CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14446, 12 February 1909, Page 6

CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

ANNUAL SESSION. (Pf.p. UNiTEn Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 11. The session of the Council of the Congregational Union of New Zealand was ooniinuedi to-day at 10 a.m. A devotional meeting, conducted by the Rev. A. Hodge, was followed by a conference on "Union with God: Its Cultivation and Practice.'' The subject was introduced by two very interesting addresses by the Dev. W. I). Mac'arcn, 31.A., and the ltev. S. Giifliths, alter which a discussion took place.

The afternoon was devoted to the consideration of council business.

The Chairman welcomed the Rev, D. 1!. Asliford into the ministi>. and the ltev. G. T. Butter, of Mang.'ilinoh, who has been transferred from the Victoria Congregational Union, was received into the New Zealand Union.

A motion was unanimously carried expressing sincere gratitude to the Church Missionary Society and its .secretary (the Bev. G. Biirford Hooke) for' their generous assistance during the year.

It was decided that the Committee on Church Union be allowed to fopro. The Reference Committee whs requeued to frame a resolution, empowering the Revs. W. Saunders and W. A. -Evans to represent tlve council (hiring their forthcoming visit- to the Old Country.

In the evening an open conference on "Sunday School Reform" was held, the subject being introduced by the Kcv. J. lioed (rlasson. Tho speaker submitted a very comprehensive and carefullywritten paper on the question, and citcd a number of educational experts in support of his proposals, which, among others, included: — (1) Graduation of Sunday school scholars in accordance with their ages, and a complete revision of the international lessons at present in use. An animated discussion ensued.