BAPTIST UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24432, 18 October 1940, Page 12

BAPTIST UNION

ANNUAL ASSEMBLY, INAUGURAL MEETINGS WELCOME TO DELEGATES The fifty-eighth annual assembly of the New Zealand Baptist Union and Missionary Society was commenced yesterday and will be continued until Wednesday next An official welcome was given to the delegates numbering 145 from all parts of the Dominion at a tea held in the Crawford Lounge, and later the new president, the Rev. R. L. Fursdon, was inducted by the retiring president, the Rev. C. W, Duncumb at a special service in the Hanover Street Baptist Church. Communion followed the service. The day was devoted to the work of the Baptist Women’s Missionary Union, This organisation has now 91 branches with 2263 members, an increase of 106 members for 1940. The sum of £2220 was raised for home and foreign mission work, an increase of £4l over last year. A special welcome was extended io missionaries on furlough from India as well as to the new secretary of the union, the Rev P F. Lanyon and Mrs Lanyon, During the evening bouquets were presented to Mrs P, F. Lanyon, and Mrs R. L. Fursdon. The combined choirs, under the leadership of Mr H, P. Desmoulins, sang Blake s Jerusalem.” Delegates’ Tea

The chairman of the Dunedin Assembly Committee (the Rev, J. Ewen Simpson) presided at the tea, when there was an attendance of about iuu delegates. , An official welcome to the city was given by the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) who was accompanied by Mrs Allen. “This year we have been celebrating the one hundredth year of the foundation of this Dominion, Mr Allen said, “ and references have been made to the many institutions and public leaders who have played their part m the development of this y°u n S nat /° n ; Religion and education, took the lead right from tjie beginning, and hayc exercised a tremendous influence in the moulding of our people and of our institutions. Each Christian i ody ha its own individual excellence, and the co-operation of the Baptist Church with other denominations has contributed its share in the wonderful development of which we are so proud. “ I believe that the Church s opportunity at present is as great, u not, greater, than hitherto,” the Mayor said. “ Though Christianity is the very foundation of our civilisation and national prosperity, there unfortunately exists to-day many new and insidious ideas which cause confusion and anxiety to thinking people The Church has a threat opportunity in clarifying tne cause and effect of these forces, and I feel that very many people are looking anew to the Church to point th wly and give comfort to their con“•day, Mother Country, aided by her daughter nations. is fighting to stem Geman might and aggression that smaller nation may retain their freedom and liberty of thought and. living The Nazi apnpal for world power has as its basis the destruction of Christianity which they would replace with the use of force and fear and hatred, me tian ideal of love can he attained only by allowing rights to others.. Just as the eighteenth century proclaimed the rights of men and the nineteenth .century proclaimed the rights of women, so this twentieth century must discover a working plan under which the rights of nations, however small, can be guaranteed. Such ideals, spring only from Christian hearts ana brains. Church’s Task Delegates were also welcomed by the president of the Otago and Southland Auxiliary. Dr Charles North, who said that at the present time the Church was “up against it.” and that it was specially helpful to have delegates with them in Dunedin and to hear their views on current problems. The Rev. T. G. Campbell, president of the Council of Christian Congregations. also a welcome to visiting delegates. He said that people were now looking to God as never before.' and they were also looking to the Church in their distress. There was a great task before them and they were all united in the work,of winning men to Christ. The Rev. L. J. Boulton Smith and Mr H. Ormrod replied on behalf of deleThe election of officers resulted as follows: —President. Mrs Whiteside; treasurer, Miss Wilkinson; secretary, Miss Gainsford; ropoholder 1 superintendent, Miss Beckingsalc.