CHURCH CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19274, 12 March 1926, Page 14

CHURCH CONFERENCE.

CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

PROGRESS AND PROBLEMS. GOOD * PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE. An address by the chairman, the Rev. W. Saunders, opened yesterday's proceedings of the Congregational Union's annual conference. The subject of the address was the general topic of the conference: " Christ's Challenge to the Age." Christ's challenge had been issued to every age, said Mr. Saunders, and happily it was gathering force with the passage of centuries. Although there might be a feeling of despondency there was evidence that Christ's victory was in sight. The growing confidence in Him was a certain sign of this and the prospects for the future were particularly bright. A conference on " The Church's Mission to the World" was held in the afternoon. In an address on " The Church Itself," the Rev. Ivan Stebbins outlined the growth of the Church from early times and showed that it had a tremendous power in the world to-day. With united effort, renewed missionary endeavour and an inci'ease in church publications that power would increase. He was certain that the Congregational Church was doing inestimable good in the world to-day. Speaking, on " The Church ajnd the Outsider," the Rev. Gardner Miller said the Church had to attract the attention of the man in the street. It should recognise social needs and defects, moral and intellectual difficulties, and the need of a new vocabulary. At a public meeting in the evening. "Christ and Democracy" was the subject for discussion. The Rev. W. M. Holland and the Rev. J. E. James gave addresses. The programme for to-day is as follows:—Devotional meeting, 10 a.m. Business session, moderator's report and discussion, 10.30 a.m. Conference, during which the Rev. H. J. Ralph and the Rev. F. de Lisle'will speak on "The Problem of the Sunday School," 2.30 p.m. Public meeting, when the Rev. M. Finch and the Rev. F. V. Dowling will speak on " Christ and Social Morality," 7.45 p.m.