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VOL. XLI., No. 481. JANUARY, 1924.

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THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. January, 1924.

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ii.

Baptism is inseparably connected in the Testament with conversion and thesecond birth. What is the connection? Two explanations are offered. TheCatholic, which declares that Baptism causes second birth; and the Baptist,which declares that Baptism proclaims it. No other theory has any connectionwith Scripture. The Catholic theory makes Salvation depend on a ceremonyand so is not ethical. The reflection it makes on the character of God isunbearable. The Baptist theory makes Baptism the most radiant thing inthe world. It is the first act of the new convert.

40th Year of Issue—No. 481. JANUARY, 1924. Price 4d.Post Free 4/- per Annum

Passing Notes.

This makes a total of 9,346,219, exclusive of Russia.No statistics are available concerning the Baptistsof Russia, but it is safe to say that they number morethan a million and probably nearer 2,000,000. DrTruett was, therefore, not exaggerating when hesaid in his sermon at Stockholm that the delegates atthe Congress represented 11,000,000 Baptists; andthese statistics, it is to be noted, are only of memberson the church rolls. They do not take into accountan even larger number attached in one way oranother to the 68,785 churches and the schools andother institutions connected with them. It is wellknown that the membership requirements of the Bap-tist Church are stricter than those of other churches.These 11,000,000 have made individual decision forChrist. The number must be doubled at least bythose who would discover the size of the Baptistcommunity. For instance the Sunday School returnsshow 5,435,000 scholars exclusive of Russia. Thechurch in New Zealand is small. Smaller churchesthan ours remind us of it at times. Everyone ofour members ought to cultivate a world consciousness.If we are true to the Gospel we shall grow in NewZealand, and the growth will be proportionate to ourtruth.

The Doctor.As we went to press last month there came the

news of the passing of Dr Clifford. He was, hesaid a month before the call came, 87 not out. He isstill not out. He has carried his bat with honour

to the Pavilion. He fell in his harness at the BaptistChurch House. The news boys (with wet eyes manyof them) would cry the extra through the Londonthat he so loved. Few of the 7,000,000 citizens whodid not know his name. Some millions of them hadheard the old man eloquent in the Park. He wasperhaps the greatest citizen in the great smoke.Since Hugh Price Hughes and Booth passed on hehas had no rival in the affections of the militantChristians. For 65 years he has been minister of theone Baptist Church. No money could tempt himfrom his post. As a youngster from the MidlandCollege, come to London to a decayed church, hebegan business by sitting on the step of the BritishMuseum Library waiting the opening hour. Witha brief and cheap lunch interval he lived there, andcaptured knowledge at its source and won all thedegrees that the university could offer. Meanwhilehe was "eating periwinkles with a pin," to use hisown phrase. He was own-brother in the eveninghours with every poor man who wanted brother-hood. He blended perfectly the evangelist and thereformer. A letter signed by him and Hughes pulleddown Parnell after the adultery scandal. His fightfor education equity was epic. The bishops felthis lash—they needed it betimes. They honoured theincarnation of the nonconformist conscience evenwhen they winced most. His last move was a callto personal service in a theatre. He sleeps well. Wepublish two valued tributes from two of ourministers. "He's for the Morning."

A Royal Jockey.The Royal family is for the time being sacro-

sanct. Since the grandmother of the present Kingascended the Island Throne, the House of Windsorhas enjoyed the respect and affection of the nation.Republicanism is hardly mentioned in England.That is solely because of the good sense and publicservice of the Monarch. The institution apart fromthat consideration is nowhere in a healthy state.Sceptres and crowns have tumbled down in greatplenty of recent years. There are plenty of goodreasons for singing "God Save the King." Any-thing that lowers respect is to be deplored. Thatthe heir to the Throne should be now registeredamong the jockeys is not well for him or for hishouse. We say so here with regretful plainness ofspeech. England is suffering from horse racingmore than she is from the bottle. Gambling, whichis inseparable from the sport is producing morerascality and more prodigality and more inefficiencythan can be tabulated. No man who reads the signs

SETTLE WHAT BAPTISM IS AND YOU SETTLE MOST OF THEQUESTIONS VEXING CHRISTENDOM.

THE ORGAN OF THE BAPTIST UNION.

THE

Eleven Million Baptists.Dr E. A. Walker, of Delaware, has just completed

his statistics for The American Baptist Year Book.He estimated that there are 57,888 Baptist Churchesin the States, with 44,565 ministers and a membershipof 7,774,862. In addition, there are 15 bodies ofBaptists outside the Northern, Southern, and NegroConventions, with a membership of 385,824. Thisgives a total for the United States of 8,160,686. TheCanadian Baptist Churches have a total membershipof 135,590. The statistics for the rest of the worldare:—

Central and South AmericaEurope (excluding Russia)AsiaAfricaAustralia

282,348636,246207,362

32,76331,224


of the times but knows that this is so. Any dis-closure of the ramification of the vice startles. AndEngland has been well startled of late. But nowthe heir presumptive is a jockey. We seem toremember that Nero was something of the sort inthe worst days of Roman decadence. We wish thePrince would come out of the dirty game.

The Methodist Times.The Methodist Times is edited by a very cultured

and able minister whose impending return to Englandwe deplore. Two issues since, the Times publishedan anonymous letter, of the crudest type, animad-verting on certain things said to have been saidby the editor of this paper. We of course couldnot give rope to caricature and sent a reply whichwas very generously published extenso. With it theeditor published a note of his own in which hedeplored exceedingly that baptism should be a barrierto church union. We share in his grief, but wedo not share in anything else that he expressed hereanent. The Times grieves over this statement ofours "Infant baptism in an evangelical church islike the vermiform appendix or an enlarged tonsilin the human body. It is a culture plot for all sortsof sediment and bacilli of superstition." The

editor's grief over this sentence seems to be aesthetic.He does not inquire whether it is a true statement.He is concerned that it is not a nice one. For ourpart we take religious differences earnestly. We wantto see them solved. But they cannot be solvedin rose water. Truth is the test. Is it true thatinfant baptism is shadowed by superstition? Wesubmit that it is. Every sigh of relief given by ananxious mother when baptism has been performedby the sick bed of a child is evidence in point. Theenergy with which irreligious people seek baptismfor their children endorses our remark. As we write,a cable tells of a Presbyterian minister of Sydneyresigning from his church, because of the clamourof non-communicants for the baptism of their infants.Why do they clamour? For the reason we indicatedin the sentence that the Times dislikes. A religiousceremony which is very directly connected in Scrip-ture with second birth, when it is performed oninfants is bound to be dangerously misunderstood.Infant baptism in evangelical churches is verydangerously misunderstood. Its abolition would bean unspeakable help to true religion.

A Quaker?Our friend concludes with a statement guarded

with graceful gestures, to the effect that since bap-tism has been so misunderstood Christ would not,were He here now, make much of it. The same thingwould we suppose apply to the Lord's Supper, andthe conclusion is quaker. It will take many agesture to make that conclusion palatable. WhenGeorge Fox first ventured on it, the general feelingof Christians was that there was a reflection, atleast incipient, on our Lord's perfect wisdom. Every-thing is capable of distortion. Nothing that Jesussaid but can be twisted by the satanically clever intosome damnable heresy. To surrender what has beenmisunderstood would involve us in the surrenderof Christ Himself. Avaunt the thought. The wayout of the baptismal tangle is through. Willour friend take this assurance that nobody makesso little of baptism as the Baptists. They makeas little of it as the Master did. And He made verylittle of it. For instance He did not baptise theSyrian children concerning whom He said the mosttouching of words—always quoted when ministerswithout His authority baptise children. With usbaptism is very intelligible and very effective. Itdeclares faith when faith has been reached. It ex-presses what has been impressed by the Spirit ofGod. With all due respect to Methodists and Pres-

byterians we suggest that there are only two viewsof baptism that have any relation to the New Testa-ment statements as to what it means. These arethe Catholic view and the Baptist view. The Catholicbelieves that baptism causes salvation. The Baptistbelieves that it declares it. We can perceive nomiddle ground on which a man can set his feet—saving only grounds of sentiment out of all relationto the text of Scripture. The Catholic view isrepugnant to everything we know about Christ andabout life. There remains the view which we wishwe could persuade everyone, Bible in hand, toexamine for themselves.

But Why, O Why?Why did we call infant baptism cruel. People

pester us with the inquiry. We gave some hintslast month. We will use great plainness of speechthis time. The statements we make are carefullymade. We sort our adjectives with anxious care.We desire neither to wound the truth nor to grievelove. We cannot withdraw the word objected against,because it still seems to us to be the only true word."Facts are chiels that winna dong." Curiousreaders can turn up, in their reference library, abook once famous and still read. It is Lecky's"History of Rationalism." In his chapter on per-secution he makes an extended reference to infantbaptism both in the Roman and Reformed Churches.It is a nightmare of horror. It makes a man's bloodcurdle in his veins. There was a saying of GeneralBooth in "Darkest England" in which he declaredthat certain of London's children were damned be-fore they were born. But the Catholics taught thatthat is true of all children. Till they are baptisedthey are damned. The utmost mitigation allowedto this appaling statement was that the damnationmight not involve eternal fire, but a sort of limboin which dead innocence might be imprisoned wherethe light of God's countenance never falls. Theearliest Protestants with their well known abhorrenceof a third place cancelled the limbo and asserted hellsave only for the children of the Godly, as Calvinwould have it. Now let any one measure the massof mother suffering imposed by this devilish doc-trine. From the moment of conception the unbornwas under God's wrath. Only baptism could avertit. Baptism infallibly did. We cannot offend thetaste of our readers with the account of the battlebetween mother love and the harsh church. Attemptsto evade the sentence of the church were met bystern anathemas. Baptism of the dead child, bap-tism before birth, and so on were all prohibited. InCatholic discipline a doctor confronted with the alter-native of saving the life of the mother or of theunborn child, is bidden sacrifice the mother on theground that she is baptised and the child is not.But we have said enough. Christendom is underunspeakable debt to the Baptists for the rediscoveryof baptism and the setting of it in a place of powerand use—the very place in which Christ placed it.We had not intended referring to this subject atsuch length. The Methodist Times, a very admir-able paper indeed, is our excuse.

Oddments.The following cable was sent to Dr Shakespeare

from our union: "New Zealand Baptists lament thepassing of John Clifford, great Christian citizen andminister of apostolic worth."

Congratulations to Rev. J. Hiddlestone on hismarriage. With his wife he will do great thingsfor the Kingdom.

Large baptismal services are reported in anothercolumn.

A veteran of the Oxford Church celebrated hisgolden wedding last month. Congratulations to Mrand Mrs A. Bunn.

2

January, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST.

We have been favoured with copies of the"Reaper," the admirable monthly produced by theRev. J. W. Kemp. It is a well-printed magazineand contains very valuable Bible notes. It may behad by post for 4s a year.

Readers of Rev. J. K. Archer's piece on DrClifford will discover a word there specially createdby the ingenious writer. The editor is, however, ofthe opinion that the word will die young, for afterall a tiger is a cowardly cat.

A correspondent sends us a copy of the "Wit-ness," a paper that circulated among the brethren.It has an article on Dr Dixon howled down at Stock-holm. We assure our friend that the reference inthe "Witness" is grotesque. The Doctor was allowedmore rope than anyone not on the programme, andhe produced an amendment that should have beenruled out as ultra vires. Everything he tried tosay was already said in the pronouncement movedby that pillar of orthodoxy, Dr Mullins, and carriedunanimously by the Assembly.

Rev. S. W. Hughes, Dr Clifford's successor,recently told a story. A superior youth returnedfrom Palestine to his native village, and said to hismother, "Look here; that Bible story about the pigsrunning down a steep place to the sea is all wrong.That hill is eighty miles from the sea." "My dearboy," said the old lady, unperturbed, "what's eightymiles to a pig with a devil in i t ?"

Warm congratulations on the opening of thenew auxiliary cottage at Manurewa.

At the year end the veteran printer and publisher,Mr T. E. Fraser, is relinquishing business. MrFraser published the Baptist for years. He alsohandled the War Cry, the Prohibitionist, the Metho-dist Times, and other busy papers. In a touchingletter to his clients Mr Fraser indicates that infirmityprevents a continuance of service. It has been ser-vice, and no printers were ever more esteemed thanhe and his good brother J. G. Fraser. In his tripHome Mr Fraser will carry a ship load of goodwishes.

Miss Wilson, the most efficient of newspaper cor-respondents, has laid down the pen she wielded for25 years on behalf of the Nelson Church. The editorthanks her for the clearest reports he handles.

Our readers will join with the Wellington Churchin wishing Mr Arthur Hoby bon voyage and a happyand early return.

Mr W. H. George's transfer to Melbourne isgreatly regretted. His services to the union andMission Society are many and unforgetable.

Some Book Notices.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE EXPOUNDED ANDEXPOSED.—By J. Moffatt Logan. Published byKingsgate Press, Southampton Row, London, 2/6.This very vigorous writer has absorbed all thereis to know on this elusive subject and has compactedit into a well-written and very readable book, which wecommend to any who may be vexed by the problemof Christian science.

SUNSHINE AND SMILES.—By Rev. W. VenisRobinson. H. R. Allenson, Ltd., 3/6. This is thelast book of a man happy with children, and whoput into child's talk much wisdom and wit andgrace. Preachers in search of such aid should seethis book.

NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST HANDBOOK.—Price sixpence. This hardy annual has blossomedearlier than usual. We advise our people to get thisvade mecum at once.

Dr Clifford.

(1)—REV. J. K. ARCHER.

For nearly forty years Dr Clifford was knownto me personally, and for most of that time fairlyintimately. His home district was comparativelynear to mine. We grew up in the same religiousatmosphere. Of all the big British Baptists he wasthe easiest to approach. He came from the ranksof the common people, and never forgot it. Thepoorest minister, the lowliest lay-preacher, therawest student, the smallest child was at home withhim. He never knew that he was a great man, andnever made other people feel that he knew it. Alwayshe was the elder brother.

He was trained at the same college as myself.In his day it was called the General Baptist Col-lege, and was situated at Beeston, a few miles fromNottingham. In my day it was in Nottingham,and was known as Nottingham Baptist College.Later it received its present name, the Midland Bap-tist College. In my student days Dr Clifford wasnearing the top of his power as a public man, andcame to us with an unforgettable talk on "TakeHeed to Thyself and the Doctrine." The distinctivefeature of the General Baptists was their cosmopoli-tanism, or universalism. In their view the love ofGod, the redemption of Christ, and the whole heritageof earth and heaven are offered to all men on equalterms. Into that wide-eyed faith Dr Clifford wasborn. In it he lived and died. It made him aprophet as well as an evangelist, a citizen as well asa saint, a socialist as well as a foreign missionenthusiast.

For a time, a long time, indeed, it made himsomething else. It made him suspect. Mr Spurgeonis said to have asserted that he did not include DrClifford among the down-graders. It was thoughtthat he did. It is certain that many people includedhim. At one period he was barely tolerated on theplatform of the British Baptist Union. Later hewas just tolerated. Eventually he was idolised. Itwas a wonderful conquest, made without the aban-donment, or even modification of a single conviction,and with the triple weapon of power, sincerity, andlove. The triumph was personal as well as public.A quarter of a century ago a foremost Baptist of theold school refused nomination for a denominationaloffice because his election would bring him into closetouch with Dr Clifford. Years afterwards, whencelebrating his own ministerial jubilee, he invitedDr Clifford to preach the sermon, and referred tohim as one of his dearest and most trusted friends.

Except in a physical sense, Dr Clifford dis-covered the secret of perpetual youth. Positively hefelt younger at eighty than thirty or forty. Theyoung revelled in him. Over them he wielded awizard's influence. All through the world are men,some of them in conspicuous positions, who owetheir souls to him. One explanation is that he neverlost his mental alertness. Another is that he neverforgot how to play. For the young people of myGrimsby Church he opened a new bowling green.The best bowler in the district was invited to sharethe first game with him. Dr Clifford won; butnobody could persuade him that, on the play, hedeserved to win.

He was a glorious fighter. No Britisher everexcelled him in consecrated and sanctified tigericity.He would have burned for his beliefs, though hewould never have burned other people for theirs.Dozens of times he had some of his household goods

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3


seized, and sold by public auction, because he refusedto obey the order of a court to pay what he consideredto be an iniquitous education rate. All the time,however, he was tender as a woman. When he hadreached the age of sixty to seventy a group ofYorkshire Baptists entertained him at breakfast. Aftera good feed, they said some nice things to him, andabout him. As he replied he was so affected thathe wept like a child, until a pool of tears gatheredon the tablecloth opposite where he was standing."You have not waited," he pathetically exclaimed,"to come to my funeral."

(2)—REV. A. H. COLLINS.

The man who attempts a sketch of Dr JohnClifford has at least three advantages—his per-sonality, his character, and his work. These aresharply defined as Hogarth's pictures. To describesome men is difficult, by reason of the elusivenessof their character, and the subtlety of their influence;but the painter of our Baptist Greatheart, whateverother difficulties he. may encounter, has not that one.He finds a profile string, and unmistakable, and aninfluence as definite and verifiable as the GulfStream. The countenance and expression of thisman, willingly lend themselves to faithful reproduc-tion. In a word, Dr Clifford takes well. He wasone of the most vivid and vital personalities ofEnglish public life To really know him was totruly love him. Born in a lowly home and earlyfamiliar with poverty and toil. But he came, ashe once said, "to cherish in the home of his affec-tion the unforgetable portraits of two personalities,radiant in the beauty of saintliness and adornedwith the halo of self-denying patience and unflaggingtoil." His father had been brought up on theseverities of Puritanism, whilst his mother practisedits gentle and more joyful side. "Strength andbeauty" were built into the "sanctuary" of his life.It would be hard to find another Free Churchmanwhose example it would be more salutary for youngNew Zealand Baptists to follow. What a mentaltonic it supplies! What breadth of outlook! Whata passion for social reform! What superb courage!What love of men. Most lovely of all, what devotionto Jesus Christ! It was said of John Morley thathe was in the habit of scribbling on the fly leaf ofeach new book the questions it raised. Read thelife of Clifford and you will find an answer to theinsistent question "What makes life worth while?"And the answer is an unselfish life in brave touchwith reality, and ever growing knowledge. Onemight apply to him the words he used of Spurgeon,"He was intrinsically a crusader of massive strength,and sterling character, imperturbable fearlessness,and irresistible dash." Blended with unrestingenergy was a radiant optimism which made himsuperior to discouragement and defeat. The fireof early zeal burned in his heart to his last mortalhour, and this strong, tireless, undaunted soul wasgentle and simple as he was robust. "Weaknessis always rough; 'tis only giants can be gentle."Think of this. "I have been sitting up all nightwith a dying man," said Clifford as he commencedhis sermon, "and as the dawn broke over this greatsleeping city, his soul passed home to God, andfrom that bedside I have come straight to preachto you. Bear with me." One who was presentat the service said, "Ay! We bore with him forhe had brought upon his vigil-weary countenance thevery radiance of the Gate of Heaven." Pardon thispersonal word. One of the formative influences ofmy life has been the great men I have been privi-leged to meet and to know; and one of these isJohn Clifford. I have heard this God's good man

under a variety of circumstances. I heard himpreach in Birmingham and Auckland. I presidedover a great meeting when he lectured in the Auck-land Tabernacle. He honoured us by accepting ourhospitality for a week at Ponsonby. I had oppor-tunity of quiet, confidential talks on public ques-tions and more private matters, and admirationchanged to love. In our last quiet chat in thequiet of the study he spoke words I shall cherish tothe end. If I were a poet competent to write fromthe English viewpoint I would borrow one ofKingsley's titles and call it "An Ode to the North-East Wind." Dr Clifford was no languid, soft southwind, lulling to lazy sleep, nor west wind bringingthe gentle rain of clinging depression, still less washe the wind from the cutting, cruel east. He wasnorth-east bracing—ringing—tingling.

Come! and strong within us,Stir the Viking's blood,Brainy brain and sinew;Blow, thou wind of God.

Literary and Press Propaganda.

Convener: Rev. ERIC EVANS.At a recent meeting of the committee the Rev.

Les. J. B. Smith was appointed in charge of thePress Propaganda department of our work. Theministers will hear from him.

In the literary section our first move is thereprinting of the Rev. A. North's "Primer onBaptism."

This will be ready almost immediately andsupplies can be obtained from the Baptist UnionOffice, Wellington, or from the Convener, Caversham,Dunedin. We want every church and Sunday Schoolto take a supply of these. The price will be three-pence, and we confidently expect that "Baptism"will find a definite place in the Sunday Schoollessons and Bible Class syllabuses for 1924.

In response to urgent requests for a small textbook on Baptist History the Rev. A. North kindlyundertook to prepare one for the committee. Itstitle will be "A History of the Baptists in Outline."Prepared specially for our Bible Class members andthe senior scholars of our Sunday Schools by theRev. Alfred North.

We understand a place will be given for thissubject by the Dominion Executive of the Y.W.B.C.Union in its contemplated uniform syllabus.

We want the young men also to follow suit.The history will be ready for the beginning of

February.Prayer, thought, time, and money are being

spent by your committee in launching its work; let ithave the support of the whole denomination.

NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST MISSIONARYSOCIETY.

Subscriptions received from November 18, 1923,to December 18, 1923:—

B.W.M.U., £12 10s; Invercargill, 15s; Auck-land Tabernacle, £22 1s 8d; Whangarei, £5 2s 6d;Nelson, £l 8s; Gisborne S.S., £5 ; Gisborne BibleClass, 11s; Mrs E. Cockerell, £17 18s 2d; C. C.Harris, £3 15s; B.W.M.U., £3 3s ; Waihi, £1 10s;Hanover Street Young Women's Sewing Circle, £100;Hanover Street S.S., £6 8s l0d; Hanover StreetChurch, 1s 6d; New Plymouth, £3 11s; TakapunaS.S., £l 15s 6d; North-East Valley Church, 10s;North-East Valley S.S., £3 0s 9d; St. Anne's SewingCircle, £ 6 ; Hastings Church, 15s 1d; Hastings S.S ,5s 2d. Total, £196 2s 2d.

USE RADIUM BRASS POLISH.

4


Hanover Street Sunday SchoolDiamond Jubilee. Sudan United Mission

In continuation of the Hanover Street DiamondJubilee the Sunday School was not less enthusiastic orhelpful than the church functions. Mr Hiett was athis best with the children, whose singing was of ahigh order. The services were taken in the morn-ing by Rev. F. M. Beattie, of the PresbyterianChurch, Caversham, in the afternoon by Rev. B.Metson, Methodist minister at South Dunedin, andin the evening by the pastor, Rev. R. H. KnowlesKempton.

The services were continued on Tuesday, when thesuperintendent (Mr J. Jackson Purdie) occupied thechair. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, Mr A. Browning (aformer assistant superintendent), and Rev. R. H.Knowles Kempton occupied a position on the plat-form.

Mr Purdie in his remarks said that the schoolhad a history of which it had no need to feel ashamed.It owed a great deal to Hon. Thomas Dick, a manof robust character and influential personality. Theschool had always been fortunate in having a splen-did band of teachers. Following Hon. ThomasDick, came Mr John McLaren, who did not sparehimself in his work for the young. Mr JusticeAdams succeeded him, and was followed by MessrsE H. Drew, H. P. Desmoulins, A. V. Mazengarb,and the speaker, who was proud to have been calledto the position. He welcomed the many formerassociates of the school who were present.

The audience rose in silence to honour thememories of Messrs Thomas Dick, Aenaes McLeod,John Simon, David Findlay, J. H. McLaren, Alex.Haig, Miss Mackenzie, who had died in the serviceof the school, several scholars who had given theirlives during the Great War being also honoured.

After a few words of appreciation from the pastor,the chairman called for those who belonged to theschool 60 years ago, and four rose. Seven rose ashaving been scholars 50 years ago, 35 were presentwith a forty year's record, and 35 with 30 years.

Dr Charles North was called to the platform asthe oldest surviving official of the school.

A large number of greetings from absent ex-scholars were read, including one from Mr ThomasJohnston, of Melbourne, a pupil of 1876, his lettercontaining a cheque for ten guineas.

Sir Thomas Mackenzie, in the course of a briefaddress of reminiscences, said that he did not feela day older than he was 60 years ago. He paidgenerous tributes to the pioneers of the old school,and recalled with affection his old teachers. He re-ferred to the fact that he was present at the threeservices at the opening of the church.

During the evening a presentation was made toMr W. R. Smith of a clock in recognition of 27 yearsas secretary of the Sunday School, a set of crystalvases being presented to Mrs Smith.

Wellington Young Women's BibleClass Union.

In planning your holidays, girls, remember theEaster Camp to be held in Wellington this Year.Come along old Campers and make this the "BestYet." Come along new Campers and prove firsthand the delights of a Bible Class Camp.

W. M. LOWE, Camp Secretary.

A Frenchmanon the Sudan.

"Without a doubt Islam will in future be themost redoubtable adversary of Christian Mis-sions and also of the Colonial Powers. Butso far its progress has been slow and purelysuperficial. . . I do not mean to say thatIslam is not a danger. In spite of everythingit is gaining ground, and it will certainly bein the Sudan that one of the most desperatebattles between Christianity and Islam will befought. The duty of evangelical missions isto strengthen and develop a whole networkof stations in the heart of the heathen tribesso as to win before Islam does so."—M. ElieAllegret, in "The International Review of Mis-sions."

The object of the Sudan United Mission is to evan-gelise these hundreds of pagan tribes before theyare won over to Mohammedanism. The Mission hasalready reached seventeen tribes and is preparing toenter others.

The need is urgent; will you help?

This dominion has played no small part in the effortto win the Sudan for Christ. Before the Missionwas established here, two devoted women from NewPlymouth, trained in London, and, after consecratedservice in the field, both fell victims to fever, anddied in Africa. Mr W. R. Fleming, the first manto go from New Zealand, is now ministering to agrowing church among the Yergnum people.

Nine of the field staff in the Sudan are New Zea-landers, and others have volunteered for service inthat field. Amongst their most urgent needs are—£150 for the building of a Boys' School at Abri,where Mr and Mrs Mills and Mr C. Boyall aretreating hundreds of sick patients every month, be-sides visiting surrounding towns for evangelisticteaching.

£150 for building a Girls' School at Heiban, wherethe school for boys has reached its limit, has earnedthe grant from the Sudan Government, and wherethey are using the first book ever printed in theNuba tongue, a primer, with Bible stories. Mrand Mrs MacDiarmid and the Rev. F. and MrsWilson, also do much medical work and visit manyother places in the district.

What share will you take in saving Central AfricaFor Christ. Continue in prayer for this Mission,and send your gift to

THE DOMINION SECRETARY,

SUDAN UNITED MISSION153 Featherston St.,

Wellington.

5

The editor hoped to publish an illuminating letterfrom "A.B. ' ' paying tribute to Hon. T. Dick andother pioneers. But space prevents.


The Offices of the Baptist Union of New Zealand andof the Baptist Missionary Society—

205 LAMBTON QUAY, WELLINGTON.Telegrams: "Baptist," Wellington. P.O. Box 693.

General Secretary: Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles,

To whom all money for Home and Foreign Mis-sions should be sent, except B.W.M.U. amounts,which must be sent to the Treasurer, Mrs C. Collins,6 Bidwell street, Wellington.

All Y.W.B C.U. amounts collected by DistrictTreasurers to be sent to the Dominion Treasurer,Miss M. Beckingsale, 16 Montague street, North-EastValley, Dunedin.

Swallowing the Universe.

Our New Year message is an appeal to our peopleto specialise on a few saving certainties. Temperand faith are alike lost when too much is attempted.A famous man in Scripture said, "One thing Iknow." A man who knows one thing thoroughlyis educated. In religion it is on a few certainties thatthe soul lives. The man who is sure of these is the"happy warrior." Ministries whose strength isspent on the exposition of the saving truths are theonly great ministries that there are. Make 1924ring with the Gospel of the glory of the blessedGod. That is our exhortation to our ministers andteachers and readers.

What seems to us to be one of the most importantof modern sayings emphasises this. Of courseopinions differ as to what modern saying lets inmost light. There are not many modern sayingsthat are really original. Shakespeare has been deadthese 300 years. An unsophisticated reader of thedramatist objected that he was too full of quota-tions. The simple one had happened on the foun-tain from which preachers and poets draw theirglowing similes, their haunting alliterations. BehindShakespeare is the Bible in which he soaked hismind, and from which he constantly drew. Theyoungest Bible book is 1845 years old at least.The moderns have not succeeded in adding anythingof first class importance in the realms of moral andfaith. Yet we acknowledge a deep personal debtto a thing said by Carlyle in the "Sartor." Itreposes indeed on things in the Scripture. Itpoints our New Year message.

The Sage said, "Attempt not to swallow theUniverse for thy logical digestion. Be content ifsetting down this and the other fixed pillar inthe chaos thou canst prevent the universe fromswallowing thee." There is a sort of mental diseasefrom which men suffer very commonly. It is thedyspepsia that follows the attempt to swallow theuniverse. It is the headache that attends the attempt

to get the heavens into our head. It is not possiblefor a man to understand everything. We are engirtwith margins of mystery that none of our dogmascan explain. The wisest of the wise are foremostin endorsing S. Paul, "We know not yet as we oughtto know." The man who did most to explain theheavens, whose law of gravitation is the greatest ofall the generalisations of science, likened himselfto a child on the shores of the glittering oceans oftruth, and able only to take out so much as aspoon would hold. Yet many of us are angry ifwe cannot drink off the ocean at a gulp. Thenumber of people who stand outside the Christianfaith because they do not understand this or that inScripture or in life is immense. We want to makethose people uncomfortable.

The blind man in S. John was content to haveone pillar on which to build the nest of his faith.The Jerusalem savants tried to side track him.They wanted to discuss philosophy and theology withhim. Nothing in the Gospel is more delightful thanthe sword play that followed. He carried the flagof his simple experience through the hot engagement.The man who is trying to swallow the universewould have been slain in such an encounter. Wetoo have to be content with a pillar or two, or elsebe lost.

PILLARS TO REST ON.

Let us name the pillars. There is first the senseof right—the awful ought of conscience. We can besure of that. We can "bet our life" on that. Thedivine is in it. It is a fixed pillar in the chaos. Itcannot be pretended that the particular conclusionsof conscience are infallible. The conclusion is anargument. But the premise behind the mentalprocess, the sense of eternal right, that is the holything on which we can confidently build. Sin isthe outrage of this. There is no peace apart fromthis. The man who quarrels with conscience isdragged from the saddle and hurled into hell asNapoleon was. The man who breaks with his senseof right from mercenary or other reasons never for-gives himself. All the great dramatists appliedthemselves to the problem of conscience. Do ourpreachers also? One of the haunting pictures ownedby the nation is Millais "Claudio and Isabel." He,a glittering courtier, is in prison. The gyves areon his feet. His guitar hangs idle by his side. Alie will save him. His sister watches by his side.He says, "Death is a fearful thing." She says,"And shamed life an hateful." It is even so."Better die than lie." An officer of the Republicanarmy forsook American freedom for King George'sgold. Arnold attained position and security underhis new master. He could never forgive himself.Dying he called for the old uniform and for thesword which Washington had girt on his side.Assuming them he stood tottering and weeping, "Othat I had never put these off." We may sin—weall sin—but in our sin we salute the right. Thedivine is there. It is a fixed pillar.

The second may be driven in as confidently asthe first. It is the divinity of Christ. It is thecounterpart of the first. That sense of right whichwe know and to which we do homage, but to whichwe are never true, was perfectly expressed in onehuman life. Christ is our sense of right, living andbreathing and loving and saving. He is God speak-ing to man. In the chaos of thought this is ourprime certainty. "Thou art the King of glory, OChrist." To live and die on His faithfulness ispeace. His words are stronger than the foundationof the ancient hills. They are more permanent thanthe earth. His redeeming presence is superior totime and space. "Lo, I am with you alway, evento the end of the world." The victory of theCarpenter over the gods and emperors of Rome is

JANUARY, 1924.

EDITOR:REV. J. J. NORTH, Christchurch.

To whom all copy must be sent by the20th of each month.

SUB-EDITOR:REV. S. MORRIS, N.E. Valley, Dunedin.

BUSINESS MANAGER:REV. M. W. P. LASCELLES.

All business communications to be addressed to theManager, " N . Z . Baptist," P.O. Box 693, Wellington.

6


an incredible miracle. "When the last imperialchampion of the gods lay dying in his tent far outbeyond the eastern frontier of the Empire, theromancers were not far wrong who placed on hislips the cry Vicisti Galilaee." But it is the perpetualreality of His grace, the pressure of His spiriton the heart of man, which makes our Lord the onehope of our wayward race. Through Him consciencebecomes the friend and not the accuser. He is theRock of Ages lifted above the fretful seas of to-day.Preach Him. Live on Him.

We mention lastly love as Christ's method andlife, and as the strongest thing in the world. Thelove that reigns in our homes is the glorious candleof the Lord. But love in Him is the risen sun.To reverence love, to practise love, to believe in loveas the solution of everything that is peace. Thewild sins of this lost world have one bridle that willcurb them and cast them out at last. It is the loveof our Lord. Because Love is on the Throne, all iswell. Not to believe in love is the sin of sins.The fires of hell are the inability to forget that Godis love. The wrath of the Lamb is the day of theworld's judgment. We have named these fixed pillars.There are many unsolved problems. Let them restThese are the certainties at the roots of the Gospeland of life. You cannot swallow the universe. Youcan set down these fixed pillars. Do so and beradiantly and convincingly happy.

Divine Healing and ItsCounterfeits.

By REV. JOSEPH W. KEMP, AUCKLAND.

The late Dr A. B. Simpson was wont to speakof "the fallacies, farces, fads, and fanaticisms" ofvarious healing cults. Dr Simpson was himself aprofound believer in the power of God to heal andtherefore we cannot look upon his judgment as thatof one opposed to the ministry of healing. Theorganisation known as "The Christian MissionaryAlliance" has, as a most pronounced tenet in itsarticles of faith, faith-healing. Moreover, so far asis known, Dr Simpson declined the services of aphysician to his dying day. He was, however, fullyaware of the burlesque and counterfeit and wrotestrongly of such.

A question of much importance is one that ison the lips of many. "How far may we carry tothe Lord bodily ailments in prayer and faith forhealing?" Numbers affirm belief in Divine healingand are able to produce good results. While others,less sanguine, deny and reject all such as delusive.A much wider constituency, while hesitating to dis-pute honest testimony take up a neutral position.From much that has been written and said on thissubject during recent days it is easy to gatherthere prevails a great divergence of opinion and wecannot hope to reconcile the many conflicting views.The points at issue may be briefly stated. There is,we take it, perfect agreement as to the fact that ourLord is able now, as during His earthly ministry, toheal all manner of diseases. Furthermore, it isconceded that He frequently does, in answer toprayer and faith, in a remarkable manner, imparthealing where human skill has utterly failed. Therethe agreement seems to end. The questions—It is theLord's will to give healing to His people in everycase of sickness? And is that healing to be soughtthrough faith only and apart from the use of means—evoke very contradictory replies.

With such disparity of views it is not to bewondered at that there should be a perversion andcounterfeit of the Gospel of physical healing. Whatare some of the counterfeits or perversions of Divinehealing?

There are extreme and unscriptural methods ofFaith-healing.Attention in a previous issue was called to the

"Pentecostal-gift-of-tongues-healing cult" and it isonly referred to here in order to give added emphasisto what was formally said that Christian peopleshould sedulously shun it. Much—very much—isin that moment which is most objectionable andmakes one blush with shame. Rarely is the move-ment dissociated from mercenary purposes. Greatclaims to spiritual power and importance are madeand loud, uncouth, and unseemly speech indulgedin, all of which is most undesirable.

The Superstitions and Pretentions of RomanCatholicism.Think of the journeys which the afflicted have

made to Lourdes in France, or to the Romish Shrineof Ste. Anne de Baupre in Quebec, Canada. Lourdesis one of the chief places of Roman Catholic pil-grimage. Its fame dates from 1858 when the VirginMary is reported to have appeared to a girl of13, Bernadette Soubirous. The famous spring risingfrom the spot is credited with miraculous powerswhich is visited by about 500,000 annually. At thisplace amazing miracles are said to have taken place.Ste. Anne de Baupre has been the scene of pil-grimages for centuries. Over 100,000 pilgrimsannually visit the shrine. There the paralytics walk,the blind recover their sight, and the infirm arerestored to health, so we are asked to believe. A visitto this famous Basilica some years ago served toundeceive one, and we came from the "holy spot"feeling no greater fraud could be perpetrated onthe poor of the land. It was pitiable in theextreme. The interior of the cathedral presents anamazing spectacle; hundreds, if not thousands ofcrutches are stacked against the walls to a greatheight; left by the "cured." The crippled, de-formed, and feeble kiss a reliquary containing a boneof the hand of Ste. Anne. It is all so sad. Alittle steep graveyard holds 3724 dead, unmarkeddead mostly. We were told at Ste. Anne de Bauprethat sham cripples were paid for bringing theircrutches in order to keep up appearances. Thatsham cripples were there I do know, but whetherpaid I doubt.

These facts are mentioned to show that thismiracle evangelism business is not new, and thatit numbers amongst its kind one of the greatestfraudulent systems of the clay.

Spiritualism or Spiritism.The claims of this cult to physical healing are

on a par with its other claims, and are as unfounded.This pestiferous organisation is flinging its banefulinfluence over the whole world and holds amongstother belief its power to heal. Many testify to havingreceived bodily health through this means. It isprobably true, but we need not be surprised that if,as this school maintains, Satan has the power toput sickness on to people that he should have powerto take it off.

Christian Science.An examination of this system should convince

every candid seeker after truth that it is a frightfulcounterfeit. Its irrational and senseless teachingsare enough to disillusionise its own victims. Whatsane person can read the authorised text book ofChristian science and not feel like smiling andweeping by turns at such a ridiculous, irrational,blasphemous, impudent medley of false science, con-tradictory philosophy, religious profanity, andaudacious greed for profits. The wonder is that ithas succeeded in making so many people of this agethe laughing stock of men and angels and the lasthumiliating proof that the civilisation of the twentieth

7

8 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. January, 1924.

century is in its dotage. Hear it! "The evidenceof the senses is not to be accepted in the case ofsickness. Disbelieve the disease and there will benone." This foolishness is unworthy of a soberanswer. It is enough to say that it is neitherscience nor Christianity.

Emmanuelism.This is an attempt to establish what is called

"a theological psychology." It is a combinationof the clergyman and physician. The movementtakes the name of Emmanuelism because its leaderis Dr Worcester, of the Emmanuel Parish of Boston.It claims only to deal with nervous and functionaldisorders. . It proceeds always under the advice of aphysician. It recognises the ministry of prayer, butnot as a direct supernatural force in healing. Nospecial preparation is required, nor does there appearto be any particular effect on the religious life. Theessence would seem to be a selfish turning to Godfor temporary help, and then going on as before inthe world. A tired votary of the theatre or dancehall goes home wearied and lies clown on her bed andyields her being to God in a season of subjectiveprayer which, if it does not reach heaven, at leastquietens her nerves and brain, and produces sleep.So the business man snatches a moment or two ofprayer amid the wild rush of stocks and shares;the pleasure-seeker too in the midst of games andraces, and then, alike, the theatre-goer, businessman, and the racing captive, "refreshed'' (so theysay) drive on as before using a very accommodatinggod for their own selfish ends. It is doubtful ifsuch praying ever exceeds that of the Pharisee who"prayed thus with himself."

We note with interest the gradual coming togetherof the clergy and doctors in a union of healing, butit may be doubted if ever religion and medicinewill inhabit the same house with one brass platebetween them.

In conclusion let it be said the ministry ofhealing has a very sacred place to-day as a witnessfor God, and a protest against error, but it mustalways be held subordinate to the salvation of soulsand the Sanctification and consecration of Believers.It is one of the privileges of the Kingdom of God.

To the sick, sensible of the lack of attainments,let me say, "Be not afraid, only believe."

Christ comes to the sinner, helpless, guilty, lost.and saves him just as He finds him, and so will thesufferer; let him take courage and lift up his wearyhead.

We have no right to expect any healing except incases where healing is according to the will of God;and even in such cases we have no right to demand thatGod shall heal "without the use of medicine." Itsometimes pleases Him to bless the use of medicine,and sometimes it pleases Him to heal directly withoutsuch use of means. It is always true that "theprayer of faith shall heal the sick"; but "theprayer of faith" cannot be prayed unless God bestowsit upon the one who is praying. All depends uponHis sovereign will.

In Memoriam: Mrs T. Haycock.

Baptisms.

North Invercargill—Fourteen. By Pastor Day.Invercargill—Thirteen. By Rev. J. Carlisle.Oxford Terrace—Fifteen. By Rev. J. J. North.Vivian Street—Twelve. By Rev. F. E. Harry.Richmond (Nelson)—Two. By Pastor Jones.Wanganui—Three. By Rev. S. Jenkin.

Mrs Haycock was called home. There hadbeen life-long prepartion for the call, and so itcame as a joyous summons. Mrs Haycock was theonly surviving foundation member of the RichmondBaptist Church, a membership that was fruitful ingood works for 72 years, a membership so lengthyas to be unique among the Baptists of this Dominion,has been called home.

Mrs Haycock, when a girl of 10, arrived in Nelson,vith her father and mother in the year 1842. Shewas thus one of the brave band of colonisers, menand women, who by carrying out their duties ofthose days were adventurers of the noblest order.For they were days of hardship and peril and toilWhen that emigrant ship anchored in Nelson Haventhere were no houses to entice the passengers ashore,and supplies of food got desperately low at times.Potatoes doled out by the Government to the settlersfor planting were dug up and eaten in order tosatisfy pressing hunger. When her father took herinto the Foxhill district there to carve out a home forhimself and family, she was the first girl to pene-trate those parts. Nelson is 22 miles distant, andthe only highway was a track through bush andswamp, over hills and through valleys. But shewould walk this track to Nelson to buy a little flourfor her delicate mother. An then, when her pur-chases were complete, she would strap them on herback and set her face homeward once more. Thebrave spirit of this girl was never conquered byhardships and sorrows, and just two years ago, when90 years of age, she acroplaned over Nelson cityand thoroughly enjoyed her flight.

Mrs Haycock early in life gave her heart toChrist and in the atmosphere created by her everpresent Lord she cultivated a radiant type ofChristianity. She was never an unpractisingChristian. Her life told on the community. Onewould hear from different sources tributes of love andgenerous expressions of gratitude. "Trus t " and"Activity" were her watch words. They were ofequal importance to her, so she lived a well-balancedlife. Her trust in God even in the time of greatsuffering was pure and lovely to see. Throughouther long life she was a friend in the homes wherehelp was needed. Hers was a life of moral worthand there are many who will ever give thanks forits gracious influence. But the glory belongs toChrist.

Queen Margaret CollegeHOBSON STREET, WELLINGTON.

DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL FOR GIRLSAND KINDERGARTEN.

Registered Primary and Secondary Departments.

Principal: Miss AMICIE E. K. HAYDON, M.A.

The aim of the College is to give a good educationunder Christian influence.

Beautiful Grounds. Charming Situation.For Prospectus, apply to the Principal, or Registrar:

H. P. MOURANT,153-155 Featherston Street, Wellington.

P.O. Box 1170.

USE RADIUM POLISH for Black or Tan Boots.


The Missionary Mail Bag

The Right Kind of ColourBlindness.

"The operation is finished, and in the hardlylighted dormitory I watch for the sick man's awaken-ing. Scarcely has he recovered consciousness whenhe stares about him and ejaculates again and again:'I've no more pain! I've no more pain! ' . . . Hishands feel for mine and will not let it go. Then Ibegin to tell him and the others who are in theroom that it is the Lord Jesus who has told thedoctor and his wife to come to the Ogowe, andthat white people in Europe give them the moneyto live here and cure the sick negroes. The Africansun in shining through the coffee bushes into thedark shed, but we, black and white, sit side by sideand feel that we know by experience the meaningof the words: 'And all ye are brethren.' Wouldthat my generous friends in Europe could come outhere and live through one such hour!"

" 'I lay in cruel bondage,Thou cam'st and mad'st me free!'

"These words from Paul Gerhardt's Adventhymn express better than any others whatChristianity means for primitive man. 'That is againthe thought that fills my mind when I take part inservice on a mission station.''

From Dr Schweitzer's Book: "On the Edge of thePrimeval Forest. ' '

Fishers of Men,

An Associated Press dispatch given out in Bom-bay, to the effect that Sadhu Sundar Singh had beenmurdered by a fanatic in Tibet, created a great sen-sation among Indian Christians, and according toThe Christian Patriot, "revealed the profound affec-tion in which the Sadhu is held among Indians, andthe void that would be created by his passing away."When the report came, some friends of the Sadhurecalled a saying of his, uttered in moments ofspiritual exaltation, a devout longing of his soul,that he might die a martyr in his thirty-third yearlike his Lord. The Sadhu is now 33 years old.The Pioneer was the first to doubt the rumour, andstaled that a letter had been received from SundarSingh, apparently dated after the day of his allegeddeath, but fears were finally ended by the receiptof a telegram, "Sadhu Sundar Singh in Kotgarhand in good health."—(Missionary Review of theWorld.)

Science has opened a new world to the youngmen of India, and has weakened the moral sanctionsof the old faiths. There are educated Orientals whowould stamp out the Christian religion if they hadthe chance. The future of India lies in the handsof men educated in Christian colleges. Christianityhas set widows free, educated women, and upliftedthe outcasts.

The Indian Christian community is poor andweak; new and inexperienced. "We are the childrenof yesterday. By the grace of God, we can be theheirs of to-morrow. Support us fur another genera-tion and then we will support outselves."—(Mis-sionary Herald.)

OUR BENGALI CHRISTIAN BOYS.

Recently we compared notes with a missionaryto the Maoris, who admitted that the physical, mental,and spiritual robustness of the community would bemore marked than it is if more had been done for thetraining of Maori youth. He was sure that dailypersonal touch in boarding schools is eminentlydesirable for Native boys and girls whose home orvillage environment is not helpful.

In India, missionaries are of the same opinion,and for 30 years we have been sending our Bengaligirls to boarding schools in other mission centres.Miss Beckingsale reports that at present there are14 of our girls in such schools and eight of ourboys in schools for boys. All these are being shapedfor a life of Christian usefulness.

The Australian Baptist Mission Station at Farid-pur (a six-hour steamer journey from Chandpur) hasbecome a centre for the boys, since the Rev. L.Barber, who is 'a real live wire,' has opened anIndustrial School there, which is a hive of industry.From a booklet written by Mr Barber we cull thefollowing:—

"It is our aim, and with intense faith andhumbleness we follow Christ's hading that fromFaridpur there may issue forth a band of youngmen fired with Christ's ambitions and moved withHis compassion, men who are keen Christlike work-men, and keener still to witness to the gloriouspower of Christ. Our aim is to make a boy a manthrough work, bring him under the spell of Christ,so that he, being Christ-possessed, may love andserve his school-fellows and fellow men."

This is the position in Bengal. "The ideal workfor a gentleman is a position in some Governmentoffice. Tens of thousands of young students arecramming day and night, ruining their health, spend-ing their parents' all, and drowning them in debt inhope of attaining this haven of respectability. Everyvacancy is rushed by hundreds armed with sheafs oftestimonials to ensure success. Those who missgetting an appointment, and there are many of them,sit down at home, still supported by their unfortunateparents, or a father-in-law, who, in order to obtainsuch an eligible son-in-law, consents to support him.Such young men have a grouch against Government,and are ripe for sedition, only too ready to rally toan agitator who promises a new government andjobs for all at high pay.

But changes are taking place and people arelooking to industries to help them. At Faridpur themissionaries are determined to help in this "economicsalvation." Christian lads are being taught cabinet-making, carpentry, and joinery, iron and tin work,weaving, housebuilding and boat-building.

"India's problem and needs are big ," says MrBarber. "We have builded big to meet them. Inbig work and big aims our boys are realising bigmanhood.''

All communications for the Missionary Section ofthe " B a p t i s t " to be sent to the Missionary Editor,Rev. Stanley Jenkin, Wanganui.

9

J. T.

Missionary Work in the Punjab.Canon E. Guildford, of the Punjab, said recently

that he was ten times more keen on missionary worknow than when he went to India 41 years ago! Godhad wrought great things in India. When he wentto the Punjab in 1881 there were only 3000 Christians;when he left in February for England there were50,000, drawn chiefly from the submerged classes.But they must not guage the result of the work bybaptisms; there were thousands and thousands ofmen, many of them educated men, who were readingthe word of God and taking to their hearts the ChristS. Cross.

Sundar Singh Still Living.


Miss Bradfield.We are exceedingly sorry to say that Miss Brad

field will not be returning to India for a while. TwoAuckland doctors strongly advise that she remain inNew Zealand for some months longer before resum-ing her work on the field. She is disappointed, ofcourse, and so are we. But the complete re-establish-ment of her health now is a first charge upon thesociety. We hope in this way to ensure that MissBradfield shall spend many more years in effectiveservice in the land of whose desperate spiritual needshe came to know so much during her f i r s t term asone of our missionaries.

Miss Rice.Mr Lascelles recently received a cable to the

effect that Miss Rice had undergone an operation forappendicitis. This came as an unwelcome surpriseafter the news last month that all was well. We areglad to add that latest advice reports Miss Rice asgoing on satisfactorily.

B.W.M.U. Dominion President.We believe that Mrs Toneycliffe hopes to visit

many of the B.W.M.U. branches during her term ofoffice. She will be affectionately welcomed where-ever she goes, and her visit will do much good.

The Home Society.We rejoice to notice in the annual report of the

B.M.S. that there were 3596 baptisms during theyear, and that there was no financial deficit whenthe year ended. It does not look as though theB.M.S. were under the displeasure of the Almighty.As some wanted us to believe a while ago.

C.I.M. Success.The China Inland Mission has baptised 2000

Chinese since the beginning of the year.

Creed and Conduct.When a Korean decides to become a Christian, he

tells his friends that he has made up his mind to"do the doctrine." This sounds something likethe Chinese convert who joined the S.P.G. Missionat Peking, and made this quaint confession, "I amnow reading the Bible and behaving it ."

Which?PRAY—GIVE—GO.

Three things the Master hath to do,And we who serve Him here belowAnd long to see His Kingdom comeMay Pray or Give or Go.

He needs them all,- the Open Hand.The Willing Feet, the Praying HeartTo work together and to weaveA three-fold cord that shall not part.

Not all can Go; not all can GiveTo speed the message on its way,But young or old, or rich or poor,Or strong or weak—we all can pray—

Pray that the gold-filled hands may GiveTo arm the others for the fray;That those who hear the call may Go;And Pray—that other hearts may Pray!

—Selected.

Rev. S. Morris.We are glad to report that our friend, Rev. S.

Morris, who renders such cheerful service in gettingour pages through the press, has returned to his workat North-East Valley after a disquieting illness.

Subed, the Mason.

By Miss Gladys Collins, of the Australian BaptistMission, and daughter of the Rev. A. H. Collins,of the New Plymouth Baptist Church.Our first introduction, 18 months ago, to the

home of Subed the mason, was a quite haphazardone. It happened this way. We were visiting acertain Mohammedan village; the Bible-women hadgone ahead, and we were following on the bicycle.The arrangement was to meet in the home of anold lady-suffering from a skin disease. It is hard forour workers to see so much suffering, and neverbe able to relieve. So we agreed to take some simpletreatment, and thus, by giving a little physicalrelief, help prepare the way for the Gospel.

Bengali instructions are a little vague, and so,instead of reaching this home, we found ourselvesin the home of a much greater sufferer, the home ofSubed the mason and his bed-ridden son.

For six months the boy had been on his backand gradually grew weaker and weaker. On thatfirst visit, we heard the remark, "If only Dr HopeSaheb had been here! ' '

Many times since that first visit have our stepsturned towards that home in the jungle village. Thewelcome from the sufferer is always sufficient rewardfor the weary, mile-and-a-half trudge. But there waslittle one could do. The best doctor in the districthad said the only hope of any improvement was forthe patient to go to Calcutta for treatment. Thefamily were against this move, even if such werepossible. And so there the boy lay, month aftermonth, for a year and a-half.

On top of disease was dire poverty. Whilst onebread-winner lay ill, the father, the only other bread-winner, spent half his time in running hither andthither after some quack treatment for his son. Ontop of this, six months ago, the only daughter ofthe home became widowed. She had been one oftwo wives in a Mohammedan home, and the leastloved. She was quickly sent back to her father'shome, and efforts were made to rob her of all herrights. Fortunately, in this we were able to helpthrough the local official, and she got her full rights.She, too, now began to look for our visits, andgradually became friendly enough to speak. Later,both brother and sister learned to sew, and the boyproved as apt a pupil as many a soldier did, backfrom the front, and incapacitated in hospital.

Last week Dr and Mrs Hope visited Bubna, andgreat was the joy of many old friends. The news oftheir arrival spread round the town, and, as theycycled along the old familiar road, past well-knownhouses, young and old ran out to welcome them.

But Subed the mason's home lay in the jungleoff the main road, and little hope rose in the mindof the boy that he should see the Dr Saheb. Onemorning last week, before the father left for hiswork, the son made the request that he should becarried to a little shop on the roadside that he mightsee the faces of the passers-by. It was such a longtime since he had seen anything but the four wallsof their dingy home. That morning, an hour later.Dr Hope rode out along that very road. The boycould hardly believe his eyes as he gazed, and greatindeed was his joy. We thought of how the poorand sick watched for the good Lord Jesus to go by.

So far the story goes. Yesterday me called inat that home. The light on the boy's face was a

January, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. 11

A New View of the Chandpur Hospital.

benediction. There is no mistake that the light hasdawned in his heart. He reads the Gospel story,and tells it falteringly to his people. He looks for-ward every Wednesday to a visit, and so also docshis sister. As we mounted again on to the mainroad, looking back, we saw the slight figure of thewidowed sister on the jungle path.

"Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make Hispaths straight."

The jungle path to the hearts in that home isbeing cleared, and some day there may be a con-tinuation of this simple story.

What India Really Needs.By F. VINCENT THOMAS, B.A., M.B., CM.,

of Palwal.Of the 320 millions of India, 252 millions are

dwellers in villages. Most of the press articlesread in this country emanate from those in highplaces. The dumb dwellers in villages are unrepre-sented, though they form so high a proportion of thepopulation. It is difficult, even after 21 years atPalwal, to put aside custom, thought, religion, andrace, and enter thoroughly into the life of the people.It is perfectly impossible for the globe-trotter to seefrom the Indian point of view.

The Hindus number 200 millions mostlyilliterate and superstitious, and wholly under the con-trol of the priests and of repulsive customs. Theyare characterised by a ruthless criminality. As anillustration, of 13 post-mortems undertaken for theGovernment, five were manslaughters and fivesuicides; the latter, women who had thrown them-selves down wells. Of the former, one case was thatof a girl of nine beaten to death by her husbandof 18.

The Mohammedans are fighters. They wonIndia by conquest before the British rule. So muchare they feared that a Hindu mother will oftenfrighten her baby into silence by threatening whatthe Mohammedan neighbour may do. TheMohammedan puts the Koran above all governments.

These, with many other factors, make India aboiling cauldron. Conservatism is dominant, rock-hard, with methods of life that are constant, supportedby illiteracy, priestcraft, and superstition. The prac-tical result is that though there has been 26 per cent.increase in the population in 40 years, there hasbeen no increase in the resources of the nation.

The present restricted means of living is not dueto the war, but to conservatism. The present politicalagitation began with the upper classes, but, after-wards discarded by them, it was yet adhered to bythe villagers, labourers, factory hands, and others.Among the farmers the cry is "No rent!" TheMohammedan Moplahs in Malabar slew thousandsof Hindus in the recent rising, revealing the racialanimosity that always exists. Tht Hindus worshipthe cow The Mohammedans eat it. The Hindushave thirty million gods and goddesses. TheMohammedans Worship one god. Hindus andMohammedans never intermarry. How can suchpeople become a united nation? The racial hostilityis also directed against the British Government,though it has always been neutral.

India stands higher in the world and in commerceto-day than ever. Yet Gandhi, in "Young India,"says, ' 'The greatest curse in India to-day isBritish rule—get back to the old ways and Indiawill be better off." It is untrue to say that Britishrule oppresses India. The truth is that East andWest can never meet. The Englishman says at onceexactly what he means in a very blunt, but perfectlyplain manner. The Indian will talk for twenty


minutes about all things under the sun, and put thereal matter in a kind of postscript. India is offeredan open road to self-government, and this means agreat renunciation on the part of the Government.Before she gets Home Rule India must learn the wayto govern herself. It is necessary to provide educa-tion, trade, and a religion that will bind the peoplesin one nation, and the only reigion that provides thebond is Christianity—the Spirit of Jesus Christ, oflove and sacrifice, of truth and service—the upliftof the whole life of every man and woman and child.

An American missionary recently spoke at a meet-ing of Hindus, . Mohammedans, and Parsees, threehours a day for six days, and the students hung onhis words. They learnt of Christ, bought the NewTestament, and stayed to the prayer meetings. Thiskind of thing is happening through the length andbreadth of India. India is stirred by the message,"All one in Christ Jesus." There are mightycurrents moving the people to the depths, and theyneed moral safeguards. Let us dare to believe inGod, in Christ, in the Holy Spirit, in ourselves andthe part we have to play to help India to become afree, strong, intelligent nation. The long way roundis the short way home. Let us trust God to leadIndia by the right road. Take India on your hearts.— (The Baptist Layman.)

A BOY OF ANOTHER MISSION UPLIFTSCHRIST.

About 80 miles from Brahmanbaria, along therailway track, there is a Welsh Mission, where theRev. J. Pengwern Jones is going splendid work.Among other activities he has rescued some Eurasianand Bengali boys and girls, taken them into hisfamily, and given them his own name.

One is called Paul Jones. He is now a seniorstudent in one of the Calcutta Christian Colleges.He, and several of his class-mates have recently beengreatly blessed in some revival meetings.

Last Good Friday, ten of the senior students werekeen to bear witness to a vital Christian experience,so, accompanied by their principal, they travelledto a large market in the interior of the district,where they knew thousands would congregate forbuying and selling and exchanging goods. Whenwithin two miles of the market they began singingattractive Bengali hymns, including "Jesu Jai"(Jesus triumphant). The singing aroused theHindus, who, in opposition, sang "Victory toKrishna" (a Hindu god). Upon reaching the market-place the people showed a very ugly face, and madea deafening noise, so that preaching seemed to bean impossibility.

The Christian party decided on a bold front.They borrowed some empty packing cases, andimprovised a platform. But who would be the firstspeaker? Who could silence such a crowd and makethem understand the Gospel message? Paul Jonesis a cripple on crutches, but he came forward. Whowould listen to him? He was helped to mount theplatform, and, strange to say, the sight of a crippleattempting to ascend the pile of wooden boxes,arrested the people, so that suddenly a great silencefell upon the crowd. With great liberty and bold-ness Paul Jones lifted up Jesus, the Crucified One,on that Good Friday.

One who was present says the result was mar-vellous. Never, never had anyone witnessed such ascene. Thousands of hostile people suddenly turned

into eager listeners. Had the message gripped thepeople? Who dare doubt it? The next day manycallers appeared at the Tamluk mission house asinquirers. Some came to apologise for the hostilityshown at first; others came, including a school-master, who were overcome with a deep sense of sin."

J. T .

The Tie That Binds.

AN INDIAN CHRISTIAN WEDDING.

ORAKANDI, October 2, 1923.

The marriage of Bindu Bashini Mondol (other-wise Sarala's Ma) and Sadhu Charan Kaliya tookplace this morning.

The bridegroom arrived here yesterday, accom-panied by a woman relative. He brought the weddingsari and a letter from his padre, Father Prior, of theOxford Mission, saying that he really was a poorman, and that the most he could afford to spend onthe wedding would be Rs 10! He was taken in handby some of our workers, who, according to the usualcustom, asked why he did not bring this, that, orthe other. He took this quite as a matter of course,and was not at all perturbed by what we should con-sider great impertinence. Considering that he isreported to be 60 years of age, and that he owns upto being 50, it is not to be wondered at that heshould show a certain amount of indifference to goldor silver adornments.

The bride's age is computed to be about 28.She has, of course, been married before, and has alittle girl (Sarala to wit) in the Mymensingh School.She has been in Orakandi about four years, havingbeen sent here from Brahmanbaria. She has not dis-tinguished herself in any particular way except thatshe always went about with drooping head and list-less expresison. Since the day she said "Yes," how-ever, she has been a different woman, bright andsmiling, and doing her work cheerfully. This morn-ing when dressed in her heliotrope blouse of pongi,and with the wedding sari of fine nainsook withborder ornamented in red and black, draped over herunderskirt edged with real crochet, and with goldbeads round her neck, she looked quite a pleasantpicture. She had to assume a sober expression,but she did not look unhappy. She went calmlythrough the service and made her response quitedearly. Bindu acted as bridesmaid, and Surah Babusupported the bridegroom, while Miss Tuck gavethe bride away.

The girls had decorated the church and had beenambitious enough to attempt an arch, under whichthe wedding party was accommodated. Being some-what acquainted with its structure, I was a littleapprehensive as to whether it would collapse, but itbehaved itself well and nothing more serious thanthe falling of a few flowers occurred.

The Register was signed at the Zenana house;then bride and bridegroom were seated in the school-room and fed with sweets and adorned with garlands.A little pleasant raillery was indulged in by thewomen at the expense of the bridegroom (such asputting quinine in the water he was to drink). Hetook it all in good part and entertained the assembledcompany with a solo, which he sang with greatgusto.

When the marriage lines paper was handed to thebride she was warned to take care of it, and not tolet the white ants eat it.

After a good meal the party set off in their littleboat for home.

In Demonstration of the Spirit.


"Meal Hour, 1922 Camp."

S.I.Y.M.B.B.C.U.Let every B.C. fellow plan

to"Meet at the Willows,"

MAHENO.(8 miles south of Oamaru).

EASTER, 1924.AN IDEAL SPOTSPLENDID SWIMMINGPERFECT ATHLETIC ARRANGEMENTS.MENU IN EXPERT HANDSFUN AND FELLOWSHIP

"PLAN TO MEET AT THE WILLOWS."EASTER, 1924.

Big Chief—President "Bill" Barnes.Assistant Chief—Vice-President Hendry.In Charge of Menu—Padre Eric Evans.Chief Cashier—Veteran "Billy" Beadle.Out for Service—"Invercargill" Schroder

"Y.M.C.A." Drew."Athletic" Spence."Ken" the Archer.

MR OLIVER EATOUGH.

We have had passing rapidly through New Zea-land a captain of English industry, who has builtup from nothing an immense concern employingupwards of 1000 hands. Mr Oliver Eatough blewno trumpets before him. But had we known he wasin the Dominion we should certainly have invitedpublic attention to the contribution he is makingtowards the solution of industrial problems. Weappend a letter from a prominent London surgeontouching on this. Mr Eatough is a very trustedBaptist layman and a very keen observer of thingsas they are. By foresight and the enthusiasticsupport of his colleagues, sometimes erroneouslycalled hands, he has not merely survived the slump,but has seen things continuously grow. He is an

ardent Liberal, and is sure among other things thatEngland will never pull down the free trade banner.Mr Eatough believes that the Sermon on the Mountapplied to modern business will solve all problems.Here is the letter: —

Thackeray Hotel,Great Russell street,

London.Dear Mr Eatough,—I have just been reading your

annual report to the shareholders of your company,and I am writing to tell you what a great pleasureand what an inspiration it has been to me to readof the work you are doing.

Make Every Year Children's Year.

Children's Year in the Church.If you want to see a large increase in thenumber of boys and girls attending the churchservice, introduce

The All British Scripture Picture Stamps andAlbums.

I can refer you to churches which have by thismeans increased the attendance of children by100, 200, 300 per cent. Sample album andstamps for the asking.

Children's Year in the Sunday School.Start the year with a "Rally Day." Nothinglike it for bringing together the scattered forcesof the Sunday School after the summer holi-days. Send for full particulars free.Send for my two free booklets, packed withinformation and suggestion— "How to makethe Sunday School Go" and "A RecruitingCampaign, How to Conduct It ."

A. H. REEDExpress Company's Building,BOND STREET, DUNEDIN.

"Everything for the Modern Sunday School."

STEVEN'S HEALTH SALT is the Salt that sweetens life. Try a dose first thing in the morning.

A Captain of Industry.


The successful manner in which you have con-ducted your business during the last five years, inspite of the difficulties caused by the war, is itselfa very great achievement, but to do this, and at thesame time inaugurate so many beneficent schemesfor the welware of your employees shows that youhave been studying not only how to create substantialdividends for the shareholders, which is your duty,but also how to secure for your employees an increas-ingly larger share in the profits of the business.

It is this fine, well-balanced recognition of thereciprocal and mutual claims of capital and labour inyour report lhat appeals to me so much. It is theonly way to establish and maintain goodwill and goodunderstanding between masters and workmen. Itis the best remedy for social and industrial unrest.It is the only way to stave off Bolshevism, and theonly way to materialise Lloyd George's vision of abetter England, with better, happier homes for themillions who fought to preserve its freedom.

My dear Eatough, it is a great joy to me to readyour report, and see what you are doing along theselines. I am not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet,and therefore shall not attempt to prophesy, but Iam an optimist, and sometimes see visions and dreamdreams of a better, happier England, where men likeyou are the captains of industry, introducing thelatest methods of disease prevention, sanitation,safety devices, and welfare work in their factories,supervising and conserving the health and generalinterests of their men, so that they may apply them-selves to each daily task with the minimum waste ofenergy, least risk of life and health, and maximumefficiency. And when the employer, like you, opensthe way for the worker to become a sharer in theproducts of their labour, then, too, I fully believewe shall have workmen willing to share in the lossesof their employers as well as the gains. Whencaptains of industry apply the golden rule in theirbusiness, as you do, and recognise, as you do, that"the labourer is worthy of his hire," then, too, menwill love their leaders, follow them cheerfully, fightfor them eagerly, and die for them willingly, as theyaways do, when the object is worthy the sacrifice.

The principles embodied in your report containthe solution of all problems of our national life. Onthese lines reconstruction would become easy andrapid. Dear old England would not only regainher former prosperity with compound interest, andeven more, but would thereby become a tremendousexample and model for the rest of the world.

Thank you very much for sending me your annualreport. With best wishes for another year of pros-perity, usefulness, and service, and with tokens ofhighest esteem.

Believe me,Yours very sincerely,

(Signed) JOHN R. TAYLOR.

Obituary.

MRS J. A. HANABEY.

We regret to report the death of Mrs J. A.Hanabey, who passed peacefully away on December3 at her late home, Gate Pah, Tauranga. Ourdeparted sister had reached a good old age, 76years. She was converted at a cottage meeting inRongatea in the year 1885. For many years theirresidence has been in Tauranga. Mr Hanabey andhis wife were two of the first members of the churchhere, and she was the first woman to be baptisedin the new building. Impressive services were heldin the home and at the graveside. On Sunday,December 9, an In Memoriam service was conductedby Pastor Laybourn.

MR W. S. HAMILTON.

The Oxford Terrace Church has lost, after along and painful illness, one of its devoted deaconsin Mr W. S. Hamilton. He came from Bermonsey,London, in 1865, with the late Mr Simmonds, whosedaughter he afterwards married. His life was oneof singular peace and grace. His deep piety wasreflected in his face. He gave himself to goodworks. No man ever waited at the door of theHouse more faithfully than he. The greetingsand the visits paid to absentees will always beremembered. He gave his Sunday afternoons foryears to the visitation of absentee scholars. He wasof the famous craft that William Carey followed, andhad the studious ways and keen mentality that aretraditionally connected with it. He leaves a widowand two married daughters. A grandson of his,desiring to follow in his steps, was baptised directlyafter the death.

MRS MARRINER (SPREYDON).

The passing on of Mrs Marriner, of Spreydon,recalls a name long and honourably associated withour work. Her late husband was a vice-presidentof the union and was known throughout Australiaas a preacher. His business took him the roundof the colonies every year. The family left Graves-end, England, in 1879. There were 10 children.Mrs Marriner joined the Spreydon Church in 1880,and retained the connection to the end. She wasan hospitable hostess, and for many years was cor-respondent for her church to this paper. Herchildren rise up and call her blessed.

Correspondence.

JUDCE ADAMS ON "THE RELIGIOUSOUTLOOK'."

The Editor, New Zealand Baptist.SIR,—I have been reading that most vigorous,

refreshing, and convincing apologia for the Baptistfaith and practice written by Rev. J. J. North andpublished under the title "The Religious Outlook."What the editor's modesty forbids his saying, I cravepermission to say. It is a fascinating presentationof the great principles for which we stand whichmoves the reader to enthusiasm and delight. Itought to be in the hands of every member of everyBaptist Church and especially in the hands and heartsof the young men and young women. It should bewidely distributed. I have long felt the need ofemphasis upon the great central truths for which westand, both in the churches and in the wider circlebeyond. This little booklet is a splendid beginning.Will the editor please help by giving this appreciationa prominent place in our journal?

My object in writing this is not to eulogise theauthor. Good wine needs no bush. He has, how-ever, done signal service towards all in giving usthis great deliverance. I desire, however, to urgeall our people to circulate the booklet amongst theirfriends and neighbours and to make its messageknown. I shoufd like to say more, but refrain. Ourpeople will surely see that the best use is madeof this most valuable and illuminating brochure.—Iam, ALEX. S. ADAMS.

DENOMINATIONAL HISTORY.

To the Editor, Baptist.SlR,—Very many evidences of a marked lack of

knowledge of our Baptist history led to my movingin Conference that ministers and Bible Class leaders,together with those who prepare our Sunday Schoolexaminations, should be urged to give a larger place


to our history and principles. Since Conference Ihave been in close touch with the men of the NorthIsland Bible Classes, and I am told that last year,in camp, the lack of teaching and knowledge of ourown history was adversely commented upon. It wasfelt that there was much room for improvement.I have been led to make the following suggestion:—That, with a view to the spread of knowledge re-specting our history and principles, trophies for thefour camps—two young men's and two youngwomen's—be provided. The subject matter of thedebate in the case of the men and of the essaysin that of the young women to be some phase ofour denominational history or principles. Shouldit not be within the province of any organisationof our union to provide such trophies I am confidentthat the suggestion will make effective appeal tosome of the influential members of our communionfor the possibilities are large.—I am, etc.,

C. W. DUNCUMB.

"FAITH HEALING"SIR,—The so-called "Fundamentalist" school has

been wont to lash out unspairingly against the"Higher Critic" school, on the charge of whittlingclown the Word of God. Now that another school(so-called Pentecostal and Divine Healing, etc.) isproving that the "Fundamentalists" themselves don'ttally with the word of God, they seem to be takingit with a very bad grace, judging by Mr Kemp'sregrettable article in last issue.

There is nothing of Baptist toleration in. that un-provoked, attack upon a movement which ischaracterised by such missionary and soul-winningzeal, combined with an earnest hunger after spirtiualholiness and power; and whose literature (in everyland) magnifies Christ and His word, and the victoryof Calvary, and the power of the blood and nameof Jesus—more than any other literature I amacquainted with. A tree bearing such fruit cannotbe "Satanic." ("Do men gather grapes of thornsor figs of thistles?")

To represent this movement as the work ofdemons, and as "fraud and trickery," and "colossalfoolishness," and "a fanatical hypnotic frenzy ofemotionalism," and speak of them as "boxing"people's ears and thrusting thumbs on the eyeballs,etc., is so extravagant that it will defeat its ownobject. For, as people go increasingly and seefor themselves and find out the truth, their indigna-tion will be proportionate to the injustice of theattack. Thousands of our own Baptist folk, whohave experienced the power of God in the missions,will be grieved over Mr Kemp's tirade in ourmagazine. Regarding divine healing, Mr Kempagrees that Christ has power to heal and sometimesdoes heal. No one outside an athiest ever doubtedthat,—the Christian church has always believed that,—but it leads nowhere! The people who are used indivine healing have to go further than that. Areturn to Apostolic conditions (which Mr Kempridicules) would truly be a return "back to theBible." The Church of God should never havedeclined from the Apostle's doctrine and practice,—but as saintly Dr Meyer put it in his address on''Pentecost," delivered in Melbourne recently,"Peter said—'This is that,'—and we must confess—'this is not that,'—but we add—'this might be that,'—and a lot of us are going to say—'it shall be that.' "

But the first need is to confess our failure andunbelief in a spirit of humility that leaves no roomfor criticism of others. In the words of Mr Hickson—"The church needs to approach the subject in aspirit of repentance."—I am, Sir,

E. R. WESTON.

"The Editor anticipates the inevitable delay ofa month before Mr Kemp's reply can appear by

saying that he personally attended and observed themission which Mr Kemp criticised. He believes thatthe descriptions used and complained of were tem-perate and just ."

Secretarial Notes.

Handbooks have beein sent to all church sec-retaries from whom copies can be obtained for six-pence.

"The Religious Outlook," by the Rev. J. J.North. Copies of this very interesting booklet arestill for sale, and can be obtained either throughchurch secretaries or from the the Union Office.

"Baptism," by Rev. J. J. North, giving a clearand strong statement of the position of the BaptistChurches are obtainable from the Union Office atsixpence per copy.

Unattached Baptists.—Will any member of thedenomination who knows of any unattached orisolated Baptist, please send the names to the UnionSecretary or to the Auxiliary Secretary of theirdistrict.

Union and Missionary Accounts.—Will churchtreasurers and collectors kindly remit any moneysin hand as both accounts are much overdrawn.

"Baptist."—We want to increase the size of thepaper, and to do so need more subscribers and moreadvertisements. Will the readers try and help us.When shopping with advertisers, mention havingseen their advertisement in the "Baptist."

Sustentation Fund.—This very important fundneeds to be considerably augmented. If you canhelp us to increase the stipends of ministers in thesmaller churches send a contribution. Rememberthis fund when preparing your will.

M. W. P. LASCELLES, Secretary.

A Beautiful Baptism.

WHEN SHOULD I BE BAPTISED?

There is no set age, the sole guide being intelli-gent belief in the Son of God as Saviour. Personalfaith is the essential element in unfolding personality.Because she loved her Saviour, Jean, aged nine years,daughter of Mr Chas. Dixon, of "Soltaire," NewBrighton, felt that she ought to follow Christ throughthe waters of baptism. Her parents tried to dis-suade her, urging postponement with a view to fullerunderstanding of the ordinance. Jean was mani-festly disappointed, as she wished to be baptisedas soon as possible.

In the clear pool in the beautiful gardens at"Soltaire," the young disciple was immersed onNovember 9 by the Rev. A. W. Stuart. Four hundredchildren, who were enjoying a picnic in the grounds,assembled for the service, and with these as wit-nesses the child had her desire. The limpid waters,held together in the rugged rock basin, the sunshining brightly, the attentive parents and childrenclustered upon the shelving banks, the tall pinestowering overhead, the simple words of Scripture,the singing of the child's favourite hymn, "JesusLoves Me, This I Know," all combined to form afragrant memory. One could not have asked for amore beautiful illustration of a beautiful sacrament—a life innocent and unspoiled—a transparent pool setin a garden of surpassing loveliness—childlike andfaithful obedience to the call of the Master. Novoice was heard in the heavens, but surely theDivine voice spoke to all, "This is My beloved child,in whom I am well pleased."

A. W. S.


Our Churches at Work.ASHBURTON (Pastor C. S. Matthews).—Our

pastor delivered a lecture dealing with the LeperMission work and illustrated it with lantern viewson Monday, December 10. The men's choir gave aconcert in the church on December 15, when a goodprogramme, including solos, duets, quartettes, etc.,was submitted to an appreciative audience, whichcomfortably filled the church. The proceeds of thiseffort are towards a new classroom for the Men'sBible Class, who have been meeting for some timein a local hall kindly lent by a Methodist gentleman.It is gratifying to report large and sustained Sun-day gatherings to hear the old Gospel truths faith-fully proclaimed by our pastor

AUCKLAND (Rev. Joseph W. Kemp).—Since ourlast month's report we have had a good series ofservices both on Sundays and on Thursday evenings.Pursuing the wilderness studies on Sunday morning,Mr Kemp has dealt with office and ministry of thepriesthood, Israel's great apostasy, and idolatry inthe worship of the Golden Calf, the marvellous inter,cession of Moses, and his challenge to the men whowould declare themselves on the Lord's side. Theevenings' subjects have been practical and timelylessons on the second coming of the Lord. Therehave been the usual immense congregations and thechorus choir has been a wonderful aid to the Gospelmessages. The Thursday Bible lectures have closedfor the summer recess, after being carried as far asthe study of the patriarch Joseph. Mr Allan Hogan,one of our younger deacons and chairman of theYoung Men's Bible Class, has left to reside inHamilton. We regret the loss of his presence andactive help. Mr J. C. Spedding has been appointedto the vacancy on the deaconate.

BROOKLYN (Rev. W. S. Rollings).—A new ideawas recently formed, that of a combined social forSunday School teachers and workers. Quite anumber from the various denominations in Brooklynwere present at this social, when a happy evening wasspent. These meetings help to create a morefriendly feeling among the various bodies. We arethankful to be in the position of having all ourchurch property paid for, and for this we have tothank our ladies, who have been busy for the lastyear or so raising funds for this end. Our branchSunday School at Mornington continues to increasein membership. We hope in the near future tohave a building of our own in this district to com-mence a regular church service, which is impossibleat present, the building being unsuitable. An addedinterest to the school is a newly-formed cricket club.

CAMBRIDGE (Pastor F. Discombe).—Our Sunday School anniversary services were held onNovember 25, the Rev. Anstice, of Auckland, con-ducting the services for the day, when good con-gregations gathered, the singing by our young peoplebeing much enjoyed, and much credit is due tothe conductor, Mr Glanville and Mr Frank Broad(organist). On a recent Saturday a working beewas held to improve the appearance of our churchgrounds. Our young men rolled up in goodnumbers.

ESK STREET, INVERCARGILL.—We are gladto report that our church has never been in a betterposition than it is to-day, nor has more praise goneup to our Heavenly Father for all that He has donefor us and is now doing. Our church has beenwell filled the last two months, and we are on therising tide. Many are being won for Christ, whichis our pastor's object.

GRANGE ROAD (Rev. A. S. Wilson).—We arenow rejoicing that our pastor has resumed his dutiesafter his serious illness. The B.W.M.U, recentlyheld an interesting Echo Meeting of the Conference,when Mesdames Whitton, Kretschmar, F. Gaze, andour pastor's wife dealt ably with the outstandingfeatures of the Wellington meetings. The last meet-ing was the largest December meeting of the branch.This important department is still doing well. OnDecember 12 a very successful congregational Christmas at home was held. It was very well attendedand held in the church, which had been prettilydecorated for the function. The occasion was takento enlarge the province of the Duplex Envelope FundThis has been put on a fresh basis. During theevening Major A. T. Dow, our enthusiastic secretary,took the opportunity of expressing the love andesteem in which our pastor is held. Our Young,People's Institute has just concluded a successfulseries of meetings for the year, and now has amembership of 122 as against 98 in July last. Ona recent Sunday afternoon 99 members were present.At our church meeting Mr D. W. Mills, who hasserved the Assembly for 15 years, resigned. Thiswas received with regret. Mr Mills has been mostfaithful in his attendance at the Lord's House. Forthe major part of that time he served very acceptablyas usher. A suitable resolution appreciative of hislong services is being prepared, and will be placedon the church records at our next meeting. Themany friends of Mr L. Honeycombe will be interestedto know that he has been appointed to his old postof choirmaster. Mr Honeycombe efficiently led thechoir for some years before he left for Wanganui

HAMILTON (Rev. Harold Hercus).—This monthhas been one of great importance to us. We havesent forth our first missionary to India. Mr A.Peters, of the Solomons, an elder of the church, wasour first missionary member, but Mr Harry Jones thefirst to our own field. The church met in forceon October 31 to do him honour and to send himforth with its blessing and benediction. He is ayoung man very much beloved in our church, andwe are sure that his is a life wholly consecrated toGod. Various gifts from B.W.M.U. and BibleClasses gave him an outfit and the men of the churchgave him a cheque. The B.W.M.U. annual missionsale held, on December 6 realised £65 including "Y"branch. Sunday School anniversary services heldon December 9 were conducted by Rev. AdamClarke, Mount Eden. There were fine attendancesand excellent singing by the children under FrankSmith's conductorship. The preachers' messageswere greatly appreciated. The tea and public meet-ing were well attended, and prizes were presented byMrs Hercus. Mr Alf Peters, an elder of our church,returned from the Solomons on furlough, and con-ducted the evening service on December 16.

HAWERA (Rev. E. N. Goring).—The event ofOctober was the Y.M.B.C. Camp at Labour week-end.On the Monday the Sunday School joined with thecampers in a most enjoyable and successful picnic.The Sunday School is still in a flourishing state.Library started, Junior C.E. reached record attendance, women's weekly prayer meeting one of thehealthiest organisations of the church, largelyattended. Rejoicing over the conversion of four ofour young women. Mr and Mrs Melvin and boysheartily welcomed from Oxford Terrace. Pastorcommenced a series of addresses on Second Comingof Christ, very helpful and greatly appreciated.

LINCOLN.—Services have been well maintainedunder the preaching of Mr Twose, assisted by MrWolfe and other local preachers. The Sunday School,under Misses Taylor and Keast, is keeping up

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splendidly. The Sunday School picnic was held onDecember 17 in a paddock on Mr Wolfe's farm. Theweather was ideal and a very happy day was spentby children and parents. After words of thanks toall who had contributed to the success of the outinghad been spoken by Mr Twose and Mr Crampton,three ringing cheers for Mr and Mrs Wolfe broughtto a close a most enjoyable gathering.

LINWOOD (Rev. A. W. Stuart).—On Sunday,December 22, we held our Sunday School anniversaryservices. The singing was bright and the serviceswell attended. The preachers were Rev. J. K.Archer, Rev. J. J. North, and Rev. A. W. Stuart.We owe a debt of thanks to Mr V. Moir, who sowillingly and ably trained and conducted the children.On Tuesday, December 4, the children enjoyed ahearty tea, which preceded a concert given by thechildren. During November an appeal was made tomembers of church and congregation for gifts ofmoney for general church funds. More than we wereasking for was given and we closed the service bythe singing of the Doxology.

LYALL BAY (Rev. H. E. Edridge).—Our Sun-day School celebrated its anniversary on November25. The song services of the children were muchappreciated. Now that we are more centrallysituated we have hopes of a big increase to ourschool roll, and the superintendent and teachers areusing their utmost endeavours in that direction. Thesale of work, for whuich the ladies have been work-ing for some time past, was held on December 7and 8. The result will enable us to reduce ourchurch debt by nearly £60. One of our "GoodSamaritans" has gladdened our hearts by offering todefray the cost of a baptistry, which is being under-taken immediately, and we hope soon to be able toreport our first baptismal service. Four new mem-bers were added to the roll during the last month.

MORRINSVILLE (Rev. F. Parry).—The SundaySchool anniversary was held on Sunday, December 2.The morning service was conducted by Pastor JosephClark, while the afternoon and evening services weretaken by our pastor. The singing of the childrenwas the special feature of the day, and the anni-versary was the most successful the school has hadfor many years. On the following Tuesday thescholars were given a good old-fashioned "tea fight,"and afterwards the scholars gave their elders a. mostenjoyable concert. Advantage was taken of theoccasion to present the annual prizes to the scholars.The prospects of the work here are most encouraging.Our pastor is getting into touch with Baptists withina radius of about 15 miles of Morrinsville, many ofwhom have not been associated with the Baptistcause for years. We hope to be able to report ourfirst baptismal service for some time in your nextissue.

MOSGIEL (Rev. E. R. Weston).—Our annualchurch anniversary was held on October 20, andwas a very successful function. The annual reportpresented much that was encouraging, particularlyin the work among the young. The children's Wor-shipping League, with its pictured album, provingan effective reciprocal link between church and child.This, combined with the work of faithful SundaySchool teachers, resulted in the intelligent accept-ance of Christ by 22 senior scholars following on anappeal made by our pastor. In the Bible Classthere was one definite case of conversion. We have

reason to be proud of our Bible Class for againcoming near the top of Otago district in missiongiving—£15 5s being to its credit this year. Thetreasurer's report was encouraging. The Ladies'Social Committee has been a staunch practical assetto our church, as has also the faithful work of theB.W.M.U. been to the missions and missionaries. Toall these institutions, not forgetting the choir, with itssacrifices of praise, or our pastor's devoted labours,we are indebted under God for another year's pros-perity. On a recent Thursday evening quite anumber of members and friends gathered to witnessthe dedication of the infant daughter of our pastorand his wife. Prayer was offered by the Rev.Eccersall, pastor at Gore, and a former pastor ofthis church, and the dedication service was con-ducted very beautifully by the Rev. Knowles Kemp-ton, of Hanover Street.

MOUNT EDEN (Rev. Adam Clarke).—OnNovember 19 our Senior Christian Endeavour heldtheir first social evening, and a very happy eveningwas spent. Ponsonby Society spent the evening withus. Our Sunday School celebrated its fifty-ninthanniversary on December 2. The platform andchurch were tastefully decorated by willing workersof church and school. The weather was beautiful,and all services were well attended. Interestingaddresses were given by the Rev. Horn in the morn-ing, Rev. J. W. Kemp in the afternoon, and our ownpastor in the evening. The singing by scholarsand choir, under the leadership of Mr H. Auger,was exceptionally good. On Wednesday, December5, the annual tea and public meeting was held.Items by each class were rendered with great success.Reports were given on the year's work by Mr Ingram,secretary, and Mr Phil. Barker, treasurer. MrsClarke presented the prizes won by scholars duringthe year. During the year eight of our scholarshave been baptised and joined the church. At ourlast members' meeting we adopted a rewording ofour church "Basis of Doctrine," stating not onlywhat we do believe, but what we do not. Our pastorhas just completed 12 months' ministry with us,and we thank God for all that it has meant to us.We pray that God will abundantly bless him in thisnew year of service.

NAPIER (Rev. John Ings).—On November 23 achurch social was held. During the evening moneyto pay for the cost of the material for concretingthe paths was given. Then some of our men gotbusy and finished the job. Our prayer meeting afortnight ago was addressed by Mr Goodwin, of thePoona Mission.

NELSON (Rev. J. Laird, M.A.).—Our SundaySchool anniversary, held on October 7, was celebratedby three services in the School of Music, large attend-ances being present on each occasion. The morningservice was conducted by the Rev. Greenslade (Blen-heim, Methodist); Mr Thomas Pettit, superinten-dent, presiding over the afternoon gathering, whenthe prizes were presented to the children of theprimary department; at the evening service the hallwas taxed to its full seating capacity, our pastor beingthe preacher. The children sang the special hymnsin a pleasing manner, Mr E. A. Wood being con-ductor, Miss Thomson accompanying on the Caw-thron pipe organ. On the Monday following theschool gave an interesting programme of dialoguesand recitations, and repeated a number of the hymns.

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Our school is still under the efficient superintendencyof Mr Thomas Pettit, who has occupied the positionfor over a quarter of a century. The primary depart-ment is well looked after by Mr and Mrs HaroldWood. On December 12 the Institute arranged aconcert to raise funds for the Manurewa Home,the offering at which was a substantial one. Anumber of our young people are applying forbaptism and church membership.

NORTH-EAST VALLEY (Rev. S. Morris).—Atthe church meeting held on November 21 congratula-tions and best wishes were offered to Mr and MrsW. J. Ansell on the celebration of their goldenwedding. Our friends were the first applicants forchurch membership after the North-East Valley Bap-tist Church had been formed 40 years ago. OnSaturday afternoon, December 1, the members ofY.M.B.C., with the help of friends, laid the founda-tion of their new classroom. They have had abuilding in view for a long time, and we are gladthat they have been enabled to make a start. OnThursday evening, December 6, our annual socialto the parents of our Sunday School scholars washeld. A very pleasant evening was spent in games,competitions, and social intercourse. At the closeof the Sunday evening service on December 16, thechoir gave their annual carol service to a very largecongregation.

NORTH INVERCARGILL (Pastor L. A. Day).—Since the close of Dr French E. Oliver's mission inInvercargill, we have had increased giving, attend-ances at church services doubled, at communiontrebled, more scholars in the school, more teachers,14 baptisms at one service last week. This showsthat the spirit has been moving in our midst. PastorDay has been preaching faithfully. Mr Jas. Slew arthas reluctantly resigned as Sunday School superin-tendent on account of his health, and Mr Alex.Calder has accepted the position. Last Sunday, afterschool, a dedication service was held when twoinfants, Lewis Day and Annie Calder, were presentedto God. The Rev. P. F. Summerson, from India, hasspoken to a full church about that ever-fascinatingcountry and its people.

OAMARU (Rev. R. Robertson).—The SundaySchool prizes were distributed among the young onDecember 16. It was a pleasure to both parentsand teachers to see the shining faces of the childrenas they received their prizes. A very pleasant outingwas enjoyed by those who went to Bushey Beach onthe first. Mr and Mrs Robertson and family areat present in the North Island on holiday.

OTAHUHU.—Very successful were the anniver-sary services of our Sunday School, which were heldon November 18. The church was tastefullydecorated by the young ladies of our school.Although the weather was a little showery the churchwas packed at all three services, and the children,seated on a raised platform, sang well under thecombined leadership of Mr Dalton and Miss Robert-son, with Miss Gertie Rowe at the organ. Thepreachers for the day were Rev. L. Barbour, MrsReuben Bailey (late of China), and Rev. Dr Jones.On the Wednesday about 60 scholars partook of tea,which was followed by a well attended public meet-ing and prize-giving to the children.

OXFORD TERRACE (Rev. J. J. North).—TheY.P.I. has secured a large section of land within fiveminutes of the church for tennis courts. There isroom for seven and two have been already laid down.There has been a large enrollment of members andwe expect to make an ideal church recreation groundout of the capital site we now possess. There wasa great gathering at the opening ceremony. Thepassing of Dr John Clifford was commemorated onNovember 25, when Mr North spoke of the eminence

of his work amongst the Baptists and the poor ofLondon, and preached an impressive sermon on thetext, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Abeautiful baptismal service was held on December16, when 15 young Christians made the good con-fession before many witnesses.

PALMERSTON NORTH (Rev. C. W. Dun-cumb).—The Sunday School anniversary was held onOctober 28. There were crowded congregationsmorning, noon, and night. We welcomed Rev. Alb.Grigg to our pulpit. His addresses to children,teachers, and parents were highly appreciated. Thechildren sang well under Mr Shearer's able baton,assisted by an orchestra of five, with Mrs Geo.Thompson at the organ. A tea was held on thefollowing Wednesday, to which a large number ofchildren and adults attended. The children's elocu-tionary and musical items were applauded with gusto.Our pastor took the chair, and Rev. M. Stewart, thecongregational minister, gave an inspiring addressduring the evening. Mr C. Perry, secretary andtreasurer, reported a year of difficulty due to a movingpopulation, both the staff and the school roll suffer-ing considerably. The position, however, had im-proved toward the year end, and the school was nowfully staffed under the able superintendency of MrE. Dymock. The report of the Bible Classes showed13 on the roll of the Young Women's Class and 16on that of the Young Men's Class. Seven of thesehad been baptised during the year, and three hadoffered for the foreign mission field. The totalamount raised by the school and Bible Classes duringthe year was £50 7s, the bulk of which went toforeign missions. The distribution of prizes anddiplomas terminated a very happy gathering. Thecombined Bible Classes, desirous of doing somethingfor the new church building fund, before the yearclosed, held a social evening on December 10. Agoodly crowd attended, and a happy time was spent.In the competition for stamp collecting the Y.W.B.C.Class came top again having collected over 5339stamps in three months.

PETONE (Rev. F. H. Radford).—We recentlyheld our annual business meeting when a reviewof church work generally was given along withelection of officers. Reports of churches activitiesgenerally showed interest taken, especially this beingso in respect of the Sunday School. Our churchroll now stands at 90. We look forward to a yearof renewed activity and service.

PONSONBY (Vacant).—Very acceptable serviceshave been rendered by Mr Russell Grave, of theBible Training Institute, and other friends from theTabernacle. The attendance at the mid-week prayermeetings is improving. The newly-graded SundaySchool, under the leadership of Mr Leslie Takle, isdeveloping very satisfactorily. Miss Bradfield's visiton a recent Sunday was much appreciated.

RANGIORA (Rev. J. Hiddlestone).—Our com-bined church and Sunday School anniversary ser-vices were held on November 25, when we werepleased to have with us the Rev. O. Machattie, whoseaddresses both morning and evening were muchenjoyed. Prizes were distributed to the scholars inthe afternoon, when a talk was given to children andparents by Mr M. A. Hamilton. Special singingby the scholars at the morning and afternoon ser-vices gave pleasure to all present. Then, on thefollowing night, Monday, November 26, we had avery successful social. A good programme waspresented, but the main item of the evening wasthe Rev. J. J. North's most interesting address.

RICHMOND, NELSON (Pastor E. T. Jones).—We celebrated our seventy-second anniversary onNovember 4, and on November 6 we held a socialevening, when musical and elocutionary items were

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rendered. On November 18 a memorial service washeld in memory of our late sister, Mrs Haycock.Our pastor conducted a Baptismal service onNovember 25. Two candidates were immersed, andat the communion service which followed they werereceived into fellowship and membership with thechurch.

SOUTH DUNEDIN (Rev. C. Thornton).—Towards the end of November the evening; service wasdevoted to the Bible Classes, when the young menand women took a prominent part. At the close ofthe service the members of the church were invitedto meet the classes, and a happy social hour ofprayer and praise was spent. The Young People'sLeague concluded a very successful year with asocial on December 15, and a week later a churchsocial was held at which a presentation was madeto Miss Bell, who has done splendid work in theSunday School, but who is being married in January.The annual carol service was held on the 9th, whena very large number of friends were present toenjoy the Christmas items. We are very glad toreport that attendances at our evening services aregrowing.

ST. ALBANS.—Mr Crampton is continuing tosupply St. Albans through the summer vacation. Asecond service hos been commenced with very fairattendances. There is a Bible Class with a member-ship of six, which we hope shortly to increase. Asmall sale of work on December 8 added £35 to theGeneral Improvement Fund. On December 15 avery enjoyable Sunday School picnic was held inthe Domain Gardens.

THAMES (Rev. W. E. Lambert).—The fifty-third Sunday School anniversary was celebrated onSunday, November 4. Favoured with fine weatherthe three services were well attended and the scholars'singing of the special hymns was hearty under theconductorship of Mr Ensor, Miss Kemp being thepianist, assisted by an orchestra. The preacher wasRev. F. Parry, of Morrinsville. The scholars' teawas held on the Wednesday, followed by an enter-tainment, the offerings for the school fund amountedto over £17.

TIMARU (Rev. H. Goring).—We regret to reportthe death of Elsie Keeley, the 11-year-old daughterof our Sunday School superintendent. The SundaySchool anniversary was held on December 2, our pastorconducting the services. The singing of the children,under the leadership of Mr Long, was exceptionallyfine. On the following Tuesday evening a concertwas given by the children, which was greatly enjoyed.

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A tea party was held for the children the followingFriday. At a recent evening service two young menof the Bible Class and our church secretary gavethree short addresses on why they are Christians,after which Mr Goring made a brief, direct,evangelistic appeal to the people. The hearts of allwere gladdened by the decisions of a young manand a lad. The service was followed by the finalBible Class "At Home." For some weeks past MrGoring has been giving on Wednesday eveningsspecial lectures on Christian healing.

VIVIAN STREET (Rev. F. E. Harry).—We havehad a total of 22 baptisms since the last week ofOctober. The Sunday School anniversary serviceswere held on November 18. The attendances excel-lent. Preachers, the Rev. Clarence Eaton, theRev. W. M. Holland, B.A., B.D., and the Rev. F.E. Harry. A feature of the services was thesinging of the children under the baton of Mr Par-getter. On the Wednesday the anniversary tea tookplace. Mrs Harry distributed the prizes won atthe Union Examinations and the class prizes awardedfor work during the year. Reports presented by MrJefferies and Miss Johnson (secretary and treasurer)indicated that excellent work is being done and thatthe finances are satisfactory. The superintendent(Mr Pirie), in the course of his remarks, paid tributeto the work of all those contributing towards thesuccess of the anniversary services. The othernoteworthy event of the month was a social gatheringheld to bid farewell to Messrs Arthur Hoby and W.H. George. Mr Hoby, in addition to being theBible Class leader for many years, has held the officeof church treasurer for an unbroken term of 39 years—a splended record of faithful, untiring service. Hehas also been a trustee of the Baptist Union andhas acted as treasurer of the Foreign MissionarySociety for 18 years. Mr George's loyal andgenerous help to the various denominational enter-prises and to the Vivian Street Church are wellknown to everybody and his departure for Melbournewill be a serious loss to the church with which hehas been connected for 30 years. Testimony tothe sterling services of both gentlemen was givenby our pastor and Messrs C. Cathie and T. H.Wilson on behalf of the church and diaconate, andby the Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles, the secretary of theunion. The latter also read an appreciative tele-gram from President Smeeton. Mr Harry thenannounced that Mr Hoby had been appointed a lifedeacon of the church, and asked him to accept abeautiful copy of the "Schofield" Bible, exquisitelyinscribed, as a token of the church's love and esteem.To Mr George he presented a Morocco edition of"Weymouth" with a golden inscription. Bothrecipients responded out of full hearts, and duringthe course of his remarks Mr Hoby had the pleasureof intimating that he had that very day (largely owingto the generosity of Mr George) paid off the mortgageon the church, leaving the building entirely freefrom debt. The thank-offering had totalled over£150, more than sufficient to meet the cost of repairsto and for the painting of the church. There is stillan encumbrance on the manse, but it is hoped thata concentrated effort in this direction during thecoming year will have its effect. Mr George spokewith considerable emotion at first, but later, inreminiscent mood, regained his spirits, and by specialrequest he sang and played some of the old hymns ofhis Endeavour days, the delighted audience

RASH AT BROOKLYN, WELLINGTON.—Recentlythere was an outbreak of rash among some of theBrooklyn School children. The parents that were wiseused Q-tol with inevitably good results. Parents alsofind Q-tol invaluable (when rubbed into theyoungsters' scalps) as a means of keeping away nitsor other vermin.


enthusiastically joining in. A good musical pro-gramme had been provided and items were con-tributed by Mr and Mrs Morshead, Miss Samson,and Mr Grigg. The choir rendered an anthem,Mr Collins being at the piano. A dainty tea wasprovided by the deacons' wives, and family worshipbrought to a close one of the happiest socials everheld in connection with the church.

WANGANUI, Ingestre Street (Rev. S. Jenkin).—The church members' forty-first annual meeting washeld on November 21 and was well attended. MrSanow, secretary, read the report which showed goodprogress in each department of work. The financialstatement was prepared and read by our treasurer,Mr C. A. Gaze, and proved satisfactory. The officerswere then re-elected, with Mr Sproull added to thediaconate and Mrs Sewell and Miss Sanow to thedeaconesses' court. Anniversary services were heldon the Sunday, November 25, and were conductedby our pastor. Special solos, duets, and anthemswere rendered by the choir under the baton of theacting-conductor, Mr R. Jenkins. At the close ofthe evening service the newly appointed officers wereimpressively dedicated at the communion service.The following Wednesday came the anniversary socialgathering, which was marked by a tone of fellow-ship and enthusiasm. Recently the choir membersentertained the friends of the Westbourne ChoralSociety for a social hour. During the evening ourpastor, on behalf of the members, presented thechoirmaster, Mr Emmett, with a pocket-wallet and afountain pen in recognition of his past services.

WHANAGAREI (Rev. F. Sampson. — OnDecember 10 the Girls' Bible Class held a sale ofwork (including Indian work) in aid of the ManseFund. Good sales were achieved and the fund willbe considerably augmented. On the 13th our choirgave the Cantata "Rolling Seasons" to a fairly largeand most appreciative audience. The choir was infine form and the solos were excellent. Great praiseis due to Mr E. Fairburn (conductor), and Mr C.Taylor (organist).

TO CORRESPONDENTS.—The Editor intimatedlast month that copy would have to be in his handsby the 17th, owing to the Christmas holidays. Thefollowing reports "missed the bus":—Kaiapoi, Pon-sonby, Mount Albert, Hastings, Hawera, Caversham,Edendale. Copy for February's issue must reachChristchurch by January 20.

Te Araroa.—C. I. B. Beckett, £2 2s.Wellington.—Mrs Cranch, £1.Whakatane.—Mr and Mrs F. L. Harrison, £3 3s.Grand total, £74, 3s 11d.The following is the list of gifts received to

date: —Clothing.—Mrs Wilkes, 23 Richmond road, Pon-

sonby; Mrs Gaze, Mt. Eden; Mrs Skutt, 58 Firthstreet, Hamilton East; Mrs Ross Penman, MountAlbert; Mrs Beaumont, Weymouth road, Manurewa;Mrs Yeoland, Massey road, Manurewa; Miss Moor-head, Manurewa Home; Y.W.B.C, Esk street Bap-tist Church, Tnvercargill; Epsom G.G. Society;Mount Albert Baptist Church, per Miss N. North;Mornington Girls' Club, per Mrs Barnes; Y.P.Institute, Otahuhu Baptist Church; Spreydon BaptistChurch; Ladies' Sewing Meeting, Gonville Bap-tist Church, per Mrs Ward; Masters J. and M.Collins, 6 Bidwell street, Wellington.

Sundries.—Mrs Page, Mount Albert, boots andshoes; Mr H. H. Driver, Dunedin, books; Mr T.Sayers, Reliance Printery, books; Mr F. E.Kretschmar, Mount Eden, one dinner gong; MrGeo. Smith, Manurewa, tomato plants, etc.; MrJ. C. Spedding, Remuera, tennis balls; Miss Thomp-son's S.S. Class, Oxford Terrace, dolls and slippers;Messrs Thompson and Bush, Auckland, case ofsamples; G.G. Society, Epsom, shoes and slippers;Y.W.B.C., Esk Street Baptist Church, booklets,material; Messrs Hannah and Co., Auckland slippersand laces; a .Wellington friend, one suit; — Tainuistreet, Spreydon, greeting cards; Mornington Girls'Club, Dunedin, rugs, handkerchiefs, toys, ribbons,etc.

Provisions, etc.—Mrs Brown, Takanini, sand-wiches, cakes, etc.; Mrs J. C. Spedding, Remuera,jam; Y.W.B.C. Union, Auckland, conceit tea; Rich-mond Baptist Church Junior Y.W.B.C, lollies;Richmond Baptist Church Senior Y.W.B.C, lollies;Messrs Fleming and Co., Gore, per Mr Gillespie,1001b Creamota; Mr Walter, Manurewa, buns andscones; Mr Storm, Auckland, lollies; Mr Armitage,Mount Albert, lollies; The Home Board, a straw-berry tea; Messrs Alexander and Findlay, Manu-rewa, 1401b beef; Mr James, Remuera, lollies;Mr Levis, Manurewa, 12 dozen eggs; ManurewaMethodist Church ladies, bread and cakes, etc.;Uncle Sambo, Auckland, chocolates.

THOS. E. WHITTON, Secretary and Treasurer.20-22 Swanson street, Auckland.

Auckland.—"A Northern Hill," 10s; Mrs G. H.Crocombe, £ 1 ; Epsom Baptist Church, £ l ; GrangeRoad Institute (lecture by Miss Marks), £3 11s;Mrs H. M. Hughes, £ 2 ; Mr and Mrs C. Leys, £.1;Tabernacle Baptist Church, £A 2s 9d; Mrs Whaley,5s; Official Collector, £42 1s 2d. Total, £55 9s 11d.

Dunedin.—North-East Valley Baptist Church, £119s 6d.

Heretaunga.—Mr and Mrs Godber, £1 10s.Kaikohe.—J. J. Lindvart, £2 4s 6d.Mosgiel.—Mrs T. Gilbert, 10s.New Plymouth.—Geo. H. Maunder, £5.Opua.—R. B. Martin, £1.Taranaki.—Miss C M. Piper, Ngaere, 5s.

Subscriptions received from November 18, 1923,to December 18, 1923: —

Auckland Tabernacle, £13 12s 2d; Whangarei,5s; Owaka, 10s; Opawa, £1 8s; Feilding, £1 6s 6d;Hanover Street Church, £3 7s 6d; Hanover StreetS.S., £.2 0s 8d; Nelson, £ 4 ; Epsom, £l 8s; Waihi,19s; North-East Valley, 10s; Hastings Church, 15s2d; Hastings S.S., 5s 1d. Total, £30 7s 1d.

"NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST."

Direct subscriptions received from November 18,1923, to December 18, 1923:—

Mrs E. Cockerell, C. Christopher, A. H. King,4s, to December, 1924. R. H. Carey, 8s, to May,1924. K. Service, 8s, to December, 1924. R.Holland, 16s, to December, 1924. Mrs O'Neill, 4s,to November, 1924.

The Manurewa Children's Home(Late Remuera Children's Home.)

GOITRE.—A market gardener in the Hutt Valley,Wellington, reports that his wife, who suffered formany years from Goitre, has by persistent applica-tion of Q-tol got quite rid of the trouble. She useda bandage soaked in Q-tol every night for six weeks,and is delighted with the excellent result.

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The operations of the R.M.S. are manifold. Notonly is the Gospel preached by Consecrated Mis-sionaries to thousands of Eager Listeners in theopen-air, as well as indoors, resulting in many con-versions, but Relief Work in the Refugee Camps iscarried on extensively.

Thousands of articles of Clothing and hundredsof pairs of Boots have been given away to displacerags and tatters, and cover feet of men, women, andchildren exposed to the dreadful winter now happilypassing.

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Dallaston Appeal.

The Editor calls very special atten-tion to the appeal issued by the Secretaryfor the Dallaston Fund. It will be found,on page 36.

It will be heard in every church.It will awaken response in every

heart.

Passing Notes.Dr Clifford's Death Scene.

Exchanges tell us the details of that most appro-priate of deaths. It is indeed the counterpart ofthat of the elder Pitt. Our readers will be glad tohave it. We. regret that through some postal mis-hap an appreciation from the pen of Mr H. H.Driver did not reach us for last issue. Mr Driverwrote very convincingly in the Otago Daily Times. Butlet the Baptist Times speak. Dr Clifford arrived atthe Church House in time for the devotional serviceat half-past ten. He occupied his usual corner seatin front of the platform, and followed all the pro-ceedings with his wonted interest and alertness. Atabout eleven o'clock he proposed a resolution ofsympathy with Dr Shakespeare in his illness, re-marking playfully that he could sympathise morethan most of those present because he, too, wassuffering from defective sight. It was noticed thathis voice was weak, and suggestive of physical weari-ness, but there was no sign of intellectual decay.His brief speech was beautiful in language as inspirit, and the hearers could hardly have heard himwith greater attention had they known that theywere listening to the last words of the man whomthey loved and honoured above all others.

The Council passed on to discuss the questionof Evangelisation, a subject which Dr Clifford hadmade peculiarly his own. He followed the discussion

with lively interest. One moment his face was litup by a smile at something that was said, the nexthe was observed to turn deathly pale, and with agentle sigh he sank back in his seat. Dr Lewis waspresent and did all that could be done, but in vain.The great heart that had beaten so strongly and sopassionately for all noble causes, fluttered feeblyfor a moment and was still for ever.

Pulpit Kings.The personal of the British pulpit is rapidly

changing. Last month the virile and ever youngClifford left the ranks of the militant church at thebidding of his Master. This month Dr Jowett passedin to the audience chamber. No remaining preacheris of his calibre. He has been for twenty years themost charming and comforting of all speakers. Andhis audience has been the world. Never, we suppose,in the history of the modern pulpit has such athing been known as a King and a Prime Ministerurging that a preacher of the Gospel should migrateto their territory. Parallels could be found in thesixteenth century. But King George and LloydGeorge both urged Dr Jowett to leave New York forLondon. It was in the bleeding days at the endof the war. It was felt that comfort and couragewould be poured into the nation's wounds if heshould come. He came, and Westminster Chapel,which stands hard by Buckingham Palace, was thescene of his last ministry. He was the antithesis ofClifford. He never fought. His pulpit never rangwith invective. He believed that men need comfort,and he sought to give it without dogmatic bias.Indeed no one seems to know where he stood inregard to many of the great controversies that vexChristendom. He did not believe that the pulpitis the place for ventilating the last idea of the lastneologist. There was one public question from whichhe did not withhold himself, and that was the Leagueof Nations. With the Archbishop of York he touredthe country seeking to rouse international conscienceamong Christian people. He probably let outmuch of his strength in that campaign. It was worthwhile. Christians have to rise above the ditch ofnationalism and practise their religion, which knowsnothing of Jew or Greek, for all are one in ChristJesus. We had the very great honour of preachinga Sunday last July in Dr Jowett's church. Theykeep there a book in which each preacher writes histexts after service. It was in a beautiful hand thatJ. H. Jowett wrote. We noticed that the pulpitBible was a gift from the costermongers of the city.


