Anglican Church Conference.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 110, 6 November 1895, Page 2

Anglican Church Conference.

« . There was a fair attendance at the meeting of clergy and laity of the Anglican Church at the Feilding Assembly Booms yesterday afternoon, when a paper on " Social purity," written by Dr Hutchinson, of New Plymouth, was read by Mr J. Black. The subject was discussed by the Bishop of Wellington (who presided), the Rev. A. Innes Jones, Messrs G. Wheeler, and H. L. Sherwill. The meeting seemed to favor the formation of a " White Cross Society," or some such society, and, also, the formation of a club as a counter attraction to hotels. In tbe evening another meeting was held at which the attendance was very good considering the unfavorable state of the wealher, there being a steady downpour of rain. The Rev. A. laaes Joaest ia asking tho Bishop at Wellington to preside, gave an account of the origin of the conference, which was the outcome of a letter appearing in the Church Chronicle, signed by two lay readers, suggesting such conferences. Mr W. G. Haybittle, people's churchwarden, then welcomed His Lordship and Mrs Wallis on behalf of the people of the Feilding Parochial disrict. Tbe Bishop then took the chair and opened the meeting with prayer. In his opening remarks His Lordship expressed his gratification at seeing such a large attendance notwithstanding the bad weather, and hoped thai this would become the forerunner of many such conferences, not only in this but in other parishes of the diocese. He then called on Mr J. Greenwood to read a paper on tbe subject of " Religious instruction in schools." The paper was carefully prepared, and pointed out the necessity of such instruction for the welfare of the colony. He concluded by proposing " That this meeting is strongly in favor of Bible reading being included in the State school syllabus of the colony." Mr N. Friberg, of Colyton, seconded the resolution, and, from a schoolmaster's point of view, pointed out tbe feasibility of carrying out the resolution. Tbe Bishop, Rev. J. D. Russell, and Mr G. Wheeler, also spoke to the motion, which was carried. A paper was read on "Our duty to bush settlers " by Mr G. Wheeler, in which he alluded to a scheme proposed by the Bishop in his opening address at the Synod. He approved of itinerant clergy being appointed who should go out two or three together through the country and trust to the hospitality of settlers, at whose residences they would hold services and administer the sacrament at their leisure, stopping a day or two here and there. Mr Wheeler thought this was the best way of doing their duty to back settlers. To do so would require the support of the General Church Fund, and they should not be satisfied with supplying the bare stipend of their clergymen, but should provide over and above that amount which should go to the General Church Fond for the support of a scheme as outlined. He proposed " That this meeting hereby expresses its sympathy with those inland settlers who are left without Church administration, and pledge themselves to support the Bishop in his efforts to secure clerical workers for bush districts." This motion was seconded by Archdeacon Towgood, who made an able speech in which be sketched out tbe probable duty of such clergy. The motion was carried unanimously. The Bishop, the Rev. J. D. Russell, Messrs J. Black and W. F. Jacob also spoke to the motion.