BAPTIST UNION

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 89, 12 October 1923, Page 8

BAPTIST UNION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

At the afternoon session of the Baptist Union Conference yesterday, the annual report was read by the secretary, Pastor M. W. P. Lascelles. It showed thai there had been 684 additions to the membership of the churches. There had been, during the year, 441 removals by death, transfer, and other means, and the total membership now stood at 6515. Evangelistic missions had been conducted in quite a number of the churches. Several new ministers had joined the ranks of the Church.' During the year a Bill for the incorporation of the union had been passed through Parliament. Two Dunedin churches had celebrated their jubilees during the year. Reports from the provincial auxiliaries were submitted as follow:—Central, Mr. J. R. Carey; Canterbury, Pastor E E. Smith; Otago and Southland, Mr. W. J. Bardsley. More than one of theße reports referred to applications received for the opening up of new work. The report of the Manuwera Children's Home showed that since the inception of tlie home 447 children had been admitted. Srixty-e^ght children were now inmates. The asset* exceeded £15,000. An isolation ward had been erected and would be opened next month. Miss Marks, the matron, gave many lnteresting details of the home, amd made an appeal for all kinds of cloth-

ing. The Finance Committee's report was received and adopted. It was resolTed to confirm the continuance of the Baptist Union office in Wellington.

A new church is to be opened during the conference at Lyall Bay.

"WORK IN THE CHURCHES."

A conference on this subject of work in the churches last evening was presided over by the Rev. H. J. K. Kempton, who urged the need for a practical recognition that God was the real worker in the churches, and the supreme need was in all our activities to accord to the Holy Spirit full opportunity. The Rev. S. Jenkin, of Wanganui, speaking on "Closer Organisation," claimed that much effectiveness of service was lost through the want of complete co-ordination of the various institutions of the Church, which sometimes functioned almost as entirely separate entities, the only bond being the annual report and the use of the church premises. He suggested, as remedies, close conferences of the representatives of the organisations ' within the Church, and their gathering in that capacity around the Table of the Lord. '

The Rev. H. Goring, of Timaru, said the homelike aspect of the Church toward the outsider, presented by the active interest shown by the individual members, was of great importance. Many were suffering from spiritual neurasthenia.

The Rev. F. E. Harry, speaking along similar lines, emphasised the need for initiative and earnest persistent endeavour in the all-round work of the Church. The Church existed for service. The whole membership, not the minister alone, was the working force. The Rev. Joseph Kemp, in a vigorous speech, stressed the importance of having the "insider" right if we were to win the outsider. He deplored the worldly spirit prevailing in some churches. Questionable amusements, he said, were not necessary to enlist the interest or to cater for the enjoyment of young people. Pure and abundant gladness was ever associated with genuine Christian life and service for young and old. TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.Devotional meetingg were conducted by the Rev. A. S. Wilson and the I Rev. C. D. Gardiner. The statement of I receipts and expenditure was read an 3 adopted. The Union General Account showed total receipts .amounting to £2512 and a credit balance of £117. Amongst minor accounts was that of a new Auxiliary Contingency Fund> established during the year, for which £700 had been raised. _ A fine summary of the reports of tho individual churches was submitted by the Rev. F. E. Harry, who was accorded the thanks of conference. " The Annuity Fund report showed that the total receipts for the year were £967, including £500 from the R S. Gray Memorial Fund. The Sustentation Fund report was received, the Capital Fund standing at £3808. The sum of £292 had been paid in grants. BAPTIST WOMEN'S MISSIONARY UNION. ; The annual business meeting of the Baptist Women's Missionary Union was held this morning at the Vivian Street Baptist Church. The proceedings opened with an intercessory meeting at 9 a.m., presided over by Mrs. H H Driver in the place of Mrs. Archer. At 10 a.m. the business was commenced, Mrs. Rollings presiding. All branches responded to the roll-call. Miss Gainsford, secretary, read the annual report, which showed satisfactory progress, and Mrs. Collins submitted the ?w Uai-,Too a? Irer>s reP°rt' •<which Btated that £1388 had been raised for women's work in East Bengal, India. The officers for the following year were elected as follow:—President, Mrs T E. Toneychffe; secretary, Miss E M Gainsford; treasurer, Mrs. C. Collins

The Rev. J. J. North, who was for many years a Wellington minister, returned last month from a world tour He is to speak to-night at the Vivian Street Church, on the religious situation of the world as he sees it, making special reference to Roman Catholicism and Anglo-Catholicism- in Britain, and indicating a way out of the impasse. The ministers of the Baptist ' Union meet to-morrow for private conference An excursion to Day's .Bay will be new m the afternoon, and a grand concert at night.