T H E ORGAN O F T H E B A P T I S T UNION.

THE

22 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. February, 1924.

A Country Zealot.There are Baptists scattered about the country

who very properly and very usefully help in theservices of what churches there are in their neigh-bourhoods. They find the christening services to betrying ordeals, and if they decently can they slipout when that from which they very deeply differ isperformed. One such from a district in the SouthIsland writes to us to urge forward the liberatingwork of pur church. Our correspondent wants tosee two things done. (1) That all our young peopleshall understand the issues concerning Baptism; (2)that Sunday School work shall be pushed forwardto the uttermost. To further these two projects ourfriend offers prizes, and would like others to do thesame. We are able on this initial offer to make thefollowing propositions:—(1) For the best paper readto the four Easter camps, North and South youngmen and young women a book prize of 30s. Willthe respective secretaries advise the classes? Thesubject is to be "The Baptist Contention." (2) Sixprizes of a pound each to those scholars who enrollmost new scholars in their Sunday School during1924. The results must be verified by superin-tendents and sent to the S.S. Committee by nextChristmas. Bible Class leaders and superintendentstake note and take action.

The Day of the Tract.Has come back. Or has it ever gone? The

tract has often been hysterical. But it has alwaysbeen an opportunity. It was with tracts that Newmanstirred up England on a bad issue. It is with tractsthat the "Catholic Truth Society" attempts to smoothout England's prejudice. It is with tracts that Bald-win was fought. It was with a fusilade of tractsand very able tracts that the recent Anglo-Catholicconference launched itself. We ought to be busywith tracts. We had an opportunity of telling theBritish Baptists that Dr Reavely Glover could do nobetter service to the denomination in this his presi-dential year than the preparation of tracts. The mostscholarly pen is not too fine for this service. Weare glad to see that our own modest Tract Committeeis at work. We suggest that they should prepare aplan for each church to install a tract rack in theirporch. It is more to the point than a hat rack.The very well and favourably known tract on Baptismby Rev. A. North has just been reprinted. Anotherfrom the same pen on Baptist History is due. Thereis a fine series by British Baptists available. Weshould like to sec added tracts of Salvation and onApologetics and on all other great phases of religionWe commend the matter to that noble man, theperfect church secretary. Let it be on the agendafor next deacons' meeting.

The Christmas Sensation.The ears of many an Englishman burned when he

read in the Christmas rescript from Canterbury thatnegotiations had been afoot for the re-union of theAnglican and Roman Catholic communions. The hotears got their temperature from memory. The"Thunderer" pointed out that for the English theRoman Catholic Church stands in the pillory as thecruellest institution on this earth. Smithfield isnow a meat market. It is not, it will not, be for-gotten that it reeked once with the smell of burningflesh, and that when the flames died down, monksraked the ashes and, with a refinement of crueltyunknown to the pagans, scattered them so to thewinds that the angel of the resurrection could notgather them again. It is the pitilessness of a churchwhich has "semper eadem" for its motto, and whichnever frankly repents, that makes the English RomanCatholic walk under the shadow of suspicion. Noneof her nuns, however pure and pitiful they be, noneof her priests, however devoted, but they are haunted

by the ghost of bloody Mary and of that ghoulishPope who struck a medal celebrating the treacherousmassacre of S. Bartholomew in Paris. But his Graceof Canterbury, through two of the highest and mostsuspect of his clergy, Bishop Gore and Dr Frere,has been talking over re-union with the Cardinal ofBelgium. His delegates we are bound to say werewell selected. Those of the left who had been"feeling" the Nonconformists in the same interestwere judiciously omitted. The dream of the re-unionof Christendom obsesses the Anglican of to-day.Some one who loved the Anglican Church, not wiselybut too well, likened her to her Lord in that likeHim she is crucified between two thieves, with thisdifference that neither of them is penitent. On theone hand there is Calvin of Geneva, but he is toomuch of a preacher. On the other hand is the Popeof Rome who is too much of a priest, it used tobe contended that the Anglican, with his via media,had found the truth somewhere between the Lakeand the Seven Hills. To-day the two "impenitentthieves" are being openly courted by Canterbury. Weshall use this opportunity for asking after the realvalue of the much trumpeted Lambeth proposals.

The Old Dream.It is sometimes lightly supposed that the re-union

of Christendom is a novel idea hatched in this mosttragic of centuries. As a matter of fact it is a veryold idea, and as sought in the past probably thecruellest and bloodiest of all dreams. The only thingthat is new is that the Anglican Church should besponsor. Doubtless the Lambeth bishops were wellmeaning men. They certainly are also men whosetheological ideas are at the widest variance. Durhamand Truro for instance are poles apart. The unionof which they dream is to be sought by groups ofclerical diplomats who try first to understand eachother and then try to blend by judicious restatementthe very various creeds of Christendom. Would aunion so achieved be worth anything to this warweary world? We do not think so. Compromiseis a foundation of sand. Unity is to be sought inthe realm of the affections we venture to suggest,there is a sense in which all Christians are alreadyone. They are one in their adoration of Jesus Christas Son of God and Saviour of the world. Theydiffer in their way of worshipping Christ, and intheir conception of how salvation is obtained. Thesedifferences are not so deplorable as is sometimespretended. Glance at a parallel. Scientists are onein their reverence for truth. Divergences arise intheir search for truth. Different theories, differentmethods, specialism in everything, these coupled withutter freedom in research and utter freedom to testthe most venerable conclusion of the past—these arethe ways of this mighty agent of good. Is it verydifferent in religion? Is it not well that the factsof our holy faith should be surveyed by men of manytypes and breeds? Is it not well that they shouldreport as they see? Is not the church in hopelessdebt to heretics? Do they not often sting the ortho-dox into thought? Are they not often pathfindersand heralds of the more light that breaks forth fromGod's word? Did not the dissenters save England?Have not the Baptists for instance made two invalu-able contributions to the welfare of Christ's church—the one recognised everywhere, the other not recog-nised as yet? To hammer out a creed to which allcould agree and from which henceforth none daredepart, would be to achieve futility. And that iswhat it seems to us is the end of the Lambeth dream.

The Broken Dream of the PopeWas the bringing under his sceptre of all who

professed and called themselves Christians. Cen-turies of diplomacy were spent in the attempt tobring Eastern Christians under Roman suzerainty.

February, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. 23

The idea that the Pope is a divinely appointed headof the church is so recent that none of those countriesfrom which the faith took its rise accepted it. ThePatriarchs of the East, as they are called, repudiatedas Cyprian the high churchman of the west did, theRoman claim to Lordship. When so lately as 1870Pius IX summoned the Eastern bishops to the coun-cil of the Vatican, at which his infallibility was to bediscussed, the invites were returned with the word"Repent" written across them. To bring the Eastinto the Roman obedience was a constant aim ofthe Popes. Disreputable intrigues, in which fear ofthe Turk was a spur, were indulged in. At counciltables bishops were found to sell their faith to theRoman, but the common people tore the eiricon toshreds. In the West the Pope maintained the unionof Christendom with the sword. Crusades werepreached against countries tainted with "heresy."Languedoc was turned from a garden into a desert.The Netherlands were ravished. Huss was burned,Savonarola was hanged that the unity of Christendommight be maintained. The Papacy proved up to thehilt that absolute power is too intoxicating a wine forman to drink, just as the Scriptures prove up to thehilt that absolute power was never passed clown byChrist to any man. He retains the regency of HisChurch. The Canterbury dream is of such stuff asdreams are made of. While men differ, their inter-pretations will differ. The Pope claims to be infal-lible, and to depend on Scripture and tradition. TheAnglican appeal is to the Scriptures plus theoecumenical councils. The standard Protestantappeals is to the Scriptures alone. Who couldconceivably form a creed in which all should agree,when fundamental differences are unsolved?

The Only Way.

The question of re-union has been raised andraised by a church sharply divided against itself.The attention of the world has been drawn to it.Its theoretical benefits are hailed by many. Thereare not wanting those who are prepared to jettisonmuch cargo if only they may reach this shore. Thingswill not be as they were. That hateful attitude takenby those who stand stiffly by the positions taken bytheir fathers, without inquiry had, and withoutrevision made, will be impossible. Will it be impos-sible to Rome? Or is that church to be the incorri-gible church? Will the Anglicans stand or fall bybishops? But let no man be led astray. The diffi-culties are from the human standpoint insuperable.Take the Protestants. They agree in making theBible their one court of appeal, the Bible interpretedby the Christian conscience. Yet how the Protestantchurches vary. Sometimes it is a matter of emphasisSome dwell with Spurgeon and the Calvinists amongthe sovereignty texts. Some escape as from a prisoninto the fields of the Arminians with Wesley. TakeBaptism. The material on which conclusions maybe based is slender. A common conclusion oughtto be possible Yet it is not as yet. The questionkeeps on disturbing the peace of the Presbyterianand Methodist Churches, and seems on the whole tobe doing so more than ever. We believe that it isstill the duty of Christian people to search theScriptures to see if these things are so. We believethat it is everyone's duty to follow the light thatbreaks forth from God's word. We also believe thatit is in the atmosphere of the emotions roused byrevival that Christians will find themselves at one.We distrust compromise as the method. We foreseetyrannies and deadness as the offshoot of the presentnegotiations. People can love while they differ. Tosmooth out differences with a steam roller is aproceeding for which we have no enthusiasm,specially when convictions and Scriptural conclusionsare crunched in the process.

A Book Written in Blood.That is what every good book is. What is

written in mere ink is soon cast to the moles andthe bats. Life blood is the only indelible ink. Bythe gift of one of our ex-presidents, Mr A. F. Carey,of Christchurch, every minister of our church isreceiving one such book. It will come to the mansedoor, a very sightly volume, with the author's auto-graph written beneath the title. The author is avery remarkable and selfless man, the Rev. S. PearceCarey. The subject of this, his magnum opus,is that incredibly great little man, WilliamCarey, who was, we believe, the very greatestEnglishman who ever served India. It has been adream of Mr Pearce Carey's life to produce a worthy"Life" of his great ancestor. Existing books, andthere are several, were deficient in many respects.Their authors did not have access to all material.To some extent they lacked the finer sympathy.There are obvious objections to a man writing hisfather's life. But a great grandfather is quite aghostly person to most of us, and the personalelement is so attenuated that bias is eliminated anda healthy sympathy is left. Mr Pearce Carey is notonly a finished scholar, soaked in great literatureand poetry, but he has also the habits of the researchstudent. Everything from the first Carey's pen,every contemporary reference and condition, everysubsequent judgment has been patiently surveyed.He has tracked his ancestor from cradle to grave.He risked his life in late middle age by spendingtwo years in India to make estimates on the spotand to ransack the archives in Calcutta. Here isthe harvest of such an husbandman which we handlelovingly as we write.

Sensational Facts.We advise our laymen to keep pace with the

liaisons and order at once their copy of this book.It costs less than a case of petrol, and will drivethe car of thought much further. A perfect dipinto the midlands just before the industrial revolu-tion shook them. Strenuous poverty braving it out.A shoemaker with the world in his heart and hispack on his back. Genius saved by the Saviour frompeering littleness. The parson of a contemptiblysmall chapel, a joke with the squire and an eyesoreto the vicar, writing a sermon with two points cor-responding to the two shoes he made for hiscustomers. That sermon galvanising a dozen obscureministers to take up a collection (in a snuff box)for the heathen world. The first missionaries ridingdown to the sea in a stage coach armed with blunder-busses because the heaths were not safe. Theirchallenge to join company. Their exultancy atseeing the receding cliffs of England. Their strongpersuasion that the wounds of Jesus would melt theheart of India. The vastness of their designs. Theglory of their valient lives. The sheer capacity oftheir minds. The conquest of the languages ofAsia. Their scientific hobbies. Their victories.Is not it all written in this glowing book? "WhatGod hath wrought,' ' we cried. "What men," wecried, giants in those days. It was given to ourchurch to lead Protestant Christendom into the highplaces of the field. There are probably not halfa dozen men since Luther who have done as muchfor humanity in Christ's name as this pure and bravebrainey saint.

Personal Pars.The Rev. James Mursell, formerly minister of

the Flinders Street Church, Adelaide, and of theBrisbane Tabernacle, who has been supplying theCollins Street Baptist Church, Melbourne, with much


acceptance for the past nine months, leaves Sydneyfor America by the Tahiti on February 28. He willarrive in Wellington on Monday, March 3,when he desires to meet the local members of theMissionary Committee as representative of theB.M.S. He has had several conferences with theState Missionary Committee of Australia, and withthe Federal Mission Board, and he desires to hold asimilar conference here. That is not possible; butlocal members and ministers may meet him as hepasses through. The Rev. F. E. Harry is alsoarranging for Mr Mursell, who is a Keswick speakerand an ex-president of the British C.E. Union, topreach in Vivian Street Church that night.——We are delighted to hear that the Rev. A. J.Grigg, B.A., has secured the degree of B.D. atMelbourne University. May he wear that weight oflearning lightly as a flower.——The Rev. Johnand Mrs Takle observed their silver weddinglate in December. They were married on thefield, and as everyone knows have giventwenty-five glorious years of service to India. Weare glad to report that they are looking much better.They have been spending January at Mr C. Dixon'scharming home, "Saltaire," New Brighton.——We learn with regret from the Australian Baptistthat the Rev. L. K. Tranter, who is responsible forthe founding of Carey College, Melbourne, is leavingfor Canada.——We are glad to know from the samesource that the Rev. F. W. Boreham is going on fur-lough to Fngland this year. He will have a greatwelcome. His many books have made friends forhim in many places.——We are very glad to noticethat the Rev. T. H. Eccersall was specially honouredby the timely presentation of a substantial chequeand by eulogistic references to his faithfulness bychurch folk and townmen of Gore.——The Rev.Knowles Kempton has been in Victoria visiting hisson, who is a journalist there.——It is with thegreatest regret that we hear as we go to press ofthe sudden death of Mr George Maunder, of NewPlymouth. We shall make an extended referenceto this gallant man in next issue.——The OxfordTerrace Church is transferring all its property tothe Baptist Union under the new enabling act. Theyrecommend every other church to do the same.——We rejoice in the entry on the work of the ministryof our two students, the Revs. R. Turner and L.Barbour. We anticipate for them very usefulservice.








P.O. Box 1170.

Lengthening the Cords andStrengthening the Stakes.

Rev. A. J. G R I G G , B.A., B .D.

Isaiah takes his figure, of course, from tent life,and every camper knows that the larger his tent,the longer must be his ropes, and consequentlythe stronger his stakes. We might find a multi-tude of metaphors to illustrate this basic principleof life that lengthening and strengthening must gohand in hand. The tree that flings its giant branchesin the sky must root itself deeply in mother earth,if it will weather the storms that toss it; in NewYork they can build their skyscrapers forty or fiftystories high by sinking the foundations deep intothe solid rock; whilst on the earthquake ground ofTokio the buildings can be built only a few storeysin height; an army that extends its front must havea strong base and adequate communications.

Increased extension, then, in any sphere of life,calls for increased stability, and never did the truthneed greater emphasis than it does to-day. The ageis one of progress, advance, discovery, expansion inmany realms. Each day brings some new conquestor discovery in the realm of physical science, so thatthe wonder of to-day is the commonplace ofto-morrow; medical science is winning new victoriesover disease; political science is evolving new forms,and universal education has made men familiar withthe situation; ease of travel and increased communica-tions have involved the whole world in more com-plex relationships! and in the realms of literature,art, and religion there have been daring innovations.

But has all this increase in the extensity oflife been balanced by an increased stability, steadfast-ness, strength of moral fibre? Herein lies the clangerof this age of progress, and herein lies the challengeto the Christian Church to stress those moral andspiritual factors which alone can keep our boastedcivilisation from crashing in ruin about our heads.History is strewn with the wrecks of individual lives,movements, nations, and civilisations that have beenunable to stand the strain of expansion and increasedpower. Lengthened cords have found no counter-balance in strengthened stakes.

Let us apply the principle to various phases oflife.

Take, for example, democracy. Its gains formankind have been great and hard-won, and we clingfast to the liberty of the common people; but thehistory of the struggle for freedom reveals that menhave sometimes forgotten that to overthrow the tyrantis not enough, for it may mean simply the exchangingof one tyranny for another, exchanging Louis XVIfor Robespierre, or substituting Lenin and Trotskyfor the Czar. We have yet to learn thoroughly thattrue freedom consists, not simply in getting rid ofa tyrant, but in the intelligent ability of a peopleto govern themselves in righteousness. Herein liesthe danger of present movements, that old fettersmay be broken by a people not strong enough morallyto bear their responsibility. These changes will goon—let the Church of God throw itself into its greatand rightful task of strengthening the moral fibreof the world to meet this challenging situation.

We have a similar problem with regard to theliberty and independence of modern youth. A com-parison of Eastern methods of repression with themore clastic methods of the West shows us thegeneral value, of extended freedom; but we are some-times pained by the excesses which arise where thisfreedom is not accompanied by a stabilising self-control. Freedom is good, training in initiative andindependent judgment are fine, when there are



resources of moral character to balance this widenedscope of life. The solution of the problem will be,not in shortening the ropes,—that would be a retro-gression—but in strengthening the stakes, and theChurch, with her full Gospel of the power of Christ,ought to be able to meet this need. Mighty thingswill be done in this generation if our young peoplewill learn that real freedom consists not in mererelease from old constraints, but in the substitutionof positive self-control and stability of character.

We see, then, two great processes in continualoperation—expansion and consolidation—whether inthe spheres of exploration, business, war, or mis-sionary enterprise. And our cry, amidst the fretand fume of our increasingly complex modern lifeis that "life goes too fast"—we cannot consolidateour gains, we have no time to "think through" ourproblems, we. are hurried here and there by suchstrong and varied currents that it is difficult to takeour bearings.

Is this not a confession of failure to possessadequate resources? When our Lord speaks of Hispeace, and promises it to His disciples, what doesHe mean but the possession of abundant, inexhaust-ible spiritual resources to meet every demand of life.This is the note with which to challenge our modernmood- that it is possible to be "garrisoned in heartand thought" by God's peace, so that our resourcesare adequate for every exigency we may meet inhome, business, social life, State, and Church.

Modern movements in religion are throwing manyinto a state of panic. The way to meet the excessesand the surrenders of "liberals" and "modernists"is not to shut our eyes to facts, and try to keep ourknowledge in water-tight compartments; but tostrengthen our vital personal hold on the Christianverities; deepen our own devotional life; andcourageously face these movements, fearlessly think-ing through these problems with the aid of theSpirit of God, and exposing the fallacies. The manwith the vital Christian experience, and who livesnear to Christ, who can say, "One thing I know, thatwhereas I was blind, now I see," has resources ofstrength and wisdom that no extension of knowledgeor multiplication of antangonists can exhaust.

So, too, with the Church and social problems.We have discovered at last that Christianity has asocial aspect and programme, and the pendulum hasswung far in the direction of a social Gospel. Thereis a danger in this that must be met by balancingit with a reiterated emphasis on the fundamentalevangelical note of Christianity. Our social servicemust find at once its inspiration and its test in avital personal spiritual experience.

The Church, too, must be missionary—a non-missionary church is a contradiction in terms. Butwith the extension of our fighting front, the HomeChurch must strengthen its devotional life, its sacri-ficial giving, its challenge to youth for recruits, itsardour in local efforts for evangelisation, its concep-tion of world viewpoints, if it is to win increasingvictory in the foreign field.

Let us move out into the New Year ready forglorious expansion in our individual, church, anddenominational life, but, at the same time, seekingthat spiritual stamina and resource which are thesole secret of successful enterprise. Let us "lengthenour cords and strengthen our stakes."

The Age of Noise.

In his "hot-point talk" (preceding the sermon inthe Baptist Church, Vivian street, recently the Rev.F. E. Harry said a modern writer had called attention10 "the noisy age" in which we live. Barbaric soundsfill the air; motorists toot their horns, trains soundtheir gongs, steamers blow their sirens, engineswhistle, motor bikes rush past with deafening roar,and every boy has his tin whistle. "Get out of myway" each seems to say. At least, we have cometo believe that we are doing nothing if we are not"hollering," beating our drums, or blowing our owntrumpets. Can we not stop the raucous cries of ourstreets? However, noise may be only self-asser-tion. It may be our way of expressing our feel-ings or of challenging the world; in my case noiseis a nuisance to the sensitive soul. Yet, what canwe do? We are all emotionalists in some degree.Life would be dull and dreary and deadly if we couldnot feel and see and hear. We want to be shockedor delighted. We must feel ecstasy or despair;monotony we dread. We alternate as day and night.We are as variable as Wellington weather. Theremust be a gay round of sensations or life falls. Busi-ness, with its sameness and tameness, is irksome tothe flesh. The dance, the theatre, the picture show,the racecourse, dress, and delirium, one fast andfurious whirl of sensations,—else life is not worthliving.

It can easily be seen why the church is deemeddull and uninteresting. It lays a calming hand onlife's fitful fever. It brings peace to the storm-tossed mariner. It hushes to rest fierce turbulentpassions. It exercises a controlling, guiding in-fluence over the daring and ignorance of youth. Itteaches men that their strength is in quietness andconfidence,—that the greatest work is done in com-parative silence; that the mightiest movements ofnature can not be heard; that unnecessary noiseand commotion are not the signs of progress andpower. The quietest room in a great mill is thepower-house, away from the rattle of spindles andthe whirr of machinery. Great things are done inthe quietude of the scientist's laboratory or in thestudy of the philosopher.

Yet the Church must not hold aloof from themaelstrom of passion and the noisy clamour of men.Where men are caught in the delirium of devilry orunder the fascinating spell of destroying sirens, thereChristians must go to save them. We must facelife as it is and try to make it what God meant itto be. Christianity was intended for the multitude,hence the Apostles rushed to the cities. "Wheresin abounded grace much more abounded." Intothe fetid atmosphere of opium dens, among callousslave gangs, down among the desperadoes of the vilestslums, Christians have gone, fearless of contamina-tion, because possessed by the Spirit of Christ.

God is not in the noise, the fire, or the storm.His voice is still and small. When we discover thatwe listen and learn, even as the despairing andfrightened prophet did. A poet speaks of "soundand fury, signifying nothing," and an old proverbtells us that there may be "great cry and littlewool, as the man said who clipped the sow." Yetsound may be a blessing, when it is speech conveyingideas, or when it is music uplifting and thrillingthe soul. Sensation we demand. Noise we make."Signs and wonders" were craved in Christ's day,and they are craved to-day. And some think theChurch of God is doing nothing if these are notseen; whereas mighty miracles are being dailywrought within the souls of men, mighty transforma-tions are taking place, noble characters are beingbuilt, all unnoticed, because there is "no sound ofhammer or any tool of iron heard in the building."

DUNEDlN SOCIETY LADY.—The wife of awell-to-do Dunedinite was for some months unableto wear evening dress owing to the spreading of anunsightly rash. Ointments and prescriptions weretried unsuccessfully until the sufferer learned ofQ-tol from her sister in Wellington. Relief wasrapid; in three days the healing and penetrativeproperties of Q-tol had banished the disfigurement.


The Offices of the Baptist Union of New Zealand andof the Baptist Missionary Society—


General Secretary: Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles,To whom all money for Home and Foreign Mis-sions should be sent, except B.W.M.U. amounts,which must be sent to the Treasurer, Mrs C. Collins6 Bidwell street, Wellington.

All Y.W.B C.U. amounts collected by DistrictTreasurers to be sent to the Dominion Treasurer,Miss M. Beckingsale, 16 Montague street, North-EastValley, Dunedin.

The Divine Thief.

Jesus of Nazareth hated theft. Modern quipslike that of Proudhon that property is theft wouldwin no smile from Him. The idea that hungerjustifies theft would not receive His endorsement. Hebelieved in the dignity of the State and of humanlaw. Laws regulating property can be altered byagitation and legislation. But the individual'sviolence, even under provocation, is under His ban.His last exploit, we remember, was the salvation ofa thief. He saves from all sin. But He condemnstheft, just as He condemns the other sins of thesecond table. Probably He made early acquaintancewith theft. Somebody's clay house in Nazaretheaten through with silent knives. Somebody's hoarddug from the floor. Somebody wakening the hamletwith the cry of the outraged. And the thief hidingbeneath the robe of a two-faced neighbour, or overthe hills beyond the tracking of man or dog. InHis teaching He made the thief the opposite of Him-self as the Good Shepherd. "The thief comethnot but to kill and steal and destroy."

In view of this it cannot be other than an un-utterable surprise that He should take that loathe-some word and apply it to Himself. Yet He does.He is the Divine thief who breaks in at midnight onthe world's security. In the Revelation, one of Hislast words is "Behold I come as a thief." The samesimile is found in the eschatological passage inMatthew. This leads us to emphasise the sensationamanner of our Lord as teacher. Those who applythe cold canons of logic to Him break down. Wholesystems of theology are vitiated by the refusal torecognise that He was not a logician. Thus it iscertain that He despised theft. It would seemimpossible that He could use the thief as an illustra-tion of Himself. Yet He did. Take the case ofLeaven. It was to a Jew a convenient illustrationfor sin. Its extrusion at Passover time helped outthe usage. The Master so used it once or twice.

Yet in a parable He broke away from usage andapplied it to the divine kingdom. There is no doubtthat He did this. Yet there are schools of commen-tators who are prepared to jettison the clear meaningin the interests of logic and to make the parableone on the corruption, and not on the spread of theFaith. When shall we remember both in our read-ing of the Gospels and in our speech, that it is theunconventional and the unusual word that is lodgedin memory. Jesus likened Himself to a thief andHis people never forgot it. Paul knew that He haddone so. "Ye are not in ignorance, that that dayshould overtake you as a thief." Peter recalled itin his epistle "The day of the Lord shall so comeas a thief." Their reverence prevented them fromspeaking of Him as a thief. They changed thatinto "the day." But the day of the Lord is createdby the Lord. "This is the day that the Lord hathmade." The Day of His manifestation will breakon church and world with abrupt surprise. He comesas a thief.

What a light the second advent is. How it burnsagainst the black sky. What a hope it is in themidst of the bankruptcy of human government. OurLord has not finished His work. He will crownCalvary. That which is the term of the Lord'sSupper will have fulfilment. He will come whoseright it is.

The future of human society has always occupieda foremost place in speculative thought. Three possi-bilities have challenged attention. The first issymbolised by the wheel. It is a particularly Easternconception. It is the idea of the cycle. It issuggested in the saying, "History repeats herself."There is a projection from the abysm of Deity ofthings visible and specially of souls. They run theircourse of rebirths and then "that which drew fromout the boundless deep turns again home." In itsathiestic interpretation it was held with someenthusiasm by Clemenceau. From Star dust to com-plete civilisation and then the crash and the senselessclimb up again. We may dismiss the wheel. Theweary round simply is not there. The second ideais that of evolution. It posits the slow progressionof all things to some glittering goal "that divinefar off temple towards which the whole creationmoves." It improves on the wheel for there is pro-gress and meaning in such a conception. It isvery old. It had a place in Greecian philosophy.Darwin merely found a place for the speculation inthe field of biology. But Darwinism is under someeclipse. It explains so little that matters and it failsto handle with firmness the set backs, the degeneracy,of which life is full. Nor does it receive supportfrom Scripture. A profounder view is embeddedthere. It is the idea of crisis.

The crises of the past have been well marked.They commonly turn round the achievements of thegreat man. "Once to every man and nation," sangLowell. But it has been more than once. It hasbeen as though the ladder of heaven were let downfor us to climb. It has been as though the handof God were reached through to lift us up, if wewould but grasp it, from the dust to which wecling. Abraham, Moses, Francis, Luther occur tothought. But the surpassing crisis of humanhistory are related to Christ. His first Advent turnedthe stream of centuries from their course. Hissecond Advent will break in like a thief. The criseswhich determine fate may be unrecognised. Theprophets have been stoned. The Cross was built.But even partial recognition has brought immenseadvance. How will it be in that day?

It might very well be said that at His firstcoming He stole something. We was the unrecog-nised Christ. His own received Him not. They

FEBRUARY, 1024.

EDITOR:REV. J. J. NORTH, Christchurch.


SUB-EDITOR:REV. S. MORRIS, N.E. Valley, Dunedin.

BUSINESS MANAGER:REV. M. W. P. LASCELLES.

All business communications to be addressed to theManager, " N . Z . Baptist," P.O. Box 693, Wellington.


crowned Him at Gabbatha. They throned Him atGolgotha. But when He went something wasmissing. The Temple had lost its treasure. Shekinahhad gone out. The meaning had stolen away. Theritual of Israel was but an empty shell. The Templewas decrepit. It presently collapsed. So shall it be.The Divine Thief will re-appear. The unrecognisedGod will come for His own It may be that Hewill go with them and leave the world for a spaceto its last issues. But the Thief will have takenthe treasure with Him. The glamour will have gonefrom the gold. The pride of life will have lostits glitter. The things of the world will be sapless.The Thief will have passed on from his midnightraid. The wise will have gone in with Him to themarriage feast. The foolish will be crying at Hisgate.

But why should the second coming of Jesus beso sinister? Why should He so fiercely warn mento be ready? Why should He be as a thief who islove? It cannot be because He delights to take us offguard. It must be because of a persistent tendencyin us. That tendency is to settle down to worldlythings, to be more at home with money and withbusiness and with social adventures than we are onour knees. To seek first mammon and occasionallythe Kingdom that is our failing. Any man to whomthis world and the circle of his arrangements in itis chief is bound to be taken off his guard at Hisappearing. To that man it is sure to be midnightwhen Christ comes, and Me must come to the manas a thief. But we know that all that we see is thescaffolding of God's Building. The living Templeis being built within these rough boards and stakes.Who will regret, when these are thrown down andthe Temple flashes back the light of the Millenialday? Let us live for that. Rutherford cried, "Letthe moveables go, the inheritance is ours." TheThief will be the Bridegroom for those who arewise.

An American Talks.

FREE GRACE VERSUS COVENANTAL GRACE.

By R. L. BAKER, D.D., Ashland, Ky.

There is a general feeling amongst Protestants,and even Baptists, that there is between the denominzr-tions little or no difference. "All are going tothe same place but by different routes," is the oldsaw. We wonder if people ever consider how littletruth there is in that statement. Let us investigate.

The church or churches cannot be the way toheaven. Baptism is not the road to heaven. Christis the only road to heaven. "I am the way, thetruth, and the life. No man cometh unto theFather but by Me." There is no way to glorybut by the way of the Cross. Faith in the finishedwork our Lord wrought on the cross and His gloriousresurrection, received by faith, stands for the way,not churches.

The new birth, a vital change, comes by trustingwhat our Saviour did for us in His death, in Hisburial, in His resurrection. To be saved one mustbelieve in His resurrection. "And if Christ be notraised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins."We do not make enough of the great factor in Hisresurrection in these days. A creed which does notlift up the resurrection, as well as the cross, is aweak creed, too feeble for folks to be saved by.

People should be saved before they join a localchurch. The poorest place in the world for anunsaved man is in a local church. Baptists havethrough the centuries contended for a convertedmembership. We greatly fear the easy methods,the over zeal for numbers bringing what Paulexhorted the brethren against in the twelfth chapterof Hebrews. "Looking diligently lest any man failof the grace of God; lest any root of bitternessspringing up in your midst, cause many to bedefiled." Our methods cause most all of our troubles.They come from two sources. First, the unsavedin the church. Secondly, the "carnal Christian."All differences in churches come from one or theother of these classes. A Spirit-filled Christian willnot cause trouble.

What is the difference between free grace andcovenantal grace? Free grace we have describedabove. Covenantal grace means the covenant madewith the Fathers in the Old Testament, which hadfor its sign and seal circumcision. This covenant,which is a part of the legal dispensation, has beenbrought over into new dispensation. The sign andseal has been changed from circumcision to infantbaptism. As to the Scripture for the change, we arenot acquainted. In twenty-five years' study I havenever yet discovered a single Scripture for such adoctrine.

You will find covenantal grace anywhere you findinfant baptism. Baptists believe in free grace, hencethey have a single platform or only one way onwhich people are saved. The denominations thatbelieve in covenantal grace make two ways to besaved, with the exception of the Episcopaliandenomination. They seem to be consistently out-standing for salvation by covenantal grace alone.We admire consistency, although it be opposed toour views.

To make this all clear, we relate an incidentwhich occurred with one of our leading pastors.The preachers of all the denominations were calledtogether in an effort to secure Dr Torrey and hissinger to undertake a meeting, in hope they mightwin those whom the local preachers could not win.

The day came and the ministers assembled.The meeting was full of enthusiasm and seemed tobe unanimous.

The Episcopalian minister came in late. Afterbegging their pardon for tardiness, he made thefollowing speech:—

"I want to put myself right before you pastorsin relation to the proposed meeting. I cannot co-operate with you in this movement and I want youto understand my convictions in this matter. I donot believe in what is known among you asevangelism. I do not believe in what you call con-version, under the spontaneous operation of the HolySpirit in the human heart.

"I believe in covenantal grace, and that peoplebecome Christians by baptism and confirmation inthe church. Believing as I do, I cannot consistentlyenter with you into the proposed meeting. I wantto say to the Presbyterian pastors, that if you liveup to the covenantal teachings of your church youcannot engage in an evangelistic meeting. I willsay the same to Methodist pastors also, that if youlive up to the covenantal teachings of your disciplineyou cannot enter into an evangelistic meeting.

"You should cither abandon your covenantalteaching, or quit holding evangelistic meetings. BYundertaking to carry on both you make two plansby which men become Christians. As I see it,these Baptist preachers are the only preachers inour city who can consistently carry on an evangelistic



meeting. They do not believe in covenantal grace,but they consistently hold every man to a personalexperience of religion, which they call regenerationor conversion.

That speech broke up the meeting.We love other people of other denominations, but

there is a wide difference, and we cannot get anycloser together than we are without Baptists giveup free grace or Protestants abandon covenantalgrace. We believe there are a mighty host of savedpeople in other denominations, but they were savedby free grace.—(Western Record.)


Auckland.—Ara Lodge Freemasons, £5 5s;"Child Lover," £ 1 ; Friend, 8s; Grange Road BaptistChurch, £1 10s l0d; Hellaby, Mrs, £1 1s; Hill, C.G., £2 2s; Hoye, Miss, £2 ; Kretschmar andFarmer, £5 5s; Moodie, B. C, 10s; Rushbrook, W.N., 10s; Woodham, W., £2 10s; Official Collector,£18 16s 6d. Total, £40 18s 4d.

Christmas Cheer Fund.—£41 19s.Canterbury.—Greendale Baptist Sunday School,

£9 9s 2d.Christchureh.—Chas. Moon, £ 1 ; Mr Thome, 2s;

Mrs Dickson, 10s; Linwood Girls' Bible Class, 15s;Mr Russell, 3s 6d; Prof. Condliffe, £1 . Total, £310s 6d.

Dunedin.—Mornington Baptist Junior Band, £110s; Hanover Street Baptist Sunday School, £4 15s6d. Total, £6 5s 6d.

Feilding.—Baptist Church, per Miss E. Wratt,£1 16s; Dunolly Sunday School, £1 15s 3d. Total,£3 11s 3d.

Hawera.—Mis A. A. Harner, £1 .Hastings.—Junior Christian Endeavour Society,

£1 1s; Hastings Baptist Church, £3 6s 4d. Total,£4 7s 4d.

Manurewa.—R. Johnstone, £5.Nelsbn.—Nelson Baptist Guild Concert, £6 12s;

E. G. Wood, £4 8s; J. M., £ 1 ; C, £ 1 ; T., 10s.Total, £13 10s.

Ngaruawahia.—Mrs M. Bell, 5s.Oamaru.—Mrs J. Kilgour, 10s.Riccarton.—"A Widow's Mite," 6d.Te Awamutu.—E. C. Wiltshire (proceeds used

stamps), £6.Wanganui.—Baptist Church (carol singers),

£4.Wiri.—Mr Bluett, 10s. Grand Total, £140 16s

7d.List of gifts to date:—Clothing.—Mr H. W. Johnson, Vera street,

Karori, Wellington; Miss Carnie, 54 Union street,Auckland; Miss Richards, 8 Milton road, MountEden; B.W.M.U., Waihi, per Mrs Sam. H. Brown;B.Y.W.B.C, Invercargill, per Miss Todd; Ladies'Sewing Guild, Gonvillc Baptist Church, per Mrs A.Ward; B.W.M.U., Gisborne, per Mrs Toneycliffe;B.W.M.U., Linwood, per Miss A. Moon; Ladies'Committee, Richmond Baptist Church, per Mrs Horn;Oxford Bible Class, per Miss E. M. Gainsford; Anon,per Mrs F. Gaze.

Provisions, etc.—Mrs F. E. Kretschmar, MountEden, eggs ; Misses Partridge and North, Matamata,honey; Mr Fawcett, Manurewa, plums; Mr Dreadon,Manurewa, a lamb, plums; Mr Greaves, Manurewa,plums, Mr Wright, Manurewa, eggs ; Mr William-son, Manurewa, lollies; Mr Walter, Manurewa,Christmas cake; Mr C. M. Carter, Takapuna, lollies;Mr F. Brookbanks, Mount Eden, lollies; Mr Land-

less, Manurewa, lemons; Mr Talbot, Manurewa,rabbits; Tabernacle Sunday School, cakes, scones,etc.; Messrs Murray and White, Manurewa, lollies;Messrs Tucker and Sons, Auckland, jellies; OrphanHomes Contribution Committee, per Mr J. L. Wilson,Kaeo, four sheep; Esk Street Baptist Church, In-vercargill, per Miss A. Galbraith, Christmas cake;Mr W. R. Ellingham, Auckland, muscatels, nuts,lollies.

Sundries.—Mrs Johnson, 12 Frederick street,Wellington, toys, books; Mrs Schofield, 9 Staffordstreet, Dunedin, books, toys, cards; Mrs Waterman,Oxford, Christchurch, handkerchiefs; Miss Morton,Upper Symonds street, Auckland, comic papers; MrA Snowball, Victoria Arcade, Auckland, four electrictorches; Mr A. North, Wellington, year's issue "MyMagazine"; Mr F. E. Kretschmar, Auckland, toys;Mr Greaves, Manurewa, wickets, etc.; Rev. S. Jen-kin, Wanganui, "Missionary Messengers"; Anon,Tainui street, Spreydon, greeting cards; Mr W. H.Newton, Grey Lynn, greeting cards, overcoats, etc.;Miss Joan Upton, 25 Victoria avenue, Remuera,box of toys; Miss Lamb, 16 Pencarrow avenue, MountEden, books; "An Orphan," per Mr A. J. Entrican,parcel of toys; Baptist Y.W.B.C., Invercargill, toys,books, etc.; B.W.M.U., Gisborne, dolls, etc. ; Soc.Senior Section Y.P. Institute, Ingestre Street Bap-tist Church, per Miss Tipper, toys, etc . ; GrangeRoad Junior C.E., per Miss Crocker, books:Mayoress War Memorial Library, books, toys;Ashburton Bible Class, per Miss A. Olds, toys, etc.;Ladies' Committee, Richmond Baptist Church, fancygoods; Hastings Baptist Junior C.E. Society, per MrF. E. Barley, toys, books; Hanover Street BaptistSunday School, per Miss M. Valentine, missionaryscrap book; Sydenham Baptist Sunday School, perMr Peacock, toys, books; Oxford Bible Class,handkerchiefs, fancy articles.

THOS. E. WHITTON,Secretary and Treasurer.

20-22 Swanson street,Auckland.

Correspondence.To THE EDITOR.

SIR,—I write this to thank you for the articleappearing in the December Baptist entitled "OurLord and Success." It will be a good thing ifthe officers in our churches have read it, and wherethey are not satisfied that souls are being won forJesus Christ, church membership increasing, andthe activities of the church progressing, they willseek to alter their methods.

I was particularly helped with the paragraph"Acquiescing in failure," and from personalexperience I can say that the constant confession offailure and being miserable sinners really is"numbing."

After 30 years of Christian life, listening to teach-ing that made one feel the joy and happiness thereis in having such a Master as Jesus Christ to trustand serve, and now to hear constantly what miserablefailures we all make of our lives, and also the teachingthat Christianity is not making any progress, hasmade me go home from the service with a feelingthat does not make for "healthy Christianity," andwhat a poor outlook it is for young people.

It was like an "Oasis in the desert" to read the,article, and I am grateful to you for all the thoughts,and I would like to know if you and other leaders ofour churches believe and teach that Christianity isnot making progress from a world wide point of view.

A SINNER, BUT HAPPY.



The Missionary Mail BagAll communications for the Missionary Section of

the " B a p t i s t " to be sent to the Missionary Editor,Rev. Stanley Jenkin, Wanganui.

Miss Rice.

The friends of Miss Rice—and they are many—will be delighted to know that just as we go topress news has come to the effect that she has fullyrecovered from the effects of her operation. MissBeckingsale went to Calcutta to nurse her after theoperation. That itself would, we are sure, greatlycontribute to the comfort of our friend. Miss Riceadvises that she expects to leave India for her fur-lough in New Zealand in August. She will bewarmlv welcomed.

At the Rebuilding of WilliamCarey's Chapel.

Wm. Carey's Chapel, in Leicester, was recentlydestroyed by fire. The church members and otherfriends of the B.M.S. did not tarry in obeying thecommand: "Arise and build." On October 20, 1923,die foundation stone-laying ceremony was held atwhich among other speakers the Rev. S. PearceCarey gave the address which we cull from thatvirile missionary paper, "The Baptist Layman"The address is Carey-like in its main heads—Lookin, Look up, Look round, Look down, Look for-ward, Look back. Many of us remember "PearceCarey's" visit to New Zealand some years ago whenhe was pastor of Collins Street, Melbourne. Thenew church is to be called "The Harvey LaneMemorial Hall"—Harvey Lane being the location ofthe building.

I have asked myself what Carey would say toyou if he were here, and I have come to the con-clusion that he would say first, "Look in and lookup." Then he would say, "Look round." Then"Look down"; then "Look forward," and last hewould say "Keep looking up, but take an occasionallook back." I am quite sure he would say first"Look in and look u p ! " because everything beganfor him and in him when he looked in and foundthat he was in sore need of a divine Saviour, thathe was guilty and weak and helpless. But in thatnecessity of his he found that God had changed itinto a Divine opportunity, and whereas his sunseemed to be like a very thick and threatening cloud,he found that God blotted out the cloud in theexceeding graciousness of His Love, and everythingstarted with William Carey, as we know him, fromthat discovery. I am particularly certain he wouldsay to every one of us "Look in and then look up ,"and I pray that in this new building, which I amsure would rejoice his heart, there will be amultitude of people, of young people, because hewas only young when he first learnt to "look in andlook up."

When Carey looked in and up, he began to lookround upon the world of need and of opportunity.He looked round that village that he lived in beforehe came to you. He looked round upon this townwhen he was here. There were only 13,000 peoplein Leicester then, but he was busy amongst them,and he was not content to be just Leicester's minister,

but Thurmaston's, Syston's, Blaby's, Desford's. Mecared for them all! I am sure he would say toyou "look round" and it is because you have beenlooking round at the urgent need in this neighbour-hood that you are doing this thing.

Then I am sure Carey would say look up to theDivine, and then with that Divine compassion,"Look down." It is quite right that we shouldhave a representative of Leicester's clergy with usto-day, for in Carey's own day Robinson and hewere close friends. A son of Vicar Robinson'shelped to save Carey's life. Carey said to Robinsonone day when he was twitting him, "Sir, I wouldrather win to Christ the poorest scaveneger ofLeicester than draw off from your church yourwealthiest to Harvey Lane," and it was Carey's carefor the poorest scavenger of Leicester that revealedthe Christliness of his soul. I want you to lookclown on those to whom other people give no care,and make this place their home.

Carey would say, "look up and look forward."His name is the name for the forward movementin the name of God. I do rejoice that after thiscrisis, created by the fire, you so gladly set your-selves to face the future. I was very sorry whenI learned this House had been destroyed, but I dobelieve that you can make a building here and thatit will be much more serviceable to the present dayconditions of the people than even the past has been.

Then I think Carey would say just now andthen "look back." If we look back we can seeChrist is marching on, and to-day, it is becauseyou are so persuaded that Christ still lives andthat He has yet His greatest works to do that youare building this new House for Him in faith. Icount it a very great honour that you have doneto me, that you should associate my name with thesacred happenings of to-day.

A conference of Christian laymen met at the HotelLaSalle in Chicago, May 3 and 4, to consider theadvisability of resuscitating the Laymen's MissionaryMovement. The following resolutions were passed—

Whereas, the Laymen's Missionary Movement ofthe United States and Canada has suspended itsactivities, and

Whereas, no conditions exist at present whichwould put the activities of a Laymen's Movement inconflict with other activities, and

Whereas, there is a feeling among many leadersthat there is an increasing need for unofficial andfriendly association in the missionary work of thechurch affording an opportunity for the cultivationof a spiritual co-operation among Christian forces,particularly in respect to the development of mis-sionary vision and purpose; therefore, be it-

Resolved that we who are in conference believethat steps should now be taken to organise the Lay-men's Missionary Movement of North America tobe commonly known as the Laymen's MissionaryMovement.

The former organisation to stimulate and directthe missionary interest in the men of the churchesaccomplished much during its thirteen years ofactivity, until it was absorbed by the Inter-churchWorld Movement. It was organised in the FifthAvenue Presbyterian Church, New York, on November15, l906. Gradually, under the direction of John B.Sleeman, J. Campbell White, Wm. 15. Millar, andothers, it grew to large proportions with manysecretaries, a monthly periodical, and great conven-tions. There is no doubt that through this movementmany good things were accomplished:—

Resuscitating the Laymen'sMovement.


1. Multitudes of laymen were brought to see moreclearly the greatness and importance of the missionarytask and to realise their own responsibility to sharein the work.

2. Missionary literature, appealing to laymen,was produced—including books, tracts, and themonthly magazine, "Men and Missions."

3. Study classes for men were formed in churcheswhere thousands became better informed as to world-wide missions.

4. Stewardship was taught and enlarged givingto missions resulted. Business men responded to thechallenge of Student Volunteers to furnish the meansto send them out.

5. The power of prayer was emphasised andillustrated.

6. Many individual laymen were enlisted anddeveloped as leaders in the great missionary cause.Many laymen visited mission fields and on theirreturn home reported their observations in a wayto convince others of the need and the great workof Christian missions.

7. Conventions were held in many cities (seventy-five in one campaign), and large numbers of menwere enlisted in the enterprise..

8. Men were brought into more active Christianservice in their own denominations and homechurches.

9. Denominational laymen's movements wereformed and more intensively cultivated their dis-tinctive fields.

10. Christian unity and interdenominational cooperation were promoted so that Christ and Hiscause were magnified.

The achievements cf the Movement were manyand remarkable. It ceased to function when theInterchurch World Movement began. At the recentmeeting in Chicago a General Committee of forty-one laymen was appointed with power to add to theirnumber and a temporary Executive Committee ofeight (mostly from Illinois) was appointed to serveuntil the General Committee appoint a permanentExecutive Committee. As the work of the Move-ment develops it is proposed to create district, State,and local self-governing committees. A generalAdvisory Committee is to be composed of MissionaryBoard secretaries and ministers, to counsel with theGeneral Committee in making plans and pro-grammes. The expenses of the Movement are to besecured from individuals whose gifts to the causeare understood not to interfere with their obligationsto their respective churches.

While recognising the evident leading of God inthe organisation of the original Laymen's MissionaryMovement, the notable achievements of the past, andwhile deeply sympathising with the purpose stillfurther to awaken and enlist Christian men in themissionary enterprise, there is some doubt as towhether the time has yet arrived for reviving theMovement in its interdenominational character.

1. The Movement accomplished its great purpose,that of proving to Christian business men the im-portance of missionary work and their responsibilityfor supporting it.

2. The leading denominations have alreadlyestablished their own laymen's movements which caneffectively carry on the work in their churches. Theseorganisations can co-operate to hold union meetingsfor men where desirable.

3. The interdenominational values and activitiesof the Movement may be preserved and carried on,including the publication of literature and the conductof conventions, by existing interdenominational mis-sionary organisations.

4. While the funds for the Movement were notdrawn directly from denominational missiontreasuries, but came from individual contributions,nevertheless considerable overhead expense (at least

60,000dol a year) was involved and one more organisa-tion added to the multitude that now overburden busymen.

What is needed to-day is not more machinery,but more spiritual life; not more activity,but more co-ordination in the members of Christ'sbody and more complete subordination to Him asthe Head of the Church.—(Missionary Review of theWorld.)

At Benares.By J. PEARCE DERRINGTON, J.P., of Birmingham,

in the Baptist Layman.

Benares, which I recently visited, is the Meccaof Hinduism. Its river and its temples are reveredthroughout all India. The very atmosphere and soilare considered to be holy. Residence in the city issaid to ensure salvation; death there makes salvationdoubly sure! Under the guidance of a devoted mis-sionary I had the privilege of seeing something ofthe holy city.

There are fifteen hundred temples in it, and morethan two thousand idols. The streets are throngedwith pilgrims, priests, and beggars. One day wepassed down the steps to the sacred river Ganges.Crowds of mendicants accosted us with outstretchedhands, crying "Backsheesh." Taking a boat, wewatched hundreds of devotees bathing in the river.Ecstatic bliss was on their faces; they were drinkingwaters which are alleged to purify both inwardly andoutwardly! And yet volumes from the city drainsare continually flowing into the river, within a fewfeet from where the supposed purification is takingplace! Some were to be seen filling bottles withthe water for future use. Others in the water werechanting the praises of the deity they worship.

A short distance away I noticed

A BURNING GHAT,

which consists of piles of wood and other inflammablestuff. A dead body, wrapped in cotton, is laid onone of these; water is drawn from the river andpoured upon the corpse, and after it has beenincensed, the fire is lighted. In process of time, thebody is said to be purified by water and by fire.Groups of people are laughing and chattering aroundall the while. A short distance away was a nearlyextinct fire, with a half-burnt corpse upon it. Anyonewho remembers and reveres the memory of his ownhonoured dead, turns away horrified at the sight.

"Ram is great! Ram is great!" was the chantof a number of men in a boat which passed. At therear of the boat was the body of a so-called holyman, with a stone tied to the legs. This corpsewas so holy that it did not need purification by fire.In midstream, therefore, it was slid into the river!

Leaving the boat we visited

SOME OF THE SHRINES.

Crowds of beggars, ascetics and holy men hold outtheir hands. Generally speaking, the temples aresmall, containing a grotesque and ugly figure,respecting which fables and legends are told by thepriests Vishnu, Shiva, Kali, Krishna, and manyothers have their devout and earnest followers, whobring offerings of flowers, fruit, and food. In onetemple, I noticed a glass chest containing a largesum in paper and cash, which had been given bythe worshippers, representing considerable self-sacrifice on their part.

A supremely holy man will occasionally arise.For years, I was told, one went about absolutelynaked and lived on next to nothing. He gatheredaround him a school of disciples and acquired a

February, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTI8T. 31

reputation for great sanctity. At his death, as aspecial honour, it was determined that he did notneed purification, either by fire or by water, and theunusual spectacle may be seen of his effigy in whitemarble—an ascetic figure, almost a skeleton inappearance, erected in the place where he is nowburied, and whither worshippers continue to cometo the shrine.

A huge tank of discoloured and stagnant waterattracted my attention. It is said to promote health,but is actually used for bathing and washing pur-poses. As we passed the washermen were busy.Near by is the Temple of Durga, sometimes calledihe Monkey Temple. Visitors are shown

THE SACRIFICIAL KNIVES

and the altar where goats are offered to the tutelarygoddess. Hundreds of monkeys inhabit the niches ofbuildings and the branches of trees in the vicinity.If a few handfuls of grain are scattered on theground a crowd of monkeys will pounce upon it.They are considered to be sacred animals, and someof the more ignorant of the devotees worship them.Twice every year thousands of pilgrims visit this

shrine.It is only as one moves about among these

millions of people in India that the necessity forChristian missions is realised. No one who hasexamined it can question for a moment the valueof the work which is being done in the more populouscentres. To labour incessantly year after year, amidsuch surroundings and with little apparent success,must call for courage and devotion of a high order.We Christians at home, I think, will have to learnmore fully our responsibilities in finding means forthe support of those who are thus giving life andhealth on our behalf in this service.

A n I n d i a n ' s T e s t i m o n y .

An old, blind Hopi Indian man, when visitingthe Southwest Bible and Missionary Conference atCamp Eldon, Arizona, said:—

"I used to walk the old way, the same as theother Hopis do, leading right to hell, and I did notknow it. I was not happy, not satisfied, alwaysunsettled and disturbed. Now I am happy, satisfied,and settled, because I know I am on my way toHeaven. I heard the story of how Jesus loves theworld and gave His Son for a Saviour for sinners,which includes me. I believed that and took thatJesus for my Saviour. I used to have all kinds oftrouble and thought that when I became a Christianall these troubles would be over with, but now Ifind that I am the centre of a great deal of trouble.My people ridicule and scorn me, they hate me, anddo all manner of things to make life unpleasant forme. Although it makes me feel badly for mypeople, I gladly bear all this. Jesus' life on earthwas full of trouble and full of suffering, and Hebore it patiently. I want to be like Him, thereforeI go on my way rejoicing, knowing that He wantsme to bear this for His sake."—(Missionary Review.)

The Rev. J. H. Lorrain, the Baptist missionarywho is so well known for his splendid work amongthe hill tribes of India, writes to acknowledge thereceipt of an honorarium presented to him by oursociety in consideration of his work in translatingthe New Testament into Lushai. "It is really I ,"he says, "who should reward the Bible Society forall it has done for me and for my friends the Lushaisever since the printing of the first Scripture portionsin London during my furlough in 1898. Throughoutall these long twenty-five years the large-heartedmanner in which they have backed up every effort

to give the Lushai tribe the Word of God in theirown language has been a constant inspiration andencouragement to me. I feel sure that the BibleSociety will agree with me that I should give a shareof this honorarium to my Lushai friends who haveso ably and willingly been associated with me in thistranslational work."—(Bible in the World.)

Not Peace, but a Sword.

(In this brief paper the Rev. J. A. Ewing, ofColombo, gives two of his experiences with Buddhistconverts to show the sunlight and shadow of a mis-sionary's life, as well as the trials that our convertshave to bear. The second story has disappointmenttor its end, but this will have its message too.)

The first convert won in Ceylon after five years'effort was a Buddhist priest, who, when he becamea Christian, was called Theophilus, "Lover of God."Though his death in the year of his baptism blastedthe hope of a life of service, he lived a steadfast,upright life, and died trusting in the merits of theLord Jesus Christ.

There is a great deal of unrest to-day, I believe,amongst the priesthood, though it lies deep. There isa well-founded report in Colombo that the late HighPriest actually disrobed one day in a hotel, with theintention of becoming a Roman Catholic. He waspersuaded, however, to re-assume his robes, and thematter was hushed up. At the end of last year ayoung man came to me, who had been a Buddhistpriest from his earliest days, and who is related tochiefs of the Sabaragamuwa district. He had dis-robed three months previously. He asserts that atassemblies of priests their conversation oftenexpresses dissatisfaction with their faith. He dis-robed and went to a Roman Catholic priest, andwas with him three months, but when the priesttold him that theirs was the "Holy Church," andmade demands on his credulity rather than his faith,he felt compelled to leave him, and so came to theBaptists.

There is a great field in Ceylon for the Baptistwitness and the pure evangel which we hold. Sacer-dotalism and coercion by Portuguese and Dutch inthe past four centuries have wrought havoc, andmade Ceylon one of the hardest fields for missionarywork. At the same time it is in just such a fieldthat the power of the Gospel to sweep aside allbarriers is most evident. We face to-day a criticaland determined attack by Buddhists in the revival ofBuddhism through the fusion of Theosophy, but weview the future without dismay and believe that ourwitness will result in victory.

That the conversion, with the resultant disrobing,of a Buddhist priest is an event which is not usuallytaken peacefully by the followers of Buddha will beseen from the following story, which also shows inwhat unexpected ways God works, and illustratessome of the disappointments of our work.

One of our members, who died about two yearsago, about four years before his death employedan ex-Buddhist priest to write a work on Buddhism,and also called in the assistance of two otherBuddhist priests. The two priests became interestedin Christianity, and I was introduced to them. Itwas a unique sight to see them in their yellow robesin the upper room which I was then using for anoffice, and where we could be quite private. Thefirst one to disrobe remained for a few weeks withus at the Mission House immediately after disrobing,and was then placed at Kotikawatte for further in-struction by the Rev. J. W. Perara, our pastor there,who subsequently baptised him. At his baptism hegave a powerful testimony to the Gospel. He had


been a priest from seven years of age, had visitedthe holy shrines of Buddhism; and had been admittedto the full priesthood; but he had found no peace tillhe found it in Christ.

The other priest disrobed some time afterwards.He came to me on the night of his disrobing, andtook the night mail to Kandy, to stay there till thingshad quietened down a bit. I visited the Kandydistrict and took him with me to one of our missionstations, where he helped me in the distribution ofChristian books. He told me that several Buddhistfriends had visited him urging him to become aBuddhist, again. He returned to Kandy, and on myway back to Colombo I visited him, but he was notthere. He told me afterwards that ten men fromColombo had taken him by force to the Kandy temple,and before the High Priest had endeavoured to gethim to recant. They brought him back to theplace where he was staying, and, hearing that Ihad. been calling on him, they took him by train tothe Yatiyantote terminus, over 110 miles away, andthen another ten miles by road to a lonely villageamong the hills, where he was kept virtually aprisoner.

He was able to get letters through to us, andafter about three weeks we received a telegram,"Come to-morrow." We guessed that he must be insome peril. The member who was interested in thecase said that if I went to see him and find outwhat was wrong he would pay for a motor car to takeme. I went the next morning, taking with me theother ex-priest, Andrew, my little boy of seven, tothrow off suspicion, and the pastor of the KotikawatteChurch.

The ex-priest was on the look-out for us, andafter going back to the temple he came hastily intothe car and was brought down to Colombo. The nextnight he had disappeared. We found out afterwardsthat we had been followed by another car, and thatwatchers were placed at both ends of Kynsey Road.He was called out of the compound, and there hefound men from the village he had left, amongstwhom was the headman, prepared to charge him withtheft from the temple if he did not go with themquietly. Not wishing to implicate the missionarieshe went, and they took him back to the lonely village.

On the following Sunday, leading Buddhists fromvarious districts came and offered him all kinds ofinducements if he would only renounce Christianity.He refused, so as a last step they brought him toColombo to the chief temple, and there till threeo'clock one morning they used all their endeavoursto make him a Buddhist once more. He told themthat he might put on the robe, but he was uselessto them now. When he came to me the next morninghis face, full of perspiration, bore traces of the fear-ful struggle that he had gone through.

Surely such a one, after going through so much,must now be a great worker, winning his fellows toJesus! That is the disappointment. I heard himpray for the first time very touchingly as he pleadedfor his teacher, a Buddhist priest. I heard him givehis testimony before a village audience at a magiclantern service, and you could hear a pin fall whilsthe was speaking, so intently they listened. He wrotea searching article on Buddhism in our Messenger.But the World, the Flesh, and the Devil have beentoo strong for him, and he fell badly. He is on thestaff of a vernacular paper in Colombo. When Isaw him a short time ago he said that he was stillof the same mind. He promised to come and seeme at the Mission House, but he did not come. Heis watched closely by the Buddhists, but though hehas apparently made shipwreck of his faith, whoknows but that he too may become a brand pluckedfrom the burning?

The other priest has made good. He has servedChrist at our Mission Stations of Chilaw and Balan-goda, and now that Mr Charter has returned fromfurlough he is undergoing a period of training tobetter fit him for service.—(Missionary Herald.)

Our Missionary Aim:THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD

FOR JESUS.

As I hold my own baby,So close to my breast,

When the tiny soft fingersLike pink rosebuds pressed.

Do I think of that BabyOf heavenly birth,

Who came bringing hopeTo the mothers of earth?

As I clasp my own baby,So close with a prayer,

That the Saviour will keep usWith all-watchful care,

Do I think of the mothersWhose mute, nameless fears

Bow them low to blind godsWith dumb lips and deaf ears?

In my home where my childIs a gift from the Lord,

Where the mother is honoured,The baby adored,

Do I think of far lands,Where at breaking of day,

The unwanted babiesAre carried away?

Oh Father, who gavestMy baby to me,

May the love of my childBring me closer to Thee,

May the children of earthWho know not Thy Son

Be more precious to meBecause of my own.

''God wants your obedience, not your patronage.""We are leading a crusade, not to take a

sepulchre, but to take a world.""To have what we want is riches, but to be able

to do without is power.""A man may be a blot or a blessing, but a blank

he cannot be.""Only consistent giving keeps the soul from

shrinking.""Do nothing for others is the undoing of one's

self."

"He is likest to Christ who. like Him, holds allthe world in his heart."

A Mother's Prayer.

Great Sayings of MissionaryLeaders.


Girls and boys—and, we judge,many others—will be interested inknowing that "Uncle Oliver's Talks"will be resumed in our next issue.

Young People's Page."Give us the young, and we will create a new mind

and a new earth in a single generation."All correspondence concerning this page to be

addressed to the Rev. L. B. Busfield,9 Dunedin Street, Ponsonby.

The following figures have been secured for pre-sentation at the World's Convention to be held inGlasgow next year. We feel sure that they willbe of interest to readers of this page:

The Sunday School the Hopeof the Church.

The Church of to-morrow is in the SundaySchool to-day. Save for a very few exceptions,the prosperity of the Church depends directly andentirely on the prosperity of the school. This istrue for at least two reasons: because the schoolis the only agency effectively recruiting and pre-paring the church membership, and next, becausethe school is the task and opportunity that givesthe present church its best chance for Christian work.

The one purpose of the Sunday School is to pre-pare lives for the life of the Church. Every onewho thinks at at all about the Church knows very wellthat its strength comes from the Sunday School.It is probably true that if there were no schoolsfor a few years there would be no churches. Ifthis is the case it does seem rather strange that westill refuse to think of the school as the most im-portant enterprise which the Church is carryingforward. In fact it often happens that we do notthink of it at all as an enterprise for which theChurch is responsible; it may be left in the handsof a separate group; it pays its own bills, elects itsown officers, and is often regarded by the dignifiedchurch much as some parents who love peace andquietness regard the games which their children

organise and which persist in breaking things roundthe house. Of course there, are many exceptions;there are ministers who give their very best totheir schools and there are, in a few instances,churches which even give the best equipment for thechildren. That attitude to the school is spread-ing. New buildings are being erected and moremoney being spent on the work. If we think ofchildren in religion just as we think of them in thefamily and the nation, there would be no need tourge the importance of the school to the Church.In the family, children are the all-important factors.When it comes right down to it, we live for ourchildren; we have homes for their sakes, and wemake the long costly investment of family life, notfor what it will contribute to our ease or satisfac-tion, but for what it will make of these coming menand women. Family life is the investment of onegeneration in the progress of the next. It could beshown that in the same way the nation provides forthe children.

These are things for the Church to ponder. TheSunday School is more than a gathering place forchildren where they can acquire certain kinds ofknowledge about the Bible. If it is doing anythinglike a worthy work the school is helping them toform religious purposes; it is setting their facestowards Jesus's way of life. Thus it is formingboth the Church of to-morrow and, as we hope, theChristian world of to-morrow. Could any workhave greater significance than this? It is worthwhile, too, for us all to realise that not only is thisthe special task of the Sunday School, but it is atask that at present no other agency can do. Theschool is so important because it is the only effortwe are making to bring about a religiously-mindedworld by guiding minds at a time when they canbe guided. It is the only teaching agency that has

Make Every Year Children's Year.

Children's Year in the Church.

If you want to see a large increase in thenumber of boys and girls attending the churchservice, introduce

The All British Scripture Picture Stamps andAlbums.

I can refer you to churches which have by thismeans increased the attendance of children by100, 200, 300 per cent. Sample album andstamps for the asking.

Children's Year in the Sunday School.Start the year with a "Rally Day." Nothinglike it for bringing together the scattered forcesof the Sunday School after the summer holi-days. Send for full particulars free.Send for my two free booklets, packed withinformation and suggestion—"How to makethe Sunday School Go" and "A RecruitingCampaign, How to Conduct It."

A. H. REEDExpress Company's Building,BOND STREET, DUNEDIN.


SchoolsTeachersScholars (all ages)

2,37215,060

151,422

Church of EnglandPresbyterianMethodistBaptistSalvation ArmyInterdenominationalChurch of ChristBrethrenCongregationalSeventh Day AdventistLatter Day Saints

The above is made up as follows:—Schools. Teachers. Scholars.

6467104016690

16052

100347439

3,5484,8152,999

883655463483441304240229

39,91050 ,33330 ,4637,2655,7074,9543,8963,7382,2991,6401,217

N.Z. Sunday School Statisticsfor 1923.


entire freedom to deal with religion and that touchesthe great determinative period of childhood.

We very well know that unless in those earlyyears the life is directed toward the way of Christianliving; the chances grow increasingly stronger that itwill never take that way. To the churches, childhoodis the supreme opportunity and teaching the mosteffective way.

The Church that slights its school is cutting offits own future. The Church that neglects thechildren is neglecting the whole world of to-morrow.And the church that is indifferent to its children hasforgotten its Master Who set them in the midst.

N.I.B.Y.M.B.C.U."Scheme 200."

Dear Fellows,—Here is the position of the classeson January 17 according to the average donationper member: —

£44973676

68231383

330111

s.1506

1010

01613

1413106

106

1310

1510174

130

d.00000005

00000040

000060

06

18l57

1318l6

1722

8115

154218

2020

5101616

s.1513101010

988

77666443

333221

d.10

4400385

1110

30052

11

965513

JUNIORS.

PONSONBY STILL IN THE LEAD!

33152

111015106

57000

886

2022

88552

11111061

The estimated roll numbers above may be slightlyinaccurate, as it is very difficult to obtain the correctfigure for all the classes. Will class collectors pleasenotify me at once if I have their membership at thewrong figure? We should have £150, seeing thatit is the end of the third quarter. So we are still£33 short. Classes which have not reached theirquota should try to organise some special effort tomake it up. We are after that £200 by Eas t e r !—Your ever-scheming "Scheme 200" Collector,

E. W. G R I G G .

The Old Mother.

The reports of Banking and Insurance Institu-tions do not always make interesting reading, butinvariably they furnish us with data which enable usto come to a just appreciation of workers and finance.Facts are illuminating, and comparisons are notalways odious. An instance of this is to be foundin the October Review of the Westminster Bank,Ltd., which contains a careful analysis of the positionof this country in relation to production, population,and income, and connects up our post-war productionwith the general level in pre-war years.

"The 1921 census shows that more people arebeing maintained in Great Britain than in any pre-war year, the total being 40,831,396, and 42,767,530in 1920. These persons are drawing support froman output which is considerably below that of anaverage pre-war year."

"To illustrate how serious is the problem ofthe present and potential production of this countryin relation to population, it is only necessary to statethat if the density of population in the United Statesof America were equivalent to ours, the Americanpeople would number 1,500,000,000 instead of106,000,000."

"In 1922 the value of our net production was£2,500,000,000, and is approximately so to-day. This,however, is equivalent to £1,300,000,000 in 1913purchasing power as compared with our net produc-tion of £1,680,000,000 in 1913. Our net nationaloutput is accordingly around 22 per cent. below thepre-war average."—A. C. W.

SCOTS COLLEGEMIRAMAR, WELLINGTON.

DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOLFOR BOYS.


Principal: MR R. ASHLEY VINES,B.Sc, Dipl. Educn.

Boys Prepared for professional and other careersunder sound Christian influences. Thorough pre-

paration for University and other examinations.The College is excellently situated in grounds l6

acres in extent.ACCOMMODATION FOR 150 BOARDERS.

For Prospectus, apply to the Principal, or Registrar:H. P. MOURANT,

153-155 Featherston Street, Wellington.P.O. Box 1170.

CATHEDRAL BRAND CORDIALS, Lime Juice, Lemon, and Raspberry are delicious thirst quencher*.

Donation, £1. Total, £117 5s 3d.

* Class disbanded.† Class recently formed.

Position. Class. Cash sent in. No. on Roll.Average per

Member.

SENIORS.GONVILLE HEADS THE LIST AGAIN!

1.2.3.4.

6.7.8.9.

10.11.12.

14.15.16.17.

18.19.20.21.22.

GonvilleHamiltonTabernacleNelsonHaweraFeildingVivian StreetPalmerstonNew Plymouth

Grange RoadGisborneBrooklynNapierEpsomBerhamporeMt. AlbertRichmond

(Auckland)WanganuiPonsonbyMt. Eden*PetoneThamesWhangareiHastings

nilnil

1414

nilnil

1.23.4.5.

PonsonbyWanganui EastMt. EdenTabernacleGrange RoadWanganuiGonville†Mt. AlbertRichmond

(Nelson)

nilnilnil

66

10

nilnilnil

nil 5 nil


The Training of Sunday SchoolWorkers.

By MARGUERITE M. SAPP.

No more serious problem confronts the ChristianChurch to-day than the inadequate supply of capableand dependable workers. Quality and quantity arealike wanting. Officials are asking anxiously:"Where can we get workers?" The real questionis not that of getting, but that of keeping. Thematerial lies to hand in the elder girls and boys ofthe Sunday School—young lives full of unimaginedpossibilities and powers which will shortly be turnedinto lower channels if not held and trained for theservice of the Highest.

The Church has awakened to her responsibilityfor the physical and mental development of her youngpeople, and, by organisations ministering to theirneeds, she has held many who would otherwise havedrifted; but it will not be until she realises the para-mount importance of training workers that the pro-blem of future efficiency will be solved. It wouldbe well if more followed the example of a few wide-awake Churches and adopted the plan of setting asideone evening a week for teacher-training, allowing noencroachment by other organisations.

The Primary Preparation Class is the startingpoint of the training, and the Primary Service thefirst practice ground. But this is only a beginning,and the efficiency of the Primary Department aloneis not the goal. The leader needs to keep the widerview ever before her, and to realise that to her isentrusted the initial stage in the training of thefuture workers in school and church. The higherthe conception of their work now the higher will betheir ideal through life. Habits of regularity,punctuality, and dependableness formed now will beperpetuated in the years to come. Thoroughness ofpreparation now will make for thoroughness in allfuture work.

As a means of keeping the work on the highestlevel, the compulsory training class is indispensable.The leader who once allows a young teacher to tella story on Sunday without having attended to previoustraining class lowers the standard for herself, theteacher, and the Graded School movement generally.There must be no exceptions. It is so easy to say"Just once." But beware! An enemy is creepingin who will cut the channel along which habit runs,and it will be easier, ever after, to take the lowercourse.

In the training class the Primary leader has awonderful opportunity of leading her teachers torecognise the importance of seemingly trivial details.Often-time a talk over last Sunday afternoon's sessionwill reveal the fact that restlessness or inattention wasclue to slackness in some small matter, or that thebeautiful, worshipful atmosphere in which all wereaware of God's Presence could be traced, in largemeasure, to the faithful carrying out of little tasksbefore the service began. So, through actual ex-perience, the young worker will come to see thatthough "a little thing is a little thing, faithfulness inlittle things is a great thing."

Although the training class exists for other pur-poses besides the preparation of the lesson, thismust, of necessity, take the foremost place. Theleader's work is not merely to instruct, but to educate(Lat. educo, "I lead out"). She should thereforeaim to draw out, to the utmost, the faculties of herteachers. The more co-operation she is able toobtain the more interesting and valuable will thetraining class be to them. They should be en-couraged not only to discuss the lesson at the class,

but to contribute something to it which they havepreviously prepared. The numerous excellent' 'Helps" published to-day are doubtless a boon tobusy leaders, but their very fulness constitutes agrave danger for the young teacher. It is not thething which he takes "ready-made" that becomeshis permanent possession, but that which he patientlydigs out for himself. The preparation of a shortpaper is of far greater value than the reading of aparagraph from some lesson help, and it is not tohim the effort that it may be to a teacher whoseschool days are in the distant past.

Many leaders will find it an excellent plan tomake assignments each week for the following train-ing class. A point of history, geography, customs,etc., will arise needing explanation, and a teachermay be appointed to supply the information. Alarge scale map needs preparing. A picture supply-ing the background for the story must be made,or procured. A Bible reference throwing light onthe coming lesson needs to be looked up and quoted.A short character sketch of the hero of the story, abrief account of the author of the book, and thecircumstances in which it was written, will all helpin the visualising and telling of the Bible story.Many are the topics which will suggest themselvesto the resourceful leader, and she is wise who assignsas much work as possible to her teachers. Shewill, of course, need to look well ahead and makeher arrangements in good time; often she may findit necessary to direct the young teacher to the sourcefrom which he can gather his facts, even lendingbooks, if the school docs not possess a referencelibrary. The habit of patient research formed inthe Primary Training Class will not readily be de-parted from later.

It is thoroughness, not brilliancy, which tells inthe long run, and well has the leader's work beendone when her teachers pass out into work in theJunior Department feeling that they dare not giveless than "the uttermost for the Highest."—"Sun-dav School Chronicle."

Obituary.

Mr H. E. Hiddlestone.The Oxford Terrace Church has been plunged

again in grief through the death of one of its mosttrusted leaders, Mr H. E. Hiddlestone. His workat the church has been of a most important sort.He was the most successful leader of junior boys thatthe Church has known. There passed through hiscapable hands some hundreds of boys, among themmany of those who to-day are prominent in churchwork. His own sympathy with sport and his stand-ing in the athletic world gave him an opportunitywhich he used for our Lord to the full. He has beena most useful deacon as well, and in endless ways heserved the brotherhood. His health began to failsome little time since, and his trouble declared itselfat last as cancer. His sufferings were not pro-tracted and they were borne with a wonderful grace.His death-bed was beautiful through his gloriousspirit. The funeral, both at the church and grave,was very largely attended. Everyone was there toshow respect to our friend's memory and love to hisfamily. He leaves his widow, two sons and twodaughters. His eldest son is the esteemed ministerof the Kaiapoi Church. Young men of the SouthIsland Bible Class Union will sorrow at the passingon of a friend whose comradeship in many a campis a precious Memory.


Dallaston Testimonial.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17.—DALLASTON DAY.

At the last Conference the Executive wasinstructed to invite the churches to contribute towardsa testimonial as a slight token of appreciation ofthe distinguished service rendered by the Rev. CharlesDallaston in different parts of the Dominion onbehalf of the denomination. Circulars and envelopesare being forwarded to all church secretaries. Thethird Sunday in February has been fixed as DallastonDay and we look to our people on that day to presenttheir offering, and in this way add to our brother'scomfort in the evening time of his life.


Correspondence.

The Editor, New Zealand Baptist.

Sir,—In the absence of any denominational fundwhereby struggling churches may be placed on theirfeet by being relieved from soul-deadening efforts tomeet interest charges which, when paid still leave thedebt, the Forward Movement Committee of the Rich-mond Baptist Church, Auckland, is constrained oncemore to place its case before your readers. Duringthe past three and a-half years the burden borneby the church has been great; to have remained onthe old site the cause was doomed, as there was notroom enough for. extension. The present site isquite the best in the district. The building has beenenlarged and renovated and the old existing mort-gage paid off. This involved a liability of £1730.To-day the debt is £585 10s. This involves a yearlyinterest of £41. Presently the mortgage falls duewith the more than possibility of a heavy charge fora new one. We have £60 in hand toward thisamount. One member offers to give £25 10s con-ditionally, upon successful effort being made to payoff the whole. This has evoked further promisestotalling another £60 within the church for this pur-pose. Hence this appeal, which if as widely andgenerously responded to as our appeals of three yearsago, will place this church, admittedly admirablysituated for aggressive work in a large district con-taining for the most part workers' homes, in a posi-tion to dispense entirely with the Union grant. Anyreaders of the New Zealand Baptist who would like tohelp please remit to Mr W. H. Newton, 68 SurreyCrescent, Grey Lynn, Auckland, or to the Rev. R.Horn, who sends forth this appneal.

N.Z. BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Subscriptions received from 18/12/23 to 18/1/24:—Napier Sunday School, 14s; Napier Junior Bible Class,£1 10s; B.W.M.U., £34 7s 8d; C. Cathie, £15; F. J.Andrew, £2 2s; Silver-dale Sunday School, £1 1s;N.E. Valley Church, £1 1s 6d; N.E. Valley SundaySchool, 17s 4d; Hastings, £1 2s 3d; B.W.M.U., £816s 4d; Te Puke Sunday School, 7s 6d; NelsonChurch, 8s; Nelson Sunday School, £7 11s l0d.Total, £74 19s 5d.

Baptisms.

Hawera—One. By Rev. E. Goring.Mt. Albert.—Five. By Rev. A. Anstice.Gisborne.— Five. By Rev. F. A. Crawshaw.Otahuhu.—One. By Dr. Jones.Nelson.—Eleven. By Rev. J. Laird, M.A.Feilding.—Three. By Rev. G. D. Gardiner.Berhampore.—Two. By Dr. Catchpole.Ashburton.—Five. By Pastor C. H. Matthews.Auckland.—Fourteen. By Rev. J. W. Kemp.Invercargill.—Four. By Rev. J. Carlisle.Morrinsville.—Two. By Rev. F. A. Parry.

Y.W.B.C. Canterbury Union.

The young ladies of the Canterbury Bible Classesare industriously preparing for their annual missioneffort, a garden party, to be held on Saturday, March1, at the residence of Mr Justice Adams, "Koamara,"Fendalton. With such an ideal residence for thisoccasion, and with the hearty co-operation of all ourpeople, we trust that our effort will eclipse those ofprevious years. There will be stalls laden with use-ful goods for sale, and numerous sports attractions.


Direct subscriptions received from 18/12/23 to18/1/24:—To December, 1924.—4s, H. Jackson, Rev.G. D. Cox, Mrs R. S. Gray, Mrs J. Larritt, J. Horn,A. W. Colee, W. B. Simpson, Miss M. Pike, Mrs W.F. Pannett, Mrs A. C. Snellgrove, Pastor J. B.Robertson, Mrs A. Turnbull, Miss Dowker, Mr A.Farmer. To February, 1925.—4s, Miss Herdsman.

Foreign Missions orDreadnoughts?

A total sum of £9,590,254 (or about the price ofone and a-half "Dreadnoughts") is contributedannually by the chief countries of the world towardsProtestant foreign missions, say the secretaries of theInternational Missionary Council in issuing a state-ment with reference to the figures they were instructedby the council to collect regarding the average aggre-gate contributions of the chief countries of the world.This total, based on a three years' average and onthe exchange rate of December 30, 1922, is made up ofthe following national contributions: U.S.A. andCanada, £6,327,597; Great Britain, £2,310,000;Sweden, £280,926; Australia, £172,436; Norway,£163,000; Denmark £91,715; Netherlands, £84,922;South Africa, £69,750; Switzerland, £53,818; France,£21,700; Finland, £17,550; Germany, £430; Bel-gium, £408. The last few figures are particularlynoteworthy, as showing the contributions of theRoman Catholic countries of France and Belgium toProtestant missions, and how, owing to thetremendous fall in the German mark and the povertyof the country, Germany is practically unable tosupport any foreign mission work, despite the factthat in marks her contribution was Mk. 13,797,558.Before the war Germany was a close rival of GreatBritain and the United States in her contributions tof6reign missionary work.—S. Cross.

Liability: Three and a-half years agoNow reduced toCash in handPromises to be redeemed in

June

£1730£585£60

£95

R. HORN.


Our Churches at Work.BERHAMPORE (Rev. Dr Catchpole).—The

congregations are on the steady increase. Ourpastor has just completed his second year with us.The Endeavour held their annual picnic on Saturdayafternoon, December 8. Fine weather attended theexcursion and a very enjoyable afternoon was spent.There were about 65 children present. On Tuesday,18th, the Sunday School treat was given to thekindergarten and cradle roll department.

CAVERSHAM (Rev. E. Evans).—The YoungWorshippers' League Prize Fund was raised this yearby a concert arranged by Mrs Frank Clark, andcarried out very successfully, the proceeds beingmore than sufficient to provide of forty-three bookswhich were presented to the children at the morningservice on Sunday, December 9, by our pastor. Keeninterest was manifested by a large number of ourchurch members in the Hickson Mission, at intercessory prayer meetings held for several Sundayevenings at the close of the evening services, andseveral acknowledge the spiritual uplift as resultingfrom the intercessory meetings, and from the missionitself.

EDENDALE (Rev. Ray Turner).—On December9 Mr W. H. Newton, president of Auckland Auxiliaryof the Baptist Union, in a pleasing address, presentedthe Baptist Union Shield to our Sunday School. Thiswas made the occasion of an open Sunday, andmany friends were present, including a number fromour White Swan Sunday School. Our new SundaySchool continues to make progress. In addition tonew scholars, friends in the neighbourhood haveoffered their services as teachers. We are thankfulto the British and Foreign Bible Society for a giftof Bibles and to the Baptist Y.P. Department fora gift of Bibles and a grant. On Christmas eve our.choir, under the leadership of Mr Cory, went aroundthe district singing Christmas carols in the hopethat they might diffuse something of the spirit ofChristmas amongst the people. They were appre-ciated wherever they went and finished in the earlyhours of the morning at the house of a friend who hadkindly provided supper for them. The boys of theBible Class have been camping for two weeks atPiha, on the West Coast, with Mr Jack Kiff in charge.They have had a real good time. The pastor spenta week with them and made it an opportunity to getin closer touch with the boys. He made the mostof his opportunity. Our Sunday School at WhiteSwan is progressing satisfactorily, and arising outof this there has been a request for a church service.This request was gratified, and the first service washeld on Sunday afternoon, January 6, when ourpastor and some helpers had the satisfaction ofseeing some 21 people meet for worship. We arehoping that very shortly we may be able to reportfresh developments in our work in this district.As a result of the sale of work held in December lastand promises of a few friends, our debt on thebuilding has been reduced to less than £4. We havewelcomed with great joy our first minister, the Rev.Ray Turner and anticipate a great growth in thework.

FEILDING (Rev. G. D. Gardiner).—We held ourSunday School anniversary services on Sunday,November 18, when the Rev. Stanley Jenkin, ofWanganui, officiated at all meetings. The singingby the children under Mr C. Mai was much appre-ciated by the parents and friends. On Monday thedistribution of prizes was held, each child receiving

a book. At the annual meeting of the Sunday Schoolteachers Miss D. Packer resigned the secretaryshipafter seven years' service, and Mr W. A. Eade waselected to the position. Our Young Men's BibleClass took the afternoon service at Taonui, our out-station. On December 12 a Christmas tree and saleof work in aid of our organ fund was held andthe sum of £45 was handed over to the treasurer.This amount, with what had been previouslycollected, was sufficient to clear off the debt on theorgan. At the quarterly church meeting it wasdecided that the Baptist Hymnal should be used atboth services on Sundays. We regret the loss to ourchurch of Mr and Mrs D. H. Browning and family,who have left us to take up their residence in Wel-lington. Mr Browning was a keen member of ourcommittee for some time, and was also a localpreacher ably filling our pulpit on several occasions.

GISBORNE (Rev. F. A. Crawshaw).—Ourpastor has been a sufferer, having a sharp recurrenceof malaria fever, but was wonderfully strengthenedto conduct the Sunday services with the help of twoof the brethren. The evening addresses on differentphases of the Lord's Second Coining continue veryhelpful and inspiring, and are listened to by goodcongregations. A band of prayerful folk meet from7 to 8 every Lord's morning to pray for blessingon the services. The new Alexander Hymn Booksare now in use at the evening services. The YoungPeople's Institute is flourishing and now meet in avery comfortable room, the Y.M.B.C. havingupholstered their room in good style. We lost thismonth another valued Sunday School worker andchoir member in the sudden removal to Nelson ofMiss Burt. The service on Christmas night, thoughnot largely attended, was in keeping with the spiritof the season, the singing being very hearty. Awatch night service was also held at New Year.On the first Sunday in the New Year we had ourmonthly song service and a full congregation. ABaptismal service followed when five young peoplewent through the waters, a good start for the New-Year. Mr Crawshaw and family are now havingtheir furlough. Pastor Day, of Invercargill, preachedwith much acceptance on the evening of the 13th.

GREENDALE (Rev. W. H. A. Vickery).—OnDecember 17 the members of the combined BibleClasses of Greendale held their annual picnic at"Rockwood," the home of Mr S. Roseveare. Aboutseventy-five persons availed themselves of the oppor-tunity of visiting this lovely spot. New Year's Daywas the occasion for the annual picnic of the scholarsand friends connected with the Sunday Schools ofboth Methodist and Baptist Churches. A nor'-westwind was blowing, but the place of gathering, nearone of the fine plantations on the farm of Mr LeslieAdams, afforded splendid shelter. Circumstanceswere rather adverse to the company being as largeas usual. Still, it was a representative company,and those present spent a most enjoyable time.The afternoon and evening were given up to variousgames, and races formed a special feature. A happyday was brought to a close by cheers for Mr Adams,and the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."

HASTINGS (Rev. Keith Ewen).—Our annualsale of work was held on December 5, good businessbeing done by all the stalls, and the satisfactoryresult of £100 being realised. The Women's Guildunder the leadership of Mrs Henderson, deserve greatcredit for their unselfish sacrificial service renderedduring the year in preparing for the sale of workOn Sunday morning, December 23, we held achildren's service, the members of the JuniorChristian Endeavour leading the singing and render-

STEVEN'S HEALTH SALT it the Salt that sweetens life. Try a dose first thing In the morning.





ing a Scripture chain, which was much appreciated.At the close of the service a retiring collection wastaken up for the Manurewa Home. The Rev. M.W. P. Lascelles, union secretary, conducted bothservices on December 30, delivering helpful andinspiring addresses. Messrs R. Sowersby, F. E.Barley, C. Palmer, and members of the Young Men'sBible Class have helped to fill the pulpit during ourpastor's absence. On New Year's Day we held ourannual Sunday School picnic at Mount Erin, Have-lock North.

INVERCARCILL (Rev. J. Carlisle).—Twoimpressive Baptismal services have been held at whichthirteen friends passed through the waters. At bothservices large congregations gathered. All availablespace was occupied, extra seats having to be broughtinto the church from the adjoining vestries. MrCarlisle delivered earnest messages at both services,dealing with the questions of "Believers' Baptism."The need for a Baptist Sunday School in the growingsuburb of Georgetown has long been recognised, andat last a section has been secured in this district, adeposit paid, and with the object of clearing off thedebt a 2000 shilling scheme has been inaugurated.This scheme is in the hands of the two Bible Classes.We are sorry to have to record the death of an oldand respected member, Mrs Veitch. Successfulanniversary services were held in connection with theSunday School on Sunday and Monday, December16 and 17. The morning service was taken byRev. P. F. Summerson, of the Ceylon and IndianGeneral Mission, and the evening service by ourpastor. Special music was rendered by the scholarsof the school assisted by the choir. The musicalportion of the services being under the conductorshipof Mr H. Schroeder. The annual scholars' tea washeld on the Monday, followed by music by thescholars and members of the Bible Classes, and theannual distribution of prizes. At the first Com-munion service of the New Year fourteen new mem-bers were received into the church.

KAIAPOl (Rev. J. Hiddlestone).—Our ministerwas married on the 30th of November. Mrs Hiddle-stone is a church worker of more than commonability and with organising experience gained whilesecretary of the local Y.W.C.A., and possessingmusical talent. Our pastor's helpmeet will assuredlyprove a force in the church. A welcome wastendered to Mr and Mrs Hiddlestone on Thursday,18th, the Rev. J. K. Archer presiding. The eveningwas one of the heartiest Kaiapoi Baptist Church hasexperienced for a long time. A party from OxfordTerrace did much to assist, and Mr Archer's chair-manship was excellent. The Mayor of Kaiapoi wasamong the speakers. The congregation presentedthe guests of the evening with a dining room clock.The splendid work done by our minister during theflood was the subject of laudatory reference. OnSaturday, loth, the Sunday School held its annualpicnic at The Pines—one of Kaiapoi's watering places.About 60 attended, conveyed in motor bus. Prizeswere given to every child, and the day at the beachdid much to create a feeling of social amity amongthe families of the Sunday School.

LINWOOD (Rev. A. W. Stuart).—The children'syear for the Worshipping League came to a close onDecember 23. Nine children were presented withprizes. We also had a dedication service that morn-

ing, of the infant daughter of Mr and Mrs Olsen. Ashort service was held on Christmas Day at 8 a.m.On New Year's Eve we held a watchnight service,when 26 attended. We had the usual prayer meetingat 11.45, and as we witnessed the dawn of anotheryear, we had the communion service. This monthour minister and his wife are away on holiday andwe look forward to their return in the best of health.We are indebted to local men for supplying thepulpit.

MILFORD (Pastor E. Nicholls).—We are gladto report that owing to the increase in our congrega-tion, we are again holding our evening services inthe Picturedrome. The bright Gospel services arebeing conducted by our pastor, a chorus choir assist-ing under the leadership of Mr Honeyeombe. Asuccessful choir picnic was held on New Year's Dayat Titirangi. We are preparing for a garden feteto be held on February 2, in aid of the "ManseFund." On December 2, our pastor welcomed intomembership Mr and Mrs Settle, who have come toreside in Milford from Manchester.

MORRINSVILLE.—We are pleased to reporthaving held our first baptismal service for some time,the Rev. F. Parry having the joy of baptising twoyoung men, who wished to show their surrender tothe Saviour in His Own blessed way. We are hopingthat we are "only at the beginning of things," andthat we will soon be able to report of others makingthe good confession. Our pastor visited Hamiltonon the first Sunday in December, and the localservices were taken by Mr Coad, Chief Postmaster ofHamilton, to whom we are deeply indebted. MissJessie McGregor, who has lately returned from theS.S.E. Mission, conducted the service on the 6thinst., speaking on "The work of God in the SolomonIslands." We regret that our pastor has had toenter the Thames Hospital, where he has beenoperated upon for appendicitis. He had just com-menced his annual holiday, which he purposed spend-ing at the Thames. We are pleased, however, toreport that the operation was successful and thathe is progressing as well as could be expected.

MOUNT ALBERT (Rev. A. Anstice).—Ourannual church meeting was held on October 3, whenthere was a very large attendance. Messrs Goul-burn and Bonnar were elected deacons. The duplexenvelope system has been adopted, so far with goodresults. Since the annual meeting a great numberhave been received into membership—on October 7thirteen new members were given the right handof fellowship and there have been others at eachcommunion service since. The church anniversarywas held on October 24. The Rev. Ingram, of theCentral Mission, preached in the morning, and ourpastor in the evening. The attendance at bothservices was splendid and the choir rendered specialmusic very beautifully. The public meeting andsocial was held on the following Tuesday, whenMajor Dow, president of the Council of Baptist




HEALTH WEEK SEQUEL.—Doctors' warningsthat Cough Syrups upset the stomach and soothingdrugs weaken the heart have incidentally emphasisedthe value of Fluenzol as a throat gargle and nasalirrigant for dispelling cold, catarrh, or septic throatgerms This scientific method is much superior tothe foolish practice of drugging the stomach.

February, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST.

Churches, gave an address. Reports were presentedby our secretary, Mr J. A. Penman, our treasurer,Mr Bloxham, and by Mr Ross Penman, secretary ofour Edendale branch. All were very satisfactoryindeed. We are pleased to report that Miss SybilClark, a member of our Bible Class and a teacher inour school, has taken up mission work among theMaoris. On Sunday, December 2, our Institute metfor tea after Bible Classes, when the guest of honourwas Mr Albert Windsor, who has been studying inAustralia for mission work and has just returned forhis vacation. With grateful hearts, too, we reportthat Rev. Ray Turner, another of our young men,commences his ministry at our Edendale branch onDecember 16. We do indeed thank God that He iscalling these young; people to His service, and praythat they may be mightily used of God. Our Sun-day School held its eleventh anniversary on December9. The day was fine, the church beautifully decor-ated and great congregations of parents and friendspresent to give the children "a happy birthday." Thepreachers for the day were:—Morning, Rev. Hercus,of Hamilton; afternoon, Rev. Busfield; evening, ourown pastor. The singing, under the able leadershipof Mr A. Turner was exceptionally good and enjoyedby all. On the Tuesday following the children's teaand entertainment was held, when again very largenumbers gathered. A very fine report was pre-sented by the secretary, Mr Smerdon, who showed usthat the school, under the superintendency of Mr V.Drew, is in a very healthy condition. The numberson the roll have greatly increased, the school won thebanner in its grade at the S.S. Union examinations,four of our schoars have been baptised, and a numberof young men and women from the Bible Classeshave taken up work in the school. A splendid reportwas read by the Treasurer, Mr P. Turner, whom weregret has resigned this position after holding it fromthe commencement of the school, owing to his re-moval from our district. Mr Anstice, on behalfof the teachers, presented Mr Turner with a Scho-field Bible as a token of their love and esteem. Weare glad to report that Mr Turner is taking up workin the new school which Edendale has started atWhite Swan Road.

MOUNT EDEN (Rev. Adam Clark).—We hadvery fine Christmas services with carols by the choir.On New Year's Eve we had a watch night serviceconducted by our pastor. The Senior Endeavourhelped to brighten five homes at Christmas by send-ing a parcel of good things to each.

NAPIER (Rev. John Ings).—Miss Hicks, avisitor from London, with a lovely contralto voice,has been a tower of strength in the singing at severalservices lately. The Sunday School picnic on NewYear's Day was held at Mr Dolbel's property, at Red-cliff. A most enjoyable time was spent. For threeSundays in January our pastor has exchanged placeswith the Rev. F. E. Harry, of Wellington. Mr Harry'sfirst messages on the 10th created most profoundimpressions.

NELSON (Rev. J. Laird, M.A.).—We have beencheered by two good baptismal services. Several ofthe candidates are members of the Young Women'sBible Class. Our pastor is away on his annual leave.The services have been maintained by our localbrethren (Messrs H. Wood, R. Black, and M. Blick),the Rev. S. Jenkin preaching one Sunday evening.Several enjoyable picnics have been held during theholiday period, and have been a time of fellowship.We regret to report the death of Mr Morrow, andour sympathy is with the widow and child of ourdeceased brother, who was for many years a master atthe Nelson Boys' College.

NEW PLYMOUTH (Rev. A. H. Collins).—OurSunday School anniversary was celebrated early inDecember. The day was gloriously fine. The Rev.W. J. Elliot (Methodist) conducted the morning ser-vice, Rev. O. Blundell (Presbyterian) spoke to thechildren in the afternoon, and our minister (Rev. A.H. Collins) took charge of the evening service. Thescholars, with the help of an orchestra of seven per-formers, added to the brightness of the day. Greatcredit is due to the friend who trained the scholarsin their singing. On the Monday following, thesocial took place. The scholars' tea was served at6 o'clock, followed by an entertainment by the littleones and the visit of Father Christmas. The presen-tation of gift books to every scholar, also the prizesand certificates won by them in the recent Scriptureexamination, was undertaken by the loving friendof the school, Mr G. H. Maunder. To mark theclose of the school year a combined Bible Class teawas held. Miss Collins, Indian missionary (daughterof our minister) gave an interesting account of herwork. During an interval, to mark the esteem theyoung men have for their leader and secretary, MrDiprose, M.A., and Mr S. Elliot, handsomely boundcopies of Cruden's Concordance were presented tothem. A very popular wedding was solemnised earlyin January. The happy couple being Mr AlfredHonnor, an old scholar, and son of one of the oldestmembers of the church, and Miss May Jones,member of the choir and popular with all sectionsof the church. The church was very prettilydecorated. A great company was present, and theRev. A. H. Collins united them. Miss Mary Cole-man presided at the organ playing appropriate music.The reception was held at the Hygienic Tea Rooms,where between 60 and 70 sat down to the weddingbreakfast.

OXFORD TERRACE (Rev. J. J. North).—Sincelast report the generosity of our people has beenexemplified in various ways. A special offering inDecember for church purposes amounted to £90. OnDecember 19 the members of Sister Grace's mothers'meeting, and their children, were given their Christ-mas party provided by church friends. Over 100attended. Besides the sumptuous tea, every motherand child received a present. Some of the youngpeople of the church supplied the programme and MrNorth briefly addressed the gathering. On Christ-mas Sunday over 30 prizes were distributed to thechildren of the Worshipping League at morningservice. These had been supplied by friends of thechildren. Mr North, too, received a Christmas giftfrom some of the men of the church in the form ofa two-seater motor car. It is our sorrow to reportthe death of two of our deacons—Messrs W. S.Hamilton and 11. E. Hiddlestone..

OPAWA (Rev. L. C. H. Barbour).—January 3was a great day in our history, on which the induc-tion service for our first pastor was held. We havefelt the need of a pastor for a long time, and throughthe goodness of the Baptist Union in making us agrant for this year we have been enabled to securethe services of the Rev. L. Barbour for that position.Very dainty souvenir programmes, on which thehymns to be sung at the service were printed, weresecured, and a number send to our sister churches.A goodly number of the friends responded, so thatwith our own people the building was crowded. MrJ. P. Hayward, president, Canterbury Auxiliary,occupied the chair. Mr A. L. Scott gave a shortbut comprehensive survey of the work at Opawafrom the commencement. Rev. J. J. North gavethe charge to the minister, and Rev. J. K. Archer,the charge to the church. Rev. J. D. Webster spoke


39


on behalf of the Council of Churches. Rev. E. E.Smith offered prayer, after which Mr Barbour gavean address. During the evening solos were sung byMiss Jenkins and Mr Petrie. Altogether it was amost beautiful and impressive service, which will livelong in the memory of those present, and which wehope and believe was the beginning of great times ofblessing for Opawa. On the previous Tuesday, NewYear's Day, we held our Sunday School picnic atPapanui Domain. A large number attended, andwe were delighted to have Mr Barbour with us. He-was able to make the acquaintance of quite a numberof the parents of the children attending the SundaySchool. On December 7 and 8 we held a sale ofwork with a view of paying off the mortgage onthe section due this month. We are glad to reportit was a success

OTAHUHU.—During the last few months threededication services have been conducted by Dr Jones,three infant children and two older ones being pre-sented to God. On Thursday, January 3, a socialevening was tendered to Dr Jones, who had beenacting as temporary pastor for the last year and tenmonths. Mr Denham spoke on behalf of membersand Mr Hunter for adherents. In appreciation ofthe doctor's faithful services to the church he waspresented with a New Zealand rug.

PALMERSTON NORTH (Rev. C. W. Dun-cumb).—On Sunday afternoon, December 16, theYoung Women's Bible Class gave a tea for the Manu-rewa Children's Home to help make brighter theirChristmas-tide. They were enabled to send away acheque for £4 5s and a large parcel of presents,including a splendid assortment of books. This isthe second annual Christmas tea held for this pur-pose. A large number sat clown to well-filled tables.Words of welcome were spoken by our pastor in theabsence of our leader, and Mr G. H. Elliott wascalled upon to give a reading and short address. Afull and interesting account of the working of thehome was given by Miss D. V. Pees and the secretary,Miss Holbrook, gave the greeting to be sent to thechildren; found in 1 John 3, 18. A pleasant limecame to a close with prayer for blessing on the gifts.

PETONE (Rev. F. H. Radford).—During themonth a dedication service was held at the close ofa morning service, when two infants were dedicatedto God. The attendances are keeping up to the usualnumbers at both morning and evening services.

PONSONBY.—We gratefully report that ourpastorate is being filled till the end of February byMr S. J. Campbell, of the Tabernacle, who hasalready made his Christian fervour felt by congrega-tion, school, and Endeavour Society. During Octoberand November very acceptable services were renderedby Mr Christie, Mr Russell Grave, and other friendsfrom the Tabernacle. On account of Mrs Goulburn'sremoval to Mount Albert, the presidency of theB.W.M.U. is being filled by Miss Nellie Wilkinson,whose missionary knowledge and zeal will proveinvaluable. A very pleasing nursery rhyme concert,organised by Mr Chas. Butcher and Miss L. Tibbutt,was given by the Junior Endeavourers in aid of theirChristmas tree and prize fund. On December 10the three grades of the Sunday School met in thechurch for a united Christmas service, a feature ofthe gathering being the singing by the "Babies" of"Away in a Manger."

SOUTH DUNEDIN (Rev. Guy Thornton).—It iswith great regret that we have to report the illnessof our pastor. Towards the end of December, actingon medical advice, he was compelled to temporarilylay aside his work owing 10 trouble with his heart.He has been away on holiday throughout January,

however, and we now learn that the complete rest isdoing much to restore him to his usual good health.We commend him and his loved ones to the prayersof all fellow believers. The services during themonth have been taken by various kind friends andconsidering the number away on holiday the attend-ances have been wonderfully maintained. We expectto be in our new church within the next two months.

SPREYDON (Rev. E. E. Smith).—On Sundaymorning, November 25, we listened with muchinterest to an account of missionary endeavour inSouth India by Mr Somerson. Recently the membersof the Junior Boys' Bible Class and their friendsmet at a social evening to bid farewell to Mr FrankSmith, son of our pastor, who has been transferredto Auckland. On behalf of his many friends MrDoig presented the guest with a suede pocket book.The speaker briefly referred to Frank's popularity

and consistent Christian influence among the boys.We wish him well in the north. The garden partyin aid of our Sunday School building fund was heldon December 8 on the manse lawn. About £23 wasrealised as a result. The effort was concluded onMonday night when an excellent concert pro-gramme arranged by Miss Dudney was presented.

THAMES (Rev. W. E. Lambert).—At Christmasservices, in addition to the choir rendering someanthems, the children forming the WorshippingLeague sang two suitable hymns, and at the morningservice one of the members, on the League's behalf,presented a beautiful framed picture to the pastor andhis wife. Mr Lambert briefly returned thanks for thepresent. At the close of the evening service MrEnsor, the choirmaster, presented to Miss Cavanagha framed photograph of the Young Women's Bible,Class and also made reference to the fact that MissCavanagh had acted as librarian for some time tothe choir, and was now removing to Christchurch.On Sunday, January 6, our pastor at the morningservice delivered a New Year's address, and at theCommunion service referred to the passing recentlyof our sister, Mrs E. C. Brown, and a vote ofcondolence was passed to the family.

TIMARU (Rev. H. Goring).—The presentationof prizes to the Sunday School scholars took placeon Christmas Sunday at the afternoon service, whichwas conducted by our pastor. Instead of closing theSunday School for the holidays we have been holdinga combined school and Bible Class service, Mr Goringand teachers giving us short addresses. A watchnight service was held on New Year's Eve.

VIVIAN STREET (Rev. F. E. Harry).—Appropriate Christmas-tide services were held on Sunday,December 23, and our pastor preached to large con-gregations. The choir commenced a song service ofcarols prior to the evening session, and the itemsgiven were much enjoyed. A well-attended watchnight service was conduced by Mr Harry on NewYear's Eve. Our pastor is at present taking hisvacation, and on Sunday last we had the privilegeof having the Rev. J. Ings, of Napier, at bothmorning and evening services.

Subscriptions received from 18/12/23 to 18/1/24:—B.W.M.U., £25; New Plymouth, £3 6s 3d; Feilding,£1 2s; Hanover Street Church, £1 9s; Hanover StreetSunday School, 7s 9d; Hastings, £1 2s 3d; Opawa,£1 6s. Total, £33 13s 3d.

Printed and Published for the New Zealand BaptistUnion by the OTAGO DAILY TIMES AND WITNESSNEWSPAPERS CO.; LTD. , High and BurlingtonStreets, Dunedin.


February, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. iii.



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iv. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. February, 1924.

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Passing Notes.Is New Zealand New France?

New France was the name of Canada when theOriflamme was flying from the towers of Quebec.It would still be the name of Canada had not theRoman Catholic Church practising that intolerancewhich is its second nature excluded the Huguenots.Wolfe won by so narrow a margin that had New-France welcomed, instead of excluding, its Protes-tants she had been impregnable. That is history.What is written is written. There is a new France.She is the France of a dwindling population. Sheis the France whose streets are trodden by fewchildren. Anyone who crosses the frontier fromeither Italy or Germany can feel the difference. Therarity of the child is an omen which Poincare cannotavert. Is New Zealand to be the France of theSouthern Seas? The Government Statistician fearsit. His figures published last month put us belowAustralia and far below England. Zealandia withher empty acres is staring at the empty cradles.The untamed forests, the lonely valleys, the desolateshores seem little likely to echo with the woodsman'saxe, or with the shout of the fisher as he launchesforth. Our day schools are in many parts showingshrinking attendances. In some places they areshut up or working with reduced staff. " I t seemethto me that there is as it were a plague in the house."Race suicide, the crime of a selfish and athiest people,is being practised, it is a time for plain talk. Who cancontemplate the shrinking of the scanty white popula-tion in these southern seas over against the teemingmillions of China and India, without emotion. Whocan gaze on the physical advantages of life in theseislands, or measure the possibilities of the develop-ment of a higher manhood here, without burningsof shame that voluntary sterility should be cancellingthe golden opportunity. God and the future arebeing robbed by a cowardly crime. "For thesethings God shall bring us into judgment." Theexact duty of the married is hard to define. RomanCatholic definitions are not acceptable, coming asthey do from a tribe of celebates. It cannot beshown that it is duty to produce as large a family aspossible. The large families of the eighteenth cen-tury, running from twelve to twenty, were accom-panied by a death rate that was simply appalling.Remember Queen Anne. If maximum production

had been maintained there would not havebeen standing room on the earth to-day. Natureteaches specially through botany that maximum pro-duction is impossible. "Of a thousand seeds shescarcely brings but one to bear." Quality is to bepreferred to quantity. But when all allowances aremade the duty and the joy of parenthood remain.To refuse to fulfil life's circle is not only a sin.Since it impinges so closely on the life of therace, and of the most enlightened part of the race,it is perhaps the sin of sins. No wealth can com-pare with the possession of children. "Happy is theman who has his quiver full of them." We cannotforecast the future. But it is plain to us that if thepresent tendencies are maintained, the shrinkingwhite races, with their slackened sense of thesanctity of human life, and of the holiness of home,will be swept aside by the besom of God's judgment.The sceptre will fall into the hands of hardier races,whose women boast of motherhood, and who areprepared to people the earth and subdue it.

Baptism at Sea—in Two Senses.The daily papers sometimes indulge in religious

propaganda. They don't mean to. Yet they do.The Otago Daily Times is, as everybody knows, amost respectable paper. It is read by the mostreligious people in the Dominion. It is Presbyterianof a full flavour in its general outlook. For donot papers, like flounders, take colour from theground on which they feed? But what was the motifwe wonder of the following paragraph, which hasno affinities with Presbyterianism, and which appearedin the southern oracle on February 5?

"How difficult it is for a new-born infant tobecome a Christian when born at sea, even whenministers of religion are among the passengers, wasillustrated during the recent voyage to Australia ofthe steamship Demosthenes. The trouble com-menced with the arrival at sea of a little blue-eyedstranger on January 7. After considerable argumentthe parents, who were immigrants for Western Australia, agreed to name the infant 'Margaret Demos."They thereupon applied to the welfare officer for achristening. They found, to their dismay, that,being a clergyman of the Nominated Churches ofChrist, he did not 'christen' children. The parentsapproached the only other clergyman in the first-class,but he, being a Baptist, did not 'christen' either. Stillundaunted, they approached the captain, but thisbeing his first experience as master of a passenger



THE

42 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. March, 1924.

vessel he had his doubts and declined to play theleading role in such an awesome rite. Thus theparents and the baby, and the other passengers.whowere intensely interested in the proceedings, had towait seven days in suspense until Albany was reached.There they arrived at a happy solution of the graveproblem, for a Church of England clergyman wasfound to baptise the healthy little creature 'MargaretDemos.' "

Margaret was put into a cruel position. Forseven days she continued with the guilt of her originalsin unpurged, and with hell as her fate, because therewas not one of those marvellous (and pagan) priestsat hand who make children into little Christians withwater and a formula. The Otago public are invitedto laugh or shriek at those heartless bigots of theChurch of Christ and of the Baptist persuasion wholeft a child in mid-ocean in such a predicament. Weimagine that they laughed. Such paragraphs arenails in the coffin of an un-Christian custom, and wesuspect that this one was sarcastically writ.

