New Zealand Congregational Union.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4572, 17 February 1893, Page 3

New Zealand Congregational Union.

. NEXT MEETING. I The business oi; the Council was resumed at 2 p.m. yesterday. It was moved by Mr W. H. Lyon — "That, the cordial invitation of the Auck- . land district to hold their next meeting in the City of Auckland during the year 1894 i .be, accepted." , ■ ; After some discussion the motion was carried unanimously. OFFICE-BEARERS. The election of office-bearers was next proceeded with, and the following were elected :— Chairman, Mr A. W. Beaven, Chrisfcchureh. Treasurer, Mr W. H. Lyon, Auckland. Secretary, Mr H. P. Le Bailly, Auckland. Eegistrar, the Eev J. Foster, Eavensbourne. Auditor, .Mr Jonathan Elkin, Auckland. Committee, the Eevs W. Saunders, Dunedin; F. Seth-Smitb, Oamaru; D. K. Fisher, Port Chalmers; H. J. Lewis, Gore; G. F. Allen, 8.A., Wellington ; W. J. Habens, 8.A., Wellington; S. J. Baker, Chrißtchurch ; W. Powell, Wellington ; B. L. Thomas, C.E., Auckland ; — Davidson, Mungaturoto ; Messrs E. Wood, Auckland; W. Mitchell, Auckland; Captain Daldy, Auckland; Messrs W. Paterson, Auckland ; T. English, Auckland; J.W. Jago, Dunedin; E. Jack, Dunedin; F. Marshall, Christchurch ; A. M: Lewis and F. Meadoworoft, Wellington. The question of the sale of the Timaru property was opened, and a considerable < discussion in Committee followed.

The public meeting in the evening was presided over by Mr J. W. Jago, of Dun* I edin, and waa the best attended of any yet ! held. The proceedings were opened with a hymn and a prayer by the Eev H. J. W. Miller. The Eey G. J. Allen (Wellington) delivered a forcible address on " How to Make Christian Services Effective." The Key W. A. Evans (Nelson) followed, his subject being " Congregationalism : Its Adaptability to the Drift of Modern Thought/ and the Key Sidney J. Baker (Christchurch) spoke on " The Ministry of the Pew." To-day the Council will sit from 9.30 a.m. till 1 p.m. and from 2.30 to 5 p.m. In the evening there will be a public service in Trinity Church, beginning at half-past seven. The Eev C. H. Bradbury will preside, the Eev Sidney J. Baker will preach and the Eev F. Seth-Smith will administer the Holy Communion. This service will practically close the proceedings of the Union, but the visiting ministers and lay delegates will be entertained to-morrow afternoon at a boating picnic on the Avon. The boats will leave the Canterbury Sowing Club's sheds at one o'clock, and proceed down the river. As the visiting ministers will all be in town on Sunday they will take various services. The Eev C. A. Lyon (Eugby) will preach at Trinity Church in the morning, and the Eev H. 3. W. Miller (Auckland) in the evening. The Eev H. J. W. Miller will preach at the Ferry road Church in the morning and the Eev W. A. Evans (NelBon) in the evening* Several of the resident Presbyterian ministers being absent in conference at Wellington, their pulpits will be supplied by visiting Congregational clergymen, and other churches will be supplied as arranged, due notice of which will be given.

THIS DAT. The meetings began this morning by a devotional service at 9.30, Mr J. H. Wilkinson (of Dunedin) presided — Bubjecfc, " Holinesß." The Council resumed business at 10 a.m., the Rev H. W. J. Miller (Chairman) presiding. The Reference Committee recommended that the motion of the Rev W. Saunders as to district reports should be placed on the "agenda" for discusaion. The Bey B. L. Thomas, convener of the Ministers' Reference Library, reported that Mrfl. J. Lo Bilby, the newly-appointed Secretary to the Union, who is at present in England, has succeeded in obtaining ft large number o£ valuable wor&s for the proposed library, and six caseß of books ate now on their way to New Zealand. Mr Fowlds proposed a vote of thankß to the Eevs Drs Dale, Stonghton, Newth, Beynolda and Fairbairn for their valu-

able donations of books for the Ministers' Library. The vote was carried unani- : moußly. It was resolved, on the motion of the Eev S. J. Baker—" That provision be made for holding a young people's meeting next year at the time of the Council meeting," to be held at Auckland. The application of the Gore church for financial aid was favourably recommended by the Finance Committee, and the following resolution was adopted, on the motion of Mr W. H. Lyon— "That an application be made to the Colonial Missionary Society for a grant of .£SO per annum for three years to the Gore church, provided the application have the endowment of the Otago* District Committee." The question of gambling and its attendant evils was referred to the Reference Committee. The question of church extension was brought before the Council, and, .after some discussion, it was resolved —"That the question of recommending new spheres of work be relegated to the District Committee." The Secretary read a telegram from the Presbyterian General Assembly, Wellington, conveying fraternal greetings and best wishes. The Eev E. Walker sent a telegram disapproving of the action of the Legislature in presenting the Magdala Home with £500. It was moved by Mr Fowlds and adopted— '• That the Committee be empowered to send Home early ; in 1894 a ministerial delegate to advocate | the claims of our Jubilee Fund." | The question of the insurance of church j pr^erty being brought before the Council, I it waß resolved, on the motion of Mr A. W. | Beayen — " That a line be added to the j statistical return showing the amount of J insurance on each building, and that all I particulars regarding insurance in hand of I Committee be transmitted in turn to the ' District Committee in Auckland, WeV ; lington, Christchurch aad Dunedin for | their information and guidance."