DUNEDIN CITY MISSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12601, 3 March 1903, Page 2

DUNEDIN CITY MISSION.

jo . The annual meeting of tfco Dune-Jin City Mission, held last night in tho T.M.C.A. Booms, was largely attended. Mr G. M. Thomson presided, and there wcro about 70 or 80 present. Apologies for absence' wcro received from tho Revs. James Gibb, W. Eewiteon, Dγ Weddell, G. Heighwoy, ■ Dr Nicolsott, aad Messrs Geotgo Bell, D. Tcddj M, W. Greco, John 'Wilkinson, E. Eosovcar, Heycock, W. Hutchison, D. Smith, and W. Logic. Tho mooting- opened with tie singing of tho lOObb Psalm, after which Mr Scott engaged in prayer. A sacred quartet was thon given by four of tho iisICTS present. The Chairman, in moving: the adoption of tho annual report, which was taken as read, said the mission had now beon in oxktenoo for seven years. Every year tlwy seemed to find more cause for thankfulness at the success which continued to meet the efforts . put forth by the mission.- He thought those . ' present would agree with him that tho record of Mr Wright, their missionary, was : the record of a very busy and useful life in this community. One point' in the repprb ho would like to call attention, to was this: They employed no collectors and made rio special efforts to got funds, yet the fu-nda oamo in steadily month by month to am increasing- extent. The speaker then wont on to refer to the fact that tho majority of their contributors preferred to remain voilecJ in anonymity, letting not ilioir left hand ' know what their right was doing. An cwunplo was referred to fo the report— that of a city firm which sent a cheque for ; £60, stipulating that their name should be , withheld from publicity. It would surprise ' tho?9 present to know the name of tho j firm. The mission now had the co-operation ! of a number of the churches, who had ap- ; pointed sisters or deaconesses. In order . Hin.li the several organisations shotdd not ] overlap regular meetings of the workers I were held, when arrangements were, made I to the mutual satisfaction of all. At the i inceptwn of the mission (speaking subject to correction) he thought Mr Wright was alone in tho work, but was now supported by about wven others in his very exoellsnt work. Looking over, the report, and in, oonnrc&cTi with the working of tho mission, ; tho question continually arose in his mind ' as to the. social condition' of the people. I Why should thwe 1» need for such oontiny. ] on? work as was carried on by their homo missions? The causes wore familiar to us ftll, and he took it that thsro were three main causes which were familiar to oil those ; who wpro in earnest about ptiM.fng down evil and ameliorating tlrc. conditions of the people. First, there was the drink question, nnd ailthough he was not a. prohibi- ■ tionfet, ho felt as strongly as anyone on the necessity of combating the evils of the : drink traffic. When wo found that our •, asylums m<l gaols were mainly fiHed hy thoso who had fallen under that curse, then we were bound to fight against it in every way that appealed to ia as right I i.nd reasonable. The second evil—sooial 1 impurity—was one that ho was afraid wai • very common- in these colonies. It was very common, among young people. Whether it was a growing evil or not was very difficult to decide, but in out community, as in. otters, it; «\ie a common evil, and must Us combated. Tho one place ho thought it would be mort successfully fought was in the homes of the people. The third evil—gambling—was far more common at present than most people liked to admit: He know that tie Jockey Club did not get as much money as it u«d to get in tho <yld days. Bfo' was not referring to the totalizator. Although in some respects there appeared to bo a lessening of the evil, he was afraid tbe, lato eonrmercksl state of affair? • existing here ehowcd that gambling wassti'l a powerful cause for evil in our midst. City missions and homo missions could hardly be expected to prevent such things: they were rather organisations w.hioh existed, for the uplifting of people who had faJlen, helping the poor, and visiting the sick and bringing back the lapsed. In their city mission they I had a uniquo work, which .Mr Wright ww •almost alone in carrying on; h<? referred to ' his work in the schools, where, he conducted i Bible classes. There hnd henn on the part of all concerned in. tho Eiblo-in-sohools movement«, groat readiness to assist. School 'committees, which were at-first a little cold in the matter, had during tho past 'few years become thoroughly convinced of the ■good work doce. Heratls of schools and •teachers gave co-operation and overy assistance in conducting these cbsscs. The, Rev. J. Ward seconded the motion, which was then put an 3 carried. Sistor Clare moved—"That sincere thanks be recorded to congregations,. Sunday schools, Bible classes, and individuals who have assisted financially , during the cast year; and again, commend the city mission and its agent (Mr Diracau Wright) to the kindly consideration of all persons who are in sympathy with aggressive and , homo missions." Mr .1. H. Wilkinson seconded the motion, ami in doing so paid a high tribute, io the good work done in the city by Mr Wright. The motion was carried by acclamation. On tho motion of the Rov. W. Soorgie, it was resolved—"That this public meeting express its hearty approval and appreciation of Mr _ Wright's continued nnd successful efforts in conducting classes in five of the Dunwlin public schools for Bible-reading; records thanks for nil the services undertaken by him on week do.ye.and Siindays-in various churches and Sunday schools for the ; benefit of young people, and ur?e upon parents iuid others to give all needful assistance ami co-operation," The following committee was elected for the ensuing year:—Messrs G. M. Thomson,J. A. D. Adwns, E. Eosavear. p. Dick, Daniel Smith, Alexander Haig, W. Hntciii- : son. Gcorse Reid. Joseph Braithwaito, B. Aslin, ,T. H. Wilkinson. John B. Shaflklock, Captain Thomson, a.nd Rev. J. TJ. Spence. On the motion of Mr A. C. Begir. votes of thsmfa were passed to Mr Ferquiharson, who audited the accounts; to the officers or the mission, to tlw sisters, to Mias Dunlop and Sister Olive for the vocal items given during the evening, amd to tl>e press. Tho meeting closed with the doxology and tho benediction.