MEETINGS AND SOCIALS

Evening Star, Issue 14496, 22 February 1911, Page 7

MEETINGS AND SOCIALS

LAYMEN'S MISSIONARY MOV FA I ENT. In connection with the above, the Rev. J. Mackenzie, M.A., of Christchurch, last evening gave an address in the First Church Hull on the great missionary conference held in Edinburgh last June, which he attended. Mr Mackenzie said the idea of the conference originated in Scotland about three years ago. It was decided that all branches of the Christian Church, with the exception of the Greek and the Homan Catholic Churches, should be represented, and that there should he a definite, hunis o: representation. It was intended to be a conference of experts to prepare and give information to the whole Christian Church, 'there were some 1,500 delegates, and their meetings were held in the United Free Church Assembly Hall. Two other great meetings connected with the conference were held simultaneously in other buddings, so r.hat altogether there were 6,00; people meeting nightly during the ten day;; the conference lasted, and the attendance and interest steadily grew. Altogether 159 missionary societies wore represented, including forty-six British societies, sixty American, forty-one Continental, and twelve South African. The speeches with only two exceptions were given in English. Among other things, the conference shown; that Eastern nations and native churches arc arriving at self-consciousness, am! soon will no longer allow our Western ideas to be imposed on them. On two great points agreement was reached by the conference. One was that in reference to mission well, at least they should all bo able to unite their forces. It was shown that by sn uniting they could double the effective forces'on the field without adding a single man. The other was as to the appointment of a committee to carry on the work of tho conference. An absolutely unanimous motion in favor of the appointment of a continuation committee to co-operate with mission boards and societies, to complete the work of the conference and prepare for another, wan carried with enthusiasm.