Baptist Union.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7371, 19 November 1898, Page 4

Baptist Union.

(BY TEUSGKAPH.) JluOTDinr, November 17. At the Baptist Union to-day the reports of the auxiliary association were read, with the exception of Otago and Southland. All referred to the good progress made. It was decided to meet in Wanganui next year. A motion was carried that a committee of seven members be formed, to be called the Baptist Union Sunday School and Young . People's Societies Committee, to watch over and further the interests of Sunday schools and young people's societies. It was resolved that, in view of the alarming spread of gambling among all classes of the community and of the influential attempts to justify the same, the Assembly nrges on the churches the need of immediate and energetic efforts to protect the young people under their charge from the contaminating influences; that the general committee be requested to formulate a pledge against gambling for bands of hope, Sunday school scholars and other church organisations, and urge each church to adopt the pledge ; that a petition to Parliament be prepared and circulated for signature urging the abolition of the totalisator, and the committee enter into correspondence with the other church authorities requesting them to take or renew action on similar lines. The Hon. T. Dick, in the course of a discussion, said the late Hon. Mr Whitaker had been strongly of opinion that the totalisator would do away with bookmaking to a great extent. Could he (Mr Dick) have foreseen what the totalisator meant he would have cut off his right hand rather than have supported it. In the afternoon after two schemes had been considered, it was decided to instruct the incoming committee to take steps for the establishment of a scheme to secure annuities for aged.and infirm ministers and missionaries, and for the relief of widows and orphans. In the evening the social meeting of the Union was held. At the Baptist Union a deputation of the Ministers association cordially greeted the members of the Union. The balance-sheet of the New Zealand Baptist showed a profit on the year of L2 3s 9d. The Union gladly accepted the recommendation concerning the triennial meeting of delegates of the Australian Baptist Union. The report of students' committee, setting forth the progress of three students, was adopted. It was resolved that the Union reaffirm its unshaken _ conviction that the suppression fof the liquor traffic by the vote of the electors is the only possible satisfactory remedy for the evils of drinking and drunkenness, and, impressed by the soul-destroyiDg effects of strong drink and its dreadful ravages in the homes of the people, strongly urges all Christian men and women to do their utmost to forward the prohibition movement and secure the succeseful vote for suppressing the traffic in their districts at next local option poll in 1899. At the Baptist Union the following officebearers were elected : —President, Mr H. H. Driver, Dunedin; vice-president, Rev. A. J. Clark, Auckland; secretary, Rav. A. H. Colliers, Auckland ; treasurer, Mr Arthur Nid gey, Christchurch; committee, Revs. North, A. iJewdney, J. J. Doke, F. W. Boreham, Messrs G. Carson, M.H.R., S. H. Matthews, A. Hoby ; students' committee, Revs. A. r'orth. A Dewdney, J. J. Doke, J. Muirheid, and H. B. Kirk ; editor of Baptist, Rev. A. Dewdney; manager of ditto, Mr H. Baton ; auditors, Messrs Toneycliffe and Ingold ; union preacher, Rev. F. W. Boreham. November 19. The Baptist Union last night considered privately the question of the appointment of an evangelist. It was resolved that the Union was unable to undertake immediately such an appointment, on account of the appointment of a home mission agent on the West Coast. The question was deferred for consideration till next conference.