BAPTIST UNION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 644, 22 October 1909, Page 3

BAPTIST UNION.

'" ANNUAL NEW'ZEALAND CONFERENCE. , : :' . ■ BUSINESS CONCLUDED... ' The annual conference of the New Zcalam Baptist Uniou entered' upon its final sessioi yesterday morning the' chair being takon bj , the new president of tho union (Rev. W. Hay\ who was formally welcomed by the retirini president (Mr. A:'l'.iCarey).- , ■ :. . .i'ratornal greetings were recoived from tin Rev. J. T. Huiton (Diinedin), the Rev. F. W ■ Boreham (H.obart), niid the Rev. J. C. Martii f (Williamstown, Victoria), ond formally re .. ciprocatcd. ' ' y Grants and Estimates. ; The following grants from the Home Missior Fund were authorised for aided, churches :- AVaihi, JI20; Whangarci,. J3O; Grange Road .'■ .£35; Epsom (for nine months), £29; Richmom • .(drey Lynn), X25-for six months; Bockblocks •^ 0: ""oerne, .JE6O; Hastings (new charge) : 1 eliding, '.£55; Petune, i 35; Main Trunk .£100; Mangarnma, £26; Ashburton, Easi , Oxford, JJ2O; Riccartnn, .£2O; Kaiapoi-Rangiora ii £20; Momington, .£4O; Owake, .£2O; Gore, JBIO i- Utlicr grants: Students, £b; Sunday Scboo' t Committee, £15; sundries, ,£7O. > - ;It was estimated that the receipts for th( i- coming year would reach , £S!i, after allowint r f*' a 2-1 per.cent..margin for contingencies, t .The estimates for Foreign Missions wen ' adopted as follows:— , Missions; estimated income, .£2OOO .. Expenditure: Chaudpnr Mission, JEG93; Brah. manbaria Mission, Rev. J. Takle's Mis flion, .£259; Miss Gainsford's Mission, . 's"*?, M' ss ' o " , (women's department), £&l. Dr. North, JE9O; Indian and Colonial (admi& ' istration), total, >6ipO6. ' ; ■ Romuera Children's Home. i.^ r S meeto n submitted a report ot ' the.Children's,Homo at licmuera; and moved , a hat this assembly learns with satisfaction , that tho negotiations for the transfer of the Remuera Home to the union have been broughi to a satisfactory issue.. We believe . that the care of this will prove of the greatest value to 'our churches in drawino forth the sympathetic-aid. of our members . and adherents on behalf of tho children re- ■■ c s'm i? the , Ho ' rtl! - We commond the wort of _tlie home to the members of our churches . and congregations, and confidently appeal'foi ■ support in money, clothing, and material foi the smtable care - and.; sustenance of the in- . mates. ■ . ■ ■■ - ■■:,.■■ / ■ ■ ■ ■ 'The, motion/was seconded by Mr. W. Snedding, nnd adopted. • ••. ■ • .: ' i ', ~ . Other Business. ■ • .The •following resolution's were' adopted:— ■'• . H , 0I ? e , Mlss "">s-"That the: present time is • inadvisablo for the appointment of. an organising secretary and w that eight canvassers be •■' a PJ??inwa for. the: Home Mission Fund'' k Visiting !dele ? ates-"That the Rev. J. K, Archer, and Mr.- C CatWi, be:appointed tc , -.visit the Auckland .district, thiTßcv. R. H.,K, ' « em ?J° n y apd D Mr c; 9, arlick ««' central district, rmago'fe^. S^GrayandJlr -: l[illi^ . Churoh Missions-"That in ■ future tht r churches; report. on the. work of the Chines • Missions conducted by : them "■ : ■■ ■'. i»,t«> ° v N i J^ cki(l Wfts '" a PPointed dele. 1 & frOm ,, th ?, B^ pt,st: Sunday Schools to th< •' at ConTen ? io ' , - ?> M «r to be held i- ,o^;ibefe C - : Colli * 3 ,™<> Elected' per No-Ulcense Movement. ; ' vßS\ ii?e T. th i e I ? nche ' )n adjournment' (at' • the Peoples Palace), a.deputation from the.Ne* ? ea SP, d . AUla ?«' consisting of the Revs. W I. WllhamvW." J.Cdmrio, J.' Dawson, ■and Messrs. .A.. R Atkinson and G.. B. Nioholls, was introduced to the conference by. the Rev ■ A. Dewdney;.. . • . " .' .. The Rev. W. J. Williams'conveyed , greetings 2 from, the New Zealand , . ■AU|a'nce-to-"tne- dele?ates, and. referred'to the distinguished'.efforts of the Baptist: Church in the;, battle against the hquor traffic, • especially mentioning the names o£ the Revs. A. Dewdney and J; , J. lyorth. The prospects for the No-License ' moveme.nt were brighter to-day th&n they had ever been' before,' arid if the Bill now before Parliament was successfully carried through 1 the Dominion, in a few years, wohldbd "dry." • In the course of a supplementary address, :■■ Mr. A- R. Atkinson romarKed that the founda. tion of ;the temperance .movement was Chris-

tianity, and those concerned in the movemen , . looked with confidence to the Baptist Church for valuable assistance in the cause. The Rev. W. J. Comrie also spoke. On behalf of the delegates, appropriate epeeches in response were made bv the Kcv. J. Spottiswoode (Waihi),, and Jlr. R. Milligan (Major of Oamaru). Liquor in the King Country. At the afternoon sitting of the conference, a spirited speech, in condemnation of the "supmeness of the Government" in connection with the issue of wholesale liquor licenses in the King Country, was delivered by Mr. A. S. Adams, who moved:— "That this assembly, on behalf of the Baptist Churches of the Union, and young' members thereof, earnestly protests against the grant of wholesale licenses in areas within the boundaries of the King Country by the, chairman and members of the Licensing Committee. The assembly desires to emphasise the fact that the grant of these licenses is a gross nnd dishonourable breach of the spirit of ■ the solemn agreement made between the Government and the Natives in 1884, and calls upon the Government to right this grievous wrong and' redeem the honour of the Dominion by prompt legislation annulling these licenses and prohibiting all licenses at any place within the outer boundaries of the King Country as fixed by proclamation in 1887 and 1891." In the course of his remarks, the mover re. ferred with indignation to the prevalence in the King Country of drunkenness in bush camps, and sly drinking in the homes. ■ The condition of affairs was detestable, and he considered that those concerned in the moral welfare of the people should never rest until this stain should be removed from the country's |- honour. The Rev. A. Dewdney seconded the motion, which, was also supported in a telling Epeecii by the Rev. Guy Thornton, and the conference, rising to its feet, affirmed the question by acclamation. It was also resolved that a copy of the above resolution be forwarded to the Prime Minister. "Pony Races," .. : Proprietary racing clubs came in for some sharp criticism by the Rev. J. J. North, .who referred to the animals trained for pony races as " mournful species of . the gee-gee, useless to their owners for any other purpose but track racing." He moved: That this conference urges upon the Government the necessity of limiting by law the possible number of race meetings in the colony, the immediate suppression of nroprietary racing clubs, trad the dolivcrauce of the country from the double .curse of the licensed bookmaker and the licensed betting machine." The motion was carried unanimously. The conference was brought to a close'with a communion service at the Vivian Street Baptist Church in the evening, when the Rev. K.' H. Knowles Kempton preached the union sermon. There was a very large congregation.