SOUTHLAND CHURCHES OF CHRIST

Southland Times, Issue 23652, 29 October 1938, Page 21

SOUTHLAND CHURCHES OF CHRIST

ANNUAL CONFERENCE HELD The annual conference of Southland Churches of Christ was held in the Teviot street church. There were present members from the churches in the district. Mr W. G. Ladbrook of Gore, vice-president, was chairman of the morning and afternoon sessions. At the business session in the morning reports of the work in various centres were received. The following'were elected to office for the ensuing term: President, Pastor V. C. Stafford; vice-president, Mr R. Perkins (Edendale); secretary . and treasurer, Mr J. W. Wood; committee, Messrs W. G. Ladbrook, B. W. Ladbrook and F. Shave (Gore), C. Richmond and E. J. Humphries (Mataura), E. Holmes (Invercargill). During the afternoon three addresses were given discussing the theme, “The Christian message for the present hour.” Mr M. Bell, jun., of Glen Leith college dealt with the topic, “Christ and social service.” He emphasized the need that existed to make practical application of the principles of Jesus, whose influence was responsible for the charitable institutions of, mankind.. The motive for such service rested in the words of Christ, “Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye did it unto Me.” Mr Norman Haig, student preacher at Mataura, speaking on “Christ and the social order,” pointed out that Jesus never intended to establish his kingdom on a materialistic basis, but that the kingdom of God nevertheless had to do with the present needs of men. It was on earth that God’s will was to be done. Mr V. C. Stafford drew attention to the development that had taken place and which had made the world a neighbourhood. That Christianity must make it a brotherhood, was the main thought of his address, “Christ and world community.” The forces of materialism, ultra-nationalism, communism, racialism and denominationalism, were inimical to the fashioning of a true world order, he said. Jhis was to be brought about by international-

ism, and above all by the gospel of Christ, which was God’s message to men. They must view all men as those for whom Christ died, he added. Mr Stafford presided over the evening meeting, at which Pastor W. G. Graham of Wellington South was the speaker. Mr Graham gave an address based on an incident in the journey of the Israelites. He said that in their civilization and in Christendom they had come to Kadesh Bamea; The Israelites had given way there to fear and had retreated. They faced momentous decisions today and these must be met with the courage which saw in them not a terminus, but the gateway of God to a better order of things.