YOUTH’S PART

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 December 1939, Page 5

YOUTH’S PART

FUTURE OF NEW ZEALAND IMPORTANCE OF BIBLE.CLASS MOVEMENT. UNITED EFFORT ESSENTIAL. “The Bible Class Union has suffered one great loss during the year in the passing of the Rev Herbert Thomas York, Vicar of St Peter’s, Upper Riccarton, and the virtual founder of the Union in the Diocese of Christchurch,” stated that Rev H. S. I. Kenney, 8.A.. president of the New Zealand Anglican Bible Class Union, speaking at the camp at Wairarapa College yesterday. “He was president in 1923, acted as contfnandant at several of the provincial camps held in the South Island, and right up to the time of his death took the keenest interest in the welfare of the movement. We thank God for the inspiration of his life and extend our heartfelt sympathy to his widow. I take this opportunity of reminding delegates and campers generally that one of the daily celebrations of the Holy Communion held during camp is regarded as a ‘Requiem’ at which we remember before God those of our members who have been called to higher service .... “In common with all other gatherings which take place this year our camp and conference has special significance as being associated with New Zealand’s Centenary. As a people we have just completed the first 100 years of our national history, and, comparatively short though this period may be, it has witnessed the development of a virile, sturdy nation in these favoured islands of the Pacific, and we may surely be pardoned if we make this milestone an occasion for stock-taking, for retrospect, and for planning the future

. . . . Our concern is the development of Christianity in New Zealand, and for that purpose history starts with the arrival of Samuel Marsden in 1814 .... Marsden came as an Ambassador of the King of Kings seeking to extend a Kingdom even greater and more enduring than the Empire of our race. For that reason Samuel Marsden must ever claim the veneration of New Zealanders ....

HUNDRED YEAR’S PROGRESS.

“We come forward one hundred years. It is a truism to say that if our great grand-parents could see the progress made in the country since that day they would rub their eyes in amazement. Tfiis is no doubt true of the Church—what would Marsden and Selwyn think of the progress made since their day, when virgin bush covered the greater part of the country, and the ministrations of the Church were carried with much difficulty to scattered little communities dotted here and there throughout the country? I do not suggest that they would be entirely satisfied with what they might see today but I am sure that it would gladden their hearts to see churches built in every centre of importance, Cathedrals built or contemplated in the cities, to see a large body of clergy ministering to the spiritual needs of the people, to see church schools and colleges established throughout the country. Most of all, possibly, it would gladden them to see the strength of what one might call ‘specialist organisations’ dealing with particular sections of the community—the Mothers’ Union, The Church of England Mens’ Society, the Bible Class Union in its Young Men’s and Young Women’s branches. Most of all, I feel, they would rejoice in the latter, for the strength and virility of the Youth Movement of the Church is an indication that the tree planted and tended by them so carefully 100 years ago is still healthy and vigorous, and it is also the best guarantee for a similar state of affairs in the future. “All this does not mean that we should be complacent about the condition of the Church, or the condition of its Youth Movement at the present time. Actually there is a great deal to cause us considerable concern today. We cannot be unmoved by the fact that a considerable number of our people are living a frankly pagan existencemany of our young people are just healthy young pagans. I quite agree that they are charming and most likeable, that they would not willingly do an unkind action, and yet the fact remains that God counts for practically nothing in their lives and they have little, if any, religious background. CAUSES FOR CONCERN. “Then another cause for concern today, is what one might call the disjointed state of the Church of the Province of New Zealand; our diocesan system has so established itself in this country that each diocese is practically a water-tight compartment—there is little unity or co-operation between the several parts. When the Church speaks it speaks with a hesitant and uncertain voice, for it lacks the machinery which will enable it to test quickly and effectively the opinions of its members. In ail sorts of ways we are at a disadvantage because of this, and it is no wonder that we suffer when comparisons are made between ourselves and other religious bodies. “Most of us here can take very little in the way of either praise or blame for the state of affairs which I have just outlined; we are too young to have had much influence upon the world around us—but we are going to have an influence upon the next chapter of our history, that chapter which is just beginning, and which will come to its conclusion in the year 2040. “Were it possible for us to return for a while. 100 years hence, and take up our life again in this beloved country of ours. I wonder what we would find? It is going to depend very largely upon you. and the other young people like you associated with ttie Church of God | in this land. If you do your part, New Zealand 100 years hence will not be a pagan country—it will not even be a semi-pagan country as it is today, but rather it will be a Christian country, a country of which the people acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Leader and King and delight to serve Him. That

is why the Youth Campaign is so important and why we must aim at having every Bible Class member an active Campaigner for Christ; could that become an accomplished fact the influence of our Movement upon the next century of our nation’s life would be simply incalculable.

ROLE OF BIBLE CLASS UNIONS. “Then I have spoken of the disjointed state of the Church of our land, and the weaknesses and drawbacks that are inevitably associated with it. This, too. is something that must surely be rectified during the next chapter of our national life, and again I cannot help feeling that our Bible Class Union has a great and important part to play. Already it has performed a notable service in bringing together year by year young Churchmen from every part of the Province. In Camp and in Conference they have rubbed shoulders with each other, have come to understand the other fellow's point of view, and have been linked together in close ties of friendship. The value of this cannot be over-emphasised. The fact that our Bible Class Union is a provincial organisation and not a diocesan one is something for which we can be devoutly thankful. We can do a great deal towards breaking down that exclusive Diocesan spirit which is at the present, time one of the greatest weaknesses of the Church of the Province of New Zealand. “But if the Bible Class Union is to do its part then it must become far more of a provincial—Dominion—wide organisation than it is at present. A glance at the annual report, will show that in only two Dioceses at present can the Union be said to be really strong. We look forward to the day when our Bible Class movement will be truly provincial, when its classes will be found throughout the length and breadth of the land, and when it will be able to claim without fear of contradiction that its voice is truly the voice of the youth of the Church. I commend that to you as your Centennial Year resolution—to spare no effort by way of prayer and active service to make this vision a living reality."