B. PTIST MISSIONERY SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 9

B. PTIST MISSIONERY SOCIETY.

NAPIER, October 11. The New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society held its annual meeting to-day as the seventh sederunt of the Baptist Conference. The new president, the Kev. Knovvles Kemroton, presided. The secretary (the Rev. E. A. Kirkwood) read the annual report. The work in Eastern Bengal is being extended. A new church and other buildings are being erected. Great interest is being shown by the young Indians in Bible-studv. Mrs De Carteret, who has been for years in India, has resigned owing to a breakdown in health, whilst the Rev. W. White has been engaged to assist Dr Pettit at Chandpur. A church has been formed at Brahmabaria by the Rev. J. Takle. The treasurer's report was presented by Mr T. E. Toneyclife, and showed a debit balance on the year's working of £l9O, and a total debit balance of £349. The Auckland district contributed £605, Wellington £635, Canterburv £320, Otago and Southland £s49—a total of £2llO. The Rev. J. K. Archer was elected secretary, the Rev. A. North organising secretary, Mr A. Hoby treasurer, the Rev. F. W. MacDonald missionary preacher, and the Rev. Howard Elliott deputy preacher. A missionary conversazione was held in St. Paul's School Hall in the afternoon. In the evening a public missionary meeting was held, the church being orowded. Mr J. G. Fraser (the vice-president) presided. Addresses were delivered by Miss Beckingsale (who has just returned from India) and the Rev. R. S Gray oh mission work. In connection with the Philadelphia Congress Miss Cowle was set apart for missionary work, the sermon being preached by the Rev. A. K. Wilson (Wanganui). The. Rev. R. S. Gray gave a most graphic description of the Russian delegates to the Philadelphia Congress, and of the Baptist work in Russia. No complete census is possible as to the number of Baptists in. the Czar's Dominion, but the moderate estimate of Pastor Fetler is 100,000. After a description of the various delegates and their sufferings, Mr Gray appealed for help to assist Pastor Fetler to build a church at St. Petersburg. The meeting promised £217 for that purpose.