CHURCHES OF CHRIST.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1327, 3 January 1912, Page 2

CHURCHES OF CHRIST.

„ 0 „ , THE DOMINION CONFERENCE. : The Dominion , Conference of the Churches of Christ was continued yesterday uiorniug. Mr. J. L. Scott, of Auckland, presided.

Mr. Harward's paper on the "Needs of the Future in Home .Mission Work" was discussed. • ■ It was resolved to recbhirjend the various churches of the .Dominion that dur- • ing the month of March special servicco ba held in all of the churches for deepening the spiritual life. It was alto resolved, that every cjiurch' be asked to establish a literature committee, to undertake the. distribution of literature. The committee to be responsible to a central .board, consisting of Messrs. Grin»tuid, Glnisler, Knanp, Hunler, Bull, and J. I. Wright.The foreign mission report, which wjis introduced l)y the general secretary, Mr. J. 1. Wright, of Diinediii,- showr-d' that prior to l'.lOli tho New Zealand Churches co-operated with Australia in foreign, mission work, but since that date (lio South African mission was commenced, Mr. and Mrs. lladfield being the -first missiouaries. During the past six veara great progress has been ramie. At liulaivayo a church of 2GO memlwrs has been, established, and at Intini (a new field) there are 1G converts. Schools have been established to teach both the native children and adults; and several- natives are being trained as preachers. Tlio stalF now consists of two ' niarried and one single missionaries and wine uative workers. -.-..,.- Bro. Hadfield alfo spoke, and the conference was pleased to hear that a block of CO acres had been purchased at Forest Vale for an industrial mission, and a lease of 50 acres had been secured in the native reserve for a new station at BilinRiiie. A resolution .was.passed expressing tho deep and hearty appreciation of the strenuous u , ."! devoted" services of Bro. and Sis. Hadfield. and fellow-workers in South \Afiiea, and earnestly commending them and thtir work to the cordial syui- ' v pathy of the churches. The Bible School Mission was then held. Reports wore received from the Aucklnlid, Middle District, and South Maud Conferences. Mr. C. F. M'Donald read a paper on "Our Plea aud tho Modern Bible School.", It was' resolved, "That this conference recommends to the '■ churches tlie desirability of bridging Hie gaii between the Church and tho Bible School by more, definitely affiliating th« • scholars of the school with the public meetings of the Church." Mr. 11. Harward ■ laid the claims of (ho "College of thf . ljible lKforo tho conference, and -menlioned that there were now. over 50 students in residence at the college. At this stage the conference adjourned. .Ihere was a large gathering at the foreign mission gathering last night, when .Mr. lioodmau siwko on tlio success of missions; Mrs. !■'. L. Hadfield on tho >hade and Light of tlio Work in Africa"; ■ Mr. !>. Mudge on "The Power .of the U-oss.- the secretary of the MisHonarv • Society, Mr. Inglis Wriglil. <!cliverod. a brilliant address on "Tho Vision of Hie Mission Field." Mr. V. L. Hadfield, the superintendent, of the foreign mission work in South Africa, delivered the closing address. The conference meets again this mornli 1 .?.' 01 ', » 'lisriission on the work of Iho >iblo Uteo, Melbourne, and to-night there will bi> a public tea meeting and social evening, a(. which the president of tlio conference will preside, and addresses will be delivered by M<'.vsis. 1, , . A. Wriglit, l!"' 1^, ; 1 °i - ' u^cad, T. ,!. Bull, J. 1. 1\ right, I\\ (icliliio, and O. Vt-rco. This will bu the closing meet ing of the once.