NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST UNION

Otago Witness, Issue 2934, 8 June 1910, Page 81

NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST UNION

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND AUXILIARY. . The eighteenth annual meeting of the Otago and Southland Auxiliary of the Baptist Union, of N ew Zealand was held in the Roslyn Baptist Church on the 3rd, under the presidency of the Rev. E. Herbert Hobday. After a devotional service at which Mr J. Eade (Owaka) presided, the minutes were confhimed. 'llhe Rev. F. H. Radford, of Mosgiel, was warmly welcomed as an addition to the ministerial staff of the province. The Rev. E. Isaac, who is temporarily serving the South Dunedin Church, was welcomed and associated with the delegates. The Rev. W. Perry was congratulated on his return to health a.nd on the hopeful initiation of the new cause at Gore. Seventy representatives responded to the roll-call. THE KING'S DEATH.

The following resolution was adopted on the motion of Mr R. H. Todd, seconded by Mr J. R. Hall, the delegates standing while it was carried: —"That this auxiliary of the Baptist LTnion of New Zealand expresses its unfeigned grief at the sudden close of the reign of his Majesty KingEdward VII, its admiration of the pacific influence he exerted during the nine years of his sovereignty, and its appreciation of his royal recognition of the Free Churches with which we are ourselves most closely allied. It rejoices that the best traditions of the British Throne were maintained by the late monarch, and that he worthily fulfilled the promises he made on succeeding to the Throne, which the prolonged reign of his (mother, Queen Vivtoria the Good l , had rendered illustrious. It tenders to the widowed Queen Mother its Bincerest sympathy, and it accords to his Majesty King George V its utmost loyalty." It was further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded through his Excellency the Governor ,o the Royal Family.

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. The Rev. E. H. Hobday then delivered his address from the chair, which dealt with Baptism, and regarded it in view of the following propositions: —(1) The religion of Jesus Christ is essentially a personal one; (2) there is only one Mediator -between God and man —the man Jesus Christ; (3) what we know of Jesus Christ we V>we entirely to the. Scriptures; (4) the Scriptures do not require any official or priestly interpretation; (5) the religion of Jesus Christ being personal requires no priesthood. After surveying the Baptist position in relation to other churches, the speaker said: We practise Baptism (1) because Christ commanded it, and His word' is our sole and final authority; (2) we practise believers baptism because it is the only Baptism recognised by Scripture; (3) we practise believer's baptism by immersion because baptism means immersion both in etymology and in the New Testament practice; (4) we practise believer's baptism because it is a confession of our sins and a token of our faith in Christ, who has put away our sins by the one sufficient sacrifice of Calvary; (5) we practise believer's hantism because it is a solemn confession before men of our discipleship to Jesus Christ, our allegiance to His authority, and our loyalty to His commands. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report of the auxiliary was read by the secretary (Rev. D. S. Mason), and showed throughout a hopeful tone pervading the ranks of the district churches. Brief records were incorporated from the churches at Hanover street (Rev. W. Hay), Caversham (Rev. C. Boyall), Mornington (Rev. C. Dallaston), Mosgiel (Rev. F. H. Radford, North-East Valley (Rev. D. 5. Mason), Owaka (Mr F. Eade), Roslyn (Rev. E H. Hobday), South Dunedin (Rev. L. Isaac), Invercargill (Rev. F. Hales), and Oamaru (Rev. F. G. Buckingham). *rom all these centres came news of steady, solid work being accomplished, and in most cases increased membership was reported. The work at Gore (Rev. W. Perry) evoked a special note of thankfulness and gratification, and the unanimous opinion appeared to be that this cause,." the auxiliary's only infant of recent days, bids fair to become a prosperous agency in the furtherance of the Gospel. The annual balance sheet of the a«x lliai T was forwarded by the treasurer (Mr A. S. Adams), and on the motion of the Kev. C Boyall, seconded by Mr H. H. Driver was adopted. The balance sheet traversed briefly the financial operations of the auxiliary during the yean and showed cash in hand amounting to £8 16s WO. The luncheon in the Roslyn Church followed the morning session, and thereafter the delegates and others interested in the work assembled for the afternoon meeting. AGGRESSIVE WORK WANTED. The Rev. C. Boyall reported that the motion passed last year asking for £1 from each of the churches towards the support of the work at Gore had had an excellent result He now moved that each church be asked to contribute at least £1 during the year towards the aggressive work of the The motion was seconded by Mr F. R. Hall, and, after the Rev. Mr Hay had explained that this was only a recommendation to the different churches, and not an instruction, it was carried unanimously. REMUERA HOME. Mr H. H. Driver moved that the meeting express gratification at the fact that the Remuera Children's Home had now beea definitely associated with the Baptist Church of New Zealand, and commend the appeal for £IOOO for its general improvement and enlargement to the favourable consideration of the churches of the Otago and Southland Auxiliary. He sketched the history of the h stifcution, and said that it, with its potentialities for good, was a great acquisition to the Church. , The Rev. Mr Bovall seconded the motion,

