CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 434, 17 February 1909, Page 9

CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

(HI, TEMCKAPir—I'UESS ASSOCtATm.) . . ; Christchurcly February 16. - - At thb Congregational Union yesterday th« Rev. B L.llomas delivered an address en*" titled 'Looking Backward," in which ' lu' traced the; progress of. Congregationalism in toe Dominion. Itv 1881 there were only twelve Congregational ministers in the Countfy, and since then the. number had been doubled. • -Tho Hon. Geo, Fowlds, treasurer of the Pastors' Provident-Fund,.made an earnest' appeal on behalf ftf the fund, and said'that the founders.heped that the £8000 which wasnecessary to make, the fund operativo would' be raised in a few years,but . now,, after eiglrteen years, there was .. still, a shortage. Last year the hoard had reported that £Sot} was still required, "and, of this amount, Wellington had raised over £100, while Aucldand, which .had previously contributed in a genermanner,' had raiser] another . £38, and should Canterbury and Otagb collect £100 it would probably''contribute 1 : theother £721 Fully four-fifths .of-the amount-'collected bad been'.raised.: in: the North. Island, and he urged that Canterbury should raise £100,.re-. marking. that it would be a pity if the full I. £3000: were'not;.raised during the;' semi; I'Ubtlpo bf the: iiViw«. .As; th". result of ilr.', Fowlds's appeal £56 was collected in cash find, promises' in I the church. Mr.- A. W. Beaven ; assured Mr. -Fowlds that tho £100 would be raised in Canterbury by this year. ,Mr. W. Coull explained that the reason 1 why Otago had not contributed in.a.large measure toit'SirdS: tlie fund was that .conditions. 1 .had. in connection with two of the churches which had seriously, affected their ■ financial position. '• Mr. Fowlds; stated in -reply that he . was . quite satisfied with Mr., Beaven's assurance.\ : • The Louden Missionary. Society and Pas-': tors' Provident-Fund reports, were submitted and approved.. v ' .. : . The. following grants ifinde frorii'liome mission "funds:—Deybnnnrt, '£50': Qhehimg.i, ,£2di MAuiigaturote: £25:. Kawhia, £100 ;■ Te Kuiti, £120: Raglan, £60: St. Clair,;£so ;.. 'AMontowiiy £100:'Newtown,' £40:Mnsterton,, £100 ; Nelson; £50. : ■' Tho Rev. A. E. Fiint. moved that it. bo a : recommendation to the-committeo to formulate a schepie whereby the cr-'nts in aided nhnrehes be made upon a sliding scale, and that 3\sittnmary;.-of the. financial of , 'fircb al3ed Churches be submitted to, the cbutinil for its guidance in considering reouestj for aid.. The motipn : was seconded and car*. -Wed..: A .Jiome missiqn mooting was held it' tho evening.' : :"• -. .' " :