CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21650, 21 May 1932, Page 20

CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS

MEETING OF COUNCIL The quarterly meeting of the Council of Christian Congregations was held on Thursday evening. The meeting stood in silent sympathy with Mr E. A. Rosevear in the loss of his wife. The secretary also reported that he had sent a letter of sympathy to Mr Rosevear, A cordial welcome was accorded Dean Cruickshank, of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and also to the Rev. E. Brown, of Cargill Road, on their settlement in the district. Dean Cruickshank was elected to the executive. A letter was received from Mr R. Rae in respect to home-brewed ale and other liquors being sold round the town from door to door. The secretary said he had brought the matter before the United Temperance Reform Council, which had reported that the brew was within the limits of strength for the purpose. In regard to Sunday excursion trains, the secretary reported that he had written to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Railways, who had replied that the matter had been referred to the Railways Board. Invercargill and Wellington had also made a similar protest. No reply had yet been received from the Railways Board. The matter of definite mission work as distinct from church services was discussed, and the question of a suitable building for mission work and a central club was left to the executive. The sub-committee elected at the annual meeting for the purpose reported that it had considered the matter of educative lectures on Sunday evenings after services. The recommendation was as follows:—That a commencing series of five lectures be given in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on five Sunday evenings, to be arranged later, commencing at 8 o’clock some time during June and July. The speakers suggested were Archdeacon Whitehead, on “The Tragedy of Bolshevism”; the Rev. E. S. Tuckwell, on “.The Evils of Gambling”; the Rev. D. C. Herron, on “ Does Science Contradict the Bible?”; the Rev. P. Paris, on “The Evils of Unemployment”; a speaker to be arranged for “Is Nationalism Played Out? ’ The executive was empowered to arrange dates and carry the lectures through. Dean Cruickshank Was asked to report on the movement commenced in Auckland called “ Simultaneous Campaign _of United Christian Witness,” with a view to some similar testimony being given in Dunedin, including a procession of witness through the town. It was thought possible that this demonstration might be made in Dunedin in September, and the executive was asked to consider the matter. It was reported that in view of the prevailing distress and exceptional conditions in the city just now, several requests had been received for a united season pf prayer during the daytime at some period that work people could attend, and it was intimated that meetings of this purpose was already being held at St. Paul’s Cathedral every Wednesday and Friday from 12.20 to 12.40. . The council decided to give the Cathedral services at these times its support instead of starting any other series. The chairman agreed to give the necessary four minutes’ address at the service on Friday next. The Rev. D. C. Herron invited the feeling of the meeting for some method of helping the social life of the numbers of people in Dunedin who were, for the moment, deprived of their usual forms of recreation for want of the necessary pocket money. The question of utilising the Y.M.C.A. Hall on some evenings each week throughout the winter was discussed, but a decision was deferred for an early special meeting.