THE BAPTIST CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1578, 23 October 1912, Page 10

THE BAPTIST CONFERENCE.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

. Christchurch, October ±2. The invitation of the Auckland Church to hold a conference in 11)13 at Auckland has been accepted at the Baptist Conference. ' . The following officers were appointed:— Secretary, the Rev. I!, S. Gray; literary and publications committee,' the Revs. Hobday (convener), Gray, and Williams, and Messrs. Driver and Maunder; treasurer, Mr. A. V. Curev; union preacher, the Rev. H. Radford; deputy-rjrenclier, the Rev. E. H. Hobday; Sunday schools and voung people's committee, the Revs. J. J.' North, T. A. Williams, J. Laird, and S.- Mason, and Messrs. Stock, Hayward, Dixon, Jones, Dudney, and Goring. Tlie Rev.' D. S. Mason was elected convener. President, Mr. .T. G. Prnser; vico-pTesident, the Rev. K. A. Ivirkwood; executivo committee, Messrs. Garlick, Smelton, TonevclilTo, Cathie. Carson, Maunder, Chidgey, Adams. Driver, and Milligan. and the Revs. North, Hinton, Mason.' Dallaslon, Hobday and Radford, with the Revs. Kemplon.- Kirkwood. Williams, A. North. T. Archer, and Messrs. Kob'y and Carev as ex-officio members; student*' committee, the Rev. T. A. Williams (convener), -T. J. North, J. K. Archer, A. K. Kirkwood, and P. H. Radford: annuity fund committee, Messrs. R. S. Abel (secretary and treasurer). A. S. Adams, Toneycliffe. Chidgey, and Carey; Manse fund committee, Messrs. Toneycliffe (convener), Tngold, Garlick. Cathie, Lamb, and Drew; cdilor of "The Baptist," Mr.. H. H. Driver; sub-editor, the Rev. C. Dallaslon; recorder and registrar, the Rev. W. R. Woolley; auditor, Messrs. Whitton and Hill. '

It was resolved: "That we recommend tho church to regard and set nside the Sunday following the week of prayer as a missionary Sunday; that special missionary sermons be preached, and that a collection, or at least a retiring collection, bo token, the proceeds to be divided between tho Union and the Missionary Society. "The Rev. J. J. North moved: "That this conference, representing 20,000 Baptists, protests against the attempt at present being made to increase the number of race-days* allowed in. this Dominion, while offering no opposition to the redistribution of racing permits which mightrelieve certain districts. The conference calls upon the Government to risk everything in order to defeat so retrograde a proposal as an increase of race-days." Tho nintion was carried.

It was agreed, on the motion of the Rev. Mr. Hobday to recommend the Baptists of New Zealand to accept the pledge drafted by the New Zealand Alliance not to vote for candidates for Parliament who would not reduce tho three-fifths majority. On Mr. Driver's motion it was resolved: "That we reaffirm our protest against all complicity bv Groat; Britain in the frightful opium traffic of China, and our appeal to Parliament that they should release China from the treaties which compel her to receive the drug as grown and manufactured in India. Wo reioice in Urn manifest sincerity of the Government of China in its tosolvo to rid their land of this evil, and pray that success mav speedily attend their efforts."

Tho thanks of the conference were, accorded the local churches for entertaining the conference.