THE WORLD STUDENT MOVEMENT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2855, 21 August 1916, Page 3

THE WORLD STUDENT MOVEMENT

ITS AIMS AND IDEALS. A well-attended meeting was held at Viotoria College on Saturday in connection with the student movement. Professor Easterfield occupied the chair. Addresses were delivered by the Anglican Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Sprott), Miss Birch, and Mr. P. A. Wisewould, acting-general secretary of the Australasian Student Christian Movement. The Bishop spoke on the world's need of Christianity. Miss Birch pointed out certain ways in which students could help to foster rooro friendly relations between tlio industrial population and other classes of the community. Mr. Wisewould explained tho aims and ideals of the studont movement. Students and War. The main purpose of the student movement is to develop a strong and healthy Christian atmosphere among tho students of tho world, in order to realise their national civic and individual responsibilities. The World Student Christian Federation has just attained its. majority, for it came into being in Sweden in 1895. At its foundation it embraced five-national movements among students, but at the present time it comprises 13 national movements, spread through 40 different countries, with a. total membership of 190,000 students and professors. Notwithstanding the adverse conditions created by the war, the membership of tlio federation increased by H),000 during tho first j'car after the outbreak of hostilities. Regarding the part students are playing in the war, 1 it is estimated that 76 per cent, of students in Great. Britain are under arms, while in France only invalids and students under age are now to bo found at the universities. It appears that tho Russian students havo not yet been called up. On the other hand it is estimated that the Germans have 40,000 and the Austrians 20,000 students under arms. In each of these countries the output of student literature published lias covered a wider range than formerly. In order to gauge the immediate importance of the student class in such a- country as China, it may bo noted that according to recent returns there aro 2,000,000 students in that republic attending 867,000 schools. In a country Jiko America something like half the great leading men havo becu students, whereas practically every great leader in China is drawn from tho student class. Many of the men leading the destinies of China to-day have come under the influences of religion through the Student Christian Movement whilst at the universities in Britain and America. Thus the leaders of the movements for national regeneration come to be men who havo some understanding of the Christian ideal. The response of the student population throughout Australia to the call of war has been as general as elsewhere, though medical students and some others doing special courses have had to remain at home. From the Sydney and Melbourne Universities alone some 1800 graduates and undergraduates have gone, probably 1000 of theso being undergraduates. Notwithstanding this fact, tho numbers attending lectures at the Australian Universities stand at much the samo figure as before the war. This may be due to an increase in the number I of medical students, somo increase in women" students, and the coming up of tho students at an earlier age. The membership of tho studont movement throughout Australasia reaches nearly 4000, divided among 76 affiliated unions in universities, colleges, secondary schools, and other institutions of higher learning. Tho war has caused a considerable reduction in the staff of the movement—the general secretary (Mr. Stavely Addison) being engaged as an Australian Red Cross commissioner in Franco inquiring for wounded and missing men. The Student Christian Movement organised throughout Australia and New Zealand is endeavouring to meet tho present situation by leading its members to consider pressing jirobloms, economic, social, and religious, by means of study circles. This aspect of the work is regarded to he of the most far-reaching importance, inasmuch as the people with whom tho movement has to do are to becomo men and women of influence in the community.