ENGLISH BAPTIST UNION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1462, 10 June 1912, Page 3

ENGLISH BAPTIST UNION.

THE SUSTENTATION FUND. In glorious spring 'weather the Baptist Union met on Monday' afternoon (April 22) in Bloomsbury Chapel. The event ot the week was tlio launching of the Sustcntation Fund, to which the Rev. J. H. Shakespeare has been working up for the last ton years. After much -taking to pieces and reshaping of the original scheme, the denomination is now united. There was a largo attendance, including several women delegates. The opening devotional service was conducted by (ho retiring president. Principal Edwards, of Cardiff, who, amid enthusiastic cheering, vacated the chair to his successor, tho Rev. J. W. Kwing, M.A., D.D., of Peckham. He said ho had the conviction that Mr. Ewing's year of office would bo looked back upon as one of very fruitful service for tho denomination. In a very few words, Mr. Ewing thanked the Assembly for the honour conferred upon him, and hoped the year might be a year of vision. Tuesday morning was the culminating moment of the Kev. J. 11. Shakespeare's triumph. Ho saw the results of ten year's work, after much opposition, and many drawbacks, crowned with the unanimous and enthusiastic adoption of the Sustentation Fund scheme, and promises announced towards the .£250,000 of .£50,000. The session was described as "historical." It marks the closuro of the breach in Baptist unity. Again, Dr. Dixon, of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, was on the rostrum, a deeply interested sharer in the emotions of the session. The chapel was all too small for the attendance of delegates and tho public. Tho devotional service was led by the Rev. R. C. Lemin, of Birmingham. A great cheer burst forth when Dr. Ewing called on Dr. J. H. Shakespeare to move a resolution, which was as follows:— "That this Assembly of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, impressed with tho extreme solemnity and urgency of tho occasion, records before Almighty God its deliberate conclusion that the''hour is ripo for the inauguration of tho great scheme- of ministerial settlement and sustentation. which will, under the Divine blessing, alleviate anxiety that has darkened so many lives and homes, and shed an impulse of Divine love and unitv into the remotest parts ot tho country. This Assembly, therefore, now adopts tho scheme of ministerial settlement and sustentation recommended by the council of the Baptist _ Union. In the view of a great cloud of witnesses the denomination is summoned to pake this supremo effort to give expression to the sense of solidarity, which is the crown of tho structure of which our fathers laid tho foundation." Tho scheme, he said, was the issue of at least ten wars' thought, and-labour. i'flie churches," or, at least, half of them registered llirco objections to the original scheme They objected to tho universal time limit for pastorates. They objected to the element of compulsion, and they desired the local administration vested in the, cxUtrng County Associations, lie had sorrowfully lu confess that tho present scheme was weaker than the original drafts, but ?l leist the opposition had •li...i;ij.;.ir?d. ami '•! rcsrefutod the point . to which the denomination was .prepared

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