CHURCH LEADERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 141, 19 May 1925, Page 6

CHURCH LEADERS.

COUNCIL OF CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS. The Council of Christian Congregations met last evening, Mr G. H. Bennett prodding. There were also present: Revs. FI. T. Peat and C. W. Ditncumb, Messrs N. J. Metcalf, A. Skerman, C. E. Sparry, D. G. Anderson, J. Ax, R. S. Robinson, Watkins and Gray and the Rev. J. M. Stewart (hon. secretary). Apologies for absence were received from the Revs. M. A. Rugby Pratt, W. Fancourt, G. W. Dent; G. T. Brown and Messrs T. R. Hodder and A. H. Fisher.

“We have created a splendid feeling of brotherhood among the churches, and that was the- real thing that brought us into existence,” said the chairman, in extending a welcome to Messrs Anderson, Sparry and Watkins, who were present at the council meeting for the first time. A motion extending heartfelt sympathy was accorded the Rev. Abbott in the continued serious illness of his wife, and the hope was expressed that she would soon be restored to the best of health. A motion of sympathy was, also accorded the Rev. G. T. Brown and family, together with Miss Tipping, in the death of Mrs Brown.

Reporting on the Anzac Day service, the secretary stated that it had been a most successful and inspiring one. The 11.5. A. benevolent fund would benefit to the extent of about £ll. The chairman commented that, if the council had done nothing else but conduct these services, it had justified its existence. In connection with the memorial service to the late Mr Massey, the chairman expressed regret that he had been unable to attend owing to his having been in Napier, but from what he had been told he had gathered that the service had been a most memorable and impressive one. The best thanks were due to the Rev. Duncumb, for his able address, and to the secretary, for the carrying out of the arduous duties that had fallen to his lot.

Appreciutory reference to Mr Stewart’s work was also voiced by several other members.

A communication was received from the Rotary Club suggesting that one of the council’s members should be appointed as the representative of that body on the Rotary Club.—lt wus decided to pass the letter on to the Ministers’ Association. It was decided that the unnual meeting, which is to be held in July, should take the form of a social gathering with invitations to be extended to members’ wives and the several church deaconesses. The Rev. Duncumb stated that he was glad to see that the mutter of church advertising had been taken up whole-heart-edly in Dunedin, where the press was being used as a medium. Nothing would please him greater than to see strenuous efforts made in Palmerston North to leach the man in the street, and it was his suggestion that a combined service should be held for the purpose of getting into touch with those people who never entered the portals of a church. After brief discussion, it was decided, on’ the chairman’s motion, that Mr Duncuinb should be usked to eluborutc his suggestion at the next meeting of the council, when the matter could he gone into fully.