Students in Conference.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 18, 22 January 1904, Page 2

Students in Conference.

AUSTRALASIAN STUDENT 1 CHRISTIAN UNION. ' l-'OUKTII SIWMIOK i:i>NKKJ{KNCK. | i'IKST SESSION. Ycsterduy morning, punctually «t Ii quarter past nine o'clock, sonic lifty students -from vurioiw centres ol' New Zealand and Australia assembled in St. .Mary's Hull, Yiviuii Street, i|or>tlie lirst of a series of meetings to lie lield during the next lew days. The series will I'onn part of the iconl'ei'cnce held under the ausiiices of Hie Ausl rnljuriim Student Christian Union, n branch of the World's Christina Federation, and Ihe gathering promises to l.e quite as successful as any held in previous yeuft'S. Til 10 DEUOGATES. Tire list .of delog'aites present up to yesterday morning was as follows : Mr A. i(. ('rump (UullurnlX president, Mr Withvcombe (.Sydney) travelling secretary, Mr Holmes (AI«1-" bourne) travelling secretary, Mr HyInirn (Victoria College, Wellington) treasurer, Miss A. VV. Grilliths (Wanganui) secretary, licvs F. A. IScnnett (New Plymouth), 1. Jolly (I'ulmerstou North), A. W. H. Compton ;\Yangaiiiii)'; 11. Anson M.A. (St.

John's College, Auckland.), A. W. t.'happell (Christchurch). Representative Undents are Ji resent as I'oUows : From Otago-MlsKcs Illick, A Sinclair, .1. Crump, A. 11. Hamicock, (!. Mclvor, S. C. McKnigiit, Messrs 11. Pavies, N. I>. Nicholson, (!. J' 1 . laglis, A Hurdie, .1. W. Shaw, 1). Cal'der, Win. Itodger, .1. 1 Monfries, 11. l!art(Wi, A. I'orter. From Aiickland-.Mistcs ,1. Selilon, Cage, llalstrode, Kirkbride, McMastcr, Alessrs Keinpthorne, J. U. Hollowuy, F. If'.. J^ong. Itroni CliristchujiL'h—hisses Snail; , 10. M. Evans, M. Biidiges, K. King, Messrs U. C. Ohisholm, E. 11. Kid.', W. ('. McDoiill. W. Williams. From Asbburton-Miss C 10. McGregor. From Wellington—Misses K. Andrew, A. .1. Smyth, E. Claris, .1. M. (iordon. From Wnnganui— Misses 10. J. Currii' nnd Currii.. From Nelson—Misses II Diligent, -If. I'ettit. F. 10. Kershaw, Mr .1. K. Mules. Erom Hukurlri—Blisses McW'illiiim and Kennedy. From Napier—Mr J. Prummond. Students from places not enumerated ait! Miss Aitken, Messrs H. 11. Skinnier and Wright. Uov. J. 0, Jauuesoh, travelling secretary to the New Zealand llible class movement, is also present, and other delegates are expected during the next day or two. OPENING PROCEEDINGS. The meeting was opened with the liyniH " (I dvsus, I have promised," ami after devotional exercises Mr .1. W. Shaw, of Dune-din, delivered u s-tirring address. He based his remarks on Ephesians VI., 11, dealing with the value ol the truth. Mr Withycombe, travelling secretary to the A.,8.C.11., gave the students some useful hints with a view to showing them how they might derive most bench! from the conference, lie then introduced Mr Holmes, of Sydney, the new travelling secretary who delivered an address on " Prayer." After a brief interval, Mr Holloway, of Auckland, gave an interesting discourse on the devotional life, of Christian Unions. This was followed by «n animated discussion affecting the management of the organisation. Mr Holmes then reud announcements from the Mayor, Corporation, and citizens of New Plymouth, extending hearty invitations to all delegates to a reception in the Recreation Ground, from the secretary of the Haweru Industrial Exhibition, and from the New Plymouth Howling Club, offering (hi use of their green. Rev. A. W. 11. Compton read a telling apologetic paper on the subject of the " Incarnation of Jesus Christ." The reading of t;iis paper, which is one of a series of three, was listened to with deep interest throughout. The lirst session closed shortly before one o'clock.

