BAPTIST UNION

Evening Star, Issue 20614, 14 October 1930, Page 9

BAPTIST UNION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE RESUMED Tho forty-eighth annual conference of the New Zealand Baptist Union was resumed in the Hanover Street Church yesterday afternoon, a large number of visiting delegates being present. FINANCIAL. Mr M. W. P. Lascelles, speaking on the balance-sheets, referred to the various accounts in detail, and pointed out that in connection with the emergency fund there was a credit of £251 9s Bd. He mentioned that the fire insurance fund was new, and that a fire insurance company had been set up two vears ago. Ho hoped that what they had achieved would be the nucleus ol a fire insurance fund. There were no doubtful securities on the list, and in no instance were they in arrears. The balance-sheets and statements of accounts were adopted, the Rev. J. K. Archer expressing complete satisfaction with what he regarded as a very fine statement. They had in Mr Lascelles a very shrewd man. There was not the remotest possibility of changing their secretary and treasurer. He hoped that Mr Lascelles would keep the positions for many years. (Applause.) COLLEGE REPORT. The Rev. H. Knowles Kempton, in presenting the college report, referred to the various matters it contained, and said that Peters’s Pence gave a grant for books for outgoing students. This fund had not been in sufficient credit to pay so large an amount of money, and three members had immediately made up the balance, so that the students would have what they were entitled to. They had had three probationary pastors leaving them last year, and they had received very satisfactory reports concerning them from the supervisor. They were indebted to Mrs North for the help she had given. She had never complained, and she had done her work well- He also referred to others who had given valuable assistance. The report and the college financial statement were adopted. The report of the principal of the college was also approved, speakers stressing the highly spiritual life ano the learning of the inmates of the college.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHURCH. The President, in reporting on his visitation of churches, stated that he had visited sixty-three churches in addition to many outstations, and had been surprised at the enormous amount of work being done by some ministers, many of whose wives lived very unselfish lives. They had 7,000 church members. The statistics were inaccurate. and he was convinced that they should at least take off 25 per cent, of those on the roll—some said tlic 3 T should cut the figures down by hall. They should be perfectly honest when they were sending up their reports. Every church should be prepared to purge the roil Ho would' like to suggest that a commission of inquiry should be set up for the purpose of making inquiries. It could then furnish a report on the matter. The church membership for the last five years should be obtained, and a search made for the cause of the slow growth of their .membership, and the loss of members. ■ , „ ~ ~ . The Rev. E. S. Tuckwell said that a committee had been set up, and there were tiro questions to be considered in discussion. One was that of winning new members, and the other that of retaining all those already acquired. The committee was proloundly impressed with the vital importance of the matter. If they did not succeed in constantly adding, to their ranks, then their denomination was doomed. The committee was convinced that no method suggested for winning' and retaining members could be effective un-' less the. minister, and officers were mi-' pressed with the seriousness oi the situation, and were determined to lead their people in an enterprise ol aggression and consultation. There should be periodic conferences at regular intervals between the minister and- his elders, when the whole time should be devoted to an earnest and prayerful investigation into the spiritual condition of the church. In the course of a discussion it was suggested that a committee should be set up to consider and go into the It was finally resolved, on the motion of the Rev. J. K. Ardher, seconded by Dr J. J. North, that the assembly should approve of the proposal to set up a commission, and that the executive be requested to fix the order ox reterence and suggest to the conterence the personnel of the commission. EVENING SESSION. In the evening the church was well filled to Ildar addresses by the Rev. Id. G. Goring and the Rev. W. S. Rollings, the Rev. J. Laird occupying the chair. , The Rev. H. G. Goring spoke on ‘The Call for Character, or the Kingdom Within.’ He said that one thing the church was striving for was for the admission of women into the administration of the affairs of the church. He then referred to leadership, in connection with which he said_ that there were signs of a new generation arising; were there not young men and women knocking at the business door of the world ? Did not most of us know of a new leadership in existence? The imperative need of the hour was fresh leadership, but who was going to lead? We were all leaders, but we were all led. He went on to speak of personality, and said that - the crux of the whole position was unconscious influence—there was a sort of magnetism amongst us. Continuing, he said that it was character that spoke for us, as our profession or character declared the way. The character was “ the man, and if it was good the man was worthy it was motive that actuated, a man’s life, and our ideals were prominent desir that reigned in our hearts. Desire was the elementary form of life, and preceded our thoughts and actions. The dominant will of a man s life tended to secure its end. He then proceeded to speak of the formation of right character, and said that there was a highway to allow every man to decide which wav his soul should go. The Rev. W. S. Uolhngs’s subject was ‘ The Call for Conquest, or the Kingdom Without.’ He said that the Kingdom of God was the highest ideal of life, and those living should serve God with all their heart and power. God emploved three instruments for the advance of His church. Evangelism was the chief instrument God used He traced the growth of religion and the opposition it bad .met with centunes ftso. ond sold tnot tne nund ot Europe had been reborn Referring to evangelism, he mentioned Luther, Calvin. and Wesley. ... , . During the evening the united choirs contributed musical items.