BAPTIST CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 601, 1 September 1909, Page 3

BAPTIST CONFERENCE.

TO BE HELD IN WELL'INCTON. SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION. The--twenty-seventh annual conference of. the Baptist Onion of New Zealand will bo held in Wellington from October 12 to 20, inclusive. Abbut eighty, delegates are expected to attend. 'l'ho welcome social to delegates will lie held on Tuesday, October 12, at 7.30 p.m., the Rev. J. J. North presiding. The annual presidential 'address will be .given on tho following evening by .the president, Mr. A. Fl Carey (Christchurch). and oil Thursday "there .will be a tea and public meeting. On Friday public meetings will bo held .at Petone and Berliamporc, oil Sunday there will be an open-air meeting at Newtown Park,, on Monday night a meeting be held for men only, on Tuosday, October 30, will be held.the" annual meeting of tile Missionary Society and missionary "at home," followed by a public meeting, and on Wednesday night tho union sermon will bo preached by tho Rev. R. H. KnowlesKempton. The annual meeting of tlio New Zealand Baptist Women's Missionary Union will bo held oil Thursday. October 14, and will be! followed by a public meeting for women in the afternoon. Tho special committee set up to consider tho relation of the district auxiliaries to tho union, and also the constitution of the Executive will mako recommendations,, inter alia,.as follow: — Re Auxiliaries.—That tho following newclauses be added to tho constitution: —(l) That the auxiliaries of tho union shall act as district committees, and shall superintend all local work for tho union. .(2) That before launching any new project involving 'expenditure the auxiliary executives shall consult tho executive of tho union, and como fo an agreement therewith. (3) That all funds shall bo raised for the union, but that special gifts and amounts specially raised shall, when 'so desired, bo earmarked for local purposes. (4) That each auxiliary shall furnish -annually an estimate of it 3 financial

requirements, aud provision shall be raado for tho same in the budget.. (5) That each auxiliary sliall furnish annually a'statement ,of receipts and expenditure. Eg Constitution' of tho Executive.—(l) That the secretary, and tho treasurer of the Missionary Society be ex-officio members of tho executive, (t!) That all officers not' already provided' for shall bo chosen from tho members of the executive.,-. j It is also proposed to'submit to tho Mis-' sionary Society and to tho assembly,» proposal that twelve members of the executive, ns enlarged, bo appointed to transact tho business of tho. Missionary Committee, the remaining members retaining tho right to attend and act. The Rev. A. S. Wilson (Wanganui) will move:—(1) That under cortain conditions men who occupy a place on tho permanent Homo Mission staff, ..if such a status is arranged for, and who havo served tho denomination as home missionaries for : five years, be allowed to participate in the advantages of tho annuity fund. (2) That no appointment to tho Homo Mission staff bo mads without the confirmation of tho executive.' .The "Now Zealand Baptist," traversing trho agenda/paper of the conference, states that tho business will bo mostly of i routine nature. The topic that will excito koenost debate will probably be tho relation of tho auxiliaries to the union; but it is understood that the committco appointed to deal with this matter bav'o struck out a-scheme of adjustment that will command gcnoral, accoptancc. Tho appointment of ' a 'anion ovangclist may again .becomo a living question, and. fclio selection of a sito for another forward movement similar to that at Gisborne, which has proved so satisfactory, will be carefully oonsideral. The presenco of the Rev. John Taklo will add to the interest of Missionary Day, while the announcement of Dr. North's retirement next year from tho field' on which ho has rendered • such conspicuous service will'bo received with profound rogret. Tho Missionary Society .attains its.isemi-jnbilce.- in.. October, 1910, and steps should bo taken to worthily celebrate that event. It is an appropriate coincidence that the president of, .the N.Z. Baptist Union for this year (Mr. A. IV Carey, of Christchuroh), is a direct descendant s William Carey, whqso labours in India made liiut tho father of modern missions.