CHURCH OF CHRIST.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 72, 26 March 1921, Page 13

CHURCH OF CHRIST.

. I DOMINION CONFERENCE. : The first united conference of the Associated Churches of Christ in New Zealand was held at Ponsonby Tester- i day. The retiring president, Mr. M. j Vickery, of Wellington, presided. In his opening address, the president | said the progress achieved during the i past year should be an incentive to ' Tenewed effort. After a lengthy discussion, the proposed Dominion Constitution t*_s approred with amendments. The location of the general executive for the ensuing year was fixed at Wei- J lington. Officers were elected as foilows: President. Mr. H. P. Long (Wei- j lingtoni : vice-president. Mr. D. Cairns: secretary, Mr. H. Ames; treasurer, Mr. A. H. Eaton. A General Committee and ' Auckland and Christchurch Committees j were appointed. The general secretary of the Foreign I "Mission Board. Mr. J. I-. Wright, pre- ! sented the annual report, showing that ! the position in South Africa was very j satisfactory. Various changes of site had been made in the interests of the work. Two missionari ■?. Messrs. Had- ' field and Claasen. had heen compelled through ill-health to resign, and Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, of Nelson, were now j on the way to South -.frica. It would ; be necessary to serjd out another married missionary a* an early date, i and the committee had a suitable couple in view. • ] The balance sheet showed the income to be £1460 and expenditure £1037, leaving a balance of £329. The assets were valued at £1600. The home mis-sion session was introduced by five-minute speeches from the home mission preachers, each of whom spoke hopefully of the work in the respective districts. A collection of cash and promises for the home mission amounted to £255. The statistics showed a membership of 3094 throughout the Dominion, and a Bible school attendance of 3045, with a teaching staff of 295: 116 Bible school scholars were added to the Church during the year The home mission balance sheet showed an overdraft brought forward of i £343: the income for the year was £2372, and the expenditure £2097, leaving an overdraft of £68. A hearty vote of thank* was accorded to the home mission organiser, Mr. I. A. Paternoster, for his excellent services throughout the Dominion. Mrs. | Paternoster's name was incorporated in the vote. ; The evening session took the form of I a missionary rally at the Ponsonby j Road Church. The incoming president, | Mr. H. P. Long, was introduced to* a lane congregation, and addresses were delivered by Messrs. J. Wright and J. A. Paternoster. Musical items were given.