CHURCHMEN PLAN TO AID PRISONERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17880, 23 June 1926, Page 4

CHURCHMEN PLAN TO AID PRISONERS.

C.E.M.S. ELECTS BISHOP AS PRESIDENT FOR YEAR. Several ways in which the usefulness of the Church of England Men’s Society could be extended were outlined at the annual meeting of the Christchurch Diocesan Union last night. “There is a splendid field of work for churchmen in coming in contact with immigrants arriving from England, and in assisting them to become settled here,” said the Rev P. Revell; and a motion was carried that branches of the society undertake the visiting of immigrants in their localities. Members of the society could help •prisoners in Paparua- by visiting them and providing them with addresses, wall-pictures, and lantern lectures, stated the Rev F. W. Rawle, Church of England prison chaplain. He said that there were about 1200 prisoners in gaols in the Dominion, and approximately 150 at Paparua. The matter was referred to the Executive Council. Bishop YVest-Watson was welcomed to the meeting by the chairman, Mr C. H. Clibborn, and was elected president of the society. The following officers were elected to the Diocesan Executive Council:—The Revs A. 11. Norris, F. Dunnage. J. F. Coursey, and F. N. Friberg, and Messrs R. A. Bradbury, J. W. W. Baker. J. E. Fleming, O. 11. Clibborn, A. \Y. Watters, and C. Taylor. The Rev J. F. Coursey having spoken upon mission work in other lands, the society reaffirmed the recent pledge of the C.E.M.S. Conference to support the work of the Rev F. C. Long, in India, and to send out helpers. It was decided to do all possible Bible class work among young men. The annual report stated that although no new branches had been formed during the year, the existing branches had carried on and maintained their position and usefulness. A certain amount of inter-branch visiting had been carried out during the year and the Executive Council of the Society was of the opinion that this was an aspect of the life of each branch which required development. Hospital visiting had been going on steadily, but more workers were required. Most of the visitors to the hospital had been supplied by the Avonside and City branches. The council hoped that other branches would be represented in the ensuing year. An avenue for further useful work by the society was presented by the opportunity of assisting the Hospital Chaplain with services at the Hospital. Regarding the prayer circle (which had been approved by members at the last annual meeting) the report stated that meetings were held with a maximum attendance of six until January last, when the council decided to discontinue them through lack of support.