BAPTIST CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19144, 9 October 1925, Page 12

BAPTIST CONFERENCE.

REPORTS ON YEAR'S WORK. CONCERN OVER MEMBERSHIP. SIJGI IT INCREASE SHOWN. The forty-third annual assembly of the Baptist Union of New Zealand was continued yesterday. The annual reports! of the finance committee, the secretary ■ and the auxiliaries, together with the treasurer's statement, were received at the morning session. The secretary's report showed there had been an increase of 133 members for the year as compared with 3u6 for the previous year. In four churches there was a decrease of 103. Baptisms for the year numbered 303, a decrease of 172 on the previous year. The outstanding project for the year hud been the establishment of a college for the training of ministers and missionaries. Ihe fact that the services of the Rev. J. J. North had been secured as the first principal augured well for the success of the new venture. Among the auxiliaries outstanding work had been done at Auckland. Ihe Dominion self-denial offering had eclipsed all previous efforts, and thus relieved the great strain on the finances of the church. The splendid philanthropic work at the Manurewa Home bad rendered great service. It was hoped that the visit of the delegates to Auckland would intensify interest in this most deserving institution. The year as a whole had seen steady service and there had been signs of revival in several churches. The financial statement showed receipts amounting to £5636, and expenditure £5998, leaving a debit balance of £361. The expenditure on mission work m India amounted to £3920. The auxiliary reports all showed satisfactory progress, j The reports were discussed in the after- | noon. The secretary, the Rev, M. P. jW. Las cell es, and other speakers, ex- [ pressed concern at the small ness of the ; increase in membership for the year. ; The president, the Rev. F. E. Harry, j said it was not possible to judge the condition of the church by statistics. Four churches had purged their r ° ! ' s > and removed " dead heads. _ He had visited most of the churches in the Dominion, and had never seen one that was, as suggested by one speaker, as dead as a door nail." The evangelistic passion of the church was greater than that of any other church in New Zealand. , , Reports from the various chuches were read by the Rev. Eric Evans. At the evening session addresses were given by the Rev. H. C. Ilercus, and the Rev. T. Keith Ewen. Ihe singing was led by choirs from suburban churches, the" soloists being Miss M. McTavish and Mr. W. J. Williams. \ isiting ministers and their wives were entertained to tea bv the Auckland ministers. This morning's programme will commence with a prayer meeting at seven o'clock, followed by a devotional meeting two hours later. The session o. the anion will commence at 9.30 a.m., when the report of the Young People's Department will be presented by the Rev. L. B, Busfield. Bible class reports will also be received. At the afternoon session the report oi the college committee will he discussed. Members of the Auckland Auxiliary will entertain members of other auxiliaries at tea A demonstration by 100 scholars from the Sunday Schools will be given in the evening.