NEW ZEALAND CHURCH MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11876, 5 March 1907, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND CHURCH MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.

THE ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the abovenamed Association was held at the School of Music last . night; when there was a good attendance; The Bishop of Nelson presided: Atisr a hyniri bad been sung; the Rev W Q Baker offered prayer, and the Rev J | P Kemtithorne read the loßth Psaitn. The Chairman read" an apology from the Rev OH Garland (Metho : dist) for his unavoidable ■ absence) ftnd a, telegram from the Ulßaners at tShriSicchurcn expressing their sympathy. The ChairmaD, in his opening address, spoke of the helpfulnoss of missions to them as a body of Christians, and the blessings primary and secondary, Christianity brought to thoseuwho embraced, its teachings'. In cotrclußingi. be noted that Archdeacon Williams was in a critical state of health, and suid he felt sure, the pray6r of all would be that bo valuable a life would be spared to the Chursh and to New Zealand. Resolved on the motion of the Rev A Gamble, seconded by MrCarr,* that the report and balance-sheet be adopted ; that the Venerable Archdeacon Grace, the Revs Kempt home, Meyer, Hullett, Russell, Dr Hudson, Dr Mackay, and Messrs Pasley, John Greenwood and Thotaas Field be the Committee for the ensiling year* atld that the said Committee choose a President. , From the report we gather the following facts: — The Committee, in presenting their fourteenth annual report, wish to record their thankfulness to Almighty God for a year's effort, which seems fairly successful, whether judged by the increase of candidates for work, or by the financial support the Association hits received. The Committee have received several offers of service during the year. A candidate has been accepted for training; other offers are still under consideration ; one, Miss Dioneen, B. A, has joined the staff, and sailed in January, 1907, to take up educational work in FooChow, China. Miss Leslie, being unable to return to China herself, has been seeking to find some one to go in her place, and the means to defray the necessary expenses. She sees in Miss Dinneen her "substitute," and Miss Leslie's vivid addresses in many a New Zealand town and village will, the Committee trußt. keep free for other necessities much of the money which, but for this, would have .to find its way from the Association's general coffers to Foo-Ohow. Miss Pasley, from Japan, is at present enjoying a wellearned furlough. Mrs Rowland has returned to Japan, and again taken up her work there. Miss Florence Smith who, during her furlough of eighteen months, helped the Association by stirring addresses in various parts of the Colony, has returned to her work in the. Telugu Country, India ; she is -wanted there. Miss Beatrice Giffard, is working in the, Weßtern part of India, which she reaohed in the early part of the year under review. Her previous knowledge of one of the languages, Marathi, enabled her immediately to enter upon work among Hindus ; at the Bame time she hoped to begin Urdu, with a view of reaching Mahomedan women. Miss Wilson is the only missionary of the New Zealand Church in Africa, . although she was expecting a lady missionary of the parent Society to work with her; her station is now Uinunya, a place twelve miles from Onitsha— an almost fresh field for the Gospel. With respect to Melanesia, the. Rev O E Fox has left the mission to take up work in New Zealand, Mr G H Andrews having taken his place. The Rev C C Godden has left all his earthly work; " God took him" may; to the believing Christian, be as true a chronicling oi th~e bare event, as that a politically- chagrined. Kanaka murdered him. The Association is prepared with the money for the support of Mr Godden 's successor so soon as he can be found. It was pointed out in last yearns report, that the Committee had appointed Miss Brereton, and Miss Heron to Maori work in the Auckland Diocese. In addition to their training in Melbourne, the Committee provided them with six months' experience in a nursing Hospital, so aa to be better qualified to work amongst Maori women and children in the Waikato. Through the generosity of a friend, a convenient house < was purchased and presented as mission premises. Miss Blakiston writes from Papawai, that much of her time is given to school work, and that she has been successful in encouraging a missionary spirit amongßt the Maori children there. Of course there is a good deal of visiting amongst adults. The other two missionaries — the Rev T M Ngaki, and the .Rev R Te Av;ek6tuku are still working in the Uriwera country The Association begins the year with a credit balance of £275 iQa This favorable state of the [ finances is largely accounted for Ly the tact that several missionaries were at home on furlough, and thus the expenditure under the heading of "Maintenance of Missionaries," was very much less than the previous year. And another account the Committee has long wished to open, namely a Reserve Fund, and this has been made possible through a legacy. Mrs Townson, who died during the year under review, left the Associa tion a sum of two hundred pound sterling (less legacy duty). . . Miss Nioholls sang a solo, the choir assisting in tfc.e chorus. Miss Leslie, who has been a missionary for seventeen years in China, gave a number of interesting facts regarding that country and its people. She conoluded by making an earnest appeal for practical sympathy with missionary efforts, and for volunteers for mission work. Resolved on the motion of the Rev A E Worsley, seconded by Mr Pasley, to go forward more trustfully and hopefully with the work of the Association. Rev. A Gamble spoke of the needsof the Association. He urged upon all to become readers of the missionary periodical, tfce "Gleaner" also to become annual subscribers to the Association. - Speaking of volunteers for the mission fields, he emphasised that in every -way they wanted the very best workers. The Doxology and the Benediction brought the interesting meeting toa clofie about ten o'clook.' - .■ i -