"MISSIONARY DAY."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20384, 12 October 1929, Page 12

"MISSIONARY DAY."

THE BAPTIST CONFERENCE.

FOREIGN FIELD REPORTS.

PROGRESS OF WORK REVIEWED.

"Missionary Day" was observed yesterday at tho annual conference of the Now Zealand Baptist Union now in progress at tho Baptist Tabernacle. Reports wore received from mission fields and tho conference discussed various aspects of the work, < A welcome home was extended to four missionaries, tho Rev. H. A. Jones and TVJjs. Jones, the Rev. E. W. Grigg and Miss 11., A, Bradfield. The Rev. W. P. Lasceilfts was unanimously re-elected secretary and treasurer of the Missionary Union, and the Rev, S. Jenkin was appointed missionary editor. .

The chairman of the finance committee, Mr. F, N. Andrews, drew attention to the splendid response made by New Zealand Baptists to the appeals from tho Indian mission fiSld. Tho, sum of £7046 had been raised during the year, he said.

JDr. J. J. North said the union held tho unique position of being in credit in all its funds.

During the afternoon reports from the various missionaries in India and from missionary agencies wero discussed. These stated that a spirit of gladness pervaded tho work of the year and there was much to encourage workers. Early in December, the annual convention of the Australian and New Zealand Baptist missionaries was held at Brahmanbaria and nearly 50 delegates were present. Medical assistance had been rendered to over 20,000 people, and no fewer than 765 operations had been performed. Tho efforts Of the Baptist Women's Missionary Union had yielded £1653 from 68 branches during the year.

Miss E. M. Gainsford, secretary of the Baptist Women's Missionary Union, reported there was a total of 68 branches in the union and there had been an increase in membership of 20 during the year. Miss N. Wilkinson, treasurer, reported that receipts for tho year totalled £1653 7s lOd, compared with £1662 93 lOd the previous year. There was a balance iu hand of £34 9s 2d. Grant For Work in India.

Tho missionary budget for the year ending August 31, 1930, estimated receipts at £6745, and payments -at £6763. Speakers criticised tho cutting down in tho grant for Indian mission work and it was decided to circularise tho budget to all churches in an endeavour to create greater interest in tho work. Tho budget was adopted. ; A short address on Chinese mission work was given by the Rev. Liii King Pan, of China, and translated by the Rev. W. Lawson. , A missionary meeting was held in tho evening. An account of early missionary work in India was given by Mr. S. Barry. Ho referred to the work of William Carey and Alexander Duff, who had laid the foundation of the Christian Church in India. The former had made a wonderful translation of tho Scriptures to various languages and tho latter had 'established a higher educational system in English for tho native population. It had been predicted that a wholesale conversion of the natives would bo tho result of tho work, but this had not yet eventuated. However, there 'were indications that Indian thought had been deeply and permanently affected.

Persecution o! Converts.

Tho Rev. H. A. .Jones -gave an interesting account of his work in Eastern Bengal. Mohammedans chiefly were dealt with, and it was very difficult to obtain conversions among such a Selfsatisfied people. Converts often suffered persecution, either open or underhand, from their follows. There was no doubt that many of the new converts had been poisoned—not to kill, but sufficient to destroy their reason slowly, Mohammedans justified this persecution. A great change was taking place in India and high castes were learning they were not so very high. There had been a general levelling-up owing to education, hristian propaganda and travel. The speaker urged a continuance of giving by tho peoplo of New Zealand and stated that' they must not, be discouraged should the results appeariinadequate. Miss M. A. Bradfield also spoke of her Work in Chandpur, India. _ On Thursday evening, the retiring president, Mr. S. Barry, addressed tjie conference. Tho Rev. A. W. Stuart and. the Rev. S. Jenkin spoke in appreciative terms of Mr. Barry's work during the past 18 months. Mr. Barry made a presentation to the union of two albums containing records of tho history of tho Church in New Zealand, and a photographic record of tho ministerial members of tho union.

There will be .a ministers' meeting today, followed l>y a reception, at the Manurewa Children's Homo. A musical festival will be held in tho Tabernacle in tho evening.