BAPTIST MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27192, 9 November 1953, Page 3

BAPTIST MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP

ANNUAL MEETING

About 200 members of the New Zealand Baptist Men’s Missionary Fellowship at the Riccarton Baptist Church for a high tea provided by women of the Riccarton church. The Dominion president (Mr B. Williams, of Auckland) presided and welcomed 10 missionaries on furlough or now living in New Zealand. The principal of the New Zealand Baptist CoUege and the Rev. D. Edwards were also welcomed.

The annual report of the fellowship was presented by Mr Williams. It said the fellowship was growing and in good heart. Membership was reported to be about 1800. During the year £lOO had been contributed to mission work.

The meeting resolved that the executive should be located in Wellington. A special vote of thanks was passed to .the retiring president After his induction, the new president (the Rev. J. Russell Grave) called on the members for their continued support in the year to come. Community singing was led by Mr Victor C. Peters.

The meeting was addressed by the Rev. B. N. Eade, a missionary on furlough'from East Bengal. He reported on the work of the Bible school of which he is principal. The school was established in 1942 with a six-weeks’ training period and refresher courses. A full-time Bible school was established and developed in 1950, when the first lecture room was erected. Mr Eade described the teaching work now being done in the villages by several men trained at the schooL He also mentioned the successful New- Year and -Easter conventions held for the Christians of that area.

Officers elected were: president, the k Rev. J. Russell Grave; vice-president, Mr Enright; secretary-treasurer, Mr G. A. Freeman; editor of newsletter, Mr B. Williams: executive member, Mr Charles J. Irving.