CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19107, 28 February 1924, Page 13

CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS.

QUARTERLY MEETING OF COUNCIL. The quarterly meeting of the Council of Christian Congregations was held in the crypt of St. Raul’s Cathedral on Tuesday night. The Rev. Canon Nevill presided, and there were about a dozen members present. The Chairman said there were two visitors whom the council would probably like to hear—Miss Perry and Mr Blair Miss Perry said the policy in connection with the extension of Y W.C.A. work .was to concentrate on the so-called industrial girls of the city—those who worked in the workshops, factories, and mills. It had been found in most of the big cities that it was the duty of the Y.W.C.A. to devote more attention to the matter than the.general secretary could give to the workers. She was anxious that theVe should be no overlapping, and the question was how far the churches had developed week-day activities for the young people in their congregation. A certain amount of work had been done, but it had not been possible to ascertain the extent of the activities. .She wished to know if the members of the council could supply her with the information so far as their churches were concerned. She would like to secure the cooperation of the individual congregations represented on the council. The Chairman said it was of vital importance that the young people should be got together and that they should be given a live interest in church work. The Anglican Church had a Girls’ .Friendly Society Hostel, which worked in with the Y.W.C.A. Its work was to save the girls ffom bad surroundings. It had been felt that the girls were comparatively neglected outside the Y. W.C.A. activities, and that they should be offered £very inducement to attach themselves to church work. The Rev. Mr Saunders said lie thought the council should advise Miss Perry to go forward and do her utmost. He thought she should have an expression of sympathy and help at once. So far as he knew there was nothing in Dunedin to hinder her in her work or anything in the way of overlapping. The Rev. Mr Kempton said he thought it would help Miss Perry if the council forwarded her questions to the ministers. He agreed that there was no fear of overlapping. The Chairman saul that if Miss Perry could have a circular sent round to the different churches he thought it would be a step forward. Before Mr Blair spoke the Rev. Mr Saunders stated that at the request of the executive he had attended a meeting of the executive of the United Sunday Schools Union, at which- there was a discussion concerning the programme for the ensuing year. It seemed to him to be, a very ambitious programme, but Mr Blair would be better able to present the matter to them.

Mr Blair said that as the representative of the Council of the Sun .ay School Uhion he was thankful for the opportunity of bringing forward what he regarded as a very important matter. Their work at present came under three main divisions —Biblical, departmental, and geneal. The specific matter which he wanted to bring before them was Bible work, and especially the Bible work for this year. They felt that the New Testament was the nearest thing to the life of the teacher and the scholar, and therefore they made that their point of attack. It seems to be a logical point at which to start the project. There should be a good survey of the whole of the literature of the New Testament. It was suggested that in the following year they should take a similar survey of the Old Testament, and for the third year they could plan an intensive course on the life of Christ for one period and perhaps the lives of the prophets for the second course. He asked the council to appoint one man who would have the confidence of the Sunday School Union and of the general community to co-operate with others who would do some of the important technical work. They would expect the work to he dignified and generally to be coherent and follow the main lines of the New Testament as suggested. It was expected that there would be a central school and community schools north and south, and they would require men to take charge of the jßible work.

The Chairman said it was a tremendous programme. He thought the idea was splendid. and he would do everything he could to help. What struck him about the Sunday schools was their incoherence. His experience- was that the discipline, order, and method were immeasurably superior in the day schools to what they were in the Sunday schools

Mr Farquharson said he thought there had been a big improvement in the Sunday schools in recent years. He was sure that during the coming year, with the equipment of three experts, they would see a great change. I Mr Blair said they wanted to get back to Bible reading and study, and they regarded this course as pre-requisite to Bible work. He had been looking in vain for some evidence of definite constructive work. The Sunday schools would be more or less under highly specialised work. It was decided that the executive be requested to call a meeting at an early date to deal with the question. The resignation of Mr Pranklyn, who has removed to Auckland, was accepted, and Mill. IT. Driver was elected a vice-president of the council in his place. Captain Sundslrum was granted nine monfiis’ leave of absence. It was decided that services be held in First Church on Good Friday as usual, and that the Mr Yuille be asked to preach in the morning and the Rev. Mr Bellhouse in the evening. It was resolved that the Rev. W. Walker and Dr Merrington be asked to officiate at the morning and evening services respectively on Anzac Day. The Rotary Club wrote asking the council to appoint a representative speaker at a function to be held early in March, when the boys of the schools would’ be entertained at a banquet, to bo followed by a meeting at i\;hich speeches would be given. The Rev. Canon Nevill was appointed to represent the council. The Rotary Club also asked that on the Sunday morning following the banquet the ministers should preach on the principles for which the club stands.—lt was decided to send circulars to the ministers.

A communication was received dealing with a proposed visit by Mr Gypsy Pat Smith to Na - v Zealand.—On the motion of Mr Driver, the following motion was carried “ That we assure Mr Smith of a hearty welcome and ready co-operation with him in his work. The council is not prepared to assume the financial responsibility of a great mission, but if Knox Church or another large church is available we shall be prepared to arrange for his meetings.’’ Mr Dalrymple referred to a Bill which Mr Isitt had drafted with the. object of securing the introduction of the Bible into the schools, and moved —‘ That (he council urge all ministers, office-bearers, and congregations to use their utmost influence when the opportunity arises to persuade members of Parliament to vote in sun-port of the Bill.”

The motion wa, seconded by the Rev. A, North.

The Chairman said he did not agree with the motion in any shape or form. He was strongly in favour of the system thev had in Dunedin. He could not conceive of any objections to that system, which had worked most, harmoniously. The motion was carried.

Mr Driver moved —“Being convinced that nothing conflicts more with the ideal oi social service or is more injurious to the social structure than gambling, this council of Christian Congregations expresses (1) its warm appreciation of the outspoken condemnation by Dr C. Chilton of tha ‘ morally vicious ’ methods adopted for raising fluids by the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association; (2) its hearty endorsement of the resolution passed by the Chistchurch Council of Christian Congregations against the proposal to remove the restrictions regarding the publication by tha press of totnlisator dividends and betting forecasts: (3) and its pronounced disap proval of the art union to be held shortly in connection with the citizen’s carnival in the Botanical, Gardens. It deeply deplores the gambling'• spirit that infects the community, and appeals to all who k-ve the moral well-being of the dominion to use their utmost endeavours to suppress this insidious and destructive habit.” The motion was carried, and it was decided that a deputation, consisting of the president, vice-president, the Rev. Mr Saunders, and Mr Driver, wait on the City Council to-night in connection with the art union nromoted in conjunction with the citizens’ Carnb-al.