AUCKLAND BAPTIST DISTRICT ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8882, 19 May 1892, Page 6

AUCKLAND BAPTIST DISTRICT ASSOCIATION.

INAUGURAL MEETING. The inaugural meeting of the New Zealand Baptist Union Auckland District Association was opened at the Auckland Tabernacle yesterday afternoon. The following delegates were present:—Tabernacle: Messrs. S. H. Matthews, R. B. Shulders, H. Newton, Ellingham, J. T. Garlick. Mount Eden : Rev. G. 1). Cox, and Messrs. Champion and Penman. Ponsonby : Rev. ,J. D. Gilmore, and Messrs. G. W. Owen, E. Turley, J. Graham, and R. Keeve. Thames : Rev. YV. R. Woolley, and Messrs. J. Renshaw (Mayor of Thames), and J. Lovatt. The Rev. C. Carter was elected a ministerial member, and the Rev. W. K. Wooliey was vot-ed to the chair. THE CONSTITUTION. The following was adopted as the constitution of the Association :—l. That the name of tho Association shall bo the Baptist Union of New Zealand Auckland District Association. '2. That tho Association shall be comprised of the churches within the Provincial District of Auckland that are in membership with the Union, together with their branches. 3. That the objects of the Association shall be to foster brotherhood and devotion amongst our members, and the work of the Union and the Missionary Society, and to further the interests of the denomination in the province. 4. That the meetings of the Association bo held half-yearly, in the months of March and September. 5. That the assembly shall consist of pastors and delegates of the churches and branches forming tho Association ; each church to have tho right to send four delegates, and each branch two, with one additional delegate for every 100 members after the first 100. G. That the officers of the Association shall consist of a chairman, a vice-chairman, and a secretary and treasurer ; and that a committee of five members, in addition to the officers, be formed. 7. That the vice-chairman of tho present year shall be the chairman of the next.

OTHER BUSINESS. The following officers wore then elected : —Chairman, lie v. J. D. Gilmoro; vicechairman, Kcv. W. R. Woolley ; secretary and treasurer, Rev. G. I). Cox ; committee, Messrs. 8. H. Matthews, James Renshaw, J. Graham, J. T. Garlick, and J. Penman. The undermentioned resolution were then passed, after a considerable amount of discussion : —" 1. That the March meeting be considered the annual meeting. 2. That the secretary be requested to write to the Churches, reminding them of the necessity of appointing delegates to the March meeting of the Association. 3. That the invitation to hold the next meeting at Ponsonby bo accepted. 4. That the Association hereby expresses its deep sense of the unselfish and devoted services rendered to the cause of Christ in the mission field by our beloved sister, Miss K. Arnold, and prays that her visit to the churches may result in evoking a deeper and more earnest missionary spirit amongst our members, and that she may be strengthened and lon« spared in the providence of God to continue her work in India." Amongst the visitors present were the Revs. if. Coombs, of Victoria, and C. Carter, of Ceylon.

THE ASSOCIATION TEA. At half-past six a very large number of delegates and friends sab down to a very sociable tea, the tables being presided over by ladies of the Auckland Baptist Churches. EVENING MEETING. Thero was a large attendance at the evening meeting as half-past seven, when Mr. 8. H. Matthews, vice-president of the Baptist Union, presided, and in a few opening remarks, explained the object of the gathering.

The Kev. \V. R. Woolley, vice-chair-man of the Association, then read a paper on "The Relation of the Association to the Union." In the course of hi? paper, ho pointed out that the Association was the Union on a smallhr scale, and it did for the district what the Union did for the colony. Mr. Shai.ukrs thought that, as a domination, they had been behindhand in promulgating their views as Baptists. In the face of a number of their adherents being absorbed into other denominations, they should make a specific effort to give more definite instruction in the distinctive truths of their denomination.

The Rev. J. D. Gilmore next read a vigorous paper upon the " Essentials of Success for our Local Organisation." He contended that the Association should also collect reliable statistics. This was, perhaps, one of its most important duties, and more especially as they had to face the deplorable fact that the statistics of the | Auckland province for the years 1886 and 1891 showed that, as a denomination, they had positively gone back. Between those years they had actually decreased at the rate of 10 3 per cent.,* and their scholars at the rate of 1502 per cent. They must resolutely faco facts like these, and allow them to have their flue weight, not losing heart because of them ; but finding in thorn occasion and call for more vigorous, sustained, and earnest effort. There was plenty of room for real forward movement in Auckland. There were thousands in this city who go to no place of worship. Could not some means be devised by which the Gospel could be brought to these. There was work—colossal workbefore the Association, and thereforo thoy wanted a live Association, manned by living officers, and backed up by living churches. A number of other gentlemen also spoke. Before i.he meeting separated the chairman announced that a missionary meeting would be held in the Tabernacle this evening, when Miss Arnold, lately from India, would give an address. Miss Arnold will also address a special meeting of ladies on Friday afternoon at the same place. j