A Presbyterian at Sea.It is not very long ago that a Presbyterian

minister, who has published on the baptismal ques-tion, was involved in the same problem. Our friendwas a passenger to the United States of America,when the tedium of the voyage was disturbed by thearrival of a "blue-eyed stranger." He describedin the Outlook at some length how he grappled withthe question. He was entreated to "make the childa Christian" and had of course to enter into explana-tions. His church would not allow him to say thathe could make any child a Christian by a rite, butonly certain children, and that in an attenuatedsense only. Had the parents who waited with theirnew-born baby at his cabin door not been Christianshe would have had to reject their plea as absolutelyas those wicked persons in the Demosthenes did. Hesatisfied himself that one of them at least was aChristian and he proceeded to the baptism and enrolledthe child as a member of the Christian Church. Butwhat would have happened to that ' unhappy childif the Presbyterian minister had not been satisfiedwith the Christianity of the parents? And whatwould the Otago Daily Times have said about it?That is the conundrum in which a very prominentPresbyterian minister in Sydney found himselfinvolved. He began to interpret rigidly the laws of hischurch. He refused "to make Christians" of thechildren of ungodly people. The furious parents be-seiged the Presbytery with complaints. The Presbyterytried to bring him into a compliant attitude. But theRev. L. C. Donaldson had seen a great light. Hesaw the serenity of the New Testament, in whichbaptism is a luminous and invigorating custom. Hefound Scripture absolutely silent in its text andabsolutely hostile in its principles to so ambiguousand unethical a custom as infant baptism. He hascome out quietly and courteously from the churchof his fathers. The Presbytery acted with greatpropriety. Mr Donaldson has been received intothe Baptist ministry. The silly frenzy of the"Demosthenes" people can only be avoided by similaraction on the part of evangelicals.

Collapse of Zionism.Those who revere Jerusalem were gladdened

when British Tommies supplanted Turkish troops ather gates. Some seemed to see the dawning ofmillennial hope in the Balfour declaration regardinga national home for the Jews. But theintervening years have been rather ragged.Palestine is as full of problems as an eggis of meat. The Pope has been very busy. He is

very skilled at fishing in troubled waters. The Arabswho own 96 per cent. of the land have been tireless.The Jew Has been ground between the upper andthe nether mill stone. Mr Israel Zangwill, whom weheard trounsing the perfidious British before a crowdof Indian students in London, has been telling thenaked truth to the powerful Jewish communiites ofAmerica. Hear him:—

"The only way to be Zionist is to be in Zion.Ferdinand the ex-King of Bulgaria, is credited withdenning a Zionist as a man who pays another manto live in Palestine. When one remembers thatthough Zionism is practically financed from Americaonly 66 Jews left America for Palestine in 1922, onesees that Ferdinand was not far out. Believe me,when I had hopes of the establishment of a JewishState, whether in Palestine or elsewhere, it neveroccurred to me that I should not settle there. Foryears my wife and I lived on an uncertain footingnever knowing when the call might come.

"There is to be no Jewish State in Palestine—only a development of the Jewish nationality pre-viously existing in Palestine. That was formallylaid down in the Churchill-Samuel White Paper andas formally accepted by the Zionist leaders. Mymonition at the great Balfour meeting that MountZion in labour must not produce a mouse has beendisregarded."

A good many man-made schemes "gang aftagley." We are sorry that so promising a schemehas fallen flat. The sheer fact is that most Jews areirreligious materialists. The last thing they dream ofis emigration to the bare rocks of Zion. The fleshpots of modern Egypt are too satisfying.

Woodrow Wilson.The death of the most famous of recent Presi-

dents stirred many memories, and many a thoughtof what might have been. We are not versed inAmerican history, nor are we closely acquainted withthe career of Wilson. Before the Democrats puthim forward for the Presidency he had successfullygoverned a great university. Like Lincoln thelawyer, he was called to the helm when the ship ofState was heeling before the storm. Opinions willdiffer as to his conduct. Britishers wondered howhe could "silence keep" when the "Lusitania" wentdown. Germans wondered equally at his compliancewith the blockade. But Wilson came off the fenceon the right side. That Good Friday in 1916, whenthe Senate sat on the intervention question, belongsto history for it changed history. The Americanarmies cast into the quivering scale determined theAllied victory. But Wilson is chiefly remembered asthe originator of the League of Nations. He wasthe first President to leave his country during histerm of office. He broke with tradition because ofhis devotion to this idea. He crossed the Atlanticin the "George Washington" while all the worldwondered. He passed through a France which wasprepared to kiss the dust on which he trod. Heentered the Council Halls of Versailles. That hefared well there no one pretends. The Peace Treatyhas few friends. Wilson was no match for Clemen-ceau and Lloyd George. But he held tenaciously tohis one idea. The League of Nations was embodiedin the Peace Treaty as an integral part thereof.Each of the signatory powers endorsed the League.Then the unexpected happened. Wilson was repudi-ated by the great democracy. The United Statesof America refused to enter the League which hadbeen so laboriously builded by her President. Itwas almost a mortal blow. The League existedindeed. It has done something, though not verymuch. With Russia, Germany, and the Unitec


March, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. 43

States of America out of it, it is merely a league ofsome nations. But it is still the secular hope ofthe world. They do say that Wilson was recoveringhis popularity, and that his idealism was comingto its own when death met him. He was a goodsoldier of peace. He deserves a richer tribute thanwe can pay him here.

Archbishop Mannix.And a great company of Australian prelates of

the Popes obedience are in the Dominion. They arecome to celebrate the golden jubilee of ArchbishopRedwood. The superstitious veneration for these dig-nitaries is very trying to the outsider. We do notlike to see men and women kneeling before those whoclaim descent from Peter. For Peter had a rootedaversion to anything so unmanly. When Corneliuskneeled to him he lifted him hastily to his feelsaying, "Stand up, I, too, am a man." We shall beinterested to see what response the other Wellingtonchurches make to the invitation to be present at thecelebrations. After the persistent refusal of RomanCatholics to co-operate in anything at all they mustnot be surprised if they are left to rejoice alone.But we are concerned with his Grace of Melbourne.His appearance in New Zealand is a sort of chal-lenge. It has been reserved for the West Coast tohail the rebel. A brass band, a Mayor, and anM.P., who boasted that he had been in gaol, andwho sort of insinuated that the Archbishop deservedto have been there too, gave him public reception.He told his Greymouth audience that he was entirelyunrepentant. His hostility to England was unabated.He is a malcontent on the Irish settlement. Nothingbut an independent Ireland could satisfy his soul.A man who says these things, who sows these seeds,is not the sort of man for whom New Zealand oughtto have any time. The sort of independence heand his would allow to Ireland can be gauged fromSpanish pranks of the church. When the recentGovernment proposed to allow Protestants the rightto build churches if they wished to, the Hierarchyarose in a passion, and tore down that daring ministrybecause they were breaking the intolerant con-cordat forced on that benighted country by the Pope.Independence of Ireland forsooth Mannix believesin no such thing.

And Others.

The sympathy of the whole church will go outto Pastor Matthews and his wife in the death, afterlife-long feebleness, of their little son——The openingof the new church at Hamilton is an event of first-class importance. The ministry of the Rev. HaroldHercus has been a growing inspiration.——TheOxford Terrace Church resolved to mobilise all itsmusical talent for a winter's campaign. A choruschoir of 100 voices, under Mr Victor Peters, hasbeen formed.——The Rev. L. B. Busfield and hiswife leave for the Old Country before the end ofMarch. They are delegates to the Sunday SchoolConvention in Glasgow. We wish them bon voyage.——Mr Kempton spent a very happy time in Victoriaduring his recent trip. At Rev. F. W. Borham'srequest he spoke in the Armadale Baptist Church, hevisited the Collins Street Congregational Church,and was much impressed by the preacher, Rev. W.James, B.D. For two Sundays he occupied thepulpit of Chapman, Carey, Spurr, and Ruth atCollins Street, Melbourne, and so impressed hishearers that an invitation to return for three monthswas extended to him. Mr Kempton found the CareyGrammar School (a Baptist venture) with over 100boys enrolled, and playing ground of eight acres; aschool with many possibilities.——We regret to hearthat the Rev. F. Parry has been operated on forappendicitis, and that he is only recovering slowly.

——The removal of the Rev. T. Weston from Waihito Mornington, is reported in this issue.——TheCommittee of the B.M.S, and the Students' Com-mittee met in Wellington last week for specialbusiness.

North Island Baptist Y.M.B.C.Union.

Easter Camp, 1924.

ComeAndMeet350of thePickof theYoungMen ofNewZealand

AnIdeal

HolidayA Timeof Spir-itualInspira-tionAndBless-ing.

including Train Fares the Camp Cost will be:—Seniors, 60s; Juniors, 40s.

This Year it is atAWAPUNI, PALMERSTON NORTH.The Same Cooks as last Year,The same crowd of chaps,The same Blessing! Come!

Will Class Members inquire from Class Secretariesthe nature of all correspondence received re Camp.Will Class Leaders and Secretaries leave no stoneunturned in their efforts to immediately respond toevery request made by Camp Secretary, so that

detailed arrangements might be completed.Local arrangements are being rapidly completed, butintending Campers—and we expect that every classmember will be a Camper—can help immeasurably by

immediately responding to all correspondence.Awapuni is a magnificent site; offers superlative

accommodation, and being central in the North Islandshould be a record camp.

C. W. DUNCUMB,Chairman, Camp Executive.

Auckland District Girls' EasterCamp.

MANUREWA PUBLIC SCHOOL(l5 miles from Auckland).

Bible Study Circles, Inspirational Meetings,Competitions for Evan's Cup, Sports, Rambles, andVisit to our Children's Home.

Auckland Girls and Country Classes, try theexperiment of an Easter Camp amid ideal surround-ings.

Particulars from Class Leaders or Camp Sec-retaries:—

HILDA GRIGG, Bayfield School, Auckland.GWEN STAPLES, 36 Ponsonby Terrace, Auckland.


S.I.Y.M.B.B.C.U."Scheme 52."

TO RAISE FUNDS FOR HOME AND FOREIGNMISSIONS.

So named because each Bible Class memberunderstakes to contribute 52 weekly contributions of—Seniors 3d, and Juniors 1d.

POSITION TO DATE.SENIORS.

Canterbury Classes. Otago & Southland.

JUNIORS.Canterbury. Otago & Southland.

In past years we have only raised £50 perannum. This year, however, with three months toge, we have exceeded that mount. By Easter weshould have at least £80—perhaps £100. Do yourbest. The task of raising missionary money is notthe task of a few classes but the duty of every class.

Re Camp Equipment.—I hope every class willmake some effort to supplement this fund beforeEaster.—Yours sincerely,

GORDON HENDRY (Collector).

South Island Girls' Camp."Oh! to be in Camp now

that Easter's here."

S.I.Y.W.B.C. GIRLS—ATTENTION!

Madam Caroline Bay, of Timaru, requests thepleasure of the company of the young women of tlieSouth Island Bible Classes at a camp to be held fromApril 18 to 21, which date is otherwise known as' 'Easter." A delightful and entertaining pro-gramme is being arranged, full particulars of whichwill be issued later.

R.S.V.P. to Class Secretaries before April 1.

Nelson Baptist Church PeaceMemorial Organ.

On Friday evening, February 8, the peace memorialpipe organ was unveiled. The instrument has beenbuilt and installed by Mr A. Drake, and is the out-come of two and a-half years faithful labour. Thatthe builder has given of his best in building theorgan was quite evident at the opening recital con-ducted by Mr E. A. Golding, A.T.C.L., L.T.C.L.,organist of the Feilding Methodist Church, the pro-gramme covering a wide range bringing out thebeautiful tones of the instrument. The organ hasbeen erected in a domed arch at the head of thechurch, behind the pulpit, and having for its foun-dation the site of the old baptistry, and occupiessome 100 square feet of floor space.

The Rev. John Laird, M.A., presided at theopening service, the church being full. In the courseof his address Mr Laird stated that the whole ofthe money (£600) had been raised by voluntaryofferings, and that the organ had been erected asa memorial to the services of their boys in theGreat War.

Mr Thos. Pettit , senior deacon and superinten-dent of the Sunday School, unveiled the organwith these words: "I t is with pleasure thatI unveil this memorial organ and dedicateit for the service of the church." Mr Pettitstated that over 60 young men connected with thechurch had enlisted for service; eight of whom hadpaid the supreme sacrifice. The unveiling was fol-lowed by prayer by Mr Laird. The inscription ona brass plate is as follows:—

"Erected in gratitude to God in sparing so manyof the lives of our young men, and in memory of thefollowing who fell in the 1914-18 war:

"Harold Cannington, Fred Chapman, LeslieHollyman, Ellis Littlejohn, John Newton, HowardNewton, Ashley Moore, Donovan Hill."

John Clifford, D.D.

The battle cry rang often on his lips;His soul was up in arms against all ills.He was a leader-born, and taught the host,Who followed Him, hardness should be endured

Courageously, while Hope still raised the flag.But in his later years—as though the dawnOf Heaven's day fell on him—mellowed tonesTaught his disciples wooing notes of Love,

And pleading invitations to the Cross.The Warrior and Evangelist has come,Through war and tender ministries, safe Home.

WILLIAM OLNEY.

SpreydonSydenhamOxford

TerraceLynwoodGreendaleOxfordSt. AlbynsAshburtonTimaru

OamaruInvercargillN. InvercargillMosgielHanover St.CavershamMorningtonN.E. ValleyS. DunedinRoslyn

£0414603141

00

103

11101509

16

0008900097

£15

130

110

1002033

500

10070

6000060

OxfordTerrace

SpreydonCavershamHanover St.

Camp Equipment Fund.MorningtonRoslynCavershamHanover Street

£31 15 6

£8679

1083

14

0006

£03

106

07

£3 16 7

£00

1517

09

£1 12 9

SOUTH ISLAND BIBLE CLASS MEMBERS,ATTENTION!

COME TO "THE WILLOWS," MAHENO,

Easter, 1924.Prepare to contest the following:—T. E. Taylor Cup—For best 10-minute sermon-

ette.Gold Medal—For best 10-minute speech on "My

Hero."Special Prize—For best essay on "The Baptist

Contention." (See February Baptist, page 22,column 1.)

Gold Medal—For best impromptu speech.Shields—For junior and senior athletics (get into

training).Get your individual and class items ready for

the Saturday night camp concert.Get ready for the menu being prepared by our

expert.Secure your Class Secretary Registration Form

TO-DAY, and be in on this time of Fun—Frivolity-—Fellowship—and Inspiration.

Address inquiries and registrations toMR W. BEADLE,

Secretary, care of Y.M.C.A., Dunedin.

South Island Y.M. Camp.


OBITUARIES.

GEORGE HENRY MAUNDER.Everybody in North Taranaki knew that the pro-

hibition letters signed "G. H. M." were written byMr Geo. Maunder, and they came to know andrespect him as one of God's gentlemen. After hesettled in New Plymouth over 20 years ago he wasconsidered a man of one idea—a prohibitionist. AfterI went to that town one of its newspaper editorssaid to me, "The people of this town do not knowMr Maunder. They think his only interest is pro-hibition." But he added, "What a man he is; howwide his knowledge of human affairs; how deep hissympathy with all the best movements of to-day, forthere is nothing human alien to him." The tidesof the world's interests flowed through his heart.But they got to know him. He could not be hid.And they came to esteem him greatly for his greatpersonal worth. A few days after his home-goinga family of young people, in speaking of him, inquiredof each other, ''Where could you find a fault in lump"and truly, none was visible. The fact is his lifewas so full of service, of interest in his fellowmen,and of fellowship with Christ in the Gospel, thatthere was no room for anything else.

He was a man of granite convictions linked witha winsome graciousness. What a tower of strengthhe was to the church. What a comrade to hisfellow officers and minister. Heaven seemed nearwhen he prayed, and as he rejoiced in redemption'sglories he often pleaded, "Oh that the arms oflove which compass me would all mankind embrace."There was linked to his great generosity a uniqueand real humility and a saintly life lived in theopen air of men.

He made a great point of encouraging others inwork. Let young people put their hand to theplough of service he noted it and in his own in-imitable way laid himself out to commend andencourage. He put heart into people. Among theevils of the land he specially attacked the liquortraffic. He is in a measure responsible for Tara-naki's great vote. Even newspapers, which do notfavour prohibition, published freely his articles. Theycould not refuse the man. In the midst of laboursabundant he lived a very happy life. His partnerwas one with him in mind and heart and service.He grew younger in spirit as the years went past.He lived with God, he lives with God. We thankGod for him, and one day will praise God with him.—John Laird.

MR WILFRED SAMSON.With the passing hence of Mr Wilfred Samson—

known to his particular friends as "Jim"—the worldis minus a true heart and sunny nature.

He was the only son of Mr and Mrs J. R. Sam-son, of Wellington, and to them and their daughtersis tendered our heartfelt sympathy.

The late Mr Samson, who was only in his twenty-third year, fell from a horse in the Waikato districton February 12, and died next day in the RotoruaHospital.

The writer knew him as a boy, lovable, andfull of pranks and fun. As a man, honourable,generous, and with a set purpose.

His untimely death has been keenly felt bya large circle of friends.

MRS LAMMAS.

On February 1 Mrs Lammas, one of our members,was called to her rest after a period of terrible andprotracted suffering, borne with the greatest forti-ship. Her parents were passengers by the first

ship which arrived from England in 1842; and shewas born at Waimea Flat seven years later. Thefamily then removed to Richmond, where our sisterlived till twelve years ago, when she came with herhusband to reside in Nelson. She was convertedand baptised quite early in life, and has alwaysbeen a consistent, sincere Christian—one who livedthe Christ life rather than talked about it. Shewas laid to rest on February 2. Rev. J. Laird,Pastors Jones and Matthews, took part in the funeralservice. Much sympathy is felt for her bereavedhusband and her daughters, one of whom, MissFannie Lammas, is so well-known to Baptiststhroughout the Dominion.

Memorial: G. H. Maunder.By Our Church Correspondent.

The beloved friend of all Christian Churches,better known to all Baptist churches and more par-ticularly dear to the hearts of the New PlymouthBaptists, has been called to higher service. MrG. H. Maunder was a man of God, he walked withGod, and had communion in the deepest and truestsense with his Maker. Always kind, charitable, andthoughtful for the comfort of others, it is no wondervhat we loved and honoured him. He served State,town, and Church with rare devotion and sacrifice.He held positions as schoolmaster, member ofHospital Board, member of Town Board, secretaryto No-license League, S.S. superintendent, etc. Themembers of the local church knew him best asChurch Secretary, which position he filled with raredistinction and credit for many years. During the pastsix years he has been Church Treasurer, and asthe writer was connected intimately with him inchurch financial work for many years, can speakof the liberality with which he very often came tothe rescue when money was wanted to make up adeficit. Many can testify to his great help in thetime of need. As minister's deacon he was veryhelpful, and our past and present ministers can speakto his sound, sterling, commonsense advice on re-ligious and democratic subjects.

His funeral was attended by all sections ofsociety. Many beautiful floral tributes showed howhe had endeared himself to the town's life andpeople The Mayor and all the leading citizen?were present and paid respect to his memory. Avery impressive service was conducted by theminister, Rev. A. H. Collins, assisted by the twoMethodist ministers and Presbyterian minister. Thepulpit was draped and intertwined with white flowers.A great company gathered at the graveside, wherehis mortal remains were interred.

A memorial service was held on the followingSunday morning. Very many of his aged friendswere present. The minister spoke from the texts:"He was a good man (Acts xi, 24) and "He beingdead yet speaketh (Hebrews xi, 4), and paid a tributeto the Christian life of our departed brother. Wemiss him. Always in his place twice on the Sunday,always at the week-night service, ready to assist inany part of the worship, one of God's best gentle-men—that is our late friend and brother, GeorgeHenry Maunder.

"There can," says Professor Robinson, "be nosecure peace now but a common peace of the wholeworld; no prosperity but a general prosperity. . . .We are all now brought so near together and areso independent that the old notions of noble isolationand national sovereignty are magnificently criminal."

46 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTI8T. March, 1924.

Editor:REV. J. J. NORTH, Christohurch.


Sub-Editor: REV. S. MORRIS, N.E.V., Dunedin.

Business Manager: REV. M. W. P. L.ASCELLES.All business communications to be addressed to the Manager,

"N.Z Baptist," P.O. Box 693, Wellington.

The Offices of the Baptist Union of New Zealand and of the BaptistMissionary Society—


General Secretary: Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles,To whom all money for Home and Foreign Missions should be sent,except B.W.M.U. amounts, which must be sent to the Treasurer,Mrs C. Collins, 6 Bidwell street, Wellington.

All Y.W.B.C.U. amounts collected by District Treasurers to besent to the Dominion Treasurer, Miss M. Beckingsale, 16 Montagustreet, North-East Valley, Dunedin.

LITERARY AND PRESS COMMITTEE.Convener: REV ERIC EVANS, Caversham.

To whom should be sent all communications regarding the dis-semination of Baptist literature in our Sunday Sohools and churches.

MARCH, 1924.

Mad Farming.

The churches are holding harvest festivals thismonth. No services are more timely. The preachingopportunities are of first-class importance. Lovinghands make the House of God beautiful with thehandiwork of God. Apathy is assaulted by eye gateas well as by ear gate. There are thousands oflessons to drive home. It is no time for soft talk.But it is a time for an imperious summons toconscience. Take Paul's characteristic text, "What-soever a man soweth that shall he also reap." Itis not a text that men use to buck themselves upwith on their dog days. It is not a favourite text.The only people with whom it is popular are phari-sees. Honest publicans are thinking about their wildoats. It is moreover a text not easily fitted intothe gospel of free forgiveness. But we take it fromthe lips of the most evangelical of the apostles. Itdoes not fit in. It is true. It is a text to which themodern mind makes an instant response. For it isquarried in the fields of nature. It is sciencereligiously applied. Paul asserts that the law ofgrowth has universal applications. He passes withconfidence from field and garden to the soul of man.Some may challenge the legitimacy of such a passage,for some so isolate man that nature teaches themnothing. But the challenge will fail. We have veryclose relations with the rest of God's creation. Thereis sex among plants. There are incipient facultiesamong animals. The track from them to us hasbeen blazed. Paul crosses it with this harvest torchheld high. If shallow optimists, like Ella Wilcox,were right the text would make us glad. We shouldput it under our pillow at night, and sooth sleepless-ness with it. But we are all shy of it. It is alwayssomething of a threat. For we play tricks with oursouls and think that we take God in. There areno solemn fools in the farming community who sowdocks and hire harvest labour. But there are plentyof silly fools who sow their souls with passion seedand hope for heaven. That is mad farming, andthere is a ruinous lot of it.

"WHAT IS SOWN IS GROWN."

Notice that it is no function of the soil to sortout seed. Whatever is sown is grown. The groundhas no preference for wheat as against thistles, exceptthat it grows thistles more readily. If ground issown with wrong seed, wind and rain and sun andall the chemistry of the earth co-operate to makethat wrong seed grow. It may be the purposefulhand of man. It may be the careless ministry ofthe wind wafting airships with seed cargoes. Itmay be the bursting bomb of the gorse. It maybe the bird in whose dropping the blackberry seedis embedded—the earth is entirely careless what it is.Whatever is sown is grown. The ground is notinstructed in our preferences. It would as lief feedgoats and apes as sheep. Under man's touch itmay grow hops for the beer that brutalises. It maygrow poppies for the drug fiends who peddle dope.It may grow golden wheat which is man's staff.Whatever is sown is grown. It is not otherwisewith man. The sensitive membrane of our brain isstretched out towards the sky of thought. What issown is grown. The mind may be sown with revolu-tionary thought. The Bolshevics seem to havecornered (in a capitalistic way) the mind of youngRussia. To diligently sow the mind of the youngof a nation with the ideas, that the world is a soullessmechanism; that God, the invention of the priests,has been discovered to be dead; that the motivebehind all human conduct is self interest; that thestruggle for existence is the fight in which all areinvolved; that man, being but developed mammal,passes out at death; to teach these things is to sowminds whose one function is to grow what is sown,with strange seed and there will indeed (to quote B.Kidd) be a new world in a generation. But theyoung mind may be sown with sensuality. Vileimages may be its landscape. Its strength may beprostituted. Its memory may be poisoned. Theseseeds, too, grow. They suck up the whole strength ofthe soul till at least the victim is no more a man. Heis become a lust. But the good seed of the kingdomcan be sown. It is vital seed. It is appropriate tothe soil of mail's soul. In our churches and schoolswe are sowers gone forth with that seed. We seemto stand related to our own lives as farmers do totheir lands. We can determine what shall be sown.We cannot indeed erect garden or convent walls sohigh that tare seeds cannot blow across. But it is sothat for seeds to grow in us, interest on our part isnecessary. Until interest is awakened thought seedsdo not germinate. Bad suggestion blown in, in conversation, or through an unhappy book, cannot grow"unless we do nurse it and often rehearse it, andgive it a permanent place in our heart." Nor canthe good seed grow till we are interested. The Biblewords lie like marbles in memory till desire isawakened. If any man will receive Jesus, He willdo the rest. He will grow in us the hope of Glory. .These are elementary observations. We pass on toone less obvious.

INTENSIVE CULTURE.

The object of enlightened farming is to keep landin good heart. The chemistry of the soil is carefullystudied. Soil is fed. Poorish soil can be wonder-fully enriched. Rich soil cannot be maintained inprofit unless it is properly handled. The resultsof intensive agriculture in France and Belgium arewonderful. A country which treats its soil properlycan sustain twice the population in comfort. Indiaowes a great deal to W. Carey in this respect. Hebrought not only the Gospel but the new agricultureto Bengal. But the same thing is true of man.Man's mental fertility is increased by education.The merest hint dropped into an educated mind may


changes the face of life. Watt sitting with his spoonby his mother's kettle is a case in point. Educationleads to appreciation, to comparison, to experiment,to victory. But here emerges the most deadly perilof our day. Everybody is being educated to someextent. A great many of those who are being;educated have no morals. The richness of theirmental life may bring forth a riot of deadly idea. Itis exactly 20 years since the first man flew a heavierthan air plane. Here is Philip Gibbs' accountof the affair. "I laughed loud and long at the firstsight of Cody's immense aeroplane, and refused tocredit his childlike assertion that it would fly like abird. But one morning he enlisted volunteers tohaul it out of its hangar and set its engine goingwith the noise of seven devils. "Poor old Cody,''said a friend of mine, "one might as well try tofly with a railway engine.' ' Hardly were the wordsout of mouth than the great thing rose, and not likea bird, but gracefully as a butterfly, was wafted overcur heads and flew steadily across the fields. Wechased it shouting and cheering. It seemed to uslike a miracle. It was a miracle—man's conquest offlight. Presently, after three minutes, I think, some-thing happened. The great aeroplane staggered,flagged, and took a nose dive to earth. I ran for-ward breathlessly and helped to drag Cody frombeneath the wreckage, dazed and bloody, but notbadly hurt. His first words were triumphant. "Whatdid I tell you boys? She flies like a bird." Gibbsgoes on to say, "Looking back on the almostmiraculous progress of aviation it seems to meand many others that humanity rose very high andfell very low when it at last discovered the secretof flight." The rich soil of an educated mind maybring forth the deadliest crop of destructive inven-tion, unless that mind is Christianised. That wasHuxley's fear. Education is producing a newproblem He thought that we might be rearing anew man who should be but "the most subtle of all thecreatures that the Lord God made," and as poisonous.He proposed Bible reading as a corrective. Butwith him it was the suggestion of despair. For usit is the way of life. In Christ and in Christ onlycan the motive and injunction be found that will turnthe subtle creature into the lover of his kind. Butthe land is vexed with mad farming. How illumina-tive is this line from Stevenson, written from Samoa:"Right in this wild lime hedge which cuts athwartus, just homeward of the garden, I found a great bedof sensitive plant, our deadliest enemy. A foolbrought it to this island in a pot, and used tolecture and sentimentalise over the tender thing. Thetender thing has now taken charge of this island,and men fight it with torn hands for bread and life."What are we planting in this so fertile garden ofthe soul? Doubts? Passions? Worldliness? orTruth and its King? What is sown is grown, andvery rapidly grown in the new soil of the educatedmind.

SECURITY OF TENURE.

Any farmer will say that there is one thing thatmakes for bad farming more surely than any otherand that is short tenure. Men on short tenure hold-ings lose heart and let the land lose heart. Nothinggood can be done unless security of tenure isachieved. And that is true in us. The idea thatdeath cuts short our little life and that beyond deathis nothing, is fatal to the higher manhood. "Sinceour troubled race began ever, ever and forever wasthe leading light of man." In the lands beyond theriver men reap their sowings, and

Who sows the wind shall not reap grain,The sown wind whirleth back again.

There is plenty to preach on on Harvest Sunday.

For many years the name of Dr Jowett has beenfamiliar to the ears of the Christian people through-out the whole world. He was described by MrLloyd George to a distinguished company assembledin the Strangers' Dining Room at the House ofCommons, when Sir Albert Spicer gave a dinnerparty in Dr Jowett's honour, as "one of the greatestpreachers of the English speaking world," and thelate Sylvester Home said at the CongregationalCouncil of England, "he was the greatest of livingpreachers." He was numbered with Spurgeon,Parker, Liddon, Dean Stanley, Hugh Price Hughes,Alexander Maclaren, Alexander Whyte, and his ownillustrious predecessor, Dr Dale. What giants.They have all passed away, and now Dr Jowett hasjoined the glorified. "The loss of a great preacher,"says a great statesman, "is almost an irreparableloss." Such serious gaps in the ranks are notreadily filled.

Dr Jowett reached the height of his popularcareer while minister of Fifth Avenue PresbyterianChurch, New York City, to which sphere he wentafter fifteen years ministerial work at Carr's LaneCongregational Church, Birmingham. The Birming-ham pulpit had become famous through the virileand robust preaching of John Angel James and R.W. Dale, and to it Dr Jowett went from his pastorateof six years at St. James's Church, Newcastle, which,as he said, "welcomed him when he was a rawapprentice."

Upon the Birmingham pulpit a peculiar glareof publicity shone incessantly, and its duties involveda strain which few constitutions could bear. Jowettwas just over thirty when he stepped into the historiccharge of Carr's Lane, and in succession to themajestic and commanding figure of Dr Dale. It wasno small undertaking for one so young, but withmodesty and humility, linked with a calm and dig-nified confidence, did he right nobly sustain andextend the great traditions of that venerable church,while at the same time, faithfully conserving andenriching the spiritual life and yearnings of thepeople.

Almost everything he preached while in Bir-mingham was published in some form addingenormously to the strain of his work. The invita-tion to New York first reached him when he wasfeeling jaded with his long Birmingham andNational ministry, but the pressure put upon himto stay in England was overwhelming. The "Call"found him too bewildered and uncertain at the timeto be able to accept it. Later, he received a letterintimating that another deputation was being sentby the New York Church to renew the "Call."Before the deputation could leave New York he cabledthese two words "finally decline," but towards theend of the same year the matter was revived, andfor the third time he had to face the crisis. Afterfourteen months from receiving the first invitation"amid many uncertainties and a host of timidities,"he felt that he had no option, and accepted the"Call" thus venturing in faith on a great experiment.

The decision to leave Birmingham for New Yorknaturally created a feeling of distraction, if not ofdesolation. It was reached, however, through thesoundest and most careful consideration, the clearestand most deliberate judgment, and from the loftiestpoint of view.

His farewell to England was unique in the annulsof non-conformity. There was not one, but a seriesof farewells. Beginning with the King at Bucking-ham Palace, then came the National Free ChurchCouncil's valediction; then the official sending offof the Congregational Council of England; and finally

Dr John Henry Jowett, Preacher.By REV. JOSEPH W. KEMP. Auckland.


the farewell to his own people in Birmingham. Atthe latter the Lord Mayor of the City, attendedalong with the Lady Mayoress, and gave a civiccharacter to the farewell. Expressions of goodwillreached him from all quarters of the land and fromalmost every part of the world. They came alikefrom the King and the cottager. The breaking ofthe ties with the Homeland, as was to be expected,created gloom, but Dr Jowett was equal to theoccasion, and his final words were worthy of thegreat soul within him. "I am not taking the Lordaway with me. . . . Take down your harps fromthe willows and sound a splendid hope. I believemy successor is standing at the gate, the spiritualforces of this church will be carried to richer issues."

At the time when Dr Jowett decided to transferhis ministry to America, it was said that FifthAvenue Presbyterian Church was almost as mucha national institution as St. Paul's Cathedral. Thechurch was not merely enormously wealthy, but byfar and away the most influential in the social andcivic life of New York. When he announced hisfirst refusal Dr Jowett said: "I recognise the out-standing importance of this church in New York, thewide influence of its pulpit, and its almost boundlessopportunities of service. I frankly say I know nochurch on either side of the water which can com-pare with it in the possible range of life and labour.It is ," he added, "this vast opportunity for anevangelical ministry in America which has laid sucha grip upon me and led to such uncertainty ofdecision."

The New York ministry was phenomenal. Noother word can do justice to it. The church wascomfortably seated for two thousand, and every timeits doors were opened and Dr Jowett in the pulpit,every seat was occupied.

Such was the normal condition of that ministryextending for seven years, from its opening to theclose. Crowds within waiting to hear him. Crowdswithout waiting to hear him. Jowett almostapotheosized.

The writer ever found him extraordinarilygenerous and thoughtful. In turning over the pagesof the Charlotte Chapel Record for 1915 I find areference to my farewell services in Edinburgh. DrJowett had been supplying the pulpit of St. George'sUnited Free Church during his visit to Scotland. Hehad intended going to England that day, but forsome reason or other he was detained for a daylonger. Wondering where he would spend theevening he consulted the advertisement column of"The Scotsman," and finding it was my farewell,came round to the meeting. He was invited to speak,and since I was to be his neighbour in New York,he gladly complied with the request. He began bysaying he found himself in somewhat of an entangle-ment and related an experience he had in the earlydays of his ministry. He had gone one Sunday,shortly after his marriage, to minister to a ruralcongregation in Yorkshire, composed for the mostpart of farmers and farm servants. There was aprayer meeting held at the close of the eveningservice, and one farmer had it laid upon him to prayfor the young minister. "Lord," he prayed, "blessthe young man who has ministered to us to day;bless his wife and all other things he has to contendwith." Dr Jowett felt that if the farmer had hadthe gift of prophetic vision the present entanglementof the preacher would have been included as one ofhis contentions. He said that he was very pleasedat having the prospect of having Mr Kemp as anear neighbour in New York, but he hoped that hewould be more than a neighbour that he would bea close friend.

Speaking on the point of a successor he told thecongregation that they need have no fear, but thatthe right man would be forthcoming. They could

rest assured that Mr Kemp's successor would bewaiting at the gate, and God would make knownunto them the man of His appointing. Such hasbeen the case, for my successor has kept up all thechurch's activities and has brought gifts into exercisewhich neither I nor any of my predecessors possessed.My first Lord's Day morning in the pulpit of CalvaryBaptist Church, New York, was not forgotten by myfriend. The following letter written out of his heart,when reaching his own church, was handed to me:—

"By dear Mr Kemp,—Just let me tell you beforeyou go into the pulpit how many of us are remember-ing you to-day. May God's good spirit Whoequipped you so mightily in Edinburgh, continueHis favour to you in New York. The needs of thecity are tremendous, but the Kingdom is at hand,and by God's good grace you are going to havea glorious part in the crowning of our Lord.—WithChristian good wishes, yours, J. H. Jowett."

What could be more brotherly!It is, however, as a preacher, Dr Jowett was

known to the world, for he was mighty in the pulpit.The Whit Sunday morning service when Dr

Jowett preached to a crowded congregation at West-minster from the words of Hebrews 11, 27—"Heendureth as seeing Him Who is invisible" was oneof the historic events of London Free Church history."I t was," said the British Weekly at the time, "agreat thing that in those weeks of tension the voiceof the first preacher in the English-speaking world,should have been heard proclaiming from Sundayto Sunday at the heart of the Empire a message offaith and hope."

Dr Jowett made preaching his main business.His strength was not used for all the activities ofthe church, but was restricted to one thing in it,which he did in masterly fashion, Wednesdayevenings and Lord's Days—viz., he preached theGospel. He gave himself to it. Invitations toaddress gatherings of various kinds were legion, butwith rare exceptions declined. The Gospel was hisone theme, but his luxuriant imagination dressed itwith ceaseless variety. His diction was as incisive,forceful, and chaste, as its vocal expression was cap-tivating. Who that heard him will ever forgethis manner of beginning softly and simply, but soonhis voice broadened and deepened, and how thegestures took great circling and sweeping flightsuntil the whole air trembled and vibrated witheddying passions and sounds. Mr James Douglas,in his book, "The Man in the Pulpit," said ofJowett: "He paints a portrait of Paul and hangsit out with triumphant shouts. He glories in the'unsearchable riches of grace,' likening it to the seathat washes the world, filling every creek and crannyof earth's human shores. He astounds himself atthe might and mystery that destroys sin and trans-figures sorrow. As he soars into higher heightsof exulting exaltation, his arms are flung up likethe curving branches of an immense candelabra, hisgesticulations grow in grandeur of defiance andappeal. He recites Paul's unprintable catalogue ofnameless sins and indescribable sinners, and hebursts into a frenzy of pride in Paul's fearlessnessand confidence, 'and such were some of you.' Withhis right arm stretched out in a magnificently heroicgesture, his whole body flung slantingly forth likea giant statue of appeal, his eyes blazing with raptfury of desire—is it strange that we shrink, tremble,and recoil."

At the conclusion of one such sermon in America,Dr William J. Thompson, of Drew TheologicalSeminary, said: "Affected as I was, I could notforbear turning and saying to one on my right,'What a pity we cannot keep him in America. '"Now that his voice is stilled in death we find our-selves saying: "What a pity we could not have kepthim here."



the "Baptist" to be sent to the Missionary Editor,Rev. Stanley Jenkin, Wanganui.

By Mr H. SHEPHARD, of Melbourne, Victoria.

On our arrival at Calcutta, after a month's rushfrom Colombo across India to Bombay, thence toBaroda, Jaipur, Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, Cawnpore,Benares, etc., we were invited to meet our mis-sionaries at Comilla. Leaving Calcutta by the nighttrain on November 28, we were in time for conven-tion on the 30th. Oh, those train journeys. Wewere tired and grimy, and sorely in need of a rest.

Comilla! Comilla! (11 p.m.). All is bustle,coolies swarm our carriage, we engage in a wordybattle trying to save our luggage. We were rescuedand soon were in charge of our friends, Rev. W.Barry and Miss Cousin, and being driven to themission station.

What a welcome. Butter lights hung from thebuildings and trees—everywhere and anywhere thatit was possible for the Bengali Christians to hang alight from. Even the edges of the lawns were out-lined in lights. As we entered the gates "welcome"blazed before us—or rather below us—on the groundin fairy lights. It was coming home, and our heartswere full.

Were we in East Bengal? or were we in theHomeland? All these happy folk, laughing andrejoicing, made it seem so homelike. There wereMr and Mrs Barry (our host and hostess), Mr andMrs Sutton, Mr and Mrs Barber, Mr and MrsChurchward-Kelly, Mr and Mrs Grace, the MissesMaclean, Cousin, Sherriff, Williams, Clark, Brown,Cowles, Arnold, B. Harris, F. Harris, G. Harry, R.Brindley, Hill, Messrs Nail, Masters, White, W.Hunter (relieving Rev. J. Takle, Brahmanbaria), andMrs Shepard, Winsom, and myself.

It hardly seemed credible that twelve monthshad passed since sime of these friends had seen or hadconversation with each other. What an uplift theyget from this reunion. Our missionaries say it isworth the great inconvenience of travelling thehundreds of miles to meet thus.

Judging by the heartiness in which all joinedin the singing and the repetition of the choruses itwas evident they were enjoying themselves. The cob-webs of the twelve months attention to duty wereremoved, and thus our misisonaries are invigoratedand fitted for another period of work, perhaps facingwith a different outlook those problems that were soheavy; cheered and helped by the social intercoursethat is offered at these conventions

Too much praise cannot be given to Mr and MrsBarry for the success of the convention. They didnot spare themselves, but did everything in theirpower to make the gatherings enjoyable,—and theysucceeded, for we all had a good time.

The programme of the convention (Mr Barry,president), set the mornings apart for devotionalmeetings, the afternoons for Bible study, and theevenings to business.

The Bible study included such subjects as "ChristConfronting the Worship of His Day," "St. John'sGospel as a Worker's Manual," "Christ Confront-ing the Multitudes," "Christ 's Lesser Gethsemane,"finishing with "Christ 's Climax of Devotion."

I counted it a privilege to be invited to joinin this convention, and to meet together to study theall sufficient Gospel—the Gospel of St. John. Hadyou been present you could not have doubted as tothe inspiration and strength received from meetingthus. We all were helped, encouraged, and drawncloser to the Saviour. As we have our feet on thelower steps of the stairway of devotion the voiceof the Master bids us climb higher and higher.

The President's summing up on the subject"Christ 's Lesser Gethsemane" seemed a fitting finishto our four afternoons' study. It was because Christwas able to go on from that hour, that He was ableto save to the uttermost. . . . Christ was so mis-understood. Gradually the crowds—then even thetwelve—forsook Him, for they did not understandThat was part of the blackness of that hour. . . .We, too, have our Gethsemane—we, too, are mis-understood, but never more, nor as much as was He.Having put our hand to the plough, let us not turnback, but go forward following Him.

The Sunday services were taken in the morningby Rev. H. Sutton (preaching in Bengali), and inthe evening Rev. W. Hunter conducted the service.

The convention was brought to a close by thePresident administering the communion. This ser-vice was most impressive and we were conscious ofbeing with the Master.

Next day (Tuesday) a number of the missionariesreturned to their stations. We remained a few dayslonger as Mrs Shephard (in her official capacity asmember of Foreign Mission Board) was invited toattend Field Council, but as that is apart from whatI was asked to write about, I too must bid good-byeto convention, with a fuller knowledge of the problemsand difficulties that are constantly confronting ourmissionaries.

Christmas in India.By Miss EILEEN ARNOLD.

"My second Christmas in India!" The womanwoke us up at about 3.30 a.m. with their carol sing-ing, so there was no more sleep that morning. Afterchota haari the gifts for the women, children, Biblewomen, teachers, and servants were distributed. Thechildren looked so nice afterwards at the service, andthey were indeed proud of their presents.

There was quite a full church as most of thecut-station people came in. The singing went offwith a good swing and I must say I quite enjoyedthe service. Dhiren Babu preached. He spoke quitedistinctly and deliberately, and I was quite pleasedthat I could understand a fair amount of what hesaid.

This year the feast was prepared by the men—not a sweet-meat feast such as we had last year,but curry and rice. It certainly was a credit to them.It rained early in the morning and kept dull allday, so we were able to sit outside. Over onehundred sat down. In the evening we had a Christ-mas tree and there was indeed great excitement. Thetree really did look gay lit up with candles. Every-body gasped when they saw it. Father Christmascaused quite a stir, and some of the small childrenwere awfully afraid, and thought they had at lastseen an evil spirit! Mr Hunter's collar worked upabove the gown, so, finding it to be the Saheb,they became friendly with him.

Convention at Comilla, EastBengal.

Our Foreign Missions.


They were all pleased with their gifts, and I amsure everybody enjoyed their 1923 Christmas Day.The out-station people, when saying good-bye, alldeclared they had had a lovely lime

The Compound School prize-giving took place onThursday, a good many going off with dolls. Yes-terday I went out with Miss Cowles to Ulchaparato give the prizes there. Medda School has beenclosed for a time on account of cholera, so the prize-giving there will come later on.

Mrs Starr, the Rescuer ofMiss Ellis.

"I have had a great privilege this week-end,having seen and heard Mrs Starr four times. Sheis up here just now for the investiture, staying atSnowdon (the Commander-in-chief's house) and theViceregal Lodge. She spoke at the Bible Societymeeting on Monday, then on Friday she was at a bigpurdah club gathering at Lady Shaft's. I was invitedto a private lecture in the ball-room of Snowdonyesterday morning, when she related parts of herexperiences that have not appeared in the papers, andalso contradicted the gross exaggerations and in-accuracies of some English papers. In. the afternoonI was invited to meet her at a small gathering atLady Harnam Singh's, and here had a very pleasantchat with her. She is perfectly delightful—looks everso young and dainty and charming—has a greatfund of humour, and is absolutely out and out forthe things that matter most. I shall never forget hertestimony in that gathering yesterday morning to thepower of prayer—the ball-room simply packed withSimla society folk. She told us very simply andbeautifully how when she had given her report, onher return from rescuing Miss Ellis, the official whotook it said: 'I cannot think however you gotthrough.' But she knew. It wasn't a chance that theclay on which everything turned—the day she spentin the Mullah's house in Khankeri Bazar—was aSunday, and congregations in India, and, wherethey knew of the need, in England too, were prayingfor her—and that was why she came through. Sheshowed so beautifully that it is the unseen thingsthat are the most real in life, and went on to tell ushow she has recently received a letter from oneof the high officials who had a great deal to do withthe expedition. In this letter he told her how theobvious intervention of unseen powers on her behalfhas entirely changed his outlook in such matters.

"There is nothing 'pious' about Mrs Starr—sheis just charming and natural, and simply has tospeak of what means everything to her."—(From aSimla letter by Miss Muriel Whittaker.)

The following occurs in a letter from Rev. W.C. Hunter: —

"I regret very much to tell you that our dearbrother Kailash Babu, the assistant missionary atChandpur, and his family, have been passing througha terrible trouble. His son, Subodh, aged about20, took poison on the evening of December 26, afterbeing reproved by his father for some fault, anddied within a few minutes. Poor Kailash Babu isbroken down with grief and anguish of mind as youcan imagine, and the hearts of all have gone out tohim in deep sympathy and earnest prayer that ouiHeavenly Father may heal the broken hearts andcomfort and support them all."

We are sure that friends at home will unitewith the missionaries in India in praying that thisdevoted Indian worker and his family may be greatlysustained in their sore trial.

A Gilt-Edged Christmas Box.

The Treasurer of the Australian Board of BaptistForeign Missions had a beautiful Christmas Boxsent him in the shape of a cheque for £1000 to bespent as the Board might direct.

Frank Oldrieve.

Mr Frank Oldrieve has exchanged the secretary-ship of the Leper Mission for that of the newly -formed British Empire Leprosy Relief Association.Sir Leonard Rogers is the medical secretary. LordChelmsford, Lord Ronaldshay, Sir Edward Gait, SirFrank Carter, and lots of other celebrities are mem-bers. The aim of the new association is to stampout leprosy from the Empire during the next thirtyyears. Mr Oldrieve's interests will be almost co-extensive with the British Empire, and may stillinclude an occasional visit to India. In his new-post he will serve the "Empire of Christ" no lessloyally than he did as secretary of the Leper Mission,or as a Congo missionary.—(News Letter.)

More Labourers for the Whitened Fields.

Ten young women missionaries trained by theB.M.S. have sailed for various parts of the foreignfield. Also five fully-equipped medical missionariesand two nursing sisters are joining forces with thosealready on the field. Four of the missionary doctorsare women. In finance, in candidates for the field,and in additions to the native church our B.M.Sbrethren are realising the blessing of the Lord ofthe Vineyard.

"Harry Jones."Our new missionary recruit, Rev. H. A. Jones,

arrived on the field after a good trip. He was warmlywelcomed by our missionaries, who regard him as theright type of man for the work. He had the privilegeof attending the Comilla Convention, of which anaccount appears in another column. Mr Jones thusmet the Australians as well as our New Zealandworkers. We expect shortly to give his "first im-pressions." Until the return of Rev. W. C. Hunterfrom Calcutta (whither he had taken his wife formedical advice), Mr Jones will be located at Comillawith Mr and Mrs Walter Barry, of the A.B.B.F.M.

Our New Column.With this issue we commence a Monthly Corre-

spondence Column. Our contributor, "TheListener," will be glad to receive questions relatingto our own work and to missionary matters in general.The correspondence this month is of a most interest-ing nature, and it is hoped that our friends will,month by month, make use of the column with aview to increasing their knowledge of our own opera-tions and enlarging their missionary outlook.

"Sister of Mercy."Miss Ford, of the Wanganui Church, has success-

fully completed her course of training in theWanganui Public Hospital. Hearty congratulations.She is now taking a special course at St. Helens,Wellington.

March, l924 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. 51

Answers to Correspondents.By " T H E LISTENER."

Questions relating to our own missionary workin India, or to the misisonary situation in general areinvited. They should be addressed to "TheListener," care of Rev. Stanley Jenkin, Wanganui,reaching him not later than the 10th of each month.The name of correspondents will not be publishedunless desired.

"Supporters of Missions" asks: "Is it possibleto over-emphasise say the medical at the expense ofthe evangelistic side of our work?"

Quite possible, and for that reason the FieldCommittee, among whom are medical workers, havestrongly urged, on more than one occasion, that theneed of the hour is for more purely evangelistic andeducational missionaries.

D.A. writes: "Would you give your opinion con-cerning Indian Mass Movements towards Christi-anity?

Imagine fifty million pariahs in India? They areoutcastes from Hinduism, untouchables. They havebeen deprived of social, civil, educational, andreligious rights by the lordly Brahmins, who treatthem worse than they treat their cats and dogs, ithas led to bitter resentment and now in the South,Central, and N. West India, there have been massmovements of these depressed classes towardsChristianity. In Bengal such movements are rare.The people's motive is not always the best; manybecome Christians to secure education, higher socialstatus, and freedom from servile conditions, yetthousands prove by life and character and a changedlook on their faces that they have met with Christ.

The American Methodist missionaries in the Pan-jab are now baptising this class of people at the rateof one hundred a day. In 1915, they baptised 200,000of them and refused baptism to 40,000 eligible personsbecause they had not workers to train and shepherdthem. It is only through such mass movements thatmission work in India has attained to anything likenumerical success.

What success is there among the hill tribes nearBengal?

Many are interested in these tribes because ofthe visit of the Rev. P. C. Nall, who has done suchexcellent work among the Garos in the AustralianBaptist field. Round about Bengal there are scoresof different hill tribes who are more or less Mongolianby race, and Animist by religion. They speakdifferent languages. There are Garos, Khassis,Nagas, Lushais, Manipuris, Santalis, Kols, Khonds,Mugs, and many others. All these are being reachedby different missions. Proof of success we find inthe Government census returns for 1921, which statesthat in the Assam Hills, as a whole, there are now 824Christians in every 10,000 of the population, against423 at the previous census. The report says: "Thespread of Christianity in the L u s h a i " Hills isphenomenal. In a district of 7000 square miles,sparsely peopled by less than 100,000 people, thereare now 27,00G Christians, where ten years ago therewere only 2000." The census superintendentsays: "At first I was inclined to cast doubt on theaccuracy of the figures and suggested that zealousChristian enumerators might have made entriesaccording to their own wishes rather than the facts.But the case is rather the reverse." He quotes aninstance of "the rigorous standard adopted by the

new converts.; the five-year-old son of Christianparents being entered as an Animist because 'theyoung scoundrel was so greedy that he failed to sayhis grace before meals.' "

For activity, the English, Canadian, and Ameri-can Baptist missions receive special mention. Thereport says: "The increase of Baptists has been verylarge. In the Assam Valley with the Garo Hills,they have increased from 16,000 to 27,000; in theNaga Hills from 3000 to 8000, and in Manipur from

1 to 2000.What about Tripura, whose door has been closed

to us? It may be that Christians from among theother tribes, wandering through this closed landmay sow the good seed of the Kingdom. Let uspray for this!

When England was a MissionStation.

Can we cast our minds back to the time whenCanterbury was a mission station—even as Likoma,Kampala, Kasenga, Serampore, Darjeeling, and athousand other places to-day are mission stations

A letter is on record in which Pope Gregoryrelates to Eubogius, Bishop of Alexandria, the firstsuccess of the English mission at Canterbury. Thisis what he wrote from Rome:—

"As you not only do good yourself, but rejoice tohear of it in others, I repay your favour in kind,and tell you a talc not unlike your own. The Englishrace, situated in the far corner of the world (gensAnglorum in mundi angulo posita), has hithertoremained in unbelief, worshipping stocks and stones,but aided by your prayers I made up my mind (itwas God who prompted me) to send a monk of myown monastery to them to preach. With my leave,he was made a bishop by the bishops of Germany, andwith their encouragement, reached that nation atthe end of the world (in fine mundi). And nowletters have just arrived telling us of his safety andof his work. They show that he and those whowere sent out with him shine amongst that nationwith such miracles that they seem to imitate themighty work of the Apostles in the signs which theydisplay. And at Christmas last more than tenthousand English people, we are informed, werebaptised by our brother and fellow-bishop.

"I tell you this that you may know not only whatyour words are doing in Alexandria, but also whatyour prayers are doing at the world's end. For yourprayers are where you are not; your holy works areevident where you are."

And now we in England, and all Christian folkoverseas, have the privilege and duty of praying forthe peoples who to us are in fine mundi. Let uspray without ceasing.—(Bible in the World.)

The Bible in Greece.For many years Greece has been the only country

in Europe, perhaps the only country in the world,in which the inhabitants have been prohibited by lawfrom buying or reading the Bible in the languagewhich they use. The only version of the Old Testa-ment that is now permitted to be used is the Sep-tuagint, which is written in the Greek spoken morethan 2000 years ago, and neither Old nor New Testa-ment can be understood by more than five per cent. ofthe Greek population. The Greek Patriarch, however,has recently expressed his opinion that the peopleshould have the Bible in their own spoken tongue,so that the letters of Paul may be read in the landto which they were sent.—(Missionary Herald.)


The New Regime.INDIA IN TRANSITION.

By REV. J. TAKLE, Missionary in Bengal.(Written for the Lyttetlon Times, Christchurch.)

The walls surrounding thousands of Indianvillages testify to the fact that before the advent ofBritish rule India had suffered from constantdevastating strife and internecine war. Oppressionwas rife and life insecure. The gateways, too, witha room above where through slits in the walls thevillagers used to speed their arrows and scatter theirfoes, tell the same story. But the walls are now inruins and the gates are off their hinges, and nobodycares. Why is this? Simply because Britain broughtpeace and tranquility and the people feel secure.They trust in the guardianship of the great whiterulers from the north.

How long will this sense of security remain? Willthe walls need to be rebuilt and the gates repairedagainst fresh lawless bands and seekers of loot?We hope not. May Britain continue to give protec-tion to India's millions, and so order affairs thatpeace will continue.

There are other walls and gates which have beendeliberately demolished by the Government them-selves to allow the people entry into a new politicalliberty. We refer to the concession of representativegovernment granted by Britain to the Indian people,which is without exaggeration "the greatest and mostdaring experiment ever made in the history of theworld by a ruling race in its government of a subjectcountry." On January 1, 1921, the Reform schemebecame operative, and a new era began. Instead ofthe old bureaucratic form of government, India nowhas a Dyarchy—a kind of two-headed Raj, one headlooking toward the West and the other toward theEast. It is a scheme in the right direction, its goalbeing complete self-government. Now in all legislative councils the dominance of the British hasceased and non-official Indian members are insufficient number to carry any matters over theheads of the ministry. What is this but the appli-cation of democratic methods to an eastern depend-ency?

Will it work? That is the question asked bymany an Englishman who knows his India. He viewswith concern that of India's population of 300millions, only six millions have been enfranchisedand they consist of the higher grades of society, whichpractically means that the lower classes and illiterate"hewers of wood and drawers of water" changemasters. For over a century they have benefitedmuch from the British, who have given them unbiasedand unbought administration of justice, hospitals,schools, and railways, and have abolished murderousrites and lessened the scourges of famine and plagueand cholera. The millions of backward peoplesadmit the benefits derived. Will they be contentif the new regime consists of their old enemies, theBrahmin priests and unprincipled Hindu landlords,who, even now, have ways of enslaving andoppressing the masses?

(To be Continued)

News just received that Miss Eileen Arnold andMiss Gladys Peters have passed first languageexamination in Bengali, the former being placed inthe first grade. Miss Peters also acquitted herselfwell. The society and their many friends unite infelicitations.

Rapid Increase of the ChristianChurch in India.

A correspondent in the British Weekly (Mr J.M. Macfie, of Rajputana, India), contributes the fol-lowing:—

Attention has already been called to the greatincrease of Christians in India, as revealed by thecensus of 1921. In the 1911 there were 3,876,203, anincrease of 952,962 over the census of 1901. In 1921the increase in ten years was 877,876, which meanta total Christian population of 4,754,079. To putit in another way, while the whole population of Indiahas increased by 1.2 per cent., the Christian popula-tion has grown by 22.64 per cent.

When we consider some of the provinces thefigures are still more remarkable. This is peculiarlynoticeable in the case of the Punjab, whose figureshave just been puplished. In 1881 the Christianpopulation of the Punjab was 3796. In 1901 it was37,980. In 1921 it was 315,031. But even thesefigures are eclipsed by the progress in certain partsof Assam. In one district, with a population ofsomewhat less than 100,000 people, there are 27,000Christians where ten years ago there were less than2000. In the Khasi and Jaintia hills one-sixth ofthe population is now Christian; in the Lushai hillsone-fourth.

As there is a tendency in some quarters to speakof Indian missions as having failed to produce manytangible results, it is worth while recording thesefacts. To increase from one and a-half millions tofour and three-quarter millions in forty years is nosmall achievement.

Christian stewardship rests upon the foundationof God's ownership of ourselves and our possessions."Ye are not your own. Ye have been bought with aprice," is the divine declaration. All wealth is tobe held in trust as God's gift. It is to be usedas He commands. The right of private ownershipof property by the Christian does not mean the rightto do as he wills with his own, but rather as Godwills. The mere accumulation of wealth is not theaim of the Christian business man, but rather theuse of wealth in the service of God and men. Underthe old dispensation the Jews gave at least one-tenthof their income to the service of God. Christians arenot under law but under the gospel. But surelytheir obligation requires giving upon a scale equalto that of Jews. One-tenth, however, does notexhaust the Christian's obligation. All that he hasbelongs to God, and his giving should be in propor-tion to the needs and requirements of the Lord's workand his own ability, whether it be one-tenth or nine-tenths, or even more of his income.—(From the Bap-tist Message sent to the Baptist Brotherhood and theWorld from the Baptist World Congress, held atStockholm, July, 1923.)

HOPEFUL OMENS.Among the Moslems in Egypt there is a growing

demand for the Scriptures. Old prejudices seem tobe breaking down. Both the spread of educationunder British rule and the increasing number ofreaders are very hopeful signs for the coming day.With an increased share in the government of theircountry, we hope and believe that the Egyptians willtake a deeper interest in the Bible, which alone canlift a nation to higher ideals and nobler aims.—Biblein the World.

Christian Stewardship.


The Children's Column.Bv UNCLE OLIVER.

Dandelions.Somehow, but how, nobody seemed to know, a

family of Dandelions had got into a church, andwhat is more, they occupied a place of honour inthe pulpit. They were evidently quite aware of thestrangeness of their surroundings for they liftedtheir golden crowned heads even a little more erectthan usual, and serenely waited further happenings.

There were many flowers from the garden aroundthem, flowers with whom in an earlier hour they hadheld but nodding acquaintance. Proud roses, simple-hearted pansies, stately lilies, and many other familieswere much in evidence, apparently quite at homein a church, but as certainly surprised at the presenceof the Dandelions. Whilst they were wondering insilence at the intrusion of such folk as were called"weeds" into polite society, a strange voice washeard to say, "Whatever is this Dandelion crowddoing here, this is no place for them; what cheek.''Forthwith five long pink and fleshy things graspedthe Dandelions by the neck, and before they couldbreathe again the whole family was lying bruisedand torn in awful confusion upon a dust heap. Againthe voice: "That's good enough for you," and thensilence. Was that the end, Would no one saya good word for the Dandelions?

From far away came yet another voice whichthrough the wind seemed to say: I am the Angelof Every-day things. Listen!" "See those littlegolden petals, each with five small dents like teeth,look well at them, for they have been the causeof that strange French name teeth of a lion.""Common old weed you say. Yet in the world offlowers its life ranks of higher form than even theproud lily." "Within that green waterproof cloakthat unfolds at morning and in the sunshine, thereis wrapped more than a hundred separate blossoms,each in itself a perfect flower." "Despised by man,the humble dandelion is sought and visited by allkinds of insects." "The golden head is a storehouseof sunshine and honey, gladly it gives its sweetsupply to all who seek i t ." "You find it by theroadside and in the paddock drinking in both sun-shine and rain, and just as gladly giving it outagain." "Underground it hides a bitter root con-taining a juice which unpleasant to the taste, isyet a useful medicine." "You, who only see thegolden head, will never suspect what is hidden inthe earth." "Brave little Dandelions, looking up-ward every day, sunshine in your faces."

"By and by the golden head will give place to oneof silver fluff, which girls and boys will blow saying,'One, two, three,' till each little parachute is free toleave that wise old head. Silently they will sail awaydropping at last to earth to catch hold, and begina new family of Dandelions." "Homely little flower,full of life and love, it grows the world over, foundeverywhere, where men and women are, for it likesthe friendships of the big world." "Long ago, whenthe angel of the flowers gave each its choice, theDandelion asked that it might live by the roadside,and make golden the dusty paths of life. Thatwish was granted. It is good enough for the road-side, and lives there still, and someday you will loveit better."

The voice stopped, the Dandelions hadvanished from the dust heap. They are still grow-ing by the roadside beautiful as ever.

The Literary and PressCommittee.

We compliment the Young Women's B.C. Unionon the production of their first syllabus. They haveset the pace for the men—wake up, men!

We are delighted that they have given a placeon the syllabus for both baptism and Baptist History.

We have to report that the "Baptist Primer"is ready and already selling well. The price isthreepence.

The "Baptist History," after some delay withthe printers, will be available before this reachesyou.

This splendid outline of our stirring history fromRev. A. North's pen, is only ninepence; dozens atthe rate of seven and sixpence. Will the NorthIsland get their supplies from the B.U. Secretary,Box 693, Wellington; and the South Island fromRev. Eric Evans, Caversham, Dunedin. Every B.C.member should have a copy of both these booklets.

Let us remind you again that some hundredsof copies of Rev. A. North's "Church and ChurchMembership" are available at threepence.

"I believed, therefore have I spoken," says thePsalmist. Note the sequence. Push your principles.We're here to help you.

To Sunday SchoolSuperintendents, Secretaries,and Leaders of Departments.Would you like to have arriving by post, everyfew weeks, a budget of interesting and usefulinformation concerning recent literature, move-ments, material and methods relating to the Sunday

School?This is a free service I am rendering to somethousands of Sunday School workers throughout

the Dominion.If you are not participating in this service, I inviteyou to forward your name and address, when I willsend you, for a start, two booklets, "How to Makethe S.S. ' G o ' " and "A Recruiting Campaign andHow to Conduct I t " ; also a beautiful reproductionin colour of Harold Copping's celebrated picture"The Hope of the World." You place yourselfunder no obligation. The only condition is thatyou are actively engaged in Sunday School work.

A. H. REEDN.Z. Express Company's Building,

BOND STREET, DUNEDIN.






SELF DENIAL.MAY 4 TO 11.

Will our members and sympathisers make adefinite note of the above dates. Our self-denialeffort gives a very special opportunity for givinghack to God some of the blessings He has so freelybestowed, and of further showing our gratitude asindividuals and as a denomination.

We have great responsibilities in connection withthe Mission Field, and at home the opportunities forextension are constantly offering.

In the treasurer's statement, which appears inanother column, it will be seen that both our accountsare much overdrawn. At our last Conference we com-mitted ourselves to additional expense for new causesLet us make the coming self-denial a record inliberality. The Scriptures abound in special promisesto those who give cheerfully, liberally, and lovingly."The Lord loveth a hilarious giver."—May the Lordlove you.

M. W. P. LASCELLES. Secretary.


Auckland.—H. G. Clarke, £1 1s; Mrs Dewar,£2 ; F. Longmore Estate, £60 7s 2d; Miss Mason,5s; Ponsonby Baptist Church, £10; Tabernacle Bap-tist Church, £56 0s 1d; United Protestant OrphanHomes, £22 13s 4d; Official Collector, £10 15s 6d.Total, £163 2s 1d.

Ashburton.—Ashburton Baptist Y.W.B.C, £1 1s.Avondale.—St. Saviour Church, £4.Caversham.—Mrs H. Earland, £1.Dunedin.—T. H. Rix (deceased), £50; South

Dunedin Y.W.B.C, 5s. Total, £50 5s.Invercargill.—Baptist Church, £9 10s.Manurewa.—E. Sykes, £ 1 ; Rev. Foulkes, 5s.

Total, £1 5s.Napier.—Baptist Church, £9 5s 2d; Baptist Sun-

day School, £1 . Total, £10 5s 2d.Te Awamutu.—E. C. Wiltshire (proceeds sale

used stamps), £6 10s 3d.Waiuku.—H. F. Knight, £1 .Wanganui..—Gonville Baptist Church, £1 10s.Wellington.—Chas. Cathie, £10. Grand total,

£259 8s 6d.P.S.—The item of £4 8s credited last month as

a gift from E. G. Wood, should have read, "collectedby E. G. Wood."

List of gifts to date:—Clothing.—Mr Kretschmar, Auckland.Provisions.—Mr Greaves, Manurewa, apples;

Otahuhu Baptist Church, plums, nectarines, apples,tomatoes, jam, eggs, rolled oats, Bread, onions,cucumbers, tomato sauce, and pickles.

Sundries.—Mr Kretschmar, Auckland, toys; MissGwen Jackson, dolls, toys, cards, and books.


20-22 Swanson street, Auckland.


Subscriptions received from January 18, 1924, toFebruary 18, 1924.—Richmond North, £1 18s; Auck-land Tabernacle, £26 15s; Brooklyn, £2 2s 6d;Wanganui, £3 15s; Feilding, 17s 6d; X. Y. Z., Dun-edin, £1 10s; Epsom, £1 13s 6d; Rev. G. D. Cox,10s; Oxford Terrace, £22 7s. Total, £61 8s 6d.

Treasurer's Statement.FOR PERIOD, SEPTEMBER 21, 1923, TO

JANUARY 31, 1924.Union— Receipts. Expenditure








P.O. Box 1170.

CATHEDRAL BRAND CORDIALS, Lima Juice, L emon, and Raspberry are delicious thirst quenchers.

SEND YOUR SPORTS COATS TOTHE RELIABLE DYERS AND CLEANERS.

140 Victoria Avenue, WANGANUI.Sports Coats, Golf Jerseys, Jumpers, and all kinds

of outdoor garments soiled by use or faded byexposure can be beautifully cleaned and dyed.



Cr.Balance at September 20,

1923OctoberNovemberDecemberJanuary

Dr Balance at January 31.1924

Missionary—Dr.

Balance at September 20.1923

OctoberNovemberDecemberJanuary

11725294150

940

184

1156

110

142186159185

1717120

42

107

£ s. d. £ s. d.

£263 18 3 £674263

718

113

£410 9 8

£ s. d. £ s. d

80165202125

101

197

0228

46513408371405

0113

160

28485

£573 18 0 £1,744 12 3573 18 0

£1,170 14 3Dr Balance to January 1,

1924It will be seen from the above that the total

indebtedness on both accounts is £1581 3s 1d. Theinterest on this overdraft is considerable and I shallbe glad if collectors will remit moneys monthly andthus help to reduce this charge on our funds.

M. W. P. LASCELLES, Treasurer.


March, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST.

For some years past the accommodation in theHamilton Baptist Church has been quite insufficientto meet the requirements of the rapidly-growingwork. The evening services have been held in oneof the local theatres. Three years ago the churchwas enlarged to accommodate sixty more people,but even then it was not felt possible to move theevening congregation. The necessity for a newbuilding became more apparent when the theatrewas sold for conversion into offices and the churchhad to find accommodation for its evening servicesin another theatre much less suitable for that pur-pose. The new church is being erected in frontof the old structure (which was moved back to pro-vide room), and is now nearing completion. It isa handsome building in permanent materials designedby Mr A. Maisey, one of the early members of theHamilton Church. The accommodation is for fourhundred people and the foundations and buttressesare provided for the support of a gallery should suchbe added later on. A steam heating plant is in-stalled. It is the first auditorium in Hamilton tohave this provision. During the intensely cold wintermonths when fifteen and sixteen degrees of frost isnot an uncommon morning temperature, some arti-ficial heat is needed. The electric light is installedthroughout and a few gas points for any emergency.The building stands forty feet high with four concretepillars supporting the roof over the porch, but thedesign is not of the Tabernacle pattern. The wholeis regarded as a striking addition to the many hand-some new buildings now gracing the town of Hamil-ton. Opening services are to be held on Sunday,16th, and Monday, 17th March. It is noteworthythat this month is the anniversary of our pastor'ssettlement here. He hopes to commence his tenthyear of service in the new building. As Monday,17th, is St. Patrick's Day, it is hoped a numberof visitors may be able to attend the opening services.Hospitality is freely offered by members of the con-gregation. Any friends intending to be presentshould communicate with Rev. H. G. Hercus at leastone week beforehand to allow for the making ofnecessary preparations. On Monday, 17th, a teawill be provided at 5.30 p.m. in the schoolroom,and appropriate addresses will be given later in thechurch. Special musical items are to be providedby the choir. Rev. F. E. Harry, of Wellington, hasmost kindly agreed to come to conduct the specialservices, and our union secretary, Mr M. Lascelles,will be present also. We are looking forward con-fidently to clays of blessing and power in connectionwith this new development.

Correspondence.

Baptisms.Invercargill—Ten. By Rev. J. Carlisle.Auckland Tabernacle—Eight. By Rev. J. Kemp.Hamilton—Four. By Rev. H. Hercus.Ashburton—Four. By Pastor C. H. Matthews.

NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Subscriptions received from January 18, 1924,to February 18. 1924.—H. F. Knight, £ 1 ; TakapunaS.S., £1 11s 2d; Auckland Tabernacle, £37 9s 6d;Brooklyn, £3 3s; Wanganui Church, £4 7s 9d;Wanganui J.C.E., £1 13s 6d; Nelson, £1 18s;Palmerston North S.S., £2 14s 6d; Rev. G. D. Cox,10s, Sydenham, £18; Oxford Terrace, £34 16s; Owaka,£5 10s 2d; B.W.M.U., £69. Total, £181 13s 7d.

"HELP THOSE WOMEN."To THE EDITOR.

May I through our paper say a word to all ourministers and Sunday School superintendents andBible Class leaders. There has just some into myhand our Young Women's Bible Class Union syllabusfor 1924. I have been delighted with the production,and heartily congratulate the president of the union,Mrs Guy Thornton, upon its issue.

All our churches owe a debt of gratitude toMiss Rainforth and Miss Kershaw, both busy women,who have given such devoted service to the pre-paration of the serial studies of the Life of ourLord. Leadership in study such as this syllabuspresents should lead to the development of leader-ship in class work and bring to the front much ofthe latent talent our girls and young women possess.

But what about our young men! There is equalopportunity in their ranks and I am convinced thata syllabus of similar character for the use of all theclasses of the Young Men's Bible Class Union wouldbe productive of excellent results.

The reference in the introduction to the syllabusto the two booklets by our veteran minister and dearfriend, the Rev. Alfred North, is most opportune. Aknowledge of "Baptist History" with its record ofglorious victories in the cause of civil and religiousliberty will put iron into the blood of the rising genera-and fire them with ardour to retain and extendthe freedom our fathers won. While the re-issueof the Primer on Baptism should accomplish asmuch, and more, for our boys and girls of to-day,as its first introduction did in past years.

But this syllabus must be used and these booksmust be read and studied with prayer and care ifthe best results are to be attained, and I urge uponour leaders in the work among our young peoplethe value of these publications and pray that for allthe classes of young men and young women in allour churches this year 1924 may be one of greatblessing, progress, and efficient service. WithChristian greetings to all.—Yours in Christ's service.

H. M. SMEETON, President.Manurewa, February 2.

Direct subscriptions received from January 18,1924, to February 18, 1924.—To December, 1924—4s, M. F. Robinson, Miss M. A. Jones, Miss A. Frost,Rev. A. North, Miss M. E. Smith, Rev. F. Pollard,Mrs Miller, E. Bannerman, Mr Hartnell, J. Martin,Miss Macdougal, Miss Hammerick , Miss Gainsford,A. E. Grigg, G. H. Elliott. To March, 1924-4s, A.R. Eagle; to June, 1925—8s, H. H. Driver; toDecember, 1923—4s, W. J. Richardson; to June, 1924—4s, Miss O. Thwaites; to March, 1925—4s, Mrs E.Hull; to December, 1924—8s, A. Bunn; to June, 1922—6s, Miss Brown.

BIRTH.GRIGG.—On February 19, to the Rev. and Mrs

A. J. Grigg, Gonville, Wanganui—a son.

DEATHS.McBRIDE.—On December 24, 1923, at Dunedin,

Bessie Miller, beloved third daughter of Bessie andthe late W. D. McBride, 43 Pacific street, Dunedin.Deeply mourned.

MATTHEWS.—At the Baptist Manse, Ashbur-ton, on February 19, 1924, Philip Wilson Matthews,the beloved son of Pastor and Mrs C. S. Matthews.—"A little sufferer at rest."

Opening of New Church,Hamilton.


55


Our Churches at Work.ASH BURTON (Pastor C. S. Matthews).—The

attendances were very good during the holidays andare continuing so, the church usually being com-paratively filled, especially at the evening services.Two baptismal services have so far been held thisyear, and the ones and twos are making the greatdecision for the Master, and it is hoped to holdanother in the near future. A man and wife wereamong the last number to thus follow their Lordthrough the waters of baptism.

AUCKLAND TABERNACLE (Rev. Joseph W.Kemp).—The much-neglected Book of Leviticus, withits sacrifices, ceremonials, and priestly duties hasfurnished the subjects of Mr Kemp's Lord's Daymorning studies for several weeks past, and hasproved to be very rich in teaching. At the eveningservices the pastor has given a series of sermons onour Lord's cries from the Cross, and these sacredthemes have been handled with much power andpathos. The splendid Sunday night attendances forthe months of January and February, when so manyare away from the city on holiday, have been amatter for remark. On most of the evenings everyseat has been taken. The half-hour's song service,commencing at 6.30 p.m., is growing in popularity.The men's meeting on Sunday afternoon has beenaddressed by Rev. Dr Ranston, Mr F. C. Glass, ofBrazil, and others. Our Sunday School is a big andimportant institution. Mr Grave, the superintendent,after his return from his holiday in the south, con-ducted "Promotion Day," moving scholars up totheir new classes. The school, with teachers anda large number of friends from the church, spenta very enjoyable picnic day at Takapuna Beach onFebruary 16. The Thursday mid-week Bible lecturesare resuming. Mr Kemp's opening lecture will be"The War in the Churches—Modernism v. Funda-mentalism."

BERHAMPORE (Rev. Dr Catchpole).—SundaySchool picnic was held on January 22 at Karori.Over 200 scholars, teachers, and parents gathered,and a happy time was spent. Our pastor has beenon holiday and during his absence the pulpit wasfilled by Bible Class men and others, and bright,inspiring messages have been delivered. A largenumber attend the mid-week prayer meeting. Infuture the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper will beadministered every Lord's Day. Senior C.E. com-menced their meetings on March 11 and continuedthe study of Acts. All other departments are pro-gressing favourably.

BROOKLYN (Rev. W. S. Rollings).—Our pastorhas been on annual vacation. We are thankful tohave him back again. We are hoping for a goodyear, and added attendance and interest in the workof our church in its various activities. During ourpastor's absence our pulpit has been very ably filled.Our Sunday School picnic was held at Seatoun Parkon Saturday, February 9. The weather was allthat could be desired, and quite a large number ofscholars and friends enjoyed the o u t i n g We arepleased to welcome to our midst two friends fromPortsmouth, England. Mr and Mrs Norgate, whointend settling in Wellington.

CAVERSHAM (Rev. Eric Evans).—We arepleased to report that our pastor has resumed hiswork amongst us after holiday. The pulpit duringhis absence was well supplied. The Sunday School,Junior Endeavour, and Young Worshippers' Leaguealso resumed, after a month's holiday. The workamongst the young folk is encouraging, the numberon the rolls being quite up to that of former years.

We are sorry to have to report the passing ofanother of our Old Foundation members, Mrs Fitzer,after a long period of retirement from active churchwork. A few Sundays since our pastor conducteda dedication service.

EDENDALE (Rev. H. R. Turner).—We arethankful that the last instalment of debt on ourbuilding has been paid and we have to thank MrGwyn for the way he has assisted us in the repay-ments. Now we can look forward to future develop-ment unhampered. Steps have been taken to forma separate church, and already many have signedthe Requisition Form to become Foundation Members.We pray that this step may be one that shall enableus to become a strong church and a power for goodin the district we are placed. On February 2 ourSunday School and that of our White Swan branchheld a picnic to Henderson Domain, and a mostenjoyable day was spent. Many parents of ourscholars were present. During the month theY.W.B.C, held a social evening at which a fewfriends were present by invitation, and opportunitywas taken to introduce Mrs Turner, who has takencharge of the class in succession to Mrs A. R.Penman. Mrs Turner was presented at the suppertable with a lovely bouquet of lilies and Mrs Penmanwith a rosebowl. The event will leave many happymemories in our mind. Mrs Turner has commenceda teachers' training class. The attendance at theseclasses is very satisfactory. Our White Swan branchis becoming an established fact, and we are verygratified at the progress that is being made. TheSunday School attendances are very good, and thefortnightly services for adults have been wellattended. There is the possibility that we shallsoon have to establish a weekly service. We aredeeplv grateful to Mr Pascoe, a friend of the workat White Swan, for the very generous gift of asection of land on which to build a church andSunday School. This will probably he vested in theBaptist Union, and we are hoping before many weeksare passed to see a building put up in which wecan worship in comfort. Other friends of the workhave come forward with donations of money, so thatnow we have about £60.

GISBORNE (Rev. F. A. Crawshaw).—Our pastorhas returned from his holidays. During his absencewe were very faithfully served by Pastor Day, ofInvercargill, and Rev. Harold Goring, of Timaru,who have been on a visit to the town. We rejoiceat the progress both these brethren are making.We report to report some big losses this month.Mr McHuchon left us for Wellington on February6, the family to follow him later. He is one of ourmost esteemed members, a deacon, choirmaster, andsuperintendent of the thriving Te Hapara SundaySchool, which he and his wife did so much to workup. Mrs McHutchon was also a member of thechoir, and her home an "open house" for the youngpeople among whom they were very popular. Occa-sion was taken to say farewell at a largely-attendedsocial in the Y.W.C.A. rooms, when some hand-some tokens of esteem were presented to our depart-ing friends. Te Hapara School rolled up in forceon Sunday to say farewell, 75 all told being present.A pretty wedding took place on the 7th, when MrMax Barker, late member amongst us, now of MountEden, was united in holy matrimony to Miss ThelmaDavis, a "child of the Church," who will be muchmissed as Sunday School teacher and choir member,their future home being Auckland. A gift eveningwas held for Miss Davis in the Y.W.C.A, rooms,Mrs Clare being the hostess. Wellington alsotakes from us Mr Tom McMurray. valued SundaySchool teacher and choir member. We trust, in viewof these losses, that the construction of the harbour




Why wait three or four months to procure from Eng land, when we can supply from stock at lower prices?


will soon be commenced, so that people will startto come to Gisborne instead of leaving it.

GRANGE ROAD (Rev. A. S. Wilson).—The wel-come social given by the choir to Mr and Mrs L.Honeycombe went off well. Very satisfactory prac-tices have now been resumed under the new baton.A rally of "Granger" boys addressed by Mr W. J.Mains was one manifestly blessed by God. Sevenlads made the great decision. The meeting was oneof unusual power. Mr Harry Taylor, the leaderof our Intermediate Boys' Class, has offered for workwith the China Inland Mission, and has left for aperiod of training in Melbourne. He hopes to leavefor China early next year. His place as leader ofthe intermediate boys has been taken by Mr .J.Coop. Mr Noel Gaze has been appointed acting-secretary for our Institute. Mr Leslie Rimmer,who served so loyally and well, being unable tocontinue in that position. Miss Rita Mills, whohas also faithfully served as Institute treasurer forsome years, has also been unable to accept nomina-tion this year. Her place has been taken by MissRito Valentine. Mr J. Bigelow, who has grown upwith us, has received important promotion to Paeroa.He has always been a worker—and will be greatlymissed. Mr G. Grieve, after consistent service, hasresigned as Sunday School secretary—his place beingtaken by Mr F. Wooller. We have had many changesof late, and rejoice in many willing friends willingto step into harness. Our pastor has now resumedhis ministry after his vacation. We hope for greatthings this year.

HAMILTON.—On January 29 we held our Sun-day School picnic. There were as many grown-upsas children, and we had a very happy day. Wejourneyed by bus and car to a farm on River Road,and the picnic was voted the "best yet." TheB.W.M.U. Ladies' held a gift evening on February12. Between 40 and 50 folk went along to themanse with gifts of material and money, and werethus able to give the Sewing Guild a good start offfor their year's work.

HANOVER STREET (Rev. R. H. KnowlesKempton).—One of our members, Miss Bessie Mac-Bride, passed away, after a long illness, on ChristmasEve, and was laid to rest in the Northern Cemeteryon Boxing Day. Rev. Alfred North, who was formany years her minister, officiated in the home andat the graveside. Miss MacBride's father was forlong a deacon of the church, and she was a memberof the choir. Sympathy was expressed with herfamily in their loss at the Communion table onFebruary 3; also with Mrs Wiseman and her familyin the death of her only son. During the pastor'sabsence on holiday the services have been takenby the Revs. A. North, C. Dallaston, A. W. Stuart,and John Ings, to all of whom we are indebted forfaithful ministry. Mr Kempton returned from hisvisit to Australia by the Moeraki on February 8,and occupied the pulpit on the 10th. The SundaySchool and Endeavour Society have both taken upafter a vacation, and Mr George Jones is gettingmachinery in motiou to once again hold our boyswith his Tuxis Square. The Bible Class has lost itsleader, Mr Frank Adams, after two difficult yearsof loyal service. Mr Jones has now taken over the

class, bringing with him his class of boys from theyounger school. This places the Hanover StreetClass somewhat on its pre-war basis numerically.

HASTINGS (Rev. T. Keith Ewen).—We wereglad to welcome our pastor back from his holiday.Sunday School and respective Bible Classes resumedwork on the first Sunday in February. The membersof the Junior Endeavour had an enjoyable picnic atthe "Peak," Havelock North, on January 30. Theannual church business meeting was held onTuesday evening, 12th, their being a good attend-ance of members, the spirit of unity being markedin the business transacted. The treasurer presenteda very satisfactory balance sheet, showing that wewere on the right side, with a credit balance. Thegood work done by Mr Barbour as treasurer wasrecognised by the meeting, also a vote of thanks toMr Berridge for his assistance rendered to thetreasurer. The following officers were elected:—Sec-retary, Mr F. E. Barley; treasurer, Mr J. M. Bar-bour; reporter to "Baptist," Mrs H. Ricketts;agent for "Baptist ," Mr H. Ricketts; choirmaster,Mr J. Bewley; organist, Miss Napier; representativeManurewa Home, Mr F. E. Barley; leader Junior En-deavour, Mr F. E. Barley; envelope stewards, MrR. E. Barley and Miss Napier; Communion steward,Mr L. Compton; deaconesses—Mesdames Hicks, Hall,Widdop, Compton, Baker, Ricketts; auditor, Mr A.Turner.

INVERCARGILL (Rev. J. Carlisle).—Interest inthe question of Believers Baptism is still being main-tained, and applications for baptism and church mem-bership are continually being brought before thechurch consideration. Twenty-seven believers havebeen baptised by our pastor since the last Sunday inNovember, and the church membership has increasedby nearly 20 per cent, since the same date. At tworecent baptismal services our pastor announced thatif any in the congregation felt that it was theirduty and privilege to follow their Lord through thewaters of baptism, and desired to be baptised atthat service they could be. At each of these serviceswe had the great joy of seeing a friend come forwarddesiring to follow their Lord in His own appointedway. Glorious weather favoured the Sunday Schoolon Saturday, February 9, when they held their annualpicnic at Ocean Beach.

KAIAPOI (Rev. J. Hiddlestone).—Our churchis growing in numbers and in strength. TheChristian Endeavour is quite a strong body. Thecongregation has been enlarged by the arrival ofsome stalwart Scots from Galashiels, whose dutiesare at the local woollen mills. Mr Hiddlestone hashappily obtained a residence, and now he and hiswife are installed in a little bungalow next thechurch. The most striking sign of progress inour church is the formation of a choir under theleadership of Mrs Hiddlestone. In connection withthis move we should be delighted to receive copiesof anthems which, although threadbare in old-established choirs,would be very useful in our newly-formed singing squad. Our thanks is freely givenin advance. A 500-shilling fund has been startedwith the object of painting the church. The"barometer" in the vestibule indicates "fair" witha rising tendency.

STEVEN'S HEALTH SALT is the Salt that swee tens life. Try a dose first thing in the morning.





LYALL BAY (Rev. H. E. Edridge).—Our Sun-day School picnic, held at Karori Park on2, proved a great success, thanks chiefly to the fineweather and the splendid arrangements of thesuperintendent and teachers. On February 12 weheld a congregational social, the primary object ofwhich was to provide an opportunity to bring intocloser fellowship the members, and particularly thosewho have only recently commenced to attend ourservices. The "happy family" spirit that soon tookpossession of the meeting showed that the desiredobject was achieved. Some fine local talent providedthe musical items, which were interspersed withintervals for chatting. All present correctly carriedout the order of the evening—viz., self-introductions,and by the time the inevitable "refreshments" werebrought round, many a "nodding acquaintanceship"had blossomed into a close friendship." Our pastorsuitably closed the social with family worship. Weintend holding these "get togethers" at regularintervals, and very strongly recommend them toother churches that have not tried the experiment.

MILFORD (Pastor E. Nicholls).—A very success-ful "garden fete" in aid of our "Manse PurchaseFund," was held in Mr F. H. Wood's grounds, Mil-ford, on February 2. The fete was opened by MrH. M. Smeeton, president of the Baptist Union. Thelaunch trips on the creek, and the beautiful naturalfern bush were much appreciated, as was also after-noon tea. The various stall-holders did good busi-ness, and the Manse Purchase Fund benefits to theextent of over £50. On January 20 our SundaySchool anniversary services were held in the Picture-drome, when the singing by the children, under theleadership of Mr Honeycombe, was much appreciatedby all. The morning and evening services were con-ducted by our pastor, and the children's friend, Rev.Palgrave Davy, the afternoon service. Our SundaySchool picnic was held at Murray's Bay, on January29, when a most enjoyable day was spent by parentsand scholars. The Gospel services conducted by ourpastor are still being conducted in the Picturedromeon Sunday evenings.

MORNINGTON.—We are pleased to report adecided increase and deeper interest in our congrega-tion. Our pulpit is being supplied by the Rev. Thos.Weston, late of Waihi, and his preaching appears tobe attractive, not only to our own members, but toothers; as we have had a sprinkling of strangersmeeting with us. Where we have particularlynoticed the difference, however, is in the "power-house," our prayer meetings drawing record attend-ances. Our various institutions are in full swingfor the new year. The Sunday School and JuniorBands opening with very encouraging attendances.Our B.W.M.U. ladies are very enthusiastic. Theyheld their opening meeting last week, when anaddress was given by Mrs Weston.

MOSGIEL (Rev. E. R. Weston).—The Christmasand New Year services were conducted by our pastor.For the Christinas service the Sunday School childrengave a bright rendering of special anthems, whichconveyed blessing to a comparatively well-filledchurch. We are grateful for an excellent pulpitsupply during the holiday season. Each came witha living message which carried inspiration. Ourpastor is continuing an exceptionally fine series ofmorning addresses—viz., the taking consecutivelyof each book in the Bible, one per Sunday, andstudying its general message and purpose, its relativeimportance, and its personal application. All normalchurch functions, including Bible Class and SundaySchool, temporarily suspended during the holidays,have been resumed.

NELSON (Rev. John Laird, M.A.).—On Feb-ruary 1 Anniversary Day, the Sunday School picnicwas held at Snowden's Bush, Brightwater, a goodlycompany journeying to this favourite resort, andspending a happy day. Pastor C. S. Matthews, ofAshburton, has been spending a holiday in Nelson,and preached several times during his stay. OnSunday, January 27, a Bible Class rally was held,when our visitors, Revs. Stanley Jenkin and C. S.Matthews, were among the speakers. Mr RonWood, second son of Mr and Mrs Harold Wood, hasleft to take up a position at Wellington. He wasfarewelled at a social gathering, when his Bible Classmates presented him with a fountain pen. The Rev.J. J. North has been on a visit to the city, andconducted a Sunday evening service.

NEW PLYMOUTH (Rev. A. H. Collins).-—Ourreport on our irreparable loss in Mr G. H. Maunderappears elsewhere in this issue. We have also lostby death a very faithful member, Mr J. Samson, towhose relatives we extend all sympathy. The Sun-day School and Bible Classes have reassembled ingood force. Mr Ambury has been elected to succeedto the church treasurership.

NORTH-EAST VALLEY (Rev. S. Morris).—Theannual presentation of diplomas and prizes to themembers of the Young Worshippers' League tookplace on Sunday morning, December 23, at the closeof the service. A well-attended Christmas and awatch-night service were conducted by our pastor.The Sunday School reassembled on January 13, afterthree weeks' vacation. The annual Sunday Schoolteachers' meeting was held at the manse on Tues-day evening, January 29. After the annual state-ment had been read and adopted the annual electionof officers took place. Mr A. E. Benfell was electedsuperintendent in place of Mr W. R. Beadle, whowould not consent to be re-elected. At the close ofthe business a very pleasant social hour was spentwith Mr and Mrs Morris. On Saturday, February 9,the annual Sunday School picnic was held at TahunaPark, and was very successful.

OTAHUHU.—On January 29 the Sunday Schoolheld its annual picnic at White's farm, Mangere, itwas largely attended by adults as well as by scholars.All present spent a most enjoyable day. On Sun-day, 10th, we held our harvest festival, a fair amountof fruit, vegetables, etc., being displayed in frontof the pulpit, the next day it being forwarded tothe Manurewa Home.

OXFORD TERRACE (Rev. J. J. North).—OnFebruary 10 the Rev. Mr Vickery, of Greendale,conducted both services most acceptably, Mr Northbeing on a visit to Nelson. Mr Geo. Holland(Oxford Terrace) supplied Mr Vickery's pulpit. Har-vest thanksgiving was celebrated on February 17,the church decorations being most artistic and thegifts bountiful. The attendances at both services werevery large. Mr North delivered two powerful ser-mons. At a recent business meeting the churchproperties of Oxford Terrace and St. Albans wereformally incorporated into the Baptist Union of NewZealand. The B.W.M.U. held its first meeting ofthe year on February 7. The attendance was largeand enthusiastic. The officers for the ensuing yearwere elected, and afternoon tea was served. Inresponse to an appeal for 500 special Hymn Booksfor use at the evening services, Mr North wassnowed under, more than the number asked forbeing supplied by church people. The new choruschoir, under the leadership of Mr Victor Peters,now numbers 100. They are practising faithfullyand are to make their first appearance—a conse-crated band—on February 24, at evening service.Fresh choir accommodation has been provided.



OWAKA.—We still have Mr Stephens with usand are thankful to God that the Gospel is preachedso ably and faithfully. On January 23 we held ourannual Sunday School picnic at Pounawea. Owing toa terrible thunderstorm in the morning the attend-ance was not as large as we could have wished for.Those who braved the elements spent an enjoyabletime. A street stall and tea rooms was held onFebruary 7, with the object of reducing a debit onour general fund. The result was most gratifying,the sum of £13 being raised. At a church meetingheld in January it was unanimously decided to callMr Alfred Fear, of India, to the pastorate. MrFear is a Y.M.C.A. worker in India, and comes toNew Zealand for the sake of his daughter's health.

PETONE (Rev. F. E. Radford).—During themonth our pastor has been on his annual holidays,and very acceptable supplies were arranged. Althoughseveral of our number were also away the attend-ances at both morning and evening services werewell maintained. We held our Sunday School picnicon January 22, Anniversary Day. at the Hutt Park,under ideal conditions, and those who were responsiblefor arrangements were well rewarded for their effortsfrom the way in which the children enjoyed them-selves. We have decided to hold a church reunionsocial at the beginning of February as an impetusto the work of the coming year and we are hopingfor a year of renewed prosperity.

RICHMOND, GREY LYNN (Rev. R. Horn).—Work in all branches is again in full swing. Theincreased Sunday evening congregations noted lastyear are maintained, and are particularly encourag-ing. Open air meetings in which some of our youngmen are boldly taking part precede the service. OurYoung Women's Bible Study Circle has just com-pleted a fortnight in camp at Kohimarama. TheForward Movement Committee is particularly active,and unexpected notification that the mortgagee requireshis money forthwith gives special point to ourpastor's appeal last month. To have to raise anothermortgage means an additional burden that we canill-afford, and your correspondent would plead thatall able to help the church to pay off its indebtednesswill send along their gifts without delay. The smallestcontributions will be gratefully received and since"many a mickle maks a muckle" a general responsewill spell success. We still need four £25's, ten£ 10's, twenty £5's, fifty £1's, and a hundred half-sovereigns. With this load off our backs we couldforego the union grant next year.

SOUTH DUNEDIN (Rev. G. Thornton).—Thenew building is now practically completed and theopening services have been set down for March 9and 12. During February the officers and membersof the Building Committee have been busily engaged,and the members of the choir have been practising.special anthems and pieces for the opening services.We are pleased to report that our minister returnedfrom his holidays greatly improved in health andable to resume his Sunday services.

SPREYDON Rev. E. E. Smith).—This yearthe Sunday School treat was held at "Saltaire,"North Brighton, the beautiful home of Mr and MrsC. Dixon, and proved an enjoyable outing for bothadults and children. We are glad to have our pastorand his wife and family with us again after theirholiday, and would gratefully record an appreciationof the services of several local brethren during ourpastor's absence. At the morning service on Feb-ruary 3 the superintendent of the Young Worshippers'League, Mr F. W. Dudney, presented the prizes ofattendance to the members. In the afternoon Rev.Smith addressed the Sunday School scholars andthen presented the prizes won for the previous year.On February 17 the evening service was taken bythe young people of the church and proved a source orinspiration to all.

SYDENHAM (Rev. J. K. Archer).—We com-bined our church anniversary and harvest festivalthis year. They proved the most successful we haveheld for a long time, larger congregations a t t e n d i n g .The preachers were the Rev. L. C. H. Barbour, ofOpawa, and our pastor. On the Wednesday a recordsum was raised by a sale of produce. An old-fashioned public tea drew a crowd together. Thiswas followed by a public meeting on February 19,at which reports of all organisations were made. Asurprise party was held at the home of our friendMrs Bell, as on that day she reached her eightiethbirthday. The party consisted of church friends oflong standing, and a most pleasant evening wasspent. Mr Archer presented Mrs Bell with a hand-some, compact, large-type copy of the New Testa-ment.

TAURANGA (Pastor Laybourn).—Among holi-day visitors to Tauranga were Rev. H. and MrsHercus. Mr Hercus gave a rousing sermon onSunday, January 20. The following Sunday wasthe Sunday School anniversary, with special hymnsand dedication service also for four infants. Wehad a very successful Sunday School picnic in lovelyweather, on a beautiful beach, Prizes were presentedby Mrs Lambourne, and among them was a NewYear cake. We have had many losses lately. MrsJ. A. Hanabey, an original member, passed to herrest greatly lamented. Two of our deacons havemoved to Auckland. Our pastor started work at anew outstation last month and was very well received.

THAMES (Rev. W. E. Lambert).—On Sundayevening, February 3, our pastor referred to thedeath of one of the foundation members of the Bap-tist Church, Mr Thomas Donovan, who had reachedthe mature age of 83. Mr Donovan had led an activelife, and was a man of sterling quality, and a con-sistent Christian, and has left a family of five sons,all grown up. His funeral was largely attended. MrDonovan will be missed by his many friends in thetown and the church, at which he was a regularattendant for over fifty years.

VIVIAN STREET (Rev. F. E. Harry).—Theannual church meeting was held on February la,when there was a large attendance of members. TheRev. F. E. Harry presided. The annual reportpresented by the Church Secretary (Mr A. Donovan)showed that the past year had been one of the mostprosperous in the history of the church. Forty-fivenew members were added to the church and, afterrevision, the roll now comprised 308 baptised believers.Congregations had also largely increased. Thefinancial statement was presented by Mr A. H. Hoby,who has been appointed to the office so ably filledby his father over a period of 39 years, and itindicated that over £2000 had been raised for allpurposes during the year. This amount included£366 for Foreign Missions, £155 for Home Missionwork, £400 for the R. S. Gray Memorial Fund, £700for general purposes, and £500 for the extinctionof the debt on the church property. In addition toacting as supervisor and lecturer to the BaptistTheological Students during the past year Mr Harryhad planned and carried through a successful inter-denominational convention, and had engaged in mul-titudinous religious activities for the good of thecommunity. Two of the deacons, Messrs Frew andAlgie, are about to visit the Old Country, and didnot seek re-election. Vacancies on the diaconatewere filled by the appointment of Messrs R. E.Kent, J. Ashford, and J. Boyd. Other executiveofficers remain very much as in previous years. Appre-ciation was expressed for the fine service renderedby Messrs Pirie (superintendent) and Jefferys in theSunday School, and by Mr E. Fossette in connectionwith the children's church. After the transactionof further business, tributes were paid to the work


of the minister as a preacher and organiser, andto the secretary (Mr Donovan), the organist (MrCollins), and the choirmaster (Mr Pargetter). Themeeting concluded with family worship.

WAIHI (Vacant).—On the evening of Friday,December 20, we gathered together to bid farewellto our pastor, Mr Weston, his wife, and little Dawn,and to wish them God speed. Mr P. Williams wasin the chair. Several musical items and recitationswere ably rendered. The ministers of the variousdenominations—Mr Cottom (Methodist), Mr H. B.Gray (Presbyterian), and Ensign Ramsome (of theSalvation Army), all spoke of Mr Weston and hiswife in eulogistic terms. The predominant featureof their valedictory talks was Mr Weston's faith inprayer life and the untiring services of him andhis dear wife to win souls for Christ. Mr Barnett,Anglican vicar, apologised for his unavoidable absence.During the evening Mr Weston was presented witha travelling rug, Mrs Weston was a handbag andlinen tablecloth, and Dawn with a sunshine purse.Mr Weston duly responded. He drew our attentionto the text over the pulpit: " O n e is your Master,even Christ," and said what it had meant to himduring his ministry here. He urged us not to forgetthe remaining part of it, "And all ye are brethren."We were pleased to have Mrs Weston with us oncemore, and to hear her speak. We trust that themove to another clime will fully restore her health.After refreshments the meeting closed with prayer.Quite a number of the members gathered togetherto wish God speed again at the station, and a fewwere privileged to go as far as Wellington withthem. Since Mr Weston's departure we have con-tinued in meeting for praise and prayer—localpreachers taking the morning and evening services.

WANGANUI (Rev. S. Jenkin).—Our pastor hasreturned from his holiday. During his absence thepulpit was acceptably filled by the Rev. E. Goring,of Hawera. Members of the Institute gatheredtogether on the afternoon of January 27 to bidfarewell to the secretary, Mr Allwood. The leader,Mr John Emmett, on behalf of the members, pre-sented Mr Allwood with a pocket wallet and set ofbrushes as a token of esteem and recognition ofhis services to the Institute. The annual SundaySchool picnic was held on February 9 at AramohoPark, and came off successfully in ideal weather andsurroundings. At the close of the morning serviceon February 10 a dedication service was held whentwo little ones were presented to the Lord.

"The Primer of Baptism."The republication of the Rev. Alfred North's

"Primer of Baptism," is worthy of note. In re-printing this excellent booklet our Literary Com-mittee has acted very wisely, for, in all the literatureon the subject, I know of nothing so simple, soclear, and so interesting to young people as thisPrimer. It has had a large circulation in Australia,where I have examined hundreds of scholars whohave successfully studied it. Most heartily do Icommend this little book to our Sunday Schoolauthorities, and to the members of our churchesgenerally.

F. E. HARRY.


A History of the Baptists inOutline.

The new committee to which our 1923 Conferencegave birth, called the Literary and Press PropagandaCommittee, is to be congratulated on getting quicklyand efficiently to work. It has just published a"History of the Baptists in Outline" written by theRev. Alfred North. Mr North has condensed agreat story into fifty odd pages, and by his penhas made a worthy addition to the noble services hehas rendered the Baptist cause in New Zealand.The book is in no sense a fragment, but a miniature.It sets forth clearly, in historic perspective, thegreat principles which Baptists hold in stewardship onbehalf of the Kingdom of God for the work. Itswide circulation would help to dispel the mist ofprejudice through which multitudes of Christian folklook on Baptists, and mistakenly regard them assectarian sticklers for a mere ordinance. The writeronce heard Dr Bevan, a noted Congregationalminister, humorously declare that he was sometimestempted to wish there were no Baptists in the world.But a recollection of the services Baptist brethrenhad rendered to the Kingdom of God, speedily exiledthat wish from his heart. And he proceeded togenerously recount, with thanksgiving to God,noble stand which Baptist confessors and martyrsmade for great principles which to-day in nearlyevery land have been brought to triumph. Mr Northhas told the story with modesty and restraint. Thebook is specially written for the young people ofour Bible Classes, and should admirably serve forthem a two-fold purpose, to inform and to inspire.It is well that young Baptists should be remindedthat they have entered into the heritage of a historicand a martyr church; that their sires were pioneersin the highest realms of freedom; pathfinders in theglorious world adventure of foreign missions; andlook their full share of enterprise with the master-builders of some of the nobly Catholic movementsand institutions which have given the world a God-ward impulse, such for example as the British andForeign Bible Society. Mr North brings out clearlythe outstanding feature of the historical Baptistworld movement; intense evangelism, the sharingof the passion and purpose of Jesus Christ for thesalvation of men; and a triumphant faith in the all-sufficiency of Christ in the Gospel to meet the utmostneeds of a sinful world. That the Baptist worldmovement still thrills with the passion to save ismade clear from the marvellous story of revival andprogress in Europe. It will be news to many thatduring the last decade Russia has become numericallythe second largest Baptist country in the world.And that during the last two or three years sevennow seminaries have been equipped in Europe totrain young men for the ministry of the Evangel.These are strategically placed in Esthonia, Latvia,Czecho-Slovakia, Hungary, Rumania, Spain, andPortugal. An intelligent study of this Outline, anda discerning presentation of the heroic facts relatingto our Baptist kindred, should fling a challenge intothe hearts of our youth. We stand in a greatsuccession. Mr North calls us and dares us to begreat successors. The book is clearly printed, ingood type, and contains an index. The price isninepence. We hope it may run through manyeditions.

W. S. ROLLINGS.

Printed and Published for the New Zealand BaptistUnion by the OTAGO DAILY TIMES AND WITNESSNEWSPAPERS CO., LTD. , High and BurlingtonStreets, Dunedin.

OPENING OF TWO NEW CHURCHES. Page 66.

VOL. XLI., No. 484. APRIL, 1924.


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The Honourable Gilbert Carson.The eloquent tribute paid by the Rev. Stanley

Jenkin to our ex-president will be read with greatinterest. It appears on another page. But we areconstrained to add a few words. The rugged strengthof this brave man entered very deeply into the lifeof his country. Born at her gates when she was ather beginnings he served her, in most of the capaci-ties in which a public-spirited man can, with unabatedardour for 81 years. It was his happy fate to be castin his youth into a vigorous Baptist Church, thatat Wellesley Street, Auckland, then under the giftedministry of the Rev. P. Cornford. Those notes whichring through a true Baptist ministry rang into hisblood and brain. He believed in freedom. Hebelieved in the sacred rights of personality. Hebelieved in the universal need of conversion. Hebelieved in the Kingship of Christover the social andcommercial life of man. He had inducements enoughwhen he moved to the very tiny town of Wanganuito quit membership in a church so small. But hetrod that soft temptation under his feet. For himno other church represented the mind of Christ sofully as the Baptist Church. He refused, but inno surly spirit, to be a participator in that greatmistake, called infant baptism. He was foremostin forming, and constant in fostering, the plantingof the first Baptist Church in the town of his love.No more difficult task befalls a Christian man thaneditorship of a daily paper. We believe that thereis no cancer so deadly to the real interests of a com-munity as the commercialised press. The power ofrich men who invest the profits of breweries, and ofunearned land values in the newspaper press, is themost sinister thing that we know of. The publicis fooled most of the time on the greater issues. Themost damnable lies are reiterated till they arebelieved. American prohibition, war propaganda,gambling ravages, these are but some of the subjectson which the press is deliberately engaged indebauching public opinion. Gilbert Carson had afree hand and he kept it we believe. He gaveWanganui a clean paper. The Chronicle in his daywas on the side of the angels. He sleeps well. Forall that he did for his country, and for his church,and for the Kingdom of God, we give thanks.

Newspaper Proprietors.In our preceding note we make reference to the

condition of the press of this and of other countries.

We have had a nice illustration during the last monthof the temper that controls the "bosses" of the NewZealand papers. They launched a campaign forthe removal of all those restrictions imposed by lawon the publication of betting material. If they hadpossessed a scrap of public spirit they would havebeen appealing to government to restrict the vicewhose ravages are threatening the stamina of thecountry. If they had really cared for the countrywhich they mislead, they would have entered intoa solemn compact to instruct the people on the moraland economic damage represented by an annual invest-ment of £9,000,000 on the national cash bettingmachine. But that does not suit the owners of thepress of the Dominion. It suits the majority ofthe shareholders that people should continue bothto gamble and drink. A clear-eyed democracywould make an end of too much. Allthat the proprietors ask in this day ofstress is that all existing restrictions on the publica-tion of gambling material should be fired. The pro-prietors are restricted by the Act of 1907 from pub-lishing totalisator dividends or any information aboutbetting results. The reason for that restriction wasthat large dividends are provocative, and also thatthe machine results are the basis of totalisator oddsbetting, and call into existence a swarm of book-makers. The proprietors are also restricted frompublishing tips. These are the goads against whichthey kick. These are the modest barriers againstthe spread of the destructive vice which they wouldthrow down. So odious and so ill timed an attemptagainst the national well-being we do not remember.That it may be soundly trounced is our earnest wish.We ask our readers to help to keep an eye on themovement against gambling which is to be launchedbefore Parliament meets. The editor has been urgedto speak in other towns upon it. He thinks thatwill not be possible. Every patriot should preparehimself to speak. The nearest tub inverted makesan excellent pulpit.

The Ethics of Suicide.At February end there was an outbreak of violent

controversy in England over the right of a man totake his own life if he wanted to. It arose througha coroner's verdict in Scarborough. The regularverdict in such cases is suicide while unsound ofmind. This coroner found that a woman afflictedwith an incurable disease, who starved herself todeath, was both perfectly sane, and also within herrights. To a Roman of S. Paul's day that wouldsound familiar. To die when one chose was a


T H E ORGAN O F T H E BAPTIST UNION.

THE

Passing Notes.

62 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. April, 1924

cherished right. Men were instructed in the mostpainless way. This attitude was a consequent ofreligion. Their religion did not teach the sacrednessof life. The idea that we are not our own, thefurther idea that life is so sacred that the Son ofGod died for us were the contribution of the newfaith to the world's thought. A consequent of theChristian faith was the removal of suicide from aplace among the rights of man. It is ingrained intoWestern thought that life can only be ended byGod's decree. Doctors are not allowed to kill offthe incurably sick even though they be piteouslyrequested to do so. Life is retained till the lastpossible moment, for till the very last breath therighting of relations with God is possible. The Scar-borough verdict was a challenge to all this. It wasPaganism redivivus. They soon discovered howmany pagans there are in England. A leading Lon-don doctor denied that there was anything inherentlysacred in human life. The Daily Mail retorted thatif the sacredness of human life were lost the cornerstone of the Christian religion would crumble away.The Daily Mail was right for once. Christianity isbuilded on the illimitable worth of the individual,and also on the direct responsibility of the individualto God. There is no basis either in science or inhuman practise for this idea, of human worth. Jesustaking a little child in his arms and saying overchildhood those eternal words, Jesus declaring thatthere is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents,is the authority and the unceasing sustainer of thatconception of human life which till now has beenheld by our nation. No one, says a great authority,can for a moment enter into the mind of Christwho does not look on the whole human race and oneach member of it with awful reverence and hope.The war in most of its aspects and in most of itsresults was a direct challenge to Christianity. Ithas caused life to be held cheap. Once life is heldcheap, once it is disrobed of sanctity, it will begood bye to all that is tender and beautiful. Tohold the Christian faith, and to live it, and topreach it, is a more urgent duty than ever it was.

