BOYS’ BRIGADE NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23686, 20 September 1940, Page 2

BOYS’ BRIGADE NOTES

[By Chum.] Thought for the week—" Go ahead,” The world nowadays is only content with those people who have “ pro- / gress ”as their byword. It has no time . for the slacker nor those who are resigned to the conditions and ideas or yesterday. It is the far-sighted man in the long run who leaves something beneficial to his fellows, not the man whose object it is to. rely on the ideas and ideals of others. The Company and its Church. The following is taken from the ‘ 8.8. Gazette ’ / : It is often complained that a company does not receive support from its church, and that the latter evinces little interest in the Boys’ Brigade. There is no doubt that often this is all too true. Need it be so? Surely the fault lies either with the church officials or the captain of the company,.and more often than not fith the latter. He is apt to be so enthusiastic about the company that he forgets that it is but one section of his church’s organised work. He may fail to use the many opportunities which present themselves of co-operating with the other sections, and may incidentally lose the chance of bringing the 8.8. prominently before his church officials and members. The annual enrolment service offers a splendid opportunity oGbringing the compariy to, the favourable notice or thft? <&ngregatipn, and iaue. cannot but ✓ be, surprised that this opportunity is so often thrown away. The annual inspection is also ,a golden opportunity in. this direction, and should, be made the most of. 8.8. notices of a public nature should appear in the church announcements, either printed or spoken. Ask for a special,pew or pews for member* of the company.. And if this is done, see that they are. well occupied. Captains should leave no stone unturned to ensure that the subject of the Boys Brigade is continually made clear to the church. , , . Captains and officers should be most punctilious in co-operating in every possible way with the other branches and societies of the church. We must not regard our company as something apart, something whose absorbing interest absolves us from the trouble of being interested in other things. We expect much ; we must, then, realise that much, is expected of us. The contributor writes that experience has convinced him that officers can do more to gain the church’s support than is usually done, and that as an auxiliary of the church t!ie company must ta’"e its place among, and not separate from, tli® other branches. Badges and Certificates. Band and Pipers’ Badge.—For the award of the baud and pipers’ badge, in the opinion of. the captain of the company, boys must be qualified aa under. Bovs must have served m the band with good conduct for two complete sessions, with an average attendance of 90 per cent, of band practices, the minimum of which must be 25 per session. , . Bugler’s Badge.—The bugler’s badge is awarded to buglers (or trumpeters) qualified as above who are able to sound correctly calls which indude the followitig;—‘Reveille.’ ‘Fall In.’ ‘Retreat.’ ‘ Last Post.’ ‘ Lights Out.’ Company Reports. North Dunedin. —The library was reopened last Friday night after stocktaking and a rearrangement of the shelves. Many new books have recently been added to the collection, which now numbers about 250 volumes. On Saturday the annual photograph was taken. 50 officers and boys making the biggest grouo since the formation of the company. With the annual inspection only six weeks awav. work has now begun in earnest at the weekly drill parade and the physical training class. The bugle band also reports good progress. 9th Dunedin (Caversham Methodist). The attendances at the parades.have been good. Hard work has been dona bv all members of the company, with the result that the general standard is' high. Several boys should win their signalling’ certificates before the year is out. Gymnastics is keenly entered into by all ranks, and a good dispkw of apparatus work and physical training should be seen at the company’s inspection. The ambulance squad is doing good work, and all _ members feel capable to cope with any job of first aid. No. 1 squad won the captain’..- .medal for the last month Lance-corporal Marrett being leader. One of the lancecorporals. Bob Smithson, who has been in hospital, is’expected back on parade shortly. The companv will be losing two officers to the militarv camps in a few _ weeks' time. This will throw extra work upon the remaining officers, so all ranks are expected to do their .bit and make the iob as easv as possible for them.