STUDENT CHRISTIANS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 961, 2 May 1930, Page 10

STUDENT CHRISTIANS

ANNUAL DAY OF PRAYER GREAT WORLD MOVEMENT Sunday will be the universal uay of prayer for students within the World Student Federation, according to the call to prayer issued by the chairman of the general committee. The day will be observed in Auckland by a gathering of students at the University on Sunday evening at tea, when intercessions will be said and a short address delivered by Mr. Ramsay Howie, the new travelling secretary of the movement. This will bs followed _ by church service at St. Matthew’s. “The Student Christian Movement,” says Mr. Basil Matthews, “is the most wonderful development of modern Christianity.” Known internationally as the World Student Christian Federation. the student Christian movement is established in 45 countries, has branches in 3,113 institutions of higher learning, and has a membership of more than 300.000 students the woxdd over. Of international student organisations it is the oldest. the most widely represented in race and colour, and in actual membership the largest. In New Zealand there are branches in the four university colleges and the four training colleges. In addition ‘here are 15 secondary school branches nd 13 auxiliary or ex-student groups. Similar national movements exist in the other countries, differing in points • f organisation according to the nalional taste, but all united in the World student Christian Federation. The founders were seven men prominent in university life in the year 1895. when they met in Sweden, representing severally Britain, North America. Scandinavia. Germany and mission lands, in which countries national student Christian organisations aircadv existed. Today the executive committee indicates by the variety of nationality represented. something of the fascinating diversity of student life within the federation. The chairman, for instance, is American, the vice-chairmen French and Chinese respectively, and the members of the executive committee English. Dutch, Indian, Swiss and French. Apart from the international and in-ter-racial character of the federation, there is the unusual fact of inter-con-fessiona! fellowship, whereby Roman Catholic. Orthodox and Protestant students. without denying the peculiar quality and outlook of their own faith, yet find in their common Christ the force that is greater than their differences.

As a separate function the federation organises the international student service (formerly European student relief). an institution for service to ali students the world over, irrespective of race, creed, or colour.

In being the agent of such a generous fellowship, therefore, the student Christian movement is a centre of influence to who are destined to be future leaders in polities, business, professions and international life: a centre of student life and thought where Christianity can be considered as a way of life for the individual, societv and the world.