COUNCIL OF CHURCHES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 237, 30 June 1908, Page 6

COUNCIL OF CHURCHES.

THE SECRETARY'S RESIGNATION. ' . ' WITHDRAWN' BY DESIRE. There was an attendance of over 20 members and visitors at the monthly meeting of tho Council of Evangelical Churches last evening. Tho president (tho Rev. AV.. J. Williams) was in the chair. Tho Chairman said that following tho recent resolution of tho Counoil disclaiming any responsibility for tho secretary's letter to the newspapers in reference to the Citizens' League, ho had received a letter from the secretary (the Rev. A. Dewdney) in which lie tendered his resignation of that office The letter was as follows:— "Tho resolution passed by the Council last night -is a*direct : vote of censure upon myself; and'at'the same time a ' tacit endorsement of the tactics of tho ' Biblc-in-Sch66l£';'\L'eajsio "af'tho'" recent committed elections; from which tactics I wish to. be' absolutely dissociated; There is, therefore, no other bourse open for mo but to resign the office of secretary. Will you be good enough, there- ' foro, to request the JExecutive to relievo : mo from' the position at once, and arrange for the election of a successor." Tho Chairman stated, that tho Executive had passed a 'resolution recommending tho Council- respectfully, and earnestly to request Mr. Dewdney • to withdraw his resignation, and assure nim that he had tho full confidenco of the'. Council Tho Rev. J .Dawson said that nobody had desired to censure Mr. Dewdney. He moved that tho Council should approve, the recom"mendation of the Executive. . Mr. J. G. W. Aitken, M.P., :oconded the motion. , Tlie Rev. J. J. Norih. thought that tho Council's previous resolution dissociated it from tho action of the Citizens' League. Ho thought that Mr. Dewdney had placed a wrong emphasis on the resolution. Other members of tho Council spoke to similar effect, and the recommendation was approved unanimously. Mr. Dewdney said that he had felt the resolution very keenly, but ho would not like any personal, feeling of his own to stand between nim and his duty to the Church. Ho thanked the Council for their expression of confidence, and consented to withdraw hia resignation.

THE OPIUM TRAFFIC. Captain Blackburno moved'that the' Council should endorse the following resolution, which was carried at a'meeting at the Hotol Cecil: —" That, in view of the earliest efiort3 now, being put forth in China .to deliver tho Empire from the opium curse, and tho prosent pecuniary loss which both the Government and the people, of China are resolutely facing, this meeting would'urge upon His Majesty's Government the njrgent_ importance of speedier and larger 'restriction of the opium cultivation in India, even though it should involve a similar loss to ourselves." The motion, was duly seconded and adopted. 1 * On tho motion of Captain Blackburno. seconded by Mr. Aitken, it was als6 resolved: —" That this Council of Evangelical Churches desires to express its very .hearty congratulation to the Imperial Government for their recent action in closing tho'HongKong opium dens. Notwithstanding tho op-: position that has been raised by interested parties it hopes _ the Government will persist in its intention." ' •

Tho secretary was 1 instructed to arrange for the holding of future meetings in the Y.M.C.A.- building. A voto of thanks was passed, to the minister and office-bearers of tlio Courteuay Placo Congregational Church for allowing the Council to meet there during tho past four years.