BOYS’ BRIGADE NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23692, 27 September 1940, Page 9

BOYS’ BRIGADE NOTES

[By Chum.] Recruiting. One of the best ways in which boys can serve their company is hy introducing the right sort of boys as recruits. Remember yours is the best organisation for boys. See that your friends have the benefit of belonging to it. 'When you join the Boys’ Brigade you promise to attend regularly and punctually. This applies to every branch you join of the company work. Make it a point of honour to let nothing stand in the way of your regular attendance if you can possibly help it. When compelled to be absent if possible let the captain know beforehand. Our Badge. Oni' of the questions put to about 20 would-be lance-corporals was: “What was the origin of our badge and motto?” Only three gave the correct answer. We are apt to take the badge for granted, or, as some of the boys did, lit a fairly satisfactory explanation to it without making sure of the facts, hook, then, at Hebrews vh, 19; “ Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth cats that within the vail . . . even Jesus.” What does the anchor represent, then? A hope? Yes, even Jesus. This, then, was the thought of our founder when, over 50 years ago, ho selected our badge and motto. But at that time there was no cross behind the anchor. It was introduced in 1926, when the Boys’ Life Brigade was united to. the Boys| Brigade. Historically speaking, it is the part of the badge of the Boys’ Life Brigade, which, united with the anchor, represents the union of the two organisations And the cross naturally again represents Jesus. Both symbols, therefore. stand for Jesus. That should be enough to make ns respect our badge, to honour it, and even love it. But there is more to it than that. Each symbol represents a part of Jesus’s character—the anchor for strength, the cross for self-sacrifice. . It’s worth thinking about it. Badges and Certificates. Camper’s Badge.—Awarded to boys who have attended three 8.8. camps (in different years) for at least seven days each year with good conduct throughout and have passed a test in pitching and striking a bell tent. To pass the test a boy must, with only the assistance of three boys who have not already Avon the camper’s badge, pitch a tent completely and correctly within 20 minutes, and with similar assistance strike and pack a tent within 10 minutes. Ho must also pass a written or oral examination set by the captain of the company (based on the 8.8. camp handbook) in five of the following subjects:—Camp lay-out and size, camp routine, tent craft, sanitation and hygiene, the duties of an orderly squad, camp cooking, transport. 12th Dunedin Company. At the parade last Friday night the ranks wore increased by the attendance of six recruits. Because of this the squads were rearranged to make room for the recruits, who' were all drafted into number four squad, under Lancecorporal Simpson. On Saturday the company played 7th Dunedin at Rugby. This is an annual fixture, and a shield is presented to the wanning team.. This . year the game Was played at Opoho and resulted in a win for 12th.-Dunedin by 18 points to 3- The library is progressing under Lance-corporal Simpson and Private Bain, new books being bought every fortnight.