Church Secretaries.The publication of that delightful book, the

'Life of William Carey," led to the publication ofan article, we believe by the Rev. Wilkinson Riddle,of Plymouth, in the Baptist Times. The bookreferred incidentally to two church secretaries. Thefirst was secretary of the Moulton Church, whichpaid its pastor £10 a year, and which met in a build-ing so ricketty that "we ran a risque of being buriedin its ruins." The good scribe reports that "Wemet in peas, and parted in younity." The other wasthe unimaginative secretary who wrote in the HarveyLane Minute Book, "No business of importanceexcept that our pastor gave us notice that he intendedto leave us in March, having engaged to go on amission to Bengali, in the East Indies." Theetcetera character of this entry, the putting of thefoundation of modern missions into an "except"clause, gives rise to many thoughts on the qualitiesand characters of church secretaries. No one in achurch apart from the minister holds so responsiblean office. It has been the glory of not a few of ourchurches in the Dominion that men of rare tact andsaintliness have held the secretaries reed. We areled to this remark by the retirement after 42 yearsof unceasing and most devoted labour of Mr S. R.Ingold, of Oxford Terrace. From within a year ofthe building of the church, when Mr Dallaston'sministry was still young, until to-day Mr Ingold hasstood at the miniser's right hand. He has been anunfailing friend, and the unfailing friend of all thepeople. He, with his brave wife, have won forthemselves a kingdom. No one will ever know allthat these saintly people have done for the churchof their love. When the treasurer of the church,

The Times says: "In view of these encouragingfigures, we may fairly conclude that the tide hasturned. After years of monotonously recurring de-creases we have now had substantial increases fortwo years in succession. And we think the tidewill still continue to flow. All through the pastyear churches and ministers have been zealouslycarrying on the work of evangelisation, and this yearthe Union is calling on the churches to make thistheir supreme task.

"There is a corresponding Baptist advancethroughout the world. The usual summary of worldstatistics gives the following figures for the BaptistChurches of the world:— Increase

1922. 1923. orDecrease.

These statistics are inevitably incomplete and can benothing more than approximate. The membershipof the Russian Baptist Churches is given in roundfigures as 1,000,000. It is certainly more than that.Some authorities give it as nearer 2,000,000. Theestimate of the Baptist membership for the worldat 10,000,000 is, therefore, a conservative one."

Red Blotters.Our secretary has taken to new and lurid ideas

in advertising. When the red blotter came alongwe wondered if it were to be followed by a red tie.But we find that our friend's intentions are pacific.He wants to warm our pockets well before May weekcomes round. He has an anxious eye on self denial.It is very well that we should prepare to give likeKings and Queens for the glory of the Lord, inthat annual effort. The significance of our week ofprayer and denial has steadily grown. It has beenin many a church and in many a heart a time ofgreat nearness. We are expecting this winter to bea day of the Lord in all our churches. The Gospelis being preached with boldness. His Hand will bestretched out to heal. We shall be altogether at theFootstool in May and we shall find ourselves ingiving. Remember the secretary's red reminder.

* Increase.

ChurchesPastorsMembersScholars

71 ,49550 ,033

9 ,162 ,3345 ,431 ,965

7 3 , 3 2 4 *5 2 , 1 4 5 *

9 , 9 6 2 , 6 1 7 *5 , 4 7 7 , 5 4 2 *

1,8292,112

8 0 0 , 2 8 342,577

* Increase. † Decrease.

3,0784,173

1,448,610404,79758,114

523,8055,1862,039

3,098*4 , 1 7 9 *

1,447,512†411,315*59,545*

530,526*5,454*2,070*

206

1,0986,5181,4316,721

26831

ChurchesChurch BuildingsSeating AccommodationMembersTeachersScholarsLay PreachersMinisters

1922.Increase

1923. orDecrease.

Mr Arthur Chidgey, with an almost equal recordof service, handed to Mr Ingold a slight apprecia-tion by the church of his incomparable service, themoment was epic. Churches which command suchservice have much to do with the future. We takethis opportunity of saluting the secretaries of allthe churches and of commending to them the greatexample of intensity in service set by Mr S. R.Ingold.

Baptist Progress.There is optimism in the air. The returns for

the past year throughout the world show remark-able progress. The Baptist Times quotes the Britishfigures, which are refreshed by the steady missionwork which characterises the denomination of recentyears. An increase of 6518 in membership is quitegood. But we will quote their whole statement.

April, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. 63

Odds and Ends.The editor has received a cheque, which is to be

divided into four 30s prizes for the best essays atB.C. Camps. He wonders whether the South Islandgirls will produce a better paper on the Baptist Con-tention than the North Island boys. He wants topublish the best of the four anyhow.——We are gladto report that Mr Leslie Crampton, one of ourstudents completed his B.A. degree at CanterburyCollege. Mr Crampton and Mr Eade are studyingin Wellington for the session.——We understand thatour president, Mr Smeeton, is going to visit thechurches so far as he can before Conference.——Thereports of the opening of the new churches at SouthDunedin and at Hamilton will be read with muchdelight.——The Y.W.B.C. Union has issued a verycapital syllabus for the whole Dominion. We under-stand that all classes are taking it up. It is a veryfine production and mingles in proper proportion dis-tinctive Baptist teaching, and the great materialthat is common to us all. There is a very beautifulintroduction We congratulate the girls verywarmly.——We understand that Mr Geo. Maunder left£200 to Annuity Fund, and £200 to our IndianMission.——The Rev. L. B. Busfield and his wifesailed on a six-months' holiday trip to England byRemuera.——The formation of a new church at Eden-dale is welcome news. The parent church is to beheartily commended.——And this new church hasalready started a branch of its own at White Swan,could anything be better.——We all sympathise withour honoured missionary, Miss Bradfield, in the lossof her mother at Owaka.——A letter received bythe editor from Dr Ferguson, of the Telegu Mission,.Madras, tells of 5000 baptisms last year.

Central Auxiliary AnnualMeetings.

HAWERA, MARCH 10-12.

Leaden skies and bitter winds without, groaningtables and warm greetings within, awaited the dele-gates of the Central Auxiliary who assembled at the"Welcome Tea" at Hawera on the evening of Mon-day, March 10. The welcomes were voiced by Rev.E. N. Goring, Rev. W. J. Oxbrow (Methodist), andthe Mayor of Hawera (Mr Bone), who struck a fittingnote in a forceful statement of the ideals and pros-pects of the Christian Church. Rev. C. D. Gardinerhappily responded.

The opening meeting, presided over by thevice-president (Mr W. Nicol), was stirringlyaddressed by Rev. J. Laird, M.A., on the subjectof "Personal Evangelism." The speaker warned usthat in the manifold activities of the church it waseasy to neglect such evangelism; but the churchis built on personal faith in Jesus Christ, and ifconversions cease, the church must die. Acquisitionof the Gospel must precede its social application. Weneed to apply the idea of the American "BusinessDoctor" to our methods to discover the weak spots.What is wanted is not a "clap-trap" evangelism—personal work that is more of the nature of personalinsult—but sane, courteous dealing with men outof hearts aflame with devotion to Jesus Christ. Wil-liam Carey was won to Christ by a fellow-apprentice,John Warr; Moody was a product of the same methodof personal work. Great revivals, such as thoseunder Wesley and Finney, had come through greatpersonal workers. The work makes great demands,but the difficulties are only calls to the heroic withwhich to challenge our youth. The world is reallyhungry for such personal presentation of the Gospel.

Its indifference is only a veneer, its apparent hos-tility only a loss of touch with the church. Personalwork can bridge the chasm. To do this workeffectively, we must deal with our own hearts first.The two years' campaign for the deepening of thespiritual life of the churches in England at thecall of Dr Clifford was the necessary preparationfor God's calling out of Douglas Brown to thework of leading the revival. The longest way isreally the shortest, therefore let the churches givethemselves to prayer.

A helpful discussion, full of personal testimony,followed, and stressed the need of right living, andof the co-operation of every member. "Hand-plucked fruit," said one, "is the best, not wind-falls."

At 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday Rev. D. Catchpole leda fervent prayer meeting directing our thoughts tothe power of the Holy Spirit in the life.

At the opening business session, the roll-callfound some thirty delegates representing the 18churches of the Auxiliary district. The secretary'sreport, presented by the indefatigable J. R. Carey,was distinctly encouraging, and included as out-standing features the erection and opening of theLyall Bay Church, the purchase of a fine section atHawera, the contemplation of the early building ofa S.S. and church at Mornington, Wellington, thepurchase by Fielding of an £80 organ, that wasnow free of debt, and the completion of the instal-lation of the Memorial Pipe Organ at Nelson at acost of £600. There were 47 baptisms for the ninemonths. The discussion on the report was keen,and amongst other things stressed the value of theYoung Worshippers' League, and a motion recom-mending this organisation to all the churches wasadopted.

The Treasurer's report proved very interesting,particularly with regard to the financing of the newcauses at Lyall Bay and Hawera, and the treasurer,Mr H. Ivory, was warmly thanked for his services.

A discussion on the best method of raising£360 needed for the Contingency and ExtensionFund resulted in the adoption of the executive'srecommendation that the Rev. F. E. Harry, incompany with Mr J. R. Carev, visit the churches,hold conferences with the members, and deliver lec-tures in the various churches.

The election of officers resulted in the presi-dency falling to Rev. F. E. Harry, the retiring presi-dent, Mr R. G. O'Connor, being elected one of thevice-presidents. The other officers were all re-elected (Mr J. R. Carey, secretary; Mr H. Ivory,treasurer; Mr J. Nicol and Mr W. Nicol, vice-presi-dents); thus endorsing the policy inaugurated bythis band of enthusiasts, and enabling them tocarry out their projects already in hand.

Rev. C. W. Duncumb gave a forceful address on"How best to foster a denominational spirit." Wehave a great message, yet our increase in member-ship is not keeping pace with the increase in popu-lation, and our statistics show many baptisms not formembership. The speaker suggested that the stateof things lias been clue in the past to (1) lack of apolicy of continual propaganda; (2) inadequate train-ing of students in Baptist principles and history;(3) lack of knowledge of Baptist policy by ministerscoming over from other denominations; (4) thepresence of both open and close membership churchesin our Union. Remedies were to be found (1) in the,recently formed Literature Committee, which shouldnot only publish pamphlets, but keep a stock ofBaptist literature in the Union office, advertised inthe "Baptist," and provide same for a "book table"at Conferences. Churches should have a box ofliterature at their door, and Sunday Schools should

CATHEDRAL BRAND CORDIALS, Lime Juice, Lemon, and Raspberry are delicious thirst quenchers.


give biographies of Baptist worthies for prizes. (2)In the supply to Bible Classes of matter suitablefor incorporation in their syllabus. (3) In the in-clusion of Baptist history and principles in thedenominational S.S. examination, by the abundant useof charts, maps, pictures, and the introduction of sup-plemental talks by S.S. superintendents or specialspeakers. (4) In making: .Baptist history and prin-ciples a compulsory and examination subject in thestudent curriculum. (5) In the refusal to treat in aspirit of levity jokes levelled at the sacrament ofbaptism by those who would caricature it.

In the useful discussion which followed, it waspointed out that Baptists stand for far more thanmerely the ordinance of baptism, and it was sug-gested that articles on our fundamental principlesbe published regularly in the "Baptist."

The Tuesday evening meeting was presided overby Mr H. Ivory and addressed by Rev. F. E. Harry,on the subject "Is there anything wrong with theChurch?" He reminded us that there is no institu-tion comparable to the church in the benevolenceof its spirit, the catholicity of its range, and thepre-eminent glory of its Head, Jesus Christ. Inspite of its weaknesses, it is to be regarded not withthe despondency of an Elijah, but with the vision of aZechariah. Because the church is composed of the"called out," it is always open to criticism andsometimes deserves it. "The corruption of thebest becomes the worst." Christian history hasdark as well as glorious pages. This is an ageof lack of conviction, but continual transplants arealways stunted in growth. We must remember thatthe church is necessarily made up of imperfect menand women—saints in the making. Let us lookbeyond the scaffolding round the building to thearchitect's plans, and go to Christ for our conceptionof what the church will be when perfected. One greatdanger to-day is the laxity concerning sin. Thewarning note is obscured by the wooing note. Bothare necessary. In giving attention to social problemsthe church is in danger of losing its mystical element.Faith and works must not be divorced. The busi-ness of the church is to incarnate the Holy Spiritin holiness of life, and power with men. The troubleis not always the preacher—a praying church makesa good preacher. Sameness and tameness inmethod, cant and insincerity in life, must be avoidedat all costs. The spirit of bitterness, controversy,intolerance, and false emotionalism must be reso-lutely barred. Let there be more prayer to Godand less argument with men, less polemic and moreexposition of the Word. Above all, let us take heartthat it is Christ's Church, and "the gates of Hadesshall not prevail against it ."

An impressive communion service conducted byRev. E. N. Goring followed this address.

Wednesday morning began with a fine prayermeeting on behalf of the Easter Camps, led byMr F. W. Horner, and the rest of the morning wasspent in the discussion of two useful subjects.

"The observance of the Lord's Day was intro-duced by the Rev. A. J. Grigg, B.A., B.D., who,deprecating a merely negative attitude towards thesubject, traced the origin and history of the Sabbath,the perversions of Judiasm, the teaching and prac-tice of Jesus, the Apostolic practice and witness, andset forth the positive content of the Christian use ofthe Lord's Day. Against the legalism of the SeventhDay Adventist, the doctrine of merit of the RomanCatholic, and the spiritual deadness of the secularist,with his "Continental Sunday," let us not only keep,but use the Lord's Day, filling it with its positiveand pre-eminently spiritual content of rest, worship,service, family religion, all undertaken in the spiritof abounding joy. Mr C. A. Gaze opened a profit-able discussion on the subject.

Rev. C. D. Gardiner spoke on "How to bringpeople into effective church membership," and madepractical suggestions regarding a definite objective,personal evangelism, special missions, more prayer,and a deeper spiritual life. There should be nodrones in a church, and we must make our oppor-tunities, especially for the young people. Mr W.Teeboon, speaking from the B.C. standpoint, gavea spirited challenge to older Christians to take apersonal interest in the young and find them workto do.

Heartiest votes of thanks were enthusiasticallygiven to the Hawera folk for their generous hospi-tality, which included most welcome morning andafternoon tea, which helped to counteract the chill ofthe abnormal weather.

The Conference terminated with a charming andconvulsing lecture by the Rev. F. E. Harry on "Acure for the blues," which we hope will yet be givenin many of our churches with equal effect. The col-lection for the Hawera cause amounted to £23.

The invitation of the three Wanganui churchesto hold the Conference there in 1925 was accepted,and that of Palmerston North was accepted for 1926.

HON. GILBERT CARSON, WANGANUI.

Not to the roll of muffled drum, not to the soundof a "volley" fired above his grave, but with allthe marks of public and private respect was GilbertCarson—Maori war veteran, and "good soldier ofJesus Christ"—laid to rest in the Wanganui Cemeteryon the morning of March 6.

He had "served his generation by the will ofGod" in many capacities during a long life. Hewas 81 when God called him home, and for thegreater part of that time he had openly followed theChrist, the King.

In committee and in board room, on the publicplatform and from the Mayoral chair, in the Houseof Representatives and in the Legislative Council,he never hesitated to honour the principles of theKingdom of Christ. He spoke that which he knewand was not ashamed. He never odiously obtrudedhis faith on men or on meetings; but when hespoke one could not doubt where he stood.

As editor of the Wanganui Chronicle for manyyears he wielded a clean and righteous pen. Asproprietor and chairman of directors he consistentlycontrolled the policy of the paper with a view of civicand national well-being. As a platform man MrCarson was known throughout the Dominion asamong the most forceful. It has often been saidthat he was at his best when opposed or heckled.His delightful repartee was always in good humourand in good taste. In him, the prohibition causehas lost one of its most fearless and effective plat-form exponents.

In and around Wanganui Mr Carson was a localpreacher eagerly sought after. A ripe spiritualexperience, a ready command of language, and afine fund of apposite illustration combined to lifthis pulpit utterances to a very high rank.

His long and honourable connection with theIngestre Street Church is known throughout thedenomination. From the time of its foundation—43years ago—till the day when the Home-call came,he mainained a keen and affectionate interest in itswork; sharing its burdens and rejoicing in its pro-gress. Pastors have come and gone, but GilbertCarson, continuing through the years, has been thegenial friend and kindly counsellor of them all.


The Passing of a Good Soldierof Jesus Christ.


Until the illness which befel him about six yearsago, it was a rare thing for him to be absent froma Baptist Union Conference. He served on ourcommittees with distinction, and in 1904 filled thepresidential chair with dignity and felicity. Thereare yet among us not a few who remember his presi-dential address, in which he answered with a con-vincing negative the question, "Is Christianity aspent force?"

Until the Home-going of his life-partner a fewyears since "the Carson's home" was the centre ofa radiant Christian hospitality of which many scoreshave been glad recipients. Life's evening tide hasbeen spent in the home of his eldest daughter, MrsWill Gaze, amid tokens of quiet devotion and affec-tion.

We bore his dust to the grave with the UnionJack enshrouding the casket. It was in some sort anemblem of the life he had lived. He had been asoldier on warfare under the standard of his Kingand Lord. He had fought the good fight. But hishope was in the Cross.—S. J.

Book Notices.

At Rest.MRS JONATHAN HILL.

By the death of this venerable lady, which tookplace in the local hospital on February 29, our OxfordChurch has lost one of its oldest and most ardentadherents. Born at East Quantixhead, Somerset-shire, England, in 1837, she was baptised and re-ceived into church fellowship at 17 years of age.Some ten years later, in company with her father,brother, and sister, she migrated to New Zealand.In 1874 she married Mr Jonathan Hill, pastor of theOxford Church, and at once took an active part inthe work of the church and Sunday School, par-ticularly among the young people. Among otherthings she originated the Good Friday Tea andSocial Gathering, which for many years has beenan annual event of importance. After a considerableperiod Mr and Mrs Hill were transferred to the NorthIsland, where they engaged in home mission work,specially in the back country. Mrs Hill's effortson behalf of the children there is still gratefullyremembered. During her declining years, whichwere spent in the home of Mrs Howard Bunn, heronly surviving child, her eyesight gradually failed;but her interest in the cause of Christ generally,and the Baptist denomination particularly, lost noneof its keenness, and her own spirit was continuouslyrefreshed by the Scriptures stored in her memoryduring her youth. Her influence among the childrenof the home circle was "like unto leaven." Aftera brief service at her own church, she was buried inthe Oxford Cemetery on the afternoon of Sunday,March 2.—J. K. A.

Correspondence.

To THE EDITOR.

I am much obliged for the very cordial receptionaccorded to the Baptist History in Outline. I regretthat some printer's errors occur in it, my correc-tion of proofs was less careful than it should havebeen; only one of these errors calls for comment; onpage 8 the date re the posting of Luther's thesesis given as 1527; it should be 1517, a stroke of thepen will effect the correction.—Yours faithfully,

ALFRED NORTH.Dunedin, March 24.

We acknowledge the receipt from Angus andRobertson, of Sydney, a copy of the fourth Aus-tralian edition of Henry Ford's Life and Work. Tosay that it is a capital book is to talk tripe. It isa book that gives men furiously to think. It is fullof a sane optimism—the sort that grows in an un-developed country, and is harder of achievement inEurope. The book is full of crisp pieces forpreachers. It rebukes gloriously speculative busi-ness, and the silly lie that all business is a gamble.Ford is one of the greatest living specimens of thegenus homo.

Hodder and Stoughton have published at 6s net,from the pen of Dr Geo. Jackson, an appreciationof S. F. Collier, of the Manchester Mission. Per-haps the prettiest picture is of a dead-beat standingat attention before Collier's picture after he hadgone West and saying "You're the man wot wasalways sorry for coves like I ." It is a fine story ofChristian pluck and also of the unobtrusiveness of agreat gentleman. Collier was a pathfinder, and inthe present impasse, new Colliers are urgentlyneeded. The reading of this book may jolt somegood man out of the ruts. Plenty are in them.

A new preacher has been discovered in Scotland.The Rev. Hubert L. Simpson made a hit with hisfirst book, addressed to men, without a theologicalmind. We don't mind saying that that is pretty nearlyeveryone. He has followed his success with a secondbook, published by Hodder and Stoughton, at 7s 6dnet, and called "Put Forth by the Moon." It is aseries of sermons on unusual passages in the OldTestament. He finds his title in a quaint comparisonof the Old Testament to the moon and the new tothe sun. The first sermon is on "Putting a Godto bed." And is based on the narrative of MichalSaul's daughter. It gives fine scope for a verytrenchant treatment. Mr Simpson has the flaire of apreacher. No one who wants to know what themodern pulpit is doing can neglect him.

This department is suffering a severe loss bythe departure of its organising secretary and con-vener, the Rev. L. B. Busfield, who, with his wifeand family, will have sailed for England in the s.s.Remuera. He expects to be away for about sixmonths, and is to represent the Auckland SundaySchool Union at the great Convention in Glasgownext June.

All Sunday School workers will join with theExecutive in wishing "good hunting" during histrip and a safe return to the land of his adoption.

During his absence all correspondence for theDepartment is to be addressed to the Chairman, MrW. H. Newton, 68 Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn,Auckland.

"Falling leaves tell of autumn's approach, andApril tells of Sunday School examinations coming.We want all teachers and scholars to "get busy,"and in addition to careful study of the prescribedlessons, the juniors are advised to read carefullythe account of baptisms recorded in the Gospels andActs; the seniors to study the Rev. A. North's Primeron Baptism. Special questions will be set in allgrades.

STEVEN'S HEALTH SALT is the Salt that sweetens life. Try a dose first thing in the mornlng.

DEATH.BRADFIELD.—On March 13, at her residence,

"Riverside," Owaka Valley, Barbara A, relict ofAlfred Bradfield, and dearly beloved sister of Wm.M'Kenzie, Inverness, Scotland; aged 64 years.

Young People's Department.


OPENING OF THE NEW CHURCH BUILDING.

After many months without a spiritual home theSouth Dunedin Baptists took possession of their newbuilding on March 9. Prior to the opening servicesa special prayer meeting was held to invoke God'sblessing. The attendance was excellent. No addresswas given, but men and women earnestly prayed forGod's guidance and blessing, the burden of almostevery prayer being that the building might be thespiritual birthplace of many a precious soul.

The services on the Sunday were thronged, andin the evening fully 400 people crowded into thechurch and numbers were reluctantly turned away. .The building is designed to seat 300 only, so thatnumerous forms and chairs, had to be brought intouse.

The morning service was taken by the Secretaryof the Union, the Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles, who gavea most inspiring and helpful address. At the com-munion service held at the close and at which theRev. Alfred North presided, a large number re-membered our Lord's death "till He come." In theevening the Rev. G. Thornton spoke from Haggai 2,7 and 9: "And I will fill this house with glory, saiththe Lord of Hosts" and "the glory of this latter houseshall be greater than of the former." The speakerreferred to the many workers who had gone forthfrom the old church and of the splendid work donefor the Master by the Oxford Street Baptists. Heurged all to re-dedicate their lives to the service ofthe Christ so that the words of the text might beliterally fulfilled. The Sunday School held specialservices in the afternoon at which the Rev. Mr Kemp-ton was the speaker.

During the following week the special serviceswere continued, and on the Tuesday a young people'sevening was held, at which items were given by ayoung people's choir, and members of the variousBible Classes. Helpful addresses were given by theRevs. E. Evans and L. J. B. Smith and Mr J. J.Purdie.

The Wednesday was devoted to prayer and con-secration, the service being presided over by theRev. Chas. Dallaston.

On the Thursday a tea meeting was held at 6.30p.m. in the Reid Hall, kindly lent to us by the SouthDunedin Presbyterians. Two hundred people satdown to a tea arranged by the ladies of the church.

The public meeting followed at 7.30 p.m., whenthe church was again crowded out. The meetingwas made as representative as possible and addresseswere accordingly given by the Revs. H. K. Kempton(Hanover Street), Rev. R. Fairmaid (Presbyterian),Rev. B. Metson (Methodist), Mr Botting (for theChurch of Christ), and Messrs W. J. Bardsley, H. H.Driver, and W. Ashton. Musical items were ren-dered by a number of friends, and as on the Sundayso at this meeting, special anthems were rendered bythe choir under the baton of Mr D. Robb.

The building, although of plain design, has beenopenly admired by numbers of friends and thosewho have contributed to the cost of its erection havecause to be proud of this new House of God. Thedeficit at the opening was £400, but this has sincebeen reduced by £50. And it is hoped that in thecourse of a few years the remaining shortage willhave been met.

HAMILTON BAPTISTCHURCH.

Opening of New Building.

Contrary to the prognostication of the Herald'smeteorologist, who warned us to look out for thunder-storms during the week-end, Sunday, March 16, brokefine and clear and continued so throughout the day.We counted it a distinct mark of the Divine favour.A more perfect day could not have been desired.The day's proceedings were initiated by a prayermeeting in the old building at which a goodly num-ber of the saints invoked the blessing of the MostHigh upon all the functions of the day. It provedto be thoroughly worth while for the prayers wereabundantly answered. At 10.45 the congregationassembled in front of the new building and, afterour pastor had opened the door and "declared thebuilding upen to the worship and praise of God,"sang No. 646 in the Hymnal. This was followed by adedicatory prayer by the pastor. Then flowed a steadystream of worshippers into the new House of Goduntil within a few minutes after the time for com-mencement, when it was found impossible to accom-modate any more, and a number had to be turnedaway. The first item was the singing of the TeDeum by the choir. Rev. H. G. Hercus presidedand Rev. F. E. Harry (of Wellington) preached.Your correspondent recognises that pressure on yourspace precludes any particularisation of the pointsof the sermon. Suffice it to say that it was based onthe text, "For a day in Thy courts is better than athousand," and was an impressive appeal not to"forsake the assembling of ourselves together," asregular attendance at public worship is most essen-tial to the maintenance of the spiritual life at a highlevel. Rev. M. Lascelles, as general secretary ofthe denomination, was also kind enough to come upand offer, on behalf of the Union, his cordial con-gratulations. He also tendered a gracious tributeto the Hamilton Church's liberality to the funds forthe carrying on of Home and Foreign Missions, theladies of the B.W.M.U. generally leading in the con-tributions. Acknowledgment was also paid to ourloyalty to Baptist beliefs and principles. The anthem"Send out Thy Light" was rendered by the choir,to whom, and to Mr Newman, the conductor, a specialword of praise is due for their splendid singing.There was a young people's service in the after-noon, presided over by Rev. M. Lascelles. Rev.F. E. Harry gave the address, which was attentivelylistened to by a large gathering. The evening ser-vice was a most memorable one, the building beingtaxed to its utmost capacity to accommodate thehuge throng that came, every available foot beingutilised—in the porch as well as inside. Rev. Harrypreached with impassioned eloquence, which thrilledand inspired his audience. Everyone present musthave felt the preacher's irresistible appeal to allto give their whole-hearted allegiance to the church,which is altogether worthy of our best support. Asin the morning, a special offering was taken up, thetotal for the day reaching just over a hundred pounds.The choir, on whom high econiums were passedfor their beautiful singing and so contributing solargely to the success, of the service, rendered theanthems "The Radiant Morn has Passed Away" and"How Lovely are The Messengers." Mrs Lonsdalesang with very pleasing effect Jude's setting of "Rockof Ages." A very large number remained to a com-munion service which followed, and several new mem-bers were received in. The celebrations were con-tinued on the Monday when a tea meeting was heldat the conclusion of which impromptu speeches were

SOUTH DUNEDIN.



made by Mr J. Martin, an elder, by Mr Jas. Wilson(lately returned from Los Angeles Bible TrainingInstitute), and by Rev. F. Parry. Then came a publicmeeting at which the Mayor presided, and whichwas addressed by ministers of the local churchesand by Revs Harry and Hercus. A present of agold watch and chain was made to Mr Maisey, thehonorary architect, who was warmly complimentedon his beautiful design. Many cordial referenceswere made by the various speakers to the love,honour, and esteem in which our pastor is held notonly in the community but in the Dominion. Byfar most of the credit for the great growth of thechurch, rendering the erection of the new buildingnecessary, was due to him. The promises and offer-ings at this meeting amounted to £98. MrsM'Gregor and Mr Newman contributed solos, andthe choir three anthems.

Secretarial Notes.Self-denial.—May 4 to 11.—Will members, ad-

herents, and Baptists in the country districts prayand plan largely for the coming effort. Our needsare growing at home and abroad, and we want allto have a share in the great work. Let all obeythe Divine injunction—"Deny ourselves and followthe Christ."

"Baptist."—Subscriptions for this year are nowdue. Will subscribers help the collectors andmanagement by paying early.

Prizes for New Subscribers.—To the members ofthe Young Men's and Young Women's Bible Classes.In view of the special effort being made by the BibleClass Unions to secure sufficient new subscribers toenable each Union to control a page in the "Baptist ' 'two cash prizes are being offered, one of 12s 6dand one of 7s 6d to the member who secures thelargest number of subscribers during the next fourmonths. Those competing must send names andaddresses through their class secretary to theManager, P.O. Box 693, Wellington. The class towhich the winner belongs will receive 10s 6d towardsits funds.

Lady Doctor.—It will be remembered that atConference mention was made of the likelihood ofobtaining the services of a lady doctor. The ladyin question, Miss M. F. Varley, writes to say thatshe is uncertain as to her future sphere of service.

Legacy.—Our esteemed brother, the late Mr G.H. Maunder, has bequeathed £200 to the AnnuityFund, and £200 to the Missionary Society.

Dallaston Testimonial.—Will church treasurerskindly remit amounts contributed without delay.

VISITATION OF CHURCHES.

Oamaru.—I had pleasure in spending a Sundaywith our friends, who enjoy the faithful teaching oftheir pastor, Rev. R. Robertson.

Owaka.—The annual meeting was held duringmy visit, at which I presided. Mr J. H. Stephenshas been labouring very faithfully during the vacancyin the pastorate. The members are in good heart.They start the year with a credit balance and arelooking forward to times of blessing on the adventof their new minister.

Gore.—The cause here is not very strong buthopeful. The minister, Rev. Eccersall, is very ener-getic both in the church and in the civic life of theplace.

Invercargill.—Both minister and people are re-joicing at the spiritual prosperity of the church. Atthe Bible Class tea over forty young men and womentook part. Baptisms are frequent.

North Invercargill.—Here too, Pastor Day is re-ceiving much encouragement. Congregations are

good, conversions frequent, and the church is pros-pering and members happy.

South Dunedin.—The minister, Rev. Guy Thorn-ton, and his energetic wife, are being rewarded fortheir faithful labours. The new church with itsup-to-date equipment is attracting the people to hearof the Great Evangel.

Mornington.—The new minister, Rev. Thus.Weston, was inducted during my visit. The peopleare happy in their choice of a pastor who will havethe cordial support of several faithful men andwomen.

North-East Valley.—This church, under theleadership of the Rev. S. Morris, is doing good workin the Valley. The equipment here is very satis-factory.

Caversham and Roslyn.—I did not have time tovisit these churches, but the Revs. E. Evans and L.J. B. Smith are both rendering good service andmeeting with a very ready response.

Hanover Street.—This church, with its hallowedassociations, is maintaining its testimony in the largesouthern city under the able guidance of its pastor.Preparations are in hand for a Young People's cam-paign for the winter months.

Hamilton.—I had great pleasure in taking part inthe opening services of the new church (full par-ticulars are given in another column). There is avery healthy tone and spirit of loyalty in this church.The Rev. Hercus and his wife are much beloved bythe people, and after nine years of service areesteemed most highly for their work's sake.


We have received from the Carey Press threevolumes which go far to supply a long-felt need inorganising interesting meetings for the young. Thefirst is a book of Missionary Recitations for Juniors,with a selection of dialogues and concerted pieces.The second is a companion volume, Missionary Reci-tations for Seniors. The recitations and readingstraverse almost every mission field, and cover themany forms of missionary enterprise; giving, prayer,work by children, and among children, work amongwomen, medical work, and the noble heroes who havefought under the missionary banner. With these twovolumes no one need to be at a loss to organise ahighly interesting and instructive missionary meetingfor children and young people. They are edited byMr W. E. Cule, and the published price is sixpencenet. The third volume, is called "The MissionarySpeaker and Reader." It comprises most of the itemscontained in the first-mentioned volumes, with addedreadings suitable for public missionary meetings,women's guilds, or Bible Class rallies and camps.The book is compiled with care. It is worthy of aplace in the mission section of every library; andevery Bible Class leader should possess a copy. Theprice (paper covers) is 1s 6d net. Though it comesfrom a Baptist mission press, the items would beappropriate for a missionary meeting of any church.

Baptisms.North Invercargill—Two. Pastor Day.Invercargill—Eight. Rev. J. Carlisle.Gisborne—Two. Rev. F. A. Crawshaw.Ashburton—Two. Pastor Matthews.Oxford Terrace—Two. Rev. J. J. NorthSt. Albans—Two. Mr L. Crampton.Opawa—Six. Rev. L. Barbour.Hamilton—Two. Rev. H. G. Hercus.Lyall Bay—Two. Rev. H. E. Edridge.Mount Eden—Six. Rev. A. Clark

Helps for Missionary Meetings.





All Y.W.B.C.U. amounts collected by District Treasurers to besent to the Dominion Treasurer, Miss M. Beckingsale, 16 Montaguestreet, North-East Valley, Dunedin.

To the Church Correspondents.Dear Fellow Scribblers,—Your columns are the

best read pages of the New Zealand Baptist. Youare the narrators of passing: events and of history.That you may continue to be as popular as you areis the earnest desire of the editor. As much spaceas is at all possible is given to you. If you are toremain readable you must neither puff nor pad. Youmust tell the greater things that happen vividly andtruly. It is not possible to find space every monthfor every one of our churches. Some of our corre-spondents seem to think that the bottom will dropfrom the universe if they do not figure twelve timesa year in our columns. Nothing of the sort. Sixtimes is quite good for our smaller churches. Whenit is considered that about 60 correspondents are onthis job it will be seen that monthly appearances ofall would drown the "Baptist.'" When anything isdoing write. And when you keep silence may thelire be burning for next month's outbreak. A greatdeal may be assumed when you are writing to us.The eloquence of your minister for instance, and theskill of your soloists, and the beauty of your cabbagesat harvest time. That sort of thing is common to usall. Give us as nearly as you can the things thatmake the history of the Kingdom of God amongstyou. Watch the editor's treatment of the copy yousend down. Omitted lines are blue pencilled becausespace is tyrannical or because they are not quitejournalese—as we understand that term. We areworkers together in this ministry of publicity. Letus still do better.—Yours truly,

THE EDITOR.

On February 28 Mrs T. E. Toneycliffe, DominionPresident of our Women's Missionary Union,addressed a gathering of 80 women in the tastefullydecorated School Hall at Oxford Terrace. The vice-president for Canterbury, Mrs A. S. Adams, occupiedthe chair, and Mrs J. Takle was also on the platform.Members were present from each of the five Christ-church branches, and four of the country branchessent greetings.

Mrs Adams read the Scripture, and sevearlprayers were offered. A vocal solo was rendered byMiss Dudney. A letter from Miss Cowles told of ahopeful outlook in some of the villages recentlyvisited.

Mrs Toneycliffe's account of her visit to ourmission stations in Bengal gave her hearers a betterrealisation of the difficulties under which our ladyworkers are labouring. She dealt with some phasesof the work that are not often mentioned by themissionaries themselves thus revealing their prayer-ful and patient optimism in the face of much apparentindifference and open opposition. At both Brahman-baria and Chandpur, women and girls are respondingto the Gospel message that is being so faithfullyproclaimed. The news of Miss Rice's recovery fromsevere illness, and of the Misses Arnold's and Peters'success in their first language examination were re-ceived with great gladness.

Auckland District Girls' EasterCamp.

MANUREWA PUBLIC SCHOOL(15 miles from Auckland).

Bible Study Circles, Inspirational Meetings,Competitions for Evan's Cup, Sports, Rambles, andVisit to our Children's Home.

Auckland Girls and Country Classes, try theexperiment of an Easter Camp amid ideal surround-ings.

Particulars from Class Leaders or Camp Sec-retaries:—

HILDA GRIGG, Bayfield School, Auckland.GWEN STAPLES, 36 Ponsonby Terrace, Auckland.


South Island Young Women'sB.C. Camp.

Do you want to play Tennis at Easter?Do you want a dip in the Briny?Do you want to win the Sports Cup?Do you want to win the Speech Cup?Do you want four days of good comradeship?Do you want a great uplift in your spiritual life?

THEN COME TO T I M A R U ! !.MEET OLD FRIENDS. MAKE NEW ONES.

Arrangements being made for 160 Campers.Full particulars now available from class secretaries.

We are sorry that we are compelled to sacrificeour leading article, and other matter, owing topressure on space.

APRIL, 1924.


To whom should be sent all communications regarding the dis-semination of Baptist literature in our Sunday Schools and churches.

Editor:REV. J. J. NORTH, Christchurch.



Business Manager: REV. M. W. P. LASCELLES.All business communications to be addressed to the Manager,


B.W.M.U.

"NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST."Direct subscriptions received from February 18,

1024, to March 18, 1924.—To December, 1924—MrsE. Parkes, B. Blick, J. W. Manchester, G. Crocombe,T. H. Lammas, A. H. Clapson, Miss B. Golder, W.J. Gibbs, J. Gibbs, W. J. Richardson, E. Fitness,Mrs H. Wall, Miss M. E. Freeman, .Mrs J. Sheate,Dr Howard, J. A. Valentine, A. W. Pannett, W.Hart, Rev. J. T, Turnbull, J. Knights, 4s each. MissM. Brown, 8s, to June, 1924. E. Harrison, 4s, toDecember, 1922. Mrs Clark, 4s, to December, 1923.Miss J. A. Bremner, 4s, to June, 1924. F. A. Cleve-land, 4s, to March, 1925. Mrs Wilson, 5s, toMarch, 1925. Mrs Potter, 8s, to December, 1925.

Crowding out the Editor.

April, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST,


the " B a p t i s t " to be sent to the Missionary Editor,Rev. Stanley Jenkin, Wanganui.

"May Week"—the first in the month—from 4thto 11th. Let us bind these dates upon our hands,and keep them as frontlets before our eyes. "TheWeek" must not come upon us unawares. It isthen perhaps more than at any other time duringthe year that our churches, as such, really begin to"practice the presence" with a most definite objectin view. We do not mean that prayer with us neverbegins to be definite until the Week of Prayer comesround; but that our praying forces are more definitelyorganised for specific prayer than at any other time.So, though we are yet at a month's distance fromthis special means of grace, let us begin to planfor it now. Let "the first week in May" be the bigdate in our denominational calendar. Let prayer withus be both business and sacrament. To pray wellmay involve self-denial as well as to give well. Andso we link the twain in a blessed wedlock of conse-cration. Let not "the week" be looked upon as athing to be endured, but as an occasion to be gladlyanticipated. We notice that the London MissionarySociety have been observing a month of self-denial.Think of the courage the heroism of such a steptaken at such a time as this. In the Old Land theyhave been passing through a winter of unprecedentedunemployment and hardship and poverty.

Yet the leaders of the L.M.S. called their peopleto observe a month of self-denial!! And the peoplewould respond. We have not yet been told themeasure of their response, but it will be something"worthy" of "the Lamb who was slain."

Let our response, in a land where the spectre ofreal want is seldom seen, be worthy.

REMEMBER THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY.

Answers to Correspondents.BY " T H E LISTENER."

E.W.C. asks: What are the chief methods employed in the efforts to reach the men in our ownfield?

Practical evangelism occupies the average day."The Morning Watch" at seven o'clock is "therefresher of the eyes" of the missionary and Bengalibrethren before they separate for the morning work.There are interested ones in the villages to visit;the intimate personal dealing.,with men is usually themost fruit-bearing bough.

Market preaching is not so fruitful; some mis-sionaries think it should be abandoned, but our Ben-gali brethren, like Paul at Athens, who disputedwith the Athenians in the market place, have open-air sites in many bazaars, usually under shady trees,where they sing, preach, and answer questions. Inour field it is possible to find a different marketevery day of the year. As crowds of men (womenare not allowed to do their own shopping) gatherin the afternoon, it is a splendid opportunity forreaching the greatest number. Even if results arenot visible, bazaar preaching is an excellent adver-tisement of our presence in the locality, where thepeople, mostly illiterate, can make nothing of aprinted notice.

As it is not the custom for Bengalis in our fieldto attend evening meetings, our workers sometimesgo to villages and show the lantern pictures of thestory of Jesus. A sheet spread on an outside wallof a house, makes the picture clear to a crowd seatedon the ground. The lantern is one of the bestmethods that can be used, for under the cover ofdarkness women as well as men venture out to seeand listen to the good news. The double attackon Mansoul through eye gate, and ear gate, is veryeffective. But with continual political convulsion,these services are sometimes impracticable sincein the darkness clods of earth are thrown at thelantern and the buzz of conversation, deliberatelyindulged in to annoy and make the message inaud-ible. Still in school houses it is possible to cam-on this work, and Mr Hunter finds many openings.

Of Bible Classes, the distribution of literature andday schools, much might be told for they all comeunder the "chief method" used.

Zeta asks: Is the influence of Sadhu SundarSingh exerted among all castes, and outcaste peoplein India?

Sadhu Sundar Singh is a type of preacher whoawakens a deep response in the heart of the Indian,whether Christian or non-Christian, for his modeof life follows the ancient Hindu ideal that a religiousman discards the comforts of married life and re-nounces the world for God. But in him there is noidentity of type with the ash-besmeared, sensual, half-vacant Sadhus or holy men of modern Hinduism.Rather, he has points in common with St. Paul andSt. Francis of Assisi, the important exception beinghis individualism; so far as we know he hasorganised no churches and founded no Orders. Thismay account for the sparsity of news concerningthe results of his work. He looks upon Tibet as hisfield of missionary activity, where he spends half histime wandering about preaching the Gospel, andwhere he has suffered terrible persecution.

Lorna writes: The statement is sometimes madethat India is half full of secret disciples of Christ. Isthe statement justified in your judgment? And issecret discipleship in India excusable in the light ofgreat persecution?

The statement is exaggerated. There arenumerous secret disciples of Christ in India, andvastly more non-Christians who admire Christ andlook upon Him as an ideal, but who fail to applyHis principles to their character and conduct, and seeno necessity to honour His claims. Christ demandsall or nothing. He expected His followers to be readyto suffer persecution and martyrdom. The primitiveChristians suffered a thousandfold more than thepresent-day converts in India have done.

Some argue that the secret disciple maygradually win his kinsfolk and others to the Saviourbetter than the man who leaves all and burns hisboats behind him. But in India that is not thecase; rather, small spiritual benefit comes to theconvert and still less to the community through him,unless his witness has the clear cut decision ofbaptism.

Two Hindus of Brahmanbaria were ready forbaptism, but failed to appear, because of the pair,it would give their wives and families. Had theycome and stood steadfast, their families wouldprobably have followed them in time; it has happenedin so many cases. After turning their backs on thesacrament of decision they showed no inclination totalk about Christ; the light had gone out of theirlives.

Sadhu Sundar Singh urges men to open confession. To his mind the courage to confess Christ,and the duty of flinging oneself into the work ofwitnessing for Christ, are the essence of trueChristianity.

69

Week of Prayer and Self-denial.


"Keith Rimmer," a Well-known "Grange-Roader."Mr Rimmer is on the staff of the Sudan United Mission.

The New Regime.

INDIA IN TRANSITION.(CONCLUDED.)

By REV. J. TAKLE, in Lyttelton Times.

The Indian people are not a single nation. Theyare as divided as the nations of Europe and so farthey have no consistent and workable unity. Theylack a common will. The Punjab is straining inone direction and Bengal in another. It is the oldstory of divisions embittered by hereditary jealousiesand suspicions. They are the growth of the Indiansoil. Mahatma Gandhi, India's saint and patriot,has tried to fuse all the different elements andobliterate political and religious distinctions; he hasurged the need of social reform and the uplift of the"untouchable" outcasts. But such appeals havefailed to unite the people of India to a soundpatriotism. Gandhi is in advance of his time. Mul-titudes, however, agree with him in a common opposi-tion to the foreign government, and the demand forimmediate and complete independence.

The rapproachment between the Hindus andMohammedans is wholly political; it is a pretenceof unity, the product of a common hate of whitedominance. The ill-feeling that has marked thehistory of the two sects is well known. ManyMohammedan villagers in the course of conversationexpress their views in this way: "We do not love theHindus. If the British depart, we will submit to noHindu Raja, but will appoint a Moghul of our ownchoosing, who will carry on in the name of Allah andthe tradition of Akbar. We number in India aloneeighty million followers of the Prophet Mohammed,on whom be peace. Should our efforts fail, thereare Afghans and the Frontier tribes—all Mohamme-dans—who are ready to came to our help.'' Such isthe solidarity of Islam.

The Hindu-Mohammedan, problem makes thenew political outlook in India anything but hopeful.They cannot fuse, for a Mohammedan's creed is moreto him than country and patriotism. For the momentthere is an attempt at union, but the Mohammedanmust keep an insincere silence and suppress a greatdeal. What about the injunctions of the Koran,which forbid an unholy alliance with "polytheists?"He has to close his eyes to the Hindu idol worshiparound him.

The religious question has always been uppermostbetween these two sections of the population. Everyyear a certain Mohammedan festival is held at whichcows are sacrificed. It has been so ordered in theKoran. The Hindu sacred books forbid the slayingof cows and the eating of their flesh. The cow isa goddess and must be worshipped. These conflict-ing ideas usually lead to a clash of sticks, rioting,and broken heads. What is the solution of a diffi-culty like this? Those of the Gandhi cult, mostlyHindus, urge the Mohammedans to restraint andself-denial in the abolishing of cow-sacrifice, butwhen they themselves are asked to cut out idolatrythere is a deadlock, and everything, including thepitched battles, continue as usual.

Hindus will not easily forget that but the otherday the fanaticism of the Moplah Mohammedans wasshown in the forced conversion of over one thousandHindu men, women, and children to the Mohamme-dan faith. Others who caused obstruction werekilled. One wondered whether this kind of fanaticismwould increase in India under the new rulers whoseexperience is limited.

Then the progress made by the Hindus under theBritish has created jealousy in the Moslems, who areproud of the dynasties of Mohammedan kings, andwho for a long period spurned our race, language,and government, and clung to the classical Persianand Moghul court language. The Hindus saw theiropportunity. They studied English and preparedthemselves to help their new rulers, while the


Mohammedans were left far behind in the race forpositions in Government Departments.

These problems must be faced. There must bea sane solution. One thing is evident; in everysection of the community there must be restrai.itand self-sacrifice. Racial domination, whether Hindu,Mohammedan, or British, must cease, and a federa-tion of all the self-governing nations of the Empire,inclusive of different races, be encouraged. It maybe that such a federation would remove all fearsof the much-talked-of inter-racial world war.

The Founder of ModernMissions.

Scene—a village in Garoland, 25 miles fromBirisiri. Occasion—Garo annual meetings. Day—Sunday, February 9, 1920. According to custom atnoon the annual sermon had been preached. Thenfollowed the Communion. Some 600 Garos remainedin their improvised meeting-house, made of bambooposts and thatching grass, with straw for a carpet.The reverence was very marked, also the cleanlinessand interest of the people. The same wine and thesame bread as we take. It was a sight to make oneglad.

A few hours later we went for a walk towardssome heathen villages. We heard the tom-tomingof the drums and we went near. The villagers,headed by their priest, had just concluded the out-side ceremonies of their sacrifice. They had killedthe victim and had smeared its blood on the roughframe of bamboo that served as an altar. Theywere turning to pass into the house. We went withthem.

We learned that one of the men of the placewas dsperately ill. This, in the Garo's interpreta-tion, meant that some evil spirit had got him in itsgrip, and until the spirit was exorcised there wasno hope for his recovery. Hence the priest andthe sacrifice and the dancing.

We went in. The crowd followed. We weregiven seats, and then we watched the ceremony.The priest was dressed only in a narrow loin-cloth.He had a tuft of feathers on his head. In his righthand a sword, in his left a shield. He danced wav-ing his sword this way and that to ward off the evilspirit. Then he sat down and set before him onthe banana leaves laid out there, small heaps of riceand meat. This was for the evil spirit. He dancedon the food in token that the spirit had acceptedthe food. This was repeated. And all the timethere was the hideous beating of drums, and withit what was worse. From two earthen pots nearto where we sat two men were busy all the timeladling out beer brewed from their native rice. Oldmen and women, young men and young women, boysand girls, all partook; and, worse than that, eventhe babes in arms were treated to the accursed stuff.Noise and superstition, drunkenness and bestiality—these were in the place when we left, and we knowthat what we saw was not the worst that would bewitnessed.

The contrast was irresistible. We were glad thatthose six hundred had been gathered out of such apit as this!

Review of "William Carey" (S. Pearce Carey), by"Bibliophile,"' Literary contributor to the WanganuiChronicle.

Strictly speaking, William Carey can only becalled the founder of modern missions in so far asBritish Protestants are concerned. There have beenthree special mission periods in the history of theChristian Church, and modern missions m a y be saidto start shortly after the Reformation. The firstProtestant mission to India was projected by theKing of Denmark, and went out early in theeighteenth century. To William Carey belongs thehigh distinction of having been the first to inculcateeffectually upon his fellow-countrymen the duty andthe privilege of missions, and the first EnglishProtestant to engage personally in the work. Heand his co-adjutors had a hard battle to fight, andit is due to their singular discretion and inflexibledetermination that it was fought so well.

There have been several biographies of WilliamCarey, but a distinction must be drawn betweenthem and the present volume. The other worksdevoted more attention to the movement than toCarey, while this book aims at a personal picture—the disclosure of a man. S. Pearce Carey is a greatgrandson of his subject, and the mass of new materialthat he has obtained by infinite research and labour,is likely to make this the classic personal biographyof his great ancestor.

The book gives the history of the Careyfamily for several generations previous to the birthof William Carey, and has some graphic pictures ofEnglish country life in the eighteenth century. Evenas a small boy Carey had a deep interest in nature,and the hedgerows and meadows were haunts heloved more than the school playground. WilliamCarey left school at twelve years of age, and aftertwo years at gardening was put out as an apprenticeto the shoemaking craft. He married when twentyand for a number of years had a hard strugglefor existence, but even then he did not neglect mentaland spiritual things, and was laying the foundationsof that character that was to cast a glory on hispeople. In 1782 he was put upon the Baptist preach-ing list and ten years later he brought before hispeople that they should become Christ's world-ambassadors and dare on overseas mission. Theproject made way after some difficulty, and thescheme was finally launched with promises of sub-scriptions amounting to £13 2s 6d—a modest be-ginning for what became a strong and valuableorganisation.

William Carey was its first volunteer missionary,and after surmounting many heart-breakingobstacles, at last set sail for that India where hespent the forty remaining years of his life. Theseyears were full of struggle and effort, but glorifiedtowards the end by the success achieved by themission.

Carey had many personal afflictions which hebore with unexampled fortitude and patience. Onegifted son was taken away at the age of five years,and he had to suffer the loss of his wife after someyears of mental alienation. In some "lives" ofCarey the name of his wife has been subject to dis-praise, which the present author shows to be withoutfoundation.

The full account of Carey's life in India is anabsorbing recital, and every chapter shows the goodheart and great mind of a remarkable man. Carey-showed . a wonderful gift for languages, and in 1801was appointed Professor of Bengali at Fort William,an appointment that he held for nearly thirty years.

A Striking Contrast.By REV. HEDLEY SUTTON, in Our Indian Field.

As we go to press news comes of casualtiessuffered by Dr Amir Hossain, of Chandpur, and MissRice. The former was thrown off his bicycle, andsustained injuries to his wrists, while Miss Ricesustained a severe shaking through being thrown outof her rickshaw. We are thankful that the conse-quences were not more serious, and trust that wemay soon hear that all inconvenience has disappeared.


One chapter of this volume is taken up with fortystories of Indian wisdom and humour translatedfrom a book of Carey's which has long been out ofprint. The stories were of Carey's own gatheringand telling and are presented in English for the firsttime. Interesting in themselves, they also revealhow close Carey had got to the mind and soul of thenatives. William Carey did some extraordinary workin translations of the Bible, rendering it in wholeor in parts intto thirty-four languages in many ofwhich it still remains the standard translation.

While this work has been a labour of love to theauthor, he has compiled it with a care and a clear-ness of diction which will make it of interest to theordinary reader. It is the life of a great man, whofought valiantly through strenuous times, and whosework has left a legacy of inestimable value to futuregenerations.

Missionary Dialogues, etc.

The Missionary Editor has a small library ofMissionary Dialogues suitable for use at MissionaryDemonstrations in connection with our SundaySchools or C.E. Societies. Any class leader or Mis-sionary Convener may have the use of the bookletsby making application. The only condition imposedis that they be kept in good order so that they maydo service again. The list includes—"A ChildWidow" (a Zenana dialogue), "Missionaries to Tea,""Sowing and Reaping," "Parbati and her EnglishDoll," "A Brahman Marriage," "Building theUniversal Church."

Miss Arnold "Launching Outinto the Deep."

Dear Partners at Home,—About one and a-halfmiles to the south of the Mission House lies Bhada-ghar, one of the largest of the surrounding villages.From the road only a stretch of jungle can be seenand one wonders if it is really possible that suffi-cient houses for 4000 villagers could be hidden awayamong those trees

My first visit to this village was a few weeks ago,when, in company with Miss Cowles, I rode throughthe village to the school prize-giving.

"School" it may be called in the village, butit is really just a reading-class. A Hindu woman hasundertaken to teach the girls to read—being paidby a "contract system"—i.e., she receives so muchfor each step she teaches in the reading. The widowherself, though not well educated, finds that, witha little effort, it is worth while to each under thissystem.

Miss Cowles has been visiting this school regu-larly examining the children in reading and givingthem a Scripture lesson.

The school is a little mat hut with mud floorand no windows, for we are not now in a landbound by regulations as to light and ventilation.At one end is a bed with its piles of bed-clothes.Hanging on the rafters are saris, etc., which brushour heads as be pass to and fro. On the wall ishanging one of the Hindu idols. But our eyes passbeyond all this; for we are greeted by more thantwenty smiling little faces, and before long we aredecorated with numerous garlands. Prizes distributedto scholars and teacher, and arrangements are thenmade for the new Miss Saheb to take over this work.

Next Thursday, very tremblingly, but withjoyous heart, that I could at last attempt something,

I rode through the village to the school. To hearand examine twenty-five girls' reading and to findout what stage they had reached was an afternoon'swork, but, still, in very hesitating and broken Ben-gali, I attempted to give my first Bengali Scripturelesson in the school. At the end of the lesson, theteacher, bringing the gift received on prize day.asked me if I would please return it to Miss Cowles.Not satisfied with it she returned it in the hope ofreceiving something else.

As we look at the tender lives of these childrenour hearts are touched. Who can tell what theirfuture will be? Who can tell the sorrows or thejoys that lie before them? Would that each oneof them might know a Saviour's love. Many of themissionaries working in this land believe that India'sgreat hope for the future lies with the children. Doyou think these lives worth seeking? We ask thatto-day your prayers may be very definitely centredround the children, that they may come to the Saviourwhile they are yet young.—Your sincerely,

EILEEN ARNOLD.

Christ and India's SocialProblems.

By REV. E. C. ASKEW.

Can Christ remedy the social evils thatHinduism in particular has caused? And as I lookat Christ, I have no doubt that I must answer thisQuestion in the affirmative. I look for example firstof all at the caste system, and then at Christ, andI am certain that just in proportion as Jesus isaccepted by that great land of India, in that propor-tion will not only the caste system but the castespirit disappear. India cannot accept mankind'sdivine Brother without accepting mankind's brother-hood. And then take the position of India's women.Could that position possibly fail to rise if that Christwere Lord?

But my faith in the power of Christ to meeteven these social needs of India is certainly cor-roborated as I watch Him actually doing it. He hasalready raised numbers of those despised outcastesto a position never before deemed possible by thecaste men of India, and His spirit has been mostdistinctly responsible for the birth of all kinds ofreform associations. And Hindus often acknowledgethe debt of India to Christ in this direction. MrJ. N. Farquhar quotes one of the nationalist leadersof India as saying: "After all, when it comes topractice, Christianity alone is effecting what wenationalists are crying out for—namely, the elevationof the masses."

And so we may rejoice, not only that Christhas for India a great revelation of God—the veryone she has been looking for—not only that Hehas a great experience of God for that land, but apower that alike can transform the individual, mak-ing him a son of God, and society, making it thevery kingdom of God.

Therefore we may take our stand by the sideof the Apostle, and join him in his confident asser-tion saying: "For I am not ashamed of the Gospelof Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvationto every one." What? To every one? Yes—Whobelieves.

But how shall they believe in Him of Whomthey have not heard? and how shall they hear with-out a preacher? and how shall they preach exceptthey be sent? I have but one plea to make—thatby all means possible to us, we give them theopportunity of believing.—Missionary Herald.


The Children's Column.BY UNCLE OLIVER.

FALLING SEEDS.It is a terrible thing to find yourself falling,

falling, down through the nowhere into the unknown,and at last suddenly come to earth with a jerk. Fall-ing takes your breath away, it frightens you badly,and sometimes hurts very much.

Little Sycamore-Seed, a few moments before hadbeen nestling quite close to his brothers, hangingto a branch of the old family tree, and where manyor his relatives had been long before. They werequite content to go on swaying gracefully to and froin the sun, when suddenly the wind, as it sweptby, blew a mighty puff right at them, and in amoment all was confusion. Little Sycamore-Seedand his brothers were flung asunder and parted with-out goodbye. Their wings already spread caughtthe breeze, and they were soon tossed and twirled farapart. What a sight they made as they sped throughthe air, whizzing round and round, and after a longspiral descent falling to the ground.

Someone was watching—a young engineer—andhe, stooping to pick up Little Sycamore-Seed, noticedthe two wings turned in opposite directions, which hadmade the little chap revolve round and round beforehe fell, and to him there came the idea of the possi-bilities of steel turned like that for a screw propeller.To-day, if you go down to the great wharves wherethe big ships are, you will see great steel blades justpoking above water. They are fashioned very likethe wing of Little Sycamore-Seed, and make itpossible for the great liners to travel very fastthrough the water, and great airships similarlyequipped to soar through the clouds. Little Syca-more-Seed suggested the beginnings of these thingsin the long ago. When he fell to earth he had nofurther use for wings, but the little round brownknob that was attached to that wing opened, andfrom Little Sycamore-Seed there sprouted a fineyoung Sycamore Tree.

This is the time of falling seeds. Look out forthem; there are many kinds besides Little Sycamore,and Miss Dandelion, who sails away in a parachute,of whom we talked last month. Nature is very busyjust now scattering her young friends far and wide.They must scatter or else they would grow too closetogether, if they lived at all. So nature, which isbut another way of thinking of God, who made allchat is in nature, uses big blustering Mr Wind tohelp fulfil her purpose, and sometimes he playssome strange tricks.

If you go to some parts of Australia you willsee a rather peculiar shaped flower, that has a beautyall its own, but is usually kept at a safe distance bymost folk. No one wears it as a buttonhole, nobodyseems to want it in their gardens, and few are braveenough to handle it. People will tell you its nameis Sandy M'Kay's curse. Sandy came in the longago from a land far across the seas, and he longed fora sight of the flower that grew close by his oldhome. One day he wrote to his friends to send himsome seed of the flower, and in due course it came. Howproudly he opened the packet, and handled the seed,and then laid them down upon a bench outside thedoor till morning should give him time to plant them.That night the wind blew around those seed, andcaught them up with its breath and spread them farand wide, and behold in the morning Sandy's seedswere gone. But not many days after a strange plantbegan to show itself in the fields around, and in timethese had flowers and seeds of their own, and to-daySandy M'Kay's thistle is a terrible curse indeed.

Seeds are falling, they are meant to fall; becausethey are meant to grow. The wind carries the seed,birds carry it on their flight from place to place.

Sheep carry them in their woolly coats, and some-times so thick that they are difficult to get out whenthe spinner wants the wool. Yes, we should be care-ful of our seeds, and of the kind they are.

"Little seeds of kindness, little seeds of love.Make our earth an Eden, like the Heaven above."

To Sunday SchoolSuperintendents, Secretaries,and Leaders of Departments.Would you like to have arriving by post, everyfew weeks, a budget of interesting and usefulinformation concerning recent literature, move-ments, material and methods relating to the Sunday-

School?

This is a free service I am rendering to somethousands of Sunday School workers throughout

the Dominion.If you are not participating in this service, I inviteyou to forward your name and address, when I willsend you, for a start, two booklets, "How to Makethe S.S. ' G o ' " and "A Recruiting Campaign andHow to Conduct I t " ; also a beautiful reproductionin colour of Harold Copping's celebrated picture"The Hope of the World." You place yourselfunder no obligation. The only condition is thatyou are actively engaged in Sunday School work.




A Plea for Personal Evangelism.MR LESLIE CRAMPTON, B.A.

(Student for Baptist Ministry.)There is in existence a student organisation of

world-wide influence, which has as its motto, "Theevangelisation of the world in this generation." Alarge order, you say. And yet when we look atit more intently, the idea of world-wide evangelisa-tion in a single generation is not so preposterousas it might seem. Remember that it is only a littleover a century since William Carey preached in 1792the famous sermon from which modern missions datetheir commencement, and consider the number ofsocieties and the multitudes of men and women whoare devoted to the task of carrying the Gospel tothe uttermost parts of the earth. What might notbe accomplished in another generation with theSpirit of God allowed to work freely through thepresent organisation!

But it is not my intention to write about foreignmissions. They are a part of the scheme for world-wide evangelisation, a mighty part, it is true, whoseimportance can hardly be magnified, but yet only apart. What about evangelisation at home? Whatare we as individual church members doing? Ourministers preach the Gospel and we have some con-versions in our churches and many decisions in ourSunday Schools, but is that enough to win the worldfor Christ? If we are going to rely wholly andsolely upon the minister to lead people to Christwe will be unduly prolonging the process of winningthe whole world.



There is an avenue for service which is opento every church member—viz., personal evangelism.We hear little in the New Testament of the ApostleAndrew, as a great preacher or leader. But whenhe followed Jesus, "he first found his brother Simon,and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah!'"He brought him to Jesus, and the Saviour's magneticpersonality did the rest. Again, when Jesus foundPhilip, then Philip went and found Nathaniel andinvited him to "come and see" Jesus; and, what-ever Nathaniel's doubtings before he came, it wasnot long until Jesus had completely won the heartof that "Israelite indeed." Have you a personalfriend who needs to be led into the presence ofJesus? There is a work of which every churchmember should be capable.

Let us look at the possibilities. Suppose thattwelve people should set out to convert the world,and each one should bring to Christ one person in ayear, and persuade each of these twelve new disciplesto join in their campaign. Then in the next yeareach of these twenty-four should bring one personto Christ, and so on in unbroken progression. Howlong would it take to convert the world? Onethousand nine hundred years? No. One hundredyears? No. No, only 30 years—a single genera-tion.

But to come closer home. In the Baptist Unionof New Zealand there are 40 churches with amembership of over 50. Suppose that in each ofthose churches a band of 12 could be found whowould set themselves to lead one person to Christevery year, and suppose they could get those whomthey lead to Christ to join in the work, it would beonly a matter of 10 or 12 years until hundreds ofpeople would be leaving our shores in order tofind some one to lead to the Saviour. What a prospect!A young man's dreams! We shrink from so pre-sumptuous a task. But we ought to face up topossibilities like that and make them glorious reali-ties. What about starting a band of "One-a-year"workers in your church? Will you be one of thetwelve.

There are a few essentials for a "personal evan-gelist," if I may use the term. Not spare time, ormoney, or intellectual gifts above the average—theseare by no means essential. The first requisite is apersonal experience of the resurrection power ofChrist, a life sanctified by His presence, a lovekindled by His love. If we would show Christ toothers, it must be first by our life—He must "livein us ," that they may see the new life in us "beingremoulded so as to become like Him who created it ."Then we should be bubbling up with a suppressedexcitement at our "good news," like Philip: "Wehave found Him about whom Moses in the Lawwrote, as well as the Prophets—Jesus, the Son ofJoseph, a man of Nazareth." A divine enthusiasm,a passion for souls, will carry us far. These re-quisites can be developed, however, only in conjunc-tion with another essential thing—that is, the prayerlife. Meditation and communion, "feeding" uponChrist and His word are necessary to the growth ofthe life spoken of above. But prayer is necessaryin another direction also. Find some one, or perhapsmore than one person, whom you wish to lead toChrist during the coming year, and then begin topray for them. Pray for them constantly andearnestly and let them know you are praying forthem. They may laugh at first, but sooner orlater they must be won.

The glory of personal evangelism is that it doesnot require great talents, but simply devotedlives. We may all share in this work if we will.Have we only one talent? Let us use it in this way,for as we use it, it will increase; but if we leaveit hidden and buried we shall lose even that onetalent. Who knows but that like Andrew, we maybe bringing another Peter to the Saviour? Was it

not a labouring man who preached in a little Primi-tive Methodist chapel one cold, snowy morning inthe town of Colchester, who was responsible, underGod, for the conversion of England's greatestpreacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon? If'we cannotlead many souls to the Saviour, let us make it ouraim to bring one each year, and our influence willlive on through those we bring to the Lord we love.

The writer of this message to intending campershas been much taken to task for not making theMarch advertisement more "snappy"—he is toldthat he should have dwelt upon the beauties of theWillows, on the fact that it will be a real camp.All canvas. That swimming is "Jakaloo." That anathletic field is available. That the eatables are inexpert hands. That the "kamp koncert" will bebetter than ever That this will be the biggestS.I. camp yet held.

It is true that the "ad." referred to all thetrophies that might be won, for "Essay Writing,""Sermonising," "Impromptu Speaking," "Orating,"and "Running." But the critics are afraid that youmay not know that the committee is arranging forfour days of unadulterated joy, and hilarity, underideal conditions—and is fully anticipating that thefellowship of brother men is going to do much toknit together our Baptist cause. But above all bycoming to camp YOU WILL, under the Spirit'sguidance, receive just that spiritual uplift you need.

BILL BEADLE reports that Camp Registrationsare coming in fine—is yours in?

GORDON HENDRY says that missionary moneyand camp equipment fund is "pretty fair," but then,he's never satisfied.

PRESIDENT BARNES is that full of "pep" thathe has infected the Dunedin classes with enthusiasm.

Yes! We will see you at "The Willows." Yes!P.S.—The Willows are situated at Maheno, near

Oamaru—here is an amateur picture of the campsite.

South Island Y.M. Camp.


Our Churches at Work.

CAVERSHAM (Rev. E. Evans).—The YoungMen's Bible Blass held a very successful rally onSunday, March 2, when between 70 and 80 membersof the Y.M. Bible Classes in the district wereaddressed by the Rev. L. J. B Smtih, of Roslyn. Theannual picnic of the Sunday School was held at theMosgiel Recreation Ground on Saturday, February23, the weather was all that could be desired. Thechildren, teachers, and a goodly number of theparents journeyed to the ground. It was pronouncedby all a very successful gathering. A short time agoit was found necessary to provide chairs for ourInfant Department. Owing to the condition of theSunday School funds donations were asked for thispurpose. Thanks to a very generous response fromthe members of the congregation the little peopleare now the happy possessors of suitable chairs.Recently a committee was set up to formulate aforward movement by the church, the result beinga goodly number assembling and singing the Gospelin the open air, hoping by this means to reach thosewho are unwilling to attend the church services.

EDENDALE (Rev. H. R. Turner).—During thepast month definite steps have been taken towards theformation of a separate church. Our expectationswere fully realised when 18 of our Baptist friendssigned the Requisition Form as willing to becomefoundation members. By the time this appears inprint we anticipate our church will be an actual fact,and we hope that many others will have joined usin membership. Our harvest festival services werein every way successful. The display of fruit andvegetables was very good and tastefully arranged.A unique feature of the morning service was thatit was taken entirely by the church officers andafforded an opportunity for the pastor to welcomefriends and strangers on their arrival at church. Thechurch was quite full at each service. On Mondaya good concert was given, arranged by Mrs A. R.Penman, and at the close the fruit and vegetableswere sold. Our White Swan branch is making pro-gress, the roll stands at 44, and on Sunday last wehad 43 in attendance. The fortnightly services arewell attended, and there is the probability that veryshortly a weekly service will be instituted. Thenewly acquired section of land has been fenced roundand for this we have to thank Mr Phil Turner andmany of the local residents. The need for a churchbuilding is keenly felt, and it is hoped that beforemany weeks are passed the White Swan friends willbe able to worship in their own building.

EPSOM (Pastor Chant).—The Sunday Schoolheld their picnic at Henderson Domain on March 1,when an enjoyable day was spent. The morning ser-vice on March 2 was of an impressive nature, whenteachers and officers of the Sunday School werededicated to their work for the new year. Aftersome months without a superintendent we are gladto report the appointment of Mr Walter Fear, late ofWellington, to the position. Harvest thanksgivingservices were held on March 16, when there werelarge congregations. We were privileged to have Rev.A. H. Collins to conduct the morning service, andPastor Chant preached in the evening. There wasa good display of fruit and vegetables, the proceedsof the sale of which are to go to Manurewa Home.

GISBORNE (Rev. F. A. Crawshaw).—We haveto report that the work is proceeding steadily inall departments. The exodus of people from Gisborne

continues to take toll on our membership, neverthelesswe are optimistic regarding the future of our churchand town. Held on March 12 the annual churchmeeting, despite a wild night, proved an enthusiasticgathering, not a small feature being the pleasant andbreezy manner in which the business of the meetingwas conducted from the chair by the pastor. Sec-retary Farmilo presented a very comprehensive reportof the year's activities, mention being made of thecommendable way in which the church had beenserved by various friends up till August, when Rev.Mr Crawshaw arrived—of the present faithful andfruitful ministry from the pulpit, for which wepraise God—of the necessity for more prayer lifeamongst us as a church and as individuals—of thegoodly numbers who accept the invitation to thebreaking of bread, a sign of awakening spiritual lifein our midst—of faithful services rendered by thechoir under Mr McHutchon, and by Mr Harold Dun-stan, at the organ—of excellent caretaking of thepremises and providing of flower decoration, and alsoof faithful preparation of the Lord's Table byDeacon Cumming. The report showed 26 added inmembership and four removed by death and other-wise, nett gain 22, and present roll number 107.Baptisms 28, five not for membership. TreasurerGoldsmith was particularly happy in presenting thebalance sheet which showed a total revenue of £698and a credit balance of £30. Mention was madethat the debt on Te Hapara Church had been wipedout and money was in sight for sewerage and fenc-ing. Election of officers resulted—Secretary, Mi-Clare; treasurer, Mr Goldsmith; Sunday Schoolsuperintendents, Town, Mr Clare, Te Hapara, Mi-Kemp; Messrs Cremer and Gill to the diaconate viceMessrs East and Minnis retired. Record was madein the minutes of the long and faithful services ofDeacons East and Minnis, both foundation membersof the church, also of Mr Farmilo, who retires fromthe secretaryship owing to business reasons, afterseven years' splendid service. We believe we honourGod when we honour His servants.

GREENDALE (Rev. W. H. A. Vickery).—Har-vest thanksgiving services were conducted on Sundayand Monday, March 2 and 3. The sanctuary wasvery prettily decorated. The Rev. A. W. Stuart, ofLinwood, was the special preacher, and good congre-gations listened attentively to his discourses. OnMonday a large company assembled for tea, which wasprovided by the ladies of the church. The public meet-ing which followed was of a very inspiring character.Our pastor presided over a full church. Speeches of avery appropriate nature were given by Mr G. Hollandand Rev. A. W. Stuart. A musical programme of highorder was rendered by a number of friends, somefrom the city, and others local. A supper, over whichthe young ladies of the Bible Class presided, fol-lowed at the close of the meeting, the proceeds ofwhich were for the Missionary Society. A cordialvote of thanks to all who had assisted to make theevent so marked a success was moved by Mr W.Shipley and Mr C. H. Adams, and carried with accla-mation. A very interesting series of addresses givenon Sunday mornings on the Twelve Minor Prophets,have just been concluded by our pastor.

HANOVER STREET (Rev. R. H. Knowles-Kemp-ton).—The month has been one of re-adjustmentSince the pastor's return from Australia attendancesat services has been gradually building up. OnSunday, March 16, a special service was held forboys in response to an appeal from the Rotary Club.On the 12th inst. a social gathering to mark theNew Year's work was held, a large number ofmembers meeting in fellowship. To mark the closeof another year's work and to successfully launch theYoung People's Gymnastic and Club programme a


Church reports too late for publication fromAshburton, Mornington, and Edendale.



Why wait three or four months to procure from Eng land, when we can supply from stock at lower prices?H. ODELL & SON, Printers, 179a Manchester street, Christchurch.

golden offering was made to the pastor on Wednes-day, the 19th inst. The Sunday School, Bible Classes,Young People's Club Work, Junior and IntermediateEndeavour are all again in session, this type of worknever having been more promising than at present.The pastor has had to decline the invitation to spendthree months in the Collins Street, Melbourne, pulpit, owing to difficulty in suitably filling the HanoverStreet pulpit during the period.

HASTINGS (Rev. T. Keith Ewen).—CombinedBible Classes were held on Sunday, February 17,when our pastor gave a powerful address. Afterwhich an enjoyable time was spent around the teatable, when Mrs King, former leader of the Y.W.B.C.was accorded a hearty reception. The annual meet-ing of the B.W.M.U. was held on March 4. The fol-lowing officers were duly elected for the ensuing year:President, Mrs Ricketts; vice-presidents, MesdamesCollins and Widdop; secretary, Mrs Baker; treasurer,Mrs Coad. Our harvest thanksgiving services werecelebrated on Sunday, March 9, a splendid collectionof fruits, and general produce. Our pastor preachedtwo very appropriate sermons to excellent congrega-tions. The goods were sold on Monday eveningby Mr A. Gill, auctioneer, a very satisfactory resultbeing realised

HAWERA (Rev. E. N. Goring).—March has beenan eventful month for Hawera Baptists. First of allwe had the privilege of entertaining the delegates tothe Auxiliary Conference. The weather was atrocious,but all the meetings good. We are indebted to Rev.John Laird for splendid addresses on the Sunday.Rev. F. E. Harry gave his lecture, "A Cure for theBlues"—result, over £20 for our Building Fund. Suchresult commends the lecture. Then the B.W.M.U.welcomed the Dominion President, Mrs Toneycliffe,who gave a most interesting address to a goodaudience. On the 16th splendid Sunday School anni-versary services were held. Rev. H. E. Edridge wasthe preacher at two of the services. Our folk arein good heart, and looking forward to great advancesin the near future.

INVERCARGILL, ESK STREET (Rev. J. Car-lisle).—Our thanks are due to Messrs Lopdell andSaunders for their services in occupying the pulpitduring the absence of our pastor on holiday. MrsToneycliffe paid a visit to lnvercargill on February20, and gave an interesting talk to the ladies of thechurch on our missionary work in India. Rev. M.W. P. Lascelles, our energetic General Secretary,paid us a visit and addressed good meetings. Ourusual large congregation assembled to hear ourvisitor preach in the church on Sunday evening,March 2, and were greatly impressed by the earnest-ness of the preacher and the clearness of his message.On the following Monday evening Mr Lascelles hadan informal talk with the officers on church ex-pansion, particularly relative to our proposed exten-sion scheme at Georgetown. He also spoke on unionmatters generally, and stated how very much rejoicedthe friends in the north were at the progress madein the churches at Invercargill. A meeting of thecongregation was afterwards addressed by Mr Las-celles at which a resolution was proposed and carriedunanimously expressing our confidence in and pledg-ing our continued support of Mr Carlisle and trust-ing that he will long be spared to serve God in thechurch at Invercargill. The morning service onMarch 16 was conducted by Mr F. C. Glass, of theEvangelical Union of South America.

ISLAND BAY (Rev. H. E. Edridge).—Our morn-ing service is always packed to the doors. March2 was our Sunday School anniversary; it was heldat the Picture Palace. Our church is too small. Allthe services were well attended. There were 350at the evening service. Our minister preached morn-ing and evening, and the Rev. F. E. Harry (of VivianStreet) preached to the children in the afternoon.The singing was splendid. We are much indebtedto our veteran leader, Mr Frew, for his services;also Miss Maxwell, at the organ, and the largeorchestra which played throughout the day. Fridayevening our anniversary was continued; the nightwas very wet but our church was packed. Mr Jack-man, a former superintendent, took the chair. Thechildren sang and the prizes were given out. Thesecretary's report was good. The school is growing,the attendance being 70; but the number on the rollis well over a hundred, with ten teachers under MrGibbs' able leadership. During the evening we saidfarewell to Mr Frew, our leader, who is going toAmerica and the Homeland. He was presented witha gold pencil, also Miss Maxwell, our anniversaryorganist, who is to be married, was given a picture.Our Young Men's Bible Class is increasing—theirnew leader is Mr G. Peek. It was with great regretthat we heard of the death by accident of Mr WilfredSamson. He was a foundation scholar of the SundaySchool. The writer well remembers the night hewas baptised. To his parents and sisters we offerour deepest sympathy. Our evening organist andchoirmaster, Mr H. E. Wilson, has met with a badaccident at Hobart. He is well on the way to recoverynow. We are pleased to welcome back to our churchthree old members—Mrs and Mr Paton and MrsWoods.

KIRWEE (Rev. W. H. A. Vickery).—Harvestthanksgiving services were held on Sunday andMonday. March 16 and 17. The church was veryprettily decorated. There was a fine display of vege-tables, fruit, and flowers. Sunday evening servicewas conducted by Rev. W. H. A. Vickery, who tookfor his subject "Gleaning." Mrs Vickery rendered asolo. The church was well filled for the social onMonday evening. Musical items were rendered by theMisses Rout, M'Nae, A. Shipley, Mrs Vickery, MrBelgrave, recital by Miss Sloane. Accompanist, MrsStewart. Short addresses were given by Mr W.Shipley and Mr Vickery. Supper was provided bythe ladies.

LINWOOD (Rev. H. W. Stuart).—Our annualbusiness meeting held on Wednesday, February 20,was largely attended, and was marked by an aggres-sive and hopeful spirit. The reports from the dif-ferent branches of the work, were on the whole en-couraging, and indicated healthy activity. Theannual report recorded a decrease of five members,due to roll revision, but we are glad to report thatthis loss has since been balanced by five applica-tions for membership. The balance sheet totalled£343 17s 8d. Our debit balance was £16 6s 8d, butthe treasurers predicted easier financing for theincoming year. The anniversary services were heldthe following Sunday. The Rev. L. Barbour con-ducted the morning service and our pastor that ofthe evening. Our pastor has now completed 12months' service with the church. We rejoice inall that he has been able to do. The annual churchsocial was held on Thursday, 28th. Some of ourSpreydon friends kindly assisted with the pro-




April, 1924 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTI8T. 77

gramme Our pastor presided and the Rev. J. J.North gave an inspirational address. The presenceof Mrs Toneycliffe, of Gisborne, gave pleasure toall, but particularly to the old members. MrsToneycliffe was one of the first teachers in theSunday School, when it was founded 20 years agoHarvest thanksgiving services were held on March9, both services being conducted by Mr Stuart.The gifts of fruit and vegetables were generous,and the church finances were greatly assistedthereby. We have had it laid upon our hearts thatthe Christian Church should give more definite sup-port to the prohibition cause. It has therefore beendecided to organise the church for this purpose. Wehave created a study circle and our aim is to makethe members competent to advocate the cause. Theinsidious liquor propaganda in the newspapers canonly be effectively met by the sane and competentadvocacy of the cause by the rank and file of churchpeople in their homes, their social life, and placesof business. Our members have undertaken to sub-scribe £20 this year to the funds of the New ZealandAlliance.

LYALL BAY (Rev. H. E. Edridge).—Our newbaptistry was brought into commission on February24, when two members anxious to follow our Lord'sexample were immersed. The service was wellattended, and we confidently expect further aspirantswill come forward as a result of the very explicitand convincing way our pastor expounded the "Bap-tists' Belief." He is at present enjoying a well-earned holiday, and we look forward to his returnfull of health, vigour, and resolve to carry on hisgood work. We are very grateful to those who areso very ably filling the pulpit during his absence.

MOUNT EDEN (Rev. A. Clark).—The youngmen arranged a very enjoyable outing at HendersonFalls on Anniversary Day. Our Sunday School picnicwas held on February 16 at One Tree Hill Domain.A very enjoyable day was spent. Last month ourpastor had the joy of baptising six candidates, in-cluding some Sunday School scholars. Also ofgiving the right hand of fellowship to six nowmembers, including our choirmaster, Mr H. Auger.On February 19 a very pleasant evening was spentat our church quarterly social, when members andadherents were present. During the evening ourpastor presented our treasurer, Mr Max Barker, witha present, marking the occasion of his marriagewith a member of one of our sister churches. Wordsof appreciation were spoken of Mr Barker's past ser-vices. We give Mrs Barker a warm welcome. Sun-day, March 9, was our harvest festival. The ser-vices were very helpful and the day was markedby being a special thank offering to reduce ourliabilities. In the afternoon a dedication service washeld in the school, when the infant sons of ourchurch secretary, Mr F. Eade, and one of ourdeacons, Mr C. Clarkson, were dedicated to theLord, and to His glad service.

MOSGIEL (Pastor E. R. Weston).—On Feb-ruary 23 our annual Sunday School picnic was heldat the "Black Bridge," Silverstream. A goodmuster and a beautiful day, together with a prevailingfeeling of good fellowship, contributed to all roundjoy. On March 2 a memorial service conducted byour pastor was held for the late Mrs Callendar, whopassed away at Mornington. She was one of thefew remaining foundation members of this church.March 18 was our harvest festival. Good attend-ances morning and evening, an augmented choir, atastefully decorated church, and inspiring addressesby our pastor and Mr Dunn, evangelist. The followingevening was our sale of produce, when all gifts weredisposed of for the benefit of church and SundaySchool.

MILFORD (Pastor Nioholls).—Our services arestill being well attended although the summervisitors have returned to the city. The midweekprayer meeting is steadily increasing in numbers andthe spiritual tone deepening. On January 24 oneof our members, Miss D. Bayes, was married toMr A. Wilkes, of Silverdale. Our pastor officiatedat the ceremony. Miss Bayes was the recipient ofa dozen silver afternoon teaspoons and a silverbread fork from the choir, of which she wastreasurer. March 5 Mr and Mrs Honeycombe werepresented with a framed enlargement of the choir,and Mrs Honeycombe with a floating flower bowl ontheir departure for Grange Road.

MORRINSVILLE (Rev. F. Parry).—Our pastorhas quite recovered from his operation and has re-sumed his work amongst us. The Sunday serviceshave been very well attended. It has been our joyto receive five new members into the church. OnMarch 9 we held our harvest thanksgiving services,the attendances being good. A Bible study circle heldeach Thursday evening is proving of much help.Our B.W.M.U. held its first meeting of the year onMarch 13 with a good attendance. The officersfor the ensuing year were elected. Mrs Parry,president; Mrs Johnson, vice-president; MrsM'Gregor, secretary; Miss Gibbs, treasurer. Theladies are very busy preparing for a sale of workto be held in May, and should anyone feel led tohelp in any way we would be pleased to receive.On March 15 the Sunday School picnic was held andwas a great success. Our Sunday School is creepingup, about forty-five children attending. We had thepleasure of hearing Mr Peters, of the SolomonIslands Mission, at an evening service. We have toreport the loss by death of one of our members, MrsThomas Atkinson. Our deep sympathy goes outto her husband and relatives in their great loss.

MOUNT ALBERT (Rev. A. Anstice).—At achurch meeting held on March 5 a Requisition Formwas received signed by 17 persons. 16 of whom areour own members (including three foundation mem-bers of our church) now worshipping and engagedin active work at Edendale, to become foundationmembers of a church to be formed there. Theirrequest was granted and arrangements were madefor the formation of the church at Edendale, totake place on March 19. A brief but solemn periodof prayer followed, when many earnestly asked thatGod would richly bless the young pastor and peopleas they took this new step, bringing with it great joybut so many responsibilities. Although we trustedthat the time would come when our branch wouldbe a separate church, and are indeed thankful to Godthat He has so blessed the work there, it is notwithout sadness that we separate from our fellow-ship, some who throughout the years have beenearnest and faithful workers in this church. OnSunday, March 9, our harvest festival was held, when'he church was beautifully decorated with flowers andfruit. The morning service was taken by Rev. AdamClark, the evening by our own pastor—good con-gregations. Special singing by the choir. On thefollowing evening the choir rendered very beautifullythe Cantata entitled "Oh, Give Thanks." Muchcredit is due to our choirmaster, Mr Turner, and toMiss Phyllis Utting, who presided at the organ.After the Cantata the friends adjourned to the roombelow where the fruit and vegetables, etc., weredisposed of. Special thanksgiving offerings weretaken up at all the services, and taken all together,this year's services were most successful.

NAPIER (Rev. J. Ings).—The harvest festivalservices were held on March 2, and both serviceswere well attended. The display of fruit and producewas excellent. Both services were conducted by our

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78 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. April, 1924.

pastor. At the evening service solos were renderedby Mrs Rosewarne and Mr J. Mills, and Mr Drummond also played a violin solo. The sale of producetook place on the Monday evening, and together withthe money gifts the sum of £54 5s l0d was realised.On March 9 was the Sunday School prize-giving,and also those won by our scholars at the last year'sexaminations.

NEW PLYMOUTH (Rev. A. H. Collins).—Onthe first Sunday in March the harvest thanksgivingservices were held. The church presented a pleas-ing sight, being very tastefully arranged with harvestproducts. Appropriate sermons were preached by theminister in keeping with the season. Solos wererendered by Miss Campbell and Mrs J. Craig,A.T.C.L. On the following evening a social washeld at which the produce was sold. Good priceswere realised and the church funds will benefitthereby. The local branch of the B.M.P.U. wasfavoured by a visit from the Dominion President,Mrs Toneycliffe, who spoke of what she heard andsaw in her trip to our mission stations in India.Our minister is away on holiday. He thoroughlydeserves a spell. He is recuperating in Auckland.During his absence the pulpit has been ably filledby local friends—Mr J. A Valentine, B.A., andMr C. E. Perkins, Presbyterian minister. The Sun-day School and Bible Classes are in a healthy con-dition although there is room for many more mem-bers.

NORTH-EAST VALLEY (Rev. S. Morris).—On Sunday, March 2, we held our harvest thanks-giving services. Our pastor preached morning andevening to large congregations. In the School Hallon the following Monday evening we held a sale ofthe fruit and vegetables that had been given. OurBible Classes very generously assisted us at thissale with a jumble stall. On Monday evening,March 10, we had the pleasure of listening to MrF. S. Glass, of the Evangelical Union of SouthAmerica. Mr Glass, who has spent 32 years inBrazil, told us a wonderful story of pioneer mis-sionary work.

OAMARU (Rev. R. Robertson).—On Sunday,16th inst., the above church held their annual har-vest thanksgiving services which were an unquali-fied success. The interior of the church presenteda beautiful spectacle and splendid congregationsattended the services. Much credit is due to eachand every one who helped in any way to bring aboutthe happy result which rewarded their labours. Rev.Robertson gave splendid addresses at both the morn-ing and evening services. During the service thechoir rendered two seasonable anthems. Miss A.Martin rendered a solo well in keeping with thespirit of the service. Judging from the amount ofproduce on display, and the reports of still more tofollow, the sale to be held this (Monday) eveningshould be a very successful one, and we have indeedreason to be thankful to God, the giver of all goodthings, for our splendid harvest home. During themonth of February we were favoured with a visitfrom Mrs Toneycliffe. A meeting for women hadbeen arranged and the president's talk was listenedto with the keenest interest, and we feel that theoutcome of the meeting will be increased enthusiasmfor the missionary cause.

OXFORD (Pastor Robertson).—On February 1we held the church birthday social in the old church.The building was prettily decorated for the eveningThe attendance was large. During the month weheld our church and Sunday School picnic at MrBudge's bush. The weather was ideal. We had amost enjoyable outing. On March 18 Mr and MrsW. Knowles, members of the congregation, gave agarden party at their home in aid of the church.The weather was dull and threatening, still quitea number attended and the stall-holders were kept

very busy, the results were very satisfactory TheB.W.M.U. has recently had the pleasure of a visitfrom Mrs Toneycliffe The ladies present enjoyedvery much the little talk on her recent visit to India.We report with much regret the death of one ofour oldest members, Mrs Hill, who passed awayat the age of 87. To Mrs H. Bunn, her onlydaughter, we extend our deepest sympathy.

OXFORD TERRACE (Rev. J. J. North).—Wehave had a very happy month with our new choruschoir. The church has been altered so as to givea choir accommodation for 100. The seats have beenfilled each Sunday night and under Mr Victor Petersthe music rendered has been very appealing. Thechurch has been very crowded and promises to bemore so. The choir sing on the church steps beforeservice and Mr North speaks there. We are prayingfor the in-gathering of many and are aiming atpresenting the Christian Gospel to our city. Duringthe month past we celebrated our fifty-second anni-versary It will remain in memory as the last ofa series of 42 at which Mr S. R. Ingold officiated assecretary. At the anniversary meeting Mr Ingoldwas received with a standing welcome and was presented with a gold albert watch properly inscribed.His speech in reply was a reminiscence and a dis-claimer. We think that he is the most modest manalive. His tribute to his wife was much appreciated.At this meeting it was announced that the lastremnant of debt left over from Mr North's year ofvacation had been obliterated as had also the St.Albans debit, by an anonymous gift of £88. Thenew church secretary is Mr H. Burgess, and 42 yearsof happy service is anticipated for him. The fol-lowing new deacons were elected—Mr Eldred Hercus,M.A., Mr Alf. Jenkin, Mr W. Odell. The SundaySchool, which is strongly manned and which isunder the superintendency of Mr A. R. Jordan, helda glorious picnic at "Saltaire," the residence of MrCharles Dixon. The Y.W.B.C. held a very successfulgarden party at the residence of Mr Justice Adams.

OPAWA (Rev. L. Barbour).—On February 24we held our church anniversary, when Rev. A.Stuart, of Linwood, preached in the morning, andour pastor in the evening. On the following Wed-nesday the anniversary social was held. Rev. A.Stuart and Mr L. Crampton gave us some very in-spiring addresses. The treasurer's report showedthe church to be in a very sound financial positionand the secretary's report showed that the variousactivities were in good working order. The Thurs-day evening prayer meeting and Bible study hasincreased from six or seven to about 30 since MrBarbour's coming amongst us. On February 20our pastor had the joy of baptising six of ournumber. The service was held at Sydenham, thefriends there kindly lending us their church andbaptistry for the occasion, and on March 2, at thecommunion service, nine new members were receivedinto the church. We feel this to be a good beginningfor our new year, and trust it is but the forerunnerof many more. On March 16 we held our harvestthanksgiving services. Rev. J. K. Archer preachedin the morning and our pastor in the afternoon andevening. The offerings of fruit and vegetables ex-ceeded our expectations. Quite a large number ofpeople attended the sale on Monday afternoon andevening, when the goods were all disposed of. Ashort musical programme was given in the evening.

OWAKA.—On February 28 we held our annualconference. Mr Lascelles, who was with us, veryably presided at the afternoon business session,and also at the evening meeting. The afternooncommenced with prayer. God's presence was muchrealised, and the Spirit lingered with us at thebusiness meeting. The treasurer reported a debitbalance, which was quickly turned into a credit one—the friends coming forward with generous gifts. All


branches of the work are in a healthy state, theSunday School reports especially being very en-couraging. All the officers were re-elected with theexception of the missionary secretary. Miss Lan-dreth has accepted the position. The evening meet-ing took the form of a social. The Presbyterianchoir showing a very kindly spirit, gave us goodassistance, in the form of several items. Mr Stenn-ing, on behalf of the church members, and MissWratten for the Bible Class, spoke a few words ofappreciation and farewell to Mr and Mrs Stephens.We are sorry to lose Mr Stephens. He has been agreat blessing to many. He faithfully gave us ofhis best, and we ask God's blessing on them both.We also regret that Mr Victor Gwyn has left us toenter business in Balclutha. He has played theorgan at our Tawanui services for years. We reportthe Home-going during the last two weeks of threefriends—Mrs Green, and Mr J. Robinson, who havebeen members for many years, and also Mrs A.Bradfield, who has been very closely connected withour cause here. We miss them from our midst,very much, but there has been no sadness aboutthese Home-goings, for all bore a grand testimonyand we laid them to rest in the sure and certainhope that they "are with Christ, which is far better."During our pastorless period Mr Stenning faithfullyconducts the services, and much blessing and helpis following his preaching.

PALMERSTON NORTH (Rev. C. W. Dun-cumb).—We have welcomed a visit from Mrs Toney-cliffe, of Gisborne, who made use of the shorttime spent with us by imparting firstly to theUnited Bible Classes, and then to the B.W.M.U.,incidents of her recent visit to our mission field inIndia. Four new members have, just been receivedinto our midst. We trust that they may be a blessingto us and we to them. The services are keepingup exceedingly well. The prayer meeting duringthe holidays averaged 16. We anticipate doublingthat number in the winter session of the Bible Schoolwhich is now commencing. Our pastor will therecomplete the studies of the Book of Revelation.

PETONE (Rev. F. H. Radford).—We held achurch re-union social at the beginning of the monthto talk over our proposed activities for the year. Onthis occasion special mention of welcome was extended to one of our young men, Mr S. Covey,who has just returned to us from a trip to the OldCountry. In reply Mr Covey gave us a brief outlineof the tour, and told us, amongst other things, thatour church motto was the same as the Y.M.C.A. inLondon. He also made mention of a privilege thatwas given to him and his brother, Mr W. Covey,when, on behalf of the Petone Baptist Church, theyplaced a wreath on the unknown warrior's tomb inWestminster Abbey. We held our harvest festivalat the close of the month, when a good display offruit and vegetables were given to us on that occa-sion. They were sold for church funds the followingevening.

PONSONBY (Rev. S. J. Campbell).—We arevery glad to report that our pastorate for the pastthree months has been filled with much acceptanceby the Rev. S. J. Campbell, who has also acceptedthe unanimous invitation to remain with us for theensuing year. Harvest festival services on February24 were attended with much enthusiasm, and at theclose of a very impressive evening service, the Halle-lujah Chorus was effectively played by Mr BertEvans. On March 12 a very pretty wedding wassolemnised in the church by Rev. L. B. Busfield,the bride being Miss Thelma Bottson, and the bride-groom Mr G. F. Peters. Miss Marie Wilkinsonofficiated at the organ. Among visitors from theThames were Mrs Battson's parents, her father (Mr

Green) celebrating that day his eighty-third birth-day. The re-opening Endeavour social and the Sun-day School picnic to Cornwall Park were both happyfunctions.

RANGIORA (Rev. J. Hiddlestone).—Our har-vest thanksgiving services were held on March 9,Rev. J. Hiddlestone being preacher for the day.A goodly collection of gifts were arranged on atable in front of the platform. On the followingnight the goods were sold, Mr A. Worsfold beingsalesman. On March 3 the local branch of theB.W.M.U. was favoured by a visit from Mrs Toney-cliffe. The meeting was held in Mrs W. Henry'shouse, and the address was much enjoyed. Wemuch appreciate Mrs Toneycliffe's action in visitingthe small as well as the large branches.

RICHMOND (Rev. R. Horn).—The SundaySchool picnic was again held in Mr Walker'sgrounds. Point Chevalier. The day wasfine, the attendance good. The success of theouting amply repaid the superintendent, Mr C. W.Boswell, and the teachers. On March 9 the annualharvest festival took place. The display of thefruits of the earth exceeded all expectations. Thepreacher in the morning was the Rev. A. S. Wilson,whose addresses were much appreciated. At nightour pastor preached a telling sermon on the words,"Ye say there are yet four months to the harvest."With deep regret the church accepted the resignationof one of its most esteemed deacons, Mr Jas.Stephenson, whose long continued ill-health hasdeprived the church of the help of one of its mostactive workers. On Saturday, March 15, our Y.W.Bible Study Circle held a garden party at "Runga-huir," their leader's home, and netted a welcomecontribution to their Easter Camp Fund. Ourpastor's appeals for contributions to our F.M. Fundhave begun to bear fruit, £12 having already cometo hand. If a renewal of the mortgage is to beavoided a further £430, in addition to the amountalready promised, must be gathered in. The actualdebt has just been reduced by £65.

ST. ALBANS.—It is with regret that we reportthe removal of Mr Leslie Crampton to Wellington tocontinue his ministerial studies. He has served usfaithfully for about two years, and his closing dayswith us saw two of our young people follow then-Lord in the waters of baptism. On Monday, March10, we held a farewell social, a goodly number offriends gathered to wish him God speed. Thespeakers included Rev. J. J. North and Mr Ingoldon behalf of the parent church Oxford Terrace;Mr Twose, for our congregation; and Mr Ray Clark,representing the Sunday School and Bible Class.Miss Arthur presented Mr Crampton with a goldwatch as a small token of love and thanks for ser-vices so willingly rendered. We have drawn up athree months' preaching plan and pray that thework here may go on to greater strength and be apower for good in this growing district. An energeticcommittee has been formed with Rev. J. J. Northas chairman, and two representatives of Oxford Ter-race, together with seven of our own folk, for thepurpose of advising and taking control of the work.The first Sunday in March saw us returning thanks,to God for a bountiful harvest. A goodly collectionof fruit and vegetables was given. The Rev. J. J.North (morning), and Mr Crampton (evening), werethe speakers for the day. The produce was sold onbehalf of the Sunday School Fund.

THAMES (Rev. W. E. Lambert).—The churchon February 27 bade farewell to Rev. W. and MrsGreen, who have been associated with the churchfor many years, and wished them well in their newhome at Ponsonby. The gathering was briefly ad-dressed by Messrs M. Whitehead, E. J. Brown, and

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80 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. April, 1924.

the pastor, all wishing our old friends the best ofgood things The pastor recently entertained at themanse the members of the Young People's League.A forward deputation of the New Zealand Alliancevisited Thames on Sunday, March 16. CaptainHawkins spoke to us of the need of raising a sub-stantial fund to fight the next election, and a numberof pledge cards of promises were distributed. Theusual Sunday School festival was held this year atParawai. The harvest festival was as successful asusual, the proceeds of sale of fruit and vegetablesgoing to the Buying and Building Fund.

TIMARU (Rev. H. Goring).—Our pastor and hiwife have returned from their annual holiday. Dur-ing Mr Goring's absence our pulpit has been ablyfilled by several of our local brethren, including twogentlemen, who are the leaders in our cause inTemuka. We held our harvest thanksgiving serviceson the 9th of this month, and the social eveningand sale of produce on the following Tuesday even-ing, which, despite the inclemency of the weather,was largely attended. During the evening the choirrendered special musical items, which were greatlyappreciated by all. Two of the finest items on theprogramme were rendered by our veteran deacon,Mr T. Howe who, despite his weight of years, cansing and recite in a wonderful manner. One out-standing feature of the evening services is the largerow of young men who attend the church. It cheersthe hearts of the elders to see such fine promise offuture energetic Christian workers.

VIVIAN STREET (Mr F. E. Harry).—Theannual Sunday School picnic was held in the HuttValley on February 16. The weather was perfect,and a full and enjoyable programme of races andgames was provided for the little ones. The superin-tendent (Mr Pirie), Mr Shearer, and Mr Jeffery con-tributed in no small measure to the enjoyment of thelittle ones. Harvest thanksgiving services were heldon Sunday, March 9, and the church was appro-priately decorated. There were good attendances atboth morning and evening services. During theabsence of Mr Harry at Hamilton on March 16 thepulpit was supplied by the Rev. C. Dallaston, andit was a real pleasure to members of the churchto be able to renew old friendships and talk over"good old times" with their former pastor. Largecongregations were present at each service, and MrDallaston's eloquent addresses were much enjoyed.The Rev. Mursell, who had intended visiting theDominion with the Rev. F. B. Meyer, passed throughWellington on his journey from Australia recently,and he kindly consented to preach in the VivianStreet Church on the Monday evening—the onlynight he spent in the city. Many people seized theopportunity thus afforded them of hearing one ofthe denomination's foremost preachers from the Kes-wick platform, and the fervent message deliveredwas an inspiration to all present.

WANGANUI (Rev. S. Jenkin.—Our harvestthanksgiving services were held on March 2. Thechurch was tastefully decorated. There were goodcongregations, and the services were conducted inthe morning by Mr Hutchins, and the evening byMr M'Kessar. The festival continued the follow-ing Wednesday. Through the absence of our pastorMr Sanow occupied the chair. A good musical pro-gramme was given and during the evening the fruitand vegetables were sold. The deaconesses haveresumed their duties. During the year 444 visits werepaid and 34 weekly hospital visits. This work isindeed a source of help to our pastor. The membersof the Y.W.B.C. held a social on March 15. Thesum of £4 2s was raised thereby for the comingEaster Camp. The reaper of death has removedone of our most esteemed members in the person ofthe Hon. Gilbert Carson. By his passing hence wehave sustained a heavy loss. Our deepest sympathy

goes out to his family and we pray they be sustainedand comforted. A memorial service was conductedby our pastor. The text was taken from 1 Cor. 15,verse 10—"By the grace of God I am what I am.He referred to the many offices held by our brotherin the church, also as a public citizen. His successall through his faith and trust in his Lord, andwould say, as St. Paul. "By the grace of God I amwhat I am." A high tribute was paid to theChristian life of our departed brother.


Auckland.—Anglo-Israelite, £16; Mr and MrsL. Blackwood, £2 12s; Misses L. and E. Davison,£10; H. C. Heath, 10s; C. R. James, £1 1s; MissMaunder, £ 3 ; Tabernacle Baptist Church, £3 12s;Official Collector, £59 6s 6d. Total, £96 1s 6d.

Christchurch.—Oxford Terrace Baptist Church,£5.

Dunedin.—North-East Valley Baptist Church,£1 6s 6d.

Gisborne.—Baptist Church, £4 9s 6d.Hokianga.—Mrs Body, Taheke, £ 1 .Te Awamutu.—E. C. Wiltshire (proceeds sale

used stamps), £3.Wellington.—Miss Richards, £ 1 .Whakatu.—Sunday School, £2. Grand total,

£113 17s 6d.

LIST OF GIFTS TO DATE.

Clothing.—Mrs F. E. Krctschmar, Valley road,Mount Eden; Mrs G. Stewart, Bay View road, Taka-puna; Mrs A. Turley, St. Georges road, Avondale;Mrs Hart, Richmond, Auckland; Mrs Johnstone,Manurewa; Mrs Nicholls, Baptist Manse, Milford;Mrs J. H. Carr, 100 Bailey street, Feilding; MissW. Samson, Nurse's Home, Public Hospital, Wanga-nui; Mornington Girls' Club, per Mrs Barnes,Argyle street, Mornington, Dunedin; Anon, Christ-church; Anon, Gisborne; Anon.

Provisions, etc.—Mrs Whitehead, Thames,peaches; Mrs Grant, Edendale, fish, biscuits; MrsHay, 108 Grafton road, Auckland, fish, lollies; MrGreaves, Manurewa, apples; Mr Talbot, Manurewa,rabbits; Mr Landless, Manurewa, lemons; MrSwales, per Mrs Stainton, lollies; Mr Wright, Manu-rewa, fish; Mr Lyons, Wiri, fish; Mr Yeoman,Whakatane, 60lb honey; Mr Dreadon, Manurewa,plums.

Sundries.—Mrs A. Turley, Avondale, rockinghorse, etc.; Mrs Grindrod, Mount Eden, books; MrWilliamson, Manurewa, caps; Mr W. A. Boagey,Papakura, illustrated papers; Mr H. Dearsly,Remuera, "Young Citizen" papers; CavershamY.W.B.C, per Miss Thompson, gift for D. Keeling;Farmers' Union Trading Co., fountain pens andknives; Mr C. R. James, Remuera, one cricket set;Mr Paul, Manurewa, one young p ig ; Mr Greaves,Manurewa, magazines; South Dunedin Senior BibleClass, one book for gift; Hanover Street Y.W.B.C.,per Mrs Kempton, toys, books, etc.; Master W.Maplesden, per Rev. E. Edridge, one toy engine;Anon, agricultural magazines




April, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. iii.









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General Director: PASTOR W. FETLER.College Buildings: Temple street, London,

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BAPTIST UNION OF NEW ZEALAND.Subscriptions received from February 18, 1924,

to March 18, 1924.—Gore, £l 1s 6d; Timaru, 14s;Mount Albert, £6 1s 3d; Auckland Tabernacle, £20;Hanover Street Church, £2 3s; Hanover Street S.S.,£1 1s 3d; Grange Road S.S., £2 15s 3d;N.I.Y.M.B.C.U., £60; Oamaru, 14s; Owaka, £l l6s ;Feilding, £1 11s 6d; North-East Valley, £1 10s;Nelson, £3 5s 6d; Waihi, £1 11s 6d; J. A. Valentine,16s; Hamilton, £9 2s; Linwood, 6s; HastingsChurch, £l 9s 3d; Hastings S.S., 8s 11d. Total,£116 6s 11d.








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iv. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. April, 1924.

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The "ORION" represents the Highest Achievementin the production of Ranges within the Dominion!

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THE

T H E O R G A N O F T H E B A P T I S T UNION.

OUR MAY WEEK.THE RED BLOOD OF SACRIFICE. THE HOLY HANDS OF PRAYER.

NEW ZEALAND BAPTISTS! YOU ARE ASKED TO LAY £2000 ON THE ALTAR!YOU ARE ASKED TO DO THIS AFTER A WEEK OF PRAYER.

Who asks? The Christ of Calvary. He needs it. Can we deny Him? Givingis great glory. He says, "Who gives himself with his gift feeds three—himself, his needyneighbour, and Me." Let us make Him glad.

Start praying for the world Christ loves on May 4th. Pray through till the 11th.Then come with joy and your gift. We shall be the happiest people in the land if we usethese golden days in this two-fold way.

40th Year of Issue—No. 485. MAY, 1924.Price 4d.

Post Free 4/- per Annum

Passing Notes.The Open Gates.

We are called as a Church to an especially solemnweek. We are asked to dedicate the days fromMay 4 to May 11 to united prayer and to link to theprayer self-denial so that the work of God committedto us may receive a double stimulus, from His handsupremely, but also from ours. We want everyChristian in our connection to hear the call. Nightafter night let men in every place lift the hands ofintercession. Let the head of every Christian homegather his circle and tell them what is afoot. Letcomrades who have the heart keep the prayer tryst,when they will. Let those people who live wherethere is no church of our order gather in one of thenhomes the little group of local Baptists. A hugedifference will be made here in New Zealand, over-seas on our Mission field, if only we occupy thisopportunity. We envy the archangel his trumpet.We would blow on it such a. blast as the most luke-warm man who holds the Christian name would hear.

Prayer Works.We know it does. It changes the climate in a

dull and tired church. It gives the compelling noteto the song and the sermon. It we could prayenough we should have no difficulties. Let us getdown to it, or up to it rather.

All great movements in Christendom have beenprefaced by prayer. It has pleased God to makeprayer an essential ingredient in spiritual advance.He will be inquired of to do it for them. It is partof His tremendous scheme for saving man throughmen. He gives us the dignity of causality. Shallwe fail Him? We quote from a rousing article onthe subject:

"Before every great spiritual awakening therehave been calloused knees of prayer. The FultonStreet prayer-meeting of 1857 was the beginning ofan all-the-world revival prayer-meeting. When Lan-phier, a consecrated layman, felt impelled to starta business men's prayer-meeting in the Old DutchChurch on Fulton Street, at the noonday hour, therewere only six persons present at their first sessionon .September 23, 1857; but Jesus was there in themidst, and He made that prayer service a very gate

of heaven. In three weeks from that time there

were more than one hundred in attendance. Soonafter, the John Street Methodist Episcopal Churchopened its doors, only a block away, in order to re-ceive the overflow. When the John StreetAuditorium and gallery were filled, Plymouth Church,Brooklyn, and twelve other churches in Manhattanopened their doors for similar meetings. Every cityand hamlet in the Republic felt the call to prayer.Nations received telephonic messages from theThrone; a world revival had started which sweptmillions into the Kingdom." Is not this also a timefor Him to work?

Christ's Needs.In the days of His flesh Christ needed things.

Sometimes He asked for them. He was happier, wethink, when people who loved Him saw intuitivelywhat He wanted and gave to Him. We supposethat the man who lent the key of the GethsemaneGarden to Jesus falls into the last category. Theasses' colt for the triumphal entry was asked for.And our Lord arranged a password with the farmerHe asked, so that when the disciples should cometo the farm gate they might be known for what theywere. The password so arranged is endlessly sig-nificant. Thus shall ye say, "The Lord hath needof Him." If Christ's need had not been met therewould have been no triumphal entry. If the Virginhad not said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord,let it be to me according to thy word," there wouldhave been no incarnation. We can be sure thatour Lord's needs are absolute. His need of moneyfor His work in our Church is not a committee'sneed. It is His. It is not a fictitious need. Itis urgent. He loves India. None but He cansatisfy India's need. But how shall India hearwithout a preacher? He loves New Zealand. Theproblems of the towns and of the country are Hisproblems. Things that will make the angels singcan be done with the money which is asked. Wewill surely give it Make May 11 a day of theLord.

