MEN IN THE CHURCH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7848, 10 July 1911, Page 5

MEN IN THE CHURCH

THE C'.E.il.S. CONFERENCE. A conference of delegates representing branches of tat' Cnureu of England Men & society in the Wellington oiocese was hold on Saturday in tne Sydney street schoolroom, the .Bishop ol Wellington presiding. The society has been operating for some lime in the diocese, bat its constitution had not been settled, and the conference was mainly for this purpose. Bishop Sprort, in opening, said it was with real Pleasure and delight that he presided. He was sure that had his prulc-eessor found the C.E.M.S. in existence when ho was called to the ]>osition, lie v.-ould luivo regarded it ns an immense help, and this was his feeling when ho became Bishop of Wellington and found the society in existence. There was no limit to the possibilities such a society presented for the future of the Church and of the country. It was no mere formality when he said he was most thankful that it had fallen to his lot to preside over the dioccsc at a time when such a body of men were anxious and willing to help the work of the Church. The whole of the afternoon and evening was occupied in discussing the consLitution, and it was eventually adopted, the objects of thb society being specified aa follow: To deepen the spiritual life of its members. To band churchmen together in a common effort to promote the glory of God and to help forward the work of the Church. To provide for the commendation of members from one branch to another on change of residence or place of work. To promote opportunities for friendly intercourse among its members. A j-relfries of motions were included in the agenda, but owing to lack of time, could not be discussed. One of those from St. Thomas's. Wellington branch, read: —“That ibis conference pledges itself to help forward the introduction in New Zealand schools of the New South Wales system of religions instruction.” Tho annual report and balance-sheet was adoptd, and a lew of 9d per member approved. This will clear up the society's liabilities to Juno 3-Olh. ADDRESS TO MEN. At tho Town Hall Concert Chamber on Sunday afternoon, under the auspices of the C.E.M.S., the Rev. 11. G. Russell, vicar of Palmerston North, gave an address co men. The Bishop of Wellington prodded over a largo audience. Tho speaker dealt with various types of men, the materialist, the secularist, the sensualist, and the indifferent, contrasting- their unfortunate position with that, of the earnest Christian man, who used his mistakes to rise to better thiiigs. To meet the evils he hud mentioned the Church Men's Society, if it produced a few earnest men, would do more than numbers. He pictured his ideal of manliness—purity, temperance, Christian spirit, self-control, and sociability.