CONGREGATIONAL UNION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3026, 13 March 1917, Page 3

CONGREGATIONAL UNION

ANNUAL COUNCIL

I AN INTERCESSORY SERVICE 0 ® The Council of the Congregational Union resumed its business meetings , in the Terrace Church yesterday. The Rev. W. M. Grant presided. £ On a motion from the Canterbury District Committee it was resolved: "That no grant in aid be voted to any church that has not sent in its returns as to strength, school, and finance." The Rev. E. A. Bridger moved an s expression of regret at the fact that > some bodies had not replied to a cir--3 cular oif the subject of the overlap- | ping of ministers. Tho matter was re--1 forred to the R-eferenco Committee. > Several members said that overlapping ' still occurred. B j Sunday School Decline. i The Rev. E. A. Bridger presented . the Registrar's report. It was stated that the number of children attending the Sunday schools had declined somewhat seriously, and the matter needed watching. The members of the Sunday schools- totalled 2979. a decrease of 114. Auckland lost 77, Wellington 33, and Otago 29. Canterbury gained Ona ne<v school hnd been onened in the Wellington district, but there had been a decrease of IB teachers. The church innnhershio Milled 2733. an j increase of 11. t\uoklr..wl gained 8 and! ; Otssjo 18, and lost 10. j The report wa.? adopted. | Military Affairs. i The Military Affairs Committee's re- ! T'\ rf -fiad by the Rev. A. 15. Hunt, said that- excellent work was being c.iue at the United Institute at Fratfwrstou camp. The chaplain and the V.M.C.A. were doing work which was appreciated by the men. Of the original amount required, the Congregational Church had been asked to provide £200. but had provider! £571. The excess money was kent for maintenance purposes, and £30 had already Bnent. ■The Council adopted the report. Responsibilities of Membership. Tho Rev. M'Donnld Aspland read a paper oil "Responsibilities of Church Membership." Ho said that no one . could over-estimate the significance of the Church in a time liko this. On the return of tho men from the front would they flock to the churches ? Some . wight, but he was not as optimistic as those who thought the majority would. If people were absent, who was to blame? The blame was surelv nt the Church's door. If the effect of the war on those still outside the Church, was to be measured by the results of those inside, then tho outlook for the : mniprliate future was not, at all promising. The war was not likely to brinsr tho Pentecost that was desired. They did not take their religion seriously. The majority of the mejnbers of the Church lived very indifferent lives, and failed to influence those outside. Hie question arose: Was membership made too easy? They should not be too anxious for a numerical increase every year, for experienceJH'rf-i that there rould be an increase in membership without a corresponding increase in loyalty and worship. The ideal church was an active church. As had been said: "There are too many sleeping partners in the church." The church should concentrate its efforts on the children. The Rev. Mr. Griffiths also spoke on the same subject. Church and the Child. The Rev. T. W. Potts read a paper on tho subject of the Church and tho Child. He urged that children should bo fitted by the church to face tho moral problems in social and business life. He expressed the opinion that the church was losing its intimate hold or. the family life of its people. Trie Rev. Mr. Hodce also' was heard subject of tho Church and tho Child. . Intercessory Service. In the evening a war intercessory service was held in tho Terrace Church. Tho sermon, was preached by tho Rev. T. Warner. Tho! preacher said that they were profoundly grateful to he part of the British race. - If they did not know that the race was engaged in a just war they would ■ not be engaged in a . service of intercession. However, it ' was ■ right to be present because the cause was righteous and with unhlush- , ing face they-could turn to God, and ] plead with him in the name of liberty, ' truth, and humanity, that victory might j be with the Allies. Because they bo- j lieved. they were prepared to give 5 their keenest brains and gems of rarest 1 manhood. England was too Christian : jto plot to drown her sons in seas of ] blood. In this connection, whatever ; record leaped to life, England would j never bo shamed. England was a nation of good Samaratians, not of pre. mediating mur.derers. Before the tribunal'of the as?? tho evidenro would prove England scuiltless of such crime, J and fix-it on the unspeakable German. 1 However, our neoplo must endure un- I til tho end. .Wo had passer! tiirourrh i too much io-fall short of victory. Two •} venrs of purifications, sorrow, 'snore- i hension. loss, anxiety, had solidified s themselves into a grim resolution to " triumph in the name of God, and that £ resolution echoed in every part of the a soul of the Empire. We sea the battle- I field through a blur of hlood and now and then hoar that Divine Sentinel * Who moves about ;from placo io place And whispers to the worlds of space I 5 In the deep night that All Is Well!