MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 84, 6 October 1909, Page 3

MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

ADDRESS BY REV. G. J. WILLIAMS.

An able address was delivered last night by tho liev. G-. J. Williams, assistant secretary of the London Missionary Society of Australasia, at the annual meeting of tho Wellington auxiliary o£ the society, held in tho Terraco Congregational Schoolroom. The Hon. G. Fowkis presided, and there was a large and interested audience. Mr. Williams chosD as his subject "The Church's Unfinished Task," which he defined as the evangelisation of the world. Ho nrst referred to discouraging aspects of the question, and mentioned that it meant tho enlightening of 217 millionvMohammedans, 138 million Buddhists, 209 million Hindus, and 400 million Chinese. - To many the task appeared too gigaritic. It was not for them to consider what to do, l>uc to accomplish it. Encouragement would be found, he said, in the fact that Christian missions had never boen so successful as at present. The speaker, in. eupporfc of his statements, pointed out that there were now one million Protestant Chinese as the result of a century's mission work, wheireaß after tho firsD two couturics_ of mission work in Rome, carried on with all the fervour of the primitive church, there were only 50,000 Christiana in that city. The Protestant church in the field of China had doubled itself in seven years — a stale of affairs accomplished by a body of workers 4000 strong. Pro rata, Australasia should have only fifty ministers, and yet there were 250 Congregational ministers alone. In India the last census showed that tho population had increased by 22, per eeftt., and tho Protestant church had increased by 28 per cent. This, Mr. Williams said, gave the lie to statements that missionary work was "a failure. If the work wrb done as it should bo done, tho task would be complete in twenty-five years. He was snro if tho work was left unfinished the church would fall into decadence. Churches in Asia. Minor and Alexandria had decayed because missionary work waa neglected. Tho speaker auoted figures and gave an illustration of tho respective amounts of money spent on drink, tobacco, jowollery, confectionery, and religion in the Empire. According to his statements there was o Teat disparity betweon the first-named and last-mentioned ways of expenditure. Tho drink bill for one year, he said, would provide sufficient funds to completo tho evangelisation of the world. , THE ANNUAL REPORT. Regarding tho business portion of tho evening, the secretary of, the 'auxiliary prs3cnted hig annual rpporf, in which reference was made to efforts to ensure increasing interest in mission work. There was at present under consideration, it was mentioned, tho formation of a library, from •wliich missionary books could be obtained by members and adherents of the churches and Sunday schools. The amount received for tho London Missionary Society during the year was £302 Is 2d. Officers for the ensuing year were appointed as follow: — President, Mr. F. Meadowcroft ; secretary, Mr. W. Eggers ; treasurer, Mr. W. W. Knowlcs ; assistant secretar}', Mr. W. Mill ; Watchers' Band secretary. Mr?. W. Knowles; librarian, Mr. A. Burge ; commit tee, tho Revs. J. Seed Glasson. W A R*ans, MD. Aspland. A. Hodge, D Hird, D. Meadowcrcft, H. M'Naughton, Mosdamcs Glas?on, Aspland, Evans, Barnes, W. R. Williams, Messrs. and Mosdames W. W. Knowlcs, "W. Eggerp, J. Tlott, A. Lindsa.v, W. G. Hnldsworth, J. E. Port, C. W. Smith, W. Mill, Meadowcroft, G. Hunt ; Me^rs. A. M. Lewis, J. Lankßhear, Reynolds, S. Gregory, Hon. G. Fowlds, Mifses G. Hodge, Earner, C'ockin. A sitting to hear ratepayers' objections to inclusion in the special roll for the Wadestown tramway loan will be held by Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., on Friday, 15th October, at 10.30 a.m.