CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22712, 26 October 1935, Page 8

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR

OTAGO UNION MEETING The annual meeting of the Otago Union of the Christian Endeavour Association was held this week, when delegates representing 26 societies were present. The president (Pastor E. P. Aderman) was in the chair, and associated with him were members of the executive. The secretarial report, read by Miss Jean Miller, stated, inter alia, that the growth of the movement in Otago during the past year had been remarkable. Twelve new societies had been formed, three of these in Central and three in South Otago, bringing the total strength of the movement up to 55 societies, with a membership of 1136. Otago had now the distinction of being the premier union in the Dominion. It gave the executive great pleasure to know that Endeavourers took an active part in church work, many being church members. As well as Bible class and brigade leaders, deacons and elders, societies supply approximately 200 Sunday school teachers. Two Christian Endeavour expert examinations had been held during the year with Mrs M'Millan, Misses May Roy and Alice Sired, and Messrs Thomas Miller and William Wallace, of St. Stephen’s, and Mr Milton Smith, of Portobello, as the successful candidates. The leader of the Concord Society and two Endeavourers from Waiwera South entered the Bible Training Institute, Auckland, during the year, and Miss Norah Morriss, from St. Stephen’s, sailed for the Solomon Islands. The Otago Union was represented on the New Zealand Union Council by the Rev. Thomas Miller, who was a vice-president of the Dominion Union. The treasurer’s statement, read by Mr C. K. Smith, showed a credit balance of £2 17s. The thanks of the meeting were expressed to those two officers for the able manner in which they had carried out their duties during the year. The retiring president gave a short address, and then welcomed to office the Rev. H. R. Turner, calling upon him to inscribe his name in the president’s Bible. Mr Turner presented to Mr Aderman, on behalf of the Endeavouers, a gold C. E. badge. During his two years as president Mr Aderman had rendered signal service to Otago Christian Endeavour and the movement as a whole. He had evinced the greatest interest in forward plans and his counsel and advice had been of great benefit to the executive. The Rev. Thomas Miller also ‘ spoke and expressed the thanks of the executive to Mrs Aderman for the loyal way in which she had supported her husband. Mrs Aderman was presented with a posy.

The Rev. H. R. Turner’s presidential address was entitled “ The Aims and Methods of the Christian Endeavour Society.” The following officers were then elected: —Vice-presidents—the Rev. A. W. Armstrong, the Rev. C. G. H. Bycroft, the Rev. Thomas Miller, the Rev. J. K. Reid, Pastor J. Sands, and the Rev. T. Skuse; secretary, Miss Jean F. Miller; treasurer, Mr C. K. Smith; superintendents of departments—junior, Miss Hannah M'Master; intermediate, Miss Agnes Fordyce; senior, Mr E. P. Wilkinson; C.E.E. examiner, Mr G. E. James.