25 JULY 1903, Page 17

SEASIDE CAMPS FOIL THE LONDON CONTINGENT OF THE BOYS' BRIGADE

: AN. APPEAL.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOE."1

SIR,—At the request of the chairman, Captain R. G. Hayes, the hon. treasurer, Mr. Alfred F. Buxton, and the London Committee of the Boys' Brigade, I venture to ask if you will

allow me to appeal to the readers of your valuable and influential paper to help us to supplement the amount sub- scribed by our boys towards the coat of their seaside camps, ;which will shortly be in full swing.

There are now six thousand boys enrolled in the London dis- trict. All the units have been united in London and Greater London during the past year under one Committee with a paid secretary and a central office. Last year fifteen hundred boys were sent to camp. This year, with more perfect organisation and, it is hoped, a liberal response to our appeal, it is hoped to send many more. I would mention that all' the boys in the Boys' Brigade, now numbering in the United Kingdom fifty-four thousand, besides thirty-eight thousand in the Colonies and United States, are working boys, many of them of the poorest class, but all helping to help themselves. All the year round they cheerfully submit to receive histruation from their zealous officers in military drill and physical exercises, while cricket, football, and swimming are most popular, and are much encouraged. True manliness is the keynote of the movement. From the experience I have in frequently inspecting units, I cannot speak too highly of the discipline and efficiency attained, and the great emulation to get the best reports. A week or so in camp under the immediate care of their officers is found to have a very beneficial influence, not only on the boys' health, but on their character. In con- clusion, I would say : Pis dat qui cito dat. Cheques should be made payable to the honorary treasurer, London Committee, Boys' Brigade, and crossed " Dimsdale and Co."

—I am, Sir, &c., J. M. D. MOODY, Major-Gen. (Retired),

Hon. President, City and East End Battalion. Central Office, London Committee,

34 Paternoster Row, E.C.

[As our readers know, we hold the work done by the Boys- Brigade and similar institutions to be of the first importance.

—ED. Spectator.]