Our Ministers.Part of the self-denial offering goes to help those

of our ministers who are poorly paid. We aim atthe £250 minimum. But the sustentation fund isstill incomplete. The great slump postponed severalgreat promises. We must not let any of our mendrop below the living wage The Baptist ministry

82 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. May, 1924.

at its best in these seas is poorly paid. Men enterit because of a compulsion from above. Our menare faithful gospellers. Under their ministries thisone and that one is born again. All churches arefacing the problem. It is nowhere more acute thanamong the Anglicans in the Mother Country. Thecurate (to Punch's regret) is becoming as rare asthe dodo. In the last six years the number of theordained is but half of the losses by death andretirement. The trouble of a moderate maintenanceis suggested as a cause. We want moderate main-tenance secured. Therefore let us give bravely inthe self-denial offering.

Glory of Youth Glows in Our Blood.A lot of our space this month is taken by the

Camp news. Young Baptists in hundreds make aMecca of Easter Camps. An amazing lot of energyand of real spiritual work is put into these camps.Men discover in comradeship Christ's personal claim.In the Cathedral of the open air the Spirit breathes.Decisions for Christ registered in the 1924 camps willgo far toward making history. We make ourdecisions, and our decisions make us. Behind ourdecidings there is the pressure of Christ's holy love.He is claiming our youth for all sorts of enterprise.When your group come back to home conditions letthem see the brave side of religion. Blow on silvertrumpets. These are ready for enterprise. Letyoung love show what it can do for the Captainof Salvation.

Adventurous Cospelling.The ordinary church life of our day is tame. We

are in danger of being suffocated in the snows ofrespectability. To be a fool for Christ's sake seemsto be the most urgent of our duties. We are thecustodians of the bread, of life, and we have gotit stowed under asphalt. If the Church does notget a move on there will be nothing to move pre-sently. The Kingdom of God will be taken fromus and given to a nation that brings forth the fruitsthereof. . But how to move, and where to move—that is the question. Since most of our churcheswere built the world has changed out of all recog-nition. But we have not changed. We preachersare largely Victorian. Our church seats were setup before the kinema theatre was planned. We arenot supple. We advertise with the timidity of aschool miss seeking a job as governess to irreproach-able young ladies. Virility is not a note that westrike strongly enough. Yet our Lord was the Sonof Man. Some fanatic on prophecy takes a centraltheatre, and has the crowd whom the Church misses.An Eastern philosopher with ideas to peddle thathave . strangled. India sets thinking folks by theears, because he does what Paul did when he arguedin the school of Tyrannus.

The present impasse is intolerable. The Spiritof the living God is not humdrum. Vitality is HisNote. He is urging us to go over the top. Theworldliness of the day wants to be challenged by aspirituality more daring and more expansive thanitself. Mere novelty sickens. The novelty whichis a fresh expression of the maniform life of Godis the only tolerable sort. We put it up to ourministers and officers, "Are you satisfied?" Withone thunderous answer everyone says "No . "

An Attempt.We may be pardoned for detailing an attempt

we are ourselves making. A month or two agowe appealed to our people to take a hand in gospel-ling. We felt that the burden lay far too muchon the preacher. We felt that church-going wasan affair of freaks with most folk. A glance atSaturday's column and, perhaps, supposing nobody

comes in to tea, a journey, to the church whosepreacher or whose choir are offering a sensation—that is how church-going is done by the outer fringeof the worshippers. What Paul would think of itwe don't know. We suggested that the personaltouch was the missing link. We asked for 100 folkto give their time and their talent to gospel singingand to the problem of church attendance. We askedthem to be ready for any sort of programme we putup. The reply was amazingly swift. We got ourhundred—though people thought we could not. Weasked them if they would face the street. They saida glad yes. The Church happens to command broadstreets with river lawns in front. They have sungto a large and also to an invisible audience, andafter a brief invitation from the minister peopletroop into church. Every night since thiswas tried we have had numbers of non-church folk.Then we determined to go on to neutral ground fora night and took the best theatre in the square. Wespent £20 on arrangements, which included a noveltyin the shape of a very mellow amplifier, throughwhich song and speech before service could be heardright across the square. When the doors were openedthe theatre filled at once; 1300 were indoors. Theywere as reverent as in church. The oldest andsweetest crucifixion hymns were sung, some by every-one, some by the chorus choir, some by quartets.Then the story of the Cross was told, and the inter-pretation was offered that Christ had done somethingfor men when He died, that He had taken our place,that He was the Victor in Whose victory sinful mencan share. The daily paper assured the publicthat the very much appreciated service was quitemodern. Of course. The Christian religion is thesupreme novelty. It is our business by all sorts ofmeans to make people understand that this is soWe do not propose to do more with theatres than usethem as feeders for the Church itself. But we wanttransfigured churches.

Sundries.

The Rev. F. W. Boreham, our predecessor inthis editorial office, has just left Melbourne for a sixmonths' holiday in England. He is sure of a greatwelcome. He certainly had a great send-off. TheArchbishop of Melbourne expressed his personal in-debtedness to our friend for his books. . . . TheRev. E. H. Hobday has settled as minister of the oldDenmark Place Church, London, under favouringauspices. . . . Our general secretary, the Rev.M. W. P. Lascelles, is sailing on May 27 for a shortvisit to Los Angeles, Cal. His son is a studentthere, and he purposes seeing him. We wish hima pleasant run. . . . The Rev. F. E. Harry under-takes general supervision of the office. But MissHall is so exceedingly well versed in all procedurethat the tax on Mr Harry's time will be slight. Wesay this for the comfort of his church. . . . Ourreaders will have noticed the constant signs of revivalfrom Invercargill. Our ministers there have beenbusy baptising for months past. . . . One of thelast feats of our general secretary was the enlarg-ingof this paper by eight pages. That is good business.We hope to fill the eight pages with good copy.We shall have more room for original contributionsfrom our ministers now. Dip your pen when thetruth in some pleasant or glorious phase flashes onyou. . . . The Methodist Times is a very wellprinted and produced paper. It has now a new-editor in the person of the Rev. Percy Paris, an oldDunedin boy, for whom we wish a lively run. . . .By a curious coincidence the son of the presentminister of Sydenham, the Rev. J. K. Archer, andthe son of a former minister, the Rev. Mr Blackie,were married in Christchurch on the same day thisEaster.

May, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. 83

We recommend our people to hear if they canthe Rev. Dr Ritson, the senior secretary of the B.and F. Bible Society, who is just now touring theDominion in the interests of the great society. . . .

A very useful attempt is being made to link upnurses in New Zealand in a Christian Union. NurseLaurenson, of Wellington, is travelling in the in-terest. We hope that she may be very successful.The poet's nurse says: "How could I bear with thesights and the loathsome smells of disease, but thatHe said ye do it to Me when ye do it to these."

Our ex-president, Mr R. Milligan, of Oamaru,is taking a trip to the Old Country. We shall all wishhim bon voyage. We are glad to know that histown gave him very special honours as he went forth,for he has been a good citizen. . . . The FreeChurch Council of Great Britain has elected a lady toits presidential chair. Mrs George Cadbury, of Birm-ingham, belongs to the Society of Friends. SomeAnglican critics were reminded that one of their re-cent presidents had been named Victoria. . . . W erecommend our readers to turn up the account of theEdendale work under church news. People withmoney to give to good work should considerEdendale.

Women's Christian TemperanceUnion.

The Dominion Convention of the Women's Chris-tian Temperance Union was held in New Plymouth,commencing on March 19 and lasting seven days.The delegates, numbering 110, from all parts ofNew Zealand, received a right good welcome by theMayor and ministers from all the churches exceptingR.C.'s. Mrs Don, Dominion President, in replying,spoke of the work of the W.C.T.U, and of the manyproblems confronting them in the world to-day. Thedesire of the W.C.T.U. is to educate the boy in purityas well as the girl ; to abolish the liquor traffic; andto push on with many other reforms.

Convention's opening address by Mrs Don thefollowing morning was taken from Ephesians vi, 11.

Greetings.—Amongst the many greetings fromunions and kindred societies was one from Dr MaryArmour, in which she said: "The liquor power ofthe world is combined against us, but by love wewill serve and conquer. Prohibition has more thanjustified itself in my country."

Secretary's Report.—The adult unions had notmaintained the progress made in 1922 because thefees had not been collected in some unions (only finan-cial members are counted), but the young peoples'unions had increased, so that the total increase was761. There are now 6577 paid-up members—adults5880, juniors 670, and Maoris 27.

Miss Henderson urged the necessity of pushingon with pledges. She said: "We are fighting anenemy that never takes a rest. Work, take pledges;the destruction of the liquor traffic is a work givenus to do by God."

Miss Earnshaw, the organiser, after a moststrenuous year of work, has broken down in health,we hope only temporarily. She has been grantedthree months' leave for rest. Miss Bradshaw, aschool teacher in Nelson district (and a Baptist, bythe way), has been appointed organiser. We appre-ciate her courageous spirit in relinquishing her pro-fession for such arduous work.

An afternoon was given to peace and arbitrationdiscussion. Fine speeches were given by Miss Atkin-son, Mesdames Field and Judson.

Several resolutions were passed. One was urg-ing unions to study the causes of war and workfor their removal

Convention was solidly in favour of Bible readingin State schools. Where the Nelson system is carriedout we support that system, but in other places wesupport daily Bible reading, without comment, to becarried out by teachers, with a conscience clause forteachers and scholars.

There was a spirited discussion on the growth ofgambling and its effect on young people, and itslated that the W.C.T.U. must stand firm by thehard and fast rule that gambling in any form mustbe condemned. Even such amusements as guessingcompetitions, art unions, etc., should be discontinued.

Social and moral hygiene, Sabbath observance,Maori work, prison reforms, work among seamen,Band of Hope and L.T.L., and many other phasesof work received earnest attention, but space forbids.A request from the waterside workers for a speakerwas gladly complied with, and Mrs Peryman got agood reception. The men were courteous and askedseveral questions at the close.

Next year's Convention is to be in Dunedin.

Baptisms.

Linwood.—One. By Rev. A. Stuart.Oxford Terrace.—Four. By Rev. J. J. North.North Invercargill.—Five. By Pastor Day.Invercargill.—Seven. By Rev. J. Carlisle.Palmerston.—Four. By Rev. C. W. Duncumb.Hastings.—Three. By Rev. Keith Ewen.North-East Valley.—Four. By Rev. S. Morris.Brooklyn.—One. By Rev. W. S. Rollings.Ashburton.—Two. By Pastor Matthews.Mornington.—One. By Rev. T. Weston.South Dunedin.—Seven. By Rev. G. Thornton.Morrinsville.—Two. By Rev. F. Parry.Mount Eden.—Two. By Rev. Adam Clark.Mount Albert.—Three. By Rev. A. Anstice.Mornington.—Four. By Rev. Weston.

Correspondents please note that Baptisms arerecorded in this column, and that except under veryspecial circumstances they cannot also be referredto in Church News.

"Though time flies as swiftly as the winged bird,and thy hidden sin doth seem buried in the past,memory can wave her magic wand and the spectreof thy sin will confront thee once again. Therefore,O Illustrious One, before thou dost plan to take thelife of him whom thou lovest not, remember thewords spoken by thy servant, so that, when memorydoth chance to wave her wand, spirits of joy andmercy may dance before thee."

W. J. PARSONS.

Moon make a halo for His Head,Stars shine to guide us to His feet;Sun, let thy brightest beams be shedWhore lies the baby small and sweet.Sun, moon, and stars before Him fall.This baby cradled in a stall;He made you all. He made you all.


A Magician's Advice to his King.


£2,000 UrgentlyNeeded.

Home and ForeignMission

accounts heavilyoverdrawn.

What does yourreligion cost

you?

The GreatWeek of the YearFor N.Z. Baptists

May 4 to 11

GO OR SEND!

PRAY and PAY!

BAPTISTS!1,500,000

People in IndiaLOOK TO US

ALONEFOR THE GOSPEL.

THINK and THANK


Team Work: Shoulder toShoulder.

By Miss GLADYS E. COLLINS.

The first was the heading of a chapter in a newbook read aloud on holiday; the second came in ahome-letter about the same time.

We have been reading up about the Girl GuideMovement, team-work for our Pubna Home; it isdesirable, let us link up with Mymensingh Schooland have the guides follow up their instruction orthe same lines here. We have made a beginning,senior girls qualifying for "First Aid" and"Domestic Science," "Care of Children," and"Needlework" badges.

Team work for our girls;

it appeals to us. Shoulder to shoulder! A busycity minister at home writes to an isolated mis-sionary in Bengal. A revised translation of "Serv-ing with one consent," is given as "Serving with on.shoulder." The figure is peculiarly Eastern. Itis seen in old sculptures where a line of men walkin locked step, each with one hand stretched out andresting on the shoulder of the man in front, aiming"at uniformity in movement, equalising the strain ofheavy weights, so that the seemingly superhumantask becomes comparatively easy. Stupendousboulders or beams are negotiable propositions whenmen tackle them with rhythm of purpose, "with oneshoulder." It is a universal law, and we here inEast Bengal are able to appreciate the homely illus-tration. We see it on arrival in Calcutta, a hugepiano, carried on the head of sixteen or twentycoolies; the huge instrument is easily borne whenthe sixteen keep step, and sing as they go. It mightbe a feather weight, the seeming ease of the task.

The principle is the right one, and we are tryingto work to it. "Team work" between stations,

"serving with one shoulder,"

as we bear the burden of our toil.

Last week we paid a short visit to the stationwhere the Drs Hope are at work, putting up a fightagainst the dread kalaazar, a disease from which95 out of every 100 of its victims succumb.

Little Radharani was a little child-wife patientwho attracted our special attention. She quietlyawaited her turn for treatment, and then later on,as she lay on the mat on the floor for the treatmentto have its effect, we started a conversation. "Mylittle sister knows you, she reads in your school inPubna. You passed by my home one day before Icame away here and got ill."

What an unexpected link.

Radharani was fast friends with the kind DoctorMem-Sahib; her little sister was our little friend.Two evenings ago we called to see the mother andpass on word of the patient. The reception wasnot hearty at first, the door was open only justenough for us to pass in. We left the home in adifferent atmosphere because of the kindness to thesick child in Naugaon! "Shoulder to shoulder,"and it is always so.

Akhish is a sturdy boy of ten years, in FaridpurSchool. He has just gone back from Pubna aftera visit to his mother in the home. They came fromChandpur two years ago.

The story is easily told.

The mother and son were both in hospital at Chand-pur, where Dr Hossain is in charge. The timecame for both to be discharged. A decision wassuddenly made. The boy, although only eight yearsold, shared somewhat in the sorrow of the mother.He knew that although his father cared for him,a second wife was in favour instead of his mother.Had they not had proof? No one had asked afterthem all these weeks in hospital; if they threw intheir lot with the Christians, no one would grievefor them. They came. Akhish to Faridpur, andhis mother to Pubna. The influence had begunyears ago in their Mohammedan village, when aweekly visit was paid by the missionary from Chand-pur to the local girls' school. "Shoulder toshoulder"—Dr Hossain in Chandpur and Mr Barberin Faridpur—and so the work goes on.

A bullock-cart draws up

at our Mission House one hot, steamy mid-day, anda shy girl appears with a note from Miss Arnold.Some trouble in their village has unfortunately re-sulted in this girl being called to give evidence atcourt. This is her first visit to a town. Might she"put up" at the home for the day? This starteda connection with Rangini, and now monthly papersgo to her in her village home, and a communicationis established not easily to be broken. "Shoulderto shoulder"—Miss Arnold in the villages and wein the town.

And so we might go on. We wish there weremore shoulders very often, and we long for the daywhen our team shall be better kept in hand, butthe principle is there, and we labour on, rejoicingthat we are counted worthy to stand "shoulder toshoulder" in the one service of the Master.—(OurIndian Field.)

Oh, Adam was a gardener, and God who made himsees

That half a gardener's proper work is done upon hisknees;

So when your work is finished you can wash yourhands and pray,

For the glory of the garden that it may not passaway. —Kipling.


Direct subscriptions received from March 18, 1924,to April 18, 1924.—To December 1924—4s each: MrsEdmeades, A. E. Mills, Miss M. Sheate, C. Chant,A. Chivers, Rev. C. Dallaston, G. Dawson, Mrs W.J. West, Dr W. H. Pettit, Miss A. Drakley, MrsBubb, S. J. Gilbert, Mrs Webster, Mrs Seal, M.Forster, Mrs C. F. Hart, G. Dabinett. Mrs H. Smith,W. Reay, T. Pannett, J. R. Kay, Miss Hill, Rev. W.G. Pope, G. C. Chalmers, R. Hudson, J. W. Wall-bridge, E. Cowles, A. G. Cathie, Mrs J. A. Hodges,H. J. Hardie, K. Roy, Miss B. C. Stewart, MrsStorey, H. Pannett, F. B. Adams, Pastor A. Lay-bourne, F. H. Beckingsale, L. Crampton, Mrs H.Andrew, N. T. Maunder. To August, 1925—8s, F.L. Harrison; to March, 1925—4s, Rev. L. Barbour;to October, 1924—4s, R. P. Staples; to September.1924—4s, Mrs Roberts; to February, 1925—4s, W.E. Roberts; to December, 1923—4s, Mrs Maplesden;to June, 1924—4s, Mr M'Cluskie; to April, 1925—4s,C. J. Darracott; to February, 1925—4s, Mr Pinkney;to July, 1924—4s, Miss Kempton; to December, 1925—8s, W. J. Bardsley; to April, 1925—4s, Rev. Hob-day; to April, 1925—4s, R. Hill; to December, 1924—20s, W. S. Greenslade.



The Book of Books.Extracts from an Address by the Hon. Albert

T. Beveridge.

The evolution of the English Bible has been asteady growth in beauty of style and richness ofphrase toward accuracy of text and precision ofmeaning. Not one single version since the Vulgateis entirely new, but each has kept the best of allpreceding renderings; and each has approached moreclosely the exact interpretation of the original.

Moreover, the essentials of Biblical truths havenot been altered from the very beginning. All thathas been done or could be done was to purify thetext, make plain obscure passages, and set forthprecise meanings of words and phrases. As JosephPenniman truly says: "In spite of the thousands ofchanges in vocabulary, phraseology, translation, andoriginal text, the English Bible of 1384 and of to-day is the same in every important respect."

Thus all that is most excellent in former transla-tions is found in this last and most scholarly revision.For example, it retains eight-ninths of the very wordsof the New Testament of the King JamesVersion; and the exquisite style of that superb ex-pression of the English tongue at its best estate isnot disturbed, except when indispensable to theclarification of obscurities and to the correction ofmistranslations.

So it is that in the Bible we read to-day there isthe vitality of Wycliff, the exactness of Erasmus, thestrength of Luther, the beauty of Tindale, the tender-ness of Coverdale, the vividness of Whittingham,and those who wrought with him at Geneva (theBible Shakespeare used and quotes), the classicphrasing of Allen and his company of scholarswho laboured at Douay and at Rheims, the marvel-lous perfection of English in which the King JamesVersion is written, and, through all, and as thebasis of all, the august majesty of Saint Jerome.

No wonder Carlyle declared that "There is nobook like the Bible; there never was and therenever will be such another."

Our English Bible is the product of the life striv-ings of godly men, of sanctified loyalty to truth,of suffering and banishment and exile and martyr-dom, of pure love for humanity, of infinite toil andsacrfiice by the most learned scholars of the Chris-tian era, of the yearning of the people for theineffable truths of the Word of God.

On another plane, lower than the spiritual, yetgrandly exalted, is the literary and artistic appealof the Bible. In variety of incident, in fidelity tohuman nature, in hard-headed practical counsel, instirring and dramatic pageantry, in clearness andprofoundly of thought, in poetic conception andimagery, in conciseness of statement and charm ofdiction—in all the engaging qualities of literatureand art, the 66 books that make up the Bible areunapproachable by all the other writings of all time.

Where is a short story that compares with Ruth?Where a narrative of combat which equals that ofDavid and Goliath? Where songs so musical andexalted as the psalms? Where poems of passionso ecstatic yet so normal as those of Solomon?Where oratory so perfect as Paul's address on Mars'Hill? Where legal argument so convincing as thepresentation of his case to King Agrippa? Whereeven newspaper reporting so detailed, picturesque,and compact as the account of Jehu's descent on

Jesreel and the death of Jezabel? Where philosophyso deep, true, and comprehensive as in the conversa-tions recorded in the book of Job? Where sucheloquence, beauty, and vision as in Isaiah? Wherepractical advice so aptly put as in the Proverbs?

And where, in equal space or form so entranc-ing, is to be found that colour and movement andpageantry which human nature demands? Onedefect of modern democracy is the dreary monotonyof daily life, the dull procession of pallid events.Let reformers beware how they regiment humanemotion on the dead, grey level of those whose bloodhas cooled and imagination decayed—a dead, greylevel without hope or escape from an unctuous same-ness of life.

If I wished to be a lawyer I would study theBible. If I wished to be a business man I wouldstudy the Bible. If I wished to be a diplomat Iwould study the Bible. If I wished to be an editor—above all, if I wished to be a reporter or corre-spondent—I would study the Bible. If I wishedto be no more than a modern politician, clever,resourceful, and adroit, I would study the Bible.

And statesmanship without intimate knowledgeof the Bible is an absurdity—it is a contradiction interms.

If I were a labourer with my hands, if I were atiller of the soil, the Bible would be still more essen-tial to my every mental, spiritual, and even physicalneed. For it teaches to cast out envy and hatred,proclaims the nobility of toil, and declares that theonly way upward is through the joy of superiorachievement and the beatitude of utmost intelligenteffort. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do itwith thy might." No scientific fact demonstratedby Huxley was ever truer than his assertion that"the Bible is the Magna Charta of the poor and theoppressed."

The Last Postage Stamps.

"And Keturah spake unto me, saying, Hastthou any Postage Stamps?

"And I said, I have none here, but I have somein my Study.

"And she said, I wish thou wouldst take someletters for me, and see thou forget not to mailthem. Three weeks is the limit for thee to carrythese Letters in thy Pocket.

"And I said, My dear, I am not sure whyDelilah delivered Samson over to the Philistines,but I think he had forgotten to mail her letters.I will be careful and remember. But how is itthou are out of Stamps?

"And she said, I was sure I had some; for inmy drawer was an Whole Strip of what I thoughtwere Stamps upside down. But when I went toget some Stamps, behold there was not a Stampthere. Only there was a long strip of perforatedpaper that had been torn off the margin of a sheetof stamps. And instead of Ten Stamps there wereTen Scraps of Paper of no more value than aGerman Mark.

"And I said, There are few disappointments sogreat in life as that of going to the Stamp Boxin confident expectation, and finding the Last Stampgone, and the Post Office Closed.

"And she said, It would not be so bad if ithad not been that there were in the Box those papersthat looked like Stamps.

USE RADIUM POLISHES and lighten the burden of life

A PARABLE OF SAFED THE SAGE.


"Now I thought of this, and I considered thedisappointment of Keturah, how those Blank Stampswere a Delusion and an Hollow Mockery and aSnare. Whereas, had they not been there, she hadsaid, cheerfully, Yes, we have no Postage Stamps,and straightaway gone and bought some or askedher Husband to bring some Across.

"Now this is the Sad Thing in Human Experi-ence, not that there are no men, and not that thereare no women, but that when the time cometh whenthere have seemed to be men and women enoughfor any possible event, whole rows and sheets of themare good for nothing and worse than nothing be-cause they create a false sense of security. Forthey lack what the Perforated Blanks lacked, thestamp of Personality and Authority and Power uponthe one side, and the Glue of Tenacity of Purposeupon the other.

"Now I thought of this, and I remembered thebitter words of the Prophet concerning the sorrowsof God, that He looked for a man to stand in theGap, and though there were men enough, therewere none that had the Picture and the Glue. AndI think this must have been the Sorrow of God inall ages. For God hath sometimes stood with anHandful of Righteous Purposes for the which Hewould have sent one great Event to Spokane andanother to Santa Fe and another to Skowhegan, butHe could not do many mighty works there or inany of those places.

"So the cry of God ringeth out, Whom shall Isend, and who will go for us? And if so be thatthere respondeth a Man, and saith, Here am I, sendme; and that man hath both the Impress of Godupon the face of him, and a thick coating of Glueupon his Moral purpose, then doth God arrive.

"But God doth look often in his Stamp Box andfind Whole Strips of Blank Margins."—(The Chris-tian Century).

Sowing Beside all Waters.By the REV. F. W. HALE

(Of the Baptist Mission at Delhi).

During the Spring Festivals every year there isalways a great mela on the banks of the river Jamnahere. On the two great days tens of thousandsare coming and going all the time from the riverto the city of Delhi. At the north-western cornerof the fort, on the road down to the river, the crowdis most dense, and here the Indian padre who hascharge of our colportage takes his stand on thegreat days of the mela. He is a man of undoubtedcourage, tempered by cool discretion. A pitch wassecured, as usual, long before daybreak. And therewe stood, among fruit-sellers, singers, conjurers, andcheap-jacks; and pressed our sales. Two or threehad to sit by the boxes of books and hold on to thepitch. It was quite otherwise with the padre incharge, as also with a young English padre who ranhim a very good second. It was amusing to watchthe methods of these two—different, but equallyeffective. The one, with gleeful good humour andeffective repartee, countering the jeers and criticismsof the crowd, his voice rising clear above all theclamour—challenging and jubilant: the other, meet-ing the same running fire of ridicule and argumentwith quiet politeness and deferential explanation.Gospels and tracts were bought from them, oftenonly to be torn up and scattered before them inderision. Sometimes the fragments were thrownin their faces. But they both stood up to it, andwent on with their selling. And the Gospels andtracts sold by hundreds. Sometimes the opposition

was so fierce that the road was blocked with peoplecrowding to see what it was all about. Sometimesnon-co-operators and others intimidated the buyers,and stopped the sales for a moment. But otheragents were out on the roads, on the outskirts of thecrowd, and so the sales went on. That day over1000 books were sold—a record for one day's opera-tions for us in Delhi, for some years at least. Inoticed, too, on several occcasions torn leaves pickedup by passers-by, cautiously scanned, and then care-fully concealed to be read at leisure. The fact is,one of the forms of the general unrest is unrest ofsoul. There is spiritual unrest as well as politicaland social ferment. It is a time of reapingin all the Evangelical missions; and I doubtif the Bible was ever as widely read, ever moreoften quoted, ever more generally reverencedin India than to-day. A friend told me sometime ago that when he went to call on"Mahatma" Gandhi, he found that he had a Bibleunder his pillow, and was told that he read it daily.I can quite believe it, for he referred to it more thanonce in the course of his recent speeches in Delhi.It is a far cry from Christianity to non-co-operation,but it is more than possible that, in the end, Chris-tian influences may prove to be second to none indetermining and stabilsing these movements whichseem for the moment to be heading for disruption.There was never greater need in India for the Biblethan there is to-day. Our English liberties liebound between its covers; and some at least of theIndian leaders seem unable to speak long withoutrevealing the fact that they have been studying it.A schoolmaster, a Brahmin, came to me some timeafter this mela and told me he wanted to becomea Christian. I asked him why? He said he wasimpressed, at the mela, by the patience and per-sistence of the two who were selling books as I havedescribed. He bought a Bible there, and had beenstudying it, and was convinced of the truth of it.He has been many times to see one of our Indianmissionaries. He may never be baptised; but hewill never be what it was before.—(Bible in theWorld.)

Believers' Baptism.REV. E. H. HOBDAY.

It is a curious fact that we who are supposed bythe ignorant and uninformed to set most stress uponbaptism are the people who set least stress upon it.That is to say, our emphatic tetimony as a Churchis that "No part of saving righteousness consists inoutward ceremonies." Baptism has no redeemingvalue whatever. NO ordinance has any power togive virtue or to impart grace. Sacerdotalism isabhorrent to us. Sacramentarianism we cannotaway with. We begin not at the Baptistery, butat the Cross. Our supreme business is to proclaimthe Gospel and to preach Christ Crucified. Webelieve and teach that men are saved not by Cere-monies, but by Grace; that they are cleaned not byWater, but with "the precious Blood of Christ."

"Well," says one, "if you think so little of itwhy do you practise baptism?" Our answer towhich is that we do NOT think little of it. Tosay that baptism has no redeeming value is a verydifferent thing from saying that it has NO value.Observed, as it should be observed, as Christ in-tended it should be observed, it is a matter of veryreal importance.

We Baptists insist upon the absolute Supremacyof Christ in His own Church. We decline to allowanyone or anything to question His authority. HisLaw is our Law. We permit no Council or Con-


clave to modify it. Now, if there is one thing whichno self-respecting scholar will attempt to deny, it isthat baptism was clearly commanded by Jesus Christ.Therefore we say that if for no other reason bap-tism should be observed. We stand for the CrownRights of Jesus Christ. Neither priest, prelate,nor primate has any right to modify Christ's com-mand in the slightest degree.

There is not the smallest suggestion in anythingChrist ever said to justify the teaching that a child'sSalvation depends upon whether or no it has beensprinkled. Jesus never said a single word aboutinfant sprinkling. He no more contemplated bap-tism for babes than He contemplated communion forbabes.

In Hastings's "Dictionary of the Bible" DrPlummer, on "Baptism," says: "Not only is thereno mention of infant sprinkling in the New Testa-ment, but no texts from which you can infer it."Jesus instituted baptism for believers only. It wascommanded by Him simply as a Confession of Faith.There is no instance to be found anywhere in Scrip-ture of anyone being baptised except as a believer.We have insisted upon putting baptism where Christput it—after conversion; and attaching to it thesimple significance that Christ attached to it—viz.,a symbolic witness of discipleship. If we are narrowbecause we are loyal to the command of our Lord,then so be it, but we are not ashamed of our fidelity.He Himself said, "If ye love Me keep My Command-ments." We are seeking to prove our love by ourloyalty. And if this be a fault, so be i t !

Baptists have always stood for the supremeauthority of Scripture, apart from all man-madecreeds and all ecclesiastical councils. Whether ateaching be true or false is to be judged absolutelyby this test.

Concerning any and every doctrine, the vitalquestion i s : "Is it in the BOOK?" By this testwe are prepared to stand or fall. We welcome themost thorough investigation of our principles by thelight of this Book. If to us there is one thingwhich is plain it is that believers' baptism has thesanction of Scripture. "No community," saysPearce Carey, "has won so many recruits from thesheer study of God's Word."

"Judson went to Burmah as a Congregationalist,and, through the study of the New Testament, be-came a Baptist. Dan Taylor, the founder of theGeneral Baptists in England, started as a Methodist,but, seeing baptism to be the ordinance of Christ,he walked 150 miles to find someone to baptiseh im!" Rome objects to an open Bible She is thefoe of private judgment, and upon the man whoexercises his right to think for himself she hurls heranathemas

And our proud boast, as Baptists, is that noChurch has done more to resist her encroachmentsthan we have. We have never yielded an inch toher claims. Against all her priestly pretensionswe have preserved the open page of God's Word.To understand the Scriptures we have neither neednor place for priests or Popes. As Baptists wehave resisted unto blood. We have a long, longroll of honour—of men who have suffered and diedin the sacred cause of religious liberty. To keepthe Bible open our fathers laid down their lives.And we are not going to prove so recreant to ourtrust or so ungrateful of their sacrifice as to neglectwhat the Scriptures so plainly teach.

I don't think we ought to ask, "Why shouldI be baptised?" but to ask, like the Ethiopian,"What doth hinder me to be baptised?" If weare truly Christ's disciples nothing ought to hinderus. Our Lord commands i t ! Should that not bereason enough? The Apostles taught it and prac-tised it. Isn't their example worthy to be followed?

If any men were likely to know the mind of theMaster, surely it was those same men who walkedand talked with Him, and who received their com-mission direct from His lips! And what a perfectsymbolism it i s ! The very heart of the gospelis enshrined in this wonderful ordinance. By theact of submergence and emergence it proclaims thegreat and cardinal truths of Christ's Burial andChrist's Resurrection, and of our death to sin andour resurrection into the new life with Him. Leav-ing aside the duty of obedience to Christ's expresscommands, we cannot afford to sustain the losswhich the perversion of His ordinance involves. Itsbeauty is gone. Its message is lost. It cannottell the story that was put into it. No stretch ofimagination can make sprinkling or pouring pro-claim death and resurrection. And since, as anordinance, it is so beautiful in itself, and so richin teaching, we claim that we ought not to allowprejudice or apathy to rob us of the joy of obedience.Once it is clear that immersion alone is baptism,then the believer, no matter what his Church, shouldnot hesitate to be loyal to the Lord he professesto love and to follow. Baptism is a true sacra-mentum. Candidates for believers' baptism arethose who have enlisted in the army of Immanuel.They have taken their stand under the blood-stainedbanner of the King-Redeemer. Baptism is theirsacramentum—their solemn oath of fealty to theirCaptain.

Whoso has felt the spirit of the HighestCannot confound nor doubt Him nor deny.

Yea, with one Voice, O world, though thou deniest;Stand, thou, on that side, for on this am I.

"A MOTHERS PRAYER."

"As I hold my own baby,So close to my breast,

With the tiny soft fingersLike pink rosebuds pressed;

Do I think of that BabyOf heavenly birth,

Who came bringing hopeTo the mothers of the earth?

"As I clasp my own babySo close with a prayer,

That the Saviour will keep usWith all watchful care,

Do I think of the mothersWhose mute, nameless fears

Bow them low to blind godsWith dumb lips and deaf ears?

"In my home where my childIs a gift from the Lord,

Where the mother is honoured,The baby adored,

Do I think of far lands,Where at breaking of day,

The unwanted babiesAre carried away?

"Oh Father, who gavestMy baby to me,

May the love of my childBring me closer to Thee;

May the children of earthWho know not Thy Son

Be more precious to meBecause of my own."

—Missionary Review of the World

By LAURA SCHERER COPENHAVER.

May, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST

A Letter from Rev. Harry Jones.

Brahmanbaria, E. Bengal,January 31, 1924.

Dear Bible Class Members,—Twice within the last ten clays, while conversing

with English-speaking Indians, I have been askedthe question, "Who pays for your expenses here?"One question was in those very words.

One of my enquirers had the conviction, whichseems to be in the minds of many—and has been formany years, I'm told—that this is a Governmentconcern. When these question were asked of mepersonally my mind went to "Scheme 200," and Igladly informed my friends that Christian youngmen in New Zealand were bearing the cost of mybeing here.

Helplessness is perhaps the uppermost feelingof a probationer during his first few weeks. In apublic address he might recognise half a dozenwords; sign-boards convey nothing to him, and hecannot even speak with children—except in thelanguage of play.

Since language is only a medium for the expres-sion of thought, one feels a long way from theminds of the people he is among

For myself I often wonder what the people arethinking of at different times and what attitudethey take to certain things. Here is an exampleof what I mean: A few days ago, as I was cominginto the compound, I noticed an old Hindu readinga signboard that stands near our gate facing theroad. On the board is a simple statement of theplan of salvation and the Ten Commandments.Much as I would like to have spoken with the oldfellow, I could do nothing but ask God to bless tohim the Living Word.

However, I'm having an interesting time in thestudy of Bengali and manage to get hold of a littleeach day. Already, though, you have a directtouch with the people here. On Saturday after-noons some of the High School fellows meet here ina Bible Class. Last Saturday there were eleven.There has been such a class here for many years,but during Mr Hunter's absence and the school holi-days it had lapsed. The boys are anxious to hearEnglish spoken, but I've told them frankly thatthough I'll help them all I can with their Englishmy primary purpose is being there to teach themthe Bible. They are fine, clean, bright, and keenyoung fellows. Pray that God will use His Word fortheir salvation.—Cordially yours,

HARRY A. JONES.

A Modern Macedonian.

Paul Kanamori, the famous Japanese preacher,has just arrived in Sydney. He has been calledthe "Moody of Japan," but he modestly disclaimsthe title.

"I don't like to be called by such big names,"he says. "I am not such a big man. I know Iam a small man; not even worthy of being calleda Minister of Christ. I prefer always to be calledby my own name. But if you insist on calling meby any other than my own, I have one name bywhich I should like to be called. That is, a Mace-donian. I am like the Macedonian in Paul's vision.He came from heathen Europe to Asia, and I comefrom heathen Asia to Australia; but the object of

the coming of these two Macedonians is the same—namely, to implore the help of Christians for theheathen lands.

"I love China, I love India, I love Africa justas much in regard to the salvation of their souls asI love the salvation of my own people. In ourChristian love there are not national boundaries orracial distinctions. Representing the whole heathenworld, I wish to make my humble appeal to Chris-tian friends in Australia."

Kanamori's life story is of a dramatic and appeal-ing nature. He recently visited the United States,speaking in more than two hundred universities,colleges, and seminaries, and meeting with thestudents on their own ground in the dormitories.

In his own country the evangelist has had aunique and remarkable experience, and, as a resultof his preaching, hundreds of his fellow-countrymenhave accepted Christianity.

His grandfather was an officer of some positionin the provincial government. It was the duty ofsuch officials to examine the religion of the peopleover whom they were placed. A Government noticewidely proclaimed that "The belief in the evil re-ligion of Jesus is strictly forbidden, by order."

For the purpose of these examinations in re-ligion, all the people were called to the officialresidence once a year.

In his biography, Kanamori tells: "I remembermy grandfather had a small iron crucifix, such asthe Roman Catholic priests carry with them. Thiscrucifix was put in a box, which was covered withiron grating, so that the figure within might beseen, and this box was placed in a small hole inthe middle of a large courtyard. The people ofeach township, headed by the Mayor, were calledin, and when they came to the place where the boxwas they trampled upon it and passed on. Thiswas the first time I came in contact with the Crossof Christ, and I was told that it was an 'uncleanworm. '" Ten years later he accepted Christ ashis Saviour.

In Japan Kanamori is known as the man of onesermon, because he preached the same sermon every-where. It is because he tries to give all the funda-mental doctrines of Christianity in one sermon. Itconsists of three parts—God, Sin, and Salvation.

"When I am engaged in an evangelistic cam-paign in any one place for several nights, some-times a week or two at a time," he says, "I repeatthis same sermon night after night. I tell mycongregation each time that I am going to preachthis same sermon every night; 'therefore, you whohave heard it to-night need not come again.' ThusI change my congregation every night instead ofchanging my sermon, which amounts to the samething.

"In Japan I need not be troubled about gettinga new audience every night, since I have sixtymillions yet to preach to."

"When I preach to an unbelieving audience Inever take my evening meal," Kanamori has testi-fied in his "Life Story." "I lose my appetite asI feel the burden of my message to those thousandsof unbelievers, whose eternal destiny is now in myhands. If they accept my message and believein Jesus it will be life eternal to them, but if theyreject it the result will be just the opposite. Whocan feel equal to such a responsibilty as this? Ialways feel that the only place from which I can goto my pulpit is the 'mercy seat.' "

Within three years after its publication 150,000copies were sold of "The Christian Belief," a bookwritten by Paul Kanamori in Japanese. It is asmall book of about 200 pages. He spent fivemonths over it actually upon his knees and fasting,and God has wonderfully blessed it.—(AustralianBaptist).

89




Sub-Editor; REV. S. MORRIS, N.E.V., Dunedin.

Business Manager: REV. M. W. P. LASCELLES.Alt business communications to be addressed to the Manager,







To whom shouM be sent all communications regarding the dis-semination of Baptist literature in our Sunday Schools and churches.

MAY, 1924.

The Many Crowns of Christ.

One of the most popular of our hymns bids uscrown our Lord with many crowns. The hymn basesits rather startling appeal on a verse in Rev. 19The inquiring mind wonders how it may be possibleto wear many crowns at the same time. One of thosehuge metal hats worn by the rapidly dwindling: kingsof the earth is enough to crush an ordinary mortalThe crown of England at which an endless streamof sight-seers gaze prompts the question: "Howcan the King wear it?" It prompts the other questionfrom those who remember Matthew Bridge's hymn,"How can any King wear many crowns at once?"But modern crowns lead us astray. An ancient kingwould not have known what the crown of Englandwas. So recent a figure as William the Conquerorwould have been puzzled at it. The crowns ofantiquity were ribbons of silk to which gems weresewn and which were bound about the forehead. Aking could wear many of these without ceasing to bekingly. The whole forehead was available. Towear more crowns than one was a sign of regalgreatness. When a Ptolomey of Egypt conqueredAntioch he at once assumed a second crown. ThePope, as is well known, wears three crowns. Hemakes the blasphemous claim to Lordship in Heaven,Earth, and Hades. But the Pope is beaten by thedragon in Revelation. That portentous picture ofthe power of evil is represented as wearing on hisbrute horns ten crowns. But when the Seer seesJesus there is no numbering. On His Head aremany crowns.

The visions in the last book of the Bible exercisea constant fascination. Those who are aweary ofthe dogmatists (and they are many) turn wistfullyto some of the unforgetable chapters. The convictat the stone quarries at Patmos, used the hours whenthe lash slept, and when a sea of glass engirt theprison island, a sea of glass to be mingled withthe fire of sun rise. He saw the things that are andthe things that come. He had seen Jesus in theflesh, as carpenter, prophet, victim. He had seenwith a shudder his coronation with the thorny crown,

by the brutes of Pilate's guard. Since then he hadseen the world. He had lived in Ephesus, underthe shadow of its august temple. He had seen thephilosophers of Athens moving through theiracademies and groves. He had seen the might ofRome by land and sea. He saw all with eyes thatpierced. Rome was to him an harlot, drunk withblood, a beast with horns and hooves. But He sawJesus, whom Rome crucified rising in majesty. Hesaw kings falling at His feet. He heard more peoplethan inhabited the Empire singing the HallelujahChorus, to Him, and when he gazed into His face,he saw the forehead had been insulted with thethorns, and lo, it sparkled with many crowns. Letus, too, gaze at the crowns. The kings of old hadtwo sorts of crowns—where modern kings have butone. There was the state crown that representedtheir dominion. And there were also votive crowns.As a sign of fealty a city might give a crown toher king. A conquered territory would be sure todo so. And specially was it the custom with thegods. To bring to the temple a votive crown thatnight be hung before the god's image was thecommonest form of adoration. We suppose thecrowns of Christ to be of both sorts.

THE CROWNS OF AUTHORITY.

There are at least two. He wears the crown ofCreation. What a glory word that is, set at theportals of scripture "In the beginning Godcreated." The whole pulsing universe is because theGreat Spirit willed that it should be. To its leastatom it bears the mark of being a manufacturedarticle. But the connection is intimate. He did notmake and leave His world. His garment, gleamingwith the stars, is the whole universe. Within itthe pulsing of His heart may be felt. "Earthscrammed with heaven and every common bush afirewith God." What has this to do with Jesus ofNazareth? Everything. Jesus is God manifest.In scripture He is credited with creation. S. Johnsays in his gosped: "The Word of God. All thingshave been created by Him." What wonder that HeLaw crowns on the forehead of Jesus. The crownof creation glitters there. It is His world. "He wasin the world and the world was made by Him, andthe world knew Him not."

"One Spirit—HisWho were the plaited thorns with bleeding; brow.Rules universal nature Not a flowerBut shows some touch in freckle, streak, or stain,Of His unrivalled pencil."

The world is thrilled with the thought of our Lord.It is wonderful with His spirit, and wistful with Hisbeauty.

But there is a more august crown. John saw itand the sight of it swept ten thousand times tenthousand to their knees. It is the crown of redemp-tion. To have made such a world as the researchesof ages have not exhausted was wonderful. To con-summate creation by making men in the divineimage, that in their freedom they might achieveon this wonderful earth character and saintship, thatwas wonderful. When they went astray and theearth became the lost sheep of the starry hosts, tohave redeemed it is most wonderful. To have crushedit might have been just. To have turned it intostar dust would have been common. That oftenhappens to worlds in spare. But to do somethingin the world so wonderful and so holy and so heart-breaking that the wildest sinner should stand in awe,and that the holiness of God should be seen, thatis the climax of all things. . And that is what Jesusdid, and therefore He wears the Crown of Redemp-tion. "The life all lily fair" lived under completehuman conditions gave the world the first vision of


what ihc world was made for. Manhood like Christ'svindicates creation. But the life did not redeem. Ittantalised the worldlings. It was his submissionto their madness. It was the love that let them workout their hate on Him, that they might see it andsee God, it was that that redeemed.

"Under an Eastern sky,Amid a rabble cry,A man went out to die

For me.

He wears the crown of Redemption. It glittersas the crown of creation cannot.

THE VOTIVE GROWN.

To ancient kings men brought votive crowns assign of homage. To temples and churches theybrought crowns as signs of devotion. There is oneat Milan. In the cathedral the mouldering corpseof Charles Borromeo lies in a silver chapel. Abovethe withering face hangs a glorious crown wroughtby Benvenuto Celini in token of undying admira-tion. A crown for a corpse. But Christ ever liveth.See them come to crown Him with His many crowns.The martyrs first, led by Stephen, and followed hotlyby the army who poured out the rich red wine ofyouth for His dear sake. They are hailed by menas the noblest of their kind. But their crowns arefor Christ—not as the first martyr, but as the oneSaviour "whose death was the death of a God."The saints come with their crowns, to Him who isholiest of the mighty and mightiest of the holy.Where they tread violets break the bud, and lilies liftthe head—the saints whose fragrant lives kept citiessweet, and lit the stars of hope in the dull skiesof life.

Saints of the early dawn of Christ,Saints of Imperial Rome;

Saints of the cloistered middle age,Saints of the modern home.

They are crowning Jesus, but not as the chief saint.Their holiest says: "Depart from me for I am a sinfulman, O Lord." Between Him and them there arenot one but a million missing links. The artistscome with their laurel crowns, S. Luke the first (theysay), and Angelo, and Titian and Angelico. TheDantes and the Miltons come, and the musicians, andthey hail Him as the soul and secret of beauty.The kings come save such as are calling to the rocksand the hills to hide them from Him. They conicto their victim whom they placarded King of the Jewson His Throne of the Cross. To-day when all thingstremble towards ruin, they gaze at Him, they fallbefore Him Who is the wild world's one hope, toWhom the sceptre belongs. The sinners come ledby a famous thief and marshaled by that chief ofsinners S. Paul. They make the welkin ring as theysing, "Unto Him that loved us and loosed us fromour sins by His blood." They bring their crowns,blood red with the rubies of desire, and they arecast at pierced feet.

Christ will be crowned with many crowns. Wecan all be crown-makers. To make Him King nowover every realm of our lives is to begin to fashiona crown which shall glitter at last in the coronationof the world's true King.

A local preacher in Queensland one Sunday tookfor his text the words, "How much owest thou tomy Lord?" "I shall divide this text into threedivisions," he said, "First, how much do you owe?Second, how much have you paid? Third, when willyou be prepared to stump down the rest?;—(Bible inthe World.)


LIST OF GIFTS TO DATE APRIL 15, 1024.

Clothing.—Mrs Dearsly, Remuera; Mrs Greaves,Manurewa; Mrs E. Wood, Nelson; Mrs J. Black,Otahwai, Nelson; Mrs Takle, 72 Office Road, Christ-church; Mrs Roberts, 7 Royal Terrace, Remuera;Mrs Wilkes, 23 Richmond Road, Ponsonby; Mrs H.C. Heath, 64 View Road, Mount Eden; Mrs J. F.Crocker, Sandes Street, Thames; Miss Smith, RussellRoad, Manurewa; Miss M. Keyte, Second Avenue,Whangarei; Miss Woodward, Edminton Henderson;Scholars of Lake Wakatipu School, per Miss Junker;Linwood B.W.M.U., per Mrs Moon, 704 Ferry Road,Christchurch; Messrs Falkner and Co., KarangahapeRoad, Auckland.

Provisions.—Mrs Smeaton, Manurewa (cakes, etc.);Mr G. J. Miller, 41 Ferry Buildings, Auckland (threecases dates); Mr Greaves, Manurewa (apples andpassion fruit).

Sundries.—Mrs Roberts, 7 Royal Avenue, Remu-era (six pairs shoes); Mrs H. Dearsly, Upland Road,Remuera (one wooden cot); Miss Smith, RussellRoad, Manurewa (fancy goods and toys); Mrs F.Crocker, 334 Queen Street, Auckland (one pair bootsand a large quantity of boot laces); Mr T. Wagstaff,199 Queen Street (postcards and scrapbooks); MessrsMunn and Anstiss, Hallentsein's Buildings (cards);Messrs Mildane Bros., Lome Street (remnants); MissM. Jones, Great South Road, Papatoetoe (books);Linwood B.W.M.U. (remnants).

Auckland.—Epsom Baptist Church, £5 Freeman,H., 10s; Mount Eden Baptist Church, £3 1s 6d;Otahuhu Baptist Church, 14s; Official Collector, £3119s;—total, £41 4s 6d.

Canterbury.—Greendale Baptist Church, £4 7s 3d.Christchurch.—Joseph Venables (deceased), £50.Feilding.—Baptist Sunday School, £2.Gisborne.—T E. Toneycliffe, £10.Heretaunga.—Mr and Mrs A. P. Godber, £ 1 .Kaiapoi.—Mrs J. Wilson, 5s.Manurewa. — Hawthorn and. Munro, £2 2s.Morrinsville.—School Children, 6s.Nelson.—Baptist Dorcas Society, 9s 6d; Baptist

Church, £3 12s;—total, £4 1s 6d.Otago.—Mr J. Reed, Wareka, 1sRoslyn.—Baptist Church, £9 19s 5d.Grand total, £125 6s 8d.

Prayer.Lord, what a change within us one short hour

Spent in Thy presence will avail to make,What heavy burdens from our bosoms take,

What parched ground refresh as with a shower.We kneel and all around us seems to lower.

We rise and all the distant and the nearStand forth in sunny outline brave and clear.

We kneel how weak, we rise how full of power,Why, therefore, should we do ourselves this wrong,Or others—that we are not always strong,

That we are ever overborne with care,That we should ever weak or heartless be,

Anxious or troubled, when with us is prayer,And joy and strength and courage are with Thee.

GOITRE.—A market gardener in the Hutt Valley.Wellington, leports that his wife, who suffered formany years from Goitre, has by persistent applica-tion of Q-tol got quite rid of the trouble. She useda bandage soaked in Q-tol every night for six weeks,and is delighted with the excellent result.


The Missionary Mail Bag,All communications for the Missionary Section of the "Baptist" to be sent to the Missionary Editor,

Rev. Stanley Jenkin, Wanganui.

From Mr. H. M. SMEETON"Our" President.

Self-denial Week, 1924.To urge a Baptist to make a special response to

our Self Denial Fund for Foreign Missions should bea work of supererogation, but perhaps a contrast inwords may impress the needs of our Mission Fieldmore deeply on our hearts and minds and make theexpression through our pockets more worthy of ourcause.

One-fifth of the human race lives in India.There is only one Protestant missionary to every68,000 inhabitants.

The population of Chandpur and Brahmanbariais nearly 200,000 more than the whole, of NewZealand.

If we had 20 white workers there would onlybe one to every 71,100 natives.

Our handbook gives the names of eight whiteworkers, or one missionary to every 177,875 natives!

If the same ratio held in New Zealand therewould be one preacher of the Gospel to every 155,000people!

How would you like that?Will you not do more this year than last to

evangelise our districts? Pray more earnestly andgive more freely. Make this year's Self Denial Funda record one! Yours in the great work.

From Rev. JOHN TAKLE(For 27 years our Missionary in East Bengal).

What does "May Week" mean?What Spirit are we of?

Our Lord said, "Many shall come from the eastand west and shall sit down with Abraham, andIsaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven." Itmakes us ask ourselves what spirit we are of. Theaccepted opinion of the average white man to-dayis that the coloured races shall not sit down asequals of the white peoples. To sit with anotherin Eastern countries is a sign of social equalityand social intercourse It shows that all barrierswhich divide man from man have been broken down.Thank God, that in Christ, all races, red and yellow,black and white, are being brought into one greatglad family. This is the will of God and the workof Christ.

"May Week" is a time for us to consider whatspirit we are of; a time to listen to the call of God,the need of the world, and the claims of Christ; atime for testing our motives and correcting ourstandards of giving and serving Him Who said,"Deny yourself" and "Follow Me."

The Lord of the harvest has made as His har-vesters and given us a vast field in East Bengal.Has it come home to us that we are responsible todo our utmost for the evangelisation of ihis people?India to-day is a land of opportunity, whose peoplesare putting our life, our teaching, our deeds—in fact,everything, to the test. The criterion is the NewTestament and the spirit of Christ. Many are notable to make such comparisons, hence the need tomake ourselves "living epistles read of all men."

Ask a patient lying comfortably under a cleancounterpane in the Chandpur Hospital what MayWeek means to him, and he will tell you how malariafever had sapped his life for months until he hadnigh perished with hunger. He admitted that hevas late in coming, thus giving the doctor extrawork, but now he had turned the corner. His eyeswere full of gratitude.

One of the inmates of the Destitute Women'sHome at Brahmanbaria is told what May Weekmeans. Her face is a blank, for she fails to under-stand, but presently, as one of the ladies gives hera running comment in the woman's village lingo,her face lights up as she says, "I was a poor Nama-sudra woman; my husband died of cholera. Mostof the women in our low-caste community dread thethought of widowhood, because our relatives andneighbours will give nothing towards our support, norwill they help keep our huts in repair. If there hasbeen a good crop we may exist for a time by gleaning.Many of us are compelled to find shelter with fallenacquaintances in the bazaar houses of women of badcharacter. It is by the love and self-denial of theNew Zealand Christians that I am able to learn weav-ing and so earn my living."

Before taking furlough I baptised a young Brah-min, who had on several occasions acted as a priestfor low-caste Hindus. One day he wished to knowwhether Christians practised self-denial. By that hemeant the Hindu ascetic method of sitting coveredwith ashes at the foot of a tree, separated from hisfamily, caste, and society. We pointed out theselfishness of such a practice, and went on to tellof the way of Christ. He was earnest in his effortsto sell Gospel portions, and before long he found thathis conversion had roused the Brahmin community,who never fired of jostling him on the roads and inthe trains. After relating his experience he said,"I am very gentle with these people; I am tryingto follow Christ."

What spirit are we of?

From Mrs. TONEYCLIFFEDominion President, B.W.M.U.

Dear Friends: Let us every day renew the conse-cration to God's service, every day let us in Hisstrength pledge ourselves afresh to do His will. Weshall then be eager to give or do something thatcosts. Anything we give or do without costing ussomething is not worth the giving and doing. Thusin this attitude we shall help on the great missionarywork in all lands. Is not our Lord's command, "Goye into all the world?" Are not those of us whoare unable to go willing to do our very best to sendothers to teach our dark sisters and brothers of ourSaviour's love? Let us, then, do our best and praise,pray, and peg away.

Live-wire Paragraphsfrom

Live-wire People.

M a y , 1924,. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. 93

Out-patients waiting for medicine outside the Mission Dispensary, Chandpur. Theevangelist, with Bible in hand, stands ready to preach to them.

From Rev. ALFRED NORTHOn whose resolution the B.M.S. was formed

39 years ago.

The annual call to self-denial and special prayerfor missions is a wholesome thing. It "pulls andturns us round" to face squarely the obligations,privileges, and opportunties which our reliance onour dear Lord involves, and especially those relatingto the fulfilment of His gracious purpose for theredemption of our race. Let us yield simply andsincerely to this happy constraint and pray and give,give and pray with the alacrity of loyal love.

From Mrs. THORNTONPresident Y.W.B.C. Union.

Dr Zwemer says that the motto of the missonarycampaign should be "Your money or your life." "Itis ," he said, "a Christian duty and privilege to makethat demand." Therefore, during our Self-denialWeek we must not think only of money. There arehigher views of the subject; costlier offerings arerequired.

1. Some are called to give themselves. It is anappalling fact that during nearly forty years onlysome half-dozen men have served in our work inIndia. We remember how, in the Great War, itwas considered a disgrace to stay at home. Thegreat enterprise of foreign missions provides whathas been called "the moral equivalent of war,"appealing especially to the enthusiasm and heroismof youth. Now that the war of the kings is over,the war of the King demands at least equal sacrifices.Let there be! during this week, a holy abandonmentto the will of God. Don't be so greatly exercised as

to whether you "have a call" to go to the heathen.In face of the pressing need and our Lord's partingcommand ask yourself, dear Bible Class member,whether you "have a call" to stay at home.

2. Some are called to give their sons anddaughters. "God had only one Son, and He sentHim on a foreign mission."

3. All are called to pray. Let us give ourselvesto prayer. The only prayer that counts is the prayerthat costs.

4. All are called to give. In 1 Cor. xvi, 2, theApostle says, "Let every one of you lay by him instore as the Lord hath prospered him." Giving is ablessed and happy privilege, not a disagreeable duty.This privilege is not only for the older Christians:young men and women who are wage-earners areoften better able to give than are their fathers andmothers. How much does out professed consecrationcost us? Someone has defined personal consecrationas purse-and-all consecration. Every blood-boughtsoul is the Lord's steward, and "it is required instewards that they be found faithful." Jesus stillsits over against the treasury, and no offering,whether made by young or old, rich or poor, is un-noticed by Him.

From Rev. J. W KEMPAuckland Tabernacle.

Self-denial—too often confused with sacrifice.Let it not once be so named or mentioned in con-nection with the glowing work of missions. Witheager hearts and wiling hands we should vie witheach other to see what loving tribute we can bringto our adorable Lord. "What shall I render untothe Lord?" may be best answered by asking, Whathave I rendered? and what may I now render? Inbringing Him our all we do but bring to Him whatis His own.


From Rev. H. G. HERCUSHamilton.

Men of faith are yet continually questioning thenecessity of the Cross. Our Lord then perforce givesHis definite direction, "If any man will come afterMe, let him deny himself and take up his crossand follow Me." How completely Peter, for ex-ample, learned the lesson may be gathered from hisepistle. Its very keynote is "the sufferings of Christand the glory that should f o l l o w " His own life,too, ending in Christian martyrdom, and by cruci-fixion (if we may accept the traditional belief), wit-nesses the same thing. Did not the Lord say tohim, "Thou shalt, stretch forth thine hands, and an-other shall gird thee and carry thee whither thouwouldest not"? And does not John, who outlivedPeter, explain—"This, said He, signifying by whatdeath he should glorify God"? His very handsstretched forth in crucifixion attest his completeMaster's command. Now, this is our week of self-denial. It is not much we have to do in comparisonwith the great sacrifice of our Lord and of Hisapostle. Yet it is to reach a high level in the givingof our people that we consecrate this week. "Freelyye have received, freely give."

Let us sacrifice something that we might givemore. "Give till it hurts," then we shall be blessed.How strange, yet how true, are the paradoxes of theChristain life! When we suffer with Him then wereign. When we sow in tears we reap in joy. Whenwe lose our life for His sake then we find it.

"Give, and it shall be given unto you, goodmeasure, pressed down, shaken together, and runningover."

While the tired waves, vainly breaking,Seem here no painful inch to gain,

Far back through creeks and inlets makingComes silent, flooding in, the Main.

—Clough.

From Rev. JOHN INGSNapier,

A returned, but "incurable" Missionary.

In a great sun-baked country like India, where95 per cent. of the people not only live in villages,but exist on the produce of their fields, it is not sur-prising that her people should reverence and evenpay homage to the heavens. The burnt fields, thescorched trees, the half-starved cattle, and the languidpeople all thirst for the coming of the rains.

At the end of each hot summer India's giganticgranary is well-nigh empty, and not until after thearrival of the monsoonal rains can it be replenished.No event is of greater importance to India's well-being, health, and wealth than the timely arrival ofthe heavily-laden rain clouds that are carried by thesouth-west winds across the Southern Ocean.Failure or even partial failure, of the early monsoon,spells famine, pestilence, starvation, and death. Nowonder its coming is hailed with joy. Its effectsare magical. The earth and the water bring forthabundantly. Growth is marvellous.

During the "stoking-up months" prior to the"breaking of the rains" in June, the Indian Meteoro-logical Department receives reports from SouthAmerica, Africa, Madagascar, and Mauritius of atmo-spheric pressure in those areas. Weather conditionsin the southern continents, together with ocean cur-rents as reported in ships' logs, are recorded andforwarded to India. India's material well-being, infact her very existence, depends upon climatic con-ditions thousands of miles south of her own coastline. The wind drives great clouds of moistureacross the seas, and ultimately these clouds refreshthe plains and hills of India.

Guided by reports received from afar, the IndianGovernment can forecast with great accuracy thestrength or the weakness of the approaching monsoon. All the big financial wheels of industry inBengal, and every domestic cog-wheel, are influenced,

Compounders working to the Doctor's prescription, Mission Dispensary, Chandpur.


regulated, if not entirely driven, by the monsoonaldownpour. These clouds of blessing, be it remem-bered, are borne in from without, and come fromfar beyond India's shores. But India has a needdeeper than that of material wealth She waits forgreat spiritual showers to moisten and fructify herrich but parched fields.

Our world is a unit and no segment of it, beit land or water, desert or field, wind or calm, .operates to itself. As mountain and plain, oceanand river, in the southern hemisphere contributetheir quota to the breezes that mean so much toIndia's material prosperity, so big and small, richand poor, old and young in the Baptist Churchesthroughout our Dominion contribute by prayerfulself-denial effort to the quality and quantity of thecoming harvest in Tipperah's ploughed and as yetunploughed spiritual fields. Heaven's rains(material and spiritual) are directed, carried, anddistributed by earth's winds. Therefore let ourmanner of living and measure of giving be such asthe Spirit of God can waft in prayer-laden cloudsfrom New Zealand to Bengal.

I feel, as, I suppose, every probationer does, thatI'd like to be out in the village work most of mytime. Of course, there is the one great difficultyat first, which means that the quickest way to thevillages is by way of the grammar book.

I'm thoroughly happy here, and hope thatGod will give me many years of service among thesepeople.

Mrs Hunter, who is not enjoying good health,leaves with the children for England on March 29.Thereafter there will be a bachelor establishment inBrahmanbaria.—Yours cordially,

HARRY A. JONES,Brahmanbaria, India.

Dear Friends,—I may now say that I am well settled in Brah-

manbaria. Getting into a regular stride has beenan interesting experience. Within the last week Ihave, in company with Mr Hunter, visited the threeoutstations of the Brahmanbaria centre. Each stationis manned by a preacher and a teacher. One cannotbut admire them for their loyal work in the midstof their heathen fellows. After all, it is thesepreachers of ordinary rank who do the work and whohave the greatest opportunities of winning thenpeople for Christ.

Aggressive work in Argatalla is, of course, re-stricted, but even with limited privileges we do wellto hold on there. The fact of our being alreadyestablished will in the future strengthen our applica-tion for full privileges of propaganda in the State.Mr Hunter and I were shown through the twopalaces, and we called on the Vice-president of theState, an Indian gentleman who seems to be quitefriendly.

My first trip on our mission-boat, the Shanti-moni, was to Nabinagar. We certainly didn't exceedany speed limits; the boat was towed along by theboatmen, who walked along a path on the bank ofthe river, each one pulling on a rope, one end ofwhich was fastened to the top of the mast. Nabi-nagar, on the bank of the river, is quite a largevillage. In a tour of the main streets we sawfive or six hideous, newly-painted idols, evidence ofrecent Hindu festivals. On our last night therewe showed some lantern slides in the bazaar. Thesubject was the life of Christ, illustrated by about25 slides. As each picture was shown the preacherexplained it and then earnestly drove home the simpletruths involved. A big crowd stayed right to theend, and as they drifted away one couldn't help won-dering what their thoughts were. What idea hadthey formed of God's Christ? How much of themeaning of Calvary had they grasped? How manywould seek out the preacher to learn more? Weasked God to finish the work begun that evening.As we returned to the boat our attention was drawnto a dark shadow over part of the moon. It laterdeveloped into a total eclipse. We had no soonerreached the boat than we heard all kinds of noisesbeing made on shore. The boatmen told us thatthe people believed a dragon was swallowing themoon, and the beating of the drums, etc., was tofrighten it away. Ignorance and idolatry walk handin hand .

Dr Amir Hossain and three assistants operating inMission Hospital, Chandpur.

"Therefore, O Lord, I will not fail nor falter,Nay, but I ask i t ; nay, but I desire it,Lay on my lips Thine embers of the altar,Seal with the sting and furnish with the fire.

Give me a voice, a cry, and a complaining,Oh, let my sound be stormy in their ears!Throat that would shout, but cannot stay for

straining,Eyes that would weep, but cannot wait for tears.

Quick in a moment, infinite for ever,Send an arousal better than I pray,Give me a grace upon the faint endeavour,Souls for my hire and Pentecost to-day."

—Myers' "St. Paul."

"Harry" Jones' First Impressions.


70,000,000 Mahommedans inIndia.

The Cross and the Crescent.

The above diagrams show that there are seventymillions of Mohammedans in India to-day, while theChristians (including Roman Catholics) number fivemillions. Our faith is that "the Cross the worldshall sway." But "as yet" we see it not. Inanother column a contributor shows the dominanceof .Mohammedanism in many world fields. The fol-lowers of Mohammed believe that "the crescent theworld shall sway," and they are fanatically zealousto bring about a fulfilment of their hope. If Chris-tians were half as zealous in spreading the Truthas it is in Christ, as Mohammedans are in preachingtheir faith we should in a generation or two be able

to reverse the figures given above. John iii, 16(shown above in Bengali), is the word (to cite DavidLivingstone) of a "most honourable gentleman.''We who follow "in His steps" must not dishonourHis Word. Millions have never yet been told of theall-embracing love of God figured forth in thatmighty "whosoever." Why not?

Can we, dare we disappoint Him?Brethren, let us rise.

He Who died for us is watchingFrom the skies.

5,000,000Christians in

India.

THE HOPE OF THE WORLD.(By Harold Copping.)

(With acknowledgment to the L.M.S.)

The Hope of the World.In a double sense the illustration is true. Christ

is the world's hope. Only in Him can the woundsof mankind be healed. Only in Him reach thepeace for which the human heart was made. Heis "the one 'Catholic' Man." His appeal is notforeign on any shore. In Him East and West meetin no fantastic sense, but in the sense of real brother-hood. The world's heart is aching in realise itsinarticulate " h o p e " Let us give the all-sufficientChrist to man. Look at the picture again. Arenot the children "the hope of the world?" Wonfor Christ, the children will make the future of theworld safe. Our departments of children's work inBengal are worth all the money our readers put intothem. You say you "long for the joy cf thatglorious time . . . when the dear little childrenof every clime shall crowd to His arms and be blest."Make it something more than a song this month."When the sacrifice begins," "the song shall boginalso," and it will be "a new song" for every willinggiver.

The World's Religions.Part VI of "The Outline of the World To-day"

gives the following statistics of The World's Re-ligions:—

Christian: Protestants, 172,000,000; RomanCatholics, 273,000,000; Greek Catholics, 120,000,000;total Christians, 565,000,000.

Confucianists, 301,000,000; Mohammedans,222,000,000; Hindus, 201,000,000; Buddhists,138,000,000; Animists, 158,000,000; Shintoists,25,000,000; Jews, 12,000,000; others, 15,000,000;total, 1,646,000,000.

John 3, 16, in Bengali.

John 3: 16.

"For God so loved the worldthat He gave His only begottenSon, that whosoever believeth inHim should not perish, but haveeverlasting life."



Questions relating to our own missionary workin India, or to the missionary situation in general, areinvited. They should be addresed to "TheListener,'' care of Rev. Stanley Jenkin, Wanganui,reaching him not later than the 10th of each month.The name of correspondents will not be publishedunless desired.

E.W.G. asks: "What effect has the NationalMovement upon the progress of Christianity inIndia?"

So far it is having a good effect in that theIndian consciousness, born of political nationalism,is beginning to pervade the Indian Christian Church.Formerly, misisonaries, in their zeal to shield converts from persecution and teach them how to think-as Christians, made them Englishmen in everythingbut colour. The Hindus and Moslems despised themfor their "slave-mentality" and unpatriotic spirit. Atthe present time it would be difficult to find anyconvert willing to be regarded as a denationalisedman. Rather, the Indian Church is attempting tonaturalise its beliefs and buildings, its worship andlyrics, its forms and ceremonies, after Indian models.It demands self-determination with an Indian leader-

a black story of disappointment and failure as hehad to tell. The burden of his message he found inthe words: "We have toiled all the night, and caughtnothing." From his facts and figures no other con-clusion could be drawn. Here are some quotations:

"After fifty years and more of misisonary effortin Persia, throughout the whole land there are fewerthan 300 converts from Islam. . . . In Arabia,where work has been carried on for 34 years, thereare not 34 converts from Islam who openly professbelief in our Lord Jesus Christ. . . . In Turkeyall mission work is practically destroyed, not a singlechurch of Moslem converts exists after a hundredyears of foreign missions. . . . In North Africa,including Egypt, Tripoli, Tunisia, Algeria, andMorocco, the total number of Mohammedans whoprofess and call themselves Christians must still beput at less than 500—some say 300."

Undoubtedly, the main reason for this paucityof converts is the dreadful law of apostasy, becausedeath, forced separation from wife and family, andthe loss of property and legal rights naturally follow.

Since August, 1914, we are told, 1,480,000Armenian and Syrian martyrs have passed to theJudge of all the earth, Who does right. Thechurches at Smyrna were wiped out; the GreekMetropolitan was handed over by the Governor tothe Mohammedan rabble. "His beard and hair hav-ing been plucked out by the roots, he was paradedthrough the streets, mishandled unspeakably, andfinally crucified outside his own cathedral."

Praying is the clearing of the blocked roads which are crowdedwith all sorts of worldly hindrances. It is the preparing of theway of the Lord. When I turn to the Lord in prayer I open thedoors and windows of my soul toward the heavenlies, and I openthem for the reception of any gifts of grace which God's holy lovemay wish me to receive. My reverent thought and prayer perfectscommunion between my soul and God.—J. H. Jowett.

ship. While European help is welcome, Europeanleadership is not wanted. This independence, ifwell managed, should mean a leap forward.

If the Indian Christians can so build up a strongOriental Church, rich in the fruits of the Spirit, thenthey are likely to exert a strong influence upon themany Hindu and Moslem reformers who are lookingfor a moral and spiritual dynamic to help them inthe political and social reconstruction of theircountry.

Thousands of non-Christians in India are busystudying the life and teaching of Jesus. He isbeing looked up to as a great Ideal; His standardsare being applied to the organised Christianity ofthe West. Will it stand the test? What an oppor-tunity for the Indian Church to extend not only theSermon on the Mount, but also the word of theCross!

D. asks: "Have you read Dr Zwemer's addresson work among Mohammedans, delivered at the lastKeswick Convention?"

Yes! and it is an appalling revelation of thefacts. Dr Zwemer knows Islam, through andthrough. He also knows the seriousness of themissionary problem in all Moslem lands. But thegreat audience at Keswick were not expecting such

Dr Zwemer finishes this grim picture with thesewords: "Nothing will drive us to prayer sooner thandefeat, and sometimes God allows defeat to proveto His Church that the victory is not by might, norby power, nor by any human method or machinery;and if any part of the great world-field drives usto God, and God alone, it is the Mohammedan sectorof the long-flung battle line."

He closed his address on a more hopeful notein the words of Peter: "Nevertheless, at Thy wordwe will let down the net."

Dr Zwemer scarcely mentioned India and Javaand Sumatra, where the Mohammedans are numerous,but who cannot put into force their iniquitous lawof apostasy, the British and Dutch authorities pre-venting them. In Java and Sumatra there are 45,000living converts from Islam. In India there arescores of churches, whose membership consistswholly of Moslem converts, and hundreds of missionworkers are drawn from this source. On our ownmission staff there are four such converts who aredoing excellent work. In many mission stationsin Bengal twos and threes profess faith in Christeach year. But although the results show that Indiais the land of opportunity for Moslem work, yetthe number of converts is very small in comparisonwith the ever-increasing Moslem millions. Thegreat need is for men who will devote themselvesin love and sympathy, specially for work among thesepeople.



The S—B—E Family.

For a very long time I have been looking forsome folk who have a very peculiar name—indeed,a name so strange that I used to think that theowners of it could be easily found. Old years havebeen followed by new years, long journeys have beentaken, many lands have been visited, and still mysearch goes on. Sometimes it has seemed as thoughI must find these strange people, for their nameis known all through Great Britain, in Australia, New-Zealand, and even America, but to find the ownersseems quite impossible. Of course, it is quite plainthat instead of a few they must be a big family—girls, boys, men, and women. Perhaps the boysand girls who read this will help to find these folk.I will carefully give you the name. Here it is—S - O - M - E - B - O - D - Y E - L - S - E .

Who is Somebody Else? I should like to know.Does he live in the north or the south?

Or is it a lady fair to see,Whose name is in everyone's mouth?

A messenger was much needed the other day,one who would run quickly on a service of love,but the boy who was asked to go only answered,"Let Somebody Else g o " ; but, strangely, that personwas not to be found. In another home a greatpile of dishes were waiting to be washed after theevening meal, but Mary, turning to her mother, said,"I t ' s Somebody Else's turn to-night"; but thatmysterious individual made no attempt to undertakethe task. This week a stone went through a window,and all the boys in the neighbourhood declare it wasSomebody Else that threw the stone.

I have often thought I might find some membersof this elusive family at a School Prize Day, butthough I have been to many and listened to everyname, never once has Master or Miss Somebody Elsecome forward for the prize. It is quite useless toexpect them among the party chosen for a picnic.I am quite sure, therefore, that Somebody Else nevergets the prize or is taken for the outing. They areenly wanted for the disagreeable things.

If there's any hard or unpleasnt task,Or difficult thing to do,

'Tis always offered to Somebody Else.Now, isn't this very true?

But Somebody Else can never take the place ordo the work that we are meant to do. They cannever fight our battles for us. We must fight themourselves.

I am glad when I read the story of Jesus thatHe never sent boys and girls to Somebody Else whenthey clung to His knee and arm, but that He alwayssaid, "Come unto Me." I am glad, too, that Hislove is for ME and not that unknown Somebody Elsewithout a proper name; and that when He died uponthe Cross it was for MY sake, and that He still callsfor girls and boys with a name to love, follow, andserve Him. After all, that Somebody Else is onlyanother name for any and all of us, and I know thatit is ME that He wants. I am the Somebody Else,the very one.

With a child's glad heart of loveAt Thy bidding may I move.Prompt to serve and follow Thee,Loving Him Who first loved me.

Acting Secretary: W. H. NEWTON, Chairman of.Executive, 68 Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn, Auckland.

Letters from Wellington and Dunedin raise thequestion of the nature of the prizes for the Scholars'Recruiting Campaign. It is a little unfortunate,perhaps, that the preliminary announcement whichappeared in the February issue (p. 22) has givenrise to an impression that the scholars' prizes wouldbe cash ones.

The executive of the Y.P.D., to whom thearrangements were entrusted, has resolved that thesix prizes are to be given to the schools securingthe most new scholars, the prize to be given to thescholar or scholars doing best at the discretion ofthe school. It is impossible to get a ruling fromthe committee in time for publication in this issue,but, guided by all precedent, feeling sure that myruling will be unanimously supported by the execu-tive, I have ruled that the prizes will be "to thevalue of £1 each," and not cash prizes.

The following "Teachers' Prayer" recently cameinto my hands:—

Lord, who am I to teach the wayTo little children day by day,So prove myself to go astray?I teach them love for all mankind—And all God's creatures—but I findMy love comes lagging still behind.Lord, if their guide I still must be,Oh, let the little children seeTheir teacher leaning hard on Thee.

LESLIE F. HILL.

To Sunday SchoolSuperintendents, Secretaries,and Leaders of Departments.Would you like to have arriving by post, everyfew weeks, a budget of interesting and usefulinformation concerning recent literature, move-ments, material and methods relating to the Sunday

School?This is a free service I am rendering to somethousands of Sunday School workers throughout

the Dominion.If you are not participating in this service, I inviteyou to forward your name and address, when I willsend you, for a start, two booklets, "How to Makethe S.S. ' G o ' " and "A Recruiting Campaign andHow to Conduct I t " ; also a beautiful reproductionin colour of Harold Copping's celebrated picture"The Hope of the World," You place yourselfunder no obligation. The only condition is thatyou are actively engaged in Sunday School work.




Young People's Dept.



The teacher's work is difficult, often disappoint-ing in its apparent lack of result, but it is a greatwork. Never was the need for it greater, and itis only by "leaning hard" upon and "learning well"from the Great Teacher Himself that we can hope tosucceed.

Wellington Committee has appointed Rev. J. H.Radford its chairman and Mr W. Donovan its secre-tary for the ensuing year. May they and their co-workers have much joy in the work. Reports fromCanterbury and Otago will be welcome.

Teachers' Loan Libraries have been issued toHastings for the use of Hastings and Napier teachersas well as to Gisborne, Timaru, Palmerston North,and New Plymouth.

New schools opened at Georgetown and Inver-cargill North have been granted a supply of Biblesand hymn books.

Secretarial Notes.

Self-denial.—May 4 to 11. Objective, £2000.Our Home and Foreign Mission accounts are verymuch overdrawn and urgently need substantial help.Give and get a blessing.

Prize for New Subscribers to "Baptist."—Willmembers of the Young Men's and Young Women'sBible Classes enter upon a campaign to secure aprize for themselves and their class.

Dallaston Testimonial.—The amount in hand is£360, with a few small returns to come in. ThePresident will make the presentation on his visit toDunedin in June.

Baptismal Garments.—Satisfactory informationmay be obtained at the Union Office as to wherereliable garments can be procured.

Change of Officers.—Will Church Secretarieskindly notify any change in appointment of Treasureror Secretary in connection with their respectivechurches.

Sustentation Fund.—I received a letter from aprominent Baptist recently stating that he had car-ried out my suggestion to provide for £250 in his willfor this fund. Will some others imitate this goodbrother This fund deserves the practical considera-tion of every loyal and sympathetic Baptist.

V I S I T A T I O N OF CHURCHES.

Whangarei.—A week-end was spent at our mostnorthern church. The Sunday congregations arebeing well maintained, and the young people's workis very hopeful. Rev. and Mrs Sampson are doingtheir utmost to further the cause.

The Tabernacle, Auckland.—It is inspiring towitness the activity at our leading church. Theenthusiasm of the energetic pastor is catching.Willing workers and companies of praying men andwomen are to be seen frequently during the week.

Grange Road.—This church, noted for its younglife, is continuing its good work under the leader-ship of the Rev. A. S. Wilson. As one looks uponthe promising youth here envious desires arise thatit might be captured for service for our Lord.

Mount Eden.—Undsr the guidance of the Rev.Adam Clarke, the attendance and interest in thischurch has considerably revived. The very definitemessage from the pulpit is appreciated by young andold.

Mount Albert.—This church, specially favouredm many ways, exhibits a healthy tone and a spiritualatmosphere. The pastor is endeared by his people.

Edendale.—This cause has now launched out or.its own. The foundation members are a loyal bandof Christian men and women. Their young ministerwith his devoted enthusiasm promises well.

Richmond, G.L.—The Rev. R. Horn is now re-ceiving some returns from four years' very faithfulservice. He is supported by a loyal band of workers.The desirability of starting a branch Sunday Schoolis being considered by the church.

Ponsonby.—This church is being temporarilysupplied by the Rev. S. J. Campbell, and is main-taining good congregations. The anniversary services brought to the front a quantity of useful talentwhich should prove very helpful in the ordinarychurch work.

Otahuhu.—Mr Norman Garlick is student pastorhere, and is supported by several faithful workers.Both the church and Sunday School are on the up-grade.

Epsom.—The happy feature of this church is thesplendid band of young people. Pastor Chant isbeloved by them, and we wish him the joy of leadingmany to the Saviour.

Takapuna.—I was unable to visit this church,but from reliable sources I heard of the faithfulministrations of Pastor Nicholls, and that all branchesof the church's activities were in a healthy state.

Manurewa Home.—A short visit to our Orphanagereveals much sacrifice and love on the part of theMatron and her helpers. Our northern friends carrythe heaviest part of the financial burden of the Home.I feel sure if our southern friends only realised thegreat work the Home is doing their contributionswould be more frequent.


OBITUARY.

The first serious setback to the work at Edendalehas been brought about by the death of Mrs Russell.After an illness of some weeks, she passed away onthe evening of April 15.

Associated with Edendale right from its incep-tion, when the first Sunday School was held in herhouse, until her death, she has been connected withthe work in all its phases, and much of its successis due to her untiring efforts. Amongst her manyactivities she had charge of the infants' class, andevery one of the 40 odd infants knew her and lovedher. She was the mother of the church to whomeverybody came who desired help, and not only isher loss keenly felt by the Edendale Church, butthe whole district will mourn her passing away.Through her love for her Saviour the church atEdendale became possible, and one of the joys ofher life was to have become the first foundationmember, although her illness prevented her fromparticipating in all the foundation ceremonies. Herlife has been one long service for the Master, andwe mourn her as the passing of one of His saints.

The following statement from the "Baptist" isstartling: "Give me the money that has been spentin war and I will purchase every foot of land on theglobe. I will clothe every man, woman, and childin attire of which kings and queens would be proud.I will build a school house on every hillside and inevery valley over the whole earth. I will build acollege in every State and fill it with able pro-lessors. I will crown every hill with a house ofworship and support an able minister to preach thegospel every Sabbath Day, so that on every Sabbathmorning the chime of one hill should answer to thechime on another around the earth's wide circum-ference."


603 Young Baptists in Camp.CAMP ROLL.

N.I.Y.M.S.I.Y.M.N.I.Y.W.S.I.Y.W.

Total Easter campers, 1921

South Island Young Men'sB.C. Camp.

MAHENO CAMP.

Alone with Thee amid the mystic shadows,The solemn hush of nature newly born;

Alone with Thee in breathless adoration,In the calm dew, and freshness of the morn.

Such was the experience of one hundred and fiftyfour young men from the South Island classes duringthe Easter just passed. A fine band of red-bloodedmen, who are well able to enjoy merriment, and who atthe same time have thus spent their Easter in orderthat they might "grow in grace."

The camp was ideally situated at Maheno, a littlesouth of Oamaru. What if the situation were alittle removed from the station? Campers feltthemselves to be well rewarded for their walk (that is,those who were fortunate to get a lift in one of thecars) when they beheld the "Willows."

The camp was completely under canvas. Neatlyarranged tents made excellent sleeping quarters (forthose who could sleep), while the marquee, whichhad done excellent service under fire in Y.M.C.A.hands, made a splendid place in which to meet.

The arrangements were excellent. Otago hadspread itself for the occasion, and with true Scotchforethought had left nothing to chance except theswimming arrangements. These, unfortunately,were not adequate, for it was found difficult to con-test diving events in two feet of water or to conduct100-yard dashes amongst the snags. The arrange-ments were materially helped by the people ofMaheno, who left no stone unturned to assist theexecutive. But the menu! Eric Evans, as super-visor of the requirements of the inner man, haddone wonders. He even carted to camp eggs thathad been purchased in cheaper times and duly pre-

served. They were Al in these hard times, wheneggs are 3s per dozen. Yes, we have no com-plaints about the arrangements, though we wouldhave liked a little more satisfaction regarding theproposals of our friends of the Railway Department.

The social side was, as already indicated, allthat one could desire. The camp concert was outof the ordinary—songs, recitations, instrumentalitems, jazz bands, dialogues, Scotch items. Itsimply was a hair raiser, and indicates what caneventuate when all classes take their share of theresponsibility.

The Camp Bugle was, as usual, a manuscriptmagazine full of pep and bubbling over with"Chrisreadish" witticisms.

The physical side was in capable hands and tookthe form of the usual events in connection with theshields. The following are some of the results:—

JUNIOR EVENTS.

100 Yards.—Duff 1, Clark 2. 880 Yards.—Tay-lor 1, Duff 2. 880 Yards Walk.—Wallace 1, Taylor2. Cricket Ball Throwing.—Clark 1, Wallace 2.Long Jump.—Duff 1, Wilton 2. 220 Yards.—Clark1, Duff 2. One Mile.—N. North 1, Taylor 2. JuniorRelay.—Oxford Terrace 1, South Dunedin 2. HighJump.—Clark 1, Blackleg 2.

SENIOR EVENTS.

100 Yards.—Spence 1, Duff 2. 880 Yards.—Adams 1, Brixton 2. 880 Yards Walk.—Barnett 1,Harbone 2. Cricket Ball Throw.—Barnett 1, Brown2. Long Jump.—Spence 1, Ockwell 2. Three-mile.—Omrod 1, Buxton 2. 220 Yards.—Clark 1,Duff 2. High Jump.—Buxton 1, Adams 2. OneMile.—Omrod 1, Adams 2. Senior Relay.—SouthDunedin 1, Timaru 2.

The Junior Athletic Shield therefore goes toSouth Dunedin, with Oxford Terrace and Cavershamtying for second place. The Hercus Shield forsenior athletes goes to Timaru, with South Dunedinsecond. The Carey Cup, for highest individualpoints, is awarded to Eric Spence, of Timaru.

The intellect was set in motion in impromptuspeaking, which resulted as follows:—J. Ken North(O.T.) 1, J. Crozier (Inv.) 2. Prepared Speech.—F. Finlay (Hanover Street) 1, J. Crozier (Inv.) 2.The camp essay on "The Baptist Contention" waswon by Gordon Hendry (Hanover Street). Theoratorical contest for 10-minute "sermonette" resultedin a win for J. Crozier (Inv.), with Sam Barnett(Syd.) a very close second. The John Simon Shieldtherefore goes to Hanover Street.

The spiritual aspect was wonderful; one has yetto know of a South Island Camp when men did notleave feeling that it was indeed good for them to bethere The morning devotional periods, the Easterservice, the Sunday meetings, the closing session,all combined to make for spiritual uplift.

The Sunday night camp service was conductedby Pastor C. Matthews. The service was bright butunemotional, and brought forth a ready responsefrom some 15 fellows; these were joined in the aftermeeting by an additional 13. The spirit was suchthat in every tent, along the road, and at an adjacenthaystack singing was to be heard; the enthusiasm ofthe boys was wisely guided by more experiencedseniors, who encouragingly pointed out some, of thedifficulties and joys of the Christian life.

603

Auckland Y.W.—No returns.

200154124125


Personality.—The one sadness that could be feltin the camp was in the absence of our Camp Com-mandant for so many years—the late Mr Hiddlestone.He was a man who left a deep impress upon thelives of many of the young men of the South IslandBible Class, and no man was more loved.

It was a joy to have as President Mr W. C.Barnes, who so enthusiastically and prayerfully con-ducted the year's business culminating in a splendidcamp.

The old and the new were fraternally united inthe persons of Messrs Tom Hilliker and Chris Reid,of the 1910 Maheno Camp, with such newer men asGeorge Jones, of Hanover Street, Pastor Day and H.Schroder, of Invercargill, the Rev. L. B. Smith andthe Rev. E. Evans, of Dunedin.

The secretaryship was again in the able handsof Bill Beadle, who has rendered splendid service to.the Bible Class Union.

Special mention should be made of Dave Winderand Mr Crozier, sen., who, under the leadership ofEric Evans, worked from daylight to dark in thecookhouse.

The North Island Union was represented by LesBarbour, who was an inspiration in himself.

The singing was again in the capable hands ofVernon Drew, of the Dunedin Y.M.C.A., the fellowsresponding wonderfully.

The sum of £78 was collected by Scheme 52 forTraining of Home and Foreign Missionaries; £31also being raised for Camp Equipment Fund. Gor-don Hendry, characterised as a "champion cadger,"was almost entirely responsible for these results.

Ken Roy and Les Crampton, official pianists,rendered wonderful service.

The 1924-25 officials were elected as follows:—President, Rev. A. Stuart; vice-president, E. J. D.Hercus; Hon. Secretary, Eric M'Kessar; MissionaryCollector, A. Smith; Executive—Chris Reid, SamBarnett, Eric Evans, W. C. Barnes, H. Schroder, andEric Spence.

Mr A. M'P. Patterson, of the New ZealandAlliance, visited camp, and, in a brief but compactaddress, pointed out how Bible Class men could helpthe movement.

Prayer.—The prayers of our Baptist people areasked for those splendid fellows who this year tooktheir stand for Christ. Pray that they, like manyof their fellows, may be able to stand in future campsto bear testimony to the keeping power of Christ.

North Island Young Men'sB.C. Camp.

EASTER AT AWAPUNI.

The Head that once was crowned with thornsIs crowned with glory now;

A royal diadem adornsThe mighty victor's brow.

So sang, with the lustiness of youth, the twohundred fellows camped this Eastertide at Awapuni,Palmerston North. We have had a thrilling time.The site had an ideal and picturesque situation onthe banks of the Manawatu. We were favoured withthe most delightful four days of wonderful sunshine.The racecourse, with its spacious grandstands, build-ings, flower-bedded lawns, paddocks, etc., wereplaced at our disposal free of charge. The tea kiosk,where all the meetings were held, will always be ahallowed place in the memory of our men. There

many met Jesus face to face for the first time. ThereChristian fellows felt the thrill of repossession bythe Holy Spirit of God.

A new feature this year was a series of studiesintroduced each morning by the same speaker. Thesewere handled in a very able manner by the Rev. E.N. Goring, of Hawera. At the very outset, on theGood Friday early morning meeting, he sounded outin clarion clearness the fundamental verities of thefaith. He said: "To be truly Christian we musthold fast to the full Deity of Jesus Christ—otherwisewe cut the nerve of the Gospel. On the other handwe must believe in the real and full humanity of ourLord. He was made like unto His brethren. Thehumanity of Jesus was a pledge of the love of God.The word made flesh spoke as never man spake.The perfect manhood of Jesus is a pledge for finaltriumph in Him. As a man Jesus had a perfectunderstanding of all our needs. He is a sure refugefor the tempted man. It was for our sakes that Hewas made bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh."The speaker spoke in power; we drew nigh unto theheavenlies.

At the annual meeting we heard the annual re-port from our inimitable and enthusiastic secretary(Mr L. E. Utting) of the doings of the North IslandUnion during the year. Fear of the big blue pencilprevents comment thereon.

The ever-scheming collector for Scheme 200 (MrE. Grigg) announced record giving for Home andForeign Missions. We were reaching out higherthan ever before. Five years ago we gave £22 ayear. This year we gave £183. A splendid increase.Our vision is higher yet. The collector himself hasoffered for the field in Eastern Bengal. Thetreasurer's statement by Mr A. B. Wilson indicatedthat a small credit balance helped him to look thewhole world in the face.

The officers for next year were elected amid En-thusiasm as follows:—President, the youthful Rev.11. R. Turner, of Edendale, Auckland; Secretary, MrNoel Stuart; Treasurer, Mr Cecil Batts—fellows wellknown for their interest in Bible Class affairs.These will have the support of Messrs R. Jensen, L.E. Utting, and D. Fell, all of the regal city of NewZealand. The retiring President (Mr W. A. Craig)retired gracefully with a mantle of distinction. Hehad the good fortune to bring to fruition many pointsof policy prepared and discussed by previous execu-tives. He presided with great tact and acceptance.Incidentally, owing to the near approach of an im-portant function, he retired also under a shower ofconfetti. (This, one may add, was at breakfasttime.) He has served the Union well. The sermon-ette contest in the evening was an inspiration. Sevenspeakers faced the music, and gave out of thenhearts the glad news of their message. R. Christie,of the Tabernacle Juniors, annexed the John CliffordCup for his class and a gold medal for himself, whileMr V. Brown retained the Spurgeon Cup he splen-didly won for Berhampore Seniors last year at Claude-lands. With the Revs. E. N. Goring, C. W. Dun-cumb, and H. R. Turner lay the difficult task ofplacing the speakers in their order of merit.Evidently their motto is, "Where duty calls or dangerbe never wanting there. '

Saturday morning found the camp in its fullstride. Mr Goring, at the early morning meeting,took as his subject "The Centrality of the Cross."He pointed out how it was in our hymns, in ourpreaching, and in the thought of men. Speak ofChrist and the hearer thinks at once of the DivineSufferer on Calvary's tree. The Cross is central be-cause it is revelation of the biggest thing aboutGod—His love. It reveals the love of Christ, the will-ing victim who bore our load on Calvary because itwas first of all in the heart of the pre-existent Son of


God. It is more than a moral influence or exampleof love. It meets the deepest and bitterest need ofman. Jesus died to cleanse, to save, to liberate.When men lose sight of sin they minimise the import-ance of the Cross. We saw afresh the face markedmore than any man's, and our hearts were softened.Morning and afternoon were given over to athleticand swimming contests. These resulted as follows:

Seniors.—Champion athlete, Mr J. Litherland(Tabernacle); champion swimmer, Mr N. Stuart(Tabernacle); Carrad Shield for swimming, Taber-nacle; Christie Shield for vitalities, Tabernacle Class;Tug-of-war, Tabernacle; Kober Life-saving Cup,Feilding.

Juniors.—Champion athlete, M. B. Wellington(Wanganui East) ; champion swimmer, C. F. Witten(Mount Eden); Peters Shield for swimming, FeildingClass; Ewen Cup for vitalities, Wanganui East.

The sports were well arranged, and went off witha swing. The camp concert, organised by Bun Eade,was also a brilliant success, an old favourite, GeorgePeek, making his reappearance in items that rockedthe tea kiosk.

The day of days, of course, was Sunday. Atthe early morning meeting, Mr Goring spoke of theraised and living Christ. He said that Christ notonly was . but is. Paul continually speaks of our"sharing in His life and of the Risen Lord withinus ." This means growth—it means that Christ willgo on completing our salvation until "the day ofChrist," when we shall reach the place of full staturein Him. It is for us to open our lives to Him and toreceive His power, being saved from power—the powerof sin—by power.

In the morning service we missed our old friend,John Takle, whom we had hoped to hear after hisyears of loving labour away in Eastern Bengal. Alas,he could not come. The fevers of the East have laidhim low. The Rev. C. W. Duncumb took his placein the meeting, and gave a thrilling address on"Obedience." The Lord spoke to the hearts of manythrough the message. The afternoon was free, andfellows took things easy, some strolling round themagnificent grounds, others on the banks of theManawatu, with its clear waters flowing 'neath theshade of the willows on the river bank—out in God'sgreat open air. Some were seen stretched out on thegreen velvet of the lawns, surrounded with choiceflowers of glorious colour—a place to dream thehappy hours away. Life was beautiful. The samelife that was moving joyously within each young ladwas moving in the sap of the tree and grass. Thatvery day a miracle was wrought when some delicateleaf, or the spiral of a new-born fern, unfolded itselfin the soft air. The thought came to one, surely wemust be happy as long as the sun shone and allNature sang with that great rhythmic chant of de-licious life. How delightful it was just to lie therein the lush of the green grass, among the clear float-ing shadows, to lie and think of the goodness of Godand thoughts of His mercy as they drifted into one'smind from the outer sunshine.

But back to the camp. Everything about campthat should have been done had been done. On. allhands one heard praise for the work done by thePalmerston fellows. They must have worked likeTrojans. Two names call for special mention. Theyare the names of the king pins: The Rev. C. W.Duncumb as the versatile Camp Chairman, and MrLeslie Foddy, the efficient Secretary. They werealways at it. Their work, while finished, was unfinish-ing. Other fellows played their part nobly. Thelocal committee made a great success in its organisa-tion of camp. Commissariat planning was good.Bacon and eggs on Sunday morning was very popu-lar. Transcending all the meetings and fixtures ofthe camp was the great men's meeting on the EasterSunday night. This comes foremost. The heart

elates at its remembrance. Simultaneous prayermeetings clothed the meeting about with prayer, andin the name of the Risen Christ the Rev. W. J.Mains, of Auckland, spoke on "Is the Young Man ofAbsolom Safe?" The speaker's winning personalitycaptured the attention of the boys right away, and,speaking as one anointed with special anointing forthe occasion, delivered his heart of a message ofunusual and winning power. He gave a manlyaddress, exposed sin, condemned it, and told out thegood old story of Jesus and His love. The Lordstood in the midst. When some 25 lads gave theirhearts in glad surrender to the Lord Christ, howwe praised God! There was no hysteria. Mr Main'smessage, manner, and method were ideal. God usedhim. In the testimony meeting which followed weall had an additional uplift. The Rev. W. M. P.Lascelles conducted this meeting with his usualcheerfulness and optimism. One after another toldin quick succession of their conversion and the greatgoodness of God in the intervening days. Few eyeswere dry. Still, no hysteria, but a quiet, overpower-ing sense of the presence of the Holy Ghost Himself.He was filling His holy office. He made real to us thethings of Christ. The Pre-eminent and Spotless Sonof God.

Monday, the last day of camp—a sad day tomany, because it severed suddenly new-formed friendships. It broke with a glorious sunrise. The morn-ing study was centred around the fact of the glorioushope of all believers—the Second Coming of ourLord. How we sang "It may be at morn." Ourhearts beat quicker as we again thought of His return"in like manner," as His ascension surprised Hisearly disciples. The fellows were enjoying the feel-ing of delightful joyousness—their hearts weresinging.

Then came the good-byes. Fellows were off tocatch trains to Auckland, Wanganui, Wellington, andelsewhere. They were loth to leave. As I write allbut 20 fellows have gone. There has come a hush,even a low sigh, a whisper as of the brushing togetherof innumerable leaves. Away in the distance are thepurple hills of God; in the cool of the evening fromone's tent one is held by the glorious tinting of theevening sun, washing as it is the surrounding treeswith soft red gold. One feels in a world apart. Butback they have all gone from this veritable haven ofheaven, where we have met the Divine Son of God,back to the dusty roads, mud, and blood of the world.

But we can carry there the "peace that passethall understanding," and as one prepares to pack one'sswag he finds himself humming—

Jesus, I am resting, resting,In the joy of what Thou ar t ;

I am. finding out the greatnessOf Thy loving heart.

Wellington District Y.W.B.B.C.Camp.

Easter, 1924.

Many hearts were gladdened by the news thatthe Miramar Health Home, a palatial residence of30 rooms, had been granted for our use for theEaster Camp. Under ideal conditions of housingand weather, 124 campers have sampled what Wel-lington can do. These come from 19 out of the23 classes in the district, certainly a very satisfactoryproportion.

At the Friday morning meeting Miss Rainforthwelcomed the campers, Miss Elsie Collins respond-


ing. Greetings were given in response to the rollcall of the classes, and a letter from Mrs Thornton(Dominion President) was also read. We appreci-ated the presence of Mr Lascelles (Union Secretary),who also spoke words of welcome, assuring us ofthe deep interest of the Baptist Union in the workof the Young Women's Bible Classes. Greetingswere sent to the Baptist Union President, MrSmeeton, also to Mrs Thornton, to our missionaries,and to the other Baptist B.C. Young Men's andYoung Women's Camps in New Zealand. In happystrain Miss Kershaw spoke to the girls on "WhyWe Came to Camp," showing how camp providesthe "good time" that all hope for by affording oppor-tunity for spiritual refreshment and social inter-course, for giving of our best, and for putting intopractice our camp motto, "Jesus First." .

At Saturday's business meeting great satisfac-tion was expressed over having a uniform syllabus,many class members finding it easier to take partin the discussion of the subject. We have for longfelt that we would like to support our own missionaryin India, and at this meeting our President sug-gested that we should undertake to support MissEileen Arnold, a former B.C. member and a mostregular camper. When this was put to the meetingit was carried most enthusiastically.

The Sunday morning service was held at the newLyall Bay Church, campers and regular worshipperscrowding the building to its utmost capacity. Thesinging was a special feature of the service, and themessage given by Rev. M. E. Edridge on "He isRisen" will long be remembered by all the campers.What a beautiful service was the communion servicewhich followed, to which over 100 campers stayedto commemorate their Saviour's death.

We were privileged to have at camp with us MissGladys Collins, on furlough from India, who at theSunday afternoon missionary meeting told us the lifestory of some of the Indian girls supported by ourBible Classes. Deeper interest in "those othergirls" has been stirred in us all by her graphicaccount of these girls and of her work in the PubnaHome.

A song service preceded the evening service,conducted by Rev. F. E. Harry, who spoke on "Shineas Lights in the World," exhorting the campers toa more devoted life of loving service, like Eddystonelighthouse, "giving light to save life."

For the purpose of Bible study the camp wasdivided into 12 groups, each of which met everymorning for an hour for the study of "Jesus, theChrist." Many girls have expressed specially keeninterest in these studies, and have appreciated thebook chosen this year.

The sports afternoon attracted an unusuallylarge number of visitors from town, and was success-ful in every way. Brooklyn Senior scored well,gaining the Shearer Shield for the highest classpoints and the Petone Cup, with Gwen Look assenior champion. Feilding is proud to take backthe Gonville Cup, with Doris Pengelly as juniorchampion.

The consistently beautiful weather enabled thecampers to enjoy to the full the walk to Karaka Bayon Good Friday afternoon and the picnic to Day'sBay on Easter Monday. The sacred concert onFriday night and the fun night on Saturday, withits games, items, and impromptu speeches, were quitesuccessful.

Since this report has to be sent to the Editorbefore the closing meeting of camp, at which thespiritual value of camp is made manifest, we hopeto continue our report in next month's "Baptist."We need just say here that many prayers have beenanswered, and we believe that in every way theMiramar Camp has been well worth while.

South Island Young Women'sB.C. Camp.

"Master, speak, thy servant heareth." It wasin this spirit of expectancy that 125 girls gathered incamp at Timaru.

Camp programme was much the same as usual.Study circles were held each morning. The subjectchosen was "The Call of God"—that is, "Call toConsecration," "Call to Sacrifice," "Call to Disciple-ship," "Call to Service." The leaders met eachday with Miss Haig for preparation class. Thesestudies prove helpful to all.

On Good Friday afternoon Mrs Heycock, ofArgentine, delivered a heart-searching address on"Service." In the evening a welcome meeting andsacred concert were held. Miss Thelma Dawsonably presided. His Worship the Mayor welcomedthe girls on behalf of the citizens, Rev. Potts onbehalf of the Council of Churches, and Rev. Goringon behalf of the Baptist Church. In his remarksMr Goring said "he hoped the girls would put asmuch into camp as they took out in meals."

Saturday.—Circles in morning, then all went bybus to Caroline Bay, where we had lunch and ourphotos taken. Later, all assembled at the rectorygrounds, where the sports competitions were hcid.We congratulate Oxford Terrace Senior on winningthe cup. In the evening the prepared and impromptuspeeches were delivered in the dining tent. MissEsther Williamson (Roslyn) carried off the cup forprepared speech and Miss Iris Hayward (Spreydon)the cup for impromptu speech.

On Sunday morning Rev. H. Goring preached ahelpful Easter sermon. The church was full, andthere was special singing by campers. At the closewe gathered around the Lord's table. It was aninspiration to see so many girls remembering Hisdying love. At 3 p.m. the church was well filledfor the missionary meeting. Miss H. Thompsonpresided, and Miss Bradfield delivered an impressiveand telling address on the needs of our work inIndia. She was followed by Mrs Heycock, who madea solemn appeal to the girls to answer the call ofGod. On Sunday evening the church was over-crowded. Mr Goring gave a fine evangelistic talkto the campers. The spirit of God was manifest inthe meeting, and we all felt the Saviour near.

On Monday morning, after study, all assembledin the church for the annual business meeting. MrsEccersall took the chair and led the business. Theminutes of the 1923 camp were read and confirmed.Reports and greetings were given from variousclasses. These showed the B.C. movement to be ina healthy condition. It was carried by an over-whelming majority to hold a combined camp atAshburton. A deputation was warmly received fromthe New Zealand Alliance. Visitors were receivedand entertained in the afternoon, and at night a campimpression meeting was held. The camp mother ledthe meeting. It was inspiring to hear various onestell what camp had meant to them. All referred tothe spirit of comradeship manifest in camp. Fivegirls testified to having accepted Christ during camp.Others surrendered for full consecration and definitework in the Master's service. We owe a deep debtof gratitude to the camp mother (Mrs Matthews), thecamp secretary (Miss D. Buchanan), Mr and MrsH. Goring, grandma (Mrs Goring, sen), grandpa (MrHowe), and the various uncles and cousins andTimaru friends who worked so hard to make campa success.

104 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. May, 1924,

Our Churches at Work.ASHBURTON (Pastor C. S. Matthews).—Harvest

Thanksgiving Service was held on Sunday. February24, when Pastor Robertson, of Oamaru, occupied thepulpit for the day with much acceptance. TheHarvest Social and sale of produce was held the fol-lowing evening, when a good programme was sub-mitted to an appreciative audience. The forty-firstannual church meeting was held on March 12, whenthere was a good attendance. The Secretary's reportwas of an encouraging nature, and showed a year offaithful service rendered by our esteemed pastor.Receipts for the year were £551, which was a record,and included £135 for missionary work. Messrs H.O. Bowden and K. Norrish were elected to twovacancies on the Diaconate, the other officers beingre-elected. The amount to credit of our new buildingfund is now £1250, and we hope to raise another£500 by the end of the year. The Sunday SchoolAnniversary celebrations were held on Sunday, March16, our pastor conducting the services. The congre-gations were very good, and appreciated the hymnsrendered by the scholars under the leadership of MrTucker. The annual Sunday School concert andprize-giving took place on Wednesday, March 10.when the church was crowded.

AUCKLAND TABERNACLE (Rev. Joseph W.Kemp).—Throughout the summer and now well intothe autumn, our church services have been very wellattended. Studies in the Book of Leviticus are stilloccupying Sunday mornings, and the themes, "OtherVoices at Calvary," "He Saved Others," "He Trustedin God," "He Said He Was the Son of God," havebeen taken in the evenings. The school anniversarydrew large congregations and was a great time forthe young folk and one of reunion for. parents andfriends. Favourite hymns of long ago were takenthis year, and were joined in heartily by all. Theseries at the mid-week Bible study, "Questions inDispute,'" was concluded, and "The Bible byPeriods" is being resumed by Mr Kemp. OurTuesday afternoon prayer hours are also resumed,the chief topic for prayer being the coming missionto be conducted by Captain Gipsy Pat Smith. GoodFriday and Easter Sunday were observed by specialservices. These were well supported, although somany of our young men and women were away atthe various camps.

BROOKLYN (Rev. W. S. Rollings).—Our Sun-day School Anniversary was held on March 23, andthe public meeting and scholars' tea on the followingTuesday. All services were well attended, and thesinging was of the usual standard, to which weare indebted to Mr S. Thomas. On Sunday priorto Easter our choir rendered special Easter music.Our young people have been busy raising funds tohelp lighten the camp expenses, especially for theyounger members, by means of socials and concerts.Our pastor has commenced a series of Bible studiesfor the Wednesday night meeting. The need ofconsecutive Bible study has been felt for some time,and we think this may be a want supplied. Ourbranch school at Mornington holds its anniversary inthe near future, and we rejoice in the addition ofseveral new scholars, the only regret being the lackof space, but this, we hope, will soon be remedied bythe erection of a suitable building, negotiations forwhich are under way.

EDENDALE (Rev. H. R. Turner).—The pastmonth has been one of exceptional activity. Theformation of our church and the election of deacons

and officers has been accomplished. This was doneon Saturday, March 22, when all the foundation mem-bers sat down to a very substantial tea, followed bya church meeting, at which the first officers of theEdendale Church were elected. The meeting wasof a very pleasant character, and all the appoint-ments had the unanimous approval of the members.The following members were elected to form theDiaconate:—Messrs A. R. Penman, W. Dixon, Wood,P. H. Woolford, H. Scampton, C. C. Harris, andfrom them Mr A. R. Penman was elected secretaryand Mr C. C. Harris treasurer. On Tuesday, March18, the Salvation Army Silver Band came out andgave an open-air concert in a paddock near thechurch. There was a large attendance, and a mostexcellent programme was given. The proceeds ofthis concert were to assist the Bible Class boys togo to the Easter Camp at Palmerston North, andthe result was very satisfactory. The prayer meet-ings held at 7 o'clock on Sunday mornings are prov-ing a source of help and inspiration to the church.The work at the White Swan branch is making goodprogress. Plans for the new church hall have beenprepared and submitted to the residents, and it ishoped that the building will be erected so as to enableus to have the opening ceremony on Saturday, May10, and the first service the following day. Thepeople of the neighbourhood are giving most valuablehelp, and the fund towards the cost of the buildingstands at £135. A father and son social has beenheld during the month. The event was a most happy-one, and we were glad to welcome amongst us manywho were strangers. The church has committeditself to the erection of a manse for the pastor, anda fund for this purpose is being formed. A sectionof land has been secured, and we are hoping thatbefore long a house will be built upon it.