and the Rev. F. G. Buckingham asked from whom this appeal for £IOOO emanated.

Mr Driver said from a committee composed of representatives of the Auckland churches.

The Rev. Mr Buckingham was very glad that this home should become one of the institutions cf the Church, but the matter of £IOOO was one requiring serious consideration. There were a number of other institutions requiring money, and he was ; not glad to see a further appeal for such i a large amount put before the people of the Church. He thought that the appeal was coming to the wrong place first. A Member: Walk by faith, brother. The Rev. Mr Buckingham said that they were already walking by faith in regard to the manse fund and the annuity fund, which might prosper more than they were now doing. After further, discussion, the motion was amended so as to delete the reference to £IOOO, and make it read: " and commend to the generosity of the churches any appeal that may be issued by the committee of the home and endorsed by the Baptist Union." . Mr J. Maitland Jones and others thought the motion premature, but it was regarded as quite non-committal, and carried. THE HENRY-POTTS MISSION. The Rev. Mr Hay moved a motion expressing the gratification of the auxiliary at the advent of the American evangelists (Dr Henry and Mr Potts), and trusting ; that their visit to Dunedin would result ; in a revival of all the churches. He told ; of the great successes which had attended i the mission-in the North Island. i Mr J. Roy, seconding, asked whether the , Baptists of Dunedin were going to arrange a reception for the evangelists on their j arrival in this town. ■ The Rev. Mr Hay said arrangements were i being made for a reception of the mission ; by at least the pastors and office-bearers ; of all the churches, irrespective of denomii nation. i The motion was carried. Mrs Buckingham (Oamaru) moved that | the auxiliary express its appreciation of the ; excellent and valuable work done by the : Rev John Takle on behalf of Indian mis- | sions; and that it urges the churches of i the district to make the encouragement of j foreign mission enterprise a paramount ! duty. She spoke briefly, but very forcibly. I to the motion, which was seconded and j unanimously carried. THE CHURCH AT OWAKA. I The Rev. Mr Boyall said .that while 1 they had a valuable little property in Owaka. free from debt, yet the cause of : their church was there not in a very strong ■■ position. It had not Been so for a long time, but had been supported on account of two or three flourishing out-stations. These latter had v weakened of late, and I now he wished to move that they take into ] consideration the conditions and iprospeots of the* Owaka cause. But he was averse to the abandonment of this home station at Owaka, believing strongly in a policy of evangelisation and not thinking it advisable to relinquish any footholds. If the church- was not prospering at its present centre, let that centre be moved on a bit and find a more congenial situation. Mr Eadie, now in charge, would retire soon. A special type of man was required for this work, and if they could get the man they wanted they would be glad they had held on there. He added to his motion that, if practicable, they continue this work at Owaka, obtain a minister who would be acceptable and prosecute the work to the satisfaction of the committee, that the committee consider the advisability of moving the centre, and that the incoming committee work out the details of the reorganisation. Mr Harper seconded, and said that the centre might be removed to. Port Molyneux. Mr Eade gave details of .the work in the Owaka district, where he had been only a few months. For years past, apparently, his predecessor had been carrying on under great disadvantages—at any rate, the church had lost ground, and was losing ground. His congregation were as fol- | low:-—Owaka (12), Tahatika (21), Houi- ! papa (9), and Owaka Valley (7). Puerua and Romahapa had been, in- his predecessor's time, abandoned. The church was getting into debt. I A suggestion by the Rev. Mr Buckingham that the building be removed to Gore was received with applause. Subsequent speakers paid some tribute to Mr Fade's work, which he had carried on bravely under most disheartening conditions, and the motion, being put, was declared carried, it being understood that the new committee would give the matter its careful consideration. OFFICE-BEAKERS. The following office-bearers were elected:—President, Mr R. H. Todd (Ciaversham); vice-president, Rev. Chas. Dallaston (Mornington) ; secretary. Rev. D. Sinclair Mason (North-East Valley); treasurer, Mr A. S. Adams (Hanover Street); committee—Messrs H. H. Driver (Hanover), | F. Hall (Mornington), G. Calder (NorthEast Valley), J. Dicker (Mosgiel), D. Cunningham (Roslyn), Geo. Wix (South Dunedin), J. M'Hutcheon (Caversham); auditors'—Messrs A. Broad and C. Beckingsale. Votes of thanks were accorded the retiring president (Rev. Mr Hobday) for hisi address, the Roslyn congregation for its hospitality, the retiring office-bearers for . their work during the year, , and to the press reporters. It was resolved' that the next annual meeting of the auxiliary be held in Morn* | ington Church. THE EVENING SESSION. The Rev. E. H. Hobday presided at the ■ evening session, whioh was held in the church. After the opening devotional services the chairman briefly addressed the | crowded congregation, and in his remarks ! voiced the unanimous gratitude of all concerned at the splendid meetings throughout the and at the forward movements made by the auxiliary during . the past, year. Sspecially was there joy at the open- ■ ing of a cause in Gore, which had showed such sturdiness in its youth as to justify the expectation that, ere long, a flourishing church would be in .existence. Mr Hobday went on to express the hope that during the wining year the churches of the province would continue, as in the past, to pay unfeigned allegiance to their common King, Jesus, through which allegiance would come the power whereby further work for the Master should be . accomplished. The Rev. C. Boyall spoke on " Jesus and Manhood." The opinion was often voiced, said Mr Boyall, that Christianity was "a splendid thing for women and chil-

