CONGREGATION CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14292, 11 February 1910, Page 6

CONGREGATION CHURCH.

L-'.v . . . . - WHAT THE SERVICES LACK. I v':.-:' 1 ,, A i x''":.'V ' : CONFESSION • AND RESPONSES. M ; ; '■ ' : The opening meeting* ; erf . .the Coii{p*g»» v" tional Union o£ New Zealand " took place 1 , yesterday. At 10.30 *.ia. & devotional 1; ing wati held, conducted by -the Rev; W. S. ;. >•. Ferine^' : Over 80 delegates from all parts •') of the Dominion were present. " .: At 2.30 o'clock 1 a meeting of delegates' : V was held, Mr.' A. M.' Lewi# (chairman) pre-, siding, After the roll call an election of sessional' • officers resulted -.'as-"', follows:— Minute secretary, Rev. D. Bright Ashford;' : corresponding secretary, Rev. . A.U. Hunt' r |J reporter for English . and colonial papers, ,; :! k Rev. A. Hodge j reporter to the Outlook* • Vsj Rev. R. McNaughton. * --h The right-hand of - fellowship'' was extend- % ed to two new ministers, the-Rev. T. G. i-y Butler, of Maiuagaturoto, and the Rev. T. -jip Perkins, of Duncdin. * • - „ « An invitation 'was received from the Pacific Club offering to/delegates to the Council meetings the - use of their clubrooms, -for which a hearty vote of thanks was passed. ; 'k Various reports wore received from different districts. Mr. S. W. Smeeton re- '.imported the opening of a new church at Grey p Lynn. - • =■ ' ■ - , -cV -■ . Notices of mot ion , were .. tabled of questions that will come up for discussion at T future meetings.' ■~ ; In tho evening an eloquent address was given by the chairman (Mr. ; A. M. Lewis), in ' tho Bereiifoid-stret't J Congregational Church. There was a lar;;e attendance. The speaker referred to the prevailing indifference regarding attendance at church services, and urged his iiearers to make a great effort for the good of the Church in j future. He said if all church members gave ; the ministers their whole-souled support, and contributed according •to their prosperity, tho Church would progress ;,; wonderfully. : Speaking of the church' service, Mr. Lewis said he felt there was something in the An- ■ glican service which was ; lacking in their J own. He was of opinion that they . could introduce into their service a general con- j fession and responses. He thought it would j greatly help the services if a kneeling posture : was adopted ' during prayer, and :: it might be well to reintroduce many of the '• forms into their service which had been f deleted. The ' speaker's remarks were 'I punctuated by frequent applause. . . -. : ' | At . 10.30 o'clock • this morning there will ; be a conference on "The Causes of Popular " * Indifference to Religious Ordinances.'* The >■ subject - will be introduced by - the Rev. W. | J. L. Closs. B.A. In ; the evening I a-Hom« :'Sp Mission meeting will < be held •in Mount : v| Eden Church, at which !; several • clergymen wift cpeakv • " ' SiiiilWSMMrnmßUmi