BAPTIST UNION CONGRESS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2902, 27 October 1909, Page 16

BAPTIST UNION CONGRESS.

I OPENING DAY. I , (Faoar Oca Own Coerespondekt.) | WELLINGTON, October 13. « The Baptist Union Conference opened to-day under the presidentship of Mr A. F. Carey, of Christchurch, who is a great graidson of the famous Dr Carey, missionary pioneer to India. Lovely weather favoured the delegates, of whom there is an exceptionally large number tins year. Over 100 altogether are to be in attendance, which is 50 per oent. above the previous recoi'd attendance. A Bible Class Union breakfast took place at 8 o'clock in the morning. The Students' Committee met early in the afternoon, and ' interviewed several candidates ivho recently sat "lor the entrance examination prescribed by the Union. A devotional service was held in the Vivian Street Church in the afternoon at 3 o'clock, and was largely attended. The Rev. F. Hales, of Invercargill, presided, and the Rev. E. A. Kirkwood, of Auckland, gave an address upon " Prayer : its Necessity and its Power in Christian Life and Service." In the evenincc a reception to the delegates was> held in the fame church. The Rev. J. J. Noith presided, and a welcome was extended to the delegates I>\ him. and also by the Mayor of Wellington (Dv Xewnian) and the Revs. Dpwdney and Williams. There was a very large gathering. Mr Xoitli refcr-ed cenerallv to the work of the B artist Chur-hcs, emphasising the fact that "the BaptL-t*. everywhere comi binfJ the prarticiil work on behalf of national and civic viqhteousn<»s& with de- ' finite spiritual v.ork — a combination that was ab.-olut«ly e~-~ential to the full^ effectiveness of Chri.-ti&n service. A referent to the Ri£;kt Hon. Mr Lloyd-George, the Ohanmllor <>f the Imperial l-'\chequ<r. as ilie BnntUt Dreadnought evoked enthusiastic applause. , T'io Mai-or. wl>o <:?«»im<vl to )je connected with the Baptist Chinch thronch lii« mother, who was a Bant if t. f-nid li" was rjhul lo -extend a welcome, for he a'.MM-epintpJ tho inlelli '-hia! ;>r\A moral effect of Mirh conferences upon the city. Mr Holmes. the =ecrel.-irv of the V.M.C.A.. acknowledged the suiiitual enntiibution of the Baptists to the life of the ppoule, and the strer^tlieninc of th« hi "he*t ideil of th© people in national and civic life. Rev. F. O. Buckingham, of Oamaru. find Mr H. H. Driver, of Dunedin. replied. Mr Buckingl-rm. in acknov.ledeing the very lieartv welcome, said: — "We have m n» to vo'ir oanifcal honing to receive fre>>h powers for our work, but also to sa y is, the nolitk.il le.iJerb who bless the evil fif -rambling that they outfit to be p-.'nmed of thcmiselvp=. and that unless they repent they will certainly perish." M,'l),, V or f.ni«-i "they had come to renew many sarreJ friendship?, to praise God for having obtained a firmer </ra-«t> of spiritual >critics, and to seek renewed consecration of the work that Go<l had eiven them to do. 'We are of the people," he s»ftid. " We share their life, and we desire to permeate their principles with the Gospel of our Lord." A united choir, representative of the Baptist churches of Wellington, rendered several anthems i

1s - • t Seooxd Day.— October 14. At the morning session the Rev. S. RGray, of Christchurch, the secr&'.cry of the "union, presented the annual report, which showed considerable progress in numbers and in church exte&jion. 'xhe j outstanding feature of the year's work was the* missions held in many of the , churches, which had resulted in a distinct ' spiritual uplift, and permanent benefit. [ The net increase in membei-ship was 229, i which had only b&en exceeded onee — viz. , ; , in 1884, the year in which the Rev. T. Spurgeon conducted his successful mission in. the i churches. The totaJ membership was now 4877. The Dunedin churches had received 133 new members during the year (Hauover Street 61, Sorth-East Valley 7, Rodyn. 