BAPTIST CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 94, 18 October 1909, Page 8

BAPTIST CONFERENCE.

* YESTERDAY'S SERVICES. Services of an interesting character were conducted by those delegates to tho Baptist Conference who filled pulpits in town yesterday. Rev. A. S. Wilson (Wanganui) conducted the morning service at Vivian-street, the Rgv. E. H. Hobday (Roslyn) preaching the annual missionary sermon. In the afternoon Rev. John Takle, from .India, gave an interesting | address on missions, Mrs. Kirwood (Auckland) singing the solo. Rev. R. S. Gray (Christchurch) took the evening service. Revs. C. Dallaston (Mornington) and Hobday, filled the Berhampore pulpit, morning and evening; the Rev. W. Lamb (Gisborne) addressed the scholars in the afternoon and Revs. W. Hay (Dunedin), E. A. Kirwood (Mt. Roskill), and J. K. Archer (Napier) officiated at Brooklyn at the various services. Rev. Knowlos Kempton (Auckland) preached at Petone in the morning, and Rev. S. Jenkin (Nelson) in the afternoon and evening. In the afternoon an open-air gathering was held in Ncwtown Park, when Revs. J. J. North, J. K. Archer, and F. Macdonald (Palmerston North) addressed tho meeting. Music was provided by the Central Mission Band. TO-PAY'S PROCEEDINGS. The conference resumed this morning, tho president (Mr. A. F. Carey) being in tile ohair. Mr. Robert My hill (Christchurch), on the recommendation of the committee, was elected a personal member of the union, and the new church at Mangaramarama was given a p.lace among tho churohes of the union. On the motion of the Rev. J. J. North it was decided to send a cablegram of sympathy to Rev. T. Keith Ewen, whoso wife is seriously ill. Mr. J. R. Carey submitted the report of the union newspaper, the Now Zealand Baptist. This spoke of a good deal of strenuous work on behalf of tho paper, but also of the need for a greater ciroulation. There has been a net increase of thirty-five subscribers. The balancesheet showed a credit balance of £5 8s 2d. It was suggested that the annual subscription be raised from 2s 6d to 3s, that illustrated pages be added, and that the union subsidise, the paper. Ultimately a special committee was appointed to consider the whole question of the management of the journal, and report at a later session. Recommendations were received from a special committee constituted a few days ago to devise means of increasing the general income of the union. It was decided -to arrange a visitation of the churches with a view to securing additional subscribers ; to .ask the committee to draw up a scheme of canvas; to observe a Home Mies ion Sunday during March of each year; and to request pastors and deacons to state the progress of events once a quarter. On the advice of a special committee several alterations were made in the constitution, with a view to defining the relation of tho auxiliaries to the union. The practical effect of the change will be to consolidate the various efforts of tho denomination, and to secure greater supervision and co-opcr- j %tion. The delegates were* welcomed by th.a Wellington Minister^' Association afc the dinner in tho People's Palace to-day. Dr. Gibb, Rev. W. Shirer, Hey. J. K. Elliott, and Rev. Thomas Fee spoke in terms of welcome. Rev. J. K. Archer (Napier) and Mr. W. Stedding (Auckland) responded on behalf of the delegates. (Still sitting.) I =

Year by year the Christmas annuals increase in attractiveness, and always the Christchurch Press holds its place in the foremost rank. In every detail the new issue is a gem. The supplement is a reproduction of a portrait by Syd» noy L. Thompson of an Arawa chief— -a warrior and rangatira of the ancient type. The cover is a study in delicate tints equal to the best work of its class in" any part of the world. Tha literary contents are subordinated to a profusion of illustrations of New Zea land life and artistically grouped, and in many instances reinforced with tints. Among the most artistic of the pages we note a page of native wild-flowers, including the almost universal linum monogynum ("the true New Zealand flax") and the Rubus Australis, or "bush lawyer," the bramble from which escape is rarely effected without damage to clothing or cuticle ; and some lovely photograph shell studies after Mr. C. opencer, who for something like a quarter of a century has specialised on this work. A boy about nine years of age, named Lancelot Weine, only son of _Mr. A. VV. Weine, of Crawford-road, Kilbirnie, was struck on the head by a cricket ball at the Kilbirnie Reserve on Labour Day, aud wa3 rendered unconscious. After he had been attended to by Dr. H. Kemp, he was removed to his parents' home, where he is doing as well as can be expected. The annual meeting of shareholders in the Drapery and General Importing Company of New Zealand will bo held in fhinedin. pa Tuesday, 2Sth October*