NZ. BAPTIST UNION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 12001, 19 October 1906, Page 2

NZ. BAPTIST UNION.

♦ 24th Annual Conference. Last evening the concluding service in connection wijh the Conference was held in the Baptist Church, when the Rev. A. Noith, of Auckland, preached the Union ft&rmon. After the singing of the hymn 'Conio Let Us Join,' tlie Rev. C. Dallaston read a portion of Scripture, and the Rev. \\ . Hay, of Dunedin, offered prayer. 'lne Rev. A. North apologised for the absence of the appointed preacher, Rev. J. C. Martin, who had been called back to his home. The preacher took as his text the words in John 1., iii., 16-18 inclusive. The speaker said we cannot listen thoughtfully to the words of the. text without having our thoughts taken back to the Last Supper, and the giving of a new commandment, "That ye love one another." This new love was essential to the new life, and was evidence that the professed disciple had actually passed out of death into life. Love, of this kind was not known until it was brought down from Heaven by the Son of God, was not in the ken of man until God revealed it through Jesus Christ. This love was fully demonstrated upon Calvary, and thus transcended all earthly love. The practice of this love was new. A love that knits men of all colours and bloods into one brotherhood should be exercised. We ought to lay down our lives for the brotherhood. This had often been done in the primitive Church. The preacher quoted Turtullian as saying "Behold, how those Christians love one another," and referred to the love shown by Baptist martyra to one another in the 16th century. Love calls for life in service, as is found on the mission field. What a power we should be in the world if we would only give ourselves unreservedly to the practice of this love. Beloved, let us love. Love is of G' d. In G'd alo«ie hath love Its true abode. An impressive communion seivi'^ ;■>!- lowed, presided over by t 1 c Rev. A. D. vu!ney, who was supported by the Re\s. Saltcr, Macdonald, Davis, Woolley, Mason, and Spottiswoode, thus fittingly closing a highly successful Conference. A pleasing action in connection with the Conference, and one that was highly appreciated by the delegates, was the presentation to each delegate every morning of a choice buttonhole prepared by the members of the Endeavour Society and friends.