CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF NEW ZEALAND.

Evening Star, Issue 10850, 7 February 1899, Page 2

CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF NEW ZEALAND.

Second Day.—Tuesday, February 7. The Council resumed at 10.30 n.m., Mr G. Fowlds presiding. The Rev. W. Day, of Auckland, was welcomed by the chairman as a member of the Union. Mr M'Keo Wright was welcomed ea an associate. The report of the Reference Committee was read and adopted as follows Notices of motion were received offer of the editor of the 'Christian Outlook ’ to provide space for Congregational Church matters be gratefully accepted If officially made by him, and that hie paper in that ease be recognised as the official organ of our body, and be recommended for .purchase by our people. (2) Ttat, in order that due consideration may be given to the •ostentation scheme, the said be taken as the first business on Thursday morning. (3) That, in order to secure the dne maintenance of the manse at Timaro, Mr Hogben be appointed agent, with power to aet for the Union. (4) That the election of the officers of the session shall have the first place on the agenda for the last morning of the Council.” Reports of the various districts were read for the information of the Council Dr Waddell appeared on behalf of the Publication Committee of the Presbyterian Church, and was introduced by the Rev. W. Saunders. Dr Waddell offered on behalf of the Presbyterian Church a warm welcome. If they marched in different names, said Dr Waddell, they were engaged in the same work and were one. They were agreed on all the main principles of Christian life and teaching. Ha offered the Union the use of the ' Outlook,’ and said they would have the same use of the paper as the Presbyterian Church had. He thought it was necessary for a religions paper to go into the homes of the people. The daily secular papers of the colony were of a very high order, but they did not supply the want of a weekly religious paper.—The Council thanked Dr Waddell through the chairman, and promised that the matter wonld receive moat careful consideration. A letter wafetead from the Rev. Joseph Parker, Anokland, excusing bis absence on account of bis wife’s serious illness.—Sympathy was expressed with Mr Parker in his trouble. The registrar’s report was read by Mr Meadowcroft and adopted, and the Rev. Findlay Wilson and Mr Meadowcroft were appointed to draw up another and a better statistical form for she registrar. The finance report as presented by the chairman was adopted. The Pasters’ Provident Fund Board’s report was also presented by Mr Fowlds and adopted. A deputation from the Ministers’ Association appeared at 12 15. The Rev. W. Saunders introduced the Rev. A. North (Baptist), the Rev. L Jolly (Presbyterian), and the Rev. W. C. Oliver (Wesleyan). The chairman welcomed the deputation.—The Rev. I. Jolly said that it gave him great pleasure to meet with the Council of the Congregational Church. The Congregational Church had been honorably associated with the c&nse of religions liberty. Probably no Christian church had a more honorable record than the Googregationalista in this matter. Congregationalists bad also been honorably distinguished as exponents of evangelical life and doctrine. In these days of a revived medievalism, in the shape of a baneful sacerdotalism, it was important that the evangelical churches of New Zealand should draw together and form a common organisation. There might be formed a council of the evangelical chnrches of New Zealand.—The Rev. A. North said that he was glad to represent the Ministers’ Association. He was a Congregationalist and a little more.— (Dr Sevan ; “ A Congregationalist in liquidation.”) Mr North said that they were one in the spirituality of Christianity, and he pleaded that they should all lay special stress upon the fact that the Church was the body of 0 rist.—The Rev. G. Burgess, F.R.A.8., and the Rev. 8. J. Barer replied for the Union of New Zealand, and Dr Bbvan replied for the larger Union of Victoria, A letter from the Deacons’ Coart of Knox Church was received asking that Dr Bevan might preach on Friday night in Knox Church. The arrangements for time, etc., were left in the hands of the Knox Church deacoqs. The Council then adjourned.