C.E.M.S. CONFERENCE AT MASTERTON.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 25, Issue 8, 1 August 1935, Page 6

C.E.M.S. CONFERENCE AT MASTERTON.

The annual Dominion Conference of the C.E.M.S. was held m Masterton, from Tuesday, May 14th, to Thursday,. May 16th. There was a very representative attendance from various parts of New Zealand and the Conference was a most happy and inspiring gathering. Proceedings opened with a devotional service m St. Matthew's Church, conducted by the Yen. Archdeacon A. L. Hansell, who spoke on the society's rule of life. In the evening the procession of witness proceeded along the principal streets and halted m Hall Street, where Che Bishop of Waikato, the Rt. Rev. C. A. Cherrington, gave an address. About 150 men took part m the procession which made a. profound impression on the large crowds, assembled m the streets. In his address, Bishop Cherrington gave a brief but earnest and emphatic statement of the faith m which members of the Church of England Men's Society are united. After the procession Evensong was sung m St. Matthews' Church, which was almost filled. The Bishop of Waiapu, the Rt. Rev. H. W. Williams, took as his text: "Until we attain all to €he oneness of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God^-to perfect manhood — to a due measure of maturity of the fulfilment of Christ,' r Eph. 4, 13. After explaining m detail the meaning of this quotation, he stated that it brought them back to their own Society — "all is one; for all we are to attain the oneness of faith and knowledge, to

perfect manhood, to the consummation of the Church" — almost the objects of the Society as expressed m the rules. The Society's ideals were only what should be those of every churchman. After referring to certain aspects of the Society's work, the Bishop said they must cultivate the missionary spirit, and that missionary spirit should begin at their doors and extend to the furthest corners of the «arth. The Church that was not a missionary Church was a dead Church, and their Society should emphasise this duty of the Church. The service was conducted by the Rev. B. J. Rich (Vicar of St. Matthew's) and the Rev. J. E. Jones. The Bishop of Waikato read the first lesson, and Archdeacon Russell the second lesson. BUSINESS SESSION. The business session of the annual Dominion Conference of the Church of England's Men's Society was held on Wednesday morning. The report of the Dominion Secretary, Mr R. Liggins (Wellington), stated inter alia: — "The three outstanding neeids of tihie Society are to: — (a) Increase the number of our branches and increase the number of our membership; (b) provide help and instruction to smaller branches m remote districts by suggesting methods of carrying on their branches, and, if possible, supply something m the nature of a syllabus; (c) demonstrate the definite usefulness of a branch m a parish m promoting true Christian fellowship. The one regret of members was that the Bishop of Wellington was unavoidably unable to be present. In his -absence Mr. J. Snell, vice-president, took the chair. On behalf of the Bishop, the Vicar of Masterton, the Rev. E. J. Rich, welcomed the visiting Bishops, clergy and delegates. The election of oflicers resulted as — The retiring vice-presidents, Dominion secretary, Dominion trea•surer, and hon. auditor were re-elected unopposed. They are: — Vice-presi-dents, Archdeacon J. D. Russell (Oamaru), and Mr. J. Snell (Wellington), Dominion secretary, Mr. R. Lig.gins (Wellington). The following were elected to the Dominion Council: The Revs. P. C. Long (Wellington), G. C. Blathwayt (Wellington), E.

J. Rich (Master ton), and A. J. Beck (Auckland), and Messrs. H. B. Robb (Auckland), D. Hay (Auckland), E. Hale (Masterton), and A. E. Robinson (Carterton). The Rev. F. C. Long and Mr. J. Snell were re-elected to the central executive. Addressing the Conference m the afternoon on "The Need for Fellowship," the Bishop of Waikato, the Rt. Rev. C. A. Cherrington, 8.D., made a wide historical survey of the attempts that had been made m early and m modern times to promote fellowship m accordance with the Christian ideal, and dealt with some of the difficulties standing m the way of fellowship m communities and m and between men and nations. A rousing note of appeal and generous enthusiasm marked the next address delivered by Mr. R. McL. Ferkins, of Rongotai College, Wellington, on "The Need For Workers." Mr. Ferkins was warmly applauded on concluding his address. St. Matthew's Parish Hall was crowded for the public meeting m the evening, when addresses were delivered by Mr. W. Nash, M.P., and by the Bishop of Nelson, the Rt. Rev. W. G. Hilliard, M.A. The Bishop spoke on the challenge of to-day to the individual, and Mr. Nash on the same challenge to the Church. "THE CHALLENGE TO THE INDIVIDUAL." Bishop Hilliard said he believed m the C.E.M.S. as having ideals of great value to the community. The Society offered a challenge to its members to live up to their churchmanship. It stood also for organising the manpower of dhe Church. They were living m a most challenging and inspiring age — an age of recovery from a great disaster. It was an age of assimilation, of many inventions, of new thought. It was a time, too, of uncertainty and misunderstandings. We were passing through a great deal of difficulty and moral revolt. This was a time of transition m economic thought. Technical production had been brought to such a pitch that it had become embarrassment. We had not even begun to solve the problem of distribution. The present economic order was fundamentally wrong, had broken down and would have to be very materially altered. This was an age of great difficulty and danger,

