CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 21415, 19 May 1933, Page 1

CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS

MEETING OF COUNCIL PEACE PROPAGANDA Tho quarterly meeting of the Council of Christian Congregations was hold last evening in the First Church class room, and was attended by fifty-six delegates. A deputation from the New Zealand Army of Reconciliation was introduced to the council, and Air Lex Miller, M.A., from Knox College, was their speaker, who. in an impassioned and eloquent speech, gave some of the objects and aims of the _ movement which has been started in England with a view to preventing war by passive means and propaganda work amongst the nations. The council, by a resolution, decided to favour giving the facilities asked. A letter was received from the Prime Minister acknowledging the council’s protest against the principle of sending married men to relief camps, and promising to give the matter every consideration; also a letter from the town clerk, Dunedin, stating that he had written at the council’s request a letter in the same strain to the Unemployment Board. A letter was received from tho Wellington Ministers’ Association asking the council to support it in a protest against the treatment of Jews in Germany. After some discussion and a vote the council decided that the matter was hardly one in which it could take part officially. A request from the North End Ministers’ , Association was received that the council should officially support an interdenominational mission in this city officially, proposed to be undertaken by the Rev. W. P. Nicholson, an evangelist from the North of Ireland, at present conducting a similar mission in Auckland. The Rev, T. Miller spoke of tho evangelist’s stir-' ring work in Ireland, and supported, the proposal. It was decided that the executive go further into the matter and report to the next meeting to be specially called. Tho Bible in Schools League asked for the council’s support to its aims, and that a special committee be set up to carry some of the burden of the work in Dunedin. A committee was set up accordingly. Tho Rev. T. Smeeth reported that the Rev. Varcoc Cox, the president of the Christian Endeavour Union for Australia, would he visiting this city from July 14 to 17, and it was decided that a meeting bo arranged with Air Cox for tho Fridav evening,-July 11. The executive roportccßdhat. Air D. K. Ai ‘Donald had been" appointee)' as the council’s representative on * the .Vocational Guidance Committee. The President of the ..Men’s Social Club (which tho council is supporting in the Y.M.C.A. Building) reported that tho club is well appreciated by a fair number of men every evening, and that the cost of the suppers has so far been met by the contributions received, but tho club appealed to those churches who have not done so yet to send their subscriptions without delay.

It was reported that the' Rev. F. W. Norwood, of the City Temple, Loudon, would bo visiting this city on July 28, and it was unanimously decided to arrange a public meeting to hear Dr Norwood. In answer to the council’s further letter of protest against the continued support of tho Government to lotteries in this dominion, a stereotyped reply of promise of “careful consideration ” to the matter had been received. In view of the late Easter Art Union, the council decided that the letter be not received.

Tho council paid a silent tribute to the memory of Air A. Burn, of Mornington, who had passed away since its last meeting, and requested tho secretary to send a letter of condolence to the relatives, with a note of its appreciation of tho services of Mr Burns. The circular presented with tho Army of Reconcilaition deputation contained an account of propaganda and activities, giving in part the following:— Should hatred or fear issue in war or war measures, we shall refuse to cooperate, believing that national or group loyalty'must give place to Christian duty. In all disputes our aim will be reconciliation and the redemption of individuals by methods of fellowship and implacable goodwill. Should our best efforts to prevent hostilities fail, we may find it necessary to take the suffering upon ourselves in person by placing ourselves between the opposing forces and enduring the results of their strife. We shall refuse to take part in or sanction any war measures to countenance penal actions. Propaganda included supply of speakers and preachers to churches, Bible classes, rallies, camps, summer schools, conferences, etc., open-air meetings, special public meetings, group meetings'(e.g., students and unemployed), plays acted and read, use of all available periodicals by articles and letters. Under experimentation were grouped: Alaking personal contact with leaders and members of significant groups (e.g., unemployed organisations and employers’ organisations), measures m international and civil strife (mediation, intervention, first-aid 'work, formation of Christian communities on a large or small scale, e.g., among students.