BAPTIST UNION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5118, 10 November 1903, Page 5

BAPTIST UNION.

YESTERDAY’S CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. MORNING SESSION. Tlio New Zealand Baptist Union Conference resumed in the Vivian street Baptist Church yesterday morning. It was agreed, upon request, to recognise the Union Free Church of Auckland henceforth under tho title cz tho [Auckland Baptist City Mission. A xmmer of personal members were proposed and elected. Tho Rev R. S. Gray, president, vacated tho chair in favour of the expresident. Rev F. W. Borcliara. in order that ho might, as convener of tho Students’ Committee, pro' sent tho committee's report. Tliis showed that the theological student (Mr Stanley Jenkin), whose course has ;just been completed, has earned tho highest commendation and esteem of all h:s tutors. Tho other students (Messrs Macdonald and Nicholson) have also made a satisfactory advance. The report was unanimously adopted, together with resolutions of thanks to tho tutors, examiners and supervisors. The report of tho Auckland Auxiliary was presented hy Mr Paterson. Most of tho Northern delegates spoke to its reception, which was agreed to. Tho Rev J. O. Martin, of Napier, read tho report of the Central Auxiliary; Mr Toneycliffc, of Christchurch, read that of Canterbury; and tho Rev F. Sinner that of Otago. All the reports were received. AFTERNOON SESSION. The report of the Board of Introduction was presented by the Rev 0. Dallaston, and adopted. Tho Rev J. C. Martin read his reports as recorder, registrar of isolated Baptists and financial secretary. All were unanimously adopted. The report of tits almanac, which showed a debit balance of £1 10s 4d. was adopted. Tho Rev Alfred North moved "That wo hereby express our fervent sympathy with the members of the Free Churches of tho Motherland, who. by way of passive resistance, are moving for the repeal or radical amendment of the new Education Act by which (1) School Boards have been destroyed; (2) serious disabilities in relation to appointments in tho public service (Educational Department) are inflicted on citizens on account of their loyalty to Free Church principles; and (3) the practical government of the majority of tho schools in England is left in tho hands of the priesthood of tho Established Church, whoso teachings and influence and tho atmosphere they create witliin the schools are directly subversive of Free Church principles, and, in many instances, of evangelical truth. We heartily commend the fidelity of bur brethren, w.ho take cheerfully the spoiling of their goods for conscience sake; and trust that they will, with courageous persistency, maintain the fight until tho great principles of public control of the expenditure of public funds and tho absolute equality of all citizens before the law in relation to all public institutions ho fully established. That a copy of the foregoing he .sent to tho secretary of the National Passive Resistance Committee of Great Britain, to tho Rev John Clifford, D.D.. and to the Rev W. Robertson Nicoll, D.D., editor of tho 'British Weekly.’ ”

I\lr North, in speaking‘to the motion, delivered a stirring address, as did the Rev AY. Hay, of Dunedin, in seconding it. Several members of the assembly supported tho motion, which was eventually carried by acclamation, with great enthusiasm. The Rev Charles Dallaston presented the report of tho Bible-in-Schools Committee, relating the' results of tho conference held on tho subject during the year by representatives of tho various Froo Churches of this colony. The 10port closed with the hope and expectation that tbs consummation of tho movement in favour of tho reintroduction of tho Biblo into tho State schools was now in sight. Mr H. H. Driver seconded tho adoption of the report. The Rev T. A. Williams moved that tho report lio on the table, an amendment which found a seconder in the Rev F. Shinor. After a long discussion, tlje resolution was adopted by twenty-nine delegates and four personal members for the resolution and fifteen delegates for tho amendment. [A personal member’s vote is valued at one-tenth of a de-legate’s vote.] EVENING PROCEEDINGS. The ordinary business of the conference was set aside last evening in favour of harmony, the choir of the Wellington Church rendering the cantata “Our Father’s God,” with good effect, under the conductorship of Mr Wilson. The story of the cantata was read by tho president (the Rev R. S. Gray). During tho evening the Rev F. W. Boreham, of Mosgiel, gave a brief address, dealing with what he termed the philosophy of handicaps. He encouraged those who Jry reason of busy lives, poverty, or other disabilities, seemed handicapped in relation to Christian service, to regard those handicaps as handicaps are regarded in ordinary contests; not as excuses of the impotent, but as tho magnificent inspirations of the brave. Tho Rev Charles Dallaston thanked the choir and its conductor (Mr Wilson), and all others who had assisted in making the evening so thoroughly enjoyable. TO-DAY’S BUSINESS. The morning and afternoon sessions to-day will consist of meetings of the Missionary Society in connecdou with the Baptist Union. There will be a missionary luncheon at 1 p.m., at which tho Revs J. Gibson Smith and AV. Newman Hall will speak. A public meeting will he held in tho evening, when his Worship the Mayor - (Mr J. G. W. Ai'cken. M.H.R.) will preside, and addresses will be delivered by Miss Peters and die Roys A. North and F. G. Buckingham.