C.E.M.S.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2124, 16 April 1914, Page 3

C.E.M.S.

FIFTH YEAR'S CONFERENCE ißy Tdejrftpli.-Prefi AS6o(;l«t!an.) '■ .;- Dunertin, April U3; Tho fifth anuuai confcrciito o. 4 *^^- Church or jcngtand Men's Society, and tho ■firat in Dunedin, was opened this morning. Tho following woro present from tho 'Wellington dioccso:—'Pie Her. JL D. Ashcroft, the ltw. 0. I!. Allen, Captain Easther, Messrs, C. B. Burde- ■' km, 11. A. V. Oswin, T. D. H. Half, G. M. vSilver, H. Luscombo, E. A. Palmer, I J. E. 'Hunt, C. Brottn, W. Nash, A. V. t Winchester, E. Andortou, G. J). Fisher, r D- Lawlor, J. M'Lnren, A. G. Holder- . ness, A. Washer, C. F. Goodridge, and G. Joachim. . The Primato (Dr, Kevtil) welcomed • tho delegates from a distance, especially tho many lvho had eonio from a very, great distance, and then proccodod to • address tho gathering, iiis sußjcci KSisj "The AVork of the Holy Spirit." Executive's Report. The general secretary (Rev. J, D. , Hussell) read the report ef the Dominion Executive. They had met tiiice duriug , tho year, each time in Wellington. The ! executive had given si deal of consideration to tho question of securiug an organising secretary, but tho English Committee had failed to semre i. suitable man.for the work, and the executive tlion offered the position to the Eov. G. C. G'ruickshank. He, however, was unable to undertake the work, and the matter was therefore remitted to the conference. It was decided, in view of tho call on tho brandies, to support the' organising secretary's fund, to defer t<> the general secretary's wish not to have any levy for his k-adquarters fund, but to support his appeal for voluntary offerings for this purpose At Ascensiontide or other suitable occasion. , ■ Tho report was adopted.

Mflftibei'SStp, The general secretary then f-ea4 his own report, from which it appeared that 113 members of 93 branches and diocesan councils had been appointed a.« delegates. The society had' progressed during the year. At last conference it had been reported that there irero 141 branches with 2oijU memhors. This year he had strucs otF tSo list eight brandies (comprising 55 racu/Sors) that were no longer in existence, and now ihero Were 140 branches with. 2515 members, and fully another 150 members scattered Inroughou't tho Dominion who were not at present attached to any branch. The society was becoming more and more a social power for goo¥ in the Sand. The finances showed a credit balance or £2 os. 3d.

The report was adopted, and the conference thanked the secretary. I » Tho Revs. J. D-. Russell, P. Williams, . W. Gurzon-Siggers, and 3. R. Burgin. and Messrs. J. C. Adams, C. B. Burt'lekm, and S. P. Mirams were elected as a committee to consider the appointment of an organising secretary ami w--1 port. The Magazine, The editor of the- "Men's Magazine" . (Mr. J. C. Adams) made a statement as to the position of affairs, iviiieh ho said was encouraging, though ho commented . on the fact that, from 2500 members of the CK.JI.S., lie had received nothing ' suitablo for publication. Tho total expenses connected with tho magazine were £90 55., and the receipts £70 lis. 3d. - It was decided that branch secretaries be asked to urge upon members too importance of studying the magazine-. Military Gamp V/ork. The Rev. C. J. Bush King presented . a comprehensive, report of the work done by tho C.E.M.S. in New Zealand an military camps. He said that iie Was . glad to note a marked progress all through tho Dominion. Particulars wero given of tho detail work at evcrr camp, and tho speaker concluded by ex'pressing the opinion that the future was full of hope. rTho Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Alleni, in writing about tho O.E.M.S. work, had said;—*'l value very highly indeed the work which you have- been doing, and hope that you will continue to ronder yonr great service to the territorial scheme." Mr.' H. Bannelier, in seconding the motion for the adoption of the Military Camp Institute's report, said that this was tho first-aggressive work which tho society had done, Mr. H. G. Stevens suggested keeping a camp register, so that tho society would be able to keep in touch ' with men afterwards. The report was adopted. Spiritual Endeavour. It was decided to request tho general secretary to circularise all branches in tho Dominion, urging them to placo the spiritual side of the Work first," and ■ mafco prayer and Bible study the chief object of meetings-, eomHtmrion to be the chief act of worship. It was further decided to reeommeiKi all branches to make a sustained endeavour to win men for Christ, either through missions or open air services, or in any other way adapted to local needs, and also to urge the encourage-1 ment of open air preaching by clergymen and laymen on Saturday evenings, and on Sunday afternoons in busy ctm- j tres. f