CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 338, 12 February 1902, Page 2

CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

ANNUAL REPORT.

PROPOSAL TO SHIFT HEADQUARTERS TO WELLINGTON

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, last night. The meeting of the Council of the Congregational Union of New Zealand was resumed to-day. A motion by the Rev. C. A. Lyons in favor of extension of tho Education Act, to givo greater facilities for teaching tho Bible to children attending public schools, was, on tho recommendation of tho Reference Committee, not discussed, the grounds of tho recommendation being that the matter had boen discussed at length at a previous meeting. Tho Rev. W. Day read tho annual report, whioh stated the Committee had been approached by the Congregational Union of West Australia with reference to a proposed federation of tho Congregational Unions of Australasia. Tho communication suggested that a united conference be called in order to bring this about. As no date had been suggested for the proposed conference, the Committee, while sympathising with tho idoa and expressing its readiness to consider any suggestion regarding tho proposed conference, could not pledge tho Union to send a representative. Tho Congregationalists of Queensland intended celebrating their jubilee in Brisbane in 1903, and forwarded invitations to representatives of tho various Congregational Unions to bo present, with a view to holding a session of the AustralaSiun Union in Brisbane. The ranks of tho Ministry had suffered no losses during the past year. The immediate outlook of tho Church financially was hopoful, but it was hoped that if the denomination had any faith in this direction tho facts disclosed by tho Registrar-General should induce them to reconsider their methods, to complete their consecration and redouble their efforts.

The Registrar’s report was read and adopted. It stated that there were now connected with the Union 23 Churches, as against 22 last year ; 1833 members were recorded on thenroll as against 1772 last year ; 213 members had been added during the year. • A notice of motion by the Committee, “ That the headquarters of the Union,bo removed to Wellington,” was introduced, and after a short discussion consideration of the same was adjourned till this morning.