CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 31, 6 February 1908, Page 8

CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

o TO-DAYS PROCEEDINGS, FOREIGN MISSIONS. The annual meeting of the Council of the Congregational Union was resumed in the Wellington-terrace Church, to-day. It was resolved to receive a deputation frcm the Ministerial Association on Monday. Mr. G. W. Thornton (Linwood) was appointed fo give an address to young people on '"Ideals" to-morrow evening, v, MISSIONARY WORK." " The morning was largely devoted to a consideration of Foreign Mission. The Rev. A. E. Hunt (Timaru) expressed the necessity felt for strengthening the hands of their brethren in the Islands and particularly in regaiv.l to Rara'touga and tho educational work being done there. He hau received a warm resolution from Samoa in which it was stated that the district committee meeting helo. at Matua recorded with gratitude the determination of the union to do its utmost to safeguard tho interests of the native adherents of the London Missionary Society in tho South Seas. The meeting also specially rejoiced in the evidence of a newly awakened interest in South Sea missions throughout the Congregational Churches of New ' Zealand, and it was earnestly hoped that that interest would show itself in affording both men and money to the society for South Sea missions, so seriously threatened with reduction. Mr. Hunt made a mo6t earnest appeal for the work in tho South Seas. IN HEATHEN DARKNESS. Tho Rev. A. Hunt, in the course of hia remarks on missionary work and intfrests said whatever might be felt by ministers of the churches in Australasia about the organisation of _ a local Mission Board, tho workers in the field would regard separation from the London Missionary Society as a dire calamity. He made a strong point of tho fact thafc tow, in answer to prayer, God had opened the closed doors of heathen lands, the churches had not sufficiently risen up to their responsibilities.^ There wero a thousand million people^ sitting in darkness and death, or one-third of tho population of tho world, and this, notwithstanding all tho work that had been done and the money spent. TEN THOUSAND POUND EFFORT. Mr. Hunt said the whole of the amount raised for missions in the Australasian Congregational Churches for 1906 — the latest returns — was £5371, of which New Zealand raised £1548. He movod — • '"That we place on record our hearty appreciation of the visit of tho special deputation from the Board of Directors of the L.M.S., consisting ot Rev. A. M. , Johnson, Mr. E. Smjth, and Rev. J. j King (organising secretary). We feel confident that this visit will tend to increase the interest of our churches in tho work of tho'L.M.S., and we assure the directors of our earnest desire to loyajly support their efforts in keeping pace with the increasing demands of the work ; and that this assembly urges upon the churches the necessity of doing our utmost to attain tho Australasian total of £10,000." lie*. W. Smith, ex-missionary, made a strong appeal for individual effort in New Zealand on behalf of mission funds. He regretted that so much ignorance prevailed upon the missionary and mission work. Were this otherwise he felt positive there would be a much readier response in men and money. MOTION. The resolution ■vyas carried after discussion, further consideration of the subject of missions being adjourned till to-mor-