BAPTIST CONFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue XC, 7 October 1915, Page 2

BAPTIST CONFERENCE

CARNIVALS AND LOTTERIES FOR PATRIOTIC PURPOSES. (•T TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, 6th October. The parliament of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand opened today. Apart from Auckland delegates, about 120 representatives from, other parts of New Zealand were present. • The business this morning was of a formal nature. This evening a welcom© was extended to delegates, when a tea, meeting was also held. At a public meeting in the Tabernacle, Mr. A. F. Carey, of Cbristchurch, presided, and TS«v. E. A. Kirwood delivered his presidential address. This is his last public appearance in Auckland, as he leaves shortly to take up a Melbourne pastorate. The president expressed unqualified disapproval of the holding of carnivals and lotteries for the purpose of raising funds for patriotic purposes. In addition to the business sessions, several public meetings of general interest will be held. On Thursday morning there -wall be a special conference on the work of God, at which Rev. Archibald G. Brown, of London, will be the chief speaker. This distinguished visitor will again be chier speaker at the Home Mission demonstration the same evening. Baptists are to the fore in adopting up-to-date methods in Sunday school work, and on Friday evening a Sunday school gathering will be lield. - "FLEMSY TAWDRINESS OS PAGEANT AND SHOW." AUCKLAND, 6th October. A very outspoken condemnation of patriotic carnivals and lotteries was contained in the presidential address of the Rev. E. A. Kirwood to the Baptist Union of New Zealand to-night. The country had been flooded, he said, with all sorts of patriotic appeals and money-raising efforts. In each of ithe southern centres great frivolities and pageants had been organised and can ried through in the name of patriotism and for the sake of charity. Auckland awaited her turn. In addition to great attractive baits to the cupidity of the pleasure-loving section of tne community there were in the City of "Wellington roulette tables used in the Town Hall, and under the blinds eyes of our legislators. The lawe of the land were flagrantly broken night after night. A voice. "Shame." After referring to the failure of the protests of the Auckland clergy, the speaker concluded: "And so the city » to see a carnival in all its flimsy tawdnness of pageant and show, while unwilling purses must be unlocked to contribute with the hope of winning a prize of great material value, and this is the year of our Lord 1915, and in Christian/ Auckland. Is it not also the hour and power of the hosts of darkness?"