13, South Dunedin 18, Caversham 12, " Mornington 28. Mosgiel 4). • Several new churches had been established. Mission work had been carried on vrith sficcess on the Main Trunk railway in the North Island, and a site had bVen purchased from the Crown in the centre of Ohakiine. Several new stations had i been opened in the backblocks, and wjiilar visits paid -to - settlements and camps." The Bible Class Union campaign on j behalf of Home, Missions resulted in an additional sum of £200 haying been j promised. A Young Women's Bible Class Union was being formed. { The Rev. Howard Elliott, who j I lately arrived • from Queensland to take charge of the Mount Eden Church, Auckland, was welcomed by the Conference. Similar- recognition and status were accorded to Revs. A. Ager (also returned from Australia), C. B. Gardine (ex-Home missionary, Geral- I dine), J. ¥. Jones (also returned from } Victoria), and J. K. Archer (Napier). i In the evening a public meeting was i held in the church, at which there was a . large attendance. Rev. W. Hay. of Dunedi'6, presided, and gay. an address. ' The President, Mr A. F. Carey, then gave his presidential address, which was j shorter than many former addresses of a j similar kind. No one was surpised that j it was an advocacy of foreign missions. ■ The Baptist mission work in India was described from personal knowkdpe, and the faith, godliness, and conseciation of the missionaries were referred to with high j encomiums. j The report of the Sunday Schools and | Younc People's Societies' Comrcitt^e I stated that there was a growing inrtere^t in the annual examination, and the quality of work done was distinctly good. Tho report advocated a uniform data for hold- ' ing -examinations. Dealing with Sunday i schools it stated that compared with last j year the rate of progress had slackene.i peiceptibly. Of the 55 schools 36 had shown an" increase and 15 a decrease, but the mci eases hud hardly counterbalanced the decreases. The totnl number of teachers was 706, scholars 5460, Bible classes 857, an increase of 31 teacheis and 221 scholars and Bible cla.-* teachers. j The reports of various auxiliaries gave ' a comprehensive review of the condition s and doings of the Baptist ehesrehes ' throughout the Dominion, and were most encouraging. Refeience was made to the lasting benefit* to be derived from family worship. i I Third Day— Octobeb. 25. i Greetings and good wishes were received j fiom the Queensland Baptist Union by j cablegram. The Conference went into committee , ' while considering the church at Timaru, ! , and the report o f that church presented by ! Mr Valentine, B.A. j The reports of the Annuity Fund ComI mittee and Manse Fund Committee were 1 presented by Mr A. F. Carey, of Clfristchurch, and Mr H. M. Smeeton, of Auckland, respectively. The annuity fund has been consi dfrably increased during the year, but the manse fund is practically h*»ld in abeyance on account of special efforts in other directions. I The union treasurer's report showed that the sum of £1221 has been contributed by the whole Church throughout the Dominion to the home mission fund during the year. The disbursement? leave a deficit" of £156 14s lOd. The, Peters' memorial fund now amounts to £63 10s 6d. It was resolved that a committee be ap? pointed to report on measures which would make for financial improvement in thf> , home mission fund, in vift^r «t tfoe large extension work contemplated in th* near [ future. The desire md approaching neces-

sity of releasing one of the most suitable ministers from pastoral duty to undertake the work of organiser and evangelist was given expression to, and this will prob- __— ably ba definitely brought before the A&sembly for consi delation. In the evening the conference tea and public meeting were held, and very largely attended. Th • annual me ;t ings of the Baptist Women's Missionary Union was held on the 14th. Thiee new branches were reported,, making a total of 32, with a membership of 642. Subscriptions (£346) eho.ved an. -increase of £113 over last year. Officers were elected as followc :: — ■ President, Mrs A. North (Auckland); vicepresidents — Mrs Kirkwood (Auckland), Mrs Dewdney (Wellington). Mrs Wilson (Tarauaki), Mrs Gray (Canterbury), and Airs Fiulay (Otago) ; secretary, Miss B. Spcdding (Auckland). Wellington, October 18. The Baptist Union Qonferenee was resumed in Wellington to-day/ The daily papers have all had subleadere of a eulogistic character regarding ■the" Baptist Church, in .the Dominion and elsewhere, its 'spiritual vitality, its virility,' and"- its * great work in the interests of social and national' purity and righteousness. The new church at Mangaramafaraji was given a place among the churches of Wellington. Mr J. R. Carey submitted the report of the Union newspaper, the New Zealand Baptist, which snowed a net increase in the number of subscribers. The balance sheet showed a credit balance of £5 8»,2d. Recommendations were received from a spgeial committee appointed to de-rif« means of increasing the income of tfao Union for home mission an-d extension work. On the recommendation of another , special committee, appointed last year, ot which the Revs. W. Hay, F. G. Buckingham, and Mr A. S Adams were the Otago members, several alterations were made in the constitution of the Union which will make for a closer relation between th* executive of the Union and the auxiliaries, enlarge the executive of the Union, and effect a division of the executive into a Home Mission Committee and Foreign Mission Committee without entirely separating the two, inasmuch as each committee will report to the United Executive. At a luncheon tendered by the Wellington Ministers' Association the delegate* were welcomed, and kindly greetings were extended to them by the Revs. Dr Gibb, W. Shirer, J. K. Elliott, and T. Fee (thepresident of the Methodist Conference^. A mass meeting of men was held in the church in the evening. The Rev. C. ■ Boyall, of Caversham, presided, and eaid that Baptist ministers voted every time and sought in every way the best interest of the worker. Life was not all mad^ up of material comfort. There was such a thing as moral and spiritual need, and so Baptists sought above all to lead men to fulfil the great purpose and design of their Creator, for which it was essential that they should know God and fulfil the divine claims upon their life. The Rev. J. K. Archer, of Napier, spoke upon the Church and social reform. i Immediately we made our religion prao? ticaj we touched social problems. Scripture demanded that we touch aivd handl* and try to solve these social problems. The essence of reliction was love toward* God and man, and such love as this, aoted) ; upon, solved every economic problem., i The Rev. W. Lamb spoke rery forcefully upon national righteousness, and very bravely held up the true ideals of Jesus- Christ. Mr A. S. Adams was the last speaker, and reminded his audience that just as tna earlier Baptists of Germany and Holland - and Britain and America were the pione«rs of civil and -religious liberty, 6O to-day they stood for a free man and a. free conscience, and bo for the truest spirit of democracy; but above all they witnessed €hat Christ was the truest friend of man, and the only Saviour of man^ Questions tolloTred, a number being askfecT ' b? ' Sd'cialiste and othert on national, and" social matters, an<( were well answered' by 'the speakers. October 19. On the resumption of the conference this morning ' it " was unanimously resolved that the next conference should be held at Dunedin. The following >rere elected persona) members of the union : — Messrs W

Nieve (Wellington), W. Blick (Nelson), A. M'Hutcheon (Civersham), W. Edish and Captain Curotnings (Gisborne). The annual election of executive officera of the union for the ensuing year resulted as follows .-—President, Bey. W. Hay (Dunedin) ; vice-president, JVir A. Chidgey (Christchurch) ; secretary, Rev. R. y Gray (Christchurch) : treasurer, Mr A. F. Carey ; union preacher, Rev. J. K. Archer (Napier) ; deputy, R«v. S. Jenkins (Nelson): annuity fund secretary, Mr H. G. Snreetoii (Auckland): treasurer. Mr W. H. George (Wellington) : committee — Mercrs A. S. Adams, T. f. Toneyrliffe, W. Spedding, W. H. Lamb. A. F. Carey ; recorder and registrar. Rev. W. R.* Woo Hey (Auckland); finanria! secretary, Rev. Chas. Boyall' (Caversham) ; Sunday School and Young People's Coiifinittee, last year's committee re-elected ; Board oL Advice and Ir.Iroduction. convener Rev. A. North (Ponsonby). Or the" motion of Mr H. H. Driver (Dunedin) it was resolved — " That this io!if*rence expresses ite profound pleasure r.t. the formation of tlie youne men's and young women's Bible Class Unions, acd hopss for their rapid growth and ex^eedinir usefulness." It was suggested that the . Bible Clase Unions should be represenl-ed at the nex< assembly. The conference passed a resolution of thanks to the editor of the' New Zealand Baptist (Mr H. H. Driver). The following were elected, ta. th« Executive Committee : — Reve. A. North (Ponsonby), J. J. North (Wellington), R. H. K. Kempton (Axickland), A. Devdney (Brooklyn), A." S. Wilson (Wmganni). C. Dallaston (Mormngton). F. G. Buckingham (Oamaru), E. A. Kirwot d /AuekKnd"*. J. K. Archer (Napier), and Messrs A. S. Adams fDun«din), H. G. Smeeton fAucklaod). H. H. Driver (Dtnodin). W. H. George, (Wellington), Ci. Carson (Wanganui), A. Hoby (WelHngron), C. Cathie (Wellington), and R. Milligan (Oamai'u). Students' Committee — Revs. R. S. Gray (Christchurch). J. J. North (Wellington), T. A. Williams (Petone}. A. Dewdney (Brooklyn), and A. S. Wilson (Wanganui). A public meetine in connection with the conference was held in the evening at B«rhampor«. R«v. D. S. Mason, of N.E. VaJley, occupied the chair, and the ►peakers wera the Rev. Messrs Dailaston and Hobday, and the newly-elected president of the union (Rev. W. Hay), all of Dunedin. The conference passed a resolution expiessinflr deep indignation at the oatron-a-ze given to gambling by two Ministers of the Crown by their presence at the opening o f Tattersall's Club in this city, and their defence of gambling. Among the Questions considered was the extending of the benefits of the Annuity Fu.i>d to noise missionaries. The report of the committee charged with th*> amending of the regulations governing the fund was delivered by ,Mr A. S. Adams, and ■tras adverse to the proposal. - The report was adopted. October 20. Misaionarv work in India, its pas-t acn-ievftmc-Tits, and i(.s future prospects occupied th© attention of ihe Baptist Union Conference to-day. The secretary's report noted that a decided advance hn-1 b^n mad*. Extensions have been built, on one station throu*>h the geaerocjly of the Anthington Purd, snd schools and residences have been erected. Mention was made of the hearty resoonse of ihe Sunday schools in tb« Domiaion in t.he matfer of contributions to the foreisn ji)is.<ion work. Jji moving the adootJon of the report, th" Rev. "a. S. Wilson, of Wanpamri. emplns.is€d tJie intense missionary spirit that cha.rac'erises the wonifn •of the rhurch-pp in New Z^^land. the j B.W.M.U. having don-e splendidly "during I thp yeir. Mr W. W Geor-e. of Wellington, said that two tk':i?s bad burned tlwrnfielv-es inio hi? fou] dvrincr his visit t-o the mission station* in — the se!f-«icrince of the •workers arW -ih-c- inftdequacy of the staff "s rompnred witih the responsibilities. At V.'^t 20 missionaries were inquired for t'n» jrreai in^k. T> c report of the trr-asnrer of the New | B3T>ti?t Mi-^'-.orary Society re- I rordpd mviot" as follows : — A"rklanri district. £507 6s 6i' : Wellington. £6]*) 182 d : Canterbury. £231 7s 2d : tjtago , and Southland.' £469 Os 7d ; B.W.M.U. I

(not included in churches), £73 19s 2d ; general sources, £58 0s 2d ; another Wellington grant, J8125 ; National Bible Society of Scotland. £12 10s; and general sources £37; giving a total of £2194 9s Bd. Expenses incurred in India — salaries, etc. — came to £1382 10s, and in New Zealand to £329 11s 2d. A balance of 8s 6d was shown. Receipts by the Chand'pur dispensary total £386 4s 4d, and by the church building there £100. i Expenditure to the above amounts has baen incurred. The missionary organiser's report was submitted and adopted. Thanks were expressed to the donors of the 38 Christmas boxes for India, and the Union Steam ■ Ship Company, which carried the goods fre* of charge. The Rev. E. A. Kirwood and Mr A." Holay were re-elected misiionary secretary and treasurer respectively. Rev. W. H. H-in.'on (Thames) was appointed missionary organising secretary for the ensuing year. The Rev. F. Hales (Invercargill) was elected missionary preacher, and the Rev. W. H. Hinton deputy preacher. A missionary conversazione was held in the Town Hall in ihe afternoon, ar.d was very- largely attended. A public meeting was held in the Vivian Strest Churoh in the evening. The speakers for the afternoon and evening weie the retiring president (Mr A. F. Oarey). Rev. Mr Tackle (India), R«v. Mr Kirwood (Auckland), Rev. J. H. Hinton (Thames). Miss G-ainsfoid (India), Mr W. H. George (Wellington), Mr G. Carson (Wan.gan.uij, and the Chinese Consul. October 21. The prc-iirkat-elect, Wm. Hay, of Dunedin) look his seat for the first time on the resumption of the Baptist Union Conference, the retiring president (Mr A. F Carey) introducing him. Greetings were received fiom the Revs. J. T. Hintoi (Dunedin), F. W. Boreham (Hobart), and J. C. Martin (Williamslovnl. Estimate* in connection with the church Bid nnd church extension work were adopted. The income wais estimated at. £874, made up as follows: — Ordinary income. £750 ; collected by deputation to Ihe chm'ches. £50; subscriptions promise j last year, £20 ; appeal through the