CHURCH NEWS AND NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 136, 8 June 1907, Page 10

CHURCH NEWS AND NOTES.

Bishop Neligan has been visiting the Waihi, Paeroa, and Thames districts this week, and returns to Auckland on Monday for the church jubilee celebrations. The Rev. Mr. Fowler is expected to return to Auckland next month to resume charge of the St. Aidan's section of the St. Mark's parish, Canon llacAhirray, who went Home some months ago to collect material for a report on establishments similar to the Dihvorth Institute, is expected to return to Auckland in August uext. The Canon has to report lo the Anglican Synod in October, liis inquiries are being made in England und America, and he will probably return U, N.Z. through the latter count ry. His report should "provide some highly instructive reading, for he has had excellent opportunities for observing the working of tlie kindred institutions." The General Conference oi the N.Z.J Baptist Union is to be held in Auckland this year. It. is due to take place in the middle of October, and the local Baptists intend to make the visit of the district representatives to the city a memorably happy one. . Mr. T. Hussey, who was the guest of Bishop Leniban for many months past, went back Home last week. He was an I old school-fellow of the Bishop's, and came ! out from England to visit Dr. Lenihan. j When the additions to St. Patrick's ! Cathedral were begun, Mr. Hussey, who ', is a civil engineer by profession, under- i took the supervision" of the building as I clerk of works. He made many friends! while here. j A new and useful position was created' art the last meeting of the Baptist Auxi-! liary—that of financial secretary. This j individual is to devote himself to seeing j that the Church funds axe kept moving I steadily, and not allowed to grow stagnant, or to retrogress through neglect. He has to stir everybody up to subscribe regularly and liberally," and if he fulfils his function at ill successfully he should be v tower of strength to the Baptist cause. The first appointment to the position is Mr. R. S. Abel. There is to be a big Sunday-stliooi. rally and demonstration held by the Bapy tists at the Tabernacle next Friday.

Tlie Rev. Joseph Clark, pastor* of the Baptist Tabernacle, has resigned his charge, after holding it for the past eight cr nine years. He came to the colony under appointment to the Tabernacle from Nottingham, and his career in charge of the church has been very successful. He has been compelled to give up active work, for the meantime at least, by the failure, of his health, but while he retires from the charge he will not entirely abandon religious work. The. resignation will take effect from tbe end of the year, and it is gratifying to know that Pastor Clark will not be leaving the district when that takes place. He will live at Takapuna after he leaves the church. Preparations are already being made for the third International Council of Congregationalists to be held in Edinburgh from .Tune _ to .Tilly f). 190 S. Four hundred delegates are 1o be invited to share in the deliberations of the Council—2oo from tbe British Isles, 100 from America, as well as representatives from the colonies and foreign Congregationalists.

The jubilee of the Anglican Church in New Zealand will be celebrated in the coming week by a series of special services and meetings. The jubilee date falls on Wednesday nexl, duly 13.

The Methodist Foreign Mision Fund for 1006 shows a deficit of £1000. and the Key. B. Danks, general organising secretary e>f tbe F.M. fund, is making an appeal to the Church not to let the debt be increased, but rather to wipe it off.

The Otahuhu Methodist Church trustees have decideel not. to proceed with the scheme for the new Sunday school till the building fund is considerably larger. The church is to have its roof renovated at once.

The Auckland Methodist Mission has been celebrating its annual thanksgiving a feature of the services being the selfdenial offerings asked for.

The Y.M.GA. authorities are considering a strong recommendation of the Social Committee that a billiard table should he procured and introduced into the institution.

Members of the Y.M.CA. are about to enter on a port of competition called a " One-day membership Campaign." This is new to the colony, but is a useful means of inspiring members to bring forward candidates, much in vogue in America.

A new Presbyterian church has been opened at Mauku. The Otago University Christian Union intend to erect a building for the use of students of the University in the grounds of that institution, if permitted by the Council. Tlie building w;ill cosl* £2000.

The Minisrtors' Association were the guests of the Rev. and Mrs. G. B. Monro at Remuera at this month's meeting. The Rev. W. S. Potter has been appointed to succeed the Rev. Mr. Russell as treasurer, as the latter is going back to Scotland next month. Mr. J. F. Arnold, M.H.K., is attending the Australasian Methodist conference at Sydney. His intentiori is also to visit Adelaide. Melbourne, and Brisbane.

The Rev. Tudor Jones, Ph.D., F.R.G.S.. a visitor to the colony from England. is delivering lectures in the South on behalf of the British and Foreign Unitarian Association of London.

Mr. H. De_rslev. who has be?en elected chairman of tbe Auckland Bapiist Auxiliary for the forthcoming year, dwelt, in his opening address, on the necessity for pushing Baptist work into much unbrokeei ground" Attention should also be given to missionary work among the fishermen and public works gangs. 'ITie election of officers for the year ivsulted as follows: — President, Mr." 11. Dear.'-'v; vice-presi-dent, Rev. E. A. Kirvvood: treasurer, Mr. T. E. Whitte.il: secretary, the Rev. A. North; financial secretary, Mr. R,. S. Abel; auditor. Mr. S. 11. Matthews; collector. Miss N. Dewar: executive committee. Revs. .'). P.. Sneyd, VV. L. Salter, T. A. Williams, Messrs. "T. A. Penman, W. Sped.diii<_. H. 1L Smeeton. J. Graham. M. Whitehead, and F. _**. Andrews.

An old landmark of Devonport. in the shape of the huge macrocarpa tree, which has stood before Trinity Church for the past forty years, has been removed. Its growth was affecting the stability of the church building.

Canon Nelson is the Primate's nominee on the St. John's College Board of Governors, the Rev. W. E. Lush the Bishop of Wellington's. Prof. Egerton the Bishop of Nelson's, Frof. Segar the Bishop of Christchureh's, and Prof. W. E. Thomas the Bishop of Melanesia's, Prof. A. P. W. Thomas the Bishop of Waiapu's. Bishop Jfcligan is chairman of the Ba\rd, e_ officio.