BAPTIST UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18687, 17 October 1922, Page 8

BAPTIST UNION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The fortieth annual conference of the New Zealand Baptist Union resumed its sessions at the Hanover Street Church yesierdlay morning, the president, the Bov. W. H. Hinton, presiding. A letter of welcome and greeting was received from the Dunedin Presbytery. It was decided to hold the next annual conference of the union in M ollington. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. . The chief business of the morning was the election of officers of the Baptist Union for the ensuing year. Thirteen different nominations were received from individual churches for the presidency. The names wore reduced to three by ballot, and subsequently the Rev. W. S. Rollings, who had received the largest number of original nominations, was elected. The Rev. R. S. Gray was very heartily reappointed as general secretary and treasurer of the union. Mr R. O’Connor was appointed vicepresident. The following other appointments were made:—Union preacher, Rev. J. .«■ Kemp; deputy, ■ Rev. A J. Greig; editor of the New Zealand Baptist, Rew. \V. S. Rollings; Convener of Board of Advice, Rev. R. H. K. Kempton; auditor, Mr Charles Collins; Finance Committee—Messrs W. Hi George (c.), J- R- Carey, Charles Collins, A. Hoby, G ’C. Garliok, W. Lambourne, W. R. Elllnghatn, W. E. Rush, H. M. Smeeton; J. A. Pannott, W. Shipley. C. E. Beckmgsale, E. W. Roy, J. Williams, and S. Barry; Sustentation Fund'—Messrs H. M. Smeeton, J. C. Spedding, W. 11.. George, C. Cathie, J. A. Pannett, and W. Shipley; Annuity Fund—Pastor M. 'V. 1Lascelles and Messrs A. B. Jordan, W. H. Goorge, H. Utting, and B. C. 0 Connor. Executive Committee—Revs. E. Evans, .H. Edridge, E. N. Goring, H. Goring, F. E. Harry, H. Hercus, S. W. Joiikin, A. North, IV'H. Radford, A. S. Wilson. Pastor Lascelles, Mr Justice Adams, Messrs W. J. Bardsley, S. Barry* G. C. Gftrlick, W. H. George, W. Lambourne. J. H. Pannett, H. M. Smeeton, and J. Spedding. THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

The following resolution was moved by the Rev. J. W. Kemp, of Auckland; — “That we solemnly affirm before God our belief in the moral urgency of the present national crisis in the campaign against the liquor traffic, and the duty of all lovers of .- the Kingdom of God to exert their utmost strength in the campaign for national prohibition; that_ we urge our ministers and churches to invoke at every service the blessing of God upon the campaign that 'by the will of a sovereign people this evil may be removed from the land.” In moving the resolution. Pastor Kemif said there was need of bringing home to some of their members their duty ,in this matter. It might surprise them ■to'learn that a large number of their members had not taken the trouble personally to!ascertain whether they were on the roll or not. An examination of the rolls in Auckland had revealed the fact that 30 per cent, of the members of his congregation at the Tabernacle were not on the electoral roll. This was not a political, but a moral issue, and so he had every freedom in commending the cause in prayer at public services and at prayer meetings. The motion was*seconded by the Rev. A.--H. Collins, and carried. WAR AND THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

The Rev. R. H. K. Kempton moved—- “ That this Assembly reaffirms its horror of war and the things that make for war. and our belief that the establishment and maintenance of the world’s peace may be secured by means of conciliation and law. Jt rejoices in the development and growing influence in international affairs of the League of Nations and also in its humanitarian activities on behalf of the stricken peoples and subject races of tne world. It commends the Now Zealand branchy of the League of Nations Union to the active support of our churches.” Mr Kempton said he had the utmost nleasure in moving that. There was need, that when they returned to their churches they should most vigorously exnress their horror of war. He referred to the fact that a strong branch of the l eague of Nations Union had been formed here largely fhroueli the powerful activity of Professor Pringle. Hie apat'iy ef the churches was well illustrated by the fact that the committee ,horo bad sent out -letter to all tbo churches asking them to form branches of the League of Nations Unions, but they did not more than two replies. The League of Nations was the only piece of machinery established for the settlement of international disputes without war. Among the great achievements it had airpark- accomplished was the repatriation of 5C0.T00 prisoners of war The world was looking on and the church could not afford to be indifferent in this cause. ... Mr Steoning seconded the motion, winch was carried.

CONFERENCE ON REVIVAL. The evening session of the union took the form of a conference on revival conducted by the Rev. J. VL Kemp, of the Tabernacle, Auckland. There was a large attendance filling the church in. all parts, and the proceedings opened with hearty singing led bj a strong choir. After further appropriate devotional exercises, Mr Kemp explained that it was intended that that meeting should bo a conference from yvhich they should take back inspiration to larry on earnest revival work in their own centres. He showed the great prominence gifen to records of revival in the Old and New Testaments, and recalled some, of the great historic revivals of the Cnristian era down to recent times, such as those of ’59 in ; Ireland and Shetland, of Moody and Sa'nkey. and the Lowestoft revival eoing on along the coasts of Scotland at the present time. He would rather have a revival movement, with all its risks, ho said, than a state of stagnation with nothing happening at?, all. By revival he meant the activity ofithe Spirit of God within the church upon saved people and through them reaching out to people who did not know God. They would never solve the problem of reaching the unsaved until they had things put right within the,.church. He drew a distinction between a revival and a successful evangelistic campaign, the latter being the outcome of careful planning and organisation and the former being entirely independent of anything of the kind. He strongly emphasised the need for earnest, intense, passionate prayer, and related experiences of his own in a previous pastorate in.'.Edinburgh. At the close of his address Mr Kemp earnestly invited discussion. The Rev. F. E. Harry said they were all Teddy to confess their need of revival, hut they could not speak of revival without humiliation before God. He was mateful to Mr Kemp for directing their thoughts back again to the need for a revival of prayer life. Let them pay the price, and God would open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing such that there would not be room to receive it. The Kev:. G.. Thornton also stressed the tremendous .importance of the prayer life and a number of other speakers followed on similar linos. One speaker expressed his belief that there were hundreds of, people in Dunedin just now earnestly praying and longing for a revival. . ' • The conference closed with prayer, and praise.