CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOURERS

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14053, 10 November 1909, Page 2

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOURERS

ANNI-AL CONVENTION. CONTRA ART UNIONS. The annual convention <>/ the Christian Endeavour "'%,.,„ South fiint.Tl.tiry was hold >■■ ' ■ »'- itv Hall yesterday afternoon, there wore about •")<! voting men and women present, the following Sociel.es being erpro,entod - Waimate. Gcrald.no. Primitive .Methodist (Tmiaru and \\aimataitai'. Trinity, and Congregational. The Rev. J. Harris., ot the Primitive Methodist Church. "alum to: the Kov. G. H. Mann, ot Grraldino, and the Rev. J. Olphort. of Tiniaru. were also present. The Convention opened with praise and pravor. aft-r which the honorary secretary. .Mr M. Could, extended a cordial welcome to tlie visiting delegate:-, and expressed the hope that the Convention would be productive, of i:rv.tt good. GAMBLING. .Miss Logan, of Geraldino. read a paper on the evils of gambling, making special reference to art unions. The essayist said that this subject had been ehoson in order to provoke discussion on one of the most modern and also one of the most popular forms of gambling, particularly with the more respectable portion of the community. A great many Christian people purchased art union ticket*, without serious thought. It was usual to sell tickets for beyond the/ value or cost of tlie prizes offered, and it was the unlimited profits which caused so many organisations to include art unions in their bazaars. An art union involved no test of skill, and it demanded no effort on the part of those seeking a prize. The purchase of a ticket represented an appeal to blind chance, and it was one of the lowest types of .speculation. It was a system in which both the seller and the buyer were guilty of wrong. Art unions should be discouraged because they were full of moral peril. They "were a distinct temptation to covetousness and wrongdoing. To win was even more unfortunate than to lose in most cases, for it caused the taste for gambling to take root. Thousands of pounds were lost every year, and all classes of the community were being blighted morally by this insiduous fornT of gambling. What wa.s wrong motnliv was a curse spiritually, therefore n'o Christian should encourage it. Legally a man could do wnat ho lifted with his own, but ho had no moral right to waste Jus money or spend it in such a way as to catiso M.lforing or loss to others. Experience proved that the average person no »uoner began to appeal to ~,,„„„. tll:ln tiiere was a breakage in moral prin<ipio, and it too frequently resulted in utter moral and spiritual ruin. In c.-.r.ciiiMon tlie writer sjiid. it was the clear duty of all who care.! for the uoliaro ot tne communitv to abstain from any form <.f gambling. Tho writer clinched her arguments bv quotations irom such authorities as Bishop >.e.-,.o>ti, JJr Weidon, and tho late Hugh Price Hughes. The Rsv. G. H. Mann, the Rev. J. Olphert, and Mr Gould spoke warmly in support of the opinions expressed by Aliss Logan, and urged that the Had come when ail christians should take a iirm stand against gambling in any form. Mr Mann declared that in Ceraidine, they had practically stopped it uy refusing to support art unions. There was an art union on in GeralUine now, but the people interested in it, could not draw it because . they could not sell a sufficient number of tickets* It had turned out a frost, owing, he believed, to the way public conviction had been awakened there on tiic subject. He appealed to young women not to help any bazaar' with which an art union was associated, and to young men, not to spend a sixpence thereat. Onco artf unions were found unprofitable they would very quickly be discontinued. Rev. G H Mann proposed tho following motion on tho subject:—"To the Right Hon. the Premier Sir J. G. hard K.C.AI.G.. —Believing that your Government is fiincero in its desire to suppress, so far as possible, tho gambling i-.vil, this convention, representing the Christian Societies of .->outii Canterbury would respectfully direct ym;r attention to tho evil results (particularly to the young; arising from the issue of permits lor "'rallies and art unions. We have strong reasons for believing that these arc very productive of tho betting and gambling evil which has already given me Government occasion for grave aiixiety and legislative effort. NS e urge that such steys bo taken as will ii.aKe raffles and art unions entirely illegal."—This was carried unanimous- : ly. Another motion to similar effect, biift not addressed to tho Premier, was also passed. A QUESTION OF METHODS. Tlie Rev. A. E. Hunt gave an address on the educational aims of t-linstiaii endeavour societies, and in the course of this, he indulged in some very plain speaking, his ooject being to arouse greater enthusiasm in connection with tho meetings, and to impart to them that vitality in which they were sadly lacking. He complained of the indefinite nature of the syllabus usually drawn up for the meetings, and protested against the mock .modesty which caused members to keep their seats when they ought' to be on their feet taking part in the discussions. Ignorance was no excuse. They went to the meetings, or should do, "as learners, not to air their knowledge, a '"l tl |c y should remember that each owed a duty to the other to assist in tho acquirement of as full a knowledge as possible on the subjects under discussion. The societies should lie training schools for the christian life—they thould provide an education for them in christian service. When '.mum" was the word the society ceased to he & christian endeavour soThe Revs. G. H. Mann and J. Olphert snoke in support of tho opinions expressed bv the Rev. Mr Hunt and deplored the diffidence displayed by members who consistently refrained from taking a personal part in the meetings. , . , ~„ This concluded the business of the afternoon, and after tho roll call, tho mcetin" closed in the usual way. "KVKSIMi -UKI-.iING-The Rev. T. Stinson presided at the evening meeting, at which nearly IUU persons, eiiiciiy young people, were present; The principal items on the evening's programme were addresses bv Rev" Mr .lubb, organising secretary ot the Bible Class Union, and Rev. 0. 11. Mann. The former dealt with the omnipotence of faith, illustrated by the life-work of Paul, with the caution added that to faith must be added patience, for the divine action is always slow. Mr Mann gave what the chairman properly termed a " rousing call to enthusiasm.'' -Mr .Maun called into requisition most of the arts of the orator, net excepting sarcasm, in des':ribing the present attitude of many or most of the Endeavourers towards their work. Young people on becoming converted .should throw into their endeavours the same enthusiasm that tbev showed in their sports, and they would then see results that they desired, though on the other hand they might, like their Master, nnd the Apostles be misunderstood. The Trinity branch of the Society provided rrnd dispensed refreshments after the meeting.