THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 13 February 1908, Page 3

THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

[Unxc»d Pbisss Absooiatiorl •• . ■ WELLINGTON Wednesday. :- The annual session of the Council of the New Zealand -Congregational Union was, brought to a conclusion to-day. The Council elected officers for the coming year as follows :— Chairman, Eev. -W. S. Fernie; Secretary, Rev. G. Day; Trasurer, Mr W. H. Lyon ; Registrar, Mr Granville Hunt; Audit ir, Mr C. Campbell; Preacher, Rev. A. E. Hunt; "Outlook" Editor, Mr A. Heighway; Committee : Auckland, Rev. S. Griffiths and new Beresford-street minister, •messrs A. G. Lee, W. Mitchell, H. Edmonds, C. E. Campbell, J. E. Hall, A x. Craig, S. W. Smeeton, J. V. jlooton, J. E. Moore, W. B. Leyland, and W. M. Trigg. Otago: Revs. W. M. ; mo ' W' Saun ders, G. Heighway, and ' w - S._Fernie, Messrs R. Greig, and J. H Wilkins. Canterbury: Revs. D. Hird, A. E. Hunt, and Messrs A. W. Beaven, W. Bell, and A. Henderson. Wellington: Revs. W. A. Evans, J. M. Aspland, J. R. Glasson, and B. L. i hon ? as > and Messrs A. M. Lewis -and , a W. Meadowcroft. i The Rev. R. McNaughton asked if anything had been done by the committee set up last year to go into the . question of theological training for young men who .had expressed a de-sire'to-enter the ministry of the Congregational Church. TheHev. G. Heighway stated that the ; Qpmmittee never met during the year, and could not therefore table a report. ft was agreed that the Committee be re lppointed, with the Rev. G. Heigh- : way as convener, to report next year.. The Committee on Church Union failed to bring down a report. The Committee was reappointed. i ■ It was decided that the Committee '1 of the ' Union be reappointed. AUom- ,' mittee^of Reference to safeguard the : interests'. Of the native adherents of the ' London Missionary Society in the South ' Seas was setup. The Wellington mcmi < bers of the Committee with power to i add to their number, were constituted 1 an executive. , s

It was decided to suggest to all Congregational Ghurches- that they set apart "the third Sunday in October of each year as a Young People's Sunday. It was resolved "That it be a recommendation from this Conference to the four district secretaries that a "digest' of their district minutes be forwarded each month to the Editor of the 'Congregational Outlook.' as soon as possible. ; vThe Revs.- J. A. Glasson and W. A. Evans were appointed to wait on the railway authorities to endeavour to obtain reasonable concessions in railway - 'fares to • delegates travelling to attend annual meetings of religious bodies. Other religious bodies are to be asked "toTco-operate. j The Rev. A. E.- Hunt (Timaru) moved this Council desires to place on record its gratification at the promise of Temperance reform throughout the world, arid especially a£"the great success, which, had attended the carrying of no license in some parts of this Dominion, and in view of the forthcoming no-license poll, this Council urges upon our Ministers and Churches the necessity of putting forth every effort to bring about as. speedily as possible the abolition>of a traffic which is one of the greatest.obstacles to our social and religious life." ■ -. The motion was carried unanimously without discussion. " The Revs. W. A. Evans and J. Reed Glasson were constituted a Committee to watch the progress of laws affecting religious- liberty in New Zealand. It was reported that no law had been passed during the last year which need-ed-comment from this standpoint. : -vThe- .following delegates were appointed to attend the forthcoming International Conference of the Congregational Church at Edinburgh : Revs. J. Wilkins and W. Saunders; Messrs A. Lindsay, Spragg, and Gutheridge. Any further action which may be necessary will be taken by the Committee, should any of 'these 'delegates be unable to make the trip. It was decided that the Council should meet next year at Christchurch.