OTAHUHU MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Issue XVI, 3 December 1879, Page 6

OTAHUHU MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.

Thk annual meeting for the election of officers of the above association for the present toDk place on Monday, December 1. Thiro was a good attendance of members. The following were elected :—President, Mr. John Fairburn; vice-president, Mr. A. Sturges; secretary, Mr. U. Bowden ; treasurer, Mr. King. Committee : Metsrs. Bush, Day, T. Hall, Luko, and G. Willis. After tho election of officers, a paper was read by Mr. Luke on "The Different Religions of the World." The several religions touched upon were Brahmaiam, or Hinduism, with an account of the " Vedas;" Zoroastrianism, the religion of tho Paraees ; Buddhism (computed to have at the present time 500 millions of adherents); the religions of the Chinese —viz., Buddhism, Taoism,

and Confucianism; and the religion of Mohammed or Islam. A cursory glance was given of the ancient religions of Egypt, Greece, and Borne, and of the influence that Zoroastrianism (the religion of Persia), exercised upon the Jews during their captivity in Babylon. In conclusion, it was shown how, while the founders and teachers of these different religions uttered and wrote many words of wisdom, all their Bystems and creeds were more or less erroneous and defective ; that the religion of Christ is alone perfect and cooi| lete, and is the only religion that can regenerate mankind, and will, eventually, become the one religion of the world. A hearty vote of thanks being accorded to the oflbe-bearers of last session, the president declared the association prorogued till -Monday, March 1, ISSO.—[A Correspondent.]