CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11504, 10 February 1903, Page 6

CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

.- (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELZOBA3I.) DUNEDIN, February 9. The annual meeting af the Council of the Congregational Union of New Zealand was opened to-day. The annual report especially congratulated' the Canterbury District Committee on its renewed life and' activity. In the matter of .pastoral changes the Church happily had been lor the most part undisturbed. Perhaps the "most important question ■ which, come before, the Committee duuing the year was as to whether the Union should engage iMr It. MoNaughtton ns evangelist. The matter was submitted to the several di&tricte and fcheir Churches for consideration. The replies were upon the whole faiv*>uraible to the scheme, but m view of -the financial obligations involved, aiid of the ifact toalt the replies from the districts were extremely indefinite in that respect, the 'Oammittee ultimately decided that the Union is not} warranted in proceeding further in the matter. The question ot securing to ministers a minimum- stipend of £150 was remitted to the Committee for consideration, and received attention. Feeling tliat the UnJon could no* be wholly responsible for the extra funds required the Committee addressed a circular to . the Churches concerned, asking how fair they were prepared to co-cpenate in *he movement. The replies received indicate that the Churohcs are a& present unable to do anything in the direction desired, and there the matter .now reste. The '(J-ominii.ee recorded their regret at the dsath c'f Sir Frederick Sargood and ■Mr J. A. tEwen, who both rendered valuable services to Congregationalism in New Zealand. One important suggestion made by Rev. D. B. Hooke deserved 1 careful consideration. It seemed to him that, the Union wtui greatly in need of a travelling secretary or .supe-Tin tended, who might cssisfc "{.ha wexk churches or churches in difficulty, and advise and help the Union in commeircing new Work. Hovimg declared the offioiaji connection with the "Outlook" at an end, the Union are now without a d-er.ooiinatica&l organ, and are faced by the qut.?tion whether it cannot launch a scheme for the production of a purely Congregational pawer. One such scheme hc3 been put before distvricts by the Committ*?, bat the reports so far received are unfavourable. The report also refers to tihe question of chuivH extension in several disT.rkts. and concludes by stating that the Committee lnive promised to endeavour to oeoi a jepresKntative to tha Queensland Congregational Jubilee in July next.

Rev. D. Hird, M.A.. Christchurch, and Rev. W. Newman Hall, Wellington, were fortaally received by the Council. In the evening the annual sermon was preached by the Rev. John Wilkins.