ARCHIDIACONAL CONFERENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2440, 1 March 1888, Page 2

ARCHIDIACONAL CONFERENCE.

Tun quartet ly conference of clergy and laity of the Archdeaconry of Waikato and Upper Thames was lield in the court-house, Te Aroha ,on Tuesday. There were present the Veil. Archdeacon Willis, the Revs. J. Marshall, 11. (I. Boler, R. O'C. Biggs, W. Katterans, and a considerable number of lay representatives from various parts. The first sitting took place at -1.30 p.m., and after prayer by the Rev. J. Marshall, the minutes of the previous quarterly conference were read and confirmed. Mr C. Atiier was appointed honorary secretary for the session. In his opening address, the veil, chairman referred to seseral subjects which he thought should be considered, if possible, at the present sitting, and first among these was the question of "Social Purity/' A long and interesting discussion then following upon this subject, the principal speakers being the chairman, the Revs. Katterans and Boler, Colonel Forbes, Dr. Moon, and Messrs T. Wells, and E. \. Cox. After an animated debate the following resolution, proposed by the chairman and seconded by Mr Wells, was carried by a considerable majority, "That the legislature be memoralised by the clergy and laity of the archdeaconry to give power to magistrates and judges to prohibit the publication of details of cases which come before the courts when, in the interests of morality, it is desirable that such details should not be published; also for the suppression of gambling, especially the totahsator, and the disgusting exhibitions of pugilism which arc becoming common.On the motion of Mr Wells, seconded by Mr Co.x, it was resolved, "That the secretary be requested to draft a memorial embodying the resolution just passed, with the object of having it signed." The silting was then adjourned till 7 p.m. At six o'clock there was a large gathering of members of the church, and numerous friends to partake of a sumptuous tea generously provided by the ladies of the congregation of S. Mark's. Some seventy or eighty persons sat down at the tables, and after full justice had been done to the numerous delicacies the business of the Conference was resumed. The Veil. Archdeacon again occupied the chair. On this occasion the meeting was graced by the presence of a large number of ladies. Col. Forbes, at the request of the chairman, introduced the second question for discussion, _ "Lay readers and preachers," by reading an article on the subject from the Guardian newspaper, and then read an able paper by himself. -\n interesting debate ensued, which terminated in the adoption of the following resolution, moved by Col. Forbes and seconded by the Kev. J. Marshall, "That this meeting having regard to the present condition of the church in New Zealand, and to the imperative necessity of utilising lay help to the utmost, reommends that steps be taken for the establishment of a lay diaconate in this province." It was further resolved " that the Archdeacon be solicited to bring this recommendation to the notice of the Bishop, with the request that he will take early measures for giving ell'ect to the ievolution-" Owing to the lateness of the hour at which the discussion of the previous subject ended, the consideration of a number of other questions had to be postponed until the next quaiterly meeting of the conference, Notice of the following subjects among others, to be dea.lt with on that occasion, was then given:—"The organisation of lay help, and the carrying out of parochial "How to get hold of 11011-chureh-goers," "The observance of the Church seasons," "The New Zealand Alliance," llow best to promote the unity of Christians of all denominations." On the motion of I>r Moon seconded by Colonel Forbes a hearty vote of thanks was tendered to the llev. J. Marshall and to the congregation of St. Maik's, To Aroha, for the warm hospitality and great kindness extended by them to the clergymen and laity from other districts. A siinilaf knowledgemcn'-, was also made of tho kindness of the .11.M. in granting the use of the Court-house far the occasion. Before tho close of the mestiug the _q-.v?s----tion as to where the nest quarterly sitting of the. < VnferGiioe should be held was considered, Katikat i was proposed bt|t it WiW eventually decided to hold it at Te Awatutu and that the sitting at Katikati be postponed till next summer.