CONGREGATIONAL UNION,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13672, 13 February 1908, Page 6

CONGREGATIONAL UNION,

THE ANNUAL SESSION. . CONCLUDING DAY'S PROCEEDINGS : (bt- ttssr/RAvn. — r&rss Aasoavnos*.] Wellington - , Wednesday. 'Ins animal' session of the Council of th* : New Zealand Congregational Union win, brought to a concession to-day. The Conn, cil elected officers for the coming year u : -—Chairman, Re*-. W. S. JVrnfej". secretary, Rev, G, Day; treasurer, Mr. W. IT. Lyon.: registrar, Mr. Granville Hani; auditor, Mr. C. Campbell: preacher, Re-s,; A. K. Hunt; Outlook editor, Mr. A. Heigh* way. Committee: Auckland—Rev. S. Griffith;} and new . Beresford-stteet minister, Me&sr*.. A. G. Lee, W. Mitchell, H. Edmonds, C. E. Campbell, J. F. Hall, A T. Craig, S. W. Smceton, J. V. Hooton, ,1. E. Moore. W. B. Lcyland. and W. M. Trigg. Otago— W. M. Grant, W. Saunders,, G. Heigbway, and W. S. Ferine, Messrs, l\, Greig and J. 11. Wilkin.*, Canterbary— Revs. 1). Hud, A. E. Hunt, and J. Sar-'. ginson, Messrs. A. W. Leaven, W. ; Rill, and A. Henderson. Wellington—Recti. \y, A. Evans, d. M. Aspland, J. R. Glasaoa,--and B. L. Thomas, Messrs. A. M. Lewis, and F. W. Meaclowcroft. The Rev. R. Me Naught on asked it any. thing had been done by the committee set up last year to go into the question of the©-.,; logical twining for young men who had expressed a desire to enter the ministry of the Congregational Church. Tho Rev. G. HeighwAy stated that the committee had novel" met during the year, and could not therefore table a report. 1% was agreed that th* committee be reappointed with the Rev. G. Heighway m convener, to report- next year. The committee on church union appointed last year also failed to bring down a report, and the committee was re-appointoi. It was decide*! that the oemmittoo of the union be re-appointed a committee, of reference to safguard the interests of the native adherents of the London Missionary Society, in the South Seas. Tho Welling-, ton members of the committee, with power to add to their number, were constituted an executive. It was decided to suggest to all Congregational Churches tliat tin., third Sunday in. October of each year bo set apart as a Young People's Sunday. It was resolved that it be a recommenda-: tion from the Council 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. ' The Revs, J. R. Glasson ana W. A. Evans were appointed to wait on the railway authorities and endeavour to obtain reasonable concessions in railway fares to delegates travelling to attend annual meetings" of roligious bodies. Other religious bodies are to be asked to co-operate. The Rev. A. E. Hunt (Timaru) moved: i " That this council desires to place on record its gratification at the promise of tern- ! pcrance reform throughout the world, and j especially at the great success which lias attended' the carrying of no-license in soma parts of this Dominion; and, in view ol the forthcoming no-license poll, this couni cil urges upon our ministers and churches ' the necessity of putting forth even,' effort ; to bring about as speedily as possible the abolition of a traffic which is one of -the, 1 greatest obstacles to our social and religious life." - i The motion was carried unanimously I without discussion.

The Revs. W. A. Evans and J. Reed' GlSsbou were constituted a. committee watch the progress of laws affecting religious liberty in New Zealand. It was.. reported that no law had been passed dur- s ing the last year which needed comment from this standpoint. The following delegates were appointed to attend the forthcoming international conference of the Congregational Church at. - Edinburgh, viz.: Revs. J. Wilkins and W. .Saunders, Messrs.. A- Lindsay, Spv&gg, and . GutteridgC. "\.'" It was decided that the council should' moot next year at Christclmrch.