dren." So it.was.- Moreover, it was cquallj splendid for mei.. The Lord Jesus, th« great Pattern whom Christianity set before us, was the most manly Man the world's history had ever known. In Him were the manly of courage, meekness, and purity rightly blended and fully portrayed, and throughout the ages that have followed His life on eai-th the grandest and most manly characters have been developed in those who have striven to carry out the precepts and example of the Saviour. The speaker showed how fitting were the titles bestowed upon the Lord Jesus —the Lion, the Lamb, and the Lily,—arid concluded bv saying that in Him was .to be found a Leader whose influence would develop the most manly traits of human character. The next speaker was the Rev. F. H. Radford, whose subject, " Jesus and WomanhoodJ' was regarded as supplementary to Mr Boyall's address. Jesus during His earrhly life had shown unwavering etiquette and courtesy in His dealings with women, and by His example and teaching had raised the status of womankind immeasurably. In Jesus not only had the manly virtues their' true portrayal, but the splendid womanly characteristics of love, gentleness, and meekness were shown to their perfection in Jesus. Further, Jesus had not only found a. higher place for woman in the world, but had fitted her to fill that place, and wherever His teachings were given their rightful place we found woman occupying the exaltid positions which bsr Christian characteristics qualified her to fill. The Rev. E. Isaac gave the concluding speech, in which the subject, " Jesus and Childhood," was treated most sympathetically. The regard of Jesus for the little ones, and His keen anxiety as to their welfare, had inspired the Church ever since to give the child a greater claim than ever before upon its attention, and the institution which catered most for the child-life within its walls was the institution which best carried out the commands of Jesus, and eihowed best prospects of fulfilling a high destiny. The speaker exhorted all present to take care what impression they left on the plastic heart of the little one; and to strive ever to imprint thereon a high regard for the children's Friend and His claims upon them. Interspersed with the speeches __ were voca) items by Mrs W. Armour, Miss Burtoa,Mrs J. Armour, and the choir.