BAPTIST UNION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 21, 19 October 1917, Page 8

BAPTIST UNION

CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS

WELCOME TO MISSIONARIES

The Eev. Alfred North laid before the executive the report of the Board of Introduction and Advice. Sixteen churches had fallen vacant and sought. the aid of the board, nine of whom had been helped to a settlement. Nine ministers had consulted the board and been assisted. Five ministers new to the churches had been introduced. Six men had applied for home mission work. The Revs. vV. Bowen James, Reuben Bailey, !>nd C. D. Gardiner were recommended for ministerial recognition. The board Vcared that there would bo a great dearth of trained men for the pastorate for some time to come. The report was adopted'. The reports of the auxiliaries of the union were received and considered. An exhaustive review of the assisted churched within the boundary of the Auckland Auxiliary was presented by the secretary, the Eev. Alfred North. Mr. H. H. Driver, presented the report of the Otago and Southland Auxiliary, the Eev. J. J". North of the Canterbury. Auxiliary, and Mr. Charles Cathie of the Central Auxiliary. All were received.

It was resolved that a small committee be 6et up to frame a scheme for a thanksgiving fund ou the celebration of peace. Messrs. .G. C. Garlick, C. Cathie, A. F. Carey, and A. L. Adams were elected . a committee to act in the matter, with tho Rev. E. S. Gray as convener. Mr. G. C. Garlick presented the third annual report of the' Finance Committee. It reviewed favourably the condition of tho funds o£ the union and tho Missionary Society, and complimented the treasurers on the amounts which had passed through, their hands, "'he total to the credit of the two instituions was £974 14s. The debenture account now amounted to £835. Interest earned had exceeded that paid by i2O 12s. A legacy of £100 had been received from the estate of the late Bev. J. T. Hinton, which had been added to the capital account; £112 7s.'had resulted from a sale of a church property at Waimate. The annual self-denial appeal had yielded £611 2s. 5d... of which the Missionary Society had received £424 is. fid. and the union £187 os. lid. The hope was expressed that the fund might reach £1000 next year. Tho report was received, with special thanks to the committee for their valuablo services in supervising the finances of the union. Mr. Albert J. Grigg, of Auckland, interviewed tho executive as an applicant for training for the ministry, and was accepted and placed under'tho Students' Committee for the direction of his studies. Mr. Walter Lambourno reported tnat from the manse fund £100 had been advanced to tho Sydenham Church, and that the balance to credit was £29 12s. 6d. (with £110 on loan lo other churches! .'. The estimated receipts and expenditure for the ensuing year wore considered, when tho following budget was adopted:—Estimated income, £1-132; expenditure: Sunday School Committee, £30; Students' Committee, £140; granls-in-aid, £1096; sundries and office expenses, £166. Tho following amounts wero allocated to tho various auxiliaries to be distributed according to tho decision of their executives: Auckland. £522; Central, £164; Canterbury, £203; Otago, £207: total. £1432.

The members of tho executive woro entertained at a tea provided by tho ladies of tho united Baptist churches of tho city, to which the officers of the churches and their wives were also invited. Tho Rev. W. S. Rollings, as chairman of the committco which arranged .for tho reception of tho executive, extended to them a hearty welcome, to which Mr. T. 35. Toneycliffo appropriately replied on behalf of the visitors. '

Mr. A. Hoby, on behalf of the ladies of tho Vivian (Street Church, presented Chaplain J. K. Archer with a. silver communiou tray, to be used in services held by hiin in the military camp. A largo audience assembled at 7.30 at a public meeting, over which tho Rev. Alfred North presided. The chairman expressed his conviction that the missionary enterprise was the noblest and Kublimest ever undertuken on earth, and that the work of consecrated women on the foreign field was beyond all praise. Miss'Wilkinson, who leaves-shortly to resume the work to which she has dedicated her life, said she had spont a very happy year in resting and recruiting, and went back to India with great hopefulness.

Mrs. J. K. Archer welcomed Miss Beckingsale on behalf of the Baptist Women's Missionary Union, and spoke kindly words of farewell to Miss Wilkinson.

Tho audience rose en masse to greet Miss Beckingsale as she was introduced by tho chairman, and begun to speak. She said it was duo to II r. North's influence .that she had given herself to missionary work many years ago. She rejoiced that she had been privileged to work so long-, and hoped sne might be permitted to return and carry on still longer the work sho loved. She referred to the disintegration of Islam, and expressed her belief that tho war v;ould result in the advancement of Christian missions in Moslem lauds.

The president of the union, the Rev. .T. K. Archer, then took tho chair,* and on "behalf of the union presented to the Rev. Alfred North an illuminated address in recognition of the long and influential ministry which ho had exercised in the Dominion, and reviewed tho special agencies with which he had been closely associated. Mr. Gilbert Carson, M.L.C., eulogised Mr. North's personal character and the conspicuous and manifold services he has rendered to the denomination. After Mr. H. H. Driver had Tead the text of tho address, which detailed the various aspects of Mr. North's influence and efforts, Mr. North accepted the address and responded to the gracious words of praise niu) esteem which the. speakers had uttered. He ascribed all he was and had "been able to do to the grace of Jesus Christ, Whom it had "been his proud privilege to 6erve. The audience enthusiastically applauded the remarks of the recipient of the address, and a meeting of varied interest was brought to a close by the Doxology and Benediction. The address had been illuminated bv M- Haweridge, director of the Dunedin School of Art.