GERALDINE RIFLES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1495, 20 April 1886, Page 3

GERALDINE RIFLES.

The Geraldine Rifles went into camp on Saturday evening preparatory to proceeding to Oamaru t» take part in the Easter encampment there. During Saturday afternoon a number of men were busy erecting the tents for the men to take possession of in the evening. The spot chosen (Mr Maslin’s paddock) is a firstclass one, being open, and allowing of plenty of room for drill and maneuvering Having a shingle bottom it is not possible for water to lodge, which will be a great consideration in the case of wet weather coming on. About twenty-five men were under canvas, and the camp is under the command of Lieutenant G. Ward, and Sub-Lieutenant R. H. Pearpoint. The men will have a busy time of it during the coming week as the reveilld sounds at 5.30 a.m., the men parade at 6, breakfast at 7, tea at 6 p.m., parade at 7, mount giard at 9.30, and lights out at 10, of course following their usual voertious during the day. The camp proved a great attraction on Sunday to both young and old, and a groat many paid a visit to it during the day. On Sunday morning under Lieut. Ward, and attended by their band under ActingBandmaster Herdman, they attended Divine service at the Primitive Methodist Church, Geraldine. About 35 m«n were present and the Church was crowded, many of the younger portion of the congregation having to find room in the vestry. The Rev. J. Boothroyd preached an excellent and impressive sermon from the words “ War a good warfare,” I Tim., i 18. The rev. gentleman pointed out that the Apostle Paul frequently made reference to his life as a warfare ; and no wonder, when they come to look at the struggles be had to pass through. War, the preacher said, was frequently spoken of by theinspirod writers, who seemed to look upon it as a necessary evil, to bo shunned when possible, but to be taken up without fear and without hesitation when absolutely necessary. Too many of the modern wars bad been caused by patty jealousies and the love of aggrandisement on the part of the aggressor. In many cases men who had no desire for war often entered into it to avert the consequences that would follow by quiet submission. He would not be a true man, notwortby tha name of a man, who would not stand up for bis own rights and defend the homes and hearths of his country. They could not read of such men as Joshua, Gideon, Moses, Nehemehiab, and others, Old Testament worthies without a feeling of admiration for them. It was of a Roman centurion tint Our Saviour said “ He had not found so groat faith no not in Israel.” The rev. gentleman pointed out, however, that the text applied to the great warfare of life in which they were all engaged rather than to military warfare. To him it appeared that the lesson to ba learnt was that the the true life was one of constant warfare. It was a very low idea of life when a man wished to go through it in the easiest manner possible. A brave man, a true man, a noble man, meets with struggles as he passes through life. He did not believe they had ever heard or read of a true man who had not to fight for right and truth. No one could get through life in a true and noble way without having a certain amount of warfare. If they wanted to da anything good, and to be of any service in this world, they would be sure to make enemies. There was room, however, for great judgment in this warfare, and it also needed the use of great discretion. There were times in the warfare of life when discretion was the better part of valor. The rev. gentleman referred to some of the noble names we have in history, such names as Clarkson, Wilberforce, and others, and briefly sketched the grand work they had accomplished. Ha pointed out the difference between offensive and defensive warfare, and stated that there was a great deal of defensive warfare for men to do. Satan was ever going about on the watch as to where he could make an attack, and they would need to be ever on the watch like a good sentry at his post. If they wished to keep the enemy of evil thoughts out of their minds they must have them filled with good ones ; if they wished to keep foolish thoughts out, they must store their minds with good knowledge; and if they wished to keep themselves clear of bad habits and language, they must b® v ® r T careful to cultivate good habits, and never speak in a manner that they would not wish a mother or a sister to hear. He urged his hearers to make up their minds to be true and noble men ; to dq that which was true and manly, ejld which they knew t° be right, and ta avo : d all f*at. they knew to be wrong | to so live that when it came to

their turn to pass away, which might be neuter than they expected, they might be tit company for heaven and for those heroes whom he had been mentioning. The Apostle said “ Fight the good fight of faith,” and to do this they could not do batter than set before them the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, and although they could not follow His example in tha miracles He wrought, nor have the wisdom which Ht showed in talking to the people, yet they could show Hi* spirit, they could have His benevolence, they could devote their lives for the good of others, and copy the unselfishness of their Saviour’s hte. When they read His words they would find that Christ did not always speak soft words. There were men in (ho world who were not acting out what they professed to be; these we'e the men who were doing the most mischief, and when our Saviour came across this class of people He was moat severe in His denunciation of them. Ho would ask hia hearers to take for their motto the words of the poet “I live for those who love me, for those who know me true ; For tha Heaven that shines above me, and awaits my spirit, too ; For the right that needs assistance, for the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, and the good that I can do.” The rev. gentleman was listened to with rapt attention throughout. The Geraldine Brass Band played several pieces of sacred music in very good style. This band is improving very fast under the leadership cf Mr T. Sherratt. An attack had been arranged to take place on Monday morning, and about 1 a.m., while some of tha men were quietly sleeping in their tents, a number of the ot.bers, under Lieutenant Pearpoint, attempted to make a secret assault upon it. But the sentries proved too vigilant, and the alarm having been given, and tbe assembly sounded, the men turned out with great promptitude, and were ready for action in about five minutes from the time the alarm was given. Under the able command of Lieutenant Ward they were led out to repulse the attack, and, after some sharp skirmishing, succeeded in surrounding the enemy and bringing them prisoners to the camp. One of the enemy's spies, in endeavoring to reconnoitre tbe camp, was cleverly captured by tbe sentries, and locked in the guard-tent, much to hia disgust, from which he was not released till 7 o’clock the next morning.