but also of wonderful opportunity, of glorious possibility and great hope. People were turning away from the old moral standards and too many were forgetting the importance of discipline. We were dominated by selfish motives and our difficulties arose m great part out of our extravagances. In spite of everything, there was a wonderful opportunity. The prodigal had come to the husks and he would come to himself and return to his Father. "A generation driven by econjomijC distress to listen to the words of the Father," said the Bishop — "what a wonderful opportunity is immediately before us if we can only find the key to it." Cheerful courage and good humour were needed. There was a challenge m the religion of individuals. Surely the passing of material prosperity ought to lead to an examination of spiritual standards and to a closer realisation of the greater spiritual values which still were ours. How many of us lived m the belief that the spiritual was greater than the material? Surely to-day was calling us to exercise the three great Christian virtues of service, sacrifice and brotherhood. The more we c6uld bring to the common stock of sacrifice, the better it would be for the world. "THE CHALLENGE TO THE CHURCH." The challenge of to-day to the Church, said Mr. Nash, meant the conditions facing us to-day and driving home truths which we could not understand. Environment was affecting us, but what had to be considered was our effect upon environment. The most perfect Church was the body of men who were out to give the best to all. If they wished to follow Jesus and to see the example that He gave when He was here they must look up to Him. Men had m them potentially the power that Christ had — the power to live as He lived. The way of Jesus was the only way and it was a possible way. Going on to speak of the economic disorders of the day, Mr. Nash instanced the wholesale destruction of foodstuffs and other commodities, while at the same time many people, not least children, were underfed and otherwise m need. There had never been over-production of any commodity. Many things had been produced

m greater quantities than could be successfully marketed, but there had: never been production m excess of human needs and consumptive capacity. The things that God gave were being destroyed by man. New Zealand, Mr. Nash said, would come to* the destruction of commodities — butter, cheese, and wool. The conditions of 1922 would come again and the Government would be compelled to do things opposed to Christianity.. That was the challenge of the Church to-day. The unemployed were getting farbetter conditions here m New Zealand than anywhere else, Mr. Nash ob-. served, but that was saying nothing at all. "They were being treated shamefully by you and me," he continued. "A man with a wife and. two children can get no more than 32s 6d a week on relief work— enough, for food, using the discarded clothing of others, with the dread of being,

unable to pay the rent." This was the challenge of to-day to the Church. The idler and the waster most needed help to-day. We had an economic order which placed self-interest first. There was an element of service m it, but not enough. The things that would pay were the goods that were made, for example ,a picture theatre instead of clothes. Individual personality was more important than all else. God sent each one here to get a full and abundant life. The thing the Church must do was to bring into the light those who had lost all fear, who loved sacrifice and who would give to each what God wanted them to have. On the Church rested the ultimate responsibility for all the material organisation of life. Singing hymns was of no use. Mankind must invoke the superlative power that Jesus used when here m loving service and sacrifice for others. In the next generation, said Mr. Nash, there would be a major conflict between love and self-interest. The challenge to the Church was to range itself on the side of love, so fulfilling the law. • The triumph of truth and love would be delayed for a century or so if the Church failed. The principles of Jesus must be applied to commercial, industrial, political, national, international, social and economic life. There were not two standards. We could not serve our king unless we served our God. The final sessions was devoted to interesting addresses by the Rev. G. V. Gerard, of Petone, and Mr. H. G. Sergei, of Hamilton. Th'e former gave a masterly survey of the problems and difficulties of Christian workers and left all members a fuller understanding of the idefals whjcjh should inspire all members of the fellowship. There was definite need for witness, and opportunities should never be missed. Mr. Sergei spoke on "The Plan of the C:8.M.5.," and m a thoughtful paper urged the need of expansion on sound lines. From his experience of large branches, small branches and lone members, he spoke of practical work for God that had been accomplished, and urged that the time was ripe for forward movement. Hospitality was extended to dele-

gates by parishioners of Masterton. This was greatly appreciated as was also the refreshments provided during the Conference.