EPSOM (Pastor C. Chant).—At the prayer meet-ing on March 19 good-bye was said to Mr Dearsly,on the eve of his departure to the Old Land as adelegate to the World's Sunday School Convention.Mr Jones voiced the good wishes of the church, anda letter from the S.S. was read by Mr Fear. Theevening service on March 30 was taken by the UnionSecretary, his visit being much appreciated. Thechurch anniversary took place on April 13. Themorning preacher was Rev. H. Johnson, of MountEden Congregational Church, and Pastor Chant con-ducted the evening service. The annual churchsocial was held on Tuesday, April 15. This waswell attended, and short addresses were given byRev. Campbell (Ponsonby) and Rev. A. Clarke(Mount Eden). The secretary's report showed all-round progress, including an increase of 22 in mem-bership, which is now 97. Mr Harris, actingtreasurer, in the absence of Mr Dearsly, presenteda very encouraging report, the year closing witha credit balance of £64 on the general account.Through the sale of the vacant section, we are atlast free of the debt which has been such a burdenon the church finances, and are now able to do with-out aid from the union. This year we contemplateraising money for some much-needed alterations andrenovations to our building.

FEILDING (Rev. C. D. Cardiner).—On March11 we were favoured by a visit from Mrs Toneycliffe,who gave us a very interesting talk on her recentvisit to India. Our Harvest Festival Services wereheld on Sunday, March 30, Rev. Duncombe occupyingthe pulpit in the morning and our pastor in theevening. The church was decorated for the occasionand a fine display of fruits and vegetables was made.On Monday evening, after a short musical pro-gramme, the goods were sold, about £10 being



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received. This, with Sunday collection of £15, hasreduced our debit considerably, and we thank Godfor His goodness to us. The Young Men's BibleClass conducted the afternoon service at Taonui onSunday afternoon, 10 members going down. OnFriday, April 4, the Young Women's Class held asocial and raised about £3 for the Easter Camp fund.Though wet, the attendance, which included a 'busload from Palmerston North, was very good.

GISBORNE (Rev. F. A. Crawshaw).—Changescontinue to take place in our midst, mainly asthe result of very useful members leaving the dis-trict. On March 27 Mr and Mrs H. S. Farmilo andfamily left us for Palmerston North. Both wereexceedingly useful in musical matters, and Mr Far-milo was church secretary for seven years. Thetown loses a staunch Christian and the church auseful adherent in the removal to Te Kuiti of MrChas. Perry, who at times has occupied our pulpit,served on the Te Hapara circuit, and latterly hasbeen leader of the Young Men's B.C. Mr Priestley,of the Sudan United Mission, visited the town andoccupied our pulpit on the evening of March 23,preaching to a large congregation. The churchwas packed for his very interesting lecture on thefollowing Tuesday. A pouring wet Sunday marredthe church and anniversary services on April 6.Congregations were fair, however, and the choiturned out in full force and rendered special music.About 30 Te Hapara children attended the morningservice, being conveyed in by a number of kindfriends with motors. The anniversary social heldin the Y.W.C.A. rooms was largely attended. OnMarch 23 Te Hapara Sunday School had the pleasureof a visit from their old superintendent, Mr Crafts,who gave a telling address to the scholars.Vacancies on the diaconate have been filled by theelection of Messrs Roberts and Robinson.

GRANGE ROAD (Rev. A. S. Wilson).—Our Sunday services are large and inspiring. Mrs O'Don-nell, the secretary of the deaconesses, on leaving fora visit to England, was presented by our pastor'swife, on behalf of the deaconesses, with a gold-mounted fountain pen. A very successful "Carey"afternoon, organised by Mrs Wilson, was given atthe last gathering of the B.W.M.T.U. On Saturday,April 12, a special picnic was held in Potter's Parkto recognise the successful efforts of the SundaySchool scholars in an increase of members campaign.The scholars' concert at night, organised by MrBarney Wilson, was a great success. On accountof Mr Ray Price's departure for England, Mr L.Honeycombe has been elected acting leader of theinstitute, Mr Noel Gaze, LL.B., being elected secre-tary. Two well-known members of Grange Road,Mr and Mrs Treadgold, and their daughter, havealso left on a visit to Great Britain. One of ourmembers, Mr Harry Taylor, LL.B., the leader ofthe Intermediate Young Men's Class, has gone to

Melbourne to train for the China Inland Mission.The Rev. F .E. Harry's lecture on "A Cure for theBlues" was much enjoyed, and resulted in a fullchurch. One-third of the proceeds was handed tothe new Hawera Church.

HANOVER STREET (Rev. R. H. KnowlesKempton).—The principal services this month werethose of Harvest Thanksgiving, the preachers beingRev. Leslie J. B. Smith, of Roslyn, and the pastor.The decorations this year were in the hands of MissBarbara Stewart, who, with her helpers, made acapital display. The second red-letter day was theone on which Rev. J. Carlisle exchanged with MrKempton. The third was the week-night servicewhen Mrs Ford was dedicated for work in Tahakopa.The speakers on this occasion were Mr Kempton,Mrs H. H. Driver (who is mainly instrumental in thework being started), Mr Stewart (who built churchand "manse" with timber given by local sawmillers),Pastor Matthews (Mrs Ford's pastor), and Mrs Fordherself, who goes into this home misison field as a"faith missionary" indeed. The whole of the pro-ceedings left the impression that here was a fineChristian woman in charge. We must pray for MrsKord and her children. Golden offering for closingyear free of debt totalled £116.

INVERCARCILL (Rev. J. Carlisle).—Very suc-cessful Harvest Thanksgiving Services were held onMarch 23 and 24. Both services on the Sunday wereconducted by Rev. Knowles Kempton, of HanoverStreet Church, Dunedin. Mr Kempton is alwaysassured of an appreciative congregation whenever hepays a visit to Invercargill. The sale of fruit andproduce, which was conducted by Mr R. M'Phersonon the Monday evening, with receipts from theWomen's Social Band stall, realised about £30. Theannual meeting of the church was held on Thursdayevening, April 10. Mr Carlisle presided over a goodattendance of members. The annual report pre-sented by the secretary, Mr T. A. Wise, revealedthe fact that every branch of the church's activitieswas in a flourishing condition. A preaching stationhad been started at West Plains, and a good sectionhad been purchased at Georgetown with a view toopening a Sunday School in this growing suburb.The net increase in the membership for the yearamounted to 25, while no fewer than 35 candidatespassed through the waters of baptism. The balancesheet presented by the treasurer, Mr L. R. Lewis, wasalso of a most encouraging nature. It showed in-creased revenue in every department. The yearcommenced with a debit balance of £34 12s 4d andended with a credit balance of £22 9s 4d; £602 hadbeen raised during the year, of which £97 3s 9d hasbeen forwarded to the Baptist Union in subscriptionsto assist the union in its various activities. Mentionwas made of the need for more accommodation, andit is hoped that in the near future efforts will bemade to have these desires given effect to. A very-successful and pleasing organ recital was given byour organist, Mr W. Dobie, on April 9. Every avail-able seat was occupied.

KAIAPOI (Rev. J. Hiddlestone).—Very success-ful Harvest Thanksgiving Services, large congrega-tions attending. A sale of produce followed on theMonday evening, and £20 was netted, this being afeeder to a more pretentious bazaar later on. Very






happy services were those at the S.S. Anniversary,when the scholars' singing and recital of Scripturewere indeed commendable. On Sunday evening, the13th inst., "The Story of the Cross" was renderedeffectively by the choir. The congregation on thisoccasion was probably a record for many years.Several new members have recently been admitted,and altogether cur church may be said to haveentered upon a vigorous period of service.

MORNINGTON (Rev. T. Weston).—On Thurs-day, March 6, we had the pleasure of welcoming theRev. Thos. Weston to the pastorate of the church.Mr Weston has commenced his ministry under happyauspices. Several have applied for membership.The welcome social was attended by practically allour local Baptist ministers, our old friend the Rev.C. Dallaston being in the chair. Our most im-portant visitor was our general secretary, the Rev.M. W. P. Lascelles, who gave a very helpful address.Addresses were also given by the Revs. Kempton,Evans. E. R. Weston, and S. G. Cooper (Anglican).The right hand of fellowship was extended by oursenior deacon, Mr Shuttleworth. At the B.W.M.U.meeting Mrs Weston was appointed president, andwas the recipient of a beautiful bouquet presentedby the ladies of the church, the actual presentationbeing made by Mrs Carrick's grandson. On Satur-day, the 8th inst., the S.S. picnic was held at Silver-stream, North Taieri, the children being conveyedthither by motor. A most enjoyable time was spent.We regret to report the death of a very old friend,Mrs Callendar, who was in membership at Mosgiel,but who has worshipped with us for some considerabletime.

MORRINSVILLE (Rev. F. A. Parry).—It wascur privilege a few Sundays ago to listen to MrPowell, of China Inland Mission. The Bible Classesof the other churches united with ours for a classrally in the afternoon, and were addressed by MrPowell and Miss M'Gregor, of the Solomon IslandMisison. Afterwards between 70 and 80 sat down totea. Mr Powell also took our evening service. Wehad a visit from Messrs Smeeton, Speeding, andChant. Unfortunately, the night was very wet, pre-venting many from attending the meeting. Fivewere received into membership on Sunday, April 13.We are pleased to report evidences of the workingof the Spirit in our midst. On a recent Sundaynight one young man made the great decision for theMaster.

On Sunday, March 16, we had the joy of receiv-ing six new members into fellowship with us. OnTuesday, April 8, Miss B. Walker was united inthe bonds of matrimony to Mr S. Thompson. MissWalker is the daughter of our choirmaster, MrP. Walker, who is also a deacon, and grand-daughterof Mr J. Shuttleworth, our senior deacon. MrThompson is the son of a past deacon. Miss Walkerwas the recipient of a marble clock from the S.S.teachers and the choir, she having rendered veryefficient service in both these departments.

MOSGIEL (Rev. E. R. Weston).—When onemember is honoured all the members rejoice! Weare therefore pleased to report that further honourhas been bestowed upon one of our oldest churchmembers, Mrs Hicks, who, on her recent visit to theHomeland, was invited to and most graciously receivedby her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace.The further honour is in the form of a personal letterfrom the Queen, sealed with the Royal seal, and con-taining expressions of goodwill towards our fellow-member. Also enclosed were photographs of theirMajesties the King and Queen in their robes of stateand of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

MOUNT ALBERT (Rev. A. Anstice).—On Tues-day, March 18, a lantern lecture was given in thechurch by Pastor Every. There was a large attendance, and the lecture, enttiled "Canada," which isbeautifully illustrated, was exceedingly interesting."Friendship Day," which has become an annualfeature in our church activities, was held on theafternoon and evening of March 26. In the after-noon we were honoured in having as our guest ourUnion Secretary, Rev. Lascelles. Both gatheringswere well attended, and afforded a splendid oppor-tunity for social intercourse among members. Therewere some beautiful musical items given which gavegreat pleasure. At the evening gathering our pastortook the opportunity of presenting to Mrs Turner,who has joined the new church at Edendale, a smalltoken of esteem, expressing to her the warm regardin which she is held by her friends of the MountAlbert Church and School. We have been pleasedto welcome to our church fellowship Mr and MrsLilly, of Christchurch, and we are glad to reportthat Mr Lilly has taken over the leadership of theY.P.S.C.E. There was a very large gathering ofladies at the monthly meeting of our B.W.M.U., whenMrs Palgrave Davey gave a most interesting address,telling us of her work in India. The interest whichis attending these meetings is very great, our attend-ance having been 30 and over the last four meetings.

MOUNT EDEN (Rev. Adam Clark).—During themonth our Sunday and Wednesday services have beenwell attended, and our pastor's talks have beenblessed to many. Our pastor had the joy of receiv-ing into fellowship three new members.

NELSON (Rev. J. Laird, M.A.).—During themonth of March Harvest Thanksgiving Services wereheld. OP the Sunday the church was tastefully deco-rated. The sale of fruit, etc., on the Monday follow-ing resulted in a good sum being raised for thefunds of the Manurewa Home. Our annual churchmeeting was held in April, when encouraging re-ports were presented by the secretary and treasurer.All branches of the work revealed much activity, andthe finances of the church came out with a creditbalance of £46. The deacons for the new year areMessrs T. Pettit, W. Black, F. Cullen, W. Day, H.Sharp, A. Robertson, C. Kershaw, and J. Mills.

NEW PLYMOUTH (Rev. A. H. Collins).—Ourminister has returned from his holiday renewed inhealth and strength. Extra thought and power werenoticeable in the splendid and very helpful sermonsdelivered. Our Bible Classes have been very busyduring the month raising funds for the Easter camps.By a series of concerts and garden parties over £20was raised. During the month a memorial windowto our saintly brother, the late Mr G. H. Maunder,was placed in the church, which will be a reminderof our love and appreciation of services rendered tothe best of all Masters, Jesus Christ.

NORTH EAST VALLEY (Rev. S. Morris).—Ourpastor has returned from a brief holiday, and con-ducted the services on Sunday, April 13. We areglad to know he is feeling much improved in health.We are grateful to those friends who took the churchservices during his absence.

NORTH INVERCARGILL (Pastor Day).—Ourpastor returned from his vacation at the end ofJanuary and has since conducted two baptismal ser-vices, seven candidates being immersed. Some ofthese are from the Bible Class, bearing testimony tothe value of the studies prepared by the Rev. A.North. We have received nine new members re-cently. Our communion services have so increased

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in numbers that we have had to obtain an additionalcommunion set, as many as 68 partaking of the Lord'sSupper on one occasion. A new Sunday Schoolhas been commenced in a near-by suburb, with 40scholars and teachers, and with the help of parentsand friends a hall to seat 100 is being built, theframework being already up. As soon as it is com-pleted we hope to hold services as well as the S.S.work. Our Harvest Festival resulted in benefitingthe church funds to the extent of £20. We have hadvisits from Rev. W. M. P. Lascelles, Pastor Matthews,and Mr F. C. Glass (of Brazil). The messages de-livered were searching and inspiring, and were muchappreciated. We have to record the home-going ofone of our oldest members, Mrs P. C. Valpy. Shewas a true mother in Israel. We sympathise withher loved ones.

OTAHUHU (Pastor N. Garlick).—On Friday,March 28, the General Secretary of the B.U., Rev.M. W. P. Lascelles, paid us a visit, speaking mostlyon union matters. On April 2 a social was held towelcome our new pastor, Mr N. Garlick, also new-comers to the church. Mr Newton, from the Auck-land Auxiliary, gave the charge to Mr Garlick andalso to the members. Solos were rendered by townand local friends afterwards, a social half-hour andrefreshments bringing a pleasant evening to a close.The Y.P. Institute has been recommenced and achoir has been formed with our pastor as leader.We are looking forward to great advances in thenear future.

OXFORD TERRACE (Rev. J. J. North.—OnSunday, April 13, the evening service was held inone of the largest picture theatres of the city. Be-fore the doors opened a short service of song wasrendered, and Mr North addressed the vast throngassembled in the Square, a magnavox, kindly lentfor the occasion, enabling all to hear perfectly. Thehuge building was soon filled. "The Story of theCross" being the subject, the service was a memo-rable one. Mr North delivered a powerful andmost impressive sermon, and the singing of thelarge chorus choir was very effective. Solos andquartets all bearing on the same subject were alsorendered. It is our minister's intention to holdthese theatre services occasionally, thereby reachingmany who otherwise might not hear. On GoodFriday morning a united communion service, organ-ised by the Council of Churches, was held in thechurch. Mr North presided over a crowded church,the Rev. Norman Webster (Presbyterian) being thepreacher. On a. recent evening the choir enter-tained their organist (Mr Melville Lawry) at a social,when they made him a presentation, wishing himand his bride-elect, who was also present, everyhappiness.

PALMERSTON NORTH (Rev. C. W. Duncumb).Harvest Thanksgiving Services were held on March30. There were crowded services morning and even-ing. Rev. Gardiner, of Feilding, conducted themorning services, and Rev. Takle gave a missionaryaddress in the evening. Our Young Women's BibleClass gave a social to augment their camp fund.Upon the resignation of Mr E. W. Holbrook as churchsecretary for the past six years, the people took the

occasion on Sunday morning, April 13, to presenthim with a Schofield's Bible, thanking him for histaithful service and regretting his forced resignationthrough sickness, to which he feelingly returnedthanks. Our annual church meeting was held onApril 11, 1924, our pastor presiding. The variousreports covering the year's activities were well re-ceived. The secretary's report revealed a marked in-crease in membership, there having been nine admis-sions through believers' baptism and others by trans-fer and on confession of faith. The congregationshad maintained themselves excellently. Special men-tion was made of the Bible School, which had beena splendid feature of the past year's work and inwhich great interest had been taken. The otherorganisations of the church, in particular the BibleClasses, were reported to be in a healthy state. Com-plimentary reference was made to the faithful servicerendered by the Rev. C. W. Duncumb, the church,under his ministry, showing a steady upbuilding.The treasurer's statement showed a total income fromall sources and for all purposes of £564 7s 7d. In-creased expenditure and special calls had been gladlymet. The self-denial offering was a record for thechurch, totalling £61. The total raised for foreignmissions was £78 9s 2d, home missions £33 15s l0d,Manurewa Home £26 14s 3d. The new church build-ing fund stands at £705 18s l0d. The election ofthe principal officers for the coming year resulted:—Secretary, Mr W. Whitehead; treasurer, Mr W. Gray;envelope steward, Mr G. H. Elliott; elder. Mr F.Grover, sen.; deacons—Messrs J. R. Carr, E. W.Holbrook, F. Grover, W. P. Anderson, C. Perry, andW. Spencer; Sunday School superintendent, Mr E.Dymock; auditor, Mr W. P. Anderson.

RANGIORA (Rev. J. Hiddlestone.—Our annualSunday School picnic was held on March 22 in theChristchurch Gardens. There was a good attend-ance of scholars, teachers, and friends, and, theweather being perfect, a most enjoyable time wasspent. Our school is small, but there is a fine spiritof friendliness between scholars and teachers andsome signs of interest in spiritual things among theolder scholars.

SOUTH DUNEDIN (Rev. G. Thornton).—Wehave now settled down in our new building and arepleased to report increased attendances at both ser-vices. In the evenings we are invariably crowdedout. Towards the end of March we had the pleasureof hearing Pastor C. S. Matthews, and in April MrLiversidge, of the C.I.M., took a morning service.The prayer meetings are full of inspiration, and arewell attended. The debt on the building has beenstill further reduced, and is now under £300. Aunited service was held in the church on Good Friday.Mr Thornton presided, and the address was given byRev. Fairmaid, of the Presbyterian Church.

SPREYDON (Rev. E. E. Smith).—The fiftyseventh anniversary of the Sunday School was heldon April 6, and proved an inspiring time. Thepreachers were Rev. Argyll Saxby, Rev. L. C. H.Barbour. and our pastor. The service of praise,under the leadership of Mr D. Petrie, was brightlygiven. At the annual social on Monday, April 7,the Rev. A. W. Stuart, of Linwood, addressed the

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children, and hymns and recitations by the S.S.scholars were given. The secretary's report, thoughshowing a slight decrease in numbers, yet indicatedthat much blessing had been received, in that severalof our senior scholars had passed through the watersof baptism. It was reported also that Miss DorothySmith, one of our valued teachers, had left for mis-sionary training in Auckland.

SYDENHAM (Rev. J. K. Archer).—On April 2there was a large and representative gathering, theoccasion being a social in honour of Mr K. G. Archerand Miss Clay, whose marriage is approaching. Inthe course of the evening, which was a very pleasantone, Mr J. T. Barnett, on behalf of the church, pre-sented Mr Archer and Miss Clay with a handsometea service. Mr Burt spoke on behalf of the Sunday-School and young people of the church, and Mr S.T. Barnett conveyed the congratulations of theY.M.B.C. Union. Mr Archer replied on behalf ofhimself and Miss Clay.

TIMARU (Rev. Harold Goring).—The eveningservice held on the 13th was one of great blessingand spiritual uplift. The address was divided intothe different happenings of Passion Week, and wasinterspersed with very appealing solos and duets.Our pastor brought the service to a close by a veryheartfelt and stirring appeal. We feel certain thatmany have received a great spiritual uplift fromthe service.

WANGANUI (Rev. S. Jenkin).—The members ofthe B.W.M.U, were recently privileged to have a visitfrom Mrs Toneycliffe, Dominion President, who ad-dressed a gathering of ladies from three branches.Since last report the Junior Endeavourers had a dis-play of fruit and flowers, which were afterwardstaken to the sick members of the congregation.The Endeavourers were entertained at tea and asocial by their leader, Mr Sproull, and by Mr andMrs J. Jones. We all deeply regret the death of anaged sister, Mrs Johnston, who was called away.Her devotion and self-sacrifice will long be remem-bered by those who had the joy of labouring withher. We have also lost a faithful adherent of thechurch in the person of Mr Mackie, a gentleman ofstriking personality, esteemed by all who knew him,revealing the Christian spirit and influence. Hisdeath will be regretted by all who appreciated hisconsistency and thoroughness of character. He wasa member of the choir, and his favourite anthem,"Seek ye the Lord," was sung at the Sunday even-ing service when our pastor made reference to ourdeparted friend. Our sympathy goes to his wifeand family in their great loss. On Wednesday,April 2, we had the joy and privilege of listeningto the Rev. J. Takle, who gave us "Sketches of OurWork in India." A goodly number came togetherand very much enjoyed and appreciated the greatbranch of work amongst the people of that land.The following Sunday Mr Takle preached in theevening, his subject being "India's Unrest and itsSolution."

WHANGAREI (Rev. F. Samson).—A friend ofthe Editor's, in writing, mentioned the followingitems of interest concerning the Whangarei Church:"Since coming over to us from the Church of Eng-land, our pastor has been getting used to ourmethods. He has had a good deal to contend with,but now the church is reaping the fruits of thefirst 18 months' labour. The services are keepingup, and we find that it is time that our SundaySchool and Bible Classes be more adequately pro-vided for, and preparations are in hand to makealterations and extensions to the church and Sun-day School. Better arrangements are also to bemade for the infants. During the present year

we have had some very successful times, theHarvest Festival being made of great interest, andthe sale of produce resulted in the sum of about£9 being added to our new building fund. Thevisit of our Union Secretary, Rev. M. W. P.Lascelles, was one that will be well remembered,as it is years since we have had a similar visit. Wehad a very pleasant time on the evening of hisarrival in a social gathering, and the services onSunday were a time of refreshing, and his talks topastor, deacons, and members were most profitable.We have had the great joy of receiving 11 applica-tions for church membership, three being by transferfrom New Zealand churches, two from the OldCountry, and six new applications. As several ofthe latter have expressed the desire for baptism,we are looking forward to the time when this servicewill be held and the joy it will be to see His peoplerejoicing in their love for Him by following Hisexample through the waters of baptism. At thecommunion service held on Sunday, April 13, ninepersons were received, among these being MrsSampson and three others of the pastor's family."


Subscriptions received from February 18, 1924,to March 18, 1924.—Frances Longmore Estate, £303s 7d; Mornington S.S., £5 7s 6d; AshburtonChurch. £5 5s 7d; Ashburton S.S., £12 9s 8d;Ashburton CF.., £ 5 ; Gore, 11s; Timaru B.W.M.U.,£4 5s ; Timaru S.S., £.6 2s 4d; North Brighton S.S.,12s; Grange Road S.S., £4 15s 1d; N.I.Y.M.B.C.U.,£60; Oamaru, £8 9s 6d; B.W.M.U., £29 8s l0d;Caversham S.S., £ 5 ; Waihi, £1 10s; F. A. Cleve-land, £ 1 ; North-East Valley Church, 15s 6d; North-East Valley S.S., £1 12s 9d; North-East Valley Y.P.Guild, £1 2s 3d; B.W.M.U., £12 ; Mrs W. Hart,£2 ; Greendale S.S., £6 9s 7d; Hamilton, £2 10s;Island Bay S.S., £1 14s 2d; Linwood, 13s 2d; St.Anne's Sewing Circle, £ 6 ; Hastings Church, £l 9s3d; Hastings S.S., 9s. Total, £216 15s 9d.

Subscriptions received from March 18, 1924, toApril 18, 1924.—Owaka S.S., 10s 6; C. C. Harris,£2 5s; Grange Road Church, £8 18s 4d; GrangeRoad C.E., £ 6 ; Napier S.S., 11s 6d; Feilding S.S.,£ 2 ; Dunolly S.S., 5s 8d; Wanganui Church, £2 16s;Wanganui J.C.E., £3 10s; Gisborne, £1 9s; EpsomS.S., £6 1s l0d; B.W.M.U., £33 4s 8d; BrooklynS.S., £ 6 ; New Plymouth, £3 15s; Hanover StreetChurch, £15 15s; Hanover Street S.S., £1 3s 1d;Roslyn S.S., £l 4s 6d; Nelson Church, £ 1 ; NelsonS.S., £5 1s 4d; Rangiora S.S., 13s; Mr and Mrs T.E. Toneycliffe, £12 10s; Auckland Tabernacle S.S.,£30 1s 2d; Auckland Y.W.B.C, £ 6 ; AucklandX.Y.Z., £ 1 ; Mount Eden, £9 17s 4d; PalmerstonNorth, £8 11s; Sydenham, £7 5s 6d; Feilding, £310s 11d; Legacy J. Venables, £100; Island Bay, 7s6d; B.W.M.U., £32 2s 7d. Total, £313 10s 5d.


Subscriptions received from March 18, 1924, toApril 18, 1924.—Grange Road, £4 9s 3d; Opawa, £112s; New Plymouth, £3 9s 9d; Wanganui, £2 11s3d; Epsom, 8s; B.W.M.U., £ 2 5 ; Miss Muir (VivianStreet), £1; Nelson, £1 7s; Feilding, £1 10s;Hanover Street Church, £15 0s 6d; Hanover StreetS.S., 19s 8d; Roslyn, £1 3s ; Spreydon, £2 0s 6d;Mr and Mrs T. E. Toneycliffe, £7 10s; PalmerstonNorth, £8 11s; Mrs Neill (Vivian Street), 10s. Total,£77 1s 11d.

Printed and Published for the New Zealand BaptistUnion by the OTAGO DAILY TIMES AND WITNESSNEWSPAPERS CO. , LTD. , High and BurlingtonStreets, Dunedin.

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Passing Notes.National Portrait Gallery.

This is, to our thinking, one of the most fascinat-ing of London sights. It stands just to the rear ofthe National Gallery, and before it is the great statueof Nurse Cavell. We found ourselves in someemotion as we sat down in Room XXV, where areall the great Victorians. There is a very crudething folded twice and stitched across, the sketchof Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte, by their brotherPatrick. There is a haunting sweetness about Fara-day's face, and there is a cast of Carlyle, and alsoone of his two hands. Poor, pale hands that drovethe pen so fiercely. Charles Lamb and his sister arethere—she a surprising okl woman in a grannybonnet. In the Seventeenth Century Room there is amask of Cromwell, showing the famous wart veryclearly over his right eye. Bunyan was the noblestof the Restoration faces, though he showed a slightsquint. Pepys hangs beside him. To win a placeon these holy walls a man must be somebody. Thereis a law that no man's portrait shall be hung tillhe has been dead ten years. That very sensible ruleweeds out the flash and the noisy folk who are twicedead in less than that. We remark with particularpride and pleasure that the trustees waived that rulein the case of Dr Clifford, and are hanging at onceamong the great the portrait painted by the Hon.John Collier. They do not fear that time will writeour greatheart down. "Whatever record leaps tolight, he never shall be shamed."

Pinched the Baby.We, of course, regard the quite unscriptural

custom of infant baptism with frank hostility. Wethink that its total overthrow would do more toemphasise the character of true religion than anyother single reform. Those who practise the riteare often at pains to make it ridiculous in the eyesof the public. To High Anglicans there is an awfulmystery about the sacrament. Eternal destiny isaltered when the formula is said. To joke aboutsuch an affair would offend old Johnson himself.But our friend (and we write sincerely), the Arch-bishop, brought down the house with a story of howhe pinched the baby. We may have the Puritan lack

of humour, but if we believed in infant baptismwe should not know which way to look when thefollowing was retailed:—"I found myself," he said,"alone among a big Maori congregation in thisdiocese, and, before the service started, a Maoricame to me and asked me if I would baptise aninfant. I replied that I would, and asked what thechild's name was to be. The name was given to meon a piece of paper. It was atrociously written, andconsisted of three long Maori words. I could notread the writing, and knew that I would not havebeen able to pronounce the name if I could. And Iknew that from Maori lips it would roll fortheloquently, and I would never be able to understandit. I did not know what to do. 'What is the nameof this child?' I asked, and the reply came, as Iknew it would, in a long eloquent roll that I couldnot understand. And just then I remembered anexperience that I had had as a curate many yearsbefore. I pinched the baby hard. It sent up a wailto high heaven, and, under cover of the noise, Ichristened it by the first name that came into mymind."

Pass Round the Plate.That, or something like that, was the spook

voice from the old General to the present General ofthe S.A. An earlier word had been as colourlessas water. But when Bramwell heard this he said,with a sardonic smile, "That is more like my father."To some timid folk the collection plate is the be-alland end-all of the Church. A terror has flutteredthe feathers of these folks because of "listening-in."Should the churches serve the wireless stations withcopy? If they do, and if every drawing-room hasits set, what will come of the collection? We hearthat bishops are gravely discussing the point. Wethink that the one thing to do is to dare the con-sequences and use the new inventions for the Gospel.We had the uncanny experience the other night.To think of one's words floating among the glaciersof the Alps, repeating themselves in the cabins oflonely ships, listened to on the sheep stations in theway-back, is wonderful. This thing is to be reckonedwith, and that not in a timid and niggardly way.The churches ought to be prominent in theirwelcome. Is not the world and its fulness His? Isnot this possibility of His creating? Here is thefact. With one instrument a man can speak tothe whole population of New Zealand. With another



THE

110 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. June, 1924.

instrument he can speak to 20,000 massed togetherin a city and who have no other apparatus than theirears. It seems to us that there will be great demandfor restraint. Preachers who are amplified mustspeak general and not sectarian Christianity. Aregard must be had for those whose ears we assail."The things most surely believed amongst us" mustbe spoken. Men who haven't heard the ChristianGospel for years will be hearing it in their roomand on the street. May it be well said. Catholiccasuists who object to their flock attending hereticalservices will be at their wits' end. Possibly thenasty "trick of exclusiveness" will get a deathwound. We hope it may.

Film of the Ten Commandments.

It has been done. It has been very well done—so says Dr Carlile. It will no doubt trot round theworld, and in due time we shall see it, if we wantto. It is a stunning indictment of sin, and willtherefore shake up the habitues of the problempictures. The slave-built city of Rameses, with itsavenue of sphinxes, is shown. Moses confrontsPharaoh—a very gallant Pharaoh and a very adequateMoses. Pharaoh, with his dead child, stands beforehis dumb gods. The chariots muster for the pursuitover the desert floor. The Red Sea divides its waves.Sinai is altogether on a smoke, and the ten wordsare symbolically shown. Then the scene changes toNew York, and the Ten Commandments are shownat work among lustful and rascally moderns, andthe way in which the rudimentary laws of the world'slife are vindicated is the last word in dramatic sensa-tion. . . . We can imagine that this will do somepreaching. We have got to get modern inventionsworking overtime for the kingdom. The BritishChristians seem to have been impressed. There isno gospel in the law, however, and that must bepreached unceasingly.

The Strike.

The strike held things up after Easter, as manya forlorn camper knew to his cost. Strikes aredesperate resorts. They are civil war slightly dis-guised. That this strike was necessary or that itaccomplished anything important will be denied.Dilatory Government method drives other people thanSecond Division men mad. The way the MasseyParty is handling liquor and gambling problemsmakes us short of sympathy for it in other matters.If a little of Ramsay MacDonald's breezy idealismcould be breathed into the corpus vile of New Zealand politics how well it were. One thing relievedthe monotony of this wretched struggle, and thatwas an interposition by the churches. In Christ-church the Council of Congregations, represented bythe Archbishop and the editor of this paper, visitedthe Strike Committee, and were very cordially re-ceived. In a letter of appreciation their secretarysaid, inter alia, "Your visit has created a wonderfulimpression among trades unionists throughout theDominion, and we trust that it will lead to a betterunderstanding between the members and the Chris-tian churches." It is interesting to notice that onthe agenda for the next meeting of the Council ofCongregations the Archbishop is down to give anaddress on Henry Ford's conclusions. The bearingof the great American's book on labour problems iscirect mid revolutionary.

"Dolling Up" and Paying Up.

The Americans are fighting hard with the after-math of the slump. In the sunny days (financially)of the war, they promised incredibly large sums formission and church work. The Baptists put up, onpaper, about £50,000,000. They are doing their besi

to redeem the paper. Here is a little appeal, underthe caption with which this note started: "Are youwilling to match in the Easter Victory Offering theamount you propose to spend on Easter finery—nomatter whether your appropriation for 'dolling up'provides for a gown, a suit, or a new neck-tie?Somehow a 25-dollar Easter bonnet and a 25-centEaster offering do not seem to belong in the samepew." That's true. There are few who would notblush to see their expenditure on selfish purposesput beside their gifts to the Church of Christ. Thereis not going to be much blessing till the Church isour rule for giving, and our backs and our stomachsthe exception. We are not spending on our religionas we ought. Churches are frowsy because, they arefinancially starved. When a group of men get theidea into their heads of pouring out their wealthas the woman poured out the spikenard, our citieswill begin to take us seriously. How much a churchadequately equipped financially could do! We havebeen looking at those ghastly things—the churchnotice boards. Why should they not shine like the sunby day and night? Why should they be as changelessas the hills, and as mossy? Why do they not shout achallenge to the passenger on the pavement—and adifferent one every week? We have been looking ata dozen other things about our churches. We dollup. What about paying up? But it must be inthis delicious spirit: "Not grudgingly or of necessity,for God loveth a cheerful giver."

A Feather-weight.To reduce the load by putting more power

beneath it has been the dream of Henry Ford andof lots of ether inventors There is a beautifulsaying which runs, "Be pitiful, for every man carriesa heavy burden." Something more than pity for theunderfed and overdriven is needed. There are a lotof Scripture promises about God and man's burden.We came upon a pretty piece in an American paper,which we add to this note: "Scientists tell us thatthere is a place up in the air above the earth wherea stone weighing a ton would weigh nothing. Theattraction from other bodies at that height wouldovercome the attraction of the earth, and you couldhold this immense stone on your finger. There is aplace up in the spiritual realm where our burdensmay become so light as to seem nothing, and whereour cares no longer weigh us clown. 'Casting allyour care upon Him, for He careth for you.' Thecloser we are to Jesus, the lighter our sorrowsbecome. The closer we draw to Him, the nearerHe draws unto us . "

Etceteras.Higher critics may get to work on the personality

of our own correspondent for the Gipsy Smith mis-sion. They may get more result than most criticsdo. . . . The Rev. Lionel Fletcher has come toAuckland to take hold of a moribund church andfill it with Gospel zeal. We hope he will. The Taber-nacle holds somewhere about 1300 people. Thereare over 100,000 within walking distance of it.Plenty of room for two stalwarts to work full churchesnext door to each other. . . . With the additionof 92 reported from the Auckland girls' camp, we had695 young men and women under canvas this yearat Easter. . . . The Rev. John Takle has beenhonoured with a request from the University to givefive lectures on Indian conditions. We think this isthe first time an Indian missionary has been sohonoured. . . . The Rev. G. D. Cox has beentwice in hospital in the last year. He is just now,we are glad to say, a little better. His address isWaihao Downs, South Canterbury. . . . We havejust received the very handsome invite to the oldpeople of Auckland to attend the annual service at

June, 1924.. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. 111

the Tab. The idea is beautiful. Christchurch hasresolved to combine the churches in a similarservice. . . . An enthusistic reader was sopleased with the greater size and better paper of ourlast issue that he sent the happy manager £1 forhis year instead of the stodgy is. "Go thou and dolikewise." . . . We are asked to note that theSoudan United Mission has changed the Dominionheadquarters to New Zealand Insurance Buildings,215 Lambton quay, Wellington. . . . We are veryglad to know that the Rev. J. F. Jones, D.D., waselected President of the Auckland Ministers' Associa-tion at its last meeting. . . . The editor acknow-ledges a letter from "A Hungry One," urging agreater simplicity and a greater scripturalness inchurch life. He regrets that space is inexor-able. . . . The editor also acknowledges severalletters (very kind ones) protesting against his sug-gestion that alternative months are enough for mostchurches to send in reports. He repeats that if thereis anything great to report, not an hour should belost, but normally he still thinks that his suggestionis wise. . . . Several correspondents also wish tohave double notice of baptisms. The editor is will-ing, when there are special circumstances, to allowthe double notice, but not otherwise. The case ofCambridge is in point this month. . . . Reportsfrom Oamaru, Timaru, and South Dunedin too latefor publication.

Auckland Baptist Ministers'Fraternal.

Recently the Auckland Baptist ministers andtheir families were invited to "Binswood," the homeof Mr and Mrs H. M. Smeeton, at Manurewa. Allavailed themselves of the privilege of being guestsof our President and his wife. Lunch and tea underthe trees, strolls through the beautiful grounds andnative bush, and tennis were the relaxations—familyworship and prayer the inspiration of a pleasant andprofitable day. Thanks are due for this, one of many-thoughtful things Mr and Mrs Smeeton are everdoing for our ministry.

The annual meeting of the Fraternal was heldat the residence of Pastor Chant, Papatoetoe, on May12. The ministers were entertained at lunch by MrsChant, and at the meeting following, the Rev. R.Horn was elevated from the position of Secretary toPresident, the Rev. R. Turner taking the secretariat.Our retiring President (Dr J. F. Jones) is highlyesteemed among his brother ministers of all demoni-nations in Auckland, proof of which lies in his electionto the presidency of the Auckland Ministers' Associa-tion.

An Inspiring Report.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Alliance,which was held in Wellington on May 8 and 9, wasan intensely live and business-like gathering. Ourreaders will have seen in the newspapers referencesto the deputation that waited upon the Prime Ministerwith regard to the question of the two-issue ballotpaper, the maintaining- of the pact with the Maorisfor keeping the King Country "dry," and oppositionto proposals for redistribution of licenses and otherretrograde licensing measures.

Never More Alive.The Rev. John Dawson pointed out that prohibi-

tionists were never more alive or determined thanthey are to-day. The annual report presented to the

meeting is inspiring reading to those who have theprohibition cause at heart. For the first time at thisdistance from the poll the whole Dominion is plannedinto eleven areas, and an organiser has actually beensecured for each of these areas. The church con-gregations are as of yore rallying to the standardby providing the funds necessary for carrying on thiswork. It is hoped in the future to appoint eightadditional district workers to care for backward terri-tory. In addition, special work amongst the Maorisand a Young People's Department have been estab-lished and are going splendidly.

Won and Lost.The report shows that in 34 city and suburban

electorates prohibition was carried over both issuesby a majority of 277 votes. But it was lost in the 42country electorates. Some of these country placesare particularly backward, and it is upon these thatthe New Zealand Alliance is concentrating itsattention.

Corporate Control.The proposal first suggested by four individual

members of the Anglican Church, and subsequentlyapproved by the liquor traffic, Moderate League, andassociated clubs, and known as Corporate Control,aims at making the Government a partner in theliquor traffic. Those interested are endeavouring towork up sentiment in favour of it within the AnglicanChurch The Anglican Synod as such has not en-dorsed this proposal, but the liquor traffic is seek-ing to exploit to the full its Anglican origin. Thisis resented by large numbers of Anglican wor-shippers. These proposals need to be watched veryclosely, because it is practically certain that the liquortraffic support of them only goes to the length ofgetting them on the ballot paper as an issue to defeatthe prohibition vote.—J. M. M.

The Convener wants to remind the churches ofour literature: "A Primer of Baptism" and "Outlinesof Baptist History."

He asks that a live young person be appointedin every church to push the sale of these booklets.

Not only should every church member have oneof these, they should buy some to give away.

Will those who have sold supplies please sendparticulars and remittances?

ERIC EVANS, Convener,Caversham, Dunedin.

The Communion.In reverent joy profound,

We gather round Thy board;May we in tune be found

With Thee, our risen Lord.How restful is this hour,

Which in Thy House we spend!To claim anew Thy power

To keep us to the end.We take the broken bread,

And taste the poured-out wine;As thus for us was shed

None other life than Thine.We keep this solemn tryst

In memory of Thee;Our loved Redeemer, Christ,

Thine evermore to be.— H. H., Christchurch.

Literary and Press Committee.


Auckland Division, Y.W.B.B.C.Camp.

Watchword: "Victory."

As the trains drew up at Manurewa on Thursdayafternoon, a crowd of happy girls alighted. Few ofus knew each other, but that little B.B.C. badgeholds wonderful charms, and wearers of it are imme-diately drawn to one another. Our Easter home, theManurewa School, was soon reached, and beforelong all were busy making hay into nice, soft,comfortable beds.

There were our Camp Mothers, Mesdames Turnerand Anstice, busy preparing tea. We fell in love withthem at first sight, and the more we saw of themthe more we loved them. After vespers a largefamily of girls retired to bed, but, alas, not to sleep.

On Friday camp began in real earnest. Aftermeeting before breakfast for prayer and a talk byour new President (Miss Newton), we were dividedinto our study circles. After breakfast and bed-making, each circle leader gathered her flock underher wing, and made for some chosen spot. ThisGood Friday, anniversary of the day our Lord diedfor us, we studied once again the story of the Cross.He seemed so near, and the picture painted by ourleaders of the Cross so real, that tears came to oureyes, and a big longing in our hearts to live nearerand to be more wholly consecrated to our Lord JesusChrist, Who died that we might live.

Oh, those study circles! We girls just lovedthem, and, though we were glad when dinner timecame, we were indeed sorry to have to leave ourcircles. We cannot be grateful enough to our circleleaders for the thoughtful, prayerful preparation ofthose studies.

During the afternoon we were entertained byour dear friend and Camp "Auntie," Mrs Smeeton, ather beautiful home. After a very enjoyable afternoonwe gathered in a shady nook for tea. Here we hadthe pleasure of the company of the Rev and MrsJoseph Kemp and the Rev. and Mrs Adam Clark.

During tea grand responses were given fromeach Bible Class represented. During the eveningwe delighted the Manurewa folk by a sacred concert,in which the children of the Home greatly assisted.

Saturday began again with prayer, and the morn-ing was fully taken up with study circles, etc. Inthe afternoon we visited the Children's Home, wherea very happy afternoon was spent making friendswith the little ones, arranging races for them, andbeing escorted through their bright, happy home.Some of our own sports also were held here.

A social had been arranged for the evening,followed by a time of prayer and a little address.

We rose early on Sunday morning, with a feelingof expectancy. First, Mr Anstice conducted a com-munion service, and, oh, how near and precious ourLord was! We were such a peaceful, happy band,and small wonder, for what joy and peace is therelike He gives? Mr Anstice reminded us that afterMary had expressed her love for Jesus, her RisenLord, His first words were, "Go and tell." To someof us 'twas a new thought. May it inspire us todo likewise.

Later on we divided into two bands, calling our-selves "Methodist" and "Presbyterian," and marchedto our respective local churches for the morningservice.

On Sunday afternoon we met for the missionarymeeting. Miss Wilkinson presided, and was assistedby Miss Graham, of the Regions Beyond Mission(India). With great interest we listened as Miss

Ogilvie told us of our own mission in India and itsgreat need for more workers. Please, God, may hermessage that glad Easter Sunday inspire us all to doour part for India, whether it be "Go," "Give," or,perhaps greatest of all, "Pray."

On Sunday evening it was absolutely great to see40 or 50 girls gathered, quite of their own free will,behind one of the buildings for prayer, some perhapsfinding their voice in prayer for the first time, allpraying for His blessing on the following meeting.

That prayer meeting was one of the meetings ofcamp. Do you wonder, then, that the evening service,led by the Holy Spirit, through Mrs Bailey, of theC.I.M., was so blessed? It was just great. Againand again we sang the most popular camp song,"What a Wonderful Saviour is Jesus, My Jesus!" andas one after another gave their sweet young lives toKing Jesus, our Risen Lord, a deeper and yet deeperjoy filled our hearts, and we knew then, as neverbefore, what a wonderful, wonderful Jesus was ours.

Several gave their lives in full consecration, andmany told of the great joy their Christian life hadbrought them.

Oh, there was joy in camp that night! Deep,peaceful joy such as the world knows naught of, andwhat joy there was up above!

Monday dawned bright and beautiful. Theweather had been most favourable all through, buton Monday even the sun seemed brighter, the skymore blue, and why not, when souls had been wonfor Jesus?

Our sports were finished, Richmond carrying offthe Evans Cup. Before good-byes were said, we metto thank our Camp Mothers for their loving, self-sacrificing services. Then with heart and soul—aye,from the very depths of our hearts, we sang ourconsecration hymn:

"Take my life and let it beConsecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,Let them flow in ceaseless praise."

This camp was wonderfully blessed. Some forthe first time saw the Risen Lord. Some who hadloved him long caught a fresh glimpse of Jesus,causing the flame which had been burning but dimlyin their hearts to leap up and shine brightly oncemore. One and all, young and old, were drawncloser to the Father, and we can say with joy un-speakable that it was good for us to be there.

And now, as we go back to the daily round, itis with fresh determination to live, in His strength,a more prayerful, self-sacrificing life, and to keepour eyes fixed on "Jesus only."

North Island B.Y.M.B.C. Union.

SCHEME "200."

107 Bell street, Wanganui,April 30, 1924.

Dear Fellows,—Once again the time has come topresent the annual report of "Scheme 200." Forfour years now we have launched our ship, and setsail for the region called "200." Not yet have wereached that port up to scheduled time, but, in spiteof storms and occasional contrary winds, we are sail-ing a little faster every trip. If the whole crew ofour ship had worked as hard as some of the membersof our classes, if all the officers had worked as hardas some of the class collectors, and if all of us hadbeen filled with the sacrificial spirit of our Captain,the Lord Jesus Christ, I am sure we would havereached the "Two Hundred" mark and further.

June, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. 113

123456789

1011121314151617181920212223242526272829

859

10134

242018721

1411151723126

19223

252115262928

75

1113203

1216151021

176

14

218

2394

2418

2218

New PlymouthNelsonFeildingBrooklynHamiltonVivian StreetNapierMt. EdenHaweraPalmerstonBerhamporeTabernacleRichmond, Auck.GonvilleWanganui EastPetoneRichmond, NelsonPonsonbyWanganuiThamesGisborneGrange RoadOtahuhuEpsomMt. AlbertIsland BayHastingsWhangareiDonationExtras, Interest

xxxxxxxx

x

x

x

£810675

121348

1720664636

16105

243

1016499

9 00

196

170

196

1318151710131946

110

1368608

1566

03800084179049581048

1180

11788

£910776

122349

1721565426

1042

121351

11

5 010119000

1710146

151290

189350

1085600

08

0890006068090030530066000

010

131511111618367

163038101210105

1326168

445

1528101414

14/314/-13/913/713/413/413/-12/1112/1012/211/711/611/210/910/-9/109/109/67/117/16/35/85/-4/53/72/-

£1012541

165236

17172

10

4

1818

12

2

2131

42

1718150

16170

156629

3

59029

0

20

180

0933000008

11696

6

06063

0

0080

Classes marked x have surpassed their quota, and those marked / have surpassed last year's figures.

You may see, fellows, from the above schedule,the position of your class on the list according toaverage amount contributed per member, accordingto total amount sent this year, and according to totalamount sent the previous year.

The classes marked X have surpassed theirquota; those marked / have surpassed last year'sfigures.

New Plymouth heads the list per capita giving.Though it is harder for the larger classes to reachtheir quota than the smaller, Tabernacle and VivianStreet have surpassed theirs. Well done! Many ofthe contributors are juniors, who are not earningmoney. They deserve special mention.

Some classes have complained that their quotashave been fixed at too high a figure. If I had yourroll number too large, please notify me at once. Thissentence was included in all last year's circulars, andwhere a reply to it was received the quota wasaltered.

Please Reply to Circulars.In giving roll numbers and in sending in your

contributions, please give the senior and juniorfigures separately. The majority of the classes have

not done so in the past, so that it has been impossiblefor me to work out the senior and junior averagesseparately. Consequently a class with a majority ofjunior members may appear lower in the list thanthey should be. Next year I will remedy the errorif class collectors will state what proportion of theircontributions are from seniors and juniors respec-tively, and give me accurately the number of seniorsand juniors on the roll.

If all the classes had done as well as thosemarked with X, we should have had over £250.

Our Executive, with the consent of the classes,has decided to support Mr H. Jones and Mr P. L. A.Crampton. It costs £120 per annum to support MrH. Jones on the foreign field, and £90 per annumto support Mr P. L. A. Crampton during his trainingfor the home ministry.

We must therefore endeavour to raise £210 thisyear if we are to feel that we have undertaken thefull support of these two men.

Let us each then try to give 20 per cent, morethan we did last year, and we will reach easily £210.This is the latest scheme of your ever-schemingScheme "210" collector,

E. W. GRIGG.

THE UNITED INSURANCE CO. LTD.FIRE — ACCIDENT — MARINE.

ESTABLISHED 1862. BRANCHES THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND. CAPITAL, £1,000,000.

Wellington Branch: 324 Lambton Quay. EDWARD C. ROWE, Manager.

"Scheme 200"—Annual Schedule, Easter, 1924.

CLASS.Quota

This Year.Amount sentThis Year.

Averageper

Member.

AmountSent Last

Year.

TotalsExpenses

Nett Total

£1842

164

79

£182 11 10

424 8/8 £1622

318

38

£159 4 7

£252 1 0


South Island B.Y.M.B.C. Union.SCHEME "52."

(For Home and Foreign Missions.)

1. Hanover Street Seniors2. Esk Street, Invercargill3. South Dunedin4. Roslyn5. Mornington6. Sydenham7. Hanover Street Juniors8. Ashburton9. Mosgiel

10. Oxford Terrace Seniors11. Gore12. Spreydon Seniors13. Timaru14. Oxford Terrace Juniors15. Oxford16. Spreydon Juniors17. North Invercargill18. Oamaru19. Linwood20. North-East Valley21. Caversham22. St. Albans23. Caversham Juniors24. Greendale

Interest

Another year lies ahead, in which we can do evenbetter. Let our objective be £100. If each class willdo but its utmost we will reach this objective.

GORDON HENDRY,.Missionary Collector.

The collector for the ensuing year is Mr A. G.Smith, c/o The Manse. Lincoln road, Spreydon,Christchurch.

Self-denial Fund.The following returns are to hand so far: —

Petone. £21 15s 3d; Gonville, £14 6s 3d; MountAlbert, £20 15s; Gisborne, £30; Richmond North,£11 12s 8d; Richmond A., £5 7s; Ponsonby, £1410s 7d; Nelson, £21 5s 7d; Hanover Street, £1276s; Island Bay, £9 6s; Lyall Bay, £10 9s 6d;Rangiora, £ 1 3 ; New Plymouth, £19 l6s; VivianStreet, £105; Invercnrgill, £13 10s; ManurewaChildren's Home, £2 2s; E. A. Adams, £10; A. W.Adams, £50; sundry donations, £7 11s; KaiapoiSunday School, 11s 6d. Total, £508 3s 4d.

Bible Class Papers on theChurch.

A country friend offered prizes for essays at thecamps. We publish two of the essays this month—the best respectively at the South Island YoungMen's and Young Women's camps. We are surethey will be read with profit. Full announcement ofprizes will be made next month. If any Bible Classsecretary has outstanding papers, they should besent in at once.

THE BAPTIST CONTENTION.(Mr Gordon Hendry, Dunedin.)

"Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptis-ing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observeall things whatsoever I have commanded you; and,lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of theworld." In this parting injunction we have for thefirst time the work of the Church defined. Inobedience to this command the early Christianspreached the Gospel, founded churches, and taughtobedience to Christ as the fundamental principle ofthe Christian life. Before the last of the Apostleshad passed away, there were signs of degeneracy andcorruption in the Christian Church. Warningsagainst heresies and false teaching are found inall the later New Testament writings. The firatsteps in degeneracy were the attribution of somemystical power in baptism, and the teaching thatbaptism was essential to salvation. The mode ofadministering the rite was also soon corrupted. Thecorruption did not stop with the degeneracy of bap-tism, but extended to the Communion Table, theformation of priesthood, the doctrine of penance,the confessional, and the exaltation of Mary aboveher Son.

Adversity strengthened and refined the Church,but prosperity weakened and corrupted it. What thepersecutions of Nero failed to do, the patronage ofConstantino did only too well.

From the beginning of the twelfth century re-volts protesting against the apostacy of the Churchbecame numerous. These all culminated in thegreat revolt, the Reformation.

With the first decade of the seventeenth centurywe reach solid ground in Baptist history. On accountof the persecution in England, the first EnglishBaptist Church was founded in Holland by the Rev.John Smyth and thirty-six of his followers. Afterthe death of their leader, persecution being lesssevere, they returned to England, and in Londonfounded the first Baptist Church on English soil.Here, given a fair opportunity to preach the NewTestament truths, they rapidly increased in numbers.During the reign of Charles I they fared badly, butwhen Cromwell became Protector, a fair measure ofreligious liberty prevailed. The comingof CharlesStuart, however, sounded the death knell of religiousliberty, and Baptists were forbidden to meet. Yet,in spite of this, the Church rapidly increased innumbers.

What does the Baptist Church stand for? Itstands first and foremost for the sole and sufficientauthority of the Scriptures in relation to faith andconduct. It stands for a regenerate membership,and, being soundly evangelical, it holds the follow-ing doctrines: That there is only one living andtrue God, and that He has been revealed to us asFather, Son, and Holy Ghost; that we have all sinned


This year's total is made up as follows: —

Scheme "52" has celebrated its first birthday,and has much to rejoice over. Every class has beensplendidly loyal—not a single blank. This year wehave exceeded all previous amounts raised.

1921192219231924

Less expenses, printing, andpostages

£77 0 0

3 1 0

£80 1 0

£9755554444333221111110000

s.150

18000

11730420

1710161010000

15101018

d.9007009680650600000000004

£17275077

101250

0060


and come short of the Glory of God, and that weare under condemnation; that salvation by works isabsolutely impossible, our only hope being in JesusChrist, Who was crucified on the Cross in our stead;that Christ rose from the dead and ascended to theright hand of God; that the Holy Spirit not onlyregenerates the child of God, but remains with thebeliever; that the Church is composed of those whorecognise the dominion and authority of JesusChrist; that all believers have equal rights and privi-leges before God, and is therefore opposed to allforms of priestcraft; that Christ will come againand receive the Church unto Himself, and rewardfaithfulness in service. These, very briefly, are thefundamental doctrines of the Baptist Church.

Secondly, holding as it does the sole and suffi-cient authority of the Scriptures, it stands for thebaptism of believers, and that immersion is the onlytrue form of baptism. While admitting that baptismis not essential to salvation, it is imperative that ifwe would please Christ we must carry out His com-mand. The New Testament alone is our guide. Ittells how Jesus Himself was baptised in the Jordan.He left an example, and said: "Ye are My friendsif ye do whatsoever I command you." If we desirethe friendship of the Master, we must carry out Hiscommands. Paul, that stalwart, said: "We areburied with Him in baptism unto death, that, likeas Christ was raised from the dead by the glory ofthe Father, even so we should walk in newness oflife."

Few sights are more impressive than that of thebeliever's baptism. Before the whole world thecandidate is buried with Christ, renouncing hisallegiance to the world, and he rises from the waters,as Christ rose from the dead, to live a new life.

Lastly, the Baptist Church stands for civil andreligious liberty.

In a little Baptist meeting-house, in the backstreets of London, there the lamp of civil and re-ligious liberty was lighted. In Europe and Americathe Baptists were also first to publish this greatprinciple, and to suffer for it. The liberty which wepossess to-day was purchased by the blood of ourBaptist forefathers. Their story is one of conflicts,of prisons, and of chains. Baptists have alwaysbeen in the van of every fight for civil and religiousliberty.

A new day is dawning in Russia, a dayspringthat will bring with it civil and religious liberty.The history of the change is not yet written, butwhen it is one will read of Baptists who paid thegreat price. It will be a story of prisons and ofscourgings; a story of many who have had theirlives murderously blotted out in the fight for freedomand faith. Here is the story of Vasilia Ivanoft, who,like his Master, trod the "Via dolorosa": "I wasconverted and baptised when I was 22. Since thattime most of my life has been spent in prison. Iwas twice exiled to Siberia, where, in the chaingangs, I was bound to criminals and robbers. Ihave seen the inside of 31 different prisons, in oneof which I had to work a treadmill. During myministry I have baptised 15,000 men and women—most of them by night in some lonely place. Oftenin dead of winter I have had to chop through theice to administer the ri te." Pages could be filledwith stories such as these.

What a glorious heritage is ours! It shouldinspire us to proclaim the simple story of the Cross,to be true to our Lord Who said: "If ye love Me,keep My commandments," and to count no sacrificetoo great to further the cause of civil and religiousliberty. It behoves us to be true, valiant, proud ofour cause, and proud of our forefathers, who, bytheir faith, have accomplished so much.

"Wherefore, seeing we are compassed aboutwith so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay asideevery weight and sin which doth so easily beset us,and let us run with patience the race that is setbefore us, looking unto Jesus, the author andfinisher of our faith, Who, for the joy that was setbefore Him, endured the Cross, despising the shame,and is set down at the right hand of the Throneof God.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH: WHAT ITSTANDS FOR.

(Miss Marjory Thornton.)"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for cor-rection, for instruction in righteousness:

"That the man of God may be perfect, throughlyfurnished unto all good works."—II Tim. iii, 16and 17.

The great fundamental truth for which Baptistshave always stood is the Divine inspiration of thewhole Bible, and the necessity for implicit obedienceto its precepts rather than reliance upon any man-made creed. Right down the ages the followers ofJesus have been persecuted, and foremost in theranks of those who have "suffered for righteousnesssake" do we find Baptists, who, of all Protestantdenominations, have furnished the largest numberof martyrs in English-speaking lands. It is diffi-cult to understand why this adherence to God'sWord should have evoked such a storm of abuse andpersecution from professing Christians. Even to-dayBaptists are ridiculed, partly, perhaps, on accountof their name, which, like the term "Christian,"first applied in derision, has outlived centuries andheaped to itself honour. Unfortunately, it conveys awrong impression to the outsider, who is led to be-lieve that we lay undue emphasis on baptism. Thisis not so. No sacrament can ever save a soul("For by grace are ye saved through fai th") ; butwe believe, on the authority of the Bible, thatdivinely-instituted ordinances, such as baptism andthe Lord's Supper (both of which are maintained byour denomination), cannot be without some spiritualedification to those who participate, and loss ofspiritual blessing must follow when His commandsare deliberately ignored or evaded.

"But ," some may ask, "what is the actual mean-ing of the verb 'to baptise '?" Apart from theoriginal Greek text, which means "to immerse," or"to dip," we readily can discover from the NewTestament whether baptism signifies the immersionof the whole body or merely the sprinkling with afew drops of water. "And there went out unto him(John) all the land of Judaea and they of Jerusalem,and were baptised of him in the river of Jordan"(Mark i, 5). In the tenth verse we read: "Andstraightway coming up out of the water . . ," andin John iii, 23: "And John also was baptising inAenon near to Salim, because there was much waterthere." These facts are indisputable. Why shouldJohn have needed to journey to a river or to Aenon,"where there was much water," if it had been amatter of sprinkling only?

It thus has been clearly proved that baptism byimmersion is Scriptural. Who, then, is to bebaptised?

According to God's infallible Word, baptism isfor believers and believers only. Peter said: "Re-pent, and be baptised" (Acts ii, 38). Repentance isundoubtedly the first step in the ladder of salvation,belief the second, and in the natural order of thingswill follow baptism, as a public confession of faith inChrist.

CATHEDRAL BRAND ESSENCE of Lemon, Vanilla, &c., it full strength, pure, and best value offered.


The inner and symbolic teaching of baptism isunderstood by comparatively few. However, if weknew nothing beyond the fact that Jesus Himselfwas baptised and distinctly commanded us to followin His footsteps, that alone should convince anygenuine believer of the truth of this doctrine and ofthe necessity for obeying it. Jesus said: "If yelove Me, ye will keep My commandments" (Johnxiv, 15, R.V.), and if we do really love and desire toserve Him we will esteem it not only our duty butcur highest joy and privilege to follow wherever Hemay lead. Prior to His baptism, in which He dedi-cated Himself to His public ministry (Matt, iii, 15),Jesus said: "Suffer it to be so now, for thus itbecometh us to fulfil all righteousness." If thisordinance were necessary for the Holy Son of Cod,how much more needful is it for us, poor sinfulmortals?

In Romans vi, verses 3 to 6, we see that baptismis not only a public confession, but is also apictorial and historical monument witnessing to thedeath and resurrection of Christ as truly as whenwe show forth the Lord's death at the CommunionTable. At the time of His baptism, Christ knewwhat lay before him. Gethsemanc, with all its in-tensity of suffering and anguish, had been faced longago, and His coming death and burial presentedthemselves to His mind as a very baptism of suffer-ing. In Psalm xlii, 7, the psalmist had said: "AllThy waves and Thy billows are gone over me," thususing the well-known metaphor whereby overwhelm-ing trouble was compared to. the being immersed inrushing torrents of water. Christ was to undergo nomere sprinkling of death. He drank the cup to itsbitterest dregs, and drank it voluntarily. He, thespotless One, underwent this rite, which properlybelongs to sinners, for our sakes. "He was madesin for us, Who knew no sin." Having takenour mortal nature upon Him, He shrank from noduty thus entailed, being "faithful unto death, eventhe death of the Cross." "We are buried with Himby baptism into death; that, like as Christ was raisedup from the dead by the glory of the Father, even sowe also should walk in newness of life." Baptismsymbolises our entrance into this new and wonderfullife of fellowship with Him and union in His deathand resurrection. "Therefore, if any man be inChrist he is a new creature; old things are passedaway, behold, all things are become new." "Inbaptism we merge ourselves in Christ before Godand angels and men" (Strong). "We are one withHim for evermore. Henceforth, by the might of Hispower, each thought, word, and deed should be onlyin accordance with His Divine will.

There is no doubt that, as Baron Bunsen declares,Paedo-baptism was absolutely unknown in the Churchfor the first two or three centuries of the Christianera, but several explanations are given to accountfor its origin. In the case of sickness, when immer-sion was inadvisable, sprinkling or pouring was sub-stituted, whilst in the northern countries of Europethis mode is said to have been introduced owing tothe great inconvenience of immersing the whole bodyin such a climate. Probably, however, the truestexplanation is that, as the Church grew morepowerful and wealthy, it began to attach far too muchimportance to ceremony and ritual. Thus, whenbaptism came to be regarded as a means of salvation,and the Church declared that unbaptised infants wentto hell, loving parents naturally would seek baptismfor their children at the earliest possible age. We,as a Church, were among the first to stand againstthis horrible doctrine, believing it to be altogetherout of keeping with the love and tenderness of theLord Jesus, Who took the little children in His armsand blessed them.

Gradually, then, Paedo-baptism became prac-tically general, and there commenced the bitter per-

secution of Baptists, not only in England, but also inAmerica and throughout the Continent of Europe.Many thousands—30,000 in Holland alone (Motley) —bravely endured persecution, fines, imprisonment,torture, and even death in its most ghastly forms.It would have been comparatively easy to recant onwhat some might consider the minor doctrine ofbaptism, but these men and women of God counted"all things but loss for the excellency of the know-ledge of Christ Jesus" their Lord, and their martyr-dom, far from diminishing the number of Baptists,but served to inflame those who remained with morezeal and consecration to their Master, so that theBaptist Church grew mightily, hereby proving onceagain the old truth that "the blood of the martyrsis the seed of the Church."

Thus we have seen that our principles are basedon no man-made creed. Had these brave confessorssought to please the religious leaders of the clay theywould not have been the servants of Christ.

Other outstanding principles of our Church maybe summarised briefly. One of the most importantis liberty of conscience. "Thre is one God andFather of all, Who is above all and through all andin you all." God is above all; He claims supremepower over every human soul, and no civil authorityhas the right to come between that soul and its Lord".Belief cannot be forced. Every Christian is justifiedin interpreting the Scriptures for himself by the helpof the Holy Spirit, and in worshipping God accordingto the dictates of his own conscience. Thus, com-paratively few Baptist Churches consider it necessaryto adopt a formal creed, which demands adherenceto every single article, essential and non-essential, ofthe Christian faith. It must not be thought, how-ever, that this liberty has degenerated into licence,since the world over there is no body of Christianswhich more zealously upholds the great verities of theGospel.

Further: "There is one mediator between Godand man," the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore wecontend that there can be no priest. At the presentday, in many respects, Christ is virtually ignored.Men and women of various lands are looking topope, priest, or synod for all spiritual guidance,instead of allowing the Word of God full sway, man-made laws are accorded equal authority with thosethat are Divine, and the result is appalling. It isnot only presumption but utter blasphemy for anyman, whatever his position, to put himself in theplace of the great High Priest, Who "ever liveth tomake intercession for the saints" at the right handof the Throne of God. That is all the intercessionneeded. As Christ died for each individual, so Godwill deal with us individually, not through the media-tion of any save His Son.

Moreover, Baptists, being the most democraticof bodies, object to anything that savours of clericaldomination. We know (Rev. i, 5 and 6) that themoment a man believes in Christ, that moment heis cleansed from all sin, being made a king and priestunto God. Therefore, our government is one ofabsolute democracy, all members possessing equalauthority in the governing of their respectivechurches.

Also, believing it to be in accordance with ourLord's will, we, as far as possible, insist upon aregenerate membership. "And the Lord added to theChurch daily such as should be saved," assures usthat the Church, as the Bride-elect of Christ, must bekept pure and untainted from the world, only thosewhose belief is not merely intellectual, but whoopenly avow themselves followers of the Cross, beingadmitted to membership.

In short, Baptist principles hinge upon the all-important fact of personality. Each individual isaccountable directly to God. Belief is the one thingthat ought not to be taken for granted, yet it un-


doubtedly is in the case of infant baptism, where,because a child is born of Christian parents, hisbelief is presupposed. Salvation by proxy is in-credible. There must be the individual response ofthe soul to God. Anything that nullifies this directresponsibility is dangerous in the extreme.

The fact that to-day Baptists abound in everyland, and that our membership has increased from alittle over six million in 1907 to over ten million in1923 is largely due to our acknowledging joyfullythat Christ is the supreme Head of the Church andLord of all. This phenomenal growth, despite ourcustom of receiving only professedly regenerate menand women into membership, is a certain proof thatour fidelity to the Word of God in the preaching ofthe full Gospel of Jesus Christ is being honouredsignally by our Lord and Master.

"Strong in the strength which God suppliesthrough His eternal Son,'' let us march steadilyforward,

"Still faithful to our GodAnd to our Captain true,

We follow where He leads the way,The Kingdom in our view."

B.W.M.U.

WELLINGTON DISTRICT.

Members from the five branches in and nearWellington met in the Church Hall at Vivian Streeton Wednesday, May 7, for a day of prayer. Greet-ings were received from Palmerston North andNelson. For the first hour Vivian Street was incharge, and Mrs Harry presided. It was a devotionalmeeting, and Mrs Harry spoke of the variousmethods of work on the field, and reminded themembers of the special needs of our mission as aninspiration for prayer. A solo, "Wait Patiently forHim," was sung by Mrs Collins. Island Bay tookthe next hour, and Mrs Edridge was in the chair.The reading was taken from the fifty-fifth chapterof Isaiah, and Mrs Edridge read a paper on"Mission Work." Mrs Hindmarsh sang "Nearer,My God, to Thee." Mrs Rollings presided whenBrooklyn was in charge of the meeting, and MrsPamphlin sang "Take Time to be Holy." The read-ing was the seventeenth chapter of John, and MrsRollings gave an address on our motto: "Ye alsohelping together by prayer." After an interval forlunch, the meeting was continued at 2 o'clock, andMrs Radford, who presided for the Petone branch,read an introductory paper on "Continuance inPrayer." A helpful paper, written by Mrs W. Nicol,"An Old Testament Missionary—Jonah," was readby Mrs Lowe, and a solo was rendered beautifully byMiss Ailsa Nicol. The last hour was conducted bythe Berhampore members, with Mrs Bade presiding.A duet was sung by Mrs Catchpole and Mrs Scott.Miss Farmilo, a returned missionary, gave an in-teresting address, drawing two pictures of life inIndia—among women and girls—and gave a veryfine and clear definition of Indian family life. Shealso told us the story of Nalini, who was brought toSerajgung as a tiny child, and is now acting as headmistress of the Birisiri Girls' School. A notablefeature of all the meetings during the day was theeager and earnest participation in prayer, membersone after another leading us to the "Throne of Grace,and we feel sure that our prayers will be answered,and the work, both in the homeland and on themission field, will be blessed as an outcome of ourmeeting together in prayer.

CANTERBURY DISTRICT.

Wednesday, May 7, was the date fixed for ourday of prayer, and Linwood Church was the placeof meeting. From early morning we were favouredwith brilliant sunshine, and as we gathered at theThrone of Grace we felt that the sun of righteous-ness was shining down upon us also. Many andvaried were the petitions which were offered as dif-ferent leaders took charge and stressed the need ofsome special part of our Church or mission work.The hours (10.30-7.30) passed quickly. There wasno flagging of interest. The few who started in asmall room were reinforced so rapidly that by 11.30it was necessary to adjourn to the church. In thatsmall room, however, we had listened to a most in-teresting account of mission work in Argentina,given by Mrs E. J. D. Hercus. During the firsthour the Sydenham branch led the meeting, and theOxford Terrace branch took charge of the secondhour, when our blind friend, Miss Boyd, spoke ofthe way in which we can help our friends by ourprayers, and Mrs Takle emphasised some of thedifficulties which confront missionaries, and urgedus to pray that out of India's millions great Christianleaders may be raised up to lead their own people toChrist. As a word of cheer, she pointed out thatChristianity has made more progress in India in onecentury than was made by the whole ChristianChurch during the two centuries following thecrucifixion of Christ. At 1.30, Mrs Smith, of Sprey-don, presided, and made an earnest appeal for ser-vice, her subject being taken from Ezekiel's visionof the creatures who had hands beneath their wings.She was followed by Mrs Hayward, who stressed theneed for spirit-filled lives in order that they mayoverflow in blessing to others. We were all veryglad to have Miss Gainsford present, and she ledthe meeting from 2.30 till 3 o'clock, when our Canter-bury President (Mrs A. S. Adams) took the chair,and Miss Gainsford gave an address on B.W.M.U.work to a large gathering, the attendance at thattime being about sixty. The hour before tea wastaken by the Linwood branch, and the half-hour aftertea by Mrs Rylands Brown, of Timaru, who gave,reminiscences of the many years she had spent inIndia. The closing hour was led by the Opawabranch, and then we all took part in the united Com-munion service—a fitting close for a clay which longwill be remembered by those who were privilegedto share in the meetings.


Subscriptions received from April 18, 1924, toMay 18, 1924.— Milford Sunday School, £1 13s 6d;Mount Albert Church, £5 12s 3d; Mount AlbertSunday School, £3 19s 5d; Hastings Church, £l 3s3d; Hastings Sunday School, 3s 3d; North-East Val-ley Church, £1 9s 6d; North-East Valley SundaySchool, £1 10s 1d; C. Cathie (Vivian Street), £15 ;Vivian Street Sunday School, £8 13s 11d; MorningtonSunday School, £5 8s 1d; Milford, £7 12s 4d; MountEden, 12s 7d; Island Bay, £.2; Island Bay SundaySchool, 7s; Oamaru Church, £4, 17s; Oamaru JuniorChristian Endeavour, £ 1 ; Hastings Church, 18s 1d;Hastings Sunday School, 5s 8d; Palmerston NorthSunday School, £2 13s 9d; Scargill Sunday School,£1 4s 4d; Oxford Terrace, £20 15s 7d; Oxford Ter-race B.W.M.U., £15 13s 2d; Vivian Street, £35 13s8d; B.W.M.U., £26 8s 6d; Waihi, £1 10s; Brooklyn,£3 7s; Auckland Tabernacle, £53 17s 3d; Mr andMrs T. E. Toneycliffe, £20; Vivian Street, £18 l6s2cl. Total, £262 5s 4d.














Except Ye Eat the Flesh of theSon of Man.

This hard saying offended those who heard itfirst. It offends the modern mind. Round it andthe collateral passages theological battles havehurtled. Europe was torn in twain, or in three,rather, over the sayings of our Lord concerning thebread He broke by the lake shore one Passover, andin the upper room at the last and fatal Passover.Is it possible to escape from these furores into thecalm glory of our Lord's meaning? We will makethe attempt, for surely within the grim exterior of theword the central secrets of grace are hiding.

It was our fortune last year to arrive at Mar-seilles in a Mistral. Above the ancient town, perchedon a sandstone ridge, is the commanding Churchof Notre Dame de la Garde. It is the church offisher folk and sailors. It is hung with models ofcraft that had been in clanger, and whose seamen hadvowed an offering to Notre Dame if they should comesafely out of their afflictions. While we were gazinga bell rang, and the few folk who were there droppedon their knees, and a priest in his Mass vestmentsappeared, attended by an altar boy. The service,in mumbled Latin, was performed (literally), andwhen the ''Hoc est corpus meum" was said, thepeople adored the elevated platter because on it, bya miracle at that moment, the flesh of Christ, whichthey could eat, was present. We have swept asidethe beautiful lie of the Mass, but are we in a mazeas to our Lord's meaning?

There is in Germany a Castle of Marburg, towhich close on 400 years ago there came two caval-cades—the one from the Alps, the other from Witten-burg. They had come at the urgings of the Land-grave of Hesse to discover if they could agree aboutthe subject of this paper. Luther had flung asidethe Roman doctrine. His fundamental belief in thepriesthood of all believers prevented his acceptanceof a theory that left the world dependent for accessto Christ on the vagaries of priests and popes. Yetto him there was a literal eating of the flesh of the

Son of Man. He believed in the "ubiquity" of Hisbody, but that there was a special and corporealpresence when the words were said at the sacrament.Zwingli, the great Swiss, believed, with mostmoderns, that the bread was a sign and a memorialwhich it is blessed to receive. On the table of thecastle Luther anticipated debate by chalking thewords "Hoc est corpus meum." The two partedasunder. John Calvin nearly reunited the Protestantforces by another statement. For Zwingli's "Thissignifies My body," which is absent in theheavenlies, Calvin substituted "This exhibits Mybody, which is present to faith. But forms andphrases are surely elusive. There is a meaning in"eating His flesh" which is independent, not onlyof a theory concerning the Supper, but of the Supperitself. Those who reach it are blessed. The way toit is a study of the Scripture.

There is no surer sign of importance than theoccurrence of a narrative in all four gospels. Thathonour is accorded to the feeding of the fivethousand. Each evangelist adds touches to thepicture. The occasion was tragic. The Baptist hadbeen murdered under dreadful circumstances, andJesus had just heard of it. The orgy in CastleMachaerus, the feasters, the nautch dance, the silverdish laden with the head of the bravest of the brave—it makes one of the red chapters in the story ofman's brutality. The whole circumstances shockedJesus as it is incapable of shocking us. The sin ofthe world requires the foil of a saintly life to throwit into relief. Holiness maddens sin. The sin ofthe world was placarded at Machaerus. It was to beblazoned through all ages from the Hill Calvary. Theshadows fell on the soul of Jesus. To one of Hisrace an outstanding feature of the great crime wasthe soiling of the festal board with the blood ofmurder. When, therefore, He was besieged by themultitudes in the retreat which He had sought, afterHe heard the evil news, He seems to have resolveden spreading for them a table in the wilderness whichshould be the antithesis of Herod's. They sat on thegreen grass among the lilies, with the sun for lamp,and with Him as host, and ate the bread and fish ofHis providing with a joy beside which all other joy ispale. The Lord's Table and the Table of Devilsboth had been spread. They are spread still. Wecan sit at which we will.

But His guests were pilgrims going up to thePassover. Their great expectation was to eat theflesh of a lamb, while these words were said: "Thisis the Lord's Passover." It lacked but a year, andGod's true Lamb should be offered on the altar ofthe Cross. Is it wonderful that He should say,"Except ye cat the flesh of the Son of Man ye haveno life in you"? But His miracle had misled them.They were instantly excited at the prospect of obtain-ing bread without work. It was Moses' manna, but,as they noisily reminded Him, Moses gave it everyday, while He but once. Then He told them that thegift of gifts was not bread, but Himself. He satisfies.He is the Bread of Life. We must be hungry forHim. We must eat Him if we are to have life inus. Are we hungry for Him, or do we miss Himthrough wonderment as to how this Man can giveus His flesh to eat?

An Eastern man would not be as amazed as weare at being bidden eat His flesh and drink Hisblood. The East lives in metaphor and poetry.Logic was the dull creation of the European intellect.When an Eastern man speaks of thoroughly absorb-ing a book or a teaching he speaks of eating it.Jeremiah says, "Thy words were found, and I dideat them." In the Revelation the seer is given alittle book, and is bidden eat it. No picture ofthorough absorption is so complete as that of eating.So it is put in the well-rubbed prayer book phrase,

JUNE, 1924.


"To read, mark, leant, and inwardly digest." Thatis what He is saying. The truth that we have toincorporate with our very self is not a dogma,is not an argument, is not a creed. It is Himself,Who is God's living Word. It is Himself in Hissacrificial aspect to Whom we must cling, and Whoselife must pass into us. He is not a Leader in Whosesteps we must painfully follow. He is not an idealinto Whose splendour we must slowly fashion ourrough lives. He is our life. He is in us. Themystery hid from the ages and revealed at last isthis: "Christ in you is the hope of glory." With allour thought and all our affection and all our willwe must adore Him. All the tendrils of our life mustbe cast about Him. So He will be in us. So we willfeed on Him. So He will enter as courage and asgrace and as holy impulse. In Paul this was soaccomplished that he could say, "I live, and yetnot I, but Christ, liveth in me."

The Lord's Supper is a means of this grace.Let us not fall into the reproach of treating it asan addendum to a preaching service. Let the comelywhite cloth be spread reverently. Let seemly circum-stance surround the sacred place. Ministers andofficers cannot be too careful in giving a proper placeand a proper glory to the Communion season. Butlet us not miss that which the Communion enshrines,and which is beyond and above it as well as withinit. We must eat that Bread of Life that came downout of Heaven.

Captain Gipsy Pat Smith underthe Southern Cross.

OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN IN AUCKLAND.

(By Our Own Representative.)

The news of revival movements throughout theOld Country having reached these distant parts ofour great Empire, aroused the people of God to praythat a similar benediction might fall upon thechurches of the Antipodes. There has been no wide-spread work of grace south of the Equator since thedays of Chapman and Alexander, in 1913, and manyhave been the longings for a Divine visitation. Thepresent campaign is in its beginnings, but it bidsfair to be an answer to such yearnings. CaptainGipsy Pat Smith, accompanied by Mrs Gipsy PatSmith and Miss Chudley, the pianiste, arrived on theNiagara from Vancouver on April 28. The fame ofthe gipsy preacher had gone ahead of him, andAucklanders were not altogether ignorant of the onethey were to welcome. A strong committee, repre-senting the evangelical churches of the city, had per-fected the organisation, and, save for one or twominor matters, everything was in readiness for theevangelist.

Fresh from a remarkable movement in LosAngeles, where over 200,000 people had heard theGospel, Gipsy Pat threw himself heart and soul intohis Auckland work. . The Tabernacle opened its doorsfor the welcome meeting on the Saturday evening fol-owing the arrival of the party. The Chairman, Rev.

P. N. Knight, of the Methodist Church, guided theproceedings, and extended a welcoming hand to theevangelist on behalf of his committee. The Churches'welcome was voiced by Mr H. M. Smeeton, Presidentof the Baptist Union, the Rev. H. J. Ralph for theCongregationalists, the Rev. C. H. Laws, D.D., forthe Methodist Church, and the Rev. John Lowden onbehalf of the Presbyterians. Brigadier Gunn senta note of greeting from the Salvation Army. The

Rev. T. Russell Cameron voiced the good wishes ofthe United Evangelical Church, and also of theEvangelisation Society, and Mr Robert Laidlawundertook the task of extending a welcome in thename of the Christian workers of the city generally.In more familiar terms the Rev. Joseph W. Kemp,minister of the Tabernacle, spoke of his friend theevangelist, with whom he had been more or lessassociated in Scotland and the United States ofAmerica, and assured him of the wistful expectancywith which the churches had looked forward to hiscoming. The Tabernacle has a capacity for 1500,and it was packed to the doors, and many wereunable to get into this first meeting. What an auguryfor the campaign! After the Gipsy had responded tothe welcome, murmurs of inquiry passed from lip tolip, " Is this to be the answer to our many prayers?Is the Lord at last going to favour this already much-favoured Dominion with a spiritual movement whichwill eclipse all that has preceded?" So it wouldseem. Eagerly, therefore, was the first Lord's Dayanticipated. The morning service was held in PittStreet Methodist Church, as that was to be the centrefor the evening meetings of the first week. Thechurch seats slightly over 800, and here CaptainGipsy Pat Smith gave his first message to the peopleof Auckland. The church was crowded to its utmostcapacity, and it was immediately seen that somerearranging of the week's programme would be im-perative. The true test came in the later services ofthe day. The Town Hall, accommodating, roughly-speaking, 3000, had been engaged for the men'smeeting at 3 o'clock and for an after-church serviceat 8.15. Those who remember the opening days ofthe Chapman and Alexander mission had justifiablemisgivings as to the wisdom of the step in taking solarge a building for the opening Sunday, since in theformer campaign the hall was not more than threeparts filled. Would the Gipsy gather a crowd tojustify the undertaking? In the afternoon 1500 mencame together, and the evangelist was not long beforehe had everybody in a good humour. He is a man'sman, and he caught the men by his transparent sim-plicity and straight-from-the-shoulder presentation ofthe Gospel. After this first men's service it was feltthe men were secured for the entire series of meet-ings. Then came the evening meeting. It was late—8.15. No church services had been given up. Thiswas not asked for, as the evangelist works inheartiest co-operation with all evangelical churches.Curtailment was the most that was expected, and withthis suggestion, emanating from the Executive Com-mittee, compliance was gladly given; but by the timethe church people reached the Town Hall there washardly a vacant seat in the large building, and atthe beginning of the service proper every availableseat was taken. Some of the veterans rubbed theireyes in wonderment. The younger generation hadseen nothing like it. What did it all mean? Hereis a comparative stranger, whom perhaps not morethan a handful of men and women present had everheard of, and probably not a dozen had ever seenbefore his arrival in Auckland, gathering one of thebiggest crowds which has ever been brought togetherin this city for the preaching of the Gospel. Thesecret of his attractiveness defies analysis. There isno choir, no soloist beyond the preacher himself, nosong leader—nothing but the one man, but he aman of God. "Now for the-Campaign Chorus," hesays, and he begins to teach the great throng:—

"Be like Jesus, this my song,In the home and in the throng;Be like Jesus all day long;I would be like Jesus."

"Sing with the rise and fall of my hands," he cries,and like a well-trained choir the 3000 voices obey."All on the ground floor sing the ordinary melody,


and you on the balconies lake the high tenor orwhatever you call i t ." Everybody obeys, and theeffect is bewitching. "Now hum it," and smilinglythe entire crowd falls in with this novel type ofevangelism. "The top balcony alone hum—softer—softer still—the last line just whisper." The lastword "Jesus" is held on to amid a breathless still-ness, and the sound is as of the music of a marchpast dying away in the distance. "That ' s fine," saysthe evangelist. "Just a moment of prayer," and inbusiness-like fashion he implores the blessing of Godupon the meeting. For over 30 minutes the con-gregation is held and gripped by the simplest Gospelmessage one has ever listened to. From the firstword to the last the audience is mastered by apreacher who knows his business and who scorns toresort to professional tricks or pander to the tastesof the crowd. The erect military bearing of a captainof the Imperial Army; the black raven-like hair ofthe gipsy; the sweet winsomeness of a nature whollydevoted to the work in hand; the pleasing voice,which, without strain, reaches the furthest corner ofthe large hall; the manly manner of address, whichis without either rant or cant—these are some of theelements entering into the phenomenal success ofthis opening day, but none or all can account forthe power which fell upon this vast multitude ofpatient listeners. That must be sought for elsewhere.The enemies of old said of some who created a sensa-tion by their preaching, "They took note of themthat they had been with Jesus." Here is the secret.The man knows his Lord, and can say, as Paul said,"I have received of the Lord that which also Idelivered unto you." The address was lit up withapt illustrations from gipsy life and life in thetrenches. Many eyes were moist, and with difficultywere tears restrained as tenderly the preacher pressedhome the claims of the Gospel. "Without raisingyour hand or coming to the penitent form, withoutcoming forward to shake hands with the preacher—just where you are you can pass from death untolife.. Will you accept Him? Let us pray," and abrief prayer is concluded with the Benediction, and,in a significant stillness, the great assembly passesout and homeward to reflect on one of the most re-markable days in New Zealand evangelism.

The committee in charge of the campaignarrangements had planned for the evangelist to be inchurches of different denominations for the earlierpart of the mission and closing in the Town Hall,but the first week-night meeting in. the Pitt StreetMethodist Church demonstrated the unworkablenessof the plan. Hundreds were turned away from thechurch, while within there was a scene of congestionsuch as is rarely witnessed in any church building.The Gipsy, while quite willing to adhere to theprogramme of meetings, fell in with, the desire of theexecutive that a larger building should be re-quisitioned. The Town Hall was impossible, as itwas already booked for several important functions.The Tabernacle, being the largest church in Auck-land, was granted, and to this building the meetingswere hurriedly transferred. The second week-nightwas a repetition of the first, and, notwithstanding theincreased accommodation, hundreds were turnedaway disappointed in their attempts to hearthe preacher. Every night, to the time ofwriting, the crowds have pressed to hear theWord of God. It is an experience which isindicative of the great need and a yearning of theheart which is searching for its satisfaction. Theservices each night have begun long before theadvertised time. The ministers of various denomina-tions have stood loyally by the evangelist, and thereis on every hand evident gratification over the firstweek of Gipsy Pat's ministry.

The preaching has been of a simple order. It isthe speech of one man's heart reaching the heartof another. It has been void of the "fireworks" towhich the itinerant preacher has accustomed theaverage churchgoer. Emotional? Well, yes! Butwhy be afraid of emotion? Much of our preaching istoo intellectually cold, and we expect our churchesthrive on what we would never experiment with inour homes. Our homes are built on love, and noton logic, and we ought not to be surprised if, underthe appealing voice of the preacher, the emotions arestirred and the deeps are broken up. If by the storyof the crucified and the presentation of the sufferingSaviour the heart is melted to tears, is it to be won-dered at? Were it not a familiar tale we should beoftener tearfully agitated.

The preacher has not pressed for decisions, butthe opportunity for declaring oneself on the Lord'sside has been given, and between 40 and 50 signedcards have been handed in, and will be passed on tothe church preferred by the inquirer. In addition tothe evening services, afternoon meetings for thepeople of God have been held in St. Stephen's Pres-byterian Church, and this has been filled every day,and the handling" of John xv sane and skilful. TheGipsy has not spared himself, for a third meetingdaily has been added by visits to the Farmers' Trad-ing Union and the Kauri Timber Mills, where theworkers were addressed. A visit was paid also tothe Old War Veterans' Home, where the story ofChrist's love was told out again. Thus has the firstweek of a most gracious movement passed intoeternity, and the records of its doings are written onhigh.

The Prime Minister's Wife.

The elevation of Ramsay MacDonald to theposition of First Minister in the British Empire hasbrought to light something of the history of the noblewoman to whom his success was so largely clue. Thefollowing fine tribute to Mrs MacDonald by RobertDonald, is taken from the Sunday Express:

"Ramsay MacDonald has had tragedies in hislife and a beautiful idyll. He would not be where heis to-day but for his wife. His marriage was an idealunion; fifteen years of unsullied married happinessleft indelible marks on his character. Mrs MacDonaldwas a real, loving, devoted, and inspiring helpmate.History has few better examples of the influence of agood woman on a great man. One of the mostartistic and fitting monuments in London was erectedby her husband to her memory in Lincoln's InnFields, opposite the house in which they lived andwhere their six children were born, it represents agroup of happy little children behind a seat whichbears the inscription: 'This seat was placed here inmemory of Margaret Ethel MacDonald, who spentHer life in helping others.' "

Another memorial by Mr MacDonald was one ofthe most beautiful biographies ever written, wherethe author, with delicate art, keeps himself in thebackground. "To turn to her," he wrote in thisvolume, "in stress and storm was like going into asheltered haven, where waters are at rest and smilingup into the face of heaven."

The greatest memorial which MargaretMacDonald left was her lasting influence on herhusband's character, which has mellowed his judg-ment, widened his vision, and inspired him to upholdthe ideals for which she lived.—Outlook.



All communications for the Missionary Section of the " B a p t i s t " to be sent to the Missionary Editor,Rev. Stanley Jenkin, Wanganui.

DUTTHHALA OUTSTATION BOYS' SCHOOL, BARIA.Their teacher is Chandra Ratna. The boys are Namasudras, belonging either to farmer or fisherman

families.

Homeward Bound.Miss Rice sailed for New Zealand on May 17—

about two months earlier than had been expected.As a result of medical advice, her departure fromIndia was hastened in the full belief that the home-ward voyage will act as a great restorative. MissRice has laboured most zealously and effectively.She well deserves her furlough, and we can assureher many friends that they need not be undulyanxious about her health.

Miss Gladys Peters.The cablegram of April 21, which intimated the

date of Miss Rice's projected departure, containedno reference to Miss Peters, as many have supposed.A letter from the Rev. W. C. Hunter, dated March 14,

had conveyed the news that our sister had been veryfar from well. A letter from Miss Beckingsale con-firmed this, but .Major Acton, of the School of Tropi-cal .Medicine in Calcutta, was then of the opinionthat a few months in the bracing "Hills" wouldin all probability suffice to effect a recovery. Sincethen the Major advised that Miss Peters should leaveIndia, but a second doctor's opinion was to besought, and. up to the time of writing, this has notconic to hand. It was a pity that, during the weekof prayer, somewhat of a gloom was cast over ourpeople by the premature publication of untowardnews concerning Miss Peters. Our Secretary (MrLascelles) had no communication from India abouther having been ordered home. Nor has he at timeof writing. Unhappily there is the possibility. Wepray it may not become actual. The latest letterfrom Mr Hunter, dated March 31, says: "I will sendyou definite news by cable." As we say, we are stillawaiting this.

Death of a Devoted Indian Christian Worker.Babu Sukta Singh, a Christian compounder in

the Hospital at Chandpur, passed away on March 27,after great suffering. He was a man of fine Chris-


tian character, beloved by the Christian community,and much respected by hundreds of others in Chand-pur. He is referred to by our missionaries as a mostvalued worker, whose loss they keenly feel. A de-voted father, he has left a wife and five children tomourn their loss. For these the sympathy and prayersof our folk at home will be elicited.

Mrs Hunter and Family.Mrs Hunter and family sailed for England by

s.s. Nyanza on April 5. God give them journeyingmercies. Mr Hunter leaves our station at the end ofthe year, and after enjoying a richly-deserved fur-lough with his loved ones in England, he will resumehis work for his own society (the B.M.S.) in NorthBengal. We shall never cease to be grateful to himand his society for the most valued and unselfish helpthey have rendered to us in a time of great need.

Mr Takle.Prior to Easter, Mr Takle visited Palmerston

North, Wanganui, and Hawera, and effectivelyaddressed meetings which had been arranged forhim. It was his intention to speak also at NewPlymouth and Feilding, afterwards proceeding to theBible Class camp at Awapuni, thence to Aucklandfor a visit to some of the churches there. Unfortu-nately he found he could not complete his programme,and indisposition compelled him to return fromHawera to Christchurch. He writes that he is nowimproving, for which we are very thankful

The Vernacular Training Institute.We congratulate our brethren of the Australian

Board upon the completion of the first year's work inthe V.T.I. This institute is for the training of likelyyoung men as evangelists among their own people.They are trained not in English, but in the vernacu-lar—the desirability and advantage of that method isdealt with in the article which we reprint in anothercolumn from Our Indian Field—the monthly organ ofthe Australian Baptist Mission Board. With the Rev.Hedley Sutton, M.A., as principal, and with the Rev.Harold Masters as his colleague, we expect nothingbut good results from this timely development. Ourown workers on the field are very sympathetic withthe aims of the V.T.I. We at home say: "And soare we!"

A Tour on the River Titash.(Written on board the Shantimoni.)

On the western boundary of the district Tipperaruns the River Megna, and it is on this river thatChandpur, the river station at the head of the AssamBengal railway, lies. At the north of the Brahman-baria district the River Titash joins the Megna; itfollows a meandering course through the beels andvillages of 'Baria district, and finally again joins theMegna in the southern end of the district. In thecold weather, when the water is low, it dries up inone part, so that boats cannot ply all along its course,but because of its junction with the Megna at twopoints it forms a very useful waterway to the peopleof the district. In fact, rather than send their goodsby train from Ashujunge, the river station on theMegna, to Brahmanbaria—an hour's journey—theyprefer to send goods by boat—-a three days' journey.So many "presents" have to be given to variousclerks that they deem it better to use the longerroute, where they are untroubled by clerks.

After visiting the places where we usually campin the cold season, I decided to work in the villageson the banks of this River Titash. I secured boat-men—four, instead of the usual five, much to theirdisgust. We sailed most of the way, so they found

it impossible to plead hardship. A Biblewoman andI left 'Baria on February 5, and as we were walkingdown to the boat a little girl said to me: "Salaamalai kum." Just then a little boy, about three yearsold, accompanying her fell over in the dust, so shesaid: "Oh, you have given a big salaam." We werevery amused.

We worked among Hindus and Mohammedans,and have attempted to visit all the villages near theriver, but a few have had to be left till another time.A great many of the villages have often been visited,and here and there are some people who are in-terested, and we looked them up. In some cases wefound the interest still there, but they are reticent;in other cases the interest has gone. In one suchcase of the latter kind, I found a woman in the samebari who had become interested, and who had a verygood grasp of the truth. She knew, for instance,that to "call on Jesus" was not the repetition of Hisname, and that His giving power to overcome sindid not mean the end of all the sorrows and troublesof this life.

Two villages had not been visited for a longrime, and this was the second visit only. The peoplewere unresponsive, and as we left one village theboys had a tamasha by throwing dirt at us. How-ever, we opened our umbrellas to keep off the mis-siles and walked along near some Mohammedan men,who promptly turned round and did their best tostop the fun.

Seven villages had never been visited before, andin all we had good audiences, but in some cases thewomen did not get an opportunity to hear much.One was a Mohammedan village, and a woman said:"We heard that the English were coming to makeus all Christians." The spirit in that place was good,and we were able to visit all the baris except one.When I reminded them that they had no power toovercome sin, one young man replied: "Yes, we arein a fix about that, but the Mohammedan religion isthe true one."

An influential Moulie is touring the villages onthe Titash, too, and I went to a village four daysafter he had been. Here I found the people in allmoods and beliefs as regards our faith, and every-where they listened. I suppose they form a typicalexpression of the Mohammedan world in these parts,so I shall try and tell you what they said:

"Yes, you have the best kitab" (that is theGospels).

"But what about the Koran? Don't you considerthat the bes t?"

" N o ; yours is the best."A pale-faced man, holding a rosary in his hand,

came into the crowd and said: "Moses received thePentateuch, David the Psalms, Jesus the Gospel.They had their day, and are how of no use, for theKoran was sent down to Mohammed, and it is thekitab now. You are not angry, are you? You be-lieve this and say the creed, 'There is no God butGod, and Mohammed is the Prophet of God,' andthen you will be a Mohammedan."

A small old man ran across the fields and calledus. "Come and tell us about Isa (Jesus), on Whombe the blessing of God." We went to his house,where a crowd soon collected. He sat doing somebasket work and approving of all we said.

In another house they asked me to read out ofthe Gospels, so I happened to turn up "Beware offalse prophets." A man said: " Is Mohammed afalse prophet?" After a short silence I said "Yes.""Get out of this; what do you mean by sayingthat?" "You asked a question, and I could not tella lie, could I ? " pacified him for the moment.

Certainly we could not complain of a lack ofhearing, and some now understand our position alittle better than before.

A. L. COWLES.



Questions relating to our own missionary workin India, or to the missionary situation in general, areinvited. They should be addresed to "TheListener," care of Rev. Stanley Jenkin, Wanganui,reaching him not later than the 10th of each month.The name of correspondents will not be publishedunless desired.

"Eben" asks: "It has often been stated thatwhen the first Christian convert in India avowed hisfaith in Christ, the reason of Dr J. Thomas—Wm.Carey's associate—gave way under the strain of hisgreat joy. Has this ever been authenticated?

We cannot do better than refer to that excellentbook, "William Carey," by S. Pearce Carey, M.A.,published only last year, which is positively the mostaccurate account of that noble and faithful band whofirst lit the torch at Serampore.

Dr Thomas, who drew the mind of Carey awayfrom Tahiti and fastened it to Bengal, was a greatmissionary. "His severest critics will agree that hestrove to spend himself for man and God.'' "If He(God) should tear me from these Indians," saidThomas, "there would be a bleeding, for my soul isset upon them." He was "the first, whether ofEnglish or any other race, who made it his life'sbusiness to take the Gospel to the Bengalis."

It was Ward who tells of Dr Thomas's mentalderangement. It seems that the doctor had oftenspoken to a Hindu carpenter, named Krishna Pal,about the Saviour, and was able to use his medicalskill on the man when he slipped down and put outhis shoulder. This led to the man's acceptance ofChrist and his baptism. Thomas was overjoyed atthis first fruit of the mission, but was unable to bepresent at the service. Ward gives a vivid descrip-tion of how Carey's son Felix and Krishna were bap-tised at the same time in the presence of the DanishGovernor, a number of Europeans, Hindus, andMohammedans. Then he says: "Thomas, alas, wasconfined in the school, raving mad." The authorof the book comments: "The bruised reed wasbroken under stress of the blessedness."

Mary S. asks: "How far, if at all, do industrialmissions in India prepare the way for the Gospel?Is there not a tendency to regard them as an endinstead of a means?

At Kalimpong, on a spur of the Himalayanrange, there is the largest industrial mission inIndia. It is connected with the Scots Church,although self-supporting. To this institution womenand girls go for training in lace, embroidery, andrug making. Four English women, trained in Brus-sels, give all their time to teaching and inspectingthe work of the women, who make the pillow laceat home. The girls are taught on condition that theyspend some time daily in the mission primary schoolnear by, learning to read and taking Bible lessons.Now, over a thousand women on the hillside makelace at home, most of them Christians, the othersbeing non-Christians who are near to the Kingdom.The mission buys up all they produce; many of thewomen earn more than the men. In a word, thewomen have been lifted into prosperity and self-respect. They are hill folk, like the Garos andLushais, who are so easily won to Christ.

From reports, it is clear that the institutions inIndia keep to the fore two things: Faith in Christand usefulness as members of society. There maybe missionaries who regard them as "an end' ' ; ifso, they are not true to their calling.

From Brahmanbaria and Chandpur, our workersbend their lads to the Australian Baptist Industrial

School at Faridpuir. The English Baptist MissionarySociety, which has no such institution in Bengal,has recently decided to co-operate with the Australiansin the enlargement of the buildings at Faridpur, andit has been decided to help by substantial grants.The Rev. L. Barber, the superintendent, says: "Theschool stands for Work—God—Love."

"Long Look-out" wants to know if the abolitionof the Caliphate is likely to weaken the hold of Islamupon the Indian mind.

The Indian Mohammedans have always had thehighest regard for the Sultan of Turkey. He was theCaliph of Islam—that is, the representative ofMohammed. He was acceptable to them because noother Moslem ruler had the political influence thathe had. When those many months seemed to bewasted over the Treaty of Sevres, and to all appear-ance the Caliph was being slighted by Britain, theIndian Moslems showed great bitterness, and securedthe support of the Hindu non-co-operators in theiragitation against the Government.

Now it appears that Kemal Pasha and his partywere at fault. They were disloyal to the Head ofIslam, and turned him out of his palace with scantceremony. The Indian Moslems have been disillu-sioned. Their hearts are sore that the Turks shouldhave had such profound contempt for Indian senti-ment. Whether they will now support the newly-elected Caliph of Mecca, or invite the Amir ofAfghanistan to the office, being a near neighbour,remains to be seen. Anyway, the Turks' action hasbeen a shock to the solidarity of Islam, and certainlya slight on an important tenet of Islam.

It is not at all likely that Islam's hold on theIndian mind will be weakened because of the Turks'action.

John Hardacre asks: "I have often heard re-turned missionaries speak of Indian gods and god-desses as though they were historic persons. Is thereany simple way of knowing the difference between thehistorical and the mythical?"

In the early history of the Hindu people, suchpowers of nature as the dawn, the sun, fire, storms,thunder, and lightning were worshipped as mani-festations of might and majesty, beauty and benefi-cence. These were subsequently personified. In thecourse of time, images were made, and they, too,were personified, becoming gods, goddesses, andgodlings. They each retain their position in theHindu pantheon because of powers which practicallycover even aspect of human existence, from the god-dess of hysteria to the god who is supposed to haveyielded himself up for the deliverance of mankindBut, because all these were personified in theimagination of the Hindu, it does not follow that theywere historical characters.

There are national heroes who are worshipped adivine beings, who might be spoken of as historicpersonages, such as Rama, Krishna, and Buddha.All three find a place on the list of Hindu incarna-tions, but their lives are overlaid with doubtfultraditions, invented by a wild imagination.

Dr Farquhar, writing on the gods, says: "I t isclear that to the ancient Hindus the gods were likeHindu kings, only they possessed supernaturalpowers. As there were many kings in North Indiain early times, each with his palace, his consorts, andhis train, so in heaven there are many gods; andeach has appropriated a mountain of the heavenlycountry and has decked it out to be his residence.Here he dwells with his wife or wives and childrenin splendour and luxury. A Hindu king had hiscourtiers, his companies of musicians, his dancingand singing women, his hundreds of slaves and ser-vants, his clowns, and his horses and carriages. Thegods are pictured in precisely the same way."


Bazaar Scenes.The non-arrival of the Christmas boxes and the

near advent of Prize Day made the missionarieswonder where the rewards were to come from. Theshops in Calcutta provided some, while the smallbazaar in Chandpur had been ransacked from endto end. Still more gifts were wanted. Finally, itwas decided to visit the "big bazaar" on the otherside of the Chandpur River. So one morning thetwo ladies, accompanied by two servants, crossed theriver by ferry and landed at the bazaar "ghat ." Nohandsome buildings line the road that leads to themarket ghat. Jute go-downs, filled with the productsof the neighbouring fields, stood at the entrance. Thenthe road, if such it might be called, led to the oldbazaar. It was early, and, as it was the cold season,few people were about, but at least the sweepers hadbeen busy, and, for an Indian bazaar, it was remark-ably clean.

The prize-seekers crossed the bridge that spansthe "Khal ." In the rains this stream runs high;but in the present season it is only a tiny water-course. Far below were country boats, some ladenwith jute, some with freshly-cut green rice,and others full of plantains, the never-failingfruit of Bengal. To the left a "dhobie"was busy washing a Mem Saheb's clothes. Withall his might he dashed the clothes up and downupon a board—splash, splash, dash, dash, singingas he worked. Little wonder the poor Mem Saheblooks in vain for buttons, and finds holes instead!The centre of the bridge was occupied by a huge bull,a rather ferocious-looking beast, who wanders at willand is fed by a hundred hands. He is sacred.Everywhere wandered jungle clogs, more coveredwith sores than with hairs. A stray sheep of doubt-ful breed, goats, and numerous fowls and crowswandered in and out of shops and got in everybody'sroad. A bread shop to the right displayed smallloaves and big loaves. Yes, they looked all r ight,but ask not where, how, or by whom made! Thenext store was full of Indian sweetmeats, yours fora few pice. Milk and curds might be had next door,while, rice and dhal were displayed in the other halfof the shop. The rubbish cart, drawn by patientoxen, took up the whole road, and prevented furtherprogress for a few minutes. A fancy store wasentered. The usual dialogue ensued. "What is theprice of that box?" The shopkeeper, after some con-sideration: "Ten annas." Would-be purchaser: "No,no; what is your right price?'' "Ten annas.""Why do you say 'ten annas,' when 'five annas' iswritten on the box?' ' The shopkeeper mumblessomething and looks somewhat astonished. Thewould-be purchaser leaves, and the storekeeper squatsonce more amongst his goods and chattels and doeshis accounts.

As the ladies proceed, the crowd increases, forMiss Sahebs are not seen in the bazaar every day.Cloth shops, fancy shops, were all visited in turn, withgood and bad results. As the shoppers passed fromplace to place, sad and interesting sights met theirgaze. In one place sat an old man, surrounded byold bones, skulls, dried skins of animals, twigs,stones, etc. You ask what these things are for. Theyare certain cures for every conceivable disease.Charms for cholera are there, cures for fever anddropsy; indeed, a charm or a cure for every ill pur-chased at fabulous prices. IIere, indeed, is a splen-did example of the blind faith of the ignorant. Nearby was a well-stocked druggist 's store. Side by side,the new flourishes with the old. As the light ofmedical science is slowly spreading through the land,so we hope and pray that the true religion may alsospread and lighten the darkness of these waitingpeople. Beggars, prone upon the road, crippled and

helpless, begged from the passers-by. One lad, lyingwith his head upon a cocoanut, called continuallyupon the name of "Allah," and a Mohammedan,passing, dropped a pice as he went. A snake-charmer, with pipe blowing and baskets across hisshoulders, was followed by an ever-increasing numberof children. Within his baskets were his snakes,ready to respond to the charmer's music.

The sun was rising in the midday sky as theshoppers, hot, tired, and dusty, recrossed the river,homeward bound. The ferry-boat was full of Bengalimen; some, carrying school books, were off to theHigh School; one man, with two kerosene tins ofmilk, was discussing current prices with a man whohad a basket full of live fish. The boat touchedland, and one and all went their own ways.

GLADYS PETERS.

Field News.

CHANDPUR.

The chief event of the month here has been thegathering of our Bengali brethren for their Unionmeetings. About forty men and eight women werepresent. The arrangements were simple as comparedwith our Convention preparations for the same num-ber of Europeans. All the men were accommodatedin the dispensary, and spread their bedding on thefloor in rows—very close together. The women allfound room in our teacher's and Biblewomen's quar-ters. A temporary kitchen was fixed up behind thedispensary, some holes made for fireplaces, some bigcooking pots borrowed, a shamiana cloth also borrowed and hung, and under its shade the men sat onthe ground and ate from plantain leaf plates, thewomen had their meals on the schoolhouse verandah.All worked together happily, and all seemed to enjoythemselves. Each of the meetings lasted longer thanthe time allotted, so we were always trying to catchup to the programme. Jnanendra Babu, a man whohas worked with Sadhu Sundar Singh and Mr Khanin Calcutta, had been invited to come and giveaddresses for the quickening and deepening of ourspiritual life. He spoke on Friday, Saturday, andSunday evenings. He is a fluent and attractivespeaker, and won all hearts by his simple unaffectedfriendliness, his sincerity, and sane goodness. Hisaddresses were searching and arresting and appeal-ing, and we pray that they may bear lasting fruitin the lives of his hearers, especially the young men.

I am at Chandpur carrying on the work as bestI can in the regrettable absence of Miss Rice andMiss Peters. There is a promising girls' day schoolof about 50 scholars on the compound, and a goodSunday School, and there are women patients in thehospital and dispensary, and Hindu houses all roundus, where I can keep myself employed. I have metquite a few women who remember me when I firststarted the Zenana work here 25 years ago! Theyseem quite glad to see me again, and are so delightedwhen I recall something about their families andcircumstances after all these years.

In the Christian community here we have two orthree nice keen young men. One is a convert fromMohammedanism. His home is near our out-stationat Kalmajar. One day I asked him about his con-version and what led him to Christ. He told me thatwhen he was a little boy he lived in the village adjoin-ing our mission compound at Kalmajar, and used toplay with the preachers' children and run in and outof their home. Though he gave no thought then toreligion, he was attracted by the Christian atmosphereof kindness and goodness. Later he attended theMission Day and Sunday Schools, then as a studentin the town school he attended the Mission Bible


Class, and used to go in the evenings to talk withthe preachers. He read the Bengali translation ofthe Koran, and also some of the Hindu Shastras, andcame to the conclusion that none was so satisfactoryand consistent in its teaching as the Bible, and thatnone produced the goodness and purity that he hadseen in those Christian homes where he had been sokindly welcomed as a boy. And so he was won toChrist as the only Saviour. We sometimes feel dis-couraged by the failures of our Christian community.I often think we expect too much. Considering theirdisadvantages of upbringing and environment, andtheir heritage of weakness and sin, they compare notso badly with many of the worldly and pleasure-loving members of some of the home churches. Any-how, it is cheering to hear of the impression thoseChristian families made on this little Mohammedanlad.—E. Beckingsale, in Our Bond, April 24.

