BAPTIST CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 133, 23 October 1912, Page 8

BAPTIST CONFERENCE.

A SERIES OF RESOLUTIONS. ! By Telegraph—Press Association.'; Christchurcli, Last Nigh;. The invitation of the Auckl md I churches to hold a conference in 1013 in Auckland was accepted. . i The following officers were appointed: v Secretary, Rev. R. S. Gray; Literary and '] Publications Committee, Revs. Tlobflay r (convener), Cray and Williams, and \ Messrs. Driver and Maunder; treasurer, ( Mr. A. Carey ;i Union preacher, Rev. P. IT, Radford; deputy-preacher, Rev. E. 11. Hobday; Sunday Schools and Young Peoples' Committee,. Revs. J. J. North, ; A. Williams, J. Laird and ;S. Mason, and 11 Messrs. Stock, Hay ward,. Dixon, Jones, 1 Dewdney and Goring (the Rev. S. Mason was elected convener); president, Mr. J. G. Fraser; vice-president, Rev. E. A. Kirkwood; executive committee, Messrs. Garlick, Smelton, Toneycliffe, Cathie, Carson, Maunder, Ehidgey, Adams, Driver and Milligan, and Reys. North, Hinton, Mason, Dallaston, Hobday and Radford, with the Revs. Kempton, Kirkwood, Williams, A. North and Archer, and Messrs. Koby and Carey as ex-pflkio members; Students' Committee, Rev. T. A. Williams (convener), J. J. North, J. K. Archer, A. E. Kirkwood and F. H. Radford; Annuity Fund Committee, Messrs. R. S. Abel (secretary and treasurer), A. S. Adams, Ton- 1 e'ycliffe, Chidgey and Carey; Manse Fund Committee, Messrs. Toneycliffe (convener), Ingold, Garlick, Cathie, Lamb and Drew; editor of "The Baptist," Mr. H. H. Driver; sub-editor, Rev. C. Dallaston; recorder and registrar, Rev. W. R. Woolley; auditors, Messrs. Whitton and Hill. It was resolved: "That we recommend the churches to regard and set aside the; Sunday following the week of prayer as a missionary Sunday, that special missionary sermons be preached, and that a collection, or at least a retiring collec- ; tion, be taken, the proceeds to be divided * between the Union and Missionary So- , cieties." ? The Rev. J. J. North moved: "That this conference, representing 20,000 Baptists, protests 'against the attempt at present being made to increase the num- ' ber of race days allowed in. this Do-

minion. While offering no opposition to a redistribution of racing permits, which might relieve certain districts, the conference calls upon the Government to risk everything in order to defeat so retrograde a proposal as an increase of race davs." The motion was carried. •' It was agreed, on the motion of the Rev. Mr. Hobday, to recommend the Baptists of New Zealand to acept the pledge drafted by the New Zealand Alliance not to vote for candidates for Parliament who would not reduce the three-fifths majority. On Mr. Driver's motion it was resolved —"That we reaffirm our protest against all complicity by Great Britain in the frightful opium traffic of China, and our appeal to Parliament that they should release China from treaties which compel her to receive the drug as grown and manufactured in India. We rejoice in the manifest sincerity of the Government of China in its resolve to rid their land of this evil, and pray that success may speedily attend their efforts." The thanks of the conference were accorded to local churches for entertaining the conference.