BAPTIST CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1252, 7 October 1911, Page 10

BAPTIST CONFERENCE.

I *the3 t e.:temebe. decree.:.' (By-TeleeraW.-Frces Association.)" Napier, October 6. The Baptist Union adopted a strong protest, against the No Temero decree", "calling the attention of our churches and of the people generally to the arrogant action of the Roman Catholic Church in declaring mixed marriages, in which one of the contracting jiarficsMsi .or has been, or through christening was,' declared to be a j'omrin Catholic, null and void in sight of God, and no better than filthy concubinage unless performed before a Roman Catholic priest." * The union balance-sheet showed an income of ,£1276, with a debit balance of ,£lfti. The annuity fund receipts for the year totalled .£216, and the fund now stands at dCI7OI 19s. Id. President Milligan, in the course of an address, dealt with the question of ministerial changes, and suggested tho adoption of a scheme limiting the pastorate- of one parish to five years, unless a renewal was asked .for .by both church and pastor. Tho report of'the Sunday: School Com-, mitteo showed that four'sew schools were opened during the year, 527 children being added b the rolls, and 31 new teachers engaged; " Entrants for the Baptist Union examinations numbered 191, from 22 schools. Tho number of parses was satisfactory, but tho report stated that the composition and spelling of tho children wero wretched. The examiner for the senior grades (the Rev. Howard Elliott) said it was a reflection' upon our public schools system that youths of' from 10 to 18 years wore not able to write neatly and clearly, or compose, and-spell with greater efficiency, j * The afternoon session was devoted to a discission of tho question of church membership. The Rev. W. Kay reported upon tho Australasian Congress. The Rev. R. S % Gray, who has Just returned from a trip round tho world, and represented the Baptist Union of New Zealand at tho Baptist Union of Great Britain, gavo a very interesting account of his trip. To-morrow there will be a picnic, and on j Sunday tho visiting ministers will occupy ' the pulpits of local churches.