Assembly to the churches," £50 ; collected by the Young Men's Bible Class Union, £26; less 2£ per cent. The amount, at the union's dtepo*al was allotted to the various centres in the following proportions : — Waahi £20, Whangarei £30. Grange Road £35. Epsom £2a"o, Richmond £25. Blackblocks £30, G-is-borne £40. Hastings £60, Feeding £35. Petone £35, Main Trunk £100, Mangararama. £26, Ashburton £15. East Oxford £20, Rictarton £20. Kaiapoi and Ran^ioia £20, Mornington £40. Owaka £25. Gore £10, students £5. Sunday Schocl Cjn.mittce £15, sundries £70. The allo cations aro subject to amendment. Ehtrnntes in connection with the Tipperah Missions for the coming j-ear were adopted. The gross income was* set down at £2000 and tbe expenditure at £1906 Tho ChandpuT Centre was estimated 'o absorb £695, and tite Biahmanbaria Cent c £693. To the R.?v G. Takle's mission £259 was allotted ; to M'.«s Gainsford's section. £50- to the Baria Mi.-fioc (womnH depaHment). £384 : to Dr North. £90 ; and to home ami foreign administration. £194. Mr A. S Adams moved — " Th.»t lh>« I'ssembiy. on behalf of \he Bapti.-,i ; Uhuvch€.« of the union, and ev-erv mp.'iiJx'- ! thereof, earnes-tlv protests jgaiiu«:t the granting of wholesale licep.ies in nmii within the boundarr-s of the King Country by the chairman and member of the Licensing Committee. The a'embly desLi-es to emphasise the fact thar the grant of these licen^s irs a jrr&fs ard dishonoui-able breach of the spirit of the solemn cgreerrsn-t ir.He between the G<,j Mjmmejit and the Xativc-s. aid ca'ls upon the Legislature to right this grievous wrong, and redeem the honour of the Dotmnion by prompt lpcriflation aiinulli',^thec.s licenses and prohibiting all licen-es. at any plat* within the outsrboundaries of the Kinc Counhv as fixed by proclam.itu;n in 1887 and 1894.' The motion ivas seconded br the Rev. A. D^-^-dney. the assembly signifying its nscsnt by ftandinq — The E>v. J. .7. North moved—" That ?hi« fonferPDCP urges on th^ Government the utcent-ity of lin.iting by law the pos- ' -i'jlf riUiTiher of race meeting's in the Do- I nuniou. ih« immediate suDpi-ecsior. of pio- • prietary lacing chib 1 -. and t>- deliverance !

of the country from tho double curee of the licensed bookmaker and the licensed betting machine." The motion wa.s seconded by the Rev. Mr Gray and carried. A deputation representing the New Zealand Alliance and the- Wellington Central No-1 ioen.se Council waited on the delegates at the People's Palace to convey the league's greetings to the Conference. The Rev. A. Dewdney introduced the d«putation, which included the Revs. W. J. Williams, W. J. ConiTie, J. Dawson. and Messrs A. R. Atkinson and G. B. Nicholls. Tho Re-v. W. J. Williams said he counted it no small honour to bear greetings from the New Zealand Alliance. He acknowledged the dis-tinguished part the Baptist Church was taking in the battle against the liquor tiaffic. The speaker ob- } served that everywhere throughout the Dominion this spirit was prevalent among the Baptists. The Revs. J. J. North and IA. Dewdney were eulogised by the rev. [ gentleman for tbeir persistent work as temperance advocates. The prospects of the cause were never brighter for no-license than at present. If the bill now before I Parliament met with the success anticipated, in a few j-ears New Zealand would be " dry." ! Mr A. R. Atkinson made a few remarks, saying that the bedrock of the temperance movement was Christianity. The tempe.ra.nce. bodies pelkd on the Baptist Church more than any oth-er organisation — outside the teTGpera.nce organisation — for the advancement of the great cause. The Rev. W. J. Coinrie added his quota of tribute to the Ba.rrtists as a church. The Rev. J Spot-tiswoorl (Waihi) responded to the gi-eetirMps. He referred to the groat assistance of the New Zealand Alliance in the late Ohinemuri trouble. The Baptist Church, he would say in reulv to previous complimentary remarks, had contributed leaders to ev&rv <.'ieat movem&n'. In the Oliinpmuri viclorv all the churches were associated in a combined effort. Mr R. Milliga-n (Mayor of Oamaru. who rcprewnts_ a, ro-licen^e district) ako assisted iri a raiprocation of the kind iemarks and fouling^. The Conferenof fetn.on was preached nt ■■he Vivian Streti Church in the evening oy the Rev. Knowles Kemoton, of Ai>ck? land, after which the Lord's Supper was -••^lebrrled. This terminated the memorable Conference of 1909.