MISSIONARY SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 15517, 12 June 1914, Page 3

MISSIONARY SOCIETY

The Otago Auxiliary of the London Missionary Society held their annual meeting last night in Moray Place Johilee Hall. Mr J. H. Wilkinson presided over a good attendance of members and friends. Th» committee in their annual report stated that the year had been very satisfactory, the agencies doing good work and the missionary cause gaining strength. The Watchers' Band Worked with qniet effect, and a new branch was formed at Leith Street Church. The membership roll is now: Moray Place 39, King Street 34, Leith Street B—a total of 81. The report continues: A suggestion has been made that a Young People's Auxiliary be formed to unite the children of, our schools in the interests of the London Missionary Society, and it is hoped that a definite move will be made in this direction in the near future. It has been proposed that a Missionary Exhibition be held IB Dunedin, and a full equipment of exhibits and models, etc., was placed at the disposal of the Otago Auxiliary by the Rev. G. J. Williams. lour committee decided unanimously to accept this offer, and it was thought that an exhibition sight have been held this year; Advice, however, came to hand that Auckland and other New Zealand auxiliaries would prefer to have their exhibition next year. It was thought advisable, therefore, to postpone the Dunedin exhibition also till 1915. With regard to the special appeal made by the directors, your committee duly considered this matter, and it was decided to recommend that an "every member canvass" be undertaken in each of our churches, to induce those who are at present non-contributors to become regular subscribers. Steps arc now being taken to place in the hands of all members of our congregations a printed copy of the directors' appeal, and also a copy of the letter sent with it from London, and it is hoped that this initial step will be followed up by a personal canvass. Your committee very earnestly appeal that the best response possible may be given to this urgent call from our society for help in their hour of need. Of the amount required to free the societv of their accumulated deficit (£100.000) the latest reports show that £76,000 has already been raised, and it is yet hoped that when the amounts contributed by the colonial auxiliaries and the contributions from the foreign fields are forthcoming the total amount required will be realised. The Chairman said it was especially satisfactory that the balance-sheet indicated an increase of £llO on the previous year. It was gratifying to find that the appeal made had met with such a response. During the past few years there had been very great changes—social, mechanical, and scientific—and the time had arrived when increased activity should take place in religious matters. The report referred to the satisfactory gathering of young people, and that was a very pleasing feature of increased interest in the right direction. The future of their society depended very largely upon awakening a true interest in young people as to their dutv towards the heathen of the world. There had been a splendid recognition by the churches, and an evident desire to assist in every way to advance this great movement. He was sure it must be extremely gratifying to members of Moray Place Church to hear the report on missionaries that had gone from that church and school. They rejoiced most heartily with the church in having sent such workers to the mission field, and thev were as pleased as members of the church to hear of these gratifying reports of the good work done in different spheres of labor. Speaking of placing missionary work upon a more permanent and satisfactory basis, he " said it needed something more than spasmodic efforts, and suggested that - a regular income might be guaranteed. v That would mean a great deal in the wav of encouragement to ministers, and wonld stimulate the* directors. He hoped that all present would do their utmost to arouse increased interest and secure support for the society. He moved the adoption of the report- and balance-sheet. The motion was seconded by the Rev. \V. Saunders and carried. The following office-bearers were elected:—President. Mr J. H. Wilkinson; vice-president, Mr C E. Paterson; treasurer, Mr Peter Barr; secretary, Mr C. J. Moody; literature secretary, Miss Begg; secretary of Watchers' Band, Mrs Heighway ; committee—Mrs May, Misses Knight, M'Dougall, Begg, Messrs J. A. Wilkinson. Woodward, J. Broad, and Jack. The Rev. J. B. Sibree, of Samoa, then gave an address, first as a repre- ! sentative of the society, as a member of committee, and finally as a messen- j fier from the Native Church of Samoa. Under the first head he mentioned that lie belonged to a family that had been associated with the society since the beginning, and that his grandfather had been one of the founders. He went on to refer to the pecuniary struggles of the society, and mentioned that, in spite of appeals, there was a deficit of £6.500 in the last year's accounts, and that there was a. possibility of some mission fields having to be abandoned. In view of this he urged the absolute need for an increase in contributions, and said that there was an outor circle of the Christian Church the people within which had not yet been persuaded. The " rev. gentleman next touched upon mission labor in Samoa, where the mission had a- fine record in regard to medical work, and upon the business pursuits of the people and affairs of the place generally. 3lr Sibree was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks at the conclusion of his address.