AUCKLAND CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR CONVENTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9620, 19 September 1894, Page 6

AUCKLAND CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR CONVENTION.

SECOND ANNUAL GATHERING. The second annual meeting of the Auckland Provincial Christian Endeavour Convention took place yesterday, and was a great success. The proceedings were commenced with a united devotional meeting in the Wesley Hall, the leader being the Rev. F. Warner. There was a good attendance. In the ( afternoon the service commenced at three o'clock, when Wesley Hall was crowded. The President (Rev. James Blaikie), in appropriate terms, accorded a hearty greeting on behalf of the 32 Auckland Christian Endeavour Societies, with a membership of over a thousand members, to the 17 Christian Endeavour country societies, with a membership of nearly 600. Mr. W. S. Bowie (Manurewa) responded, and expressed his gratitude for the cordail greeting extended, and a hope that the Convention might prove a blessing to all. A conference was held on the subject, "Our Pledge," as bearing upon "Private Devotion," "Active Service." A paper by Miss Hudson (Thames) on " Private Devotion" was read by Mrs. d\ Warner, and one by the Rev. R. Ferguson (Onehunga) on "Active Service." Mr. Ferguson amplified the following points Conditions of service, reason for service, duty of service, place of servioe, and motive of service. An instructive discussion ensued. Th's was followed by an open parliament; on committee work, with brief speeches. In the eveuing, at the Auckland Tabernacle, there was a devotional meeting, led by the Rev. D. McNicoll, after which at six o'clock 600 sat down to tea in the schoolroom. At half-past seven the united consecration service took place in the _ Tabernacle. At that hour the delegations of the various societies marched into the building with their banners, and took up the places assigned to them, and when I the lower portion of the large building was lull, the overflow was provided for in the galleries, where the Christian Endeavour junior societies were stationed. There must have been 1500 people present. The building presented a pleasing appearance. The rostrum was decorated with flowers and foliage, and in front was the monogram, "C.E., 1 beautifully formed with camellias, dahlias, and violets. Above this, in front of the reading-desk, was the monogram of the pioneer society of the orderthe Ponsonby Baptist,—being worked in gold on a crimson background, having .is motto, " For Christ and the Church," and "the seven golden candlesticks." Immediately facing this was its banuer, with legend, on the front of the gallery. Flanking the rostrum on either hand were the banuers of the Helping Hand and the Newton Congregational, while at intervals on the front of the galleries were the banners, with monograms, of the Mount Eden Congregational, the Tabernacle, Mount Eden Baptist, United Free Methodist societies, and in the eastern gallery that of the Tabernacle juniors. While the various delegations were being marshalled into their places, and awaiting the opening of the meeting they sang various Endeavour hymns (Mr. Enoch Wood presiding as organist), aud as the melody died away on the basement it was taken up by the children in the gallery—the Tabernacle Juniors and Union Free Church Juniors. Shortly after 7-30 the president (the Rev. James Blaikie) took the chair, the platform being also occupied by a number of the clergy, officers of the union, and delegates. Among the clergy present were the Revs. G. B. Monro (president of the Ministers' Association), R. F. Macnicol, A. H. Collins, Geo. Burgess, F.R.A.S., F. Warner, H. W. J. Miller, S. F. Priot, and H. Bull. After the singing of a hymn, the Rev. Mr. Macnicol engaged in prayer. The second annual report was then read, from which we gather there are 49 societies in the union— in Auckland, including two juniors, and 17 in the country districts. There are—Wesleyan Methodist, 14; Presbyterian, 9; Baptist, 7; Congregational, 5 ; Methodist, 5; inter-denominational, 9. The New Plymouth Wesleyan Society had been transferred to the Taranaki Union. There were nine inter-denominational societies in sparsely-populated country districts, the members of which belonged to three or four, and in one case six denominations, working hand in hand. During the past year there was an Increase of 532 active members, 214 associates, 132 honorary members, giving a total increase of 878 for year. During the two years 243 had joined the churches, and 106 associates had become active members. Although only 19 societies had joined the Union during the year, the membership had nearly doubled. Testimonies were given from city and country ministers as to usefulness of the societies in deepening the spiritual life of the churches. In addition to the following work by committees, namely, look-out, prayer meeting, tract, Sunday - school, hospital, temperance, flower and sunshine, cottage meeting, church debt extinction, social, music, whatsover there were two missions in this city [ conducted entirely by Endeavourers. Practical help had been given to both Home and Foreign missions by gifts of money, clothing, literature, and, but best of all, one Eudea- ! vourer had gone to the mission field, another was on her way preparing for the work. The late board of management of the Auckland Chinese Mission recently approached the Christian Endeavour Union with a view of their taking the work, and they had unanimously decided to do so, and so have some definite work as a Union. The Look-out Committee had established live Christian Endeavour Societies, and introduced nine into the Union, and visited all the town and many of the country societies, and conducted sundry evangelistic services in many country districts. The town representatives of country societies had done useful service in keeping the country societies in touch aud posted up in the movements of the Union. Other Christian Endeavour Union* iu the colony had been approached as to the advisability of starting a I christian Endeavour paper for the colony, also as to the formation of a National Union, but nothing definite has yet been arranged. The President had gone to Wellington to represent Auckland at the recent Wellington Convention, and they were thankful for the splendid report they received of those gatherings, andof the Wellington provincial societies in general. The report concluded with giving a list (already published) of officers for the ensuing year, and with an expression of thanks to the officers of the Auckland Tabernacle for their kindness in riving the use of their spacious church for such gatherings as these. The balance-sheet showed receipts to be £36 10s sd, which, after defraying all charges, left a small credit balance. The President said he had received greetings to the Union from the New Plymouth Baptist Society, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Society, Wairoa (Hawke's Bay), Christchurch, and Dunedin Christian Endeavour Unions, which represented Canterbury and Otago ; also a message from the New South Wales Christian Endeavour Union; and a letter from M C. B. Stone, one of the vice-pre-sidents, who was unable to be present through illness. Mr. Blaikie went on to say that he felt honoured by having beeu the president of the union, as he looked upon the sea of faces before him. If the Christian Endeavour movement had done nothing more than bringing the various sections of the church to work harmoniously and lovingly together, it had justified its existence. Tney had only 200 members when he took office, they had now close on 2000, so that he envied his successor, the Rev. G. B. Monro. As a vice-president he would still be at work, and in touch with the union. He rejoiced that the union had taken over the Chinese mission, and he was glad to see some of their Chinese friends present. He retired from the chair with the more pleasure that Mr. Monro was his personal friend, and a man who was respected and esteemed by the whole Christian community of Auckland. Before sitting down, he would move the resolution which had already been passed by acclamation at the afternoon meeting. He desired to place it beforethatlarge assemblage for their approval, and if carried, it would be forwarded to the Mayor and the City Council. The following is the resolution which referred to the proposed Sunday tram service : —

