LAYMEN'S MISSIONARY MOVEMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 14634, 2 August 1911, Page 3

LAYMEN'S MISSIONARY MOVEMENT.

FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. Tho Dunedin Presbyterian Branch of tho Laymen's Missionary Movement wo? inaugurated at a meeting held in btuarilallon the 2nd of August 910. lhc first annual meeting was held in first Church Hall last evening, when there was an attendance of about 30 members of the branch. Mr W. T. Glasgow, president of the branch, presided. The Chairman stated that at the present time the world was changing with startling rapidity, and so great was the ciose- • ness of interchange of influence, commercial, political, moral, and religious, between different countries and races that anv great event in one part of the world had results affecting tho rest. The triumph of Japan by "and and sea over a great European Power had broken up Eastern stagnation, and had lifted China and India- into activity, and had created a desire for those advantages which had made the Wj»t powerful and enlightened. The facts constituted a distinct call upon all Christian* to me«t the inquiring spirit which had arisen, and to take advantage of it to spread abroad the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There was evidence that the present opportunity might not exist for more than a few years. Christian. ehuTchos throughout the English-speaking world had received many impulses from America. The rising tides in America of evangelism, of Christian endeavor, of Sunday school work, and, last of all, the laymen's mis- ! eionary had been felt in this distant Dominion. It was often a disadvantage to a movement if it did arise spontaneously in a community, but came to it as a result of influence felt outside of it. So interwoven, however, were tho interests of humanity now that any great event happening in an English-speaking country must necessarily spread its influence to tho whole English-speaking world. Hie rise in tho laymen's missionary movement in 1906 was of that nature. It had successfully invaded Australia, and it was now with them in New Zealand. Let them welcome it as a call to inquire into the great subjects of missions, to join in the effort to understand the non-Christian races. This movement would fail if it concentrated its attention only on foreign missions. The two must go together. The annual report of the branch committee, read by Mr A. Burn, covered the movements of the branch from its inauguration. There had been much detailed organising. The responses to the circular of the branch had to far been few. The South Dunedin congregation expressed sympathy with the movement, but did not e,ee> their way in the meantimo to form a branch. The North-east Valley congrega- j tion had formed a branch, so had Knox Church, and it was understood that steps were now being taken in the First Church in the same direction. St. Andrew's had j remitted the question to the Gongregationd i Foreign Mission Committee. In De- | cember a letter was received from the see j retary of the Victorian movement stating ! that it was proposed to ask Sir Andrew j Fraser (former Lieutenant-Governor of j Bengal), Mr Silas M'Bee (editor of the j New York Churchman'), and Mr Camp- | bell White (secretary of the Laymen's Mis- | sionary Movement in tho United States) j to come to Australasia in June, 1912, iii j tho interests of the movement. As this i would involve the guaranteeing of ex- i penses to the extent of £6OO, New Zea- | land was requested to undertake £l5O of I this amount. After inquiry, the committee saw their w - ay to guarantee £SO if Christchurch. Wellington, and Auckland j would undertake £35 each. Christclrurch j and Auckland have agreed, but there was some hesitation in Wellington, which I might possibly be overcome. Tho Victorian secretary pointed out that the meetings summoned to hear such dint in- j guished deputies would probably be so large that the proceeds would obviate any need for calling upon the guarantors. Thanks were duo to Dr Pettit, Dr J. M'Laren, Rev. John Mackenzie, Rev. G. Balfour, Rev. G. W. Williams, Ml G. Wilson, and the Hon. W. Balfour for addressers given at various meetings, some of which were interdenominational. The committee had met 11 times since its ! formation. In concluding, the committee : hoped that, now that tho initial stages j had been passed, the movement would pain : strength and momentum, and would become the means, of stirring up an increased interest on the pari of the mm of the Presbyterian Church in the great ' work of extending Christ's Kingdom, not only in the Dominion, but also in other countries an damong other races. The balance-sheet showed a debit of about £1 14s. Tho report and balance-sheet were adopted. Ma- W. T. Glasgow wa,s re-elected pret>i dent. The following were elected a. com mittee: —Messrs A. Burn, .j. Dick, J. j lieid, E. Cameron, J. B. Mason, A Ste ven, A. J. C. Brown, and W. H. Adams. i Tho matter of appointing a sccrotaiy and treasurer was left over for a future occa tion. At the conclusion of the meeting several 'of iho?e present gave short, interesting ' addretscs on their own experiences with I the work.