Newspaper Page Text
THK VIRGINIA YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONFERENCE. Rev. Wesley Baker, Synod's Supt. S. S. and Y. P. Work. The first Young People's Confer ence of the Synod of Virginia has passed into history! For many months numbers of us have been looking forward with high hopes and eager expectations to the time when we would meet together in a distinc tive conference of our own. It was our good fortune to be able to meet in one of the most famous and his toric seats of learning in the country ? the University of Virginia, at Char lottesville. It was here that Woodrow Wilson received part of his early edu cation, and his name appears first in the recently published list of promi nent alumni. In recognition to this, early in the conference, the following telegram was sent to him "Woodrow Wilson, Washington, I). C.: The two dent Secretary, who shall perform the duties usual to these ofhce3 and who shall represent the Student Council on the Administrative Council. 4. There shall be a Student Coun cil, which shall be composed of tho Student President (who shall preside at this council), the Student Secre tary and the chiefs of .ill the clans. This council shall consider all mat ters pertaining to the general welfare of the conference membership. 5. There shall be an Administra tive Council, which shall be composed of the Conference Manager, the Con ference Y. P. Director, the two Chief Counsellors, the Student President and the Student Secretary. This council shall have general supervision of the conference and shall receive and give direction concerning all matters pre sented to it from the Student Council. Points in the Honor System. Points Given l>nily: 5 Best attendance at massed ath life's values anil forming of new Ideals, new resolutions and determi nation; while to scores of others It meant a fresh vision of the world's needs which led to a definite and unreserved committal of their lives to Jesus Christ for whole-hearted ser vice in His kingdom. Their own "Findings Committee" gave experssion to this in the following language: "We, the members of the First Young People's Conference of the Sy nod of Virginia, meeting at the Uni versity of Virginia, June 11-18, 1921, do hereby offer the following resolu tions: 1. Resolved, that every church should offer to all of its young peo ple a chance to grow as Jesus grew ? that is in the four-fold way ? body, heart, mind and soul. ? Luke 2:52. 2. Resolved, that to plan and put in operation such a four-fold program, will require a definite committee or council in each local church. liad charge of the vesper services each evening. The Bible elasses were taught by Dr. C. R. Erdman, president of Prince ton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N. J., and Mrs. S. H. Askew, of At lanta, Ga. Dr. Erdman also delivered a deeply spiritual message on Sunday morning. After the Bible Hour each day four classes were taught by Rev. J. W. Allen, a missionary to Africa, on Foreign Missions; Miss Eleanor H. Berry, on Home Missions; Miss Eliz abeth McE. Shields, of Richmond, Va . on Sunday School Work, and by Rev. N. N. Fleming, of Pinetops, N. C., on the book, "Making Life Count." The daily conference period was In the hands of the young people. The Presbyterian Young People's League held its regular meetings at this time, and the sessions were in the charge of the ^officers: R. E .McClure, of Wil mington, president, and Miss Rachel Beall, of Durham, secretary-treasurer. Virginia Young People at the University. hundred Presbyterian young people, meeting at the University of Virginia, send to her greatest son love and con fidence." With characteristic thought fulness and fine courtesy Mr. Wilson replied, "Your message cheered me very much and is highly appreciated." What a rare privilege and what a splendid opportunity to attend such a tine conference! Some one has recent ly said, "The Summer Conference for Christian Young People is really a stroke of genius. It is a masterpiece of constructive Christian leadership, it is an acquisition for which the Church may sincerely thank God, for its evolution has evidently been guided by His Spirit. It is a bit of intensive Christian education so skill fully devised and so delicately adapt ed to the spiritual susceptibilities of the young people that its results ar-j all out of proportion to the invest ment of time and effort." It is impossible to speak of all the attractive features of the conference, but special mention should be made of the scheme of organization or the way in which the students were di vided into groups for the purpose of securing their full participation and co-operation in carrying out the ideal? of the conference. The following is the plan adopted: The Organization of tne Gonfernece. 1. The conference membership shall be divided into six groups. These groups shall 1>e called clans with names as follows: Cameron, Camp bell, Graham, McGregor, McPherson and McTavish. Each clan shall have its own distinctive color, which shall be worn at all times by the members. These colors shall be as follows: Cam eron, purple; Campbell, rose; Gra ham, green; McGregor, blue; McPher son, lavender, and McTaviBh, gold. 2. Each clan shall have a chief, elected from the clan and by the clan. Kach clan shall have a counsellor (an adult), who shall be appointed by the conference manager. There shall also be two chief counsellors appoint ed by the conference manager. 