BAPTIST UNION

Evening Star, Issue 23101, 29 October 1938, Page 15

BAPTIST UNION

MISSIONARY DAY AT ASSEMBLY REPORTS ON NEW CHURCHES [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Oct. 28. To-day was missionary day in the programme of the New Zealand Baptist Assembly how meeting in Wellington. Three missionaries at present in New Zealand on furlough from East Bengal, the Rev. B. N. Eade, and Misses Eunice Ogilvie and Eileen Goad, were welcomed by the president (Mr F. W. Horner). The following Missionary Council for the msuing year was elected: Dr A. Hodge (Auckland), Dr C. North (Dunedin), the Rev. S. Jenkins (New Plymouth), Mrs A. Anstice (Christchurch), the Rev. J. Ings (Napier), the Rev. E. N. Goring (Invercargill), the Rev. F. A. Parry (Greymouth), Miss E. Beckinsale (Dunedin), Mr S. Barry (Auckland), the Rev. J. Takle (Wellington), the Rev. G. C. Reay (Hamilton), and Mr H, H. Driver (Auckland). . , . The following are also members of the council,' ex officio; Mr F. W. Horner (Hawera), the Revs. W. P. Lascelles, L; A* North, W. S. Rollings (Wellington), Mrs E. N. Goring (Invercargill), and Misses H. M. Rice and N. Wilkinson (Auckland). In the missionary budget, which was adopted after a long discussion, the receipts were estimated at £8245 and the payments at £7849. The annual assembly tea was held at the conclusion of the afternoon session, and in the evening a missionary meeting was held. Addresses on missionary work in the field were given by Misses Ogilvie and E. Goad.

A WIDENING SPHERE During the past three years considerable attention has been paid by the New Zealand Baptist Union to widening the sphere of influence of the church in the Dominion. This phase of the growth of the church has been the subject of reference at the annual New Zealand _ Baptist Assembly now being held in Wellington. Two years ago a beginning was made on the. West Coast, and under the leadership of the Rev. Mr Parry, who traversed the whole, of that area, considerable advances have been made. A strong church has been established at Greymouth, and there are several congregations at other places. The Rev. F. C. Reddell has been in charge of operations in a Dunedin suburb. Sunshine, for the past yeai, and the new church he has founded there was admitted to the union during the present assembly. He has met with similar success in the district of Green Island, which has also this year contributed a new church to the union. The Rev. E. N. Goring has been ,appointed to the new church at .'Georgetown 1 , ! Invercargill. , Another area in which good work has been done is Miramar,- Wellington. -Formerly a.branch activity of the Vivian' Street Church, Miramar has from this year onwards constituted a separate church under the Rev. H. E. Edridge. The practice is to support the work in these new districts in the initial stage by grants from the union, but they are required eventually -to become self-supporting. Assistance to church extension work has also been given by the Baptist Women’s Missionary Union, because it is recognised by that body that extension of the activities of the church in New Zealand eventually means greater support for missionary work overseas, MISSIONARY POLICY The principle whether missionary work should be conducted through institutions such as hospitals, homes and schools, or whether the available fund should be applied principally on actual preaching was briefly debated at the afternoon session to-day of the New Zealand Baptist Assembly. ■ . The following reference to missionary policy was contained in the annual report of the Baptist Missionary Society: . “ Our Field Committee, in common with workers of other societies throughout India, has been earnestly considering missionary policy in the light of changing conditions of life in India. The Government, for example, is greatly extending educational facilities and is encouraging many forms of welfare work, including medical benefits. A conviction shared by all missionary leaders throughout India is that supreme emphasis must be placed on the presentation of the Gospel as a message of reconciliation with God. Institutional work should be subordinated and made contributory to this end. It ;s. recognised, however, that educational, medical and social services may become instruments of the Gospel of _ salvation. Two changes have been endorsed by your council. The first involves the closing of the Mission Compound School at Chandpur. By so doing the expenditure saved will contribute largely towards the maintenance of work in Tripura State. The other change affects several of the inmates of the Widows’ Home at Brahamanbaria. These have come from other missions and are to be returned to their respective districts.” Dr Charles North, a former missionary, protested against any curtailment of institutional work. He said that the best way to the hearts of the people was through good works. Miss E. Beckingsale, also a former missionary, supported the nrevious speaker. - Other delegates concurred m the view that the society should be very careful about abolishing any institutional work. The report was adopted.