Baptist Union Meeting.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 63, 18 March 1904, Page 2

Baptist Union Meeting.

The annual meeting of the Central Auxiliary of the Baptist Union of New Zealand was held yesterday morning in the tlill Street Church. Rev. W. It. Woolley, as president., took the chair at 10 a.m., with Kev W. Lnmb as secretary. The meeting having been opened with praise and prayer, the following representatives answered to the roll : Wellington, Kev. (.'. Jialluston ; Ohiro, Jiev. W. Lamb ; I'ulmerston North, Kev. K. Richards, Messrs A. 10. Whitehead and Hutchens ; Wangnnui, Messrs <!. Carson, C (laze and (Jarrod ; Nelson, Kev. V. 11. Buckingham ; New Plymouth, Kevs. W. Jhvw and \\. K. Woolley, Messrs 11. (Joudacre and (1. 11. Maunder. Mr Whalley, of Otaluiku was associated with the meeting as a visitor.

The secretary's report and balance sheet was then read and adopted. It. pointed out that much advance had been made during the eight years the auxiliary had been in existence. The membership of the associated churches had nearly dimpled in that period, while many new churches had been established. The new churches at Ohiro. Herhampore, and Petone are all nourishing. The I'nlinerston church nas also increased and now finds the need of a larger building which will shortly be commenced.

The retiring president and Secretary were unanimously re-elected for the coming year, and they will, with the following gentlemen, form (lie executive co illee:—Kev. F. (!. liuckinghnm (Nelson), Messrs 11. (ioodacre, C. Uaz.e and A. K. Whitebend.

All the churches made good reports of their pi-ogress during (he past year, Nelson's report being particularly good After considerable discussion the auxiliary decided to recommend the l.'nion to make church extension in several centres and home mission elforls in the back country,

The afternoon meeting- was attended by a number of the friends as well as the dvlegutcs and took Ihe form of a general discussion on the duly and place of the church in social reform. This was introduced by a paper read by Mr C. lusion (Wellington). Prom Ihe remarks of the various speakers, both cleric, and lay, if was evident that the Baptist churches believed in concrete Christianity, and they do, and will make their cll'orls fell in all matters of social reform.

A social lea was much enjoyed at the Whiteley schoolroom, niter which followed the public meeting in Gill Street Church,

.Mr Carson, President of the Baptist Vnion of New Zealand, occupied the chair. Addresses were, given on practical Christian topics by the Revs. E. Richards, W. Lamb, and F. t!. Buckingham. Musical items were contributed by the choir and by Mrs P. lloby, Misses Ambtiry and (looducre, and Messrs Hay and Arthur Ambury. The whole day's meetings were really enjoyable, and closed with the Doxology and Benediction,