CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 72, 26 March 1891, Page 9

CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF NEW ZEALAND.

AUCKLAND DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETING.

Tiif annual public meeting in connection with the Congregational Union of New Zealand (Auckland district) wus hold in the Beresford-street Church last evening. The attendance was meagre, not more than one hundred persons being present, of whom a groat number were ladies.

The proceedings opened with the singing of hymns and prayer. Mr Hooton was organist.

The Rev. J. Chew presided. He regretted the small attendance, and referred to the absence of their laymen from the platform, whom he expected to see present in good numbers. There were four ministers and only one layman seated round him. At tha recenb Nelsou Congregational Conference there was a larger representation of laymen than ministers, and he had anticipated bhe former would have been present to expound their opinions on the present position and future of Congregationalism in this colony. The Chairman said it was a noticeable fact, especially in this colony, that the laymen of the Congregational Church were of a very retiring disposition. Mr H. J. Leßail'.y, the secretary of tbo Congregational Union of Hew Zealand, then delivered an address on " Our Union's Work of 1890." He said the work of the year had been one of consolidation more than advance, and referred to the work of the several districbs bhroughout the colony. Mr Leßailly stated that the Port Chalmers Church had again done nobly, despite their position as a SOaports, The congregation had kept their pastor and cleared off a debt of £120. In the Canterbury district, a loss had been sustained by the sale of tho church property at Timaru, but tho Rev. Cecil, who was now in thab district, was full of hope for the future. The Terrace Church ab Wellington had found a new pastor in the Rev. J. G. Allen, lately from England. At Nelson there were greab signs of vitality under the guidance of the Rev. A. W. Evans, and it was proposed to build another church theie. Mr Leßailly stated that if the work of the Congregational Union was to flourish it must have the support of every member of the Church throughout the colony. It had been said thab their people would not contribute to the Union because the money went to the expenses of their meotings, bub he thought they kept Congregationalists together. The recent Conference at Nelson had done more for the consolidation ot the Church than was evor done before. Mr Leßailly further said that he would like to see an annual income in their treasury of £200 or £300. Next year was the Congregational Jubilee year in New Zealand, and they had invited the Intercolonial Conference to hold their next meeting in this colony. The ministers' fund had beon put on a firm basis, and Colonel Saigood, of Melbourne, had sent £50 to the object. Mr Leßailly said the Union had nominated six delegates for the Congregational meeting to be hold in London next year, and concluded by urging their members to take a greater interest in Church mntters.

The Rev. B. L. Thomas (Mount Eden Church) was thenexb speaker. He gave an address on " Our Mission as Congrogationalists in NewZoaland." Theroverend gentleman said because Congregationalists were smaller in numbers than other denominations thby should nob lose hearb. To an exbent their smallnoss in numbers was attributable to being honourable in not encroaching on the domains of other denominations. Ho compared tho position of Congregationalism in Auckland to-day with that of seven years ago. At presenb the Church members numbored 628 against 366 ab the time mentioned, thus showing a clear gain of 261 moinbers ; while in lxgard to the Sunday-schools .their numbers totted up to I,oß4,againßt7soseven years ago. The revorend gentleman said in the face of these figures it showed tho church had moro than held its own in Auckland. In regard to the future, he said ho did not think it was their duty to plant a church in every conceivable spot, and thus encroach and weaken tho effect of others. Toincreasechurch membership,theroverend gentleman urged they ought to make a special aim to enlist the sympathy and cooperation of tbe young, and concluded by hoping the meeting would havo somo influence on church life.

The Rev. 11. W. J. Miller (Onehumri) then gave an excellent address on " Somo Defects in Our Church Life, and Possible Remedies." He commenced by stating that there were no defects in the Church that wero not capable of being overcome. One of the first defects was inacbiviby, and to bhis he atbribubed bho poor results that were frequently put down to them. There must be individual energy among tbe members to overcome this. Another defect in their church life was conservatism, which should have no home among Congregationalists. Conservatism was the curse of tho Church to-day, and they should be more elastic in their methods, and the speaker suggested adaptability and liberality as a cure. Mr Miller said they needod change in regard to lay help. It was complained that the ministers did not give an opportunity to laymen willing bo do bhe work, bub he thought this rested with the pew, and not with the minister. He believed in laymen occuping the pulpit, and mentioned that while ho (the speaker) was absent from his charge at Onehunga attending the Nelson Conference the laymen in charge had done well, and the attendances and collections had been well up to the average. Mr Miller then stated their third defect was the effect of individualism. In the past it had been a terrible drag on church life, and a lack of interest meant weakening of their church. The speaker concluded by stating that he would like to see a Congregational Union formed in Auckland to discuss matters thab could not be discussed in their churches separately, and which could not be done at district meetings owing to formal business. Tho Rev. H. J. Lewis gave an address on the subject "Is Congregationalism Played Out?" The speaker thought not, and said there was a growing recognition in other churches in favour of their tactics of perfect self-government. Mr Lewis referred to the presenb great vitality of the Church in England. In New Zealand, though, he feared they were losing hearb, and it would appear there was a decline. He thougnt the secret of this was mainly due to decline of spiritual life. The address was an admirable one throughout, and tho speaker wound up by urging his hearers to show their attachment bo the church. _ The proceedings wound up With the singing of a hymn and the Doxology. During the evening a collection was taken up in aid of the district funds of the Union.