MELANESIAN MISSION.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12828, 12 June 1907, Page 5

MELANESIAN MISSION.

Tho tenth annual mooting of tho Christchurch branch of the isocicty for tho promotion of tho interests, ot tlio Meknmiun -Mission was held at *.t. Michaels _>chool yesterday. Therts was a largo attendance (principally of iadics), and likhop Julius presided. The annual report expressed gratification at tho visit of tno Bishop of Melanesia at tho end of last year. Tho term just closed had been a fairly good one, tho total receipts being _.l_l>_ 13s 3d, as ag_iii_t- _._•],_ for the previous ye*ir. Tho principal items of revenue '.veto:—Offertories _..___, vSunday-eciiools £i)d, eolleciion boxes J_t3 T_ 7d. e-ui--s-criptions X.lti-3 os _d, collected £7$ 15_ 'Jd, sale of work £<__ 9s lid. Thanks duo to Mrs Bowen for her kind Joan of a room for meetings of _?t. Barnabas Guild, and to different members of tlu> clergy for presiding. Two new branches (.it Hiecarton and Jnvenargill) had been established during the year. A permanent office for tlio mission work had Im->n secured in .Yorce>ter fctrcot. and this had been placed in the. charge of Aliss Kogere, who reported a. mo. t 6iimv«_lul quarter's u~ sulis. Sixteen eases oi ii_«-i.:2 articles had been de-pateiied to Norfolk Ishind. and new sul„t-ribers had been secured. tjif-.o eoiitribntiny £'21 _<•_ in subs crij.tions and £'Mi in donations. A sewing parry of ladies hud also been lbrnied, witli tlio object of defraying the rem of tlie porni_iu.it o'ii'co. Tlio Chairman, in muvins the adoption ot tho report, rclerred to the enhan.c.l int.n._>t evinced by peojile ot tlie tlioce.se towards mission work. From earliest lin.es leaders of the Church in New Zealand bad beon specially oiligcnt in missionary erTort, and it was remark-bio that liishop Belwyn, in tho midst of all his labouis, was able to sparo time to give to Melanesie.n work. If it wero not for the joy of niistionary effort, the work nt home would breomo intolerably dull. Tho giving oi the people towards tho Mclnncsian Mission had l>cpn most lil>eral last year, in spite of tho largest eil'oit ever niade on behalf of the Maori Mission. Tho growth of the mission helped another ...onj;. and both of these did much to send forward tho work of tho Church in tho diocese. The speaker was glad that a central dejiot had been established in Christchurch, as it had greatly simplified the work of organising for the mission. He regrotted thnt tho St. Barnabas meetings wero languishing, and thought that il thero were more depth and continuity of teaching they would probably be better supported. Ho commended all mission work to Church members in tho diocese, and said tho blessing of God descended most abundantly upon those who forgot their own spiritual needs in working for those, of others. The Rev. E. .Shore (Bishop's Cnaplain) gave a stirring address upon mission work, after which the appointment of office-bearers was proceeded with. Mr James Blythe was re-elect-ed secretary, and tlio following committee was elected :—Mesdames Julius and H. Purehas, Misses Gorard, Cardale, Foley and Gresson, Archdeacon Averill, and tho Revs. J. H. Rogere, C. W. Carrington, W. W. Sedgwick, C. Bowden. and E. Shore.