CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3339, 13 March 1918, Page 53

CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

ANNUAL MEETING, OHRISTCKURCH, March 6. The New Zealand Congregational Union Conference was opened to-night, when a meeting of welcome was held. The Rev. H. A. Job, who presided, referring to the war, said that while they were endeavouring to exorcise the spirit of Prussianism in other parts of the world, they must all take great care that no such spirit entered their own homes. Two addressed on "Congregationalism in National, Life" /were delivered—the first by the Rev. J. R. Glasson and the second by the Hon. Geo. Fowlds. March 7. At a meeting of the Congregational Union to-day the Rev. A. Hodge was inducted as chairman of the Union for the year. The Rev. H. C. George,_ late of South Australia, was received into the Union of New Zealand, and Miss Jean Begg (Samoa) and Rev. 'G. H. Eastman (Raratonga) were received as personal .members. The report from the Wellington district referred especially to the generosity of Mrs Williams, a parishioner. In his presidential address to-night, the Rev. A. Hodge (Napier) said it had' been suggested that the first step towards sn United New Zealand Church was a union of their own body with the Presbyterian Church, but whenever the question was seriously mentioned there was a sujro-estion of absorption, and the lion and the lamb episode was supposed to illustrate the position. As long as thev had a fear of absorption there would be no closer union. The re-union of the non-epii?opal churches must mean merging, and merging often would .mean absorption, but absorption did not mean extinction or annihilation. Why, he asked, should the Congregationalists be afraid of absorption? If they could, not bear to drop the name, why not let it be "The Presbyteriau Church of New Zealand with which is incorporated the Congregational Union?" March 8. The Congregational . Union sat to-day. The Rev. W. H. Vickery, Lower Hutt, was admitted as a ministerial member of Ihe union. The 'report of the Pastors' Provident Fund showed that during- the last eight years the fund had doubled itself. The military report emphasised the good work done by the united institutes at Feathere'ton and Tauherenikau. It was decided to raise an additional £2OO for military work. March 11. The following motion by the Rev. W. Saunders (Dunedin) was passed by the council of the Congregational Union: " This council, having had placed before it an account of the co-operation in social service of the Otago Congregational Churches with the Presbyterian Church of that province, expresses its hearty appreciation of the action of the Presbyterian body in inviting such co-operation, strongly recommends Congregationalists in other parts of the dominion of New Zealand to enter on similar co-operation if the opportunity ' offers, declares its willingness to sympathetically ccmsider any proposals from the Presbyterian Church for yet closer cooperation in Christian work, and even expresses its hope that ever-increasing cooperation may eventually issue in '"uch a practical federation as will make the ultimate union of the two historic churches both natural and easy, if such union is for the glory of God and the extension of His kingdom; that a copy of this resolution be sent to the chairman of the Presbyterian Social Service Committee in Ofcago and the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand."