that unnatural quickstep sort of trot ? Why those decayed teeth, those premature grey hairs? Why those weedy youths we so often see m our town? Well, because Nature has been abused, and she retaliates. Some begin to smoke when boys — some to drink — some to abuse Mother Nature m various ways. But took ! here is a fine sturdy stalwart youth, whose buoyant step and beaming eye proclaim him m the very bloom of health. This one does not smoke or drink, or swear, or loaf or idle his time away. And so one may gladly welcome the Scout Movement. If our lads are trained on the eminently practical and common-sense lines laid down m Baden-Powell's " Scouting for Boys," we shall soon see the last of these namby-pamby boys who think they are men if they can smoke, and drink, and swear, and play billiards. Moreover we should m time — if the training be committed to the right sort of Scoutmasters — have a Christian, God-fearing, right-loving, honourable and knightly set of youths and men, and so, some of our present national vices, of which every true Briton ought to be most thoroughly ashamed, would cease to be. Boys ! my boys! you can make these " Musings " come true if you will ! You can make or mar the future Empire ! You can build up again the walls of Zion ! Will you do it ? Maori boys are taking a keen interest m this matter — all honour to them ! It will do them good m every way, and it will help them such a lot if our good, decent, manly, nonswearing, non-smokingPakeha Scouts give their Maori Brother Scouts the right hand of Fellowship.