COUNCIL OF CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23044, 21 November 1936, Page 23

COUNCIL OF CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS

QUARTERLY MEETING The quarterly meeting of the Council of Christian Congregations was held on Thursday last and, possibly due to a large agenda of a somewhat provocative nature, the meeting was largely attended, notwithstanding the fact that some of the members were away at Presbyterian and Methodist synods. Correspondence was read from and to the Dunedin City Corporation in respect to recent Sunday, concerts, and it was noted that tion had taken action along certain lines to better the conditions that had prevailed and that a committee was being set up to regulate all such performances and entertainments in future. A letter of warm appreciation of the council’s action was received from a Roslyn resident, who had noted with pleasure the ■ stand taken against the secularising influences of these Sunday entertainments. A letter of appreciation and expressing concern at the conditions giving rise to the need of such action was received from the Methodist Bible Class Union. In accordance with instructions from the last quarterly meeting, the chairman reported that he, in company with the Rev. D. C. Herron, had waited upon the Roman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin and Monseignor Morkane with the request that the Roman Catholic Church would abstain from applying for permission for such Sunday concerts in future, by way of support of the attitude taken by the council towards such a method of raising money. Members were much gratified to learn from the president that i Monseignor Morkane gave the assurance that his church would not make further application for permission to hold Sunday concerts. The treasurer’s report showed a sum of £6 16s received for the year so far from various churches towards the council’s funds, and the president appealed to delegates to acquaint their churches at the next business meeting that subscriptions were now due. The recommendation of the executive that a united service bo held on Christmas morning at Knox Church was approved. The Rev C. H. Olds is to preside, and the Rev. J. Ewen Simpson, of Hanover street Church, will give the address. The council was acquainted with the proposal that all associated bodies were requested to bring forward suggestions for a suitable Otago memorial of the New Zealand centenary. The president reported that, accompanied by the secretary, he had attended a recent meeting of the committee convened by the Mayor to consider plans for suitable celebrations. It was noted with satisfaction that some 30 schools in Otago were having opening religious exercises under the privilege accorded by the Otago Education Board recently in response to representations made by the council. Due to a request made to a member of the executive recently regarding literature for relief camps, the secretary reported that he had investigated the subject of the camps and found that the camp at Homer Saddle was served by the Public Works Department, Invercargill (not Dunedin). It was suggested that the secretary write to the session clerk of First Church there with 'he request that he have parcels of suitable literature sent through the Public Works Department at Invercargill to Homer camp. With regard to other camps worked from Dunedin—those at Milton, Balclutha, Shag Point, Lindis and Haast Pass route—the secretary offered to receive parcels at his office at 173 Stuart street for distribution through the Public Works Department at Dunedin. Arising from a letter from the cession of St. Stephen’s Church in protest against the indiscriminate broadcasts on Sunday, the following motion was moved by Mr J. P. Every:—“ That in regard to the matter of Sunday programmes broadcast by the New Zealand stations, this Council of Christian Congregations requests the Director of Broadcasting to set aside at least one station every Sunday from which only religious matter in the form of addresses and/or musical contributions be broadcast.” An amendment advocating a silent period both before and after Divine service was proposed, but both motion and amendment were lost on a motion to proceed to the next business. The chairman reported that some £25 had already been subscribed to the Miss Eip . Fund and asked for further support, promising that his committee would be making a canvass during '.he next few weeks. Mr Stuart Fox mentioned the Men’s Club which he and some friends were responsible for at 159 George street. The chaplain of the Patients and Prisoners’ Aid Society attended and gave members a resume of the work of his society, and the chairman moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Steven for a very informative address.