BAPTIST, CHURCH CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1915, Page 5

BAPTIST, CHURCH CONFERENCE.

LOTTERIES. CONDEMNED. STRONG SPEAKING. By Telegraph.—-"Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The Parliament of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand opened in Auckland to-day. Apart from the Auckland delegates about 130 representatives from other parts of New Zealand were present. The business this morning was of a formal nature.

This evening a welcome was extended to t-hc delegates. At a public meeting in the Tabernacle, Mr. A. F. Carey, of Chiistchurch, presided, and Rev. E. A. Kirkwoo.l delivered his Presidential address. Phis is his last public appearance : n Auckland, as he leaves shortly to take up a Melbourne pastorate. Tho President expressed unqualified disapproval of the holding of carnivals and lotteries for the purpose of raising funds for patriotic purposes. The country has been flooded, he said, with, all sorts of patriotic appeals and moneyraising efforts. In each of the Southern centres great frivolities and pageants have been organised and carried through in the name of patriotism, and for the sake of charity. Auckland awaits her turn. In addition to great and attractive baits to the cupidity 'of the pleasure-loving section of the community, tlierj were in the city of Wellington roulette tables, used in the Town Hall, anil under the blind eyes of our legislators. The laws of the land were fragrantly broken, night after night. (A voice: Shame). After referring to the failure of the protests of the Auckland clergy, the speaker concluded: "And so the city is to see n carnival in all its flimsy tawdriness of pageant and show, while unwilling purses must be unlocked .to contribute with the hope of winning a prize of great material value. And this is trip year of our Lord 1015, and Christian Auckland! Is it not also the hour of power of the hosts of darkness?"