WANGANUI MINISTERS’ ASSOCIATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19505, 5 February 1926, Page 5

WANGANUI MINISTERS’ ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Wanganui Ministers’ Association was held in the Y.M.C.A. on Monday, when the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: — President, Rev. J. Paterson, M.A.; vice-president, Ven. R. Creed Meredith, M.A.; hon. secretary, Rev. A. J. Grigg, 8.A., B.D. (re-elected); hon. treasurer, Rev. E. S. Cox, M.A. (re-elected); member of committee, Pastor G. D. Verco. The following resolution was unanimously passed:—‘ 1 That this Wanganui Ministers’ Association expresses its strong protest against the deliberate policy of the Railway Department of running Sunday excursions from country centres to such places as Wanganui, Napier, etc., such excursions not being to meet any public demand or necessity, but started on its own initiative by the Department. That a letter be sent to the official representatives in Wellington of each denomination affiliated to the Association, asking them to unite in a protest to the Government against theso excursions.’ ’

The annual report was presented by the secretary, as follows: — At the last annual meeting, the following officers were elected: President, Pastor G. D. Verco (re-elected); vicepresident, Rev. J. Paterson, M.A., (reelected); hon. secretary, Rev. A. J. Grigg, 8.A., B.D. (re-elected); hon. treasurer, Rev. E. T. Cox, M.A. The year has been not Able for the increase of the Association’s strength and representative nature by the accession to its ranks of the Anglican clergy of the city. The new members of the Association during the year have been the Revs. Abbey, Coles, G. F. Cox, Eccersall, Elliott, Hickman, Keen, Malcolm, Meredith, Tye and Weller, Commandant Smith, Adjutant Birks and Ensign Fcrgusson, whilst the Revs. Brady, Hooper, Johnson, Kearney and Kennedy and Commandant Middlemiss have left for other spheres of service. Ten meetings have been held during the year, with an average attendance of ten members. The courtesy of the general secretary of the Y.M.C.A. in providing the Y.M.C.A. Library for Association meetings, and in dispensing afternoon tea is again greatly appreciated. During the Y.M.C.A. financial compaign, a donation was made to the funds by our Association. One meeting of the Association was held at St. Paul ’a Manse, when the hospitality of the Rev. J. Paterson and Mrs Paterson was greatly appreciated. Several meetings were devoted to the discussion of the urgent question of the "Race Problem,” with special reference to Oldham’s "Christianity and the Race Problem” and Basil Mathew’s "The Clash of Colour.” An informative address on youth work by Mr lan Robinson, world secretary of the Boys’ Division of the Y.M.C.A. was ably followed up at a later meeting by the local secretary, Mr McEldowncy, who gave much detailed information concerning tests and methods of youth work. An interesting address was given at one meeting by the Rev. D. Calder, Dominion secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and at the request of the local branch of the Society, a special Sunday was observed in most of the churches, when definite pulpit reference was made to the great work of the Society. Early in the year, a combined mid-week rally was held in St. Paul’s Hall to foster interest in the open-air work of the Association, and an inspiring address was delivered by the Rev. T. H. Eccersall. The openair work was discontinued during the winter months, partly through the inclemency of the weather, and partly through the lack of helpers. To that small circle of faithful workers from the churches who so loyally supported the work while it continued, our warm thanks are due.

The weekly hospital services have been continued throughout the year, and are increasingly appreciated; whilst the Hospital Sunday School, conducted on behalf of the Association by representatives of the Gonville Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches, has become a very popular institution with the children and is very faithfully and happily carried out by those responsible. The fortnightly service at the Jubilee Home has also been held regularly. For continued courtesies in the matter of these services, we again express our appreciation to the Hospital Board and staff. More than the usual number of combined services have been held during the year. The morning Anzac Service, held in St. Paul’s Church, was addressed by the Rev. A. J. Grigg, whilst at the open-air Memorial Service in the afternoon at Cook’s Gardens, the Rev. R. Creed Meredith was the preacher. The collection at the morning service was, as usual, devoted to the Poppy Fund. The Good Friday service was held in Trinity Church, with the Rev. J. Paterson as preacher. The Christmas service was also held in the same church, the Rev. T. H. Eccersall giving the address. In conjunction with the civic authorities, the 2kssociation was called upon to arrange two citizens’ Memorial Services during the year. The Memorial Service for the late Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, P.C., was held in Cook’s Gardens, and an impressive tribute was paid by the Rev. J. Paterson, who also delivered the eulogium at a solemn Memorial Service, held in St. Paul’s Church, in honour of the late Dowager Queen Alexandra. The usual interchange of pulpits took place in September. The weekly religious column in the "Chronicle,” entitled “On the Threshold of Sunday,” has proved of consistently high standard, and we are much indebted to the Rev. John Paterson for his able editorship. The hour of the weekly prayer-meet-ing was changed during the year from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, but this hour proving even less suitable, the prayer-meeting has been changed to a monthly one, held before the usual meeting of the Association. Urgent support was given by the Association to the “Religious Exercises in Schools” Bill presented to Parliament, and the members of the Association also were actively engaged for a considerable time in the prohibition campaign, preceding the election in November. Amongst other matters at present engaging the attention of the members are the possibilities of services at the gaol, and work among the Asiatics of the city, and the desirability of the formation of a National Council of Christian Congregations to study urgent questions of the day, and to give considered expression to the Christian consciousness on these matters. In conclusion, we give thanks for a year of happy fellowship and service, and pray that individually and corporately we may experience great blessing in the ministry of the coming year.