CHURCH OF CHRIST.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 24 November 1924, Page 4

CHURCH OF CHRIST.

■ RAPID PROGRESS

DISTRICT PROGRESS. The extremely rapid progress made by the Church of Christ, which was established as recently as two< years ago in Hawera, was exemplified at a district conference at Wanganui on Saturday, when the Hawera delegates were congratulated on the success attained by the church in the Hawera district.

A great amount of very useful work was accomplished at the conference, and most interesting and instructive addresses delivered. Those who represented the church in Hawera were: -Messrs F. W. Greenwood (in charge of the Hawera chufchh W. Pajie (delegates), Mr and Mrs J. E'xley, Mr Alien, aud Mesdames Roberts, Munro and Wilcocks. The satisfactory progress of the w ork was a matter-for eongratulalatiou, and the hope was expressed that the efforts of Mr Gioemvood and his colleagues may be still more successful. The conference represented Churches of Christ in the Mauawatu, Taranaki, and Wairarapa districts, and was held in the Church of Christ chapel, Mathiespn Street, Wanganui. A business session was held in the morning, beginning. with a devotional service at 10 a.m.

Mr. H. Grinstead, president of the district, occupied the chair- Mr. Yerco, the minister of the local church, welcomed the delegates, who came from as far south as Levin and north from New Plymouth. An interesting feature of the morning meeting was the reports received from all of the churches in the district. They were mostly of an optimistic nature, and showed that good work is being done. Mr. Geo. Day, chairman of the Dominion Home Mission Committee, presented greetings from the Church of Christ, Vivian Street. Wellington, and from the Dominion Home Mission Executive.

The president of the conference delivered a stirring address, in which he made an earnest appeal for a restoration of the New Testament ministry and ~a more energetic evangelism. An adjournment was made at 12.30 for lunch. This was provided by the sisters of the Wanganui church. The afternoon session was opened with a short devotional meeting. The first part of the afternoon was taken up with Bible school work.

Mr F. W. Greenwood, minister of the church in Hawera, gave a fine address on “Bible School Work,” in which he emphasised the essential qualifications of the superintendent and the- teacher.

This was followed by an able address by Mr., Wallace Wright, of New Plymouth, on “Work in the Bible Class.”

. Miss Marjorie Allan rendered a very pleasing violin solo which was followed by a telling address cn “Women’s Work” by Sister Duxfield. My. Geo. Day made a strong appeal for Hom 9 Missions.

Bro. Roilger moved the following: —’“That this conference record its strong disapproval of the action of Parliament in enacting legislation for the increase in the number of racing days in the Dominion. It deeply deplores the gambling ispirit that infests the community and urges all members of our churches to discourage in every way the practice of raffles, art unions, etc.” Bro. Verco moved the following : “Believing that the Prohibition movement is essentially a Christian movement and that the aim of the N.Z. Alliance will not be. attained until the churches get solidly behind it, we recommend that the churches represented by delegates here to-day, associate themselves actively with the aims of the Alliance. We deplore the trade's new attempt to secure licenses in the King Country, thereby going back on our agreement with the Maoris in the

historic pact into which .we entered with them. We deplore the reactionary nature of the Licensing Committee report, and we demand, in the name of democracy, a ballot without a» third issue.” Both resolutions were carried. •

The delegates from ITawera invited the conference to hold its next meeting in that town. This was unanimously agreed to. Hearty votes of thanks were extended to- Bro. Grinstead for the able way in which he had discharged \his duties as president; to Bro. Yerco as secretary, and Bro. Page as minute secretary,; to the sisters who catered for the lunch and tea; and to the members who provided accommodation for the visiting delegates.

A most inspiring meeting was presided over by Mr. Vrco in the evening. Bro. Grinstead spoke of “The Task before Us.” Bro. Rodger, spoke

on the “Forces at Our Command” and

Bro. Leng, of Wellington, speaking on “The Worthwhileness of the Task,

made a strong 'appeal for our Home Mission Work.