That the Auckland Provincial Endeavour Union, representing a. membership of 1856 young people, in its Annual Convention assembled, views witn deep regret the steps being taken to seem* the running of Sunday trams in this city. That this Convention desires to lift its voice against ttsich work, because it would greatly destroy the quiet of the Sabbath, is a breach of God's command to reverence that day, would deprive man and beast of the needed God-given rest, and would introduce a state of things opposed to the mural, social, and religious well-being of the community. This Convention, therefore, on these grounds would ask the City Council to refuse permission to run trams on .Sunday ; and that this resolution requesting the same be sent to the Mayor. The motion, on being put, was carried without a dissentient voice. The Retiring President then said he had great pleasure in giving the hand of fellowship *0 Mr. Monro, and in inducting him as the President for toe ensuing year. The Rev. G. B. Monro (President elect) said he felt it to be an honour. He sympathised with and favoured the Christian Endeavour movement because he liked voung people, and he was fond of being with them. The Church had failed to keep in touch with the young, and this organisation bridged the gap. It was an endeavour movement inasmuch as it was an attempt to work. He hoped it would keep up its spiritual element, for if that went the tide would turn. The roll call of the societies was then i made, each delegation reciting its motto text j for the year and singing a verse of the hymn. Before they did so, Mr. Takle, secretary of | he Wellington Provincial Christian Endea-

vour Union, said a few words of greeting on behalf of its !?0 societies, with a membership of a thousand strong. The roll call was as follows—Helens ville, represented by Miss Rimmer, who also sang with great taste, " Behold I Stand at the Door Thames Primitive Methodist, Mount Eden Free Methodist, Hamilton, Mount Eden Congregational, Tauranga, Auckland Tabernacle, Te Rore, Mount Eden Baptist, Thames Baptist and Congregational, Union Free Church, Maungaturoto, Ponsonby Baptist, Tabernacle Juniors, Union Free Church Juniors, St. Stephen's Presbyterian, St. John's Wesleyan, Franklin Road Primitive Methodist, St. James's Presbyterian, Wairoa, St. Andrew's Presbyterian, VVairoa (Hawke's Bay), Pitt-street Wesleyan. Te Awamutu, Newmarket Wesleyan, Onehunga Wesleyan, Pukekohe, Pitt and Edwin-street Primitive Methodist, Te Puke, Helping Hand, the Wade, Newton Congregational, Pitt and Vincent-street Free Methodist, Beresford - street Congregational, Otahuhu Wesleyan, Cambridge Interdenominational Society, Grafton Road Wesleyan, Onehunga Congregational, Waiuku Society, Onehunga Presbyterian, St. Luke's Presbyterian, Mangere Society, Devonport Wesleyan, Mount Albert, Devonport Congregational, Alexandra-street Primitive Methodist, Ellerslie United Society. A call was made for those who would volunteer for mission work during the year, if opportunity offered, and over 50 stood up in response. A collection was taken up amounting to £12 15s, to defray expenses, etc. The singing of the hymn, " Blest be the Tie that binds," the " Mizpah " benediction, and the singing of the Doxology, brought an interesting meeting to a close.