CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12426, 15 February 1901, Page 2

CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

, The eighteenth annfial meeting of the Congregational Union of New Zealand commenced yesterday , afternoon, when the Council was opened with a short devotional service, presided over by the Rev S. J. Baker. Mr Baker then introduced his successor, the. Rev J. Reed Glasson, of-Wel-lington, to the chair. Some fifty delegates were in attendance, Including several ladies. The following were elected personal members of the Union:—Revs T. Pulljames, H. Young, W. H. Burgoyne, W. E. Evans, G. Cari’, J. Foster, W. AI. Fell, D. Al’Kee Wriglit, and Alessrs W. C. Daldy, IV. N. Warner and W. Eady. , The Secretary of the Union (the Rev B. L. Thomas) read the annual report of the committee of the Union. The, report showed -that the Congregational Denomination was specially sensitive to the conditions of-, colonial life. Changes were numerous, but a high degree of efficiency and co-operation had been maintained in the work of the year. Vacancies had occurred at Onehunga and at Newtown, and had been quickly and suitably filled. The important charge at Beverford Street, Auckland, was about- to be occupied by the Rev John Wilkins, of Alarlborough Chapel, London, while Gore and Trinity Churches were at present vacant. A new church had been built at Alount Eden,.costing,oyer £3OOO, and was one of the finest edifices of its kind in Auckland. Ar> Palmerston North, a, new congregation had been formed, and in the short space of less than six months it had built a fine church, and had provided a. manse for its minister, who had commenced his pastorate on Jan, 20 last. The Denomination claimed to’haye a special mission and duty in a democratic community, where liberty of thought and action went hand-in-hand with responsibility and service in the highest things. , .

Hems of business of minor importance were dealt with, and the afternoon meeting was closed with prayer. ~ At six o’clock, a public tea was held in Trinity Hall, and was very largely attended. A public meeting was held in the church at 7.30, when there was a large attendance. The Chairman, of the Union (the Rev J. Reed Glasson) presided. Air G. Fowlds, M.H.R., Auckland, gave a stirring address on “ Christian Imperialism in the City. ” The speaker said Imperialism might be good or bad. It should not be Cssarism, but service, not to get, but to give., Alark Twain had recently found out that the British people were mentioned- in the Bible, and it was to be found in the following verse “The meek "shall inherit the earth.” (Laughter). Men that were wanted to take the high places in Christian Imperialism were those with tender''hearts. It should not be the desire of the few to benefit themselves at the expense of the many. In the past the towns were looked upon as the property of the few, but Christian Imperialism reversed this order of things and showed that the towns belonged- to the people. The speaker then- referred to the sanitary conditions of the large centres which needed measures that would raise them to a higher standard of cleanliness. The physical and moral life of the young- people on the streets w - ould be lifted up hv Christian Imperialism. At present these children were allowed to roam the streets at will, whereas Christian Imperialism would* legislate to prevent this, and the standard of social purity w'ould be considerably elevated. (Applause.) The speaker went on to say that our womanhood must work to have the same standardapplied to men as men applied to them. (Hear, hear.) The liquor traffic was (another question that would have to be- controlled. Lord Rosebery once said that if the State did not control the traffic the traffic would control the State, and what was true of England was also true of this colony. The speaker then referred to taxation and said that the new Imperialism was going to examine the basis on which the taxes were raised.

The Rev G. Burgess, F.R.A.S., of Timani also gave an address on Christian Imperialism. South Africa, he said, at present was an open field for this Imperialism, practically stripped of its president and government organisations. The Empire was now ready for this kind of Imperialism. The late Queen had come to a nation, but had left an Empire. (Applause), The greed of the nations to grasp would subside when Christian Imperialism was instituted. What was wanted was an Imperialism that was just, one that would give the Boer the same privilege as the Britisher,' ono that would give the African the same privilege as the Afrikander. The colonies were fighting side by side with the mother country for a just cause, which tended to help the inauguration of Christian Imperialism. (Applause.) The speaker said war was necessary to uphold the principles of right. The Rev W. Saunders, of Dunedin, also spoke.