C.E.M.S.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1107, 21 April 1911, Page 2

C.E.M.S.

ORGANISED WORK AMONG LADS. THE BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT. <Uy Telegraph.—l'rcss Association! Christchurch, April 20. At the Church of England Men's Societj Conference to-day, a vo';e o£ thanks was accorded to the Rev. W. Curzon-Siggcrs (Dtmedin) for his offer to placo tho services of the Rev. C. J. Bush-Kins (Dtmedin) at tho disposal of the Diocown Synods in establishing Church of England's Men Society institutes at the Territorial and training camps. It was decided to recommend eaili diocesan council to appoint two members to form a standing committed to deal with tho work of forming such institutes. Mr. W. Walton (Wellington) moved:— That this conference recognises the great need of definite organised work among boys, and requests tho diocesan ■ councils to give the matter their ear- . li'.'st and careful consideration, with the object of founding branches of St. Oswald's Guild, or other suitable guilds, among the juniors, who aro the future members of the C.E.M.S. Mr. Walton stated that the Y.M.C.A. and Boys' Guilds were not a connecting link between the boys and the Church. Tho proposed guilds would supply the missing link. During a lengthy discussion a number of speakers spoke in high terms of the results o£ the Boy Scout movement. The Rev. C. J. Bush-Iving (Dunedin) remarked that it had been stated by a delegate that the Scout movement was elastic in that it got boys of all denominations, and of no denomination, and that it attracted boys away from choir practice and attendance at church services. Thcs-? lads should not he allowed to go away from church for want' of proper organisation. The Church had a splendid opportunity in the request of tiie Defence Department that it should form cadet corps for lads between 14 and 18 years of age. A start had been mado with that in Dunedin. Ho urged that care should be taken not to' increaSo night meetings for lads. The Rev. 1?. da Lambert said that the control of boys in Sunday Schools had been rendered much easier since tho establishment of the Scout movement. The Rev. W. H. Orbell (Woolston) said there was nothing in the Scout movement that was likely to lead lads to degenerate. Ho considered the effect of it wa> entirely good. The motion was carried. The sub-committee, consisting of tho Rev. H. G. Blackbume (Wellington), the Rev. W. Curzon-Siggers (Dunedin), Messrs. W. Stewart (Waimate), W. Nash (Wellington), and J. C. Adams (Christchureh), which was appoinicd yesterday, presented tiie following recommendation's:— (1) That in each branch of tho C.E.M.S. a secretary, or a small sub-committce, be elected, who shall initiate social purity work, and should bring the aims and objects of the White Cross League before its members. (2) That the dioccsan couticils be requested to arrange for a vigilance committee, to,further the cause of purity, and to take action against' the salo of preventives, suggestive literature, post-cards, etc., and to protest against any posters or plays that have an immoral tendency; such committees should also endeavour to lend a helping hand lo young men' that are in temptation owing to their surroundings, to protect girls wherever possible from men with evil intentions, and to assist in. suppressing houses of ill-fame. (3) That tho following'forms of work are also recommended by the committee:. —(a) Judicious circulation of literature issued by the White Cross League, especially the following: "A Letter to a Lad," "Tho Testimony of Medical Men," "Xife," "The Power of Womanhood," "Talks for Children" (three volumes, for ages 7, 12, and 15, by Compton), "A Physician's Advico tij ,hij\,Daughters/' by Dr. Ru'pp (viz., Publishing Company), (b) Tho organisation of meetings for men to be addressed by suitable .speakers on..this.subject. Tt is suggested that in each diocese the naiiies~of tho c c willing; to speak At such .•meetings, or'to address C.E.M.S. brandies should be notified by tho Diocesan Council. (c) Last, but the most-important, that the members be urged to do all .possible in their' power by prayer and.' example, by conversation and influencp,' tio set a higher 'standard of purity and morality among men. ' The report was received, and it was decided to forward it to the various diocesan councils for their consideration.