C.E.M.S.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2125, 17 April 1914, Page 3

C.E.M.S.

FIFTH YEAR'S CONFERENCE

■ (By 'Tel«er«»K.—PMsi.'AMixJlaiUßi.) . '■'■ ;■?.*"■*■' Duriedin,-'April 1.0. Tho conference .of tho Church of Kng laud Men's Society resumed this moriimg.vtho : Primate,: (Or. Novill) pi-esid-

Three related remits were'discussed together-—(1) From Dovonport: "That tho conference consider lion- to enlist young churchmen in church work." ('J) Flora St. AiSans; ''That it is most desirable that the Boy. Scout movement, should be used »s n means of drawing boys into closer union with the Church and its work," *(3) From Auskland: "That this conference strongly recommend all secretaries to push sales of work for boys amongst their members.' 7

Aftei a lengthy 'discussion, in the course of which the Primate .inggested that in each parish a layman should bo appointed to assist the vicar by watching over boys in the Sunday school, and watching their preparation for confirmation, the conference ntf opted the following "resolution: —"That- this 'conference, while urging upon each branch the extreme importance of undertaking work amongst boys, considers it advisable to leave to each branch tho matter of deciding the nature and method ef that work, but is of opinion that the true safeguard against losing. boys is early confirmation."

Executive and organising Secretary. A r oniina,tiohs ivero received for the executive, and the following were elected: Rev. 1». T, Williams, Rev. J. P. Kempthorne, Rev. J. B. Brocklehurst, Messrs. W. Nash, H. M. Banneher. and J. W. Henderson. < The Rev.- J. D. Russell was re-elected general secretary.

K The Iter. P. T. Williams presented j the report of iho committee set np yes- ; tsrday to consider the selection of an organising secretary. Tho committee recommended that the Rev. J. D. Russell be appointed for six months, aa from June. '3.

Sir. ltussell said the Oaraaru Vestry fiad given him leave for sis mouths on condition that he got someone to tahe his place.

The Primate, in putting tit-o motion for the. adoption of the .report, said that meanwhile lie could only take ft -as an expression of opinion by the conference. It would be lire duty, having spiritual oversight, to make inquiries as to how the duties were to bo discharged at On-ma-ru.

The motion was carried in that way. Retreats for 'Members,. The Rev. p. T. Williams moved a remit front All Saints', Auckland, as follows:—"That • the executive of cash federation of Diocesan Union bo urged to organise a retreat for members. or the society in their district." He said that it; would bo an excellent thing, and the C.E.M.S. could show a lead in this matter. A retreat was one, of the necessary things for clergy, and this month the whole of the Kotnan, Catholic priests in Auckland went in retreat. Ho nad been iii New Zealand practically all his life, aud had never been summoned to a retreat. A retreat was invaluable for the accumulation of spiritual force.

Mr. J. C. Adams seconded the motion.

The Rev. ■ C*. 0 % Mutter said that there «j'ere retreats in Cliristchnrch, and any frara Dmiecrai who; cared to attend would be welcome. The object of a retreat was to put tlie mind into a condition to receive tlio ■'■_ message- that comes, and let it 'sink -in to t-iie ■ glory ■of God and oftc-'s own spiritual uplift. The Primate remarked that if Dunedin. members desired to go into- retreat, In?, thought it could, ho arranged without going to Qjristchurcli. 'Hie niotifiai was carried.

The Society's Relation to Foreign Missions. There- were two remits oft foreigii missions. One from -Hamilton, was as follows!:—"That the coni'erenco ■ urge upt>n all Members of the society tu-e duty of studying, praying for, and supporting tho*wqi'K of foreign missions.'" The- other roniit, .from West-port, read: "That members of the society bo invited to contribute t-u a fund to provide our own misionary in the foreign held." The llev. J?. Do Lambert moved the adoption of remits, and asked members to contribute a- minimum of is. per annum.

The Rev, J. Burgnn seconded tho motion.

The .Rev. B, Ashcroft stated that- he could net vole for th» motion since, iii his diocese (Wellington), members already subscribed 3d. per week, and he could not support what amounted to a general levy.

. Tho Rftv. W. H. Roberts (North-East Valley) said that he intended to make some remarks which would probably not bo popular, but he represented a branch, tlw members of which were not in affluent circumstances, The amfer«ice: were really making recommendations tho carrying out of which meant money, and if they went on much further they would find people asking what it feost to became a mem her of the society. Ho admitted.tho claims of mis-s-iotis, but lie also remembered that there were nw.u who, could not contribute- more than they were contributing. In his, and probably in some other brandies, members'were received by the C.E.'ALS. on a 2s. basis, but if all these charges were to be. made, they might as welt be frank and raise it to ,10s. The conference should bear in mind that tho expense was on the same men all the time,, .for many well-to-do churchmen did not interest themselves in tho society.

, The Primate said that he saw objections otlior than tha,fc of expense to the proposition ir ita present form. It was a serious thing for a society like this to become a missionary society. If they supported a missionary, who was to send him forth, and who was to be responsible for his conduct ami pull him up if lie did anything that, was not right? The work of missions was finwork of the Churches, and ho .lhou<di& that tlit dnty of members of the C.E.M.S. was to interest tlieinselres in that organisation, and strmuiav..' the mission spirit generally. The first remit was adopted,' and the second was withdrawn.

Marsden Memorial. On the motion of tfce Rev. P. T. AVilliams, seconded by Archdeacon liichards, it was resolved, after discussion, "That all members of the society be iirgcd to heartily support tho !hrsd.cn Ontenarv Fi.md."

It was decided that all members be ur«ed heartily to support a motion strongly in favour of the principle of free and open churches. Interesting Resolutions. Tim following motions were adopted : '.]) That tho executive be reijucsted to formulate a scheme whereby earnest churchmen in isolated districts can bo admitted as members of tho society, and affiliated to one or other of its branches, (ii) That the headquarters' secretaries in London he requested to issue special form's of lellcit: of commendation to members Irnvetlinij overseas, allowing in ihem spaces in wliic-li ihe local secretaries may slate the members' age, present occupation, that which lie desires to follow in his new country, whether married or siii;;ic, the boat on which he is travelling, postal address in iiis new country, and a short description of his personal appearance. '.-'!) Thii- the conference, take into consideration the desirability of mapping 'ho various dioceses into federation areas. (V, That it is ikiirabie thai. 'ii , !;ni:?;intu , .\' be. itia-b-- lu proM'J?-. fov I tin iwi'ifdical fioiU t?C ffleuiH'i'i ( fO W

oiic branch to another, in order that tho isolation of small branches may ho counteracted in some measure. • (3) That diocesan councils life warned . to iiiko cure not ?o make membership of tho society too expensive, as .small branches cannot afford la contribute to overv object for which ihev way bo asked. '

The principle!) of tho BiWo-in-Scnools' League were endorsed after a tonglliy discussion,