3. The conference membership shah elect a Student President and a Stu athletics. 5 To every clan, some of whose members take a three-mile hike. 10 Conduct, proper observance of conference rules. 1. Quiet hour, 2 P. M. to 3 P. M. 2. Lights out and quiet after 10. 3. No visiting in city except as provided by rule. 4. Colors to be worn at all times. 30 Group co-operation. 5. Attendance at conference meet ings. 5. Punctuality at conference meet ings, meals, etc. 20. Willing co-operation in pro moting conference ideals. Points Given at Close of Conference: 10 Best yell on stunt night (content delivery). 10 Best conference song (music con tent). 10 Best stunt. 20 Best athletic record: Tennis, vol leyball, baseball, etc. It was with considerable trepida tion that this experiment was launched, but before the week was half over both faculty and students pronounced It a decided success. Regarding the attendance, to say that we had present 188 young peo ple and 17 members of the faculty, or 205 in all, is to tell only part of the story. The faculty was composed of a group of leaders, par excellence, and the 188 young people were just that many vibrant, enthusiastic, choice young men and women, poten tial in leadership and religious use fulness. They came from all parts of the Synod and represented the various Presbyteries as follows: Eaet Han over, 37; Lexington, 60; Montgomery, 40; Norfolk, 5; Potomac, 3; Roanoke, 24; West Hanover, 8, and Winches ter, 11. Now what has this conference, with Its program of study, play and wor ship, meant to these young people? What have they been able to carry back home with them? What will it mean to the churches from which they came? To some the conference has meant the beginning of lasting friend ships, to others a new appraisal of 3. Resolved, that this council or committee should be representative, including young people and adults. 4. Resolved, that it is the duty of the young people who attended this conference not only to see that these resolutions are forcefully presented to their local churches, but also to do all in their power to have them really carried out. Findings Committee, Young People's Conference, John Wyse, President. Janet Funkhouser, Secretary. N. C. YOUNG PEOPLK'S CONFER ENCE. The third annual conference of the Presbyterian Young People of North Carolina was held at Peace Institute. Raleigh, May 31st-June 7th, with about one hundred and sixty enthu siastic delegates. Representation by Presbyteries showed that Fayetteville Presbytery had the largest registra tion. Several schools and colleges had good delegations also. These conferences have been held in previous years at Queen's College, Charlotte, and Flora Macdonald Col lege, Red Springs. They are conduct ed by the Synod of North Carolina, with the Woman's Synodical Auxiliary co-operating, for the purpose of unify ing the Young People's Work and cen tering the thought and activity for a week of intensive training in the prin ciples and activities of the Southern Presbyterian Church. Rev. J. G. Garth, of Charlotte, is Executive Sec retary of the Board of Directors that controls the conference. Miss Mamie McElwee, of Statesville, is Assistant Executive Secretary, and these two are the moving spirits behind the confer ence. An exceedingly able faculty was gathered to lead the classes and to inspire the youth of the conference to higher and nobler things. Rev. W. T. Thompson, D. D., Professor of Re ligious Education, of Union Theologi cal Seminary, Richmond, Va., was platform manager, and delivered two splendid addresses at the opening of the conference. Dr. Thompson also The League is a movement started in the Synod of North Carolina to pro vide some organization that would af filiate all existing organizations and not supplant any. It is not a form of local organization either in princi ple or practice. It is donig a good work for the purpose for which it was formed. Mrs. E. C. Cronk, of Richmond, Va., editor of the liest Methods Department of the Mission ary Review of the World, added much to the interest of the conference pe riod with her splendid suggestions on the two days she was present. The afternoons were given up to recreation, and varied programs were followed, including a visit to the places of interest around Raleigh, led by Colonel Fred A. Olds, the trans portation furnished by the Vanguard Bible Class of the First Presbyterian church. Hikes, stunts and games add to the variety, all of which was thor oughly enjoyed by the delegates. The evening services were given to inspirational addresses, to which the public was invited. Rev. W. T. Thompson, of Richmond; Rev. A. W. Crawford, of Greensboro; Rev. J. W. Allen, of the African Mission; Rev. E. V. Tadlock, of the mission work in the mountains of Kentucky, and Rev. C. F. Myers, D. D., of Greens boro, were the speakers at the even ing services. Rev. R. C. Long, of Gastonia, conducted the music. The whole conference showed an attendance of nearly two hundred per sons, including delegates and work ers. The spirit of the conference was fine, and the delegates went home ready for new work and full of en thusiasm. Definite resolutions were adopted that embodied the policies of the young people for the coming year. The place of the next annual confer ence has not been decided, but will be fully advertised when decided upon. R. E. McClure. If you would keep your friend, ap proach him with a telescope, never with a microHoope. ? Anon.