BAPTIST UNION

Evening Star, Issue 15512, 6 June 1914, Page 7

BAPTIST UNION

The twenty-second annual meeting of the Otago aid Southland Auxiliary of the Baptist Union of New Zealand was held at Invercargill on His Majesty's Birthday. The Rev. Frank Mac Donald,, of Mosgiel, was president, Mr H. H. Driver secrotairy, and there were present representatives of iall the Baptist churches of the province. ! Rev. J. Douglas Mill, of Oamaru, conI ducted the morning prayer meetine-. and at the business session which followed re- [ porta of the various churches were given by a delegate from each of them. At t'ho luncheon, which was served at the Federal, loyalty to the Throne was expressed and the National Anthem sung . At the afternoon session the following resolutions were passed : That this auxiliary of the Baptist Union of New Zealand in annual meeting assembled desire to express their warmest sympathy with, those who have been bereaved bv tine tragic loss of the Empress of Ireland in the River St. Lawrence. They commend them in their hour of darkness and distress to the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, and pray that they nxay be conscious of His pitiful and helpful presence. They extend their special condolence to the Salvation Army in the sudden withdrawal of so many devoted and capable officers from earthly service, and trust that their removal may but intensify the zeal and redouble the efforts of those who remain to fight the good fight of faith. ' That this auxiliary reaffirm their determination to do all that lies within their power to secure National Prohibition of the liquor traffic at the forthcoming No-license poll; that they heartily endorse the demands of the New Zealand Al'ianco for a substantial reduction in the percentage of votes now required to carry this reform. This reduction was sent to the Prime Minister and wired to the No-license Convention sitting in Dunedin. The hearty congratulations of the auxiliary were tendered to the Hanover Street Baptist Church, Dunedin, upon the attainment of its jubilee, and the hope wan expressed that its future might prove yet mere prosperous and influential than its past had been. The appeal "for further financial assistance to the Manurewa Children's Home, Auckland, was endorsed and commended to the generosity of the Southern churches. The Rev. W. F. White, who is visiting the churches shortly in the interests of the mission in Bengali to which he has devoted his life, was assured of a hearty welcome. Regret was expressed at the approaching departure of the Rev. E. Herbert Hobday, of Roslyn, and he was assured of a warm welcome if he should return to this land after revisiting England. The executive of the auxiliary were requested to consider the possibility of appointing a Baptist chaplain at the next military camp. During the afternoon a discussion was held on 'Work Among the Young.' Mr 13. H. Drew introduced the topic, and the question was freely discussed. A social gathering was held in the evening, at which addresses w-ero delivered by the Rem Charles Dallaston, Frank MacDonald, and E- Herbert Hobday- Warm thanks were accorded to the Invercargill Church for its hospitable entertainment of the delegates, and its ample provision for their comfort. A meeting was held at North Invercargill on June 2, when addresses were given by the Revs. Frank Mac Donald, Joseph Carlisle, and Frank Oldrieve.