Baptist Union.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 14, 11 October 1907, Page 6

Baptist Union.

, CONFERENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, October 9.' The Annual Conference of the Baptist Union which is being held in Auckland this yeaV 'Was begun this aftorr noon. 1 The proceedings opened with a devotional service at whichi the Rev. Guy Thornton, officiated.- In .the evening tho delegates were welcomed .at a public meeting.: To-morrow morning and afternoon tho sessions of the Union will be. continued, and in tho evening the Rev. J.'-C. Martin (President) will deliver his address. The session will be continued daily until Wednesday next. Aucidand, October 10. Tho Baptist Conference has endorsed the appointment of tho Revs. H. Hobday (Mosgiel), N. A. Davis (Kaikoura), Guy .Thornton (Sydenham), and A. .S. Wilson (Wauganui). _ At a short serrice, -after the business session, reference was made to tho relation of the Church to Labour. There was said to be a too common lack of careful : consideration of this question by tho Church, and it w,as stated that' the- subject would receive due attention during tho Conference. : ■ The Rev. Carter, first President of the Baptist Union of New Zealand, said that this year tho Union was celebrating its jubilee. Twonty-fivo years ago fifteen delegates "mot, and constituted the Union.' .This year eighty delegates wcro present.' " Auckland, October 10. The annual report reviowod the progress made by tho denomination during a quartcr.of a century. Tho Union was established in Wellington .twentyfivo years ago.' : The membership of, churches twonty-fivo . years ago was 1901; this year thcro are 4465 members. Over twenty new churches and branches had been established. During the quarter of a century tho Union had more than, doubled in members, sittings, churches, aiid power, the membership increasing at the rate'of 25 per cent overy,five years. The net increase during the year was 207. During theyear there had beeii a large reduction in debts on the church's property; tho congregations had giveu very gener-

ously, and tho denomination was, perhaps, less encumbered than any other religious body, in the Dominion of Now Zealand. The newspaper "Baptist" had had a successful year. Tho circulation had substantially increased, and i a considerable profit had accrued on tho year's working. Tho churches had done vigorous work. Now churches had been established, and new buildings erected at Epsom and Hamilton, and now churches had also been erected at Caversham and Foilding. The report concluded by stating that urgent appeals had reached the Union for vigorous extensions in many places, and that it was hoped tho churches would generously respond. To-night the annual address was delivered by tho President (Rev. J. C. Martin, Cliristehurch), on tho subject of " Tbo Present Religious Opportunity of the Church in New Zealand." Never was it more needed, ho said, that tho Church should see all round the problems that faced her. Tho last twenty-five years had seen great changes in the social and religious con-' ditions. Some could seo no manner of good in the forces that had arisen in lato years, but the Church ought to be tho first to express thankfulness for tho changes that had really mado her opportunity. It might be difficult; to adjust tbe Church to theso new conditions, but her very.life depended upon its being donq. Tho influence of science and Biblical criticism, the organisations of industry, tho increased complexity of social life, tho reawakened interest in philosophy and psychical research had all seriously affected the Church's work, hut modern movements of thought wero providential, making the Church's real opportunity. That opportunity was distinctly a religious ono. The world had lost its way and wandered after, every voice that seemed to offer guidance. The Church must lead it back.