WAIRARAPA MASTERS' ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10309, 9 August 1911, Page 5

WAIRARAPA MASTERS' ASSOCIATION.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The Wairarapa Ministers' Association, held its monthly meeting oni Monday afternoon., at the MethodiiEt Parsonage, Carterton, by tlw kind inviation of the Rev. and Mrs Standage. The President (Rev. A. T. Thompson) occupied the chair. A letter was read from the secretary (Rev. Parsons) asking that he : might he relieved from his promise to open,' 'the discussion at tOio nexltl meetdiiig, as lie would .be out of town | at ithe tame, The request was granit r ed, and it was unanimously agreed to requesltl the Rev. Seirpell to intro- J diuce the next discussion on .some sub-'] ject to bo chosen by himself. Ensign Avenell gave notice- thiat lie would propose at the next meeting that action be token to bring _ the variousi Church Coxinoiils and Mindsore' Associations into:- more vital touch with each other in, order that they might stand undivided fin _ any matter iwfluich concerned the (National welfare. Tine subject for the afternoon's discussion, "Tlie Want of Visible Signs of Success- in Our Ministry," was introduced by the Rev. Mr Standage. It appeared from reports that .a .senbus decrease 1 im membership had occurred in all the great denominialtiiansi. of the Old Ootintry. It was very, evident that it was everywhere becoming more and more difficult to be a successful Minister of-the' Gospel. Many reasons were mumerated ■ why ihe 1 • work, was. liedngivhamiaearea.'K • ,Ma" Standage then noted what a> great field of successful work there _ wiais suwaiiitung ■ every earnest Christian. worker. Them instances of great and successful workers were given, and the secret of their ksusccess. lay in (the fact that the great doctrines. of the Church Ihad been faiitMully expounded, such as sin, latomement, justification of faith, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit. Persistent and prevailing prayer had been practiced, and tilie value of individual souls, realised. In all their preaching the posiLtdve note was isounded lamd conversion, worked for aaid expected and accomplisihed. The address wais (by no meaais ,pes(Himiistic, hut tax earnest appeal was .nuade for the old 'spirit' of victory an the 'work of -preaching, ini tlie modern Mind'Stry. '■.'■•• A very full and ihelpful diiiscusisiion, followed, and the lafltieauioou was .most .profttabfy spent. The Rev. aiid Mr® Stainidage. were thanked for .tilneir erittartainiment. The next meeting will be held in, tlie Vicarage, Mastertoni, Iby bind dnviiitlaitiiou of the Rev. H. .Watson..