BAPTIST CHURCH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9795, 19 October 1917, Page 6

BAPTIST CHURCH

EXECUTIVE OF UNION FINANCIAL AND OTHER REPORTS. At the meeting of the Baptist Union, executive yesterday the Rev. A. North presented 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. Tho Revs. W. Bowen James, Reuben Bailey, and C. D. Gardiner were recommended for ministerial recognition. The board feared that there would be a great dearth of trained men. for the pastorate for some time to come. Tho report was adopted. The reports of the auxiliaries qf the union were received and considered. An exhaustive review of tho assisted churches within the boundary of the Auckland Auxiliary was presented by the secretary, tho Rev. Alfred North. Mr H. H. Driver presented tho report of the Otago and Southland Auxiliary, the Rev. J. J. North, of tho Canterbury Auxiliary, and Mr Charles Cathie of the Central -Auxiliary. It was resolved that a small committee be set. up to frame a scheme for a thanksgiving fund on the celebration qt peace. Messrs G. C. Garlick, C. Cathie, A, F. Carey, and A. L. Adams were elected a committee to act in tho matter, with tho Rev. E. S. Gray as conycncr. , . Air G, L. Garlick presented the third annual report of tho finance committee. It reviewed favourably the condition of the fnnds of the union and the Missionary Society, and complimented the treasurers on the amounts which had passed through their hands. The total to the credit of the two institutions was £974 14s. The debenture account new amounted, to £835. Interest earned had exceeded that paid by .£2O 12s. A legacy of £l6O had been received from the estate of the late Rev. J. IHunter, wjiieh had been added to the capital account; .£ll2 7s had resulted from a sale of a church, property at AFaimate. The annual self-denial appeal had yielded .£3ll 2s sd, of w kich th© Missionary Society hfid received £4-* Is Cd .and the union .£lB7 Os Ud. The hope was expressed that the fund reach .£IOOO next yea?. Tho report was received with special thanks to the committee for their valuable services in supervising the finances of the union. Mr Albert J. Grigg, of Auckland, interviewed the executive, as an applicant for training for the ministry, and was accepted and placed under the students, committee for the direction of his Mr Walter Lbmlbourne reported that from the manse fund £IOO had been advanced to the Sydenham Church and that the balance to credit was £-0 Gd (with £llO on Ran to other churches). The estimated receipts and expenditure for the ensuing year were considered, when tho following budget was adopted :—'Estimated income, £1133; expenditure: Sunday school committee, £3ol' students’ committee. £140; grants-in-alid. £1005; sundries and office expenses, £166 The following amounts were allocated to tho various auxiliaries to he distributed according to the decision o-r their executives; Auckland .£522* Central £164; Canterbury, £203; Otago, £207; total. £1432. EXECUTIVE ENTERTAINED. members of the executive were entertained at a tea provided by tho ladies of the united Baptist churches of tho ocity. to which.the officers of the churches and their wives were also invited. The Rev. AV S. Rollins, a,s chairman of the committee which arranged for tho reception of the executive, extended to thorn a hearty welcome, to which Air T. B. Toneyciiffo appropriately replied cn behalf of the visitors. Mr A. Hoby, on behalf of tho ladies of the Vivian street Church, presented Chaplain J. K. Archer with a silver communion tray, to be used in services held by him in the military camp. PUBDIC MEETING. A large audience assembled at 7.30 at a public meeting, over which the Rev. Alfred North presided The chairman expressed his conviction that the missionary enterprise was the noblest and sublimest ever undertaken on earth, and that the. work of consecrated women on the foreign field was beyond all praise. Aliss Wilkinson, who leaves shortly to resume tho work to which she has dedicated her life said she had spent a, very happv year in resting and recruiting, ■and went back to India with great hopefulness. Airs J. K. Archer , welcomed Aliss Bcc]dngsa.le on behalf of tho Baptist Women’s Missionary Union, and spoke kindly words of farewell to Aliss Wilkinson. Miss Beckingsale said it was due to Mr 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 she might be permitted to carry on still longer the work she loved. She expressed her belief that the war would result in the advancement of Christian missions in Moslem lands. Tho president of the union, the Rov J. It. Archer, then took the chair, and on behalf of the union presented to the Rev. Al/rod North an illuminated address in recognition of the long and influential ministry which ho had exercised in the Dominion, The Hon. Gilbert Carson, M.L.C., eulogised Air North’s nersonal character and tlio conspicuous and manifold services he has rendered to the denomination. After Mr H. H. Driver had. read the text of the address, which detailed the various aspects of Air North’s influence end efforts, Mr North accepted the address and responded to the . word* of braise and esteem which the speakers had uttered.