By REV. HEDLEY SUTTON, in Our Indian Field.

The first year in the history of our V.T.I. atMymensingh has run its course. The questionpresses whether any progress has been registeredtowards the attainment of the ideals that we had setbefore ourselves. We venture to maintain that thisexperimental year gives us a forecast of what mayyet be accomplished, and justifies the general lineson which we had resolved to run our training work."Our own tongue, wherein we were born."

There is abundant proof that the five studentshave been greatly benefited by their study course.It may seem strange, but we record it as a fact,that in no department was there a call for greaterimprovement than in the study of their mother-tongue.We have all along urged that the training of suchyoung men as these should be in the vernacular.The discovery of their weakness in the mastery oftheir own language justifies, our emphasis on the" V " in the designation of our institute. With thepercentage of literacy in the general community aslow as it is, it is not to be wondered at that ouryoung men should fall short of what is accepted as"pure" Bengali by the educated classes. During1924 we purpose to have our students give yet moretime to the making good of this deficiency.

"At Home in the Bible."Among the gains may certainly be reckoned a

wider range of knowledge of the Bible. As with somany people in the homeland, so also with these—certain portions of the Scriptures were well thumbed,certain "purple patches" in the obscurer books wereprized, but whole areas were left untraversed. If,through these young men, we can make the Bible asa whole more accessible and more usable for ourordinary Christians, we shall not have taught in vain.In a land where commentaries and works of interpre-tation are all too few in number, the opportunity foropening up the Scriptures is one to be coveted. Weare persuaded that our students will tread with firmerfootsteps alike in the highways and in the bywaysof God's Word.

All along our aim has been to produce an atti-tude of mind towards the Bible and the problems ofour work that will enable our workers to find a wayfor themselves rather than to pack their memoriestight with facts and opinions These facts andopinions may tend to become so much "learnedl u m b e r " An attitude of interrogation, a readinessto think things through, a capacity for observationand for ransacking the experiences of daily life forthe practical work of the ministry—these are some ofthe fruits that we have coveted in the students putunder our care.

"He that Teacheth."It has fallen to our lot to give special attention

to the Sunday School work done as part of the prac-tical training prescribed for every student. Thetransformation has been wonderful. The crude,awkward efforts of a year ago have largely disap-peared. There is now a carefully considered "attack"on the subject of the lesson; there is an awarenessof the needs and the peculiarities of the child's mind;there is a concentration of aim and a readiness inthe use of illustration—all of these points which wereconspicuous by their absence in those early days.Perfection still beckons these teachers from afar; buttheir eyes and their feet are in the right direction.

The "dux"' prize has been awarded to HarizFakir, one of Dr Mead's Mohammedan converts fromOrakandi. As a very close second, separated only bya narrow margin of marks, came Bijoy Kumar Nath,a lad sent by Mr Barry from Comilla. If generalprogress had been the sole criterion, Bijoy wouldhave been an easy first. His all-round improvementhas been surprising.

The Supreme Aim.We have only one more word to add. Whether

in teaching in our classes or in our Sunday servicesand Endeavour meetings, Mr Masters and I haveconsistently tried to stress the one thing needful,the one thing without which the power of utteranceor the gift of knowledge is of no avail—the vitalexperience in the heart of the presence of the Masterthrough His Spirit. We want that behind all theactivities of their Christian service our men shouldcarry the power and grace of consecrated manhood.

The missionary display will be a striking featurein the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley. Itsorganisation is in the hands of the various Englishmissionary societies. Models of work in nativeschools, of leper settlements, and of native churches,primitive and modern, will be shown. Indian schools,colleges, and hospitals will be represented; there willbe idols and other objects of worship from theNigerian Protectorate. A Missionary Book Roomwill be opened, and visitors to Wembley will realisewhat a part missions have played in the building upof the Empire, and how much they are doing to liftup the native races.

The London City Mission, whose operations areconfined to the heart of the Empire, will be inevidence, chiefly for personal work among visitors,but also for exhibitors and their staffs, whom it ishoped to reach in their native tongues.

Lo, on the darkness brake a wandering ray;A vision flashed along the Appian Way.Divinely in the pagan night it shone—A mournful Face—a Figure hurrying on—"Lord, whither farest?" Peter, wondering, cried;"To Rome," said Christ, "to be recrucified."Into the night the vision ebbed like breath;And Peter turned, and rushed on Rome and death.

In a letter to the Harvest Field, the organ of thePresbyterian Women's Missionary Union, MissHenderson, who is a missionary in India, says: "TheIndian world is rejoicing over the unconditional re-lease of Ghandi. . . . Although set free, he re-fused to leave the shelter of the hospital, and askedthe civil surgeon to continue to look after him as aprivate patient. He says that their kindness to him,and the faithful work of the nurses, who have had tolook after him, have been a complete revelation tohim, and have caused him to alter his views on thesubject of British doctors and their methods."

A Year of Vernacular Training.

Significant Scraps.


Get Somebody Else.

The Lord had a job for me; but I had so much to doI said, "You get somebody else, or wait till I get

through."I don't know how the Lord came out; no doubt He

got along;But I felt kind o' sneakin" like; I knew I'd done

God wrong.

Now when the Lord has a job for me, I never try toshirk;

I drop what I have on hand and do the Lord's goodwork,

And my affairs can run along or wait till I getthrough;

Nobody else can do the work that God has markedout for you.

"Palwal, 17."At the end of the year every missionary finds

himself distraught in a mass of statistics. Missionstatistics, annual statements of accounts, the comingyear's estimates, Government statistics—they haunthis dreams. Dry as dust to the ordinary reader, yetsome of these figures are throbbingly pregnant tosome of us.

Not seldom they are veritable wells in the Valleyof Baca. "Palwal. From the non-Christian com-munity 17." That is the form in which it appearedin the Indian "News Letter," under the heading''Baptisms." I wish I could give you the thrill of it.For years we have had to report annually: "Palwal,none." And now around us there is a stirring, aspirit of inquiry, and more than that; for at our lastchurch meeting a request was before us from a wholecommunity of a hundred leather workers, men andwomen, with the imprints of the leading villagersupon it, a request for baptism. And who are theseventeen? Sweepers, outcasts, untouchables by allsave Christ. For nearly a year now they have desiredto know more of the outcasts' Saviour.

They live in a little collection of mud-walled,thatched-roofed houses near by our medical out-station, Fatehpur. For years our medical evangelistRobert has laboured there, preaching and healing.Quietly, but none the less effectively, by lip and life,the seed has been sown, and lo! one day the greenblade appears upon the uninspiring surface. They donot know much theology; they are not very clean intheir habits and persons; they do not know even theirA B C ; but they have been caught in the attractionof Christ. "Not many great, not many noble!but it has pleased God." So .they were baptised inthe canal, that veritable symbol of the Water of Lifein India. You may see them in imagination stepping,white-clad, one by one into the water, taking that de-cisive step which raises them from outcasts into theglorious fellowship of the saints. And we are glad,glad beyond expression, because the Master hasreaped a few more sheaves.

It so happened that two of the community wereabsent on this occasion, but they refused to be denied.It was on Christmas Day they came demanding, yes,demanding, to be baptised forthwith. So we gatheredon the banks of a pond outside the church, and therethese two confessed their faith in Christ, an eventthat added to the zest with which we had gatheredto worship our Saviour and Lord.

Not alone in the out-stations, but in Palwal itself,are there signs folio-wing. A cripple boy, who hasbeen with us for years in the hospital, also confessedhis faith on the Sunday before Christmas. His dis-

position and character, give every assurance that hewill develop into a valuable and wholehearted servantof Christ.

The news is noised abroad. A band of the AryaSomaj have descended on Fatehpur, and have beenusing all their efforts, without avail, to win back theallegiance of those who have followed Christ in bap-tism. The saddest fact of all is that we are so short-handed, for there is reaping to be done here. Thereare other whole communities in the valley of indeci-sion. The flock needs shepherding, schools need tobe opened, the weak need to be strengthened, and theunlearned taught. The tide is rising in the Punjab.In 1901 the Christian community was 37,980. In1921 it was 315,031, and to-day it is nearly 400,000.In North India the cry is for men! "Pray ye, there-fore . . ."—A. E. Moore, in the MissionaryHerald.

A Day of Division.By Miss ALICE HUNT, Chefoo.

An incident that I heard a short time ago, Iwrote down to pass on. A woman, in speaking tome, got on to the subject of the Boxer persecution in1900. Some of her relatives had suffered at thattime, but she and her mother, though in danger, hadescaped.

She told me about a place not far from here,where the mandarin ordered all the Christians to bebrought before him, and he appeared to be exceed-ingly angry with them. Calling the first one out,he ordered him to recant. The man refused; Christhad died for him and saved him; he could not goback.

"Don't you know,'' said the mandarin, "I havepower to put you to death?"

"You can hurt my body," was the answer, "butyou cannot touch my spirit. If you kill me I shallgo straight to heaven."

In great anger the mandarin said: "Will you goto the temple and bow before- the idol and burnincense and save your life?"

"No ," was the reply."Put him over there," said the mandarin, and

the man was taken to one side. And so he wenton, calling one after another before him. Most ofthem answered like the first one, but by and by cameone fearful and trembling. "Are you a Christian?"he was asked.

" N o ; I am not," was the frightened answer."Then how is it you are among them?""I had to get food to eat, and went to work with

the Christians.""Do you believe the foreigners' religion?""No .""Will you go to the temple and burn incense?""Yes.""Put him over this other side," said the man-

darin, and he was moved to a different part of theroom. So the examination and the dividing went on,till all were in one group or the other, the Chris-tians expecting nothing else but death. What wastheir surprise, when all were examined, to hear themandarin command his underlings to take the falseones out and beat them and set the others free.

"I t was a day of division," said the woman,"but another day of dividing is coming, when thewheat and tares will be separated from each other,the one to be crowned with glory, and the otherburned."

Let us pray for each other's home friends andthe Christians' families that there may be no divid-ing when the Lord comes, but that every memberof every family may be ready to be caught up to bewith Him for ever.—China's Millions.

June, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTI8T. 127


Tickets, Please!I bought a ticket the other day; it was neither

a show ticket nor one for a concert, but just anordinary railway ticket. I had bought many suchtickets before and not thought much about them,but, though this one was very like all the rest, Ibegan to think, and to find some surprising and evendisappointing things about my purchase. At theticket window I placed a little heap of silver, receiv-ing in exchange a thin strip of pasteboard, with afew words printed upon it. Of course, I took it allas a matter of course, slipped it into my pocket,and prepared to take my journey. "Tickets, please!"said an officious looking man. What did he wantwith the ticket I had bought and paid for? Takingmy seat, I thought on these strange things, anddiscovered that upon that ticket—

The destination was printed. There could be nomistake; it was marked plainly in black letters uponthat card; and, though there were many stations onthe railway line, it was to one, and one only, thatI really could travel, and certainly not one bit further.But it is a good thing to have a destination to know-where you are going, although it may take quite along time to get there. "What are you going to dowhen you grow up?" "What do you wish to be?"are questions that sometimes are asked, and the onlyanswer is, "I don't know; I have not made up mymind yet." The answer shows that, though ourfriends have begun a journey, they do not know theirdestination. We should know where we are goinggirls and boys, on this great journey we call life.Tickets, please! Fancy travelling without a ticket!

Tickets Not Transferable.This I also found printed there. So I cannot

use another person's ticket then, but must havemy very own. Tickets are personal things, for weare not concerned at first where others are going, orwhy, but only with our own ticket and journey. Howproud most girls and boys are when they can buytheir own tickets, and, being responsible for them,say, "I t is mine." But sometimes folk are foundtravelling with other people's tickets, but they arediscovered before very long. Boys, who would make-believe to be great travellers on the road of know-ledge, using cribbed tickets; girls who pretend tohave ability that is not their own at all. Every onemust travel on the road of life with his or her ticket;none other is accepted.

Tickets Must be Shown on Demand.Show your tickets, please! I am glad that I kept

my ticket, and here it was now it was needed. Wemust show our tickets often on the journey to provethat we are true travellers, and every day our ticketsare examined by someone. Our chums read it, andknow by the way we play our games where we aregoing, for everyone who is travelling the long roadwith Jesus will "play the game." Our ticket is readat home, at school, as well as in the street, and every-where it is as though our very faces were stampedwith the name of the place to which we are travelling.Lots of fellow-travellers are on the road to the cityof the great King, and they will be helped along theroad by the showing of our tickets. The boy whorefuses to tell a lie, or do a mean thing; the girl

who is not afraid that others shall see her allegianceto Christ the King—these show very plainly that theypossess a ticket.

There was one whose story we read in Luke xv,"who took his journey," but who, because he hadno ticket, had to come back and start all over again,but with great loss. Girls, boys, take your ticketsnow, and make sure that they are marked plainlywith the name of Him, '"Whose you are, and Whomyou serve."

Acknowledgment.Uncle Oliver has received a copy of a delightful

Bible game for girls and boys that will help them toknow the Road and the only Guide Book for theirjourney. It is a game played with a number of cardtickets, in which one or more players may join, andthere are so very many ways in which the tickets may-be used that it will keep girls and boys excitedlyinterested for many happy hours at home or else-where. It is the very thing for making the childrenfamiliar with the Book of Books and its contents.The cards are boxed with instructions, and can beobtained from the publisher, A. H. Reed, ExpressCompany's Buildings, Dunedin. The price is 1s 6dper game or 14s 6d per dozen.

BIBLE GAMES."BIBLUX"—The Bible Lotto Game.Thousands of children in all parts of New Zealand havegained much Bible knowledge on the Old Testament through

playing this popular game.In response to numerous requests a companion set on theNEW TESTAMENT has been compiled and published, andwill, doubtless, become even more popular than that on the

Old Testament.Any number of children (or older people for that matter)

from two to about six (and a leader) can play.Price, 2/2 (post paid 2/9), or Two Sets for 5/3 (post paid).

An Entirely New Bible Game."BOOKS OF THE BIBLE."

Fascinating! Educational!While engaging in this simple but fascinating game, theBible gradually and almost unconsciously becomes a familiarbook. "Books of the Bible" ought to be introduced into

every Sunday School and every home in our land."Books of the Bible" is really five games in one, and rulesfor all these are provided. Some of the games are just assuitable for teachers and old folk as for children. It com-prises 66 cards, with set of rules, in neat cardboard box,and is issued at a nominal price to encourage its wide use.Get a set at once, or better still, one for each member ofyour class, or for each class or department in your school.

The price is only1/6 each, or 14/6 per dozen.

Published by

A. H. REEDExpress Co.'s Building, Dunedin.




New Subscribers for the Baptist.—As we areunder additional expense owing to the enlargementand improvement in the quality of our paper, willBible Class members and others help us to securenew subscribers? I again remind Bible Class mem-bers of the cash prizes being offered. Who will helpus, and at the same time help themselves and theirclasses? I would also ask our ministers to press theclaims of our denominational paper.

Sunday School Scholars.—Do not forget the prize(value £1) for the scholar who enrols the most new

scholars during 1924—five months of the year havegone. What are you doing?

Conference.—Special notices of motion will needto be in the hands of the Secretary in time for theJuly issue of the Baptist.

To Correspondents and Collectors.—During myabsence on holiday all communications and remit-tances should be addressed to the Secretary, BaptistUnion of New Zealand, P.O. Box 693, Wellington.

Loss of Members.—Might I suggest to churchesthe desirability of setting up "Look-out Committees,"with a view to getting in touch with strangers whenfirst attending their services? Recently, when visitingone of our churches, I heard of four young men whohad moved to other districts, and, through lack ofinterest in the churches they visited, are now lostto the denomination. I have good reason to believethat this is not an isolated case.

Finance.—Will every supporter please read thefinancial statement in another part of this issue? Theposition disclosed demands your prayers and prac-tical interest.

VISITATION OF CHURCHES, ETC.

Palmerston North.—It is most gratifying to findthis cause progressing under the leadership of theRev. C. W. Duncumb, assisted by a band of loyalofficers.

Y.W.B.C. Camp, Miramar.—It was inspiring tosee the fine representation from the classes of theWellington district, and to hear of good meetings.One longs to see this young life consecrated to JesusChrist.

Y.M.B.C. Camp, Awapuni.—My stay with theyoung men was most enjoyable. My summing upwas: Good surroundings, meetings, sports, and, bestof all, decisions for Jesus Christ and testimonies ofHis keeping power.

Napier.—The work progresses under the direc-tion of the Rev. J. Ings. A pleasing feature is thewell-attended week-night prayer meetings, which arevery helpful.

Mornington (Wellington).—This infant SundaySchool'of the Brooklyn Church has just celebratedits second anniversary. It is growing vigorously.The superintendent (Mr East, sen.) is beloved byscholars and parents. The workers are very desirousof having a building of their own.

Wanganui.—This church is maintaining itsactivities, under the able guidance of the Rev. S.Jenkin. Recently there has been an unusual callinghome of several old members. Our sympathies arewith the lonely ones left.

Gonville.—The young life in this church bids wellfor the future. All branches of the work are in avery healthy state, and reflect credit on the pastor.

Wanganui East.—There is a more hopeful note inthis little cause since Mr E. W. Grigg has beensettled. The attendances and general interest haveincreased.

Nelson.—The Rev. J. Laird has a faithful bandof workers assisting him in this cause. The BibleClasses have some promising life maturing for Chris-tian service.

Richmond.—Pastor E. T. Jones is happy in hiswork, which has a healthy appearance and a cleartestimony for Jesus Christ in the district.

Feilding.—This church continues its good workin the town and district, under the leadership of theRev. C. D. Gardiner, whose faithful ministry isaugmented by a band of enthusiastic workers.


1. That, owing to the embarrassed position of someof our ministers and their churches, and the lackof suitable machinery for bringing about anychanges, a committee be set up, consisting of theSecretary of the Union and a trusted layman, totry and effect desirable exchanges.

2. That, with a view to intensifying interest in thedenomination and what it stands for, a Sundaybe set apart each year, to be known as BaptistDay, and that at all services, for old and young,principles and ideals be emphasised, and that onthis day the annual offering be taken for theAnnuity Fund.


Dr. Balance at April 30, 1924

Dr. Balance at January 31,1924

FebruaryMarchAprilTransferred to Houseboat

FundShare space Baptist for six

months

Dr. Balance at April 30, 1924

Will our supporters please note that the totalindebtedness on both the above accounts is £28044s? It is imperative that it be reduced without delayto save payment of interest. I would urge upon thecollectors for the Union and Missionary Funds pleaseto get busy and help us.

A number of our friends who promised to sub-scribe to the Union funds covering a period of fiveyears unfortunately are falling very much behind intheir payments. As these amounts were included inour estimated receipts for the year, I should begrateful if these friends would remit their amountsto the collectors up to date.


Treasurer's Statement.For Period February 1, 1924, to April 30, 1924.

UNION. Expenditure.Receipts.

Dr. Balance at January 31,1924

FebruaryMarchApril

MISSIONARY.

£2,151 7 1

£2,982831

102

011

£831 2 11

60 0 0

238 19 5

279236315

33

15

698

1,170730395386

142

1518

3952

£ s. d. £ s. d.

£652 16 11

£278 7 1 £931278

47

01

7513764

111818

010

410202152165

92

1218

8108

10

£ s. d. £ s. d.

Notices of Motion.

Secretarial Notes.


Equipment Necessary for theMinistry of To-day.

Read before the Auckland Ministers' Association byJ. Farquharson Jones, D.D.

One is staggered at the thought of the require-ments of modern churches, and it is obvious that toa large extent upon their demands the minister'sequipment depends. The minister must be a gentle-man, a scholar, a saint. He must be a man of theworld, equal to all emergencies; he must be a scholarthoroughly conversant with the whole field oftheology; he must possess a first-hand knowledge ofthe whole field of criticism; he must be a popularpreacher, who shall fill the pews by means of hisall-compelling eloquence; he must be a visitor wellknown in every home; above all, he must be a saintof the first order, a-man of prayer, and a man of lifewithout reproach. Brethren, who is sufficient forthese things?

When we think of the continued and insistentdemands upon the pastor's time and strength, we areled to feel the superlative importance of a well-trainedministry to the success of any Church. We insistupon our engineers, our lawyers, our medical men,our school teachers being highly trained men becausewe realise the Importance of their work; but peopleseem to forget that, if Christianity is true, the min-istry of the Gospel is the most important work thatis done on the face of this planet. Further, if menonly had sufficient vision they would see that themoral and spiritual side of man's life is by far themost important for the social, commercial, andpolitical progress of any community. Man's body isonly the house, the vehicle, the instrument of thespirit. This is what gives it its importance. Thebody would be of little consequence if it were not theservant of the spirit. We appreciate the medicalman's services only because he helps us to keep thehouse clean and in good repair for the princely occu-pant, and we insist that he shall know how. Yet weknow that this can be only a temporary tenancy, forthe earthly house is soon dissolved, and the occupant—the man himself, the never-dying spirit, takes hisflight.

Now, surely those who have to do with thehealth, the well-being, the present and future pros-perity of the man himself, should be well prepared.

With this brief introduction we may proceed toour subject, and begin by pointing out that theequipment for the minister of to-day may be said tobe threefold—physical, mental, and spiritual. Wemay dismiss the physical with the assertion that goodhealth is a great prerequisite for so exacting alife.

The second factor in the equipment of theminister of to-day is the mental. Of all men, theminister needs a sound, well-balanced mind; the in-tellectual, the emotional, and the volitional should befound in due and full proportion. There should betact, judgment, and a fine sense of humour in themake-up of every minister. Spurgeon's sense ofhumour was extraordinary. When found fault withon account of some racy things he had said in asermon, he replied: "If only you knew all thehumorous things I don't say." He was bubblingover with humour, and it often saved him fromserious trouble.

We cannot speak of the mental equipment with-out dealing with the matter of the preparation of menfor the ministry. Now, when we remember that thegeneral education of the community has been broughtup to a much higher level, it is quite clear that thereligious teacher and leader must aspire to far higher

educational equipment than the minister of the lastgeneration. His preparation should begin in a solidfoundation of general study in the arts and sciences.He should not begin his strictly special studies untilhe has had a thorough grounding in the generalsubjects of a liberal education. The candidate forthe ministry should be carefully taught English,Latin, Greek, mathematics, mental and moral science,and at least one subject of natural science (biology,zoology, botany) up to the B.A. standard of auniversity at least. Then, and then only, is he com-petent to enter with profit upon his special subjects.This will be seen in a glance at any one of the specialsubjects of ministerial education.

Take apologetics, for instance. What man canunderstand thoroughly this subject without a pre-vious training in logic, psychology, ethics, and thehistory of philosophy? Take books like Orr's"Christian View of God and the World," Fisher's"Grounds of Theistic and Christian Belief,'' Harris's"Philosophical Basis of Theism," of his "Self-Revelation of God," Flint's "Theism," or his "Anti-Theistic Theories," or Bruce's "Apologetics"—allfoundation works in apologetics. Who can readthem with profit unless he approaches them withthorough preparation? The same is true of dogmatictheology and of ethics.

It goes without saying that a clear exegesis of theOld Testament rests upon a competent knowledge ofHebrew, and similarly the Greek classics lead to asatisfactory exegesis of the Septuagint and New Testa-ment. Then, on the practical side of his work, theminister must be well exercised in the art of homi-letics. He must be a preacher. Here there are manygood books. C. H. Spurgeon's "Lectures to MyStudents" are to be highly commended. They arefull of practical hints that are simply invaluable tothe preacher. Phillips Brooks's "Lectures on Preach-ing" are very fine. Indeed, the late Sir WilliamRobertson Nicoll says of them: "I believe it may besaid without rashness that it is the best book onpreaching ever written."

Then, in the field of pastoral theology, there aremany books from which much may be learned, butI think some quiet chats with old and experiencedministers often will help the young pastor more thanthe printed page. Every young minister shouldlearn, and thoroughly, too, the findings of moderncriticism. We must not wince at this; we must godown to bedrock. If we are to be efficient ministersof the New Testament, we must have sounded thedepths. We need never be afraid of the truth. Godis the fountain of all truth. If it is truth it comesfrom Him, and will be found to be in harmony withall truth. To quote the late Sir William RobertsonNicoll again: "When dealing with criticism, old andnew, this is never to be forgotten. The Church can-not, without disloyalty and cowardice, quarrel withcriticism as such. It is not held absolutely to anytheory of any book. It asks, and it is entitled toask, the critic: 'Do you believe in the incarnationand resurrection of Christ?' If his reply is in theaffirmative, his process and results are to beexamined earnestly and calmly. If he replies in thenegative, he has missed the way, and has put himselfoutside the Church of Christ. If he refuses toanswer, his silence has to be interpreted." Here isto be seen the advantage accruing from a thoroughtraining in logic. The keen logician asks for thepremises from which the critic argues, asks for thepresuppositions with which the critic approaches hiswork. He is then in a position to value the work atits tiue worth. "Those who take the ground thatmiracles cannot happen need not examine the Gospelsin order to reject Christianity, for certainly it is thesupernatural character of Christianity that constitutesits differentia, its true and necessary essence." Thereis a little book that ought to be read by every young


minister, and read more than once. It is "TheChurch's One Foundation," by the late Sir WilliamRobertson Nicoll (pub. Hodder and Stoughton). Itcontains an outline of the position of recent criticsof the New Testament. To one who is not a specialistin the Hebrew language, but who has read the his-tory of the criticism of the Old Testament, it seemsto be in a most unsatisfactory condition. So manyof the so-called findings are based upon purehypothesis. Many of the critics themselves seemhopelessly at variance. And then one examines ourLord's opinion of the Old Testament Scriptures, andfinds that He quotes them as authoritative as a wholeand as separate books; although He places His ownwords above them, He also finds that the principleswhich underlie the Old Testament are all laid barein the New, that "in the Old the New lies concealed,in the New the Old lies revealed." Thus we are ledto feel that, however the Old Testament may bedivided up by the critics, it still forms such a homo-geneous unity with the New Testament as dearlyreveals the same Author, the same all-guiding Spirit.

The third factor in the equipment of the ministerof to-day is the most important of all—the spiritual.The man who enters the ministry should be quiteclear about two things: (1) His conversion; and (2)his call. An unconverted man speaking on spiritualthemes has been likened by Mr Spurgeon to a molelecturing on optics. Men there have been, like DrChalmers and others, who have entered the ministryas a profession and afterwards have passed throughthe great spiritual change, but that is not the rightorder. We should be able to speak from our ownexperience, and declare what we have seen andknown. Another important matter is that the manwho enters the study of theology in all its blanchesas a truly converted man is guarded from many falseconceptions, and is kept in the way of truth. Thenthe candidate should be sure of his call. Some havesaid: "Do not be a minister if you can help it."I do not know but that that conception is a little toodrastic. Men have entered the ministry without sucha definite call as that, and have come to love the workand to delight in it. It is the greatest, grandestwork that is done among the children of men.Ministers and ambassadors from the Court ofHeaven to the sons of men. This suggests anotherimportant factor in the equipment of a minister. Heshould be a man of prayer. He should be in constanttouch with the King Whose messenger he is. Hecannot say "We beseech you in behalf of Christ''unless he is in constant communion with his Lord.No physical fitness, no oratorical gifts, no mentalacquirements can compensate for the lack of a highspiritual tone. The minister must love men, andlove them most because he loves his Lord and longsto bring them to Him. He must have unwaveringfaith in his commission and in the power of thatGospel which is still "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." The above outlinemay be regarded as the ideal equipment, but weshould always aim high if we would attain to thehighest usefulness in service for our Lord andMaster.

Baptisms.Hastings.—Fourteen. By Rev. Keith Ewen.Caversham.—Six. By Rev. Eric Evans.Wellington.—Fourteen for past four months. By

Rev. F. E. Harry.Cambridge.—Six. By Pastor Discombe.Nelson.—One. By Rev. J. Laird.Hamilton.—Two. By Rev. Harold Hercus.

"At Rest."

MR GEORGE CALDER,Of North-East Valley, Dunedin.

A stalwart Baptist ended his long pilgrimagewhen Mr George Calder passed peacefully away onMay 1 at his country residence in Naseby, at theage of 79. Mr Calder was brought to Otago in earlychildhood, and spent all his life in the province. Inhis early manhood he went to the Otago gold-diggings, and returned to join his father in road-making, bridge-building, and general contracting.Later on he opened a stone-crushing plant in North-East Valley. Dunedin, and prospered in his under-takings. He was a Justice of the Peace for over 30years. He ever took a keen interest in social andcivic affairs, and was an ardent prohibitionist. Hewas for many years a councillor in the North-EastValley municipality prior to its union with the city,and for several years held the mayoralty. He repre-sented the Valley, too, on the Dunedin City Council.He was for long chairman of the North-East ValleySchool Committee, and for over 50 years served onthe committee. In the Early Settlers' Association hetook a prominent part, held the presidency for twoyears, and made his last public appearance at itsannual meeting in March last. He found his wife(who went home to God four years ago) in themanse of the Rev. John Williams, but did not himselfbecome a member of the Hanover Street Church until1875, when he was baptised by the Rev. J. UptonDavis, B.A. He remained in union with the HanoverStreet Church until soon after the North-East Valleymembers had "hived off" to form a separate church.He and Mr John Longworth were the founders of ourcause in the Valley, and watched its growth withdeep gratification. Mr Calder superintended theSunday School for many years, and was entitled tothe S.S.U. Diploma for 50 years of Sunday Schoolservice. He was associated with the Otago andSouthland Auxiliary all through its history, and in1920 occupied the presidential chair. He was afamiliar figure at our Baptist Union Conferences. Herejoiced in all the missionary and evangelisticactivities of the Church, and maintained a simple-hearted faith in the Saviour to the end. Of a cheerfuldisposition and with a fund of "pawky" humour,he took a leading part in the social functions of the



Church to which his life was devoted. His capacityfor friendship was evidenced by the large and repre-sentative audience that met in the North-East ValleyChurch on Saturday, May 3, to pay their last tributeof respect to his memory. The Rev. S. Morris, pastorof the church, of which our friend was the seniordeacon, conducted the service. The Revs. C. Dallastonand A. North commended the bereaved family to thecomforts of God. The Rev. R. H. Knowles Kemptonspoke of the varied virtues which had adorned MrCalder's character and of the services he hadrendered in many ways to the Church and to thecommunity, and of the importance of having justand upright men in civic offices. Madame von Lookplayed the ' 'Dead March'' in "Saul" very feelingly,while the congregation stood in impressive silence.The service at the graveside in the Northern Ceme-tery was conducted by the Revs. S. Morris and R. H.K. Kempton. A memorial service was held onSunday, May 4, in the Valley Church, when the Rev.A. North, who had known Mr Calder's fidelity andworth for more than 40 years, and the Rev. S. Morris,his minister for the past eight years, dealt with theexcellencies of his character and with the warmth ofhis attachment to the Church which he had done somuch to found and to foster. Mr Calder left onedaughter and four sons to cherish his memory. Theyreceived from far and near many messages andresolutions of sympathy, and were comforted to knowthat their father was held in such high esteem.

H. H. D.

Our Churches at Work.ASHBURTON (Pastor C. S. Matthews).—The

schoolroom was crowded on the evening of April 15,when a social was given to recognise the departureof Miss C. Jackson from Ashburton. Miss Jacksonhas been intimately associated with the missionaryactivities of the Church for 21 years, as an enthusi-ast for our own and other missionary societies.Several of the officers voiced the sentiments of theChurch folk in appreciation of her worth, and a well-filled purse was presented to her. On Easter Sun-day Mr J. H. Hayward occupied the pulpit. Theattendances during the week of prayers were a recordfor numbers, and the results are not possible totabulate. Looking unto Jesus, we give Him all theglory.

AUCKLAND TABERNACLE—Rev. Joseph W.Kemp).—All our public fixtures, except the Sundayservices, are suspended just now, on accunt of theGipsy Pat Smith Mission. Our choir members andmany of our Church folk are assisting in the mis-sion in various capacities. Our minister (Mr Kemp)and Bible Class Leader (Mr Bruce Scott) are thehon. secretaries for the campaign, which, however, isquite inter-denominational. A special welcomemeeting was accorded to Capt. Gipsy Pat on Satur-day, May 3, in the Tabernacle, and the crowds wereso great at the other local churches that the week-night gatherings moved to the Tabernacle, and willremain there till the big Town Hall is available. Thiswill be immediately after the Squadron departs.Capt. Gipsy Pat preached at the Tabernacle on thethird Sunday morning of the campaign. He gavea splendid address on "Revaluations," based onMatt. vi, 19 to end. The "Gipsy" also spoke at ourOld Folks' Rally on Saturday, May 10, and thechurch was crowded with aged folk (downstairs) andyounger folk (under 60) upstairs. The guests ofthe occasion each received a buttonhole bouquet anda cup of afternoon tea, and the gallery folk had thepleasure of contributing to the collection. Brightsinging was rendered by the large choir, and some

favourite hymns of olden clays were heartily joinedin by the aged people. A fleet of motor cars, underthe direction of Messrs Brookbanks and Avery, con-veyed the old folk to the church and home again. Alarge charabanc brought in the aged visitors fromthe Costley Home and Veterans' Home.

CAMBRIDGE (Pastor F. Discombe).—On May2, we were visited by Messrs Smeeton, Spedding, andChant, of Auckland. A good number of friendsgathered, and much appreciated the words of en-couragement and counsel spoken. After beingclosed for seven years, our baptistry was opened upon April 27, for the immersion of six candidates, fiveof these being Bible Class members. Our annualSunday School social was held on May 8, when theprizes for school and church attendance were pre-sented. It was pleasing to note an increase in num-ber of scholars. Mrs Toneycliffe, B.W.M.U.Dominion President, paid u.s a visit on May 13, inthe interests of our Indian work, the talk proving areal bird's-eye view of our work nnd workers there.

CAVERSHAM (Rev. E. Evans).—We have somegood news to report this month. Seventeen youngmen, including our pastor, were at the MahenoCamp. Three made the Great Decision. MissThompson, the leader of the Y.W.B.C., which has anenrolled membership of 31, and three of her classjourneyed to Timaru for the girls' camp. Onechose Christ at the camp, and two more have beenwon since for the Master. On Sunday, April 25, agreat rally was held of both Bible classes, when 44sat down to tea. The evening service was taken bythe Y.M.B.C. and our pastor, each member takingsome part. It was an inspiration to a large con-gregation. The choir also rendered special anthemsand hymns. At the evening service on Sunday, May4, a baptismal service was held, when six young menfrom the Bible Class pledged their discipleship in meWaters of Baptism. The young men unanimouslyelected Mr E. Sweet as their Class Leader. Thiswill lighten the duties of our pastor, who has beencarrying on this good work among the young men.

GRANGE ROAD (Rev. A. S. Wilson).—Our weekof prayer was observed by two early Sunday sunrisemeetings, led by our pastor, and meetings throughthe week, the leaders being Messrs C. H. Harring-ton, A. Cramp, K. Wooller, V. Hyndman, L. Honeycombe, and R. L. Price. A most successful cantata."Darkness and Dawn," was rendered by our choirunder Mr L. Honeycombe, on Good Friday night. Timchurch was crowded. Vacancies on our diacouatoresulted in the election of Messrs A. Cramp and L.Honeycombe. The Institute anniversary was verysuccessful, notwithstanding the great meetings ofGipsy Pat Smith and General Booth on the same dayThe splendid crowd of young men and women loyallyassisted the preachers, who were Rev. Ray Turner,morning; two of the Grange Road Mission Band.Messrs J. Coop and V. Hyndman, in the afternoon,and our pastor at night. The celebrations concludedby a greatly enjoyed "romp" social, led by MissMcTavish and Mr Noel Gaze, LL.B., on the Tuesdaynight.

GONVILLE (Rev. A. J. Grigg, B.A., B.D.)—InFebruary we held our animal tea and business meeting, when the officers were elected for the yearEarly in March, our Harvest Festival services wereheld. The church was.tastefully decorated by mem-bers of the Young Women's Bible Class. Duringthe same month the annual thanksgiving offeringwas taken. It amounted to about £25. Two veryenjoyable concerts were given, one by the YoungMen's Bible Class, and one by the Young Women'sBible Class, in aid of their camp funds. Aftercamp, a meeting was held at which the young people;gave their impressions of camp life, both spiritual


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and social. Special prayer meetings were conductedduring the week for prayer and self-denial, and onMay 11 the self-denial offering was taken.

HAMILTON (Rev. Harold Hercus).—We heldour first baptismal service in the new church veryappropriately on Easter Sunday. There was also adedication service the same morning, when twofriends solemnly dedicated their little son to theLord. We are steadily adding to our membership,almost every communion service seeing some newmembers receiving the right hand of fellowship.During the week of prayer, the members of theB.W.M.U. held a day of prayer. The self-denialoffering amounted to £17 16s 9d. We are openingup a new preaching station on May 18, at Hillcrest,about a mile and a-half out, Mr James Wilson,lately returned from Los Angeles, to be in chargeof the work. An adult Bible Class is conducted byRev. Hercus every Tuesday night at Rototuna, abouteight miles in the country, at which there is an at-tendance of about 40. The meeting is held in aprivate house.

HASTINGS (Rev. T. Keith Ewen).)—The follow-ing were elected to fill vacancies on the diaconate:—Messrs Curd (re-elected), Woon, and Palmer. OnEaster Sunday, we held combined Bible Classes, whenour pastor delivered an impressive address. Thedeaconess continues to do very efficient service byvisiting the sick and those unable to attend services,their ministrations being much appreciated. Fourmembers have received the right hand of fellowshipat the Lord's table. The week of prayer has provedto be a glorious season of spiritual refreshment.Meetings were held every night in the homes offriends, closing on Saturday night with a largely at-tended meeting in the church, and after prayer wegathered round the Lord's table. We observed' Mothers' Day" with white flowers and suitable ser-mons. Mr Bewley has resigned the superintendenceof the Sunday School for health reasons. MrStevenson, our former superintendent, has againtaken charge of this important work. Mr Fear, theleader of the Young Men's Bible Class, has beengreatly encouraged by the increase in membershipand interest taken by the young men in their class.Mr Palmer has commenced monthly, evening servicesat Pukahu.

INVERCARGILL (Rev. J. Carlisle).—On Thurs-day evening, 15th inst. the church and congregationtendered to Mr and Mrs Carlisle and family a wel-come home after holiday social in the Y.M.C.A.Gymnasium Hall. Musical items were rendered by-Miss Stevenson, Mesdames McPherson and Schroeder,and Mr Schroeder, while games and competitionswere provided for all. Mr L. R. Lewis had chargeof the programme, which was kept going the wholeof the evening with a full swing. Prior to supper,Mr A. Dewe, on behalf of the church and congrega-tion, asked Mr and Mrs Carlisle to accept a set ofstainless cutlery as a token of esteem and respect,and wished Mr Carlisle many more years of ministryin Invercargill. Other members and friends ex-pressed themselves in similar terms and added theirhearty congratulations. The social was voted tobe the most successful that members had had thepleasure of attending.

ISLAND BAY (Rev. H. E. Edridge).—We arepleased to report steady progress during our pastor'sministry, which has now reached three years. Theeleventh annual Church meeting was recently held,and the deacons re-elected, with the addition of MrMcHutchon, as secretary, who, with his wife andfamily, we heartily welcome to the Bay from Gis-borne; also the addition to the diaconate of MrGeorge Peek, who is doing valuable work in theYoung Men's Bible Class. On Sunday, May 11, theChurch Anniversary Services were held, our pastorand Mr E. Nees taking the services respectively, toappreciative congregations. The Sunday School iswell maintained, and frequent additions are made tothe list of scholars. At the annual meeting of theschool, Mr Gibbs was re-elected superintendent, andMrs Smithers, secretary. Expressions of apprecia-tion and good wishes were tendered to Mrs Smitherson her departure to the Old Country for a holidaytrip. The Young Men's Bible Class is advancing.At a recent concert, under its auspices, fundswere raised towards enlarging the Y.M.B.C, room.We regret the death of our devoted aged member MrsWoods.

LINCOLN.—Our church was the scene of greatactivity on the occasion of the Annual Church meet-ing and Sunday School Anniversary. The gather-ing took the form of a tea, followed by a concertand prize-giving. The whole function was held inthe church. It took several sittings at the tea tableto accommodate the people, and the concert waseven better attended. It is calculated that 250people were packed into the building, which normallyseats 160. Mr Twose, who has been acting as pastorfor the past year, was in the chair. Rev. E. E.Smith, of Spreydon, led in prayer, and speeches weremade by Revs. Patterson (Presbyterian); J. K.Archer (Sydenham), who spoke very forcefully on"What the Baptist Church could Contribute to aUnited Church"; and L. C. H. Barbour. A veryexcellent concert programme was given by the OpawaChurch choir, Mr W. Roberts conducting. Duringthe evening, the S. S. report was given by theSuperintendent, Miss Taylor. It showed that tneschool had increased in numbers 100 per cent. duringthe year, and that another teacher, Miss Keast, hadbeen added. Prizes were distributed during theevening. At the conclusion, Mr Charles Wolfe spokewords of thanks to all who had helped to make thefunction a success. It will be well for the Baptistdenomination to know that Mr Wolfe had, for at leastfive years prior to the coming of Mr Twose, acted aspastor of our church. Without any remuneration,he has toiled with preaching appointments, socialarrangements, etc., and has in no small degree beena successful prophet among his own. On the follow-ing Sunday, the anniversary services in the churchand Sunday School were conducted by the Rev. L.C. H. Barbour, of Opawa. The fact that on theLord's Day after this, a baptismal service was held,will indicate that the work of Mr Twose has notbeen in vain. Indeed Lincoln is a bright spot.

MILFORD (Pastor E. Nicholls).—Our servicescontinue to be well attended. On May 4 the Rev.Powell, of the China Inland Mission, visited us, andgave an interesting address. Mr Powell also gave aninteresting lantern lecture on the China Inland Mis-




June, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTlST. 133

sion. The prayer meetings are keeping up, andmuch prayer is being offered to God that the GipsyPat Smith Mission will be richly blessed, and thatout of it may come a revival. During the week ofself-denial, three meetings were held, when wegathered together for prayer. On Easter Monday,April 21, a pretty wedding was solemnised, when MissB. Penning was married to Mr V. Cook, of Ports-mouth, England. The church was prettily decoratedwith Canadian bamboo, and a wedding bell of whitechrysanthemums was suspended from an arch overthe bride. The happy couple left us for Portland,Whangarei, where they are both workers for theMaster.

MORRINSVILLE (Rev. F. A. Parry)—Thecause here is steadily progressing, Sunday servicesbeing well attended. Our week of prayer has proveda time of blessing to all who attended. Towardsthe end of the week we had a family night, whenmost of the elder children from the Sunday Schoolattended. Many of the children quite definitely de-cided for Christ. We are hoping to continue somedefinite work among the young folk, and a JuniorChristian Endeavour has started. On May 14, theB.W.M.U. ladies had a treat on listening to MrsToneycliffe, president of that branch, and a veryprofitable afternoon was spent.

MT. EDEN (Rev. A. Clarke).—Easter Sundayour pastor had the joy of receiving into fellowshipa family of five, all staunch workers for the Masterand His Kingdom. A very pretty wedding wassolemnised in the church on April 30, when Miss AmyTaylor, one of our members, was joined in matrimonyto Mr Congdon, of Albany. The church was taste-fully decorated in autumn tints, and though theweather was not all that could have been desired,everything went off very happily. Some of each ofour Bible Classes, boys and girls, went to the re-spective camps, and spent a very happy and inspir-ing time. The reaper death has removed from ourcongregation an aged member, Mrs Hicks, who,though not a member of our church, has been attend-ing our services for some time past. Our sympathyis with her husband. Our annual week of prayer andself-denial again proved a means of heart-searchingand deepening of spiritual life, and led us to thinkof and pray more definitely for our work locally,denominationally, and especially for our sorely-triedbranch in dark India.

NAPIER (Rev. J. Ings).—At a very representa-tive gathering of church members on March 11, afterweekly prayer meeting, a social cup of tea was servedto mark the first anniversary of our pastor comingamongst us. Deacon Smith presided, and Bro. Millsmoved a suitable motion expressing the church's ap-preciation of the service rendered by the pastor andhis wife. Bro. Smith then handed Mr and Mrs andMiss Ings tangible tokens of our love. During themonth prior to Easter our pastor preached a seriesof preparation sermons, which were very helpful, and,consequently, much appreciated. In the SundaySchool on Easter Sunday "a sermon in candles" wasgiven by Mr Burt, the "unseen power" from anelectric wire being used to light the first taper.

NELSON (Rev. John Laird, M.A.).—The In-stitute commenced its 1924 session last month, open-ing with a largely-attended social gathering, at whichrepresentatives of kindred societies were present.The meetings are being continued with renewedvigour. Prayer week was observed by meetings eachnight during the week, being well attended. OnMay 11, Mr Lascelles paid us a brief visit, having abusy day at Nelson and Richmond. The self-denialoffering was an advance on last year's effort. The

B.W.M.P.U. devoted an afternoon to prayer duringthe week. The annual meeting of the Men's BibleClass was held recently, the reports presented show-ing a satisfactory year of work and Bible study. MrF. Cullen continues to hold the position of leader.Removals have again been prominent of late, Mrand Mrs Maden and family having left us to takeup their residence at Rongotea. We have receivedseveral additions to our membership by friends froma distance. The "boys" and "girls" have returnedfrom camp with glowing accounts of the good workdone.

NEW PLYMOUTH (Rev. A. H. Collins).—A verypopular wedding was solemnised in the church lastmonth, the contracting parties being Miss Elsie Hon-nor and Mr W. G. Ogle. Miss Honnor is theyounger daughter of one of the oldest members of thechurch. She has been connected with the SundaySchool as a teacher, and organist for some years.Both are members of the church. A large companyof people assembled to witness the union. Rev. A.H. Collins officiated. The wedding breakfast washeld in a large marquee in the grounds of the parentsof the bride. A social was held in the week prior tothe wedding, at which a presentation was made ex-pressing our joy at their joy. The Superintendenthas welcomed two new teachers into the school, MrJ. Mountjoy and Mr P. Kidson. We wish them alljoy in their new work.

NORTH-EAST VALLEY (Rev. S. Morris).—Ourminister presided over the annual church meeting.The report and balance sheet were presented by oursecretary, Mr C. E. Beckingsale. The report statedthat it was now within a few months of eight yearssince Mr Morris had commenced his ministry in thechurch, and the members rejoiced at his restorationto health. The year has been one of activity andvery marked progress in all departments. Ourmembership of 144, with a nett increase of 16.is a record in the history of the church.Mention was also made of the untiring devotion ofMadame Von Look to the musical portion of thechurch services. The balance sheet showed a balancein hand. Mr A. Benfell was elected deacon in placeof Mr W. R. Beadle, the remaining deacons being re-elected. The forty-first anniversary services werecelebrated on Sunday, April 27, the Rev. Geo. Millarpreaching in the morning, and our pastor taking theevening service. The choir rendered special musicat each service. On Tuesday, April 2y, the anni-versary services were continued, when a social meet-ing of the congregation and friends was held. Ourminister presided. Revs. A- North, J. H. Rogers(Anglican), C. Dallaston, and G. Millar (Presby-terian), took part. On Thursday, May 1, Mr Geo.Calder, the senior deacon, and one of the foundersof our church, passed into the presence of the King,after a short illness. On the following Saturday aservice was held in the church, before the funeral.Manv attended to pay a last tribute to our brother.Revs. A. North, C. Dallaston, and Knowles-Kemp-ton took part in the service. On Sunday, May 4, athanksgiving and commemoration service was heldin the evening to the memory of our much-lovedfriend and brother. There was a very large congre-gation, and Rev. A. North, associated with ourpastor, conducted the service.



OPAWA (Rev. L. C. H. Barbour).—At Easterour pastor went to the boys' camp, at Maheno, andduring his absence Mr Long and Mr McLennan tookthe Sunday services. We were delighted to have ourold friends Mr and Mrs McLennan with us. Weobserved the week of prayer by holding meetingsfour nights. The self-denial week began with aprayer meeting at 7 o'clock on Sunday morning,which was well attended, and which is to be con-tinued. On May 4 we held a missionary service inthe afternoon, at which the Rev. J. Takle spoke, andwas listened to with much interest. Recently ourpastor has been asking for promises for special prayerto be made privately for conversions, and the answersnre coming, for several young people have decided,during the evening services, to accept Christ. ToGod be the glory.

OWAKA.—The Sunday School at Hine Hine cele-brated its first birthday by holding a social. Theschool building was well filled by the children, theirparents, and friends from Owaka. Mr Stenningwas chairman, and a very enjoyable programme ofsongs, recitations, and a dialogue, was given. Thisis a district where no services of any kind are held,and Miss Wratten had many hardships to encounter,at first having to row across the river in all windsand weathers. The new bridge facilitates matters,and the people are being reached through their chil-dren. F r o m : i small beginning, this school hasgrown till there are now thirty on the roll. Wecommend Miss Wratten and this work to yourprayers. Harvest thanksgiving services on Sunday,April 27, were well attended. The sale of the pro-duce, on the following evening, resulted in about £8being raised. A congregational meeting was calledfor May 12, when we were made aware that Mr Fear,whom we expected to take the pastorate, was stayingon in India. Testimonials from Mr Garner werelead, and it was decided to ask him to supply thepastorate for a year. Tlie congregations at the dif-ferent stations are keeping well together, Mr Sten-ning supplying at Owaka, and Mrs Sharpe at Taha-tika, with much acceptance, a feature at the eveningservice at Owaka being the Bible Class choir. Theservices at Houipapa and Tawanui are discontinuedtill such time as we get a pastor.

OXFORD (Pastor Robertson).—The anniversarytea was held in the Town Hall on Good Friday. Theafter-meeting was held in the Church, the buildingbeing packed to the doors. Addresses were given bythe local ministers, Mr Wood (Presbyterian), MrFeatherston (Methodist); also Mr E. Woodfield andMr R. Twose. The programme, which was muchappreciated, consisted of anthems, solos, duets, andrecitations. Our anniversary was continued onEaster Sunday, our own minister preaching at themorning service, and Mr Twose at the evening ser-vice. On Sunday, May 4, our evening service wasconducted by the Bible Class members, when MissGainsfonl gave a very interesting address on missionwork.

OXFORD TERRACE (Rev. J. J. North).—Thesecond of our theatre services was held on Sunday,May 18, when, in spite of the cold, damp evening, alarge crowd assembled in the Liberty Theatre to hearthe Gospel. As on the previous occasion, prior tothe doors being opened, the "Magnavox" was used,Mr North speaking a few words to the people in theSquare, and a male voice solo, "He Died of a BrokenHeart, ' ' was sung. The subject of the evening ad-dress was: ' 'What's Wrong with the World?" MrNorth dealt with this question powerfully and im-pressively, effectively bringing homo to the eagerlisteners the points "Thou art the man," and theremedy "Christ." The 100 chorus choir, under the

leadership of Mr V. Peters, led the congregationalsinging, and also contributed items, the most effectivebeing a male voice quartette and a chorus by themale members of the choir. The week of prayer be-gan on the first Sunday in May, at. 7 a.m. Themeetings, arranged by the different organisations,were all well attended. The self-denial offering, in-cluding that of the Sunday School, (£11 12s 6d)amounted to about £70. The Bible School, on Wed-nesday evenings, is being largely attended, Mr Northtaking the Gospel by Luke as the text book. Thegymnastic classes opened their session with a socialon May 12. All the other activities of the churchare being carried on faithfully and well.

PALMERSTON NORTH (Rev. C. W. Duncumb).—When 25 young men made a definite decision forChrist at the North Island men's camp, held atAwapuni, during Eastertime, the members of ourchurch felt that they had been amply repaid for thetime and trouble taken in preparation. Our pastor,as camp chairman, was also overjoyed at the result.On Easter Sunday morning the Union secretaryoccupied the pulpit, whilst the Rev. E. N. Goring,of Hawera, led the service in the evening. Theygave us uplifting and inspiring addresses, and wewere indeed pleased to have them with us. Duringthe week of self-denial the services were splendid, ahigh spiritual tone being maintained. The variousdepartmental leaders were responsible in successionfor the meetings. The attendance kept up eachnight, to the encouragement of all. The offeringsthis year compare favourably with previous efforts.Mr Atkinson, late of our Catlins Mission, gave usan inspiring address on Home Missions, on the morn-ing of self-denial Sunday.

PETONE (Rev. F. H. Radford).—During themonth, our pastor has faithfully proclaimed the Wordof God to very creditable attendances. At theclose of a recent Sunday morning service, our pastorheld a dedication service, when an infant was dedi-cated to God. During the month, a wedding wassolemnised at the church, when two of our members,Miss P. Hay ward and Mr W. G. Leatham, werejoined together in the holy bonds of matrimony byour pastor. The best wishes of the church go withour friends.

PONSONBY (Rev. S. J. Campbell).—The pasttwo months have witnessed many "red-letter" days.The Sunday School anniversary services were held onMarch 31, the afternoon speaker being Rev. Jos.Kemp. We were also favoured with a visit fromRev. Lascelles. Easter camp, at Manurewa, was atime of blessing to our senior girls, three of whommade the great decision on Easter Sunday. MrReg. Jensen, acting-superintendent for the SundaySchool, together with our indefatigable secretary, MrRon. Kemp, has been much cheered by an increasein numbers to school and staff. Miss Staples hasbeen appointed leader of the junior grade since thedeparture for Wanganui East of our earnest youngworker Mr E. W. Grigg.

RANGIORA (Rev. J. Hiddlestone).—Four veryhearty and helpful meetings were held during theweek of prayer: two were held in the church, andthe others in the homes of Mrs McGiffert and Mrs L.James. There was much freedom in prayer, and wefelt God's presence in our midst. It is with thank-ful hearts that we send in over £13 to the self-denialfund.

RICHMOND, NELSON (Pastor E. T. Jones).—Harvest thanksgiving services were held on Marc16 and 17. We are glad to be able to report thatChristian Endeavour meetings have been organisedby our pastor, and are well attended on Wednesday


evenings. Our Bible classes continue to flourish.We are exceedingly grateful to Mrs Isitt, leader ofthe young women's class, and to Mr Watt, leader ofthe young men's, for the good service they arerendering. Bright and helpful meetings were heldevery evening during self-denial week. On Sunday.May 11, at a rally tea, Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles gavea very helpful address to the young people, and wehad the further privilege of listening to Mr Lascellesat our evening service.

RICHMOND, GREY LYNN (Rev. R. Horn).—Twenty members of our senior and junior YoungWomen's Bible Classes went to the Easter camp atManurewa, where six of the juniors made the greatsurrender. Six of the young men's class went toPalmerston camp, and one saw the Light there. OnApril 30, the first evening wedding in the church tookplace, the happy couple being Mr W. A. Craig, ourex-treasurer, and Miss Janet Livingstone. Thechurch was crowded with an. interested congregationof relatives and of friends,;whose good wishes hadbeen tangibly expressed by a "kitchen evening," heldin the primary room the previous Saturday, when thepastor, on behalf of the church; Mr Matthews, for theY.M.B.C.; Miss Newton, for the Y.W.B.C., and MrNewton, for the choir, all spoke of valued work MrCraig had done in connection with the church and itsvaried organisations, and of the high regard all hadfor him and his bride-to-be. Our pastor's appeal,made through the columns of this paper, has alreadybrought forth two responses, Mr A. W. Wilson send-ing £10, and "Inasmuch," £2. He has also col-lected in the city some other amounts, but nearly£400 is required this month if we are to be savedthe expense of another mortgage and its recurringburden of interest.

TAURANGA (Pastor Laybourne)—We werefavoured, like other churches, with a visit of thepresident of the Baptist Union, Mr H. M. Smeeton,and the president of the Auckland Auxiliary, MrSpedding, and Pastor Chant, of the Epsom BaptistChurch, and secretary of the Auxiliary. They ar-rived in Tauranga on the Saturday, April 5, and leftby car on the Monday morning for Thames. Quitea number of the church members and friends gatheredin the church on Saturday evening to meet thevisitors. After Pastor Laybourne had welcomedthem, Pastor Chant then explained the object of thevisit. Each visitor then addressed the meeting, andwas listened to with great interest, and much ap-preciated. The president conducted the service onSunday morning, and gave a very helpful address onprayer. This was followed by communion, conductedby the pastor. Mr Speckling visited the SundaySchool in the afternoon, and had a good time amongthe young folk. The evening service was conductedby Pastor Chant, who gave a stirring and inspiringsermon to a good congregation. We are thankful toreport an increase in interest, and in members, atall our services.

ST. ALBANS.—On May 18, we held a Bible Classand Sunday School teachers' rally, at which Mr Eadewas chairman, and Mr Crampton addressed us on"Alex. McKay, of Uganda." Mr Crampton also

conducted the evening service, at which, in spite ofthe wet weather, a goodly number assembled. Wehave lately installed an electric heating system, andfind it very comfortable these cold Sundays. We aresorry to say that our Sunday School superintendent,Mr J. Richardson, has found it impossible to continuewith us. He has served us faithfully as superinten-dent for six years, and we regret very much his de-cision to leave us. The self-denial offering amountedto £9 10s. Our Band of Hope opened with a social,at which a great crowd assembled, and we hope for avigorous season of temperance work. Mr W. Sykesis our leader.

VIVIAN STREET (Rev. F. E. Harry).—TheChurch anniversary services were held last month.On the Sunday, there were good congregations, bothmorning and evening, the services being conductedjointly by our pastor and the Rev. C. Dallaston. Anold-fashioned tea meeting was held on the followingMonday, and there was a good attendance of mem-bers and friends. At this gathering, Mr Harry andMr Shearer took the opportunity of bidding "God-speed" to Messrs Frew and Algie, who have beenmembers of the diaconate for some years, and who arenow on a world tour. Our pastor presided at theafter meeting, and the Rev. C. Dallaston spoke mostinterestingly of the earlier vicissitudes of the churchat Vivian street. His address was much appreciated,and all present were gratified to note their oldpastor's vigorous health and his sustained eloquence.An excellent supporting programme had been ar-ranged, including anthems by the choir, under MrPargetter, and items by Miss D. Maxwell, Mr andMrs Morshead, Mrs Johnson and Mrs Lowe. Mr C.Collins was at the organ. Word has been receivedfrom Mr A. Hoby, telling of bitterly cold weather inEngland, but also of a delightful time spent in sunnyItaly, and on the Riviera. Our pastor is chairmanof the Gipsy Pat Smith committee, which is makingthorough preparation for the evangelist's mission inWellington in June.

WANGANUI EAST (Pastor E. W. Grigg).—TheY.M.B.C. assisted in the evening service on April27, and our pastor gave a resume of the deeper sideof camp life. A camp echo meeting was held onApril 29, when the campers gave their own impres-sions of camp to an interested audience. Threeweek-night prayer meetings were held during self-denial week, conducted by the young people, thedeacons, and the B.W.M.U. respectively. On May4 we appreciated a visit from Rev. M. W. P. Las-celles. Since the formation of the Young Worship-pers' League, the attendance of the children atchurch has been very encouraging. They sing ahymn by themselves during the service. The YoungPeople's Institute held a social on May 13.

WANGANUI (Rev. S. Jenkirs).—On May 2, thereaper death removed another member, in the personof Mrs Auxley, whose cheerful disposition and usefulChristian life will linger with many in our church asa beautiful memory. Our united prayers go out tothe wife and family of Mr A. Le Barney, whose sud-den death came as a shock to all. A constant wor-shipper with us, he will be much missed. A man ofkindly disposition, and whose faith was firmlygrounded in the "Rock of Ages." It was quite afitting thing at the beginning of the week of prayerthat we should have with us the secretary of ourBaptist Union, Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles, who de-livered an interesting address on the Sunday evening.The self-denial offering amounted to £23, a gratify-ing advance on last year. This does not include theSunday School, which wiil be forwarded later.

WHANGAREI (Rev. F. Samson).—A social washeld to welcome back Mr and Mrs Mawson, who hav.been away in Dargavdle. A presentation of a silvercake stand was made, and a most enjoyable eveningspent.

A pioneer missionary on the wild borders ofBurma realised the need of a partner to share, hislife and lot. He found the woman of his choice andplaced before her the condition of the people andthe hardships of the situation. "We shall not beable to walk there," he said, "the way is so steep andrugged." "Then," was the heroic reply, "we cancrawl upon our hands and knees."—(MissionaryHerald.)



LIST OF DONATIONS TO DATE.

Auckland.—C. F. Brookbanks, £5 5s; GrangeRoad Baptist Church, £2 19s 6d; Grange RoadY.W.B.C., £1 10s; Mount Albert Baptist Church, £97s; Milford Baptist Church, £1 5s; Miss H. Sped-ding (per F. W. Gaze), £ 1 ; Tabernacle BaptistChurch, £23 15s 6d; Official Collector, £91 10s.Total, £136 12s.

Berhampore (Wellington).—Baptist Church, 15s6d.

Caversham (Dunedin).—Baptist Church, £9 15s11d; Miss M. Pearce, £1 . Total, £10 15s 11d.

Mornington.—Baptist Church, £2 5s 3d.Nelson.—Baptist Church, £1 8s.Okato (Taranaki).—Mrs E. Pierce, 5s.Palmerston North.—Baptist Church, £11 10s.Petone.—Baptist Church, £2 11s.Roslyn.—Baptist Church, £1 18s 6d.Tauranga.—E. C. Wiltshire (proceeds sale used

stamps), £8 .Waiuku.—H. F. Knight, £1.Grand total, £183 1s 2d.


Clothing.—Mrs Brookbanks, 9 Chamberlainavenue, Mount Eden; Mrs Wilkes, 23 Richmond road,Ponsonby; Miss R. Rawlings, Plunket Rooms, TeKuiti; Miss Smith, Russell road, Manurewa; MissYeoman, Eglington avenue, Mount Eden; YoungPeople's Institute, Social Service Section, IngestreStreet Baptist Church (per Miss N. Banton, 91 Dublinstreet, Wanganui).

Sundries.—Miss Q. Jackson, Remuera, toys andbooks; Mr F. Crocker, 334 Queen street, 1 pair boots;Mrs Brookbanks, Mount Eden, samples; ScriptureGift Association (per Mr Whitehead), 32 prize books;Baptist Girls' Camp, Manurewa, prizes for children.

Provisions, etc.—Mrs Watkins, camp visitor,cakes; Mr Landless, Manurewa, lemons; Mr GeorgeSmith, Manurewa, skim milk; St. Luke's Church,Manurewa (per Miss Smith), cakes, etc.; per MrOsborne, Manurewa, bread and sandwiches; MrWalter, Manurewa, buns.


20-22 Swanson street, Auckland.Mav 15, 1924.

All India Would Be Christian.

Rev. A. G. Cowie, of Rawalpindi, India, writesin The Mission Field: "I go down to the municipallibrary as much as I can. Many disaffected (Hindus,Mohammedans, Sikhs, etc.) congregate there to readthe papers. A member of St. Andrew's is honorarylibrarian. He tells me that it is mast difficult to keepthe peace between the excited disputants. One daythe talk was about hindrances to social union causedby the caste system, and it was acknowledged that allthe caste rules were not as beneficial as they werein the old days. . . . However, it was suggestedthat caste could be removed with advantage to thecountry. 'Oh! no,' said a Hindu. 'Impossible! Ifwe do away with caste the whole country will be-come Christian.' "—(Missionary Review of theWorld.)

The Carpenter of Nazareth.Bv the REV. G. BLAIR, B.D.

In Nazareth, the narrow road,That tires the feet, and steals the breath,

Passes the place where once abodeThe Carpenter of Nazareth.

And up and down the dusty wayThe village folk would often wend;

And on the bench, beside Him, layTheir broken things for Him to mend.

The maiden with the doll she broke,The woman with the broken chair,

The man with broken plough, or yoke,Said, "Can You mend it, Carpenter?"

And each received the thing he sought,In yoke, or plough, or chair, or doll;

The broken thing which each had brought,Returned again a perfect whole.

So, up the hill the long years through,With heavy step and wistful eye,

The burdened souls their way pursue,Uttering each the plaintive cry:

"O, Carpenter of Nazareth,This heart, that's broken past repair,

This life, that's shattered nigh to death,Oh, can You mend them, Carpenter?"

And by His kind and ready hand,His own sweet life is woven through

Our broken lives, until they standA New Creation—"all things new."

"The shattered idols of my heart,Desire, ambition, hope, and faith,

Mould Thou into the perfect part,O, Carpenter of Nazareth!"


Subscriptions received from April 18, 1924, toMay 18, 1924.—Waihi, 10s 6d; North-East Valley, £21s 6d; Hastings Church, £1 3s 3d; Hastings SundaySchool, 3s; Milford, £3 16s 2d; Mount Eden, 6s 5d;Island Bay, £ 2 ; Hastings Church, 18s 1d; HastingsSunday School, 5s 7d; N.I.Y.M.B.C.U., £60 ;Oxford Terrace, £15 11s 9d; Vivian Street, £17 10s6d; Waihi, 11s 6d; Brooklyn, £1 13s 6d; Brooklyn,Mornington Sunday School, £1 10s; Gore, £1 12sGd; A. W. Adams, £150; Auckland Tabernacle, £4313s 1d; Hanover Street Church, £2 5s; HanoverStreet Sunday School, 12s; Richmond North, £1 3s;Vivian Street, £9 7s 11d; Feilding, 19s 6d. Total,£317 14s 9d.

NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST.

Direct subscriptions received from April 18, 1924,to May 18, 1924.—To December, 1924 (4s): S. B.Pitt, T. E. Broughton, J. H. Stephens, Mrs Collin-son, Miss G. Warren, Mrs J. B. Taylor, Mrs G. W.Wright, Mrs J. Reddicliffe, H. Holland, H. Long,Mrs Swiney, W. A. Hawke, A. W. Adams, W. Wood-ham, F. A. Holland, T Simpson; V. Brown (4s), toJune, 1925; B. E. Jones (4s), to May, 1925; MissFarmilo (4s), to April, 1925; W. J. Parsons (4s), toSeptember, 1924; Mrs Letford (4s), to June, 1925.


June, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST.

"Christ of the Andes," Christ of Everywhere,Great lover of the hills, the open air,And patient lover of impatient men,Who blindly strive and sing and strive again,Thou living Word, larger than any creed,Thou Love Divine, uttered in human deed,Oh, teach the world, warring and wandering still,Thy way of Peace, the footpath of Good Will.

—Henry Van Dyke.

General Director: PASTOR W. FETLER.College Buildings: Temple street, London,

S.E. 11, England.Special Commissioner for Australia and

New Zealand:REV. D. H. MOORE, of Vernon Baptist Church,

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iv. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. June, 1924.

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ii.


40th Year of Issue—No. 487. JULY, 1924. Price 4d.Post Free 4/- per Annum

Passing Notes.A Moral Backwash.

The tide of Idealism, which was flowing stronglyin 1914, is still retreating. Promising moments,when anything seems possible, when the skies arerosy with omens, are seized on for supreme tempta-tions. Our Lord's temptation was so situate. So arethe temptations of men and of nations. The drearyfour years' slaughter, the shameless profiteering, theantics of the new rich, and the Versailles Treatyhave percussions which are still potent. The temperin the Dominion is ugly. We have seldomapproached a more ominous session of Parliamentthan that now opening. Two vital issues that con-cern the very essence of national life are likely to befooled with. Idealism in the New Zealand Parlia-ment is a homeepathic dose in a cupful of huckster-ing commonplace. The liquor issue is not lessurgent than it was in the great days of the past.The American heroism is still the only way. To itthe 100,000,000 Americans are so attached that "wet"candidates are treated as stale jokes. But a barrageif liquor lies is put down in our press. The publicmind is deliberately poisoned by the organs of publicinformation. There is much redeeming decency inthe press of the Dominion. But on the liquor issueit is a reptile press. The time has come, thereactionaries think, for legislative action. Some fewAnglican divines have offered themselves as windowdressing for a joint control scheme, which is finan-cially wicked and which will leave the bloated liquorring in possession of the boodle, and in the saddle.Mr Massey cannot be counted on. We wish he could.His declaration last poll, wantonly made, that aprohibition victory would occasion an instant sessionof Parliament to adjust finance, cost us thousandsof votes, and was worth tens of thousands of poundsto the trade. We may be up to our necks in a fightfor the retention of our liberties on this issue atonce. Every Baptist can be counted on to the utter-most. We commend that glorious saying of Williamthe Silent to our people: "There is one way in whicha patriot can be sure that he will never see hiscountry entirely overthrown, and that is by dying inthe last ditch." The temper in that saying hurledback the Spaniards and made Holland invincible.Innoculated with that temper we shall throw back thereactionaries.

The Other Issue.We referred to two perils. The second is as

great as the first, and as urgent. Whether liquoror gambling does most harm may be open to debate.We shall not debate it here. Gambling spoils menon the moral and religious sides of their nature withdeadly precision. For the churches (save and exceptthe Roman) fight with gambling is a life-and-deathaffair. Those who handle young men have nomore urgent duty than to discover to their mindsthe meanness and the social wickedness of thegambling contract. Boys and girls entering workhave special need, both from ministers and parents,of warning words wisely said. New Zealand is agreat gambling country. The figures for thenational vice startle the older countries. Per capitawe gamble three times as much as the people ofGreat Britain. Our gambling records have advanced400 per cent. during a period in which populationhas advanced 30 per cent. There can be only oneend to that sort of thing. The gambling party isvery strong in this reactionary Parliament. It hassecured Government sanction for a scheme for ex-tending race clays by 30. The racing clubs are de-manding two new privileges, both of which willexceedingly extend the area of the vice, and, tocrown all, the newspaper proprietors have issued ademand which will bring the bookmaker on to theback-door step and debauch the wives of workingmen. Nothing can prevent the passage of thesethings except desperately determined action. TheArchbishop, we are glad to say, has led off. Christ-church has been a hot spot on the issue, and verymuch on the map. Its leading business men havesigned up the protest splendidly. It has been diffi-cult to get some of the towns to move at all. Ifthese lines are read by residents in towns which aredoing nothing, so far—and among these Auckland,Hamilton, Nelson, Timaru, Oamaru, and Invercargillare numbered—the editor will be exceedingly pleasedto advise them as to an effective plan of campaign,which, if it were but nation-wide, would compel theGovernment to sit up and take notice. Oh! wake up,some of you!

Mrs Alfred North.Her many friends throughout New Zealand

heard of her passing on, in the peace of God, onJune 16. They may expect to find in this issue atribute from the editor, who is her oldest son, orfrom some tried friend. They will be disappointed.



THE

138 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTI8T. July, 1924.

My mother was vehement in her insistence that noeulogy should be written on her. She desired ex-ceedingly to be allowed to go, quietly, into her Lord'spresence. She wanted no applause. His "welldone," for which she very humbly hoped, is allshe asks. Her desire must be respected. It issacred. There are things that might be said, whichministers' wives should hear. There were secretsof service so prolonged and so laborious that theymight well challenge us all. They must remain "inGod's still memory folded deep." My mother wasin the seventy-seventh year of her happy life, andin the fifty-fourth year of her perfect married life.She worked "at her loved employ" till the last. Herfriends will know what that means. She was min-istered to by her son, Dr North, and by his devotedwife, in whose home she spent her last days. Shegreeted my father with a radiant smile, and passedunfearing "to where, beyond their voices, there ispeace." The funeral was private. The services wereconducted by the Baptist ministers of Dunedin, andby an elder and the secretary of the Hanover StreetChurch, which she loved and served so well. Hergrave is on the slope of Lawyer's Head, and looksout past White Island into far distances. Therequiem of the Pacific sounds unceasingly where shesleeps. She was carried thither by her three sons,and by three of her grandsons. All was orderedas she would have chosen. All is well. My fatherwishes to thank the many friends and the churchesand societies that have sent messages of sympathyto him, coupled with expressions of loving regardand gratitude for services rendered and the influenceexerted by his loved wife. The number of thesefriends is so great that he cannot respond by letter,as he fain would. His address meanwhile is 33Gonville Avenue, Wanganui.

Pastor.

Pastor was a name Spurgeon had a preferencefor. Yet Spurgeon was the greatest preacher of hisage. We have been wondering if his preference wasbased on a perception that the pulpit is not thebeginning and the ending of a minister's service.We are not intimate with Spurgeon's life, as weought to be. He could not be a pastor in the samesense that the rest of us can. The claims of thepulpit and of the press consumed nearly all thatthere was of him. But he cast his shrewd discern-ing eyes on the glory of that which he could not domuch of. A pastor's work is personal contact, visi-tation, timely talk steering ever toward the Cross.We are more and more persuaded that this is whatwe should be busy at, busier than we have everbeen. Some men don't visit as much as they should.Some visit mechanically, having left their imagina-tion at home. Let us never forget, when we put onour hats for an afternoon's visitation, that we aregoing to move among the problems of real life."Some are sick, and some are sad." The world isgetting its way with some. And some are thirstyto hear a "guid word for Jesus Christ." We aremoved to say these things through a recent perusalof the life of Dr Alex. Whyte. He tells on one pageof a shak*e-up he got. He looked into the office ofa banker for a friendly word, and was surprised tosee the man clear his desk, look into his pastor'seyes, and say: "What can you say to an oldsinner?" He was so startled that he could onlyreply: "He delighteth in mercy," and so he re-treated. He was followed by a letter thanking himfor his timely word. We judge that he began tobelieve more tenaciously that old men, pillars oftheir church and the like, are hungering for anintense message. So we find these two quotations inthe "life." "Never fall behind with your pastoralwork; the remorse is indescribable." And again:

"Nothing will make up for a bad pastorate. TheBlood of Christ itself does not speak peace to myheart in respect of a bad pastorate. Set every invita-tion and opportunity aside in the interests of a goodconscience towards the homes of your people." Todraw his plaid about him and stride out, throughwind and snow, for an afternoon's visitation was tothe great Scotchman one of the exceeding great re-wards of his ministry. It may be of yours also.

COPEC.Copec was a Russian coin in the old days. In

these days it is a conference of all Christians on thesocial interpretations of Christianity. It met inBirmingham, under the genial Bishop of Manchester,who is supposed to be the coming Archbishop. TheRomans, who had been represented on the prelim-inary committees, were suddenly withdrawn byauthority, an action which was bitterly resented.Eighteen nations sent delegates. Everything bearingon conduct in its social aspects was considered bycompetent committees, and reported on and discussedwith the utmost openness. Home, sex, birth-rate,labour conditions, crime, war, and so forth. That anew temper is abroad was manifest. "WoodbineWilly," the great Anglican preacher struck out onall sorts of subjects. The old and nauseous patriot-ism, which slanged the foreigner and lived on jingofroth, was nailed to the counter in great contempt.There seemed to be a readiness to jettison too much.That we shall have to jettison a great deal is veryplain. We shall never think quite as we have aboutwar. Here is a par from the Rev. F. C. Spurr's re-port: "The one discordant note was struck by aLondon delegate, who moved an amendment to thereport. He defended Imperialism. He would notadmit that all wars of conquest had been funda-mentally opposed to Christianity. Are we wrong, heasked, when we sing 'God who made thee mighty,make thee mightier y e t ' ? And there came from thecrowded hall a thunderous 'yes.' 'Then we shallhave to give up some of our national heroes,' heasked. And again came a great 'yes.' Not morethan twenty voted for the amendment. The Con-ference most cordially endorsed the report. I hopethat no false impression will get abroad regarding thisincident. The loss of the amendment and the over-whelming vote for the resolution can only be under-stood in the light of the report itself, which care-fully distinguishes between a true Nationalism andthat Jingo Imperialism which has been the curse ofthe world, and of which, many, apparently, still re-main uncured. Lord Parmoor summed up the dis-cussion of the afternoon in an admirable and vigorousspeech. Of course, he advocated the League ofNations, in which his faith is well set. He had justreturned from Geneva, more convinced than ever ofthe permanence and stability of that great Christianmovement. It was a strange experience to hear thisold Tory lawyer, enthusiastically urging Quakerprinciples in his capacity as Labour Cabinet Minister.He concluded: 'I cannot reconcile war with Christiantruth and principle. The two are wholly and funda-mentally inconsistent. We must cast our lot asChristians against all war, and regard it as ana b o m i n a t i o n . ' " Conferences get excited. Find-ings that are academic have to be toned by experi-ence. But we must not drop flippantly back into acomplaisant attitude. The four years' agony, andthe shedding of precious blood should lead us to newthoughts. And those new thoughts must begin to beharboured before international complications becometense. It is all that is behind war and that causeswar that we must get after. A N.Z. Copec would begood. But do we keep enough instructed socialenthusiasm to run one?

July, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. 139

MEMS.We are glad to announce an article for next

month, by Rev. F. A. Crawshaw, on "Why I becamea Baptist." The late Vicar of Hinds has had ahappy year in his first Baptist Church. Thirty havebeen baptised. £260 has been paid off church debtby direct giving, and everything will be clear by theend of 1925, please God. . . . We hear with deepregret of the death of that veteran Baptist of Auck-land, Mr Seering Matthews. He was church secre-tary for long years, all through Mr Spurgeon's famousministry. We shall say more next month.Miss Rice is abundantly welcome home for furlough.She has been simply great. The editor saw andwondered when he was her guest at Chandpur. Mayshe recuperate bravely. . . . We fancy these parsare read. Will church correspondents reading theselines specially note that church news must be in meeditor's hands on 18th of each month; 20th keepsprinters in too fine a frenzy. . . . We noticewith great pleasure the progress of Edendale underRev. Ray Turner. A manse is being built, and for abachelor, too, and the new hall at White Swan hasbeen opened. Good. . . . We congratulate IS.lnvercargill on the building of the new hall for exten-sion work in a new suburb, quite unchurched. Holypluck is a cardinal virtue. . . . We welcome Pas-tor William Garner among us. Four years ago hewas baptised in the Wanganui Church, and duringmost of that time has been labouring as a Presby-terian Home Missionary. A few months ago he madeapplication to the Board of Advice, who, after makingall enquiries and receiving highly satisfactory creden-tials, accepted Mr Garner for service as a Home Mis-sionary. He will shortly be inducted to the Owakacharge. The church at Wanganui has much affectionfor and confidence in him.

Mission at Linwood.

Correspondence.(To the Editor.)

Dear Sir,—I wish, through the columns of ourBaptist paper, to express very hearty thanks toevery one in whose homes I was so kindly enter-tained; also to those who, in many kindly ways,aided me in my itinerary, both in the North andSouth Islands. In many instances I was "a strangerin a strange land," but loving hearts and homes werealways opened to me, which kindness I shall neverforget; the hospitality shown me was wonderful.The happy social intercourse will ever remain asweet remembrance.

I also thank the gentlemen who so kindly andwillingly motored me to and from various stations,and in several instances to and from the meetings.One good friend motored me four and six miles tomeetings. I would like all to know that I greatlyappreciated the loving kindness showered upon me.

It was also a joy to meet the good wives of ourministers, some of whom I had not previously met.I feel the many miles of travel have been worthwhile, especially to the smaller and more isolateddistricts. The friends assured me my visit hadencouraged and cheered them, and also helped themto realise more fully India's need.

We thank our Heavenly Father for His lovingcare and protection through all my journeyings. Inevery town I escaped storms and floods.

If our B.W.M.U. has in any way benefited bythe visits paid, unto His Holy Name be all the praiseand glory.

ELSIE C. TONEYCLIFFE,Dominion President B.W.M.U.

The Rev. F. E. Harry responded readily to aninvitation from Linwood to "come over and help."The mission covered the period from May 20 to May29 (inclusive), and was the means of much blessingto the church. Several promising young men madethe great decision for Christ, and these are witnes-sing steadily, and many others were brought undercorrection of sin. The church throughout felt thecall to consecration, and young and old made re-newed vows of dedication to God. In spite of mostinclement weather and darkness occasioned byfailure of the city lighting, gatherings were heldeach evening, and a comprehensive scheme of meet-ings was carried through. The singing wasorganised by Mr C. B. Moir, and sister church choirsattended. A feature of the mission was the Gospelappeal in song by Miss Dudney, of Spreydon, whoacted as soloist throughout. The genial and sinceremessages of the missioner were greatly appreciated,and Linwood records much gratitude to God for thiseffort, which has resulted in "the confirming andstrengthening" of a needy church.

A Woman Home Missionary.

The Placing of a Woman Missionary in the Back-blocks.

How was it to be done? Where were the fundsto, come from? Would a woman gain the confidenceof the people? These questions would come up, butthere was the work waiting to be done in a needydistrict. A public school, with over a hundredchildren and no regular Sunday School. A womanheard the call of God and answered: "Here am I,send me." When told it was an undenominationalbit of work, and that no salary was attached to theposition, she bravely replied that, "God had providedfor her needs in the past, and if she went forth todo His work, she felt sure He would not fail her."

The first difficulty encountered was the need of acottage for the missionary and her boy and girl. Nohouse could be found, but a well-known friend andhelper, hearing of their need, volunteered to go andsupply the need. In a few weeks our sister wassafely settled in a cosy home furnished by interestedfriends. From the first, God has set His seal of ap-proval on their venture of faith. The people of thedistrict are showing their appreciation and approvalof our sister's efforts on their behalf, and are at-tending the Sunday evening services which our sistertakes every alternative Sunday, the PresbyterianHome Missionary taking two services a month. TheSunday School has fifty-four names on the roll. Aclass for boys, during the week, has been started,and shows signs of great encouragement. A choir isthe latest event, which is adding to the interest ofthe services. The readiness of the people of thedistrict is constantly being manifested in a practicalway by gifts of wood and produce, which are greatlyappreciated. Our missionary is winning her wayinto the hearts and homes of the people. The work isan increasing joy to her. There is much to be done,but we rejoice that difficulties are being overcome,and that His work is going forward. Are there notother women who will go and do likewise. There isa big field of work for consecrated women in the neg-lected spots of New Zealand. The Master looks onthese unoccupied districts and says, as of old: "Theharvest is plenteous, but the labourers are few."—A.J.P.D.


140 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. July, 1924.

Otago and Southland Auxiliaryof the B.U. of N.Z.

The thirty-second annual meetings of the Otagoand Southland Auxiliary were held in the newly-erected South Dunedin Church on the King's Birth-day, June 3, and were marked by much unanimityand heartiness. Mr W. J. Bardsley, who hasoccupied the Presidential chair for two successiveyears, presided, and every church in the Auxiliarysave one was well represented.

The Rev. T. Weston, of Mornington, led theopening devotional service at 10 a.m., and com-mented on John's second Epistle, laying stress onthe importance of sound doctrine and fidelity to thetruth. The incense of prayer ascended from manyhearts, and the graciousness of this initial meetingremained with the delegates throughout the day.

Business began at 11 The Rev. Guy Thornton,on behalf of his people, welcomed the representativesto the hospitality of the church, and was warmlythanked by the President for the cordiality of hisinvitation.

On the motion of Mr H. H. Driver, the assemblyendorsed, by a silent rising vote, a minute adopteeby the Executive relating to the passing of MrGeorge Calder, who had for many years served theAuxiliary with great earnestness.

The Rev. T. Weston, who had come within thebounds of the Auxiliary during the year, was warmlywelcomed, as also was the Rev. Eric Evans., whohad come earlier, but had not previously attendedthe annual meeting.

A telegram of greeting and goodwill was re-ceived from the President of the Union (Mr H. M.Smeeton) and reciprocated. Messages of sympathywere passed to Mr Moses Wright, Mr Wm. Ings, theRev. John Takle, the Rev. J. D. Cox, Mr H. G.Ashley, and Misses Peters, Rice, and Bradfield.

Our excellent Secretary (Mr C. J. Darracott)then presented the annual report, which reviewed inconcise form the work of the churches, and furnishedmuch cause for encouragement. The progress madein Invercargill churches was especially gratifying.The attempt to establish a Bible Reading Leaguehad not met with the success which the Rev. L. J.B. Smith had desired. Mrs Bryce had acted ashospital visitor with much acceptance. The churcheshad raised nearly £700 towards the Rev. R. S. GrayMemorial Fund. The Week of Prayer had been dulykept, and the Self-Denial Offerings had exceeded theprevious year's. The Y.M.C.A. migration schemehad been approved. A Baptist picnic, held at Porto-bello in March, had yielded £8 to the Home Missionfunds.

In moving the adoption of the report, the Rev.R. H. K. Kcmpton urged the importance of themigration scheme. Mr Driver regretted that nonew cause had been founded during the year, butrejoiced in the settlement of Mrs Ford at Tahakopa.The Rev. Eric Evans urged that more should bedone to keep in touch with country members andunattached Baptists. Several speakers were per-plexed over the Union's Contingent Fund. Thereport was heartily adopted.

Mr C. E. Beckingsale, our worthy Treasurer,read his audited balance sheet, which showed thatthe grants-in-aid voted by the Union had been dulyforwarded to the assisted churches, and that all inci-dental expenses had been met.

Luncheon was furnished by the entertainingchurch at the Bungalow Tea Rooms, St. Kilda, andwas much appreciated.

The first business of the afternoon session wasthe election of officers for the ensuing year, whichresulted in the following appointments:—President,Rev. Guy Thornton; Vice-president, Rev. EricEvans; Secretary, Mr C. J. Darracott; Treasurer,Mr C. E. Beckingsale; Auditor, Mr David J. Calder;Hospital Visitor, Mrs Bryce; Committee—All theministers (ex officio), Messrs W. J. Bardsley, T. B.Armstrong, W. Benfell, J. Bond, H. H. Driver, A.J. Nichol, F Paris, W. B. Quennell, J. Rood, W.R. Smith, W. Sharp, R. H. Todd, G. Wix, J.Williams, E. P. Wilkinson.

The Executive officers were sincerely thankedfor their efficient services during the year.

The Rev Eric Evans was appointed to representthe Auxiliary at the welcome to Mr Garner at Owakaon June 9.

The invitation of the Invercargill churches thatthe Auxiliary meet at the most southerly city nextyear was gratefully accepted.

On the motion of the Revs. Evans and Dallaston,it was resolved—"That we recognise with gratitudethe splendid services rendered by Mrs Driver and MrA. C. Stewart in the erection of a house at Taha-kopa. We also rejoice in the settlement of Mrs Fordas home missionary there, and wish for her a longperiod of fruitful ministry."

On the motion of Messrs Nichol and Evans, theassembly reaffirmed its conviction that the prohibi-tion of the liquor traffic was essential to true citizen-ship, and emphatically protested against the inclu-sion of State purchase and corporate control in theballot paper.

Mr Hiett moved, and Mr Williams seconded—"That in view of the increase of drinking amongyoung men and women our churches be urged togive adequate attention to temperance teaching anda pledge-signing campaign through the SundaySchools, Bible Classes, and Bands of Hope."—Carried.

GAMBLING.

The President chose for the subject of hisaddress from the chair the .problem of gambling,and handled it in a very vigorous and outspokenmanner. He dealt with the ramifications of the vice,with the fascination it had for multitudes of ourpeople, with the injurious effects it had upon theyoung life of the Dominion, with its elusiveness andthe difficulty of grappling effectively with it. Withapt illustration and reasoned argument, he laid barethe essential immorality of gambling, and called onall who sought the moral wellbeing of the com-munity to use their utmost influence to restrict andsuppress it.

The President invited discussion of his utter-ance, and a brisk debate ensued. In older to giveeffect to the address and discussion, it was resolved:

(1) That all ministers and workers among theyoung warn their people agaist this insidiousvice.

(2) That the Education Board be requested toinsert articles against gambling in theSchool Journal.

(3) That an emphatic protest be made to Parlia-ment against any increase in racing permitsfor gambling.

(4) That the Justice Department be urged toadopt more vigorous action in the enforce-ment of the laws against bookmakers.

(5) That the press be appealed to to use itsweighty influence against the gambling evil.

(6) That we assist as far as possible in preparinga petition to Parliament against the proposalto favour the racing community.


THE BIBLE.

Tea was served in Reid Hall, and the church waswell filled for the evening meeting, which crownedand closed a day of mingled pleasure and profit.Mr Bardsley presided. Excellent musical items werefurnished by the choir, under the leadership of MrDavid Robb, and the three addresses were eloquentand forceful and elicited hearty applause. All dealtwith the Bible, the foundation of our faith and prac-tice, the exhaustlcss Treasury of Truth, and the im-perishable revelation of God. The Rev. Leslie J.B. Smith maintained its divine authority. The Rev.R. H. K. Kempton drew attention to its literarybeauty. The Rev. Eric Evans pointed out its refiningpower. Each speaker had "ample room and vergeenough" with such spacious topics, and each usedhis opportunity to good purpose. Each kept to hisallotted theme, and all served to exalt the Bookto its rightful supremacy in the literature of theworld: sublime in its authority, unrivalled in itsliterary charm, peerless in its power to reach thelowest and refine the coarsest of the race.

Auckland Auxiliary.ANNUAL ASSEMBLY.

The annual meetings of the Auckland Auxiliaryof the N.Z. Baptist Union were held in the Tabernacleschool hall on King's Birthday, June 3, a beautifullybright early winter's day. The air had a keen touch,but bountiful sunshine prevailed. The devotionalhour, commencing at 9.30, was led by Rev. RayTurner. The official session followed, the President,Mr J. C. Spedding, occupying the chair. There were86 delegates present, a number exceeding that ofany previous occasion, and the president extendeda cordial welcome to the delegates. He also wel-comed, as ministerial delegates sitting for the firsttime. Rev. Ray Turner (Edendale), Mr Norman Gar-lick (Otahuhu), and Mr S. J. Campbell, who wasvery acceptably serving the Ponsonby Church.Messages and greetings were sent to Revs. PalgraveDavy, and Bowen James, and one of sympathy toRev. Reuben Bailey, who was seriously ill. Mr C.C. Harris was appointed minute secretary for theday's proceedings; Rev. A. S. Wilson, reporter tothe local press; and Mr T. F. Hill, reporter to theN.Z. Baptist.

The Secretary, Pastor C. Chant, read the Thirty-second Annual Report (covering a period of only ninemonths, the last meeting having been held at Hamil-ton, in September). Reference was made to a fewministerial changes, among them the withdrawal ofRev. L. B. Busfield, who had been appointed full-timeSecretary to the Auckland Sunday School Union, andwas now attending the great Sunday Schools' Con-vention in Scotland. The Auxiliary President andSecretary, in company with the President of the Union(Mr H. M. Smeeton), had made a tour of the Wai-kato, Bay of Plenty, and adjoining districts, and hadmet officers and members of the churches at Cam-bridge, Morrinsville, Thames, Waihi, and Tauranga.It had been a mission of cheer. That very generalcomplaint—the slackness on the part of responsiblepersons in sending in returns—was lamented by thepainstaking Secretary. There had, however, been aslight improvement of late. Congratulatory refer-ence was made to the activity at Edendale, with itsbranch work at the White Swan Road. Mt. Roskill,and to the opening of the handsome new church atHamilton. Definite progress has been made at Rich-mond, Epsom, and Morrinsville, while Cambridge,

Waihi, and Tauranga were surmounting their diffi-culties and had a hopeful outlook. The ExtensionCommittee was busy doing "spade work." Manyplaces had been visited, and many open doors found.The province was going ahead by leaps and bounds,and there was a call for zeal which should issue insacrifice and consecrated effort.

The report was unanimously adopted on themotion of Mr A. G. Jones and Rev. A. Anstice, MrAndrews remarking, "The Chant has become a joyoussong this year." Speaking in appreciation of theenergetic and urbane Secretary, Mr Spedding said itmeant much to him, as President, to have associatedwith him such a man as Mr Chant.

The Treasurer's Statement was read by Mr H.Utting, who has admirably served the Auxiliaryin this capacity for a number of years. The figuresshowed for the nine months ending May 31:—

Receipts.—Balance forward, £14 12s l0d; Long-more bequest instalment, £30 3s 7d; Contributionsfrom churches and collections, £710 10s 11d; Uniongrants, £302 1s 8d. Total: £1057 l5s. Expenditure.—Grants made, £346 6s 8d; Expenses: printing, ad-vertising, travelling, and general, £44 10s 11d; Loanrepaid, £18; Balance in hand, £648 17s 5d. Total:£1057 los. The amount received from churches in-cluded a handsome anonymous gift of £500 throughthe medium of the duplex envelope. The Statement,after a brief and favourable discussion, was unani-mously adopted.

The Duplex Envelope.—Mr F. W. Gaze, a vigor-ous propagandist for the Duplex Envelope system, ad-dressed the Assembly by request, giving many pointsin favour of this excellent aid to church finance. Hesaid the system had saved many a church treasurerfrom premature grey hairs. A friend had offered afree supply of envelopes for the first year to anychurch introducing the system. Rev. A. S. Wilsonsaid that he was pleased, when preaching recentlyat Thames, to see 37 children put their envelopes inthe plate. Mr Walter Penning stated that theenvelope subscribers at Milford outnumbered the en-rolled members. Other favourable testimonies weregiven. It was unanimously resolved to recommendthe system to the churches.

The morning session closed with the singing ofthe National Anthem, a resolution of loyalty to thethrone having first been heartily passed.

A luncheon, dainty and delectable, was servedby the ladies of the Tabernacle. Mr Walter Dixonproposed, in a characteristic speech, a vote of thanksto the ladies. "Imagine," said he, "a world withoutladies." The weird picture filled the company withdread. The vote was unanimously passed.

At the afternoon session, brief reports were givenby delegates from the churches. The tone throughoutwas one of thankfulness for blessings received andexpectancy for more. The patriarch of the party wasMr Mathias Whitehead, who has given almost life-long service to the Thames Church. All were pleasedto have the cheery presence of Mr and Mrs Toney-cliffe. The former reported verbally for the GisborneChurch.

The entry of Rev. Howard Elliott was the signalfor hearty applause. Mr Elliott, who is an ex-Presi-dent and ex-Secretary of the Auxiliary, was associatedwith the Assembly. A similar privilege was accordedto Miss Gillanders, a prospective missionary.

There followed a series of competitive essays on"A Home Mission Policy," nine being read. Thetenth (not for competition) could not be called anessay, but was an imaginary telephonic conversationbetween Mr F. W. Gaze and the Chairman of theWaikato Centre. The slogan of the "call" was,What we have we'll hold, and what we haven't, we'llwork for." The "conversation" bristled with useful


points, and was not only instructive, but afforded anentertaining interlude in the afternoon's proceedings.The written essays were referred to the incomingExecutive for adjudication.

The elections for the coming year's Executiveresulted: President, Rev. H. Hercus; Vice-president,Mr F. Eade; Treasurer, Mr H. Utting; Secretary,Pastor C. Chant; Auditor, Mr Heaton Barker; Com-mittee: Mr W. Biglow, Major Dow. (Grange Road),Messrs J. A. Penman and H. Turner (Mt. Albert), MrW. H. Newton (Richmond), Mr A. G. Jones (Epsom),Mr H. C. Kitchen (Ponsonby), Mr H. J. Ashby (Mil-ford), Mr W. Dixon (Edendale), Mrs Simpson (Mt.Eden), Miss Robertson (Otahuhu), Messrs Andrews,Bush, Ellingham, Gaze, Lambourne (Tabernacle), MrJ. C. Spedding (ex-President), together with theministers of the city and suburban churches.

Notices of Motion.—By Mr W. H. Newton:"'That ministerial status be not accorded to any tem-porary supply unless established by the Union's Boardof Introduction and Advice." By Rev. A. S. Wil-son: "That with a view to securing the best menavailable for the position, membership of the BaptistUnion's Student Committee be not limited to mem-bers of the Executive."

A well-attended tea was held in the primary room,an unexpected, but very welcome guest being CaptainGipsy Pat Smith, who addressed a few words to thosepresent, shortly before leaving by train for Wel-lington. Earlier in the day, a resolution, proposedby Mr Andrews, was heartily carried, expressingthankfulness to God for the blessings received at thegreat evangelistic mission just conducted by CaptainGipsy Pat, and praying for increasing blessings onthe future campaigns.

The public meeting was held in the church in theevening. The President, Mr J. C. Spedding, occupiedthe chair, and after some encouraging remarks uponthe church reports already referred to, stated that hebelieved a great spiritual quickening was the chiefneed of the churches, and that God was ready to trustthe small churches as well as the large ones with anabundant measure of blessing.

The out-going President then welcomed his suc-cessor, Rev. H. Hercus, who took as his motto,"Pitch in!" He contended that a twentieth centuryHome Mission policy was not needed so much as afirst century one. We must press the battle. Theremust be holy aggressiveness. He prayed that Godmight do the unexpected thing.

The Tabernacle choir, under conductorship of MrA. E. Wilson, rendered suitable choruses and othermusic. Pastor Chant (Secretary) graciously acknow-ledged the hospitality of the hosts and hostesses, andthe help kindly rendered by many others.

The company then gathered at the Lord's Table,the service being conducted by the minister of theTabernacle, Rev. Joseph W. Kemp, who gave amessage from Hebrews xii, 20, 21. He said the word"perfect" did not mean sinlessly so, but indicated"made fit," "capacitated," or "adjusted," so that ourservice might be effective and well-pleasing in thesight of our Master and Lord. With this solemnhour of fellowship and worship there closed a help-ful and inspiring day.

The following day, the ministers attended theo-logical lectures, and, with their wives, were enter-tained at luncheon by one of the Auckland laymen.

MANUREWA HOME.

Mr Ellingham, a Board member, referred to thesatisfactory work going on at the Children's Home,and stated that every Sunday afternoon ladies andteachers for the Sunday School were taken out from

Auckland and brought home again. This usefultransit service was performed voluntarily by a num-ber of motorists in turn, and their help was muchappreciated. On the motion of Rev. A. S. Wilson,these gentlemen were heartily thanked for their kindassistance.

Miss Hilda Rice.—Miss Rice arrived in Welling-ton on the 10th, and was met on the wharf by herparents and many Wellington friends. She hadalready benefited by the voyage, but it was evidentthat her furlough had been urgent. We had aninterview with her concerning work on the field beforeshe left for Napier.

Administrative and College Committees.—Thesecommittees held long and important sessions duringJune, much urgent business being transacted. Pro-mising candidates for Indian work continue to offer.

In re Annual Conference.—Wil! churches pleaseremember that the Annual Conference will be heldin Christchurch early in October? Already the Pro-gramme Committee is at work, and the outlook forsuccessful sessions is bright.

Self-Denial Fund.—The churches have nearlyreached last year's total, as the statement elsewhereshows. We had hoped to report an increase in thegenerosity of our people; possibly in our next issuewe may be able to report that last year's amount hasbeen exceeded. In any case, we rejoice in theliberality of our friends, some of the smaller churcheshaving done remarkably well. We thank all ourgenerous supporters.

Mrs Alfred North.—As we are preparing thesenotes we hear of the lamented death of the wife ofour veteran, the Rev. Alfred North. The whole de-nomination will sympathise deeply with our venerablebrother and with his family in their great sorrow.She was abundantly ready for the transition into thepresence of her Lord. She lived for Christ, anddeath had no terror for her. "Absent from the body,present with the Lord.' '

Finance.—A statement of our position appearselsewhere, from which it will be seen that theaccounts are still much overdrawn. Will collectorsplease remit amounts promptly each month?

The Gipsy Pat Smith Mission is in full swing atpresent in Wellington, and is drawing immensecrowds.

Notices of Motion.

1 That, owing to the embarrassed position of someof our ministers and their churches, and thelack of suitable machinery for bringing aboutany changes, a committee be set up, consistingof the Secretary of the Union and a trustedlayman, to try and effect desirable changes.

2. That, with a view to intensifying interest in thedenomination and what it stands for, a Sundaybe set apart each year, to be known as BaptistDay, and that at all services, for old andyoung, principles and ideals be emphasised,and that on this day the annual offering betaken for the Annuity Fund.


3. That on and after the year 1925 the Vice-presidentof the Union shall, ipso facto, become Presidentfor the year following.

H. M. SMEETON.

Secretarial Notes.


Treasurer's Statement.Fiancial Position as at May 31, 1924.

Dr. Balance at May 31, l924

Dr. Balance as at April 30.1924

Receipts for MayExpenditure for May


Subscriptions received from May 18 to June 18,l924.—Y.W.B.C.U., £10; Oxford Terrace, £12 15s;Opawa, £1 10s; Ponsonby, £20 2s; Wanganui, £211s 4d; Hanover Street Church, £2 11s 6d; HanoverStreet Sunday School, 14s 4d; Caversham, £5 11s;Grange Road Sunday School, £4 14s 4d; Epsom, £12s; Waihi, 10s 6d; Feilding, £1; Linwood, £2 ; NewPlymouth, £7 9s 3d; Hastings Church, 17s 3d; Hast-ings Sunday School 9s 7d; Hamilton, 17s. Total,£74 15s 1d.


Direct subscriptions received from May 18 toJune 18, l924.— To December, 1924 (4s each): W. C.Dixon, Rev. J. F. Jack, Mrs Horsley, J. Outram,.Mrs Carpenter, W. Olney, Mrs H. Goodacre, C. Beck-ingsale, Rev. A. C. Sievewrigiit; Miss Heyward, 4s,to November, 1924; Mrs F. Clark, 4s, to March,1924; Rev. F. A. Parry, 4s, to May, 1925; Mrs R.Brown, 4s, to May, 1925; Mrs J. Hill, 5s, to May,1924; Mrs H. Bunn, 5s, to September, 1925; Rev. E.N. Goring, 4s, to February, 1925; Mrs Bullen, 4s,to February, 1925; E. C. Wiltshire, 4s, to September,1925; E. H. Boneham, 8s, to March, 1925.

A record of failures, particularly if it is a digni-fied and well authenticated list, deters a young manfrom trying. We get some of our best results byletting fools rush in where angels fear to tread.They told us we could not do this or that. We aredoing it.—Henry Ford.

Let us learn like a bird for a moment to takeSweet rest on a branch that is ready to break;She feels the branch tremble, yet gaily she sings,What is it to her? She has wings, she has wings!

—Victor Hugo in "Old Age."


Auckland.—Auckland Tabernacle Baptist Church,£8 1s 2d; Miss M. A. Blomfield, 5s; Mrs Giles, £ 1 ;Grange Road Baptist Church, £14 10s 9d; Miss M.Hunter (collection box), £1 0s 4d; Mrs T. E. Whit-ton, £2 2s; official collector, £66 18s. Total, £9317s 3d.

Avondale.—Miss A. Cope, 15s.Canterbury.—A. W. Colee, £2.Dunedin.—North-East Valley Baptist Church, £1

13s 6d; South Dunedin Baptist Church, £3. Total,£4 13s 6d.

Manurewa.—W. J. Friedlander, £2; Town Board,£2 10s; D. Whitburn, £5. Total, £9 10s.

Opua.—R. B. Martin, £1.Timaru.—Baptist Church, £3 14s; Mrs H. O.

Long, £5. Total, £8 14s.Wanganui.—Gonville Baptist Church, £2 10s.Oxford Terrace Baptist Church, £3 2s 3d; Mr

and Mrs A. P. Godber, £ 1 ; Miss C. A. Muir, £1.Total. £o 2s 3d.

Grand total, £128 2s.


Clothing.—Miss A. Galbraith, 59 McMasterstreet, Invercargill; Miss Yeoman, 1 Eglington ter-race, Mount Eden.; Miss Simpson, 7 Marewa road,Green Lane; Miss B. Woodward, Edmonton road,Henderson; Miss R. Rawlings, Plunket Rooms, TeKuiti; Mrs Stevenson, Wills street west, Ashburton;Mrs Thomas, Lace Webb Co., Ltd., Christchurch;Mrs Wallace; Mrs W. H. Newton, Surrey crescent,Grey Lynn; Mrs Aspinall, 44 Ranfurly road, Epsom;Gonville Baptist Dorcas Society (per Miss Newton,Tawa street, Gonville); Berhampore BaptistY.W.B.C. (per Miss L. Bade, Main street, Morning-ton).

Sundries.—The Chief Librarian, Public Library,Auckland, 130 books; Mr F. E. Kretschmar, MountEden, rubber balls and large Chinese mat; Mr W.Lambourne, Ponsonby, 70 books; Miss Denison, 394Dominion road, Auckland, hats; Mrs Hill (per MissBurrell, 1 pair shoes; Mrs Galletly, 234 Blenheimroad, Riccarton, doll; Messrs Munn and Anstiss,Hallenstein's Buildings, Auckland, postcards;Mayoress's War Memorial Library, Auckland, books,etc.; Mr and Mrs E. R. James, 1 Cotter avenue,Remuera, books.

Provisions, etc.—Mr Osborne, Manurewa, sand-wiches, etc.; Mr E. R. Lupton, Manurewa, meatpies; Mr Walter, Manurewa, buns; Mr Landless,Manurewa, lemons; Mrs Nomes, Ohaupo, lollies.



"Rabbi" Duncan was distributing the elementsat a Scotch Communion when he saw awoman near the front of the church pass thecup untasted, while the tears coursed down herchecks. The great scholar, leaving his place at theTable, stepped down the aisle, and, taking the cupfrom the elder, gave it himself to the weepingwoman, saying: "Tak' it, woman; it's for sinners."

Dr Alex. Whyte's favourite verse, with which hevery frequently closed his services, ran:

"O may we stand before the Lamb,When earth and seas are fled,

And hear the Judge pronounce our name,With blessings on our head.

Receipts.Expendi-

ture.

Receipts.Expendi-

ture.UNION:

Dr. Balance as at April 30,1924

Receipts for MayExpenditure for May

Dr. Balance at May 31, 1924 £1,822 9 4

£2,719896

810

100

£896 19 6

896 19 6

£ s. d.

2,151 7 1

568 1 9

£ s. d.

£262 0 10

£832570

87

40

£570 7 6

570 7 6179 11 5

652 16 11

£ s. d.£ s. d.

MISSIONARY:


Self-denial Returns.

£12

3753

20235

11148

201

20211742

1016

3860331851

1011218181194

189426

6117165

121

2121

11912216

23125

1596

102

s.12161203629

126

120

17176

101

14940

1903

1288

11264

12181543

10141297

150

151819008

158

1310630

d.11300966

116

116067000066410065665090

1111008

105

1000080

10400

10866060

£13

2027

25146

13193

254

17201956

360

1132422327141311

1112216219

1024111348

7618178

132

2218

1361321241610

1161976

s.126

181

10112

112

122305

160

1827

1917121068

134

10175

1190

126

155

1814100

1007898

152

12121010033

d.71367

1093616603808608

10663684326261809296

10050

112100

105602020

£0

45

125

5

113

2604

99

111

3

90551921

15112010

1610

17

1

612

s.19

61

—501

—5

10——7

1010178

17———103

165

—18—196

171

162

125321

13150

12—92

1514

16

1419—

d.8

36

434

20

980866

4303

9

656

9096

11100503

380

10

6

08

£

173

8

5

21

51710

1

1

3

71

14

25

s.—10——13———10——1617——————426

————4

5———————————————9

————3

16—0

—17

d.

2

2

0

66

1067

2

3

10

02

4

9

Since above returns were compiled we have received an additionalamount of £4 10s from Vivian Street, making an increase for thischurch of £3 5s 10d, and a decrease on the Dominion total of£58 11s l0d.

An Experiment.By PASTOR E. T. JONES.

Please God to keep us growing,Till the awful day of mowing.

I steadier step if I recallThat if I slip He does not fall.

The Nelson and Richmond Churches are our twooldest churches. The first poster printed for theNew Zealand Baptists was turned out by a Nelsonfirm in 1851. It announced the stone-laying cere-mony of our first church. It may be said that itwas then the Baptist colours were hoisted for thefirst time in our fair land. But before churches ofour order were built, Baptist preaching was carriedon in the country districts. That preaching, as allfaithful preaching does, left its mark on the district.In times of dire hardship, trouble, and difficulty, menwho loved the Gospel and our Church held ourpeople together until the first Baptist minister, theRev. D. Dolamore, arrived. Their names may notbe known to the present generation, but we owea debt of gratitude to them. It is natural thesetwo churches should have produced some fine typesof saints. Some have gone home to their rest andreward; others continue with us. Both churcheshave their representatives on Indian and China mis-sion fields. Both churches have justified their exist-ence, for souls have been saved in them, and underthe blessing of God character has been moulded intoChristlikeness.

But the two churches have never hived off.After 73 years there are only two churches in theprovince, and these feel their isolation. Richmondlies eight miles south of Nelson, and the next nearestchurch lies beyond the often-troubled waters of CookStrait. Could we come closer together in fellowshipand comradeship and face some of our problems anddisabilities unitedly? An idea came to us. The twocongregations should come together in all-day meet-ings for fellowship and conference. The suggestionwas accepted and acted upon.

