CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1358, 8 February 1912, Page 2

CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OPENS. IDv TeJccr.iDh.-SDecial Correscondont.l Paltnerston North, February 7. The Congregational l : nion of New Zealand opened it.s twenty-ninth annual conlereneo here to-day, the opening service taking place at the Emmanuel Congregational Church at which the Rev. E A. Hunt, ol' Timaru, presided. The Rev. R. Mitchell, of To .Kuiti, the new chairman, then took the chair. About fifty delegates were present from all over the Dominion. The annual report of the committee, winch was adopted, stated that the past year had been one of change and also of progress. The committee had considered the que-tion of inviting a prominent Congregational llinister to New /calami with a view to stimulating the life of the New Zealand churches, and hud communicated with the manager of the Austral: ; siaii Union on the subject. ' Negotiations were now in progress and consideration would be given the matter at the next triennial assembly held at Adelaide next year. The Wellington district was to be congratulated on the success attained liv students of Congregational history nnd catechism at the recent local examinations. The application of the (ireen Lime Congregational Church, Auckland, for affiliation was granted. .It was resolved that the. finance committee be comprised of male delegates apart from ministers aided by the New Zealand Churches' Fund, llesdiiges of sympathy aro to bo sent to the ' Rev.' AV. J. F. C'loss, of Chnsteliurch, who was unable t'i be pre.-ent owing t-a the- sudden (loath of his brother, the Rev. W. Tanner, of Waiaporu, who has been compelled to undergo an operation and thus was unable to attend the conference; and the Rev. Win. .Saimilers, of Dunedin. The chairman welcomed the Rev. 11. Perkins (Sydenham), the Rev. Chine Ufi'en (Dunedin). the Rev. W. -M. TrijffiOlansnwai), and the Rev. C. A. Lyon (Auckland), who aro now delegates to the conference. The election of sessional officers resulted ns follows:—Jliniitc secretary, the Rev. A. E. Hunt; corresponding secretary, the Rev. A. ■ Jf. Aspland; correspondent to British and colonial papers, this Rev. S. Grilh'ths; personal moinljers, the Revs. G. Burgess, and BurgoyiiH, and Messrs.: I). Mra;!owcr;>ft, nnd li. Grei'r. and the Rov. W. fS. Fernic, the Rev. B. narris is to be associated with the committee. A tea meeting was held to-night at which there was a verv large attendance, and the lion. (.(. Fowlds was iiinoiijj the speakers.