BIBLE CLASS WORK.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1324, 30 December 1911, Page 6

BIBLE CLASS WORK.

. ■ } CONFERENCE AT HAMILTON. The Presbyterian Bible Class animal' summer conference, held under lha auspices of the Youth of tho Church Committee, was opened at Hamilton ou December 2". The Oddfellows' Hull was packed to overflowing with an audiciic« thoroughly representative of New Zealand Prcsbytcrianism, delegates IxMiig present from all parts of tho Dominion. The Rev. A. Gow, president of (he local Bible Classes, presided. Ho said ho hoped that Iho delegates would return to their homes inspired and strengthened. Instances were on record where the tone of church lifo had been altered throughout whole districts by reason of (he visit of delegates to theso gatherings. If that wero possible, in some cases, it was possible in all, and he urged them to ba constant in prayer and to determino to make tho Hamilton Conference the best yet held. The Jlavor of Hamilton, 111-. J. A. Young, M.P., warmly welcomed Iho delegates 011 behalf of tho civic authorities mid townsfolk generally. Jlr. Gow then vacated the chair, and iuvilcd Mr. 0. A. Troup, of Wellington, president of the lliblc Class Union, (o lake over the meeting. Hr. Troup referred to the aims and objects of the gathering. They had come to be bellied spiritually. Christ was tho magnet that had drawn them—they had come to see Jesus; to derive stimulus! to v help and to lie helped, and ho counselled ouo and All to throw themselves wholeheartedly info the meetings: to make themselves nappy, and to assist in making others happy. The present conference afforded them all' the opportunity to make a fresh start; to begin a new page in the volume of life, and he hoped many quiet, strong convictions would bo made, and resolutions formed that would result in a great' impetus to the Bible Class movement, lifting it on lo a higher plane. The Church lo which they belonged had a glorious history, and was probably one of tho most progressive in tho world, and in New Zealand, wliilo Iho population showed an increase of 30 per cent, their church membership showed an increase of 11 per cent. Now, while thcro were ninny fnctors 'contributing to this pleasing slate of affairs, ho believed t hat much of the increase could rightly be attributed lo tho operations of Iho youth of the Church Committee, and that much more could bo looked for from (lie sumo ; source in the future. But how did they, account for tho fact (hat tho Bible Class section showed a slight, set-back during tho past year? He believed the answer was that they had largely ceased to be au attacking force. They had not been aggressivo; they had been content (o hold their own, and so had lost ground. No army had ever won n victory through inaction; if they hoped to take the enemy's position thev" must lay siege to it. The Bible Classes had lost some of the evangelisation spirit which had characterised (he movement ill its earlier stages. Personal work was not so common now as it once was. The coming year, he believed, was going to prove a great evangelistic vear ill the history of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand—the opportunity would be presented through tne coming Chapman Mission, and lie believed sho would seize it. Jlr. Troup concluded with an earnest appeal lo all present to obey the call to service, and to go forward in fu illi upon an aggressive warfare, and to initiate a forward movement as a result of the present conference. On December 28, at !U5, the Rev. G. Vt. Balfour, jr.A., 11.D., of Diiticdin, gave 111" first of a series of addresses on "The llolv Spirit." "Methods of District. Committee Work'' were then considered, the subject being introduced by Miss Maclie, of Dunedin, and Jlr. If. A. Rainsiv, of Auckland. I'rom 11.15 to 12.30 sectional meetings for tho consideration of Die .lunior Bible Class system wero held for men and women in St. Andrews Church and Sunday School respectively.

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