We met in the Richmond Church on the King'sBirthday, June 3. The Nelson friends journeyed bytrain and brought their own provisions, hot water,tea, milk, and sugar being provided by the Rich-mond people. It was a glorious day, and as wewended our way to the church we beheld MountArthur clothed in a mantle spotlessly white.

Evidently hearts were keyed aright for the prayersession which started at 10.30. It was indeed aseason of thanksgiving and soul-outpouring. It wasa time to be remembered. All phases of the workcarried on by our beloved Union and Church wereremembered at the Throne of Grace. The Rev. JohnLaird presided, and gave an illuminating addresson the Epistle to the Hebrews.

A conference session followed. A Nelson-Rich-mond gospel mission was discussed. Valuable sug-gestions were made. Family worship and cottagemeetings were stressed as being most needful to getthe right atmosphere and to reach the non-church-goers. One of the results of the conference is thata mission is to be held.

Then extension was introduced and discussed.There are isolated Baptist families who would appre-ciate a visit, and townships and districts that wouldsupport an occasional service. We have men muchused by the Methodist Church, and there are othersin our churches and Bible Classes whose talents findlittle room for exercise. A few outposts and more


ESTABLISHED 1862. BRANCHES THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND. CAPITAL, £1,000,000

Wellington Branch: 324 Lambton Quay. EDWARD C. R0WE, Manager.

£14581395

108

79

£1395 8 9 £216 16 4 £279216

1816

24

£63 1 10 £63 1 10

£13971

1210

s.3

1184

1816

d.1062006

£55 2 0

HaweraMangaramaramaSpreydonLincolnOamaruMornington

Returns still to come: —

Decrease

WhangareiAuckland TabernacleOtuhuhuEpsomPonsonbyRichmond, G.L.Mount EdenGrange Road.MilfordMount AlbertEdendaleThamesWaihiHamiltonMorrinsvilleCambridgeGisborneTaurangaNapierHastingsPalmerston NorthNew PlymouthWanganuiGonvilleWanganui EastFeildingVivian StreetPetoneBerhamporeBrooklynIsland BayLyall BayNelsonRichmond, N.RangioraKaiapoiOxfordOxford TerraceLinwoodSydenhamOpawaGreendaleKirweeAshburtonTimaruHanover StreetNorth-East ValleyRoslynSouth DunedinCavershamMosgielGoreOwakaInvercargillInvercargill NorthOther donations

1923. 1924. Increase. Decrease.

The following is the list of amounts received todate, with six returns to come in: —


opportunities for preaching would serve as a goodmental and spiritual gymnasium The MethodistChurch has grown because of its many out-stationsand the great use it has made of its laymen. TheRichmond Church reported that it had held a serviceat the Gordon Downs School, 25 miles distant.Nearly everyone in the district within easy distanceof the school attended. In this place, where noservice has been held for several years, the peoplewanted the minister to make a promise that hewould come every fortnight. Other places wouldgive a like hearty welcome to a preacher. A resultof the conference is that both churches have thematter in hand, and some definite and aggressive.scheme will be attempted shortly.

Luncheon in the schoolroom at 1 o'clock re-sembled an indoor picnic. A fine spirit of fellow-ship and goodwill prevailed.

When the afternoon meetings commenced, wefound that our numbers had grown. In prayer wethought of our European work, and tender and sym-pathetic prayers were offered up to the God of allcomfort and consolation on behalf of the persecutedHaptist brethren.

In a discussion which followed on our youngpeople, some very needful things were said. Asplans and aims and difficulties were stated, theworkers came nearer to one another and to our Lordand Master.

The day's programme included a conference on"Church Loyalty'' and addresses on "Our Prin-ciples" and "Our Message'' at a rally meeting in theevening, but these had, unfortunately, to be set onone side, for the Nelson friends had to leave earlyin order to catch the 4 p.m. train.

But what had been done was well worth while.We have some new material to work at. The meet-ings were only an experiment, but bigger meetingswill be held next year. We have set our heart onthat.

Could not the idea be acted upon in every centrewhere we have two or more Baptist Churches? Andthis with profit to the whole denomination. Howgood it would be to have our congregations meetingtogether on a day set apart for the purpose ofworship and conference! In some cases a rigidCongregationalism is hampering our work. Is it notworth trying?

Then, while between our ranks He walks,And all our state surveys,

His smiles shall, with new lustre, deckThe people of His praise.

Liquor Fight.

The obvious things in life are often overlooked.Human beings seem to have a capacity for recognis-ing principles and then forgetting all about them.Nothing is truer than that unity is strength, andyet how often do we find movements that should bemighty forces in the development of human welfareweakened through lack of cohesion in the forces.The fight against the liquor traffic has suffered toan incalculable extent by a lack of unity amongstthe different forces seeking to abolish the drink evil.It has suffered, too, in New Zealand from the circum-stance of there being so many who vote for prohibi-tion and are yet unknown to each other.

The Membership Campaign.In the earlier days of the battle against the

liquor traffic in New Zealand, the local No-LicenseLeagues worked vigorously for members in their dis-

tricts. The conditions have changed, and, frombeing a local issue, the liquor question has becomea national one. During the process of evolution acertain amount of disintegration has occurredamongst the forces. The New Zealand Alliance isseeking to remedy this by opening a campaign,which will commence in July, for securing 100,000members to the national organisation. The fight forDominion prohibition is a national one; there areover 300,000 prohibition voters; no electorate has fewerthan 2000 such voters, and it should be easy to get100,000 at least willing to be enrolled as membersof the New Zealand Alliance. It is not a questionof converting people—it is merely a question of get-ting the soldiers in the fight to stand shoulder toshoulder with each other. It is anticipated that thechurch people, and particularly the young people,will take an active part in this campaign that isbeing operated from the various Alliance offices.Young People.

The Dunedin Licensing Committee within thelast few days deplored the increase of drinkingamongst young men and women. This is, we fear,unhappily but too true. On the other hand, thereare hopeful signs. Our young people in the BibleClasses are taking an increasing interest in thestruggle against the liquor traffic and the liquor evil;there is a most heartening revival of Band of Hopework, and if these good endeavours continue to benourished by the enthusiasm of our young people inthe churches we may look forward to fighting effec-tively the insidious evil of drinking amongst theyoung. If the young people will take pains tactfullyto put before those with whom they mingle day byday the unassailable scientific facts with regard tothe injurious effects of alcohol, we are sure theycould influence many who are in danger of beginningon the. downward path.

Church Co-operation.We would like to put on record the resolution

that was adopted by the annual meeting of the NewZealand Alliance, which was held in Wellington onMay 8 and 9. It was a great conference, recordingwonderful progress in a short time and demonstrat-ing how the Alliance has entered upon a permanenteducative campaign that cannot fail in due course tohave far-reaching results. Grateful appreciation wasexpressed of the co-operation already shown by thechurches in the work, and the following resolutionwas adopted:—

That the Alliance, having strengthened its orga-nisation and formulated its plans on a morecomprehensive scale than hitherto, com-mends the movement to the Christianchurches, and seeks their continued and in-creasing interest and co-operation by prayerand by impresing upon all their membersthe need for greater effort in order to accom-plish the end aimed at.

We have no doubt that the churches will respondto the invitation.—J. M. M.

In dealing with ourselves after we have let theape and tiger die, there still remains the donkey,a more intractable animal.—Bishop Creighton.


UNITY IS STRENGTH.





Business Manager: REV. M. W. P. LASCELLES.

All business communications to be addressed to the Manager,"N.Z Baptist," P.O. Box 693, Wellington.



General Secretary: Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles,To whom all money for Home and Foreign Missions should be sent,except B.W.M.U. amounts, which must be sent to the. Treasurer,Mrs C. Collins, 6 Bidwell street, Wellington.



To whom should he sent all communicat ions regarding the dis-seminat ion of Baptist l i tera ture in our Sunday Schools and churches .

JULY, 1924.

Many Mansions.

Margaret Ogilvie's Bible opened of itself at theplace concerning the Many Mansions. So do theBibles of most saint-mothers. The restrained andmeasured words haunt the ear and satisfy the heart.They are a symphony in prose. To look into themis like a look into the depths of a pellucid seawhere corals lift their fronds, and where the rootsof continents are found. It startles when we vividlyremember that these handkerchiefs of grief, theseheartsease of the soul, were spoken by the "youngPrince of Glory" what time He was about to die.The breath of His appalling death was on His cheek.He could foresee that cursed tree, could hear theyells of execration, could feel in front the intolerableload of physical and spiritual agony which Hemust bear—when, lo! by a grand inversion, theSufferer becomes the Comforter. This is themystery and glory of John xiv. It was not thedisciple comforting Him. It is He, the Victim,comforting them, and us. For this reason let thesaints flock like doves to this window.

The opening words of the chapter have changedthe outlook on death. They are the philosophy bothof the resurrection and ascension of our Lord. Theveil is rent aforehand. The stone is rolled back.The coasts of the King's country shine through themists of time. They are not grim, not iron cliffson which angry waves break. But golden sands arethere, with meadow grasses and lilies just beyond,and a city's golden gate, with open doors of theFather's House within. To Jesus, standing on themargin of time, this was what the future hides. Thisand much more. For His word is spirit and life.He did not think or hope it would be so; He knew.The notes of that strong certainty, to which Easteris the seal, thrill through the haunting words. Wetrust the verdict of Jesus on life and on death withabsolute trust. Those fearless eyes, that faithfulvoice, saw and spoke the everlasting truth. We willnot let our hearts be troubled.

It has always been a misfortune that the EnglishBible should translate our Lord's word by thatpompous word "mansion." There is no comfort in a

mansion. It suggests the lackey and the ritual ofa foolish society. No sensible person wants to livein a mansion, either here or there. "My Father'sHouse" is home. Jesus is saying that within theHome of the Soul there are many resting places.The word is illustrated by the Bethlehem Inn.It meant the pilgrims' sleeping place. Thevision of the text is of a land of hill and stream andbreeze, over whose surface pass the pilgrim bands.And ever as night falls the resting place is reached.The tired ones are greeted with the glow of manylights and with the welcome of boundless love.

To understand our Lord's saying rightly, wemusi remember that to Him this earth also was partof His Father's House. He did not despise it ordepreciate it. He loved it. The world has neverbeen loved in the same intense way. Wordsworth'sdevotion to Nature was pale beside His. Hills andflowers talked to Him. He understood theirlanguage. They were peopled by His Father'spresence. He told the woman of Sychar that thewhole earth is God's Temple. He taught that thefluttering sparrow is upheld by Him, and that thelilies' virginal robe is from His loom. He taughtus all to pray that the Father's will might be doneon earth. Earth to Him was part of the Father'sHouse. He was at home in it. But within it therewere for Him many resting places. As a littlechild He rested in His mother's arms. As a grow-ing boy the cottage in Nazareth, where the brawnycarpenter wrought, was a resting place in HisFather's House. In Capernaum, an unidentifiedhouse was called His Home. When it was noisedthat He was "at home," a great multitude gatheredat the door. On the spur of Olivet, there was ahouse whose door swung at His lightest touch. Hehad many resting places in this part of His Father'sHouse. But sometimes He had none. The fox hadhis earth, but the Son of Man had no pillow. Someof His resting places were disturbed by hate. TheGarden was. But when He contemplated goingfurther into the King's country, beyond the bourneof time and sense, it was still the Father's Housethat He would be in. More surely than those gentlehills of Galilee tented with Syrian blue, the landbeyond the river was His Father's House.

This is what we come to say. To Jesus, earth-lover though He was, the hereafter was not chill. Itwas no Hades, where discarnate ghosts wander infields of asphodel. To Him it was the Father'sHouse, there as here. We think shivering on whatastronomers tell us of the vastitudes of space. Theflocks of suns make the mind to reel. The etheroceans, tracked by terrific beams of ever-travellinglight, bewilder our timid senses. Imagination swoonsand sickens. Our hearts are cold to the core whenwe think of our gentle saints going out thither. Butthey do not go. They belong to a world which eyehath not seen. Space is. a shadow. Stars andsystems are symbols. They go not out but in. Andwhere they go is still, and more so, the Father'sHouse. Let not your hearts be troubled.

This word of wondrous comfort cuts sheer acrosswhat is called a static idea of heaven. For it sug-gests most clearly the idea of progress. That thesouls of believers are at their death made perfect isan assertion in the Scottish confession that lacksclear Scripture for its support. Perfection seems toexclude the idea of progress. This word of wordsincludes it. Many resting places suggest the onwardjourneying of the soul. Each night (though there isno night) a resting place nearer to the City, nearerto the beatific vision. Current ideas of heaven arevery dreadful. They lack the vigour that belongsto a living universe. They are full to repletion ofideas of ease and splendour caught from the languorof earthly palaces. Such ideas suffocate. They arenot the ideas of Jesus. The many resting places,the faithful one set over many things, and entering


into the joy of the Father Who worketh hitherto.How challenging are His concepts; how satisfying!They go from strength to strength. Every one ofthem appeareth before God in Zion. The word"many" suggests an infinity of progress. No narrowterms are set to it. Beyond this mortal life thethreads are taken up where we laid them clown.Rut the living is under new conditions. They areabove the contradictions of sin. There was to openfor Jesus broadening victory. He henceforth expects.There will open for those who belong to Jesus effort,responsibility, ripening powers, growing experience.The many resting places of the pilgrim soul saythis.

Jesus could, not use the figure of speech in Hisdisciples' ears without defending it. The restingplaces of Palestine were cold and cheerless. A court-ly aid for the beast, and unfurnished tioors on whichthe travellers might lie, each on his own bed. Theclean linen, the steaming viands were unknown.The Inn to which His mother came was such a place.No one had "prepared a place for her," and no onewould. But at each of the resting places of eternityHe prepares a place for us. He has skill to do so.What a prophecy is that which is contained in thepostscript of the fourth gospel! It is the last fishingscene. On the shore, which is the mirror of eternity,He stands. They come from "Night and Nothing''to the shore, and lo! His hand had prepared forthem a fire of charcoal and had laid the fish thereonand bread. His last earthly act was to prepare aplace in this lower Father's House. He goes on infront to do so. The Pilgrims of Time will be met.No cheerless landing for them. He is on that shore.As they travel ever in, at every resting place Jesusreceives them. Is He not the Shepherd of Eternity?Is it not enough that we are His?

Books Received.

Dr Pinfold is evidently spending his years ofretirement from the active ministry excellently bypublishing valuable Biblical studies. His latest bookon Luke's Gospel is worthy of a place on any book-shelf. His statement of Luke's qualifications forhis task—culture, freedom from prejudice, knowledgeof the early Church, companionship with Paul, andmedical training—is sincerely convincing; whilst heboldly refutes the critics who assert that Luke, byhis imagination and literary skill, transformed amere narrative of travel into a matter of accuratehistory. Luke, he concludes, was no mere copyist,but a patient and thorough investigator, who ob-tained his data first-hand from eye-witnesses.

His chapter on Luke's personality is fresh andilluminating; a true Greek, a lover of the sea, aneducated gentleman, and not (as is generally sup-posed) a freed slave of Theophilus. Dr Pinfoldadmits, however, that the traditional belief that thesynoptist was a manumitted slave is not an impos-sible romance. He traces Luke's conversion to Paul,and yet admits that he was probably the companionof Cleopas in the walk with the resurrected Lord toEmmaus.

The chapter on Luke's eschatology, style, accu-racy, catholicity, and his conceptions of Christ ashuman and divine are most interesting; in fact, thewhole book is conservative in spirit, provocative ofthought, thoroughly awake to the literature of thesubject, and illuminating to every reader.

—F. E. Harry.

The editor has pleasure in announcing that bookprizes to the value of 30s each have been awardedto Mr Gordon Hendry, of Hanover Street, and toMiss Marjory Thornton, of South Dunedin, for thebest essays on "Our Baptist Contention," read atthe recent Easter Camps; also a junior prize of £1to Edna Lowe, of Caversham, and one each of 10sto O. Jarvis (Auckland) and A. J. Thomas (Sprey-don). These awards are possible through thegenerosity of a country Baptist, as previouslyintimated.

Junior Prize Essay.

In considering "The Baptist Contention," thequestion that naturally arises i s : "In what way dowe Baptists differ from other sections of the pro-fessedly Christian Church?" The name "BaptistChurch," whilst not a Scriptural name, clearlysignifies that the chief difference has relation to thesubject of baptism. In order to understand clearlythe differences of opinion, or interpretation and be-lief, which separate us from the other denomina-tions, we must first decide what the Scriptures ofGod command in regard to this Christian rite, andin what measure we attempt to obey that command.The command "to be baptised," which forms oneof the esentials of the Christian faith and doctrine,is, without doubt, one of the fundamentals of ourchurch life and faith, and as such must be carefullyand prayerfully considered in order to arrive at atrue interpretation of Christ's injunction to Hisfollowers. There are three points which must beanalysed closely, and sifted to the beginning, forthe truth of Jesus Christ in them. Firstly, thecommands of Christ Himself; secondly, the directexample of Christ; thirdly, the examples left bythe Apostles.

Let us see in the first place that baptism is adefinite and unalterable command of Christ. Histeaching was: "Believe, repent, and be baptised,"and no doctrines or churcli regulations can everseparate these commands one from the other. Re-pentance is not merely an outward form of remorsefor sin, but a certain and unmistakable reformationof life and conduct consequent on one's faith inJesus Christ as his personal friend and Saviour andRedeemer. Following on these conditions of salva-tion, baptism then appeals to the converted soul asthe outward sign to God and the world of inwardrenunciation of former things in favour of JesusChrist. But, after all, what is baptism? Is it infantsprinkling, adult sprinkling, or adult immersion?These are the forms practised by various sections ofthe churches, but our authority, must be not churchdoctrines or rules, but God's own Word. It is herethat our second point appeals to us—not alone thecommands of Christ, but His unfailing example-One of the first public acts of Christ was His bap-tism in the River Jordan, but for what reason? Wasit to wash away His sin or to purge His soul fromits unrighteousness? Was it to ensnare Him inmembership in the Church and participation in itsprivileges? Surely not! For neither was He asinner, nor had he need to be initiated, into member-ship with the Church, for was He not its Founder:

CATHEDRAL BRAND ESSENCE of Lemon, Vanilla, &c, is full strength, pure, and best value offered.

Our Baptist Contention.By Edna Lowe, of Caversham.

"ST. LUKE AND HIS GOSPEL."By the REV. J. T. PINFOLD, ALA., D.D.

Prize Essay Competition.


Rather let us use the words 'of the Apostle and beassured that He left us an example in this great actof renunciation that we might and should follow Hissteps. Was Jesus sprinkled or immersed? Whatwas His divine example in the mode of baptism?Certainly the Word of God shows that He was im-mersed in the River Jordan. If He were merelysprinkled, why should He descend into the river?It would have been sufficient to have utilised waterfrom one of the numerous water bottles carried bysome member of the crowd, or to have dipped ahand into the waters. But no! Jesus went downinto the water, was immersed, and came out of thewater, and not until then did God's voice say, "Thisis My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased."God's delight is never in half-filled commands, butin complete obedience in ail things, for to obey isbetter than all sacrifice. So we must conclude thatthe example of Christ was not alone that they shouldbe baptised, but in the act of baptism they shouldbe immersed.

Now, as to the Apostle's teaching and in thecarrying out of the Wonderful ordinance, there are inthe New Testament many arresting stories of thebaptisms of all Christians, all of which it would beimpossible to deal with in this paper. But we hopeto prove this, that in both example and precept theApostles favoured immersion as the right act ofBaptism. Paul speaks with no uncertainty of "beingburied with Christ in baptism," and "rising again tonewness of life," terms which could in no way applyto sprinkling or any form of so-called baptism exceptimmersion. Then, taking the stories of the NewTestament baptisms, we have that of Philip and theeunuch. Here again we are faced with a plainstatement that these two men, for the purpose ofbaptism, stopped the chariot and went down intothe water and came up out of the water. Why shouldtwo .people have their bodies and garments saturated

for the purpose of sprinkling one of them? Here,once more, commonsense must be brought to bearon these, instances of Christian baptism, and so asimple reading of God's Word must convince Onethat immersion was the mode of baptismtaught by Jesus Christ and practised by theApostles, as case after case has proved. Thisis one of the vital principles of our Baptist conten-tion which has been the cause for which Baptistsdown all the centuries have fought error, supersti-tion, and false teaching in all the lands of the earth.Then arises the question of who are the subjectsof baptism. Are they children, as is claimed bythe church doctrines and creeds, or must we takeGod's Word once more and believe that Christ re-ferred to adult immersion, and that alone. OurMaster left us in no doubt whatever that all thosewho wish to be baptised must first believe andrepent. This alone must dispel the idea of infantsprinkling, as no infant can believe in Jesus Christor repent of sins which it has never committed.Further, if baptism means immersion, it is clearthat it is physically impossible for infants to bebaptised; therefore, we say unhesitatingly that in-fant sprinkling is entirely opposed to Christ's teach-ing, and is utterly wrong. Baptism by proxy, too,is another error, and must be met with "Thus saiththe Lord," and Christ's teachings are that eachmust believe, repent, and surrender, absolutely forhimself alone. These are the truths for which wecontend, and, although sometimes beaten back bytides of ecclesiastical error and superstition, we, asBaptist Christians, will never lay down the principlesfor which we fight and contend in the name of ourglorious Master until we win the fight in His Name,and over all the world shall be the glorious signsof victory and triumph when the knowledge of theLord and His divine teachings shall cover the earthand all men bow to Him as King of Kings andLord of Lords.

North Island Baptist Bible Class Camp, Awapuni.


All communications for the Missionary Section of the "Baptist" to be sent to theMissionary Editor, Rev. Stanley Jenkin, Wanganui.

Thq Biblewomen's House at Brahmanbaria.

Sympathy.Our work in India had no more devoted friend

and supporter than Mrs Alfred North, who has passed"within the veil." She gave a gifted son—Dr Chas.North—to the King's business in East Bengal, andit is to him that we owe the establishment and effi-ciency of our splendidly-equipped hospital in Chand-pur. With her husband—whese name is a householdword among us—Mrs North spent about two yearsin India, Mr North being for that time pastor ofthe Circular Road Church, Calcutta. Here her in-terest in India's evangelisation was, if possible,quickened, and later, upon their return to New Zea-land, Mrs North in many ways was influential increating and sustaining the enthusiasm of others.If the Rev. Alfred North is the "father" of ourMissionary Society, we may with equal propriety callMrs North its "mother," for she was ever her hus-band's ardent supporter in all his devoted service forthe King. The members of her Young Women'sBible Classes in Dunedin, in Ponsonby, and inEpsom will think of her with tenderest affection.Members of the B.W.M.U. who prayed and labouredunder her presidency will recall her gentle, gracious,

wise personality with gratitude to God. Herfriends are a great host, and we fancy we can heartheir voices as reverently and unitedly they breathe.their requiem and say: "The memory of the justis blessed."

Missionaries to Muslim's League.We have received the Prayer Cycle issued by

this League, which was established by the Rev. J.Takle in 1912. It has a membership of 346, mostof whom are missionaries. Mr Takle is a vice-presi-dent of the League, and is at present the only lifemember of it—a mark of his fellow-missionaries'respect and affection for him.

Miss Gladys Peters.Everybody will be relieved to know that latest

reports from India are to the effect that Miss Petersis remaining there, for the time being at least. Asanatorium at Almora, among the hills, has beenchosen, and it is earnestly hoped that here she mayso greatly improve as to be able to continue in thework. We urge our people to continue constant inprayer for her complete recovery. There is a sensein which we all believe in divine healing. Let usprove our faith by our unwearying prayers for oursister. This may meet the eye of someone who hasbeen denied the privilege of going to India as hadbeen hoped. Could not such a one devote a portionof each day to definite prayer for Nurse Peters, thatHe Who "only doeth wondrous things" may com-pletely restore her? What a missionary service thatwould be!


Missionary Equivalents.That suggestion recalls something we read in

a recent number of the Missionary Herald. Sevenyears ago a volunteer for missionary work on the-Congo was refused by the Home Society for medicalreasons. He did not sit down and growl, but wentback into business with the definite object of helpingothers to go out as missionaries. During the sevenyears he has devoted the profits of his business tothe mission's funds, and has contributed no less than£19,000. Only a few weeks ago he sent his latestcheque for £3965. He has found a fine equivalentfor personal service on the field.Miss Cowles and Miss Arnold.

Miss Cowles and Miss Arnold were both ill inCalcutta when the last month's Baptist went throughthe press. We have been anxiously awaiting newsconcerning them. It came while the AdministrativeCommittee was sitting in Wellington in the secondweek in June. Both ladies are now back in 'Baria.For this we truly praise the Father of Mercies. Thesummer in India has been specially trying, even towell-seasoned missionaries. Those who have beenon the field for 20 years and more say that thesummer has been the hottest they have experienced.Miss Rice.

Miss Rice arrived in Wellington on June 10, andwas met by her parents and by members of theMissionary Committee. She is looking very wellconsidering her recent illness. Before proceeding toher home in Napier, Miss Rice met members of theMissionary Committee in the Union office. ThePresident (Mr H. M. Smeeton) welcomed her, andMiss Rice suitably replied. We shall have otheropportunities of conferring with her concerning theIndian outlook. Miss Rice has done fine servicefor us, and her more ripened experience will be afurther asset to us now she is among us on furlough.Greetings Reciprocated.

We have received letters from Mr P. F. Summer-son, of the Ceylon and India General Mission, andfrom the Rev. Frank Worley, of the C.I.M. MrSummerson spoke in some of our churches a fewmonths ago. Mr Worley is a member of our NelsonChurch, Mrs Worley being a daughter of Mr andMrs T. Pettit. We greet these brethren, and praythat "the pleasure of the Lord may prosper in theirhands."Candidates.

We continue to receive applications from earnestcandidates for Indian service. Would we couldentertain them all! We pray we may never haveto reject a candidate who is physically, intellectually,and spiritually "fit.' '

A Helper here to one on the field.I like to feel that, though on earth

We never meet,Yet we may hold a fellowship

At God's dear feet.I like to feel in all the work

Thou hast to do,That I, by lifting hands of prayer,

May help thee, too.I like to think that in the path

His love prepares,Thy steps may sometimes stronger prove,

Through secret prayers.I love to think that when on high

Results we see—Perchance thou wilt rejoice that I

Thus prayed for thee.


Questions relating to Our own missionary workin India, or to the missionary situation in general, areinvited. They should be addresed to "TheListener,' ' care of Rev. Stanley Jenkin, Wanganui,reaching him not later than the 10th of each month.The name of correspondents will not be publishedunless desired.

"A Prayer Partner" asks: "Some years ago weheard much of the Namasudra movement, which DrMead called 'a great persuasion of God.' Are thesepeople still pressing Christwards?"

The Namasudras, who are numerous in Bengal,are reckoned as among the depressed classes. Theyare not as low in character and conduct as arethe "untouchables' ' of South India, but still they areunrecognised by the higher castes. They appealedto missionaries to help them with schools, andthroughout Bengal the different missions have beenbusy in a variety of ways to win this people en masseto Christ. Dr Mead even went to a swamp inOrakandi, and there, on earth mounds, opened amission house, a high school for boys, a dispensary,and a Widows' Home.

Our missionaries at Brahmanbaria felt the move-ment to be "a door of opportunity," and for yearsthey have provided for primary schools at Duttkhalaand Serampore. There have been results, and thework has continued in Faith, Hope, and Love.

Now it seems likely that soon there may be amighty ingathering from among all the depressedclasses of people in India. On all sides it is reportedthat these people are "unhitching from Hinduism."In Serajganj, one of the Australian Baptist Missiondistricts in Fast Bengal, there are signs of great re-sults. We cannot do better than quote a letter ofthe Rev. W. Carey, written to the B.M.S. MissionaryNews Letter.

"A WIND OF GOD."

"There seems to be a wind of God blowing overthe Serajganj Sub-division of the Pubna District. Youwill have seen notices and letters in the papers. Ihave been spending a day or two there, and visitedthe 'affected area,' where the leaders in several vil-lages of Namasudras openly avow their intentionto join the Christian community. They are askingfor instruction as to what is involved religiously andsocially in such a step. Many of them have brokenwith Hinduism already, and given up the worship ofidols. Mr Kelly took me to some of the villages.We tramped across the field and chatted with theprincipal leaders in their homes. They struck me asmen of a shrewd, independent type, determined toend the degradation and bondage of their place inthe Hindu Samaj by getting out of it.

"This spirit is spreading, and has caused nosmall stir among their co-religionists, who are com-ing from far and near to induce them to remain inthe Hindu fold. Mass meetings are being held everyfew days, and both Hindus and Mohammedans arerallying their forces. Advantage is being taken ofthe situation for political ends. But the Namas areholding to their purpose, and do not trust their per-suaders.

"Misrepresentations are rife in the public press.The people are depicted as suffering the extremityof economic distress and so falling an easy prey todesigning missionaries, who are reported to havebeen going round distributing largess of money andcloth. Both statements are quite false. The condi-

"Helping Together by Prayer."


linn of these cultivators does not call for charity.They neither ask it nor want it. And as to missionaries, Mr Kelly is the only man in the district,and the movement appears to have developed duringhis absence on furlough last year. He returned onlytwo months ago, and found the situation what it is.Requests are coming in daily to visit new and dis-tant villages, as well as others with which he isfamiliar, and he is a thorough-going missionary,counting no toil too great to get out amongst thepeople and eager to lead them into the light ofGod. The Provincial Congress is to meet at Seraj-ganj in June, and plans are forming for a big effortto be made at that time to win these people back.Ought we to be less concerned or less busy? Anappeal for funds appeared in the A. B. Patrika ona recent Sunday, addressed to Maharajas, Rajas,Talukdars, etc., all over India, to enable the localbranch of the Hindu Mahasabha to deliver these folkfrom the peril which threatens them, by openingcharitable dispensaries, free schools, and relief golasThe question of 'untouchability' has been dealt withby meetings of the Sabha held in different parts ofBengal and resolutions passed urging the highercastes to remove this ban, at least in part, by notholding it pollution to receive water from the handsof a Nama. The Namasudra leaders I saw areamused and cynical at these suggestions, and haveracy things ready to say in retort; but the problemsarising out of a situation in which the appeal toworldly considerations is to be made quite franklyand on a large scale, coupled with a new and flatter-ing tone of friendliness and. respect, are such as callfor strong emphasis on the spiritual side—a cam-paign of Christian education in which the living factsof the Gospel, and the present power of Christ inthe hearts of those whose lives are sincerely surren-dered to Him, make the dominant notes of a testi-mony and challenge that would spread, a savour ofdivine things and sing aloud the joy of the redeemed.

"I have suggested to Mr Kelly that he write andask the B.M.S., through its Evangelisation Board,to plan for such a campaign. The Australian FieldCouncil is to meet early next month at Faridpur,and he will then get their backing for this requestand send it on. It seems to me we ought to mobiliseand concentrate on this field. It is the front, thefiring-line. Both men, women, and money will berequired. A fleet of boats moving through the vil-lages during July and August, with a band of earnestworkers, spending themselves on their task, mightbe like a tidal wave of blessing. The Church, too,just across the border in Faridpur, couldn't it dosomething? If spiritual men were sent, with a richand glowing Christian experience from some of theBeel churches, their work (just as visitors and Chris-tian friends conversing and praying with the people)might be full of joy and fruitfulness."

Broadcasting in Bengal.By REV. T. CHURCHWARD KELLY, in Our Indian

Field.

Wireless wonders are daily creating excitementthroughout the world. Recently Calcutta picked upa London concert, the first broadcast message to bereceived from England, and the newspapers gavegreat prominence to the event. Does this not makethe young missionary sec visions of the day whenthe Gospel may be thus broadcasted to the millionswho have not yet heard of a Saviour's love? Whenwe enter a village for the first time, the crowds thatgather round tell us that they have never heard thesound of Jesu's name. Into our hearts comes alonging to be multiplied a million times, so that

our message might be broadcasted o'er the land.However, for the present we must use the methodsthat are available, and pray that the "five barleyloaves and two small fishes" placed in the Master'shand may be increased and made sufficient to feedthe multitudes we meet daily.

Tenting is now the order of the day. We areretracing our steps along paths that were opened tous before we went on furlough. About two yearsago, a door of opportunity for preaching the Gospelamongst a section of the depressed classes wasopened to us. It is a real luxury to be among thesepeople again, for they are responding to the Gospelin a way that surpasses our most sanguine expecta-tion. The headman of a certain village, after accept-ing Christ as his Saviour, has given expression tohis faith by ordering the village temple to be de-molished, and the idols have already been destroyed.It is difficult to imagine such a village without itshideous idols, but we have sought in vain for themhere, and now the people are all eager to learn theway of Christ. A Bible Class has been formed, andwe are doing our utmost to meet the new and urgentChristian needs of the village. In a number of placesthe village school has been handed over by the com-mittee for our superintendence and control. Hence-forth these are known as mission schools, though thefinancial aid they receive from us is almost nominal.The school house makes a fine centre for Christianactivities—a very valuable asset as a transmitter ofthe Gospel to the people of the village. The schoolchildren are receiving a Christian education, and theyin turn carry messages of light and love to manydark homes where the light of Christ has never beforeshone. Again, the school house is the meeting placewhere we conduct preaching services. From thatcentre the Gospel messages are sent broadcastthrough the village.

The magic lantern is another useful method oftransmission. For these people who are so illiterate,the eye-gate is the easy route to the soul. The storyof Daniel is a great favourite with the uneducated.Pictures showing Daniel's opposition to idolatry con-vey a very real message to the poor villager, whofinds every part of his life burdened and bound upwith the village idol worship. Educated young menof this same low caste are rallying round and show-ing a great interest in this quest for light and liberty.From these young men we are selecting our villageschool teachers, while others captain Bible Classes,and there are those who help forward the cause ofChrist by reading Gospel portions to the illiteratevillagers.

How far this work will develop, we dare notpredict, but one thing we are certain about, andfrom it we gather hope and encouragement. TheSpirit of God is manifest in every part of it. Patienceis needed, as these people are just emerging from thedeep pit of sin and superstition. It demands prayer—days and nights of earnest, prevailing prayer—andwe commend this opportunity of winning greatmasses for Christ to our Baptist people at the homebase for earnest prayer.

This opportunity also rails for self-denial andsacrifice. What does it mean for these people toaccept Christ? Caste, with all the associations offamilies and friends, breaks down, and they arelanded in a new world, surrounded by circumstancesthat are full of peril and in some cases materialloss. Think what the new Christian in this landhas to endure at the hand of the old caste friendsand enemies. Shall we not plan to make their lot inthe new life the best and happiest possible? Thiscalls us to share with them the blessings that Christhas bestowed upon us in spiritual and material ways.

If your love cannot cross the ocean it has abroken wing.


"I'll Tell the Father."

[This touching story is told by Dr R. J. Dye,of the United Christian Missionary Society of theUnited States. It gives the life story of a Congoboy who proved good soil for the living seed of theGospel, and became himself a missionary to hispeople. There have been many Bokemos in Congo-land, offering decisive testimony that Jesus Christhas a victorious claim to the heart of Africa.]

Bokemo was a strange sort of a boy. When hewould get his task done he would come and ask formore work. Do you know many boys of that sort?Sometimes Mrs Dye, the missionary whom he served,would have more work, but sometimes she wouldsend him off to play, and again he showed a strangetrait. He would go out in the town and find someonewho was working all alone, and would sit down andhelp him. That one would say, "Why are you work-ing for me? I have no money to pay you." Bokemowould answer, "I have nothing else to do, and Ijust thought I would like to help you.''

One day Bokemo found a wreck of a canoelying on the beach, and he stepped in and paddledfar out in the river to fish. Suddenly there came up oneof those terrific tropical tornadoes. They come witha rush and a roar through the forest, and one hashardly time to close the doors of the house beforethe storm is on us with all its might and fury.Bokemo was caught in this poor wreck of a boat,and he paddled as hard as he could towards theshore. The torrents of rain came, and I saw a greatcrowd standing on the bank and heard them cryingout.

I rushed to see what was the matter, and therewas Bokemo, struggling in the raging sea. Thepeople were gambling as to how long he would sur-vive. I remonstrated with them. "You aren't goingto let him drown, are you?" "White man," theysaid, "no boat will live in those waters." Wemanaged at last to get a crew to venture out, anddragged Bokemo to safety just as he was sinking thesecond time. He had a hard struggle with threat-ened pneumonia, but we finally pulled him through.If he could have been any more grateful and faithfulthan before, he was so after this struggle.

Among the first of those to become Christianswas Bokemo. He became the leader of the ChristianEndeavour Society of the Bolenge Church, and maybeit was his spirit that made it the greatest societyin all the world.

One day there was a large group of men andwomen to be baptised, and I asked them who it wasor what it was that had first made them want to befollowers of Jesus. Forty of the sixty-four said"Bokemo." That fine spirit of helpfulness andfriendship, and constant telling of the story to every-one he met, had won them.

When he married Banga, Bokemo made one ofthe finest houses that had ever been built in Congo,and Banga made her own wedding dress. The wed-ding was as solemn and sacred as it could be made.That home, one of the first Christian homes inBolenge, proved to be one of the greatest influencesfor the Gospel.

One day I noticed that Bokemo looked ashy andgrey, and I said: "Bokemo, are you il l?" "Oh,no, teacher," he said; " I 'm not sick," and he putme off, for he knew I was so busy that I hardly hadtime to sit down a minute. But a few weeks laterI noticed that he looked quite ill. "Bokemo," Isaid, "are you not sick? Come to the medicinehouse at noon to-day and I'll Examine your blood."He could not dodge a definite appointment, and whenhe came I found that his blood was swarming withthe parasites of sleeping sickness.

"Now we loved that man as our very own,and we tried every known method and medicine thatwe had, but he was failing fast. I finally had totake him to the isolation camp in the woods, wherewe segregated the sleeping sickness people a mileaway. He said he wanted to bid Banga good-bye.It was hard to take him to that little home and seethem say good-bye, but it had to be clone.

"Banga ," he said, "the house is yours and allI have. Just give me an old blanket, and bringme some food once in a while."

Every day she brought it. T tried still to savehim, but it was no use. He was dying rapidly.Finally, I was with him the day he died, and hewhispered to me at the last: "I'll tell the Father."I don't know what he was going to tell the Father,but I closed his eyes in the last long sleep, wrappedhim in a mat for his shroud, and carried the pooremaciated form to the mission grounds.

I had sent a message for them to dig the graveand not to ring the bell. Maybe you have had atime in your own life when you did not wish acrowd about. Two of the big strong men of theBolenge Church came and took him in their armsand carried him to the Christian cemetery, but toour amazement we found the cemetery crowded withpeople. The word had gone out throughout theentire village that "Bokemo is dead; everybody'sfriend is dead." And they had gathered from farand near to do him honour.

After a short, simple service, we were just closingthe grave when Intole, the great elder of the church,stepped forward and said: "I want to say some-thing. I want to say how much Bokemo helped me.Whenever I was tempted or in trouble Bokemo seemedto know it, and was always there to help me. I wantto say how much he helped me." And another andanother testified how much that wonderful fellowhad helped them, until as many as twenty hadspoken. Then we knew indeed that it was wellworth all hardships and sacrifices, to have developedsuch a life from among such a people.

And Bokemo, everybody's friend, will go onthrough the years to come in the Bolenge Churchand in our Congo work a living force in the lives ofmany others.—Missionary Herald.

The Christian Movement inIndia.

By HERBERT ANDERSON, lately B.M.S. IndianSecretary.

The challenge of the hour to the Christian move-ment in India is so large a subject that I can onlytouch on one or two aspects of it. "The hour" isone of tremendous awakening in every sphere of life.India has caught the fever of the restlessness of theworld. The "hour" affects religion, social reform,and the political situation. India is an Empire de-termined to receive the attention she feels she de-serves as one of the great Asiatic nations.

By the Christian movement is meant first of allthe Christian Church movement. In India, Burma,and Ceylon, there are nearly five and a-half millionChristians. They are divided into three sections—Eastern, Roman, and Protestant. The Eastern orSyrian Church was founded about 300 A.D. byNestorian missionaries on the Malabar Coast. Itshistory is one. of those tragedies of religious lifethat are to be found in some parts of the world. TheChurch is divided into four sections. In eighteenccnturies.it has increased so slowly that its adherentsnumber fewer than 800,000. It has not spread theEvangel. It has had a name to live and has beendead. Ritualism and sacerdotalism have been the


ruin of its spiritual life. Instead of saving India,it has almost lost its soul. But it is just beginningto see a new vision. The Roman Catholic Churchwas founded in India in 1489. Its famous missionary,Francis Xavier, landed in 1542. After 450 years ofzealous service the Church has 1500 residential sta-tions, 2800 priests, 89 institutions for training secularand religious teachers, 350 educational institutions,and 3000 primary schools. Despite its manifestdeadly error in its presentation of Christian truth,it is doing devoted work in leading India to the feetof Christ.

Then we come to the Protestant section of theChristian Church, and its history is a thrilling andinteresting story. Started at the end of the eigh-teenth century, the Church now numbers two anda-half million adherents. It is greatly aided by themissionary forces of the West. These include 150different societies, with 5900 misionaries. Yet Careysaid when he had been in India long enough toknow the circumstances, "If the Protestant Churchis to do its work among a hundred million people,we want ten thousand missionaries." To-day thereare 300,000,000 people—three times as many as whenCarey spoke. Therefore, we ought to have 30,000missionaries. In India the B.M.S. has 220 men andwomen missionaries, including wives, among apopulation of 30,000,000, for whom they as a missionare responsible. In Britain, to keep Baptists fromgoing astray in the Christian faith, the denominationhas 2000 ministers and 5000 local preachers. Whata contrast! While we must be concerned about keep-ing Britain and Europe true to the ideals of JesusChrist, shall we not give more of our time andthought and prayer to those millions in India forwhom Christ died?

What then is the challenge of the hour in viewof the circumstances in India to-day? The first is aninternational and intercontinental question. It ap-pears in Europe in a very acute form. It is thetremendous question of racial prejudice andanimosity. In India to-day the supremacy of the whiteman is challenged. India is getting, in somequarters, into the unfortunate position of having lostfaith in British character and in Western civilisation.One of the bitterest things to bear when speakingabout Christ is this question: "How can you bringthe faith of Christ to us when Europe has practicallydenied Him?'' It is a difficult question to answer.India has four great nationalities. Christ's object isto fuse them into one. There is the Dravidian, theAryan, the Scythian, and the European. The problemof the future is to bring these races into a relationshipof fellowship and love. As with the troubles inEurope and China, so with those in India, the Chris-tian faith—Christ and His Cross—alone can savethem for mankind, and bring men into true fellow-ship with one another. We have to teach all men tosay "Our Father."

The national movement in India is a marvellousthing, and the Christian movement has some relation-ship to it. T believe that the right policy is one ofsympathy with all that which makes for freedom oflife, whether in politics, social life, or religion, andperseverance in it. It is difficult to fix the MahatmaGandhi in his right place in the life of India. Buthe typifies to millions of people that sort of national-ism for which British supremacy has prepared India.When he was expected in Calcutta some years ago,the whole city was placarded with the words: "The,Servant is coming." That is the spirit of the man'slife. By giving himself as a servant he has won thelove of India for his disinterested patriotism on herbehalf. He tries to carry out what he preaches.Being childless, he adopted the daughter of an out-cast. He is one of the champions of temperance andsocial purity. He affirms that if a nation wants tobe great it must be good. Character is the founda-tion for all progress in political life. He is indeed

a wonderful man, and yet his teaching is such that ithas been dangerous in certain forms. He has fos-tered racial prejudice and proclaimed that Britishadministration is bad and selfish, that Western civili-sation is rotten, materialistic, and has nothing to dowith the world to come. Here is this man, a strangemixture in some ways, leading India along lines thatmay mean another mutiny for the British in India,and at the same time having a character that standsout as one of the saintliest of the Eastern world.God sometimes calls a King Cyrus to do His will.

The Christian movement must get into touch withall that is Christlike in the spirit of this nationalmovement, and seek to show that sympathy that willhelp to make India still more Christian.

One further problem created by the nationalistspirit is in connection with the Protestant ChristianChurch and its desire, for autonomy, it wants to beseparated from its connection with the West. ManyIndian Christian leaders feel that somehowWesterners, through their denominationalism, havedivided them into camps into which they ought notto be divided, and that unfortunately a Western char-acter has been given to the Christian religion by themissionaries, which prevents a large number of non-Christians, who otherwise might join them, fromdoing so. As Baptists we rejoice in freedom of con-science, and having regard to the nationalistic forcesat work in China and India, the conclusion reached isthat, whether they make ill or good of it, the time hascome when Indian and Chinese churches should begranted liberty to work out their peculiar problems intheir own way, confident that Christ, as the Lord of theChurch, will see that things do not go far wrong.It is a problem both interesting and difficult. Someof the Indians inside the work, as well as in theProvincial Christian Councils, see the difficulty ofgiving at once to the Protestant Indian Church in itsvarious sections and with its many problems, the fullliberty it desires.

Finally, we need a new vision of Christ's lovefor all men. There are still 150,000,000 people inIndia who are quite unevangelised. Half the popu-lation do not understand when we tell them that Godis their Father, and Jesus Christ is His Son Whocame down from heaven that He might lead them tothat nobler life that links them with all the beston earth and with all the glories of heaven. Theimmediate task of the future is the evangelisation ofthe untouched areas of the world. All men withChrist's restraining love in their hearts must dofar more than ever before to make Him the livingLord of the millions in India.—The Baptist Layman.

God Cares! Do We?Forget not that your first and principal business

as a disciple of Christ is to give the Gospel to thosewho have it not. He who is not a missionary Chris-tian will be a missing Christian when the great daycomes of bestowing the rewards of service. There-fore, ask yourselves daily what the Lord would haveyou do in connection with the work of carrying thenews of salvation to the perishing millions. Seaichcarefully whether He would have you go yourself tothe heathen, if you have the youth and fitness re-quired for the work. Or, if you cannot go in person,inquire diligently what blood mortgage there is uponyour property in the interest of foreign missions;how much you owe to the heathen because of whatyou owe to Christ for redeeming you with Hisprecious blood. I warn you that it will go hard withyou, when your Lord comes to reckon with you,if He finds your wealth hoarded up in needlessaccumulations instead of being sacredly devoted togiving the Gospel to the lost.—Dr A. J. Gordon.


Tonic Tabloids from the Reportof the B.M.S.

Dinajpur."There have been 90 baptisms, chiefly from the

non-Christian aboriginal communities. These con-verts have, as usual, been won for Christ by theenergetic evangelism of the voluntary lay workersand untrained village pastors. The boarding schoolis progressing favourably with 40 boys in residence,all aborigines from Jalpaiguri, Rangpur, and Dinaj-pur. In a recent visit the Government Divisional In-spector expressed satisfaction with the school andpleasure at the brightness and cleanliness of theboys themselves. There is a quickening of interestthroughout the district, and the Church is eager forteaching and guidance."—R. W. Edmeades.San Yuan.

"During the year 82 were baptised. We had asmall lent made, and engaged two evangelists andtwo assistants to tour the three counties. A montheach was devoted to four large centres outside SanYuan, both in the first and the second half of theyear, and also among non-Christian villages. Thelast month of the Chinese year—January—they joinedwith the San Yuan band at the famous annual fair.More effective evangelistic work has been done thanever before."—John Bell.

The Tonic of South Lushai."I know of no better spiritual tonic than to see

how wonderfully God is working in the hearts andlives of the people. When one remembers that littlemore than 20 years ago there was not a soul in allthese Southern Hills who had ever heard of theSaviour from the sins which then held undisputedsway, one's heart is filled to overflowing with grati-tude for the thousands who have turned their facesto the Light, and are daily leaving the darkness andits evil deeds further and further behind them."—J. H. Lorrain.

"The Lepers are Cleansed."By FRANK OLDRIEVE.

Never since our Lord Himself cleansed lepers andthen, giving them special powers sent out Hisdisciples to do the same, have any seen the wonderswhich workers among lepers are seeing to-day. For,after these long years, the same may be said again,"the lepers are cleansed." Cleansed in heart theyhave been through the centuries, but not in body.

I have recently visited 22 of the largest leperasylums in India, and in 14 of them the latest in-jection treatments are being used, because, in thoseinstitutions there are workers, Indian or European,who are qualified to give the treatment. I havemyself seen more than 1100 cases under treatment,and the majority are recovering. The. ulcers arehealing up, the anaesthetic patches are becoming fullof feeling again, the faces are losing the terrible ex-pression which they sometimes have, and the generalhealth is improving. In the largest leper asylumbelonging to the Mission to Lepers, that at Purulia,the death rate, in an asylum which has an averageof from 600 to 700 inmates, has been reduced from20 deaths per mensem to about five. This is whathappened in two years, and the treatments arealmost entirely responsible for the splendid result.The same has happened at Dichpalli, in the Nizam'sDominions, where we have an asylum with about 260inmates. Here the lepers came together some timeago to praise God because they once again feltprickly heat! They realised that it meant that sensa-tion was returning, and this told them they wererecovering.

We are using the hypodermic injections, some-times intra-muscular, at other times intravenous, ofthe ethel esters of Chaulmugra oil, also Hydrocarpusoil. Both these oils are found in Burma, and canbe grown in India. The former has been used bylepers in India for 200 years for rubbing on theirbodies, and the outward application has done a littlegood. Now, however, we are attacking the causativebacillus itself, and, cases have been, and are being,allowed to leave the asylums as being symptom-free.With a disease like leprosy, which has on theaverage an incubation period of from six to eightyears, we should be very unwise to speak of "cures,"but we hope that the cases which appear to be betterwill remain permanently free.

A new day has dawned for the lepers, ourasylums are happier places even than they used tobe, and the inmate-patients are on the whole a verycheery lot of people, due to the fact, of course, thatso many of them are Christians. But there is now areasonable hope of recovery for most early cases,and even in advanced cases the ravages of the terribledisease may be almost entirely stayed. It is, then,a fact to-day that "the lepers are cleansed," andBaptists ought to rejoice therein, for their own mis-sionaries are doing splendid work among lepers atarious stations.

It is a happy tribute that General Booth hasbeen paying the Gospel in contrasting it with thereligions of India. Having just returned from thatland (whither he has been to ascertain whether recentchanges in India have at all affected the army), hewas asked by a newspaper representative whetherthere were other spiritual forces at work in that landoutside Christianity. To this the General did notcare to make a direct reply, but said: "The re-ligions of India are gloomy religions. The religionwe take with us is one of abounding joy and love,and is everywhere received gladly. It is true thatcaste is a great difficulty, but lift the Sweeper, andyou raise his caste, and this is what we are doing."

The Biblewomen and Teachers at Brahmanbaria.



Paper and Promises.'Twas neither clean, flat, or fresh, but a posi-

tively dirty strip of crumpled paper, lying in atwisted heap by the path. Not likely that such anobject could be of any value, but curiosity caused itto be lifted from its resting place and examined.Caution said: "Throw it away; it's FILTHY! ' 'So it was; there was nothing beautiful about it, andmost certainly unfit to wrap anything in. It tookonly the briefest moment to unfold, torn and soiledthough it was beyond all hope of cleansing. Themarks of many greasy, grubby fingers were upon it,and if ever it had companions they would hardlyrecognise it now. "Throw it away!" But wait;there are words printed; there is a signature beneaththem, evidently written so long ago that you canhardly read any part of it now save this—

PROMISE TO PAY. Is that all? Just a pieceof paper with a promise on it. Well, "promises, likepiecrusts, are made to be broken." This is not likelyto be any better than the rest. Still, it's a promise,and the name beneath is the signature of someonewho believed in the promise, and therefore put theirname to it. Beyond that, at the very top of thisragged piece of paper, is the name of a bank. That,surely, is worth something. Forthwith the grimy,discoloured paper is taken to the big house whosename it bears. Will they own such a disreputablething in that place, where the very handles of thedoors shine like gold? Down upon the counter it islaid without a word, and lo! in an instant it is recog-nised, and ten shining shillings are given in ex-change for that worthless paper, and all because itwas a promise.

PROMISES TO KEEP. Yes; a promise is athing to be kept, not a word lightly said and thoughtof no more, but to be considered well before it ismade. Anybody can make a promise, but it takesa true heart to keep one. Because a promise is sosacred a thing, God said long ago: "A man shallnot break his word." Many times a promise ismade that we never intend to keep; it becomes,therefore, a lie, and every time we fail to keep apromise that precious thing character is marred; weare not to be trusted to keep our word. Having madea promise, after thinking what the promise reallymeans,

CARRY OUT YOUR PROMISE. It may cost usmore than we thought, but much depends on it. Godhas witnessed your word given; others trust you;so we must be sincere. That .great British gentle-man, David Livingstone once took a journey of1400 miles from the interior of Africa to the coast.He had with him 27 African boys, whom he hadpromised to take back to their country and chief inthe far interior. Arriving at the coast, he was weakand ill, and a British vessel was waiting to take himhome to England and all the dear ones there. Heneeded the long rest, and the joy of seeing his homewas well earned, and his friends urged him to go.He would not hear of it for a moment; his pledgedword had been given to those African boys that hewould take them back to their homes, and becausehe had promised he turned his face to distant CentralAfrica and went with them. He kept his word.

Girls and boys who really love God will alwayskeep their word. Some of you have already made apromise to One Whom you love very much. "Jesus,I have promised to serve Thee to the end." That 'sa promise worth making. Keep it!

BIBLE GAMES."BIBLUX"—The Bible Lotto Game.Thousands of children in all parts of New Zealand havegained much Bible knowledge on the Old Testament through

playing this popular game.In response to numerous requests a companion set on theNEW TESTAMENT has been compiled and published, andwill, doubtless, become even more popular than that on the

Old Testament.Any number of children (or older people for that matter)

from two to about six (and a leader) can play.Price, 2/2 (post paid 2/9), or Two Sets for 5/3 (post paid).

An Entirely New Bible Game,"BOOKS OF THE BIBLE."

Fascinating! Educational!While engaging in this simple but fascinating game, thBible gradually and almost unconsciously becomes a familiarbook. "Books of the Bible" ought to be introduced into

every Sunday School and every home in our land."Books of the Bible" is really five games in one, and rulesfor all these are provided. Some of the games are just assuitable for teachers and old folk as for children. It com-prises 66 cards, with set of rules, in neat cardboard box.and is issued at a nominal price to encourage its wide use.Get a set at once, or better still, one for each member ofyonr class, or for each class or department in your school.

The price is only1/6 each, or 14/6 per dozen.

Published by

A. H. REEDExpress Co.'s Building, Dunedin.

"A tall, swarthy Afghan, of fine presence, wasnext brought in with a shattered thigh-bone, theeffect of' a bullet. The case was clearly one foramputation, but the Afghan objected, for a leg loppedoff in this life meant a leg short in the next world.Only after a long argument could the doctor persuadethe man to allow an operation that would save hislife, and then only on condition that the limb shouldbe kept for him to take home, to be buried with himultimately. He even rejected the thoughtful solutionof his difficulty suggested by the doctor, who pro-mised to bury the limb in the. mission compound, anddirected the man to leave a note to be buried withhim, stating where the limb could be found.

"'Do you suppose the angels have nothingbetter to do on Resurrection Day than going aboutlooking for my leg?' he growled. 'And even if theydid take the trouble, they would not come to thisheretic place for i t! ' "

This is an incident from "Dr Pennell, AfghanPioneer," by Ernest Hayes (Livingstone Press, 1s 6dnet), one of the most interesting books of missionarypioneer days published of recent years.

The man who does not get a certain satisfactionout of his day's work is losing the best part of hispay.—Henry Ford.


The Afghan's Leg.


An important event in the history of the growingEast Road district occurred on Sunday, May 25,when the new mission church was opened with adedication service conducted by Pastor Day, of theNorth Baptist Church, from which the new work hadits inception.

For some months past a Sunday School has beenheld in a neighbouring residence, but a few weeksago the need of a suitable building was felt, andsufficient funds were raised to commence buildingoperations, with the result that a fine wooden struc-ture has been erected seating 150 people. The ser-vice commenced outside the church with a hymnand a prayer, a large congregation having assembled.After dedicating the building to the glory of God,the preaching of the Gospel, and the teaching ofthe young, the service was continued indoors.Pastor Day preachings from I Kings, viii.

On Wednesday evening, May 28, a concert washeld, a splendid programme being presented, thechurch being crowded despite heavy rain. The Rev. J.Carlisle, of the Esk Street Church, delivered a shortaddress, emphasising the importance of the SundaySchool and congratulating the people of the districton the magnificent efforts put forth. Votes ofthanks were heartily accorded to Messrs Williamsand Darragh, builders, for their consistent workman-ship, to Mr Henderson for carting all materials freeof charge, to Miss Dick for her willing offer to lendher organ until arrangements can be made to pur-chase one, and to several other workers who haverendered valuable assistance. A warm feeling ofconfidence in the assured guidance of the Spirit ofGod prevailed throughout both gatherings, and pro-mises well for the future of this new undertakingin the interests of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The following review appeared in the Austra-lian Baptist. Let New Zealanders take note, andmake generous use of the new pamphlets.

"The Rev. Alfred North, of Dunedin, New Zea-land, has rendered good service to our denominationby publishing an outline of Baptist history, intendedchiefly for Bible Classes and Sunday School scholars.A copy has been sent to us. It is in pamphlet form,but the author has managed to pack into this smallspace all the important events of our long story.Literature of this kind must be put into the handsof our young people if we wish them to be Baptists.The older people, also, who have not time or enoughinterest for the larger books, will find in this all theywant. It can be had from the Baptist Union Office,Wellington, at 7s 6d per dozen. From the sameoffice a "Primer of Baptism," by Mr North, can beobtained at 3d. This is also an excellent publica-tion."

Baptisms.Caversham.—Four. Rev. Eric Evans.Mt. Eden—Three. Rev. Adam Clarke.Gore.—Five. Rev. T. Eccersall.Hanover Street—Eight. Rev. Knowles Kempton.Timaru.—Two. Rev. Harold Goring.Berhampore.—Four. Dr. Catchpole.Epsom.—Two. Pastor Chant.Gisborne.—Two. Rev. F. A. Crawshaw.Edendale.—Six. Rev. Ray Turner.Mornington.—Two. Rev. T. Weston.Thames.—Two. Rev. W. E. Lambert.

It has been found increasingly difficult to get thepaper into our people's hands by the first of eachmonth. After consultation with the printers, theeditor has decided that church news must in futurebe in his hands by the 18th of each month, insteadof the 20th. Will correspondents find out from theirpostmasters when they should post in their respectivetowns to ensure delivery in Christchurch on the 18th.The new order commences with next issue.

Our Churches at Work.AUCKLAND TABERNACLE (Rev. Joseph W.

Kemp).— We have resumed our routine after theGipsy Pat Smith campaign, and we are thankful tosay good results still follow the preaching of theWord. There were several decisions for Christ on arecent Sunday evening. The Lord's Day morningconsecutive studies by Mr Kemp are being taken fromthe Book of Numbers, and much practical and bene-ficial teaching has sprung from the pages of what isoften considered a "dry" book. The work amongthe young people shows many hopeful signs. TheSunday School, under the superintendency of MrGrave, is well staffed and well attended. The YoungWorshippers' League has just celebrated its first yearby giving a party to the children, which was muchenjoyed. Prizes and certificates were distributedto the winners on the following Sunday afternoon.The Christian Endeavour Society is gaining in mem-bers and interest under the leadership of Mr RussellGrave, a full graduate of the Bible Training in-stitute, who is now being trained in practical pastoralwork by Mr Kemp. The Junior Endeavour meets onSunday mornings at 10 o'clock, and is conducted byMiss Wilkie. A big C.E. Union rally was held in theTabernacle to welcome Rev. Lionel Fletcher (the newpastor of the Beresford Street CongregationalChurch, and President of the British Christian En-deavour Union). The Young Women's Bible Classhas rapidly grown in numbers under the energetic re-cruiting and able leadership of Miss Turner. Themeeting room is crowded. The men's meeting hasalso shown a big increase since the campaign.Among the month's speakers are Revs. LionelFletcher, Evan Harries, and the Pastor. On Sundayevenings, at 9 o'clock, Mr Kemp broadcasts his ser-mon from a near radio station. Hundreds of peoplewithin town limits and in far off country places havereported hearing the messages.

BERHAMPORE (Rev. D. Catchpole).—Every de-partment is active, and a growing interest is beingmanifested. Four have been baptised since our lastreport, and the four have united with the Church.Other names are before the Church. Mr Harold Con-way was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Loganon Wednesday afternoon, June 11. The ceremonywas performed by our pastor. Mr J. TV. Butler,Director of the Boys' Institute, and a member of ourChurch, whose back was broken in an auto accident,is so far recovered as to be able to visit the Boys'Institute occasionally. Our Bible Class has electedMr Vin. Brown as our new leader. Our late leader,Mr Ernest Nees, has been called to special servicein Bible Class work, and has accepted the position ofDistrict Organiser for the Wellington Bible ClassUnion. At the special business meeting of the Class,held on May 25, several new officers were elected,these being as follows:—Leader, Mr V. Brown; Sec-retary, Mr G. Catchpole: Treasurer. S. Bade; Sports

Special to Church CorrespondentsOpening of New Church at EastRoad, Invercargill.

Outline of Baptist History.



Why wait three or four months to procure from Eng land, when we can supply from stock at lower prices?H. ODELL & SON, Printers, 48 Manchester Street, Christchurch.

Convenor, F. McGhie; Social Convener, G. Scott;Whips (Look-out), R. Nees; Business Manager ("TheCall"), H. Harris. Our class is progressing favour-ably and the attendance average is twenty. We havefinished our study of the Book of Revelation, andhave now commenced on Matthew. Bible study hasdone much for our class.

EDENDALE (Rev. H. R. Turner).—The growthof our work here has compelled us to devise freshmeans to accommodate our Sunday School scholars.The Young Men's and Young Women's Bible Classeshave been taken to form an Institute, held after theafternoon session of school has closed. Many newfriends were welcomed at the opening session on June1, and the Institute gives every promise of success.The institute Council met on Monday, June 9, andelected its officers. During the past few weeks therehave been two baptismal services, and six have con-fessed their Lord through baptism, and have becomemembers of the Church; and we have signs and in-dications that there are more to follow. The workof building a manse for our pastor is in hand. Thechurch hall at White Swan is nearing completion, andwe are hoping to hold the opening ceremonies onSaturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22, when we lookforward to a visit from the President of the N.Z.Baptist Union, Mr H. M. Smeeton, and representativesfrom the Auckland Auxiliary, and other interestedfriends. The annual interchange of pulpits withcountry ministers afforded us an opportunity of hear-ing the Rev. F. C. Every, of Waihi, in the morn-ing, and the Rev. F. Sampson, of Whangarei, in theevening. Both ministers spoke to good congrega-tions, and were thoroughly enjoyed. After the even-ing service, most of the congregation stayed to aprayer meeting, at which there were several con-versions.

EPSOM (Pastor C. Chant).—The evening serviceon June 1 was conducted by Rev Parry, of Morrins-ville, and a searching address on cross-bearing waslistened to by a large congregation. At the youngpeople's monthly service on June 8, two of ouryoung men assisted Pastor Chant. Our missionarymember, Miss McDuff, was also in the pulpit, and,at the close of our pastor's address, made a veryearnest appeal for decision for Christ and consecra-tion to His service. After 18 months' furlough, oursister left Auckland on June 13 for her field ofservice in China. The first social in connectionwith our Church Improvement Fund was held onJune 9, when it was announced that £261 had beencollected. We are aiming at £500 by October, sothat the improvements may be carried out withoutgoing into debt. Our energetic agent for the Bap-tist has secured several new subscribers recently.

FEILDING (Rev. G. D. Gardiner).—On Sunday,May 4, a young people's tea was held, at which re-ports were given from the Young Women's andYoung Men's Easter Camps, and from the local Sun-day School Convention. Both our Bible Classeswere well represented at the Easter camp, and havereturned with many trophies, including the Y.W.Junior Cup, the Peters Swimming Shield, and theKober Life-saving Cup. During the week of prayer,meetings were led by the choir. Young Men's BibleClass, Mr Wratt, Rev. Millar (Presbyterian), andRev. Gardiner. Our Self-Denial offering amounted

to £11 13s 8d. At a social evening tendered to MissR. Belk on the occasion of her early marriage, Miss A.Harford, on behalf of the Young Women's Bible Class,of which Miss Bell has acted as a leader for sometime, presented her with a Doulton butter dish andstand; and Mr Main, on behalf of the choir, alsopresented a Doulton cake dish with stand. On Wed-nesday, May 14, our Church was the scene of awedding, when Miss R. Belk was united in matri-mony to Mr Nairn, of Hawera, Rev. Gardiner officia-ting. The Church was suitably decorated for theoccasion by friends of the bride. Owing to oursecretary, Mr Nielson, retiring through ill health, MrCarr has been appointed to that position. TheUnion President, Mr Smeeton, paid us an official visiton Monday, June 9, when he gave an interesting ad-dress on the work of our Union, after which sup-per was handed round. Mr F. S. Guy occupied ourpulpit on Sunday evening, l5th inst., when Rev.Gardiner went to Taonui.

GISBORNE (Rev. F. A. Crawshaw).—The meet-ings held during Self-denial Week were well attended.During the week the pastor gave a lantern lectureon Norfolk island and the work of the MelanesianMission. The culmination of a powerful week cameon the Lord's Day, when, with ordinary offerings andSunday School Self-denial, and Debt Extinction Fundcontributions, over £70 was given. Of this amountjust on £50 came out of Self-denial envelopes. Weare indeed thankful to God for the great spirit ofliberality shown by His people. We are glad toreport that open-air work in the street on Saturdaynight has been started in Gisborne. The movementis interdenominational, and we work so as not toclash with the Army, but so far Baptists predominatein the ring. Taking time for prayerful preparation,we hope to be able shortly to decide more definitelywhat should be our contribution as a Church in sup-port of the Manurewa Children's Home. We havehad about nine or ten wet week-ends running, andthe time would seem most appropriate in which tourge more of our members to use the duplex en-velopes, that our General Account may keep on theright side. Our pastor is a great believer in achurch, to get blessing, being out of debt and meet-ing current expenses, and we have been steadilyworking along those lines. The weather marred thevisit of the Union President, Mr H. M. Smeeton,who was with us for Sunday the 15th. A faircongregation assembled in the morning, however, tohear a good address from Mr Smeeton. We wouldwe might have more such visits. Te Hapara Churchlooks improved with a nice white- painted picketfence in front.

GORE (Rev. T. Eccersall).—Since our last re-port, we have farewelled a number of friends. Afoundation member of our Church, Miss M. Keeley,was farewelled at a social evening, when she waspresented with suitable gifts. Our pastor, on be-half of the congregation, wished Miss Keeley everyhappiness in her married life. Our sister, who tooka prominent part in every department of the Clmrcii,particularly in the Sunday School, is greatlymissed. Mr and Mrs Read, on the eve of theirdeparture for the north, were also farewelied. Weregret very much the death of Mrs Mutch, whopassed away after a short illness, during which shedisplayed great patience in suffering. Jt is with





pleasure we report the conversion of several friends,five of whom, on a recent Sunday evening, followedtheir Lord in baptism. On the following Sunday,these friends, with four others, were received intomembership. Quite recently we were favoured witha visit from Mrs Heycock, her address proving bothinteresting and profitable. Our pastor's servicesare much appreciated, and it is pleasant to noticenew faces in the congregation.

GRANGE ROAD (Rev. A. S. Wilson).—TheChurch has held a sale of work for the installation ofelectricity in the Church, about £110 being the re-sult. Mr V. Hyndman, recently our Sunday SchoolSuperintendent, resigned through illness. MajorDow is carrying on this office with efficiency andearnestness. Mr and Mrs Hyndman were presentedwith, a handsome dinner service by the teachers,officers, and children. At the exchange of pulpitson Auxiliary Sunday, our pulpit was taken by theRevs. Frank Sampson and F. C. Every, while ourown pastor went to the Thames. Our choir ismaking great strides under the efficient leadership ofMr L. Honeycomb, and is setting out to raise fundsfor a new organ. No less than three of the choirmembers have met with serious accidents, viz.:—MissMargaret McTavish and Miss Bessie Dram, who wererun down by motors, and Mr Robert Mortimer, ateacher, who received concussion through falling offa building. We are glad to chronicle some goodcases of conversion.

HANOVER STREET.—Mrs Alfred North, whosepassing is referred to elsewhere, was in membershipwith us. The Church has also lost one of its mem-bers in the passing of Mrs Logan. A still furthergreat loss to the Church has been the passing awayof Miss Elsie Kay, one of our brightest young people.It is expected that the veterans in service will re-ceive their "home call," but it comes as a great blowto any church to lose one of its brightest and mostuseful members. An encouraging feature of themonth's work was a baptismal service, at which eightmembers of the school and Bible Classes made testi-mony. The young people's work is. progressing.One group of boys had a useful week-end at Hooper'sInlet, the holiday being taken advantage of by thenumber of the older school members to visit thecamp. The sixtieth anniversary social gatheringwas held on Wednesday, May 28, in the form of anold-fashioned anniversary tea, followed by a public-meeting. During the evening, an illuminated ad-dress was presented to Mr T. A. Maitland in recogni-tion of his services in connection with debt extinc-tion. The evening's speakers were Rev. Eric Evans,of Caversham, who urged enthusiasm in our religion,and Rev. Tulloeh Yuille, of Knox Church, who urgedthe necessity of pushing ahead even if it appearedunpopular to do so. Mr H. H. Driver presented theannual report, which told of times of refreshing atthe Diamond Jubilee; of the extinction of the Churchdebt, which meant acquiring a £7500 property intwelve years; of 219 scholars, 36 teachers, and anaverage attendance of 176; of much splendid workamong young people; of junior Christian Endeavourand Band of Hope. The work of Mrs Hiett, sisterof the Church, was eulogised. 849 sick visits werepaid, 80 parcels of clothing containing 253 garmentsdistributed. The report also refers to the 237visits paid by deaconesses; 362 on church roll; muchmoney contributed for various purposes; the closingof the Maori Hill Fund. The Mission Enterpriseof the church received special reference, a total of£338 16s 9d being given. Special reference wasmade to the work of the pastor and numerous volun-teer helpers.

HASTINGS (Rev. T. Kent Ewen).—On May 13we had the pleasure of listening to a very instructiveand inspiring address from Miss McDuff, of theC.I.M. Society. On the evening of May 29, the

Sunday School, choir, and Church combined in asocial gathering to welcome Mr Berridge and hisbride. A bright and enjoyable evening was spent,when musical and elocutionary items were renderedby the various friends, after which the pastor pre-sented the happy pair with a set of carvers andteaspoons from the Church. Mr Bewley, on behalfof the choir, and Mr Stevenson, on behalf of theSunday School, presented two chairs and a linenbasket. Mr F. E. Barley supplemented the re-marks of the speakers by a few timely words. MrBerridge was greeted with applause on rising torespond on behalf of his bride and himself. On theevening of the King's Birthday, June 3, the juniorEndeavourers were entertained by their leader, MrF. E. Barley, with his wife and Mrs Hicks, at a teaand social evening. On the evening of June 5, alarge gathering of scholars, teachers, and parentsmet in the school-room, when a most successful con-cert was given by the scholars. During the eveningthe pastor presented the prizes to the successfulscholars for the year. Special mention mustbe made of the visit of the Union President, MrH. M. Smeeton, who gave us a splendid address deal-ing with the work of the Union and the MissionarySociety, closing with an appeal on behalf of theManurewa Children's Home. We shall be glad towelcome Mr Smeeton again.

ISLAND BAY (Rev. H. E. Edridge).—Theeleventh Church Anniversary Social was held earlyin May, and a very pleasant and profitable time wasspent. Reports of various organisations were en-couraging, and the evening, interspersed with musicaland other items, will not soon be forgotten by thosepresent. During the month a party of about 20journeyed by motor-lorry to our sister Church atLyall Bay, this being the only opportunity to meetMr Smeeton, President of the Baptist Union. Allpresent enjoyed the stirring words of the President,and at the same time heartily co-operated with theLyall Bay Church in their effort to celebrate ourpastor's third year of ministry. We regret the lossof another of our old members, Mrs Hatchard, andour sympathy and prayers are for the husband andfamily in their bereavement; also Mrs Holz, motherof several of our scholars.

KAIAPOI (Rev. J. Hiddlestone).— The work ofthe Church is going along with considerable vigour.The building has been painted, and its appearance isa fair indication to the deeper spiritual improvementsteadily proceeding. The choir is now very strong,and the full church on several occasions is a tribute,not only to our minister, but also to the choristers.On June 15, in the evening, a special song servicewas very successful. The C. E. Society held a socialon June 3, and about 40 spent a good time together.New folk from Galashiels form a very important sec-tion of both choir and congregation. Mrs Hiddle-stone has formed a Girls' Club, and it appears to bea live and happy body. It is worthy of note and amatter for congratulation that the borough schoolhas now the Rev. Hiddlestone as its chairman. Healso does good service to sport as a Rugby referee.

LINWOOD (Rev. A. W. Stuart).—We report inanother column a special mission held in May. Ourmembership is steadily increasing, and the move isforward. The departments of the work are eagerand hopeful. Self denial offerings outshine lastyear: total £20. We regret to . report the passingof Mr T. A. Grose, on May 15, after a brief illness,at the age of 73. A singularly beautiful and helpfullife was thus brought to a close, and we mourn theloss of a "brother beloved." A memorial servicewas held in the church on May 18, conducted by Rev.A. W. Stuart. Reference was made to the voyagefrom the Old Land in the sailing-vessel "Wenning-ton," and of the half-century of pioneer work of Mrand Mrs Grose in Dunedin and Christchurch. Lin-


wood has been served faithfully by our brother, andhis loss will be keenly felt. He leaves an exampleof simple piety, and sincere devotion to his God.

LYALL BAY (Rev. H. E. Edridge).—A verysuccessful social was held on June 5 to commemoratethe third anniversary of the settlement of our pastor.There was quite a large gathering, for, in additionto the local workers, there were representatives fromour sister church at Island Bay and the parentchurch in Vivian street. We were also honouredby the presence of our Union President, Mr H. M.Smeeton, who took advantage of the opportunity toexpound to us the activities and avenues of serviceof the Baptist Union. A very enjoyable programmeof musical and elocutionary items was rendered, andat the conclusion the Secretary and Treasurer voicedthe members' appreciation of the splendid servicesrendered by Mr and Mrs Edridge, and particularisedour admiration of the resolute and heroic way theyhad stuck to the task under admittedly adverse cir-cumstances, thus installing the encouragement thathas pulled us through troublous times to our presenthopeful position. The Secretary then asked Mr andMrs Edridge to accept, as a small token of ouresteem and gratitude, a dainty China tea service anda gold "Eversharp" pencil. Mr Edridgo suitablyresponded, expressing his appreciation of the Church'slove and loyalty without which, as he correctly stated,little can be accomplished. We regret to have torecord the very great loss we have sustained in thedeath of one of our foundation members and mostloyal workers, Mr G. James. He was a most regularattender of all services and an ardent advocate ofthe great importance of prayer meetings. He wasa splendid character and a great example to theyoung folk, and his memory will long remain withus. Mr James, as Assistant Traffic Manager of theWellington Tramways, was well-known locally, andthe very long cortege that followed his body to thecemetery on Sunday morning, June 15, spoke volumesof esteem. The procession was headed by the Tram-ways Band, which played appropriate music, and itwas pleasing to note the large number of tramwayemployees who turned out to pay their last respectsto one whose fair dealings and integrity earned forhim the sobriquet of "Daddy of the service."

MANGARAMARAMA.—Mr V. McKelick reportsa gladdening response to self-denial appeal. TheGospel is being faithfully preached, though numbersare small. There is a spiritual glow about the work.Prayer is asked.

MILFORD (Pastor E. Nicholls).—This month wecelebrate our third anniversary as a separate church,and, as we look back, we know that God has ownedand blessed the efforts and prayers that have beenoffered to further His Kingdom in Milford. Duringthe month, through Captain Gipsy Pat Smith, someof our young people gave their hearts to Christ. Ourthanks are due to Mr Bradley, who is filling the posi-tion of choir master pro tern. That the choir ap-preciate their new leader has been shown by the factthat the average attendance for the last three Sun-days has been twenty-five. We have commenced atennis court, in order that our young people may findtheir pleasure as much as possible in church associa-tions. We should be glad to hear from any friendswho have any nets, posts, or gear not in use.

MORNINGTON (Rev. T. Weston).—It is withpleasure we report continued interest in our services,the congregations being fairly well maintained, andthe work generally is in a forward state. The week-night service especially is well attended. On Sunday,May 18, we had our church anniversary services,helpful addresses being given by the Rev. Eric Evansin the morning, Mr V. T. Drew (Y.M.C.A.) in the

afternoon, and our pastor in the evening. At thesocial gathering on the following Tuesday, the Revs.Smith and Thornton were the speakers. On all theseoccasions special musical items were rendered by thechoir and others, and our choir master, Mr Walker,is to be congratulated on the success of his side ofthe celebrations. During May the ladies of ourB.W.M.U. organised a rummage sale, which resultedin a substantial sum being realised for foreign mis-sions. Our Boys' and Girls' Clubs held a very suc-cessful sale and concert, the proceeds going towardsthe formation of a tennis court. Our pastors haveinstituted a quarterly change of pulpits, and on Sun-day evening, June 1, our pulpit was occupied by theRev. K. Kempton, our pastor supplying Hanoverstreet.

MOSGIEL (Rev. E. R. Weston).— We arepleased to report that good work is being doneamongst the young people, six of whom attended therespective Easter camps, and brought back freshenthusiasm for their class work; instancing this, avery successful debating evening was held, and muchtalent for the exposition and defence of a subjectwas displayed. The arts and crafts classes, underthe supervision and tuition of Mr Kaye, are becom-ing both .financially and socially a lucrative employ-ment for our young people. A few new faces ap-pearing regularly at one or other of the. services be-token an appreciation of our pastor's addresses fromoutsiders. In view of the approaching marriage ofMiss Maggie Owens, and consequent removal, ap-preciative mention of her services was made from thepulpit, her class members having previously given atangible expression of their esteem in the shape of anartistic fruit bowl.

MT. EDEN.—On June 1, our pastor had the joyof baptising three members of the Sunday School,two being quite young boys from the school, and theother a member of the Young Men's Bible Class.The Girls' Bible Class Union held a rally at theschool on Saturday, June 7. Mrs Anstice gave avery helpful talk. The Boys' Union also held theiryearly rally at the church, when some one hundredand thirty boys gathered together at 3 p.m. Rev.Harries gave a fine talk on "Power." Tea was set outin the school, and it was a fine sight to see so manyBible Class boys present. A camp echo social washeld. The tennis club held a social on Thursday,June 12, and a very enjoyable evening was spent.On Sunday, June 1, the Rev. Parry, of JMorrinsville,gave a very interesting and helpful sermon on the"Woman of Samaria." Every Wednesday eveningat 7 p.m., there is a preparatory class for teachersof the school. Miss Turner, of the Tabernacle, hasvery kindly offered to be our lecturer, and some veryhelpful and interesting times are spent.

NAPIER (Rev J. Ings)—On June 3 the Hawke'sBay Interdenominational Sunday School Teachers'Conference was held in Napier, and at our Church.There were 80 delegates, along with other friends,who came from all parts of the district. The twochief speakers were Rev. G. Miller (Congregational)in the morning, and Rev. Metson (Methodist) in theafternoon, and altogether a most profitable time wasspent. Then, on Friday, June 13, was held a dualsocial, firstly to welcome our returned missionary,Miss Rice, and secondly, to hear our Union President,Mr Smeeton. There were several speakers to wel-come Miss Rice back home again, including Mr Smee-ton, who spoke on behalf of the Union and the otherChurches. After his welcome address, he gave avery interesting talk on the work of the Union.

NEW PLYMOUTH (Rev. A. H. Collins).—It ispleasing to be able to report that the women of thechurch are determined that the debt on the manse



must be reduced and to this end the members of thechurch and congregation have been circularised anawill be waited upon for donations. Miss Collins, ourminister's missionary daughter, spoke to the SundaySchool children on "Missionary Sunday," givingthem a splendid illustrated talk on Indian boys andgirls. Miss Collins has also spoken at a united BibleClass gathering, and to the women of the MissionaryPrayer Union. Our Church has been honoured byour minister being elected to the Presidential chairof the Ministers' Association. A series of sermonson conversion: the fact of conversion; the rationaleof conversion; and types of conversion, have beenvery helpful. The competition amongst the SundaySchool scholars for getting new members, has beenwon by Dorothy Croker. A beautiful silver wristletwatch, donated by the superintendent, has been pre-sented to her. We thank God for His blessings to usas a Church in sparing our minister to enter uponhis fifth year of labour amongst us. The young menof the Bible Class use their spare time working onthe Church section. Their intention is to turn itinto a tennis court.

OAMARU (Rev. R. Robertson).—On April 22,members of the Church and congregation met to-gether to bid good-bye and God speed to our brotherMr R. Milligan, who is taking a holiday trip toEngland, via America. On behalf of the Church,our pastor made the presentation of a beautifulpocket wallet to Mr Milligan, making kindly refer-ence to his help in all branches of Church work. Ahappy evening was spent. On April 31 Mrs McFad-gen was entertained by the choir, Sunday Schoolteachers, and Bible Class at a social. Special re-cognition was made to Mrs McFadgen's untiringservices as organist at the Sunday evening services.A present of a hand-bag was made, with the hopethat she would still be able to continue her services.The Church is iudebted to both Mrs McFadgen andMiss Marjorie Ward for years of faithful service asloint organists.

OXFORD TERRACE (Rev. J. J. North).—OnJune 8, the Sunday morning service was taken bythe Rev. A. W. Stuart (Linwood). Mr Dobbs, ofthe N.Z. Alliance, also addressed the congregation.His appeal for monetary support for the Prohibitionmovement brought £50. In the evening the Rev.Ray Stewart, missionary at Lyttelton for the Britishand Foreign Sailors' Society, occupied the pulpit.His address was listened to with sympathetic interest.The special music by the choir was particularly good.Mr North is preaching a series of sermons on the"Seven Deadly Sins." The young men are buildinga pavilion on our new recreation ground.

PALMERSTON NORTH (Rev. C. W. Duncumb).—Large attendances have characterised the work ofthe past month, which has been full of interest.Church anniversary services were held on May 18,conducted by Rev. J. ings, of Napier. At the even-ing service the choir rendered special hymns, whilstthe message "The Life is Light," was a forerunnerof the memorable Lord's Supper which followed.During the week the annual Church social was held.Rev. Gardiner, of Feilding, delivered an address,and a special feature was the appropriate singing bythe Feilding choir. Following the Secretary's, re-port, which showed that all departments were in aflourishing condition, our pastor reviewed the pastyear's work. On May 23, Rev. Phillpotts, of theAmerican Baptist Missions in Burma, occupied thepulpit in the evening, over a large congregation. MrH. M. Smeeton, President of the Baptist Union, paidus a visit on .June C, and addressed a meeting. Wewere very pleased to have him with us. On Sundayafternoon, June 8, Miss Kitty Crabbe asked thesuperintendent and staff of the Sunday School tobecome custodians of a framed photograph of the Rev.

E. N. Goring, to be kept as a constant reminder tothe young people that Mr Goring had gone from theChurch to India. Eight friends have been admittedinto membership during the month.

RICHMOND, Grey Lynn (Rev. R. Horn).—Atthe church meeting held on June 11, our pastorintimated his acquiescence in the Auxiliary Com-mittee's strongly-expressed desire that he shall, on thetermination of Pastor Laybourne's engagement atTauranga, take charge of the church there, organisingit on lines decided upon after a very careful surveyof the field. As far as this church is concerned thechange comes at an inopportune time, for latterlythere have been very evident signs of long-prayed-for"showers of blessing." Tauranga's need, as statedby our Secretary, and confirmed from personal know-ledge by one of our deacons, so appealed to theChurch, that the following resolution was passedunanimously: "That this Church, recognising thatthe pastor's call to work at Tauranga is the outcomeof the Lord's leading, his resignation be acceptedwith sincere regret, and that he be assured of theChurch's earnest prayer that in the difficult work towhich he has been called, God's richest blessing andsure help may be his portion." As Mr Horn will notbe leaving for some three months, action with re-ference to filling the vacancy was deferred until thedeacons were in a position to make a recommenda-tion.

ROSLYN (Rev. L. A. B. Smith).—The anni-versary services of the Church were held on Sunday,June 8, when inspiring and suitable addresses weredelivered at the morning and evening services. Theanniversary social was held on Thursday, June 12,and although the weather was anything but favour-able, there was a large attendance. At this meet-ing the annual reports were read, and these revealedin many respects a most successful year's work. TheSecretary's report showed that all the organisationsof the Church were in a flourishing condition, whilethe Treasurer reported that, although numerousspecial appeals had been made to the congregation,and responded to with liberality, yet, the weeklyofferings during the past year have been the largestin the Church's history. Our pastor maintains aneffective and evangelical ministry; and, best of all,during the year, souls have been won for the Master.We look forward into the year upon which we haveentered with hope.

SOUTH DUNEDIN (Rev. G. Thornton).—Theresults of the well-attended prayer meetings are be-coming evident. During the past month, at twoSunday evening services, in response to appeals, noless than six friends yielded to the claims of theMaster. On the morning of May 11, Mrs Heycock,of the Bolivia Mission, spoke and specially pleaded forhelp for our Indian Field. Over £20 was the resultof our self-denial effort.

TAURANGA (Pastor Laybourn).—On Tuesdayevening a most enjoyable gathering took place in theTabernacle. A children's and young people's teawas held. Quite a crowd of bright, happy youngfolk gathered and did full justice to the sumptuousrepast provided. At 7.30 a public meeting was held.The programme was an excellent one, and the itemsvaried and well-rendered. The whole thing wascarried through with the greatest enthusiasm. Quitea large number of prizes were distributed to thescholars and the members of the Young Worshippers'League, every child receiving a book or a gift of somekind; also a number of special private prizes weresent in for some scholars. Several adult performershelped in the programme, including Mrs Dean, ofGate Pah. Stirring addresses were given by theRev. Barnett and Mr A. S. Stewart, Sunday Schoolsuperintendent. Mrs Geo. Smith was presented witha handsome gift for assistance at the organ. Then

July, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST.

followed a good supper, with fruit and sweets for thechildren. The happiest function ever held in theChurch was closed with appropriate thanksgiving.

THAMES.—In connection with the exchange,of pulpit Sunday of the Auxiliary of the BaptistUnion, Rev. A. K. Wilson visited us, and preachedtwice, our pastor supplying two of the Aucklandchurches. Mr Lambert, Miss Newton, and Mr M.Whitehead, as delegates, attended the Auxiliarygathering at Auckland. The anniversary of theUnited Baptist and Congregational Church was cele-brated on Sunday, June 5, when Rev. H. G. Kerens,of Hamilton, conducted both services. The choirrendered choice music. The anniversary was con-tinued on the following Tuesday, our pastor presidingat the public meeting. After reading a portion ofScripture, Mr Hieat offered prayer. The ChurchSecretary's report was read by Mr L. H. Whitehead,and stated that the year's work had been successfullycarried on in church and school. The teaching stallwere earnest and diligent, and the various classeshad been well attended. The Treasurer's statementshowed that the past year had been, from a financialpoint of view, the most successful ever experienced.The receipts from the collections were £307. Dona-tions to Home Missions, such as Auxiliary, Manu-rewa Homes, Dr Barnado's Homes, Poor Fund, etc.,totalling £72; Baptist Missionary Society, etc., £102;Sunday School Collection, £18; London MissionarySociety, £50; Sale of Work, £69; credit balance,brought forward, £33; present credit balance, £33.The evening closed with music, refreshments, andvotes of thanks.

TIMARU (Rev. H. Goring).—The meetings dur-ing the week of prayer and self-denial were fairlywell attended, and were a great blessing and spiritualuplift to all. Our Temuka brethren visited us onthe Wednesday evening, Mr Muir giving a verystirring and uplifting address. We all felt verykeenly the presence of God in our midst. We havepurchased an organ for our Church, which we hopewill further assist the singing. The Bible Class heldtheir first "at home" on the l5th, after the eveningservice, which was very well attended. The youngmen and women of the Church have commencedtheir physical culture classes. Mr Goring is givinga series of talks on the "Penknife and the Bible."

WANGANUI (Rev. S. Jenkin).—Our pastor hasbegun a three months' evangelistic campaign. Theaddresses are very helpful and much appreciated.We are praying for a great spiritual ingathering.Bright singing, rendered by the choir, and favouritehymns, are heartily enjoyed by the older people.On June 8 we had the pleasure of having with us thePresident of the Union, Mr Smeeton, who gave anaddress on work of the Union. At the close of thechoir practice on June 12, a happy little functiontook place to welcome our new choir master, MrRobert Jenkins, of Sydenham. Our pastor and twomembers of the choir spoke words of welcome. Wewish Mr Jenkins joy in his work. Our former choirmaster. Mr Emmett, was unable to continue throughill-health. The Senior and Junior Y.W.B.C. held asale of work, on June 14, in aid of Foreign Missions.The sum of £27 was realised.

WHANGAREI (Rev. F. Sampson).—We had avisit to the B.W.M.U. from Mrs Toneyeliffe, whoalso addressed the C.E. There was a good attend-ance of members and friends. Mrs Toneyeliffe'sprofitable visit secured additions to the membership ofthe B.W.M.U. We are looking forward with greatexpectation to the visit of the Rev. Adam Clarke foran evangelistic mission from June 20 to July 2. TheAuckland Auxiliary annual meeting is over. TheHome Mission needs are now well before the Auxiliary.We hope our Church will be enabled to take an activeinterest, as a centre, for part of the great districtnorth of Auckland.

GROCERS.— WANTED, a smart GROCER, tomanage Cash Store in progressive town in AucklandProvince. Christian young man preferred. Goodwages and conditions. Apply, sending copies ofcredentials to "GROCER," c/o New Zealand Baptist,P.O. Box 693, Wellington.














N.Z. BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Subscriptions received from May 18 to June 18,1924.—Y.W.B.C.U., £20; Oxford Sunday School, £110s l0d; Greendale, £40 14s 6d; Wanganui EastJunior Christian Endeavour, £ 1 ; Ponsonby, £25 6sl0d; Miss Kirk (in memory of Mrs L. M. Atkinson),£ 5 ; Thames Sunday School, £6 13s 1d; Rev. M. W.P. Lascelles, £25 ; Wanganui, £3 2s 6d; NelsonChurch, £1 5s; Nelson Sunday School, 3s 7d; Gis-borne Sunday School, 7s l0d; Grange Road SundaySchool, £4 14s 4d; B.W.M.U., £10; Stratford Sun-day School, £2 17s 8d; Hanover Street Church, £149s 6d; Hanover Street Sunday School, £7 0s 5d;Hanover Street Junior Christian Endeavour, £3 11s5d; Whangarei, £6; Ashburton Church, £2 13s 6d;Ashburton Sunday School, £6 8s 4d; AshburtonChristian Endeavour, £2 10s; Wanganui JuniorChristian Endeavour, £ 3 ; Hastings Church, 17s 3d;Hastings Sunday School, 9s 7d; North-East ValleyChurch, £1 13s 2d; North-East Valley SundaySchool, £2 5s 9d; North-East Valley Choir, £2 10s.Total, £201 5s 1d.

Printed and Published for the New Zealand BaptistUnion by the OTAGO DAILY TIMES AND WITNESSNEWSPAPERS CO., LTD., High and BurlingtonStreets, Dunedin.

iii.

iv. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. July, 1924.

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Passing Notes.The British Union.

Seldom have Union meetings awakened moreinterest and anxiety than those which were held thisMay at Cardiff. There were rumours of disruptiveinfluences and of a new down-grade affair. A groupof folk, alarmed at the theology of others, were forimposing tests and requiring the utterance of shibbo-leths. When men will "prove their doctrine orthodox,by apostolic blows and knocks" administered in thecorrespondence columns of papers and in pamphlets,the best of all antidotes is for the combatants tomeet, preferably at a prayer meeting. An astonishedprotagonist finds that his "bete noir" does notbreathe fire, but wears quite ordinary clothes anddiscusses his ideas with wise humility. He alsofinds, and that most surely, that where men passion-ately love our Lord Jesus and find life and light inHim that they are brothers. This happened atCardiff. Dr Reavely Glover, the celebrated Cam-bridge don and publicist, was the President-elect.His views on theology are liberal; but they areChristo-centric. Men listened with bated breath towhat he might say, and lo, with one accord, theyfound it very good. How could they other, when thePresident's central sentence ran: "As I grow olderI want more and more to preach Jesus Christ with-out theory, to tell people the tremendous facts associ-ated with Him: the fact of victory over sin, thechanged life, and the most amazing fact of all—Himself. I have the feeling that if we can get mento come face to face with Him as He is, to 'beginwith the wounds of Christ,' and Christ reconcilingus to God, we can leave them with Him. Whenlovers meet, they do not need any longer the com-pany of the friend who brought them together, norhis theories of marriage or life or anything else."

I Would Have Him Read a Little History,

This shrewd instruction by Oliver Cromwell forhis son's education was used by President Gloverto point his great speech. His objective was thesecuring of passionate evangelism, well poisedagainst the conditions of our age. He invested fourfigures of history with glittering garments. Pauland Augustine and Luther and Wesley were movingthrough that Welsh city, and were speaking again

to the world. Their messages were as different astheir times and as their problems. But Christ, everliving and ever leading on the hosts of God, wastheir theme and their power. He dwelt delicatelywith the large scholarship of them all. He showedhow with them all the holy influence of home lifetold. He challenged men to preach sin and salvation.He declared that all religion led to the Cross. Inview of our own anxiety regarding a scholarly min-istry, let us notice the British President's conclusion:

Analysing these four periods, Dr Gloverfound a common element in the experience ofthese four key men. They were all intellectualsand associated with academic work. In Luther'scase the fight was over Greek as against theLatin of Jerome, with its mistranslations."Metanoia" was rendered "penance" throughthe Latin, and it did not mean that at all. Thisled Dr Glover to emphasise the significance ofscience and scholarship in the history of religion,and to insist that "no real and permanent re-vival of religion is to be looked for where scienceand scholarship are ignored or refused.""Truth ," he said in a fine phrase, "is nothelped by consecrated falsehood."

Our ministers ought to "read a little history" peri-odically. They must be fearlessly loyal to all thetruth they see. They must believe that the Ark ofGod needs none of our noisy efforts for its safety.They must hold hard to that great key word: "Godhath yet more light and truth to break forth fromHis Word."

The Colour Line.The most pressing question before the world is

the colour question. America is haunted by blackand by yellow problems. The open challenge toJapan, which seems to have been more or less apolitical electioneering dodge, may be the spark tofire the loose powder that is lying about in theworld. South Africa and India are both seethingwith the colour problem. To a Christian who prac-tises his religion there is no more Jew nor Greek.But how can we get out of the wretched impasse?A more than usually interesting book by Mr BasilMathews contains a remarkable contribution to thatquestion. We shall take the liberty of quoting him:

"Standing on the touch-line of the footballfield of the Syrian College at Beirut on a crispafternoon in spring, I saw streaming down from



THE

162 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. August, 1924.

the pavilion a team such as I had never beforeeven imagined in my wildest athletic dreams,"says Mr Mathews.

"The captain was a negro from Egypt,thickset, but a fast and accurate shot. His fullbacks were a Turk and an Armenian: the half-backs and the forwards included a Syrian Chris-tian from the Lebanon, a Greek, other Turks, aPersian, and a Copt from Egypt. Their trainerwas an Irishman. The Principal of the Collegewas an American. In the college were 900 boysfrom all those lands.

"The football field was on Asiatic soil: butthe people represented were drawn not only fromfour separate races in Asia—the Syrian Arab, theArmenian, the Turk, and the Persian—but thenegro came from Africa, the Greek from Europe,the trainer from the British Isles, and the Prin-cipal from America. Every continent had itsman. All the world was represented.

"As I stood watching the members of theteam take their places and the opposing teammove out to face them, and then heard the whistleblow and saw the game surge down and up thefield, I could see that they were playing a reallymagnificent team game. Talking with the sportscaptain of the College, who was standing by me,I asked: 'What special difficulty do you find intraining a team like this?'

No Team Work."'A real hard nut to crack,' he replied, 'is

just this. These fellows come from countrieswhere the whole idea of team-play is unknown.Each at the beginning of his football trainingwants to dribble the ball down the field at hisown feet and score the goal himself for his ownglory.' ('It is just the same,' he interjected,if you are teaching them baseball or cricket orhockey.') 'So,' he went on, 'I have won thebattle not only for the boy as a member of theteam, but really for his whole life-job, when Ihave taught him to pass.'

"I looked again and realised the simplemiracle that had been performed. There was theArmenian full back (whose father had beenmassacred by a Turk) passing to the Turk, whosent the ball out to a forward wing, the Greek,and he to the Persian, who centred to the negrocaptain, who, amid a roar of cheering from theCollege, scored a brilliant goal.

"As I looked across the field to the intenseblue waters of the Mediterranean that broke ina white fringe of foam on the rocks below, thewhole human scene flashed into my mind. Theworld (I saw) is just such a football field. Theproblem of the world racial conflict is preciselythe same as the problem of the sports captain atBeirut. There are the nations on that vastworld-field—each trying to dribble the ball ofachievement down the field of history, to scorethe goal of racial or national glory for itself.There is no team-play on a world scale. Theneed of the human race is for a World Inter-national Team."

Mr Basil Mathews's picture should be drawn ineach of our pulpits. It should be written in goldon the walls of our public schools. The grandinternational in Christianity. The one aim that canembrace all nations is the Kingdom of God. ItsKing is Christ.

A Gesture Towards the Baptists.The correspondence column of the British

Weekly has become an important feature under theeditorship of J. M. E. Ross. In a recent issue aninteresting question was raised, and one for which

we know the only effective answer. The head masterof the famous Mill Hill School told the Congrega-tional Union that ' 'a difficulty in the way of the boyswas that in the Free Churches there was nothingthat quite corresponded with Confirmation, and hethought that they needed something of the kind verymuch." Of course, this was seized upon by theAnglicans as a tribute to their theory and practice,and the "brave words" were trumpeted as a steptowards reunion. Our readers probably know thaton the regnant Anglican theory children become re-generate in baptism, and that at Confirmation, whichoccurs about the age of puberty, the Holy Spiritis supposedly given through the imposition of thebishop's hands. That boys should find the first partof the theory (that they become regenerate in bap-tism) utterly false and utterly unsatisfying is inevit-able. Readers of Samuel Butler will remember thathe broke from Anglicanism on that special ground.He found no difference between the baptised childand the unbaptised, either in manners or morals.The Mill Hill boys evidently want something at thattime in their life when the claim of religion is heard.Their want was anticipated by our Lord. The timeof their awakening to the facts of sin and of Christis the time when conversion should be sought. Whenconversion is reached, baptism—the most solemn andmost beautiful ordinance of Christ—should beobserved. We constantly meet with evidence thatshows how the neglect of the clear call of Scriptureleads to the greatest practical difficulty. Dr Jackswas asking for that for his boys, though he knewit not. We do not want sectarian triumphs. Wewant effectiveness. Attempts to amend or improveon Scripture always fail.

Welsh Wireless.The principality has some folks with ideas. The

richest idea is that of presenting to the childrenof all other nations with a message from the childrenof Wales. High-power wireless enables every countryto be reached. The press, of course, must be reliedon to give publicity, for listening-in has not yetbecome universal. Here is the 1924 message, and itour readers can imagine a better they are smarterthan the editor:

We, boys and girls of the Principality ofWales and of Monmouthshire, greet with a cheerthe boys and girls of every other country underthe sun.

Will you, millions of you, join in our prayerthat God will bless the efforts of the good menand women of every race and people who aredoing their best to settle the old quarrels withoutfighting? Then there will be no need for any ofus, as we grow older, to show our pride for thecountry in which we were born by going out tohate and to kill one another.

Long live the Covenant of the League ofNations, the Friend of every Mother, the Protec-tor of every Home, and the Guardian Angel ofthe Youth of the World!

Americanism in Scotland.The lonely glory of Uncle Sam, his monopoly

of log-cabin presidents, has ended. Scotland hasbeaten the States at their own game. A miner wholives in two rooms and a lean-to has lorded it atHoly-rood, and all the lairds of the realm have donehim reverence. Ramsay MacDonald has been makinghistory at a furious rate. His appointment of JamesBrown to represent his Majesty at the Assemblies ofthe Scottish Kirk was a first-class success. Theangry remonstrances that followed the first announce-ment have been hidden away in the heather. Thesausages that "Ma" Brown was frying when "ourrepresentative" called on her at Annbank have sent

August, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. 163

their pleasant odour throughout the land. James lefthis native town with the words of Moses on his l ips:"If thy presence go not with us carry us not upthence." He proved himself, in his Court dress andsword, to be a very bonny man. His clear-cutfeatures and his resonant voice and his obvious pietymade his appearance at the Assembly an unqualifiedsuccess. His Court at Holyrood was attended by allthat is fair and chivalrous and noble in old Scotia,and she of the sausages bore herself as queens do.A new chapter in history has been written. We aredemocrats and unashamed. We believe that themore obscure among the people are full of latentpower. The few aristocrats and governing familiesof the Old Country have got to live in future on theirmerits, and that very elastic thing, the British Con-stitution, has to prove itself in fresh fields and pas-tures new. It looks as if it could do it.

Some Mems.

The Rev. John Takle was asked by the Gover-nors of Canterbury College to give five lectures tostudents on the industrial and social conditions ofIndia. Three have been given as we write, andwith great success. His many friends will be gladto know that the preparation and delivery of theselectures acted like medicine on our friend. He wasstimulated by the occupation. . . . Mr Takle'sbook for Mohammedans, "The Inward Way," isbeing translated just now into Urdu and Arabic.. . . The annual report of the Children's Homeat Manurewa is to hand as we write. It is the thirty-first report, and is full of good things. . . . TheRev. L. B. Busfield writes us from England that hewas very cordially welcomed at the Baptist Unionmeeting at Cardiff. He was amazed at the qualityof Welsh singing. He also attended the annualmeetings in London of the Sunday School Union,and has been favoured with many invitations topreach, including one from Westborne Park.The President's tour of most of the churches hasbeen very highly appreciated. Mr Smeeton's en-thusiasm and sympathy have made his visits tonic.. . . There is an epidemic of building going onin Canterbury. Ashburton hopes to lay its foundationstone about Conference time. Sydenham expects tobe in the same happy plight. The North BrightonChurch will be due to be opened then also. . .What a wonderful man Mr Alex. Stewart, of Dunedin, i s ! He has come to Brighton and started tobuild with his own hands the church he planned forthat suburb, and all for love of the dear Lord Christ.And he has just finished on the same terms theHome Mission cottage at the Owaka outpost.We want to celebrate the praise of our Thames cor-respondent, Mr M. Whitehead. The New ZealandBaptist is the oldest religious paper in New Zealand.It has seen the rise and fall of many. It is in itsforty-second year, and for over 40 of those yearsthe reports of the Thames Church have come fromMr Whitehead's pen. One thousand thanks to you,Mr Whitehead. You have broken a world record wethink. . . . The Rev. D. H. Moore, who spentsome time in New Zealand two years ago, is still inAustralia, and has been supplying Collins Street.He was recently married a second time. His bride,Miss Dora Hill, was for many years his deaconess atVernon Chapel. . . . Two or three members ofthe Dunedin Presbytery used the gooseberry seasonbetween elections to throw scorn on the tactics of theNew Zealand Alliance, to the open joy of Bung andCo. The minister of Knox Church was more thantheir match. . . . Dr J. H. Shakespeare has re-signed the secretariat of the English Baptist Union,after a very distinguished tenancy. He raised closeon a million pounds for denominational purposes,and will go down to history.

The Art of Exposition.By REV. JOSEPH W. KEMP.

In advocating expository preaching, I do notwish to be understood as ignoring or condemningany other kind of preaching. A wise and efficientpreacher will attempt in his public teachings tocombine all forms of preaching "for the good of hishearers to edification." It is important to differen-tiate the kinds of preaching. The textual, topical,doctrinal, hortatory, biographical, expository, and,shall we add, the anecdotal. For our purpose wemay reduce these several methods to three—thetextual, topical, and expository.

By textual preaching is meant the taking of anisolated text and breaking it up to form heads ofa discourse, or, as some textual preachers say, "finda skeleton. It is hidden somewhere in the text,and, given sufficient cleverness and insight, it maybe discovered. This is a most popular method, asmay be judged from the almost countless volumesof outlines or skeletons of sermons which haveappeared from time to time. The textual habit hasbeen fed largely by the fact that the AuthorisedVersion is divided into chapters and verses. Thereare no such divisions in the Hebrew of the Old orthe Greek of the New Testament, and we must notsuffer ourselves to be misled by these artificial divi-sions. They have their value as servants, but wemust not be mastered by them. Too often the textis taken out of its setting, and, as Dr Hutton iscredited with saying, "A text taken out of its contextis a pretext." While the textual method has its value,it has to be said that its tendency is to weaken thepeople's hold upon the Word of God.

By topical preaching we understand the selectingof a subject or topic suggested either by thepreacher's reading or by current events, and thenturning to the Bible for a text as a kind of motto.At times such preaching has only the very faintestconnection with the text, if not divorced from it alto-gether.

By expository preaching we conceive that formof preaching which consists in the continuous andconsecutive interpretation of the Word of God, withthe practical application of its truths to the daily lifeand walk of the hearers. Some complete paragraphof the Scriptures is prayerfully selected. The courseof thought is traced out, the meaning developed, andthe illustrations explained. The expositor stands inhis pulpit not as a brilliant orator or as an originalthinker. About him there is nothing sensational.His message is not for the pressman. He stands asthe interpreter of the will of God, in so far as he hasbecome acquainted with that will by prayer and com-munion. Other kinds of preaching are not to beneglected, but expository preaching should hold aprominent place. The exclusively textual or topicalpreacher is apt to become like the spider, which"spinneth her flimsy web entirely from her ownbowels," while the expository preacher, like the bee,extracts the honey from all the flowers that grow inthe garden of God, "that he may appear profitableunto all."

A Brief Historical Survey of Expository Preaching,

It is interesting to observe that expositorypreaching stands supported by the practice of Ezraand his associates, who "stood up before all thepeople and lead in the book, in the law of God, dis-tinctly, and gave the sense and caused the people tounderstand the reading" (Neh. viii, 8). It is requiredof those who are teachers that they explain the Word.Matthew Henry says, commenting on this passage:"Reading is good, and preaching is good; but ex-


pounding brings the reading and the preaching together, and thus makes the reading the more intelli-gible and the preaching the more convincing." Butexpository preaching is upheld by One far greaterthan Ezra; for our blessed Lord Himself, we aretold, "expounded all things to His disciples" (Markiv, 34), and again, to the disciples on the way toEmmaus, ' 'beginning at Moses and all the prophets,He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures thethings concerning Himself" (Luke xxiv. 27); and ifwe read carefully our Lord's discourse in Luke ivit will be seen that it is largely an expository treat-ment of Isa. 1xi.

That the example of our Lord is followed byHis Apostles may be seen from the reading of thediscourse of Peter in the Acts of the Apostles ii,14-36. Dr F. B. Meyer thinks this is the greatestsermon ever preached since the Resurrection of ourLord. Well, what is the make-up of the sermon? Inreading it we find it largely consists of quotationsfrom the Old Testament. Out of 22 verses, 10 atleast are from that source. Here is a hint surelyfor modern preachers. There is not half enough ofthe Bible put into our sermons, and young preacherswould be well advised to pack as much of the Wordcf God into their discourses as they can hold. Forthe more of the Word of God there is in the sermonthe more likely are the hearers to be blessed. "Itis not our comment on the Word that saves, but theWord itself," so said the saintly McCheyne.

Then look at Peter's second sermon in Acts iii,12-26. It is packed full of Old Testament truth. Hequotes "Moses" and "all the prophets from Samueland those that follow after." So also was it withStephen in his address before the council (Acts vii,2-53). Look also at the method followed by Phillipwith the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts viii, 26-44). SaidPhillip to this Minister of Finance to Candace theQueen, as he saw him reading his Bible: "Under-standest thou what thou readest?" and he said:"How can I except some man should guide me?"and Phillip proceeded to preach to him an expositorysermon on Isaiah liii, which led the eunuch to in-quire after "some other Man" (verse 34).

It would, moreover, appear to have been thepractice of the early Church fathers. Particularly isthis so in the case of Augustine and Chrysostom,whose homilies were of the nature of "a close in-terpretation, or running commentary on the text, fol-lowed by a practical application." So intently didthe preachers of the early days apply themselves tothe expounding of the Scriptures that Chrysostom,quoted by Neander, says: "If anyone assiduouslyattends public worship, even without reading theBible at home, but carefully hearkening here, he willfind in