CITY MISSION.

Evening Star, Issue 15137, 19 March 1913, Page 3

CITY MISSION.

meeting of the Dunedin City Mission was held in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall yesterday afternoon, when there was a gratifying attendance. The President (Mr G. Mi ■ 'Thomson. M.P.) moved tihe adoption of the annual report, which has already been published. He said that from his observation of similar organisations in other centres it seemed to him that this City was about as well covered as any by the different philanthropic organisations, which all worked together to one end. He could recall the day when charity here wae dispensed in a lather promiscuous way, calculated, possibly, to do more harm than good. But now the work was eo well organised that all needy cases were thoroughly met by the societies, working hand in hand. A great -deal of the praise for this state of affairs was due to the mission' 6 worthy missionary, Mr Duncan Wright. (Applause.) As far as poverty was concerned, they knew that all these bodies worked in conjunction with the public associations which were intended to cope with poverty and want, and he believed there was no necessity whatever, in a city like Dunedin, for anyone to.be in want, because if their case was brought before either those who were supposed publicly to relieve trouble or before any of these organisations it would be met with, and it would be treated sympathetically and well. Another very valuable work which was carT.ied on by the missionary was that of visiting persons who had got out of touch with the various churches,' and still another feature of Mr Wright's efforts was his training of school children in Bible knowledge. He (the speaker) had never attached undue importance to this work. He had valued it highly, and had always felt that it was the recognition of a principle that required to be Tecognised. and that the community as a whole had lost sight of. At present there was a great deal of effort being made to Tevive interest in the question of Bible-teaching in schools. All along their missionary had been steadily working in the schools after school hours, and the fact that the attendance at these classes in many cases overtaxed the accommodation showed how the community appreciated his work. He was aware that the work could not touch the whole community, but thoy must be thankful for the work Mr Wright did, and they could congratulate him on the success of his efforts in connection with Bible-teaching in schools. (Applause.) The Rev. A. Whyte, in seconding the motion, said that he had not been long in this country without mourning over the apparent lack of training of the young, but he had soon found that in Dunedin at least the elements were supplied by the teaching of Mr Duncan Wright, who was the pioneer laborer in the field, and whose personality and worii would gain him a permanent place in the memory of the community. The report was adopted. The Mayor (Mr J. Wilson) moved—''That this meeting of subscribers and friends of the Dunedin .City Mission desire anew to express fullest sympathy with and approval of the home mission efforts amongst all classes and creeds by Mr Duncan Wright, and once again cordially commend him and his work to the kindly good feeling of all interested people." Adjutant Tweed seconded, and the motion was carried.

The Rev. P. W. Fairclough moved—"That this public meeting desire to record hearty thanks to all friends and helpers of the Dunedin City Mission, who have in many ways assisted and strengthened the hands of" our city missionary ; and also thank all those who have during the past 12 months so generously maintained the various funds of the mission." Mr Wright waft, as they knew, a man of catholic spirit, and was the friend of all in need. Though he was loyal to bis own particular Church in his private capacity, in his public office he could be regarded as a link between the different churches. Mr J. Rennie (head master, Albany Street.) seconded, and paid a tribute to Ma* "Wright's work. Mr P. D. M'Call-urn moved—"That the retiring members of committee, and especially Mr Rosevear (the hon. treasurer) and Mr D. Leslie (the hon. auditor), be thanked.for their past services, and that, the following gentlemen be'elected to act on the committee':—Messrs J. A. Adams. P. L. Clark. John Barnes. J. H. Wilkinson, Joseph Braithwaite, John Anderson. W. E. Sessions, Peter Barr. E. Aslih. George Reid, John Blair, David Leslie, and A. King."' The motion was carried, and the following additional office-bearers were elected : —President, Mr G. M. Thomson, M.P. ; lion, treasurer, Mr E. Rosevear ; missionary. Mr Duncan Wright; vice-presidents', Messrs John Barnes and P. L. Clark : hon. secretary, Mr Duncan Wright; hon.' auditor, Mr David Leslie.