CHURCH OF ENGLAND MEN'S SOCIETY.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13168, 26 July 1911, Page 5 (Supplement)

CHURCH OF ENGLAND MEN'S SOCIETY.

(From "The Colonist," July 5.

Jho annual meeting of the CJirist Climvli branch of the C.E.M.S. was held last evening in the Diocesan room ; The Rev. J. P. Kempthorne, t!ie Vicar, was in the chair. The report and balance sheet was presented and read by the socreta'ry, Mr W. L. N. Lawrence. The report referred to the formation of the Society in July, 1910 and tho various steps taken since to establish it on a firm basis. A general conference was .held during the time of Synod, and lately it has been arranged to hold a imited service for all members in Nelson on the first Sunday in each quarter. The first will be next Sunday in the Cathedral; at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. A syllabus has been drawn up. for the coming half-year, and it is hoped that it may prove of much interest. Tho balance sheet showed the receipts for the past year to have been £2 19s, expenditure £2 Is 6d. Tho report and balance sheet were adopted. - -

Che election of officers wns as follows : President, the Rev J. P. Kempthornp; Vice-Presklent, Mr. It. I. Kinjrsley; secretary and treasurer, Mr W. L. N. Lawrence; Executive Committee : thp President, Vico-President, and secretary, ex officio, and M-essrs. Wimsett, Jfillard, Brewer, WilsonHeaps, Hayes, and Rev. 0. Kimberlev.

Various important matters were discussed and then a short paper was read by Mr. Wilson Heaps, on the history of the Prayer Boole. This was most interesting, as the reader stated it was a compilation from eminent authorities, hut few have an opportunity of access to these books. Dates were given of different issues of the English Prayer Book, how it. comprised prayers from the early churches of the fifth century, but being largely indebted to, the "Use of ; Sarum," the old name for Salisbury. Thus the English prayer book is bound up "with ihe history of England before she becamG a monarohyj. So': interesting was the pnpeV felt to b» that members express--cda wish to hear it agnirt.' . There was a good atte.ndancp and it is hoped that a successf*! year:lies before them.. '■ . ';'■ "V"' * '' '':