COUNCIL OF CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 22577, 19 February 1937, Page 11

COUNCIL OF CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS

ANNUAL MEETING ' The annual meeting of the above was held last evening at First Church, when a good representative attendance was present. The president, the Rev. W. A. Hamblett was in the chair. The Secretary read appreciative letters from works camps in regard to literature that had been sent for the use of the men there, and from one letter it was noted that there were some 160 men in the four Haast Pass camps—three W.E.A. workers and two Knox College students being there for the workers’ recreation and religious services during the vacation. A letter "was also read from_ Dr M. Fere, a lady working in connection with the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, who enclosed a booklet which the W.C.T.U. proposed having reprinted on the subject of social and moral hygiene. Literature on the movement will be stocked by the Oxford Book Club, in the Octagon. ■ The time for the commencement of the evening services was discussed, with a view to bringing this province_ into line with other parts of the Dominion, where the Sunday evening services all start at 7. The matter was left to the executive to bring a recommendation to the next quarterly meeting. RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IN STATE SCHOOLS. The President .read the following report:— The situation in regard to the giving of religious instruction in the State schools under what is known as the NeL son System may be regarded as very satisfactory. Instruction ia now given in every school in Dunedin —that is. in 19’schools. The instruction is given during one. half-hour each week for the greater part of the school year by the clergy and sisters of the churches and officers of the Salvation Army, assisted by the students of the Associated Churches of Christ and of the Presbyterian Women’s Training Institute and a few volunteer laymen. The system is working harmoniously and finding general acceptance by the school teaching staffs. Over 100 lessons are given weekly, most of the standards receiving instruction, and in seven instances the instruction is given throughout the whole school. To assist in this good work, the Bible Society of Otago and Southland makes available Bibik, New Testaments, and Gospels at very low rates. It is also very pleasing to be able to report progress in facilities given for opening schools throughout the Dominion with religious exercises. In Dunedin the combined representatives of the Bible in Schools League, the Council of Religious Education, and this council were successful in their appeal to the Otago Education Board, and there are now seven Dunedin schools in which the devotional exercises are in use, and the number is likely to be increased this year. At the beginning of the school year, 1936, facilities existed in only two education districts (Wanganui and Canterbury), with an approximate number of 46,000 pupils under 1,583 teachers. At the beginning of this school year facilities exist in five education districts, with an approximate roll number of 137,400 pupils under, 4,634 teachers, facilities having been granted by the Education Boards of Otago, Hawke’s Bay, and Auckland. In Otago during 1936 daily devotional exercises were used in 31 schools, with a roll number of 4,168 pupils under 123 teachers, though not all pupils or tachers take part in the exercises. Facilities have not yet been granted by the Education Boards of Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, and Southland, with approximately 53,000 pupils on their rolls. The council expressed its satisfaction at the report and especially thanked the convener for the work indicated in the report. The Rev. R. _ L. Fursdon, in speaking to the subject mentioned the drawback of all voluntary workers under the Nelson system, in that they had to teach large classes of pupils who were not possessors of a Bible, much less having one at school. What were the instructors to do in such cases? Could this council pay .for Bibles, or the ministers be expected to provide them ? The treasurer’s report would be sufficient answer to

the council’s ability to provide such a number. It was suggested that a retiring collection might be voluntarily taken up by all congregations for the purpose named and the local ministers concerned be thus equipped with the funds to enable them to donate Bibles and Testaments where they felt it necessary. SECRETARY’S REPORT. The secretary’s report on the work for the year stated.;—This council has been- in quiet ■ but effective evidence throughout another year, .and though, not necessarily of an aggressive character, its work is effective, and the presence in the city of a Christian association representative of churches of all denominations is of real worth.. During the year under review the council had the great privilege of welcoming at social functions the following eminent men:—Dr David Lang (traveller and lecturer), Rev. C. P. Andrews (author and _ great India evangelist), Mr J. Edwin Orr (world traveller, author, and ■ evangelist). We were also privileged to hear addresses at our meetings by the following interesting and instructive speakers:— Rev. E. O. Blamires (Bihle-In-Schools League), Miss C. Eipe,. M.A., (St. Christopher’s _ College, Madras), Mr A. Steven (Patients and Prisoner’s Aid Society, Dunedin). The council, through its representatives, has taken action, by way of personal protest or otherwise, in several matters making for, the good of the public life in the city. We are glad to report, also, that five minutes of opening religious exercises is now, by the courtesy of the Otago Education Board, permitted in all primary schools within its jurisdiction. This is in addition to any instruction given under the Nelson system. The council, together with the Otago School of Religious Education and the Bible-In-Schools League, is continuing to work for a period of definite instruction within school’ horns for all scholars in primary schools. Much correspondence has been received and dealt with during the year on the subject of Sunday desecration, and all churches represented and all members of this council are asked to keep this important matter before them. During the last few months considerable quantities of literature have been despatched to each of several camps of the Public Works Department, at Milton, Balclutha, Lindis Pass, and Haast Pass. To the four camps on the .Haast Pass works several extra parcels have been sent at various intervals. Invercargill; was communicated with in respect to literature for Homer Saddle, camp. We have donated 750-Bpp. hymn sheets for the use of two evangelists at the Haast Pass camps. The council was represented officially during the year at several public functions; It nas been invited by the mayor to assist m making arrangements for the religious observance of the Centennial of New’ Zealand in 1940, and the invitation has been gladly accepted. . The conned expresses its appreciation of -the capable services of Mr C. A. Elsey (secretary), and Mr W- Strachan (treasurer). Mr Elsey has also acted during the year as publicity secretary. The report was adopted with special confirmation of the thanks of the council to the secretary and treasurer, in speaking to the report the Rev. J. Douglas Smith asked that the council trv and make its work more constructive, and urged all members to see to it that their respective congregations were informed of the responsibility of all delegates to bring forward matters that the churches felt required collective action. .... The secretary read a copy of his circular that was sent to all churches in August last on the subject under discussion, and in reply to a request, the names of all churches that had sent a subscription during the year towards the funds of the council was read by the treasurer. ' It was reported that open-air services had been held at St. Kilda during the summer when possible, and similar services were suggested at St. Clair during the summer months. , The treasurer’s report was read, ana showed a credit balance of £ll 18s. CONSTITUTION OF COUNCIL. The President reported that' this matter had not been revised since 1922 and that the subject had arisen through a member’s suggestion that the presidency should be open to either lay or clerical member. The President now ruled that the constitution already in force was not contrary to the suggestion and that a layman" could be nominated for the office. OFFICE-BEARERS. The election of office-bearers resuited:—President, Rev. C. H. Olds, 8.A.; vice-presidents—Rev. W. A, Hamblett and Mr W. H. Adams; executive —Revs. W. A. Stevely, R. L. Fursdon, J. D. Smith, A. L. Haddon, Messrs J. Wilson, J. H. Miller, C. F. Roberts, R. Miller, J, Gray, and the officers; treasurer, Mr W. Strachan; secretary, Mr C. A. Elsey; publicity. Rev. J. D. Smith. . Committees and representatives were appointed as follow: —Vigilance—Rev, J. D. Smith and Mr W. B. Quennell; Y.M.C.A. —Rev. W. A. Hamblett aiid Messrs Macdonald and Foote; Vocational Guidance, Messrs J. Wilson and D. Macdonald. , Thanks were voted to_ Messrs_ Leslie and Johnston for their services as honorary auditors during the year, and a donation of one guinea to the caretaker of First Church. At a subsequent meeting of the executive it was resolved to hold a united service in the Council Chamber on the evening of Good Friday, the president to preside and the Rev. H. Bycrofi; to be the speaker.