ANGLICAN CHURCH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19839, 13 May 1927, Page 8

ANGLICAN CHURCH

MEN’S SOCIETY ELECTION OF OFFICERS At the Church of England Men’s Society Conference yesterday, the following Dominion Officers were elected. — Vice-President, Mr W. Nash; treasurer. Mr T. W. Henderson; auditor, Mr J. N. Sunley. The following were elected to the Council: —Archdeacon Russell, Archdeacon R. Creed Meredith, Rev. Hobday, Rev. Bullock, Messrs W. J. Lees, G. Snell, H. Gordery, and W. Rayner. Re-Constitution. “That a committee be Get up to consider the advisability of re-constitu-ting the Church of England’s Men’s Society on the basis of a New Zealand Men’s Society with more elasticity,” was the text of a resolution passed at the conference, after considerable discussion. The subject was introduced in the following remit from the Palmerston North branch:—“That the Palmerston North branch recommends the severing of our connection with the Society in England, and the formation of a New Zealand Church of England Men’s Society; that a committee be set up to formulate the constitution on a New Zealand basis.” Canon Fancourt, who introduced the remit said the Society was dying in England, and but for two skilled doctors (Drs. Snell and Lees) it would have died already in New Zealand. Rev. O. Gibson (Patea) said he did not think that the Society was dying in England. Was the New Zealand touch going to have such a wonderful effect? What was needed was the touch of Christ.

Rev. P. Wiltshire (Palmerston North) spoke from the point of view of the young man. No Bible Class leader would lead his young men to the C.E.M.S. It would not hold them. A point of contact was wanted in the Society. Rev. H. E. Jones (Bulls) supported the motion. The failure of the C.E.M.S. was that many men who would join were not confirmed, and could not on this account. A junior branch was also needed.

Archdeacon Bussell (Oamaru) said he did not think the separation of the New Zealand branch from the English society would do any good. He contended that the war gave the society a tremendous blow, and it had not yet recovered.

Rev. Bullock (Masterton) said that he could see no hope for the society unless they had some special objective and work up to it. After discussion, Canon Fancourt was given permission to withdraw the resolution on condition that a special committee be formed to go into the organisation of the C.E.M.S. and report to the next conference. The motion was then carried. The Procession A committee was set up to deal with the question of setting the C.E.M.S. on a New Zealand basis. The remits from Wanganui were .carried, that from Bulls being rejected through an amendment being carried. The Rev. J. F. Coursey gave an interesting address on “The need and opportunity of evangelistic work/’ A letter of good wishes from the Society in Australia was received. A letter to the conference was read from Mr C. R. White; thanking them for the motion of thanks passed the previous day. Votes of thanks were passed to the Press, the local conference committee, the hospitality secretary, and to the Bishop of Wellington for presiding at the conference. Archdeacon and Mrs Creed Meredith entertained the delegates to tea at the Vicarage. i In the evening the delegates formed a procession headed by the Salvation Army Band, and marched down the Avenue to the Post Office and back i to Christ Church, where the final service of the conference was held.

The churchmen were, for the most part robed, and banners were carried. Halts were made at three stations and short addresses were given.