BAPTIST UNION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 14 October 1922, Page 5

BAPTIST UNION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE (United Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Oct. 13. The fortieth annual conference of the New Zealand Baptist Union and Missionary Society opened yesterday. The Rev. W. H. Hinton (president) was in the chair. Mr W. J. Bardsley, on behalf of ttie conference committee, extended a. hearty welcome to the delegates. The Baptist Church, he said, had a. great past, and they prayed that the conference would be another step forward in the progress of the Church. The chairman welcomed the following new members to the ministerial ranks: The Revs. F. E. Harry (Australia), D. Catchpole (Canada), L. J. B. Smith (United States of America), F. Samson, J. Hiddlestone, and Pastor T. Weston.

The Rev. Howard Elliott was associated with the conference, and a welcome was extended to the Rev. E. N. Goring and Mrs Goring, of the India Mission. The report of the secretary contained the following: Members as at 31st August, 1921, 6121; as at 3,lst August, 1922, 6232; not increase. 111. The additions were set out as follow: By baptism, 255; by transfer, 222; by other means, 94; total, 571. ' The removals wore: By death, 54; by transfer, 198; by other means, 208 ; total, 460. The executive had arranged with the Rev. W. S. Rollings to act as editor of’the “Baptist” during Mr North’s absence. A special appeal, made in Auckland for support of the Manunrewa and other homes, had resulted in a substantial sum being raised. The secretary had visited all the churches except five. His appeal for support had resulted in £7OO being provided in monthly subscriptions and £3OO had been given in donations. The departure of the president, the Rev. W. H. Hinton, to undertake the pastorate of the Aberdeen-street Church, Geelong, was notified. The report was adopted. The secretary, the Rev. R. S. Gray, gave a brief report on his visit, to the churches, and read a detailed list of promises made by the individual churches, the total being over £717. He! considered that the Church could safely reckon on receiving fully £6OO of this. Pastor M W. P. Laacelles moved: “That this assembly place on record its ’■'ery hearty appreciation of the services rendered to the denomination by Mr Gray’s recent Visit to thl* churches.” DUNEDIN, This Hay.

At the annual Dominion meeting of the Baptist Wrynen’s Missionary Union (ho treasurer reported Unit £l2lß was raised. The following officers were elected : Dominion president, Mrs W. S. Bollings. Wellington; secretary. Miss Oainsford; treasurer, Mrs C, Collins; vice-presidents, Auckland, Mrs Smeeton ; Central. Miss Cage; Wellington, Mrs R. S. Gray; Canterbury, (Mrs E. E. Smith ; Otago, Miss Tugs. At the Baptist Union Conference the financial statement showed receipts £2,045. The chief item of expenditure, £1,141, was grants to churches. The debit balance under the general account is £IST ft stated (hat the testimonial to Rev. North would reach £4OO.

It was decided that members could join the annuity fund at 55, instead of

The Snstentation Fund Committee reported having adopted a scale for married ministers of £250; manied home missionaries, £230; single ministers and home missionaries,' £IBO. Additional grants were agreed to of £5 for each child up to three. Rev. Grant reported re the ministerial settlement scheme that only twenty replies were received, eleven churches being for and one against, ll was decided to drop the matter.

A man named TT. N. Cornish was arrested yesterday on warrant, from Christchurch'on a charge of default of maintenance in respect to his wife. Detective Russell proceeded to Christchurch last night with the accused.