CHURCHES OF CHRIST

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 83, 10 April 1939, Page 9

CHURCHES OF CHRIST

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

MEETING AT WANGANUI

The annual Dominion conference of the Churches of Christ was opened in the Ingestre Street Church, Wanganui, on Thursday afternoon. Mr. W. T. Wilson, Dunedin, presided, and Messrs. R. W. Simpson, G. Nelson, M. Dearsley, and H. Grinstead were appointed conference officials. The opening address was given by Mr. E. P. Aderman, 8.A., secretary of the board of the College of the Bible. His subject was, "Enriching the Church Through' Wor-

ship."

The church extension report was presented by Mr. Milton Vickery, in the absence through illness of the secretary, Mr. A. V. Williams. The fund was in a healthy state.

The College of the Bible report was presented by Mr. Aderman, who said the year had been a most successful one, and paid a tribute to the work of the principal, Mr. A. Haddon, B.A. Mr. Aderman announced that he had accepted an invitation to the Church of Christ, Dominion Road, Auckland, and Mr. Haddon paid a tribute to Mr. Aderman's work as secretary. Mr. Haddon also referred to the excellent work of Mr. Wilson as president, and suggested naming the new lecture hall at the college the Wilson Lecture Hall.

The free literature report was presented by Mr. V. C. Stafford, Invercargill, and the obituary report by Mr. F. V. Knapp, Nelson.

On Thursday evening the Mayor of Wanganui, Mr. W. J. Rogers, attended and welcomed the delegates fo Wanganui. He was introduced to the conference by Mr. G. Fretwell, of the Wanganui church.

DELEGATES WELCOMED,

Mr. Rogers paid a tribute to the influence of Christianity in the home and wished the delegates success in their preaching of the Gospel. As long as someone could be helped by the teaching of the Gospel the work was well worth while, he said, and the people of Wanganui were glad that the delegates were discussing their problems there.

Mr. Fretwell welcomed the delegates on behalf of the Wanganui Church. "We have tried to put every moment of time into the preparation of this conference so as to make it the happiest experience for many years," he said, "and we will try to do whatever we can to make' the nineteenth annual conference the best. The sacrifices on the part of a good many of the members of this congregation have been amazing. We hope that this conference will be a great spiritual experience, and we trust we will go far ahead, not only in membership, but also in that deep spiritual experience which is necessary."

Dr. L. G. Drury, of Auckland, in replying on behalf of all delegates to the welcomes extended by the Mayor and Mr. Fretwell, said it gave him great pleasure and honour on behalf of the delegates to thank the Mayor and Mr. Fretwell for the very warm welcome.

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

"A glance at the statistical table in the Year Book is not reassuring, the small advances made in some directions, by no means cover the losses," Mr. Wilson said in the course of his presidential address. "This is not the time to rest upon our oars, but rather for general confession—we have done the things we ought not to have done, and left undone the things we ought to have done. I find the danger very widespread, of the tendency to settle down —of becoming complacent, satisfied with small things—and like the door on its hinges, we come and go and after three-quarters of a century there is so little to be seen. A movement such as ours, based upon New Testament foundation, with its ungainsayable plea, should have swept the country north, south, east, and west, with its representatives in evidence everywhere. Is it not time we called for a halt? For a general inspection and examination to face up to facts? Where are the exploits so definitely promised to the people that do know their God? Does not the accusing finger point to the poverty of our knowledge?

"Look again at that table of statistics and dwell upon the lamentable fact that out of an approximate membership of 5000, not more than twofifths find their way to the Lord's Table. Where is the zeal, devotion," sacrifice, and love for a Crucified Christ? Is it not a case of the God of this world having blinded their eyes? Is not this lack one of the evidences of our weakness and the cause of the stagnant condition we find ourselves in today?

"The statement made a few months ago in Wellington that less than 11 per cent, of the children of New Zealand eventually become active church members is nothing short of alarming. This means that there are 89 children out of every 100 to work on. Is it not true our children are our most gracious and peerless heritage? We spend annually, and rightly so, thousands of pounds in spreading the Gospel in India, China, Africa, and other lands. How much do we spend on our own children? Is not this an appalling situation? Is it not a,call to get behind our brothers, Hibburt, Ray Knapp, and the splendid group of youth workers they have gathered around them, and push with might and main, and prayer and money, and thus encourage them in the splendid work they are doing?

"Many of our church rolls during the past five years have been purged, 1608 names have been removed. One would like to feel all these had gone to Heaven, but we are left in doubt. Only 211 can be accounted for by death; where are the other 1400? While we have opened wide the door to receive 1345 into the church by faith in Christ and obedience in baptism during this period, 1400 are lost to the Church through another door. In 1934 our membership stood at 4916; 1939 finds us with 4823."

Sessions of the conference w.ere held on Friday, Mr. A. W. Grundy addressing the delegates on "Increasing church membership through evangelism." During the afternoon three papers were read on "Industrial relations."

Messrs. H. M. Jolson, J. F. Mitchell (Auckland), K. V. Hansen (Eketahuna). J. B. de la Perrelle (Christchurch), W. L. Ward (Hawke's Bay), M. B. de la Perrelle (Winton) are staying at the Grand Hotel.

Messrs. B. -/' lolson, C. Nicholson (Napier),- Ralph (Johannesburg), A. Impey (Cape Town), Speakman (London), Rouse (England), H. Wilson (East London), and Warwick (Auckland) are guests at the Midland Hotel.

Messrs. A. Love (Kaikoura), G. Pollock, B. Pollock (Dannevirke), S. A. Welch (Paeroa), N. Austin (Te Aroha), A. Lane (Masterton), F. Ward (Palmerston North), G. Henderson, L. B. MeKenzie (Rotorua), A. C. Lambourne (Auckland), A. Crags (Sydney), G. McGee (Taumarunui), C. Cane and Captain Peers Jones (England) are ■taying at the Hotel Waterloo.