CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 431, 13 February 1909, Page 6

CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

;.'•■•'■ "'.y'' ■"■rrir—*-— : ■. :-;■■'. '-■''.■■\- i/4:, SESSION.:;, svj:')I [■ V \BI TELEGRIPIi -"-PRESS ASSOCUTIoiI.V ',' ;;.■■■ I ;:■ ■'.. ' ? ' ChristcHurch Febrnaify 11. ;, >} -.The session of. the-council, of. the'.Congregar tiqrial Union of' New Zealand was continued ito-day;.;'--!'. ,, . , ":"' , !------'- ■.:-•,;■■■..■.';..;■ -,;■■': ■■!'" .w;- ;, ' At 10 a.m. 'a' devotional; meeting, 'conducted by-the' Rev. 'A.' Hodge, .was followed :by/a. conference on. "Union with' God, .its. cultivation (andpractice." ; The subject;.was introduced hy two very interesting.addresses by. the 'Rev. W. D. MacLa'ren,M;A'.,'and the' 'Rev. .'S. Griffiths, , after, which, a discussion' took place. : ..' ■' The afternoon was devoted to consideration '-of/.'council'business... The chairman;welcomed' the Eev. .D.,B. : 'Asliford into the ministry,.■ •and the Rev.. G. T. -Bntlor, of. Mangatajrioka,' who has been transferred/froth the Victoria Congregational Union, was received l into the ,New ( Zealand Union..'■■'■. '■.■'".' ■'.... ..'. :;A 'motion.was unanimously carried 'expressing sincere gratitude^■ to; the \.; Church .Missionary Society and:its secretary,.the;'Rev;-. ,G. Burford;Hbcke, for its generous assistance, during the ;past : year: .V'': . ■'- //'•.'' ■'■ '■■[: : ;It was; decided that the' Committee 'on ! Church'Uniori'be allciwed to .lapse. , - '■ 1 /.' v, - , ' ''.'■''. ... .The reference committee, was ireqnested■ to frame a ; resolution empowering the Revs'.' Mr; .Saundei'B-.and; W. : _A::'Evans. tp represent' 'the council.during thoir forthcoming visit to.th'o /Old Country. ■;;.. •. •■•' ■■:.'/ '='. •■ \'■::-.: ■'.' ■■'■/.■ '■ In'.the evening , ;an;'open conferenoe'on , ["Sunday school reform" was held,; the'subject being iritroduced. by, the Rev, J. ;Reed Glassbfl. .The speaker' submitted a: very comprehensive 'and carefully written' paper on the c(uestion,' and/cited' a number of reducational experts in support, of ; his -proposals, which included ,tho graduation. of, Sunday •school;scholars in accordance with their' ages,' -and''incomplete revision of ; the international lessons, in use.' •An Janimated' discussion ensned. "• ' ;.':. ; ■ .. ; ;.■•'.

■•.-'_;, ; ; : YESTERDAj;S;BUSINESS.;; : ;.; -.'..' •'■ ' ;':,o:- :;: V/;/;::- : ':■'';■.■; '■'' February-11-.V , .'. At'the Congregational; Union; to-day, |.the Reference Committee- recommended-.that;.the following' notices of motion by the Rev.. ; l. Sareinson be carried:—"That, this.'.cpuncil of the , -Union .of New Zealand rejoices in the continued progress 'of "the' No-License. nio've:ment;m this. Dominion;.and devoutly thanks Almighty. God 'for the , moral and humahitarian earnestness fhus indicated, and prays that the campaign against the alcohol- curse .may be entirety,successful."; "That,,witha '.view of.increasing the value of ;the ;.! Year Book, , .'its .scope;be.extended, so as to include statistics and lists of ministers of the Congregational Unions of .-Australia, and also statistics :of Congregational Unions -British Isles, altogether, with isuch information as the executive may deem idesirable." .--. ■'•■'.'; ''' ■.:'-.■ .. .; ;;,;:.:, :.■■■..■■. r The motions were briefly discussed by the. council and. carried.'. ' ■';' '■' V.., .;. , ; It was resolved, that a standing committee be appointed to aid in. the maintenance and development of the. .work; in : vthe'- Sunday Schools, such committee to;act under and through the-Union Executive. The follo-fr-, ing were appointed the committee:—Revs. J. R. Glasson (convener), W. A. Evans, A. •Macdonald/As'pland,. and. Messrs. A; ,M. 'Lewis,-.",]?,:■ Meadowcrdft,'!arid F..; A.: .Lank-. shear,,; ■;.'-.. : - ■:,''. ;■.'■ ■~ '.•■■■:■ ■■■■■.;:'.".■ ;.;. 'The Revs. G. Burgess, H. W. Burgoyne, H. Young, C. A. Lyon, W. J. Smith, and D. Meadowcroft were received as personal members. of the council.- '- ■-.-.-. ; -In the afternoon a. conference was held on ithe subjects—(l) "Ranted, a Programme," ■and (2)^ "Driving Power."; A young'people's, meeting-was'held in the; evening.;...-. . ,