C.E.M.S.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XI, Issue 2, 2 August 1920, Page 301

C.E.M.S.

The feeling that the position m which 'the C.E.M.S. ' has been placed, chiefly by the loss of members during _thc war, and the sense of vpeakness and lack of life following on this loss of its younger members; engendered I by that loss, has lea the members of •Hastings, St. Augustine's (Napier) and Havelock . branches to hold the : first of a series of joint .meetings m .Napier, .and .so to overcome another source of weakness due to isolation from ea:ch other. ;■•/'. -■ / -.'"?, The object of the meeting, the first :of its sort, was to make trial, m the first place,; of how far joint meetings could succeed>vand secondly to inaugurate a,nd give expression to a movement by members for turning more explicitly^ as a Society, to God .Himself for renewed inspiration and strength. The meetihg_was held at St.. Augustine's m July, and was aittended by about twenty-one men. The 'Havelock brothers were deputed to conduct the meeting. Some notes on. the "Prayer, of Faith were „ first read by one, member, -specially-

/ directed to the needs of the Society at the present time for more optimism (or faith) m , regard to its future and its work. This was followed by extempore prayerby another member that the Society might be in*spired m all members with a more vital and instant faith m prayer, so .that .each man might become his own God-inspired centre of strength., and activity for the Society. This was followed by a lengthy interval of silence, all. kneeling, after which brothers prayed out of the fullness of their necessity and according to their special feeling', of need. This ritualended by the singing of the Doxology,and two minutes 7 silence. The meeting, which was-experimen-tal, showed clearly the real vitalitythat lies behind the outward weakness of the Society, and the source of that vitality. Such a body is not- only not dead, but it cannot die. There Avas shown the 'unspoken but deeply felt need for more devotional and' corporate reliance on ' God as the Centre of the Society. The C.E.M.S., has never, m this reporter's opinion, shown such firm and unquestionable, * and at the present time unexpected, evidence of life and continuance as it did on this profitable occasion. It will of necessity be folloAved by others at regular intervals. ' The appeal made by the' Diocesan Secretary for funds for the maintenance of the Organising Secretary has met Avith a, most cheering response.