PUBLIC UKCM'TIOX. There was nut A vi'i-y lurge attvitdWicc on' ihc piihlic ill the reception tendered Ivy the citi/iiii.s In ■flu- visiting students, bill those wliio mw present made things very pluusuirt for tin- de leg-ales. The u'llcrnoo'ii was perfect. Music wus dispensed ley u Imwl comprising memtjiTS of both the lluriisvii unid 'town Uuui.Ls, and aiddtd much to tile pk'ilS.UIV ol the Jll'lVeivdiingis. Shortly alter t'luee o'clock the Mayor, Mr H. t'wk, took the. chair on the biuml rotunda, liaviii'gi willi him cm tine jiluli'urm Jtev. F. CI. Kuvus, reprwetittng tlic council of the churches in the ulhsencc of Uev. Osborne, thu prcsijd'eint ; Mr M'acD'iarmid, chairman of the Governors of Une New Plymouth High Schwol ; Mr Allswortli, clrairiuwi of life Taramiik'i K'diicuUion Hound ; .Messrs Carter, Tisrh, uiiml Wood, Uoroug|lt Councillors ; Kev, Ohuppell, and Mwsrs Crump and Witbycdmbe, ivn buhiaif of the visitore. Thy Mmyor, speukMiig oil behalf of the citizens of New Plymouth, heartily welcomed the delegates, ninid cxnniiiwded to their notice tne i-iiicy of Maori mission work, stinting that in his cyi-iii'iiii tlx> natives were being suidly neg'lccUid as compared to tliu stale of aliiairs in thu old days. If anyone was anxious for mission work there was any annouint here uniouigwit whites anvd Maoris without gphig. to Ohi'mi, lmiiia, or any other foreign ■ mission Ik'his. ClMlli'lljr u, | lK . ul topics, In; mentiom-'->i tlwit 11*. Borough Council 114,(1 ginantud tin? delegates the live use of tit) municipal uiflis, and on hi-hali ol the Howling Chili, Lawn U-mils Club, a-nid (101 l Club, In, extended a heuity rn|v ; lt«tion to them to use tliv grounds (luring blwir slay. After briefly referring to sonic of the hislone spots and more attractive scenic lieuuties of the ■iti.vti-ict, Mr Cock ii«n.in offered the 'lie legates a very hearty welcome. Rev. I-'. (J. 10vu.dk followed, also extending a hearty welcome to the students, lie thought tin, present molvcnieiit oik' of great importance to the community, the more ho as the work of lihv Union was carried On by the young" people. If nw a leforniiiiion was needed, the worli.l was ready for it m »w. In coucluiJiii K he ivml a letter from llislwp Neligviit, rcgrelli'ifg his inability to attend, mill extending' Iris |),. w t wishes for the success of llie conferem*.. Mr N. h. MacDlarmid. ohsiirmaii o-f lihv High School Honed of l!r«vr' mors exteiwlwl a cordial nuj | Mutv welcome to llu'n. all to the "(Jard™ ™ -W Zealand." lie trilHksl tl , ut Ulw stay of the st,Kk,nts | K . IV wolll ,, V';oy<- ,uolitable and pleasant to both Visitors and 'Phis comereiKX' was a lesson i„ c.mua.gv. Hi,,,,e m«, there ux,-e „„„-, lw Ru . k| « i. could rise above tl, v pities o. life, and say •■! al „ H , h " t »•»'. ".ikl, wilhout l«n«K- e or bralorui an 0,1/jiiiou aiinl spoak it u,', ('(Wirage of a soldier was mon'ientaiv n;: l !(Vt,fr > t,u,i "' o ;' i " i,i -^'m-K-M the honour of his countiv, a . lu i •'«»«( »«8 pafiu.ii,,,, cm , ra „« OMst 'before. " MB ? *> «*f«* Mr Allsworth, .luilruwn of the iwaiwk, Mucattaß Board, W ] M that tl» visit oi Uvi stustvnia

