DUNEDIN CITY MISSION

Evening Star, Issue 14308, 5 March 1910, Page 11

DUNEDIN CITY MISSION

The annual meeting of Ihc Dunedin City ; MDsion "‘as held in the \.W.C.A. Booms last night. -Mr 0. M. Thomson, M.P., presided, and about fifty persons were present, inc-liuiiiigc the .Mayor (Mr J. D. Walker) and representatives from the principal city and suburban churches. I The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report (already published!, expressed his pleasure at being once again present at Uie annual meeting. They did not measure the success ot the meeting by the .number of those who attended, for they . did not expect very large attendances. ■ 'J hoy did not need any greater expression I of appreciation icr thc’work at the mission : limn the confidence which the public re- : posed in it. When the work was commenced fourteen years ago in old Knox ■ Church he was very doubtful as to its | ultimate success, but- Mr Wright was very i sanguine, and they determined to do ail | they could to second his elforts. Since then the mission had been growing in the minds and good wishes of the community, and now enjoyed an. extraordinarily firm i hold. It wa.s'the duty of the cliurehes to provide for instruction in the Bible that, was not given in the homes. Do felt satisfied Unit any attempt to introduce the , Bible as. part of the .school course was to ' invite failure, and while he had sincere faith in such a system of (caching, he | considered it would wreck their cause if they endeavored to have it brought about. | It spoke well for Mr Wright that a couple i of thousand children were prepared to re- | ceive instruction .after the ordinary school ; hours. The assistance of (he teachers, I which had at first been forthcoming slowly, was now freely given. Dr Waddell, who seconded the motion, spoke very highly of the work done by Mr Wright in the schools, lie had himself undertaken the work for some time, hut he considered it derogatory to the Word of (led that it should come into the schools, as it were, by the back door. When the children had to do (he work after their usual work, they looked upon it in the light of a task. This should not be the case. Dc had therefore resigned his work |as a protest. Although Mr Wright was •doing good work in giving the instruction, ho did not think they should bo satisfied until the Word of find received the place it should in’the education of the Dominion. The speaker also paid a tribute to the work dime by the city missionary among the poor and suffering. Mr F. (!. Camming spoke of his knowledge of Mr Wright’s work. As agent for the Patients' and Prisoners’ Aid Society lie was acquainted with one branch of (lie 'work. As a member of the Maori Dill , School Committee he had intimate knowI ledge of the other. | The motion war, carried. I On the motion of the Mayor (Mr J. IT Walker), seconded by the Dev. Mr Bailey, it was resolved —" That this public meeting desire to express full sympathy and approval of the City Missicn work carried on by Mr Duncan Wright amongst all classes of the community on broad, unscetarian lines, in and around Dunedin, and onre again commend him and the Dunedin City Mission to all persons who believe in homo mission work and aggressive effort.” The Bov. B. F. Davies moved, and Sister Kvolyn seconded, and it was resolved, as follows ;—” That sincere thanks be recorded to all friends who have during the past year contributed so generously to (1) the general fund, out of which the missionary is sustained; (2) the Good Samaritan fund, out of which urgent cases of need are assisted; (3) tho children’s fund, out of

which arc purchased evangelical literature, cards, and prizes for work done in iho classes- for Bible reading.” On the motion of -Mr Brown, seconded by the Rev. .Mr Fainnaid, it was resolved —“That the retiring Committee be heartily thanked for services during the year, but especially the lion, treasurer (Mr Bcsevcar), and that the following gentlemen bo elected to ollieo for the year 1910-11: —* Messrs John A. D. Adams, Kdward Aslin, John Barnes, John Blair, Joseph Braithwaitc, P. L. Clark, Peter Dick, Alexander Haig. George Reid, Ernest Rosevcar, Geo, M. Thomsen, and James H. Wilkinson.”