might lie enjovaMe amid of mutual - t . |K-nelit. He referral regretfully to "* tihe wiaiii't of cent.raliv.nUon »i the colony. There was too much "localIsm" ; .■nfailiiig a cqrosideralble. waste. of time and energy. He inferred to the colony'» primary education system a,s excellent, but ventured the iyjjiiniiof.il I hint our system wanted "cutting oil at the lop," to make provision for U«e very hi;g.l» perewntaige of pu'pils who ncu'i' eii'ternd a secondary seli'ool. Seventy per cent. never itttenided a secondary school, uiiiid only ten per cent, of our population could take tiiilviuitoige of universities. .Mr A. dump responded all' behalf ol the visitors. Speaking in a huj>j»y vein, he thanked those ladies and guntlemeii vv ho had _ opened their doors and received life visitors so kiinilly. It was as well thut they htiild been separated, for wjit-n students were "oil' masse" Uley were a very lively lot. He also fhuiiktvl the Horough Council and Hie local clubs for their kind consideruition, and trusU'd that even if they did not use til** miinioipal bath, tihe visitors would use some other before lett:Vtfwj. He referred to the progress of New IMy mouth in the two years since ho was previously in the town, and stated that this was the thind "guixlen of New Zealand" that the students haul assembled in, tine otihure being Nelson and Wnn«'auui. lie complimented the fowiusijieo'ple on lvaJvitTg agatn returned to Parliament, Mr E. M. Smith, who was an enthusiast in the important iroaifrand mutters. Mr E. .1. Wilhycomlx l , secretary of the union movement in AaiHtraliiMia, after coimcyin-g his warmest tliamikii

U> thi' peo,plr for the reception ac--•o'lhfd the stittlmils, nrinfly reifiewbd the histoiy and objects of the World's Student Ohrislian Eedemti'on, of which this union was a winch. Nearly fifty. j- oa rs ago the movement was set afoot In Canada, iwml since tlwn bald s])ivaid the wide world over. There njere now In Anstralawhi uome 1600 or 1700 memkiers, us a ly-sult of eigjit yearsf. work. The objects 1 weix", firstly, to uiiiite ChriKtiiui students at colleges alnil strengllH-n Christian l feUowstliip; seconfilly, to help one another, decu;)eii the spirituuil lives of members, and beiielicially inllut'nee other student* ; an'.l, l'nuully, to lead each member to seriously consider his or her own life's work, how their lives were placed, and how to nm.ke them off the givatest benefit to t'hie world. The subject of New Zeaitanid missions would be discussed at this cemferertcc, as well ns foreign miissioins. Hev. Chapiieli, as representing New Zeuluiiil collcgies, tmiinkod the people for i.lk' wiainitli of the ix'ception and (Jlae gejieral kindritesK 'lxfstowed on the visiitins students. The warmth of tiiie weutlier was, in his opinion, "'lieaten hollow" by the irurutfioartedness of tlu'ir hosts auid hostesses. 'lliis kind reception could lvaive haxl uu better setting tlut'ii the lieautiful Heereation GrouiDds, of which ho tbougJik New Plymouth might vrell be proud. He was es[K>cially pleased at tl*e attituide of the ecrtiftcil of the elwi-clies tovvards tile uaiion, which was boklhiig a Pam-ide-KMnijißtiontd conference. Me trusted the movement for the glory of Dlvrist and the beneirt of men would lie advanced by this meet hug. The Mayor Warn lnivitotl tine delegV'Jles to aTterncxnn tea, which was f-vrvod by tltu ladies' i-ecepilion comiiuttee in a style that evidencedm'uch care an id foreulHKiah*. Tho tables were beautifully decked, una the uftvnioion tea was excellent. On the call of Mr Crump, three cheers were gi,v.,n for the Mayor.of New Plymouth. During the remaiiDder of Dho afterrtoon the visitors strolled rouu»d tlve grounds or enjovod a row on the lake, the boats iK-iw well patron'ised. In the evening Hev. 1. ,J„Uy vered an anhh'ess in the Whiteley Mull on the •Tnijioi-tance Of tire Individual." There was a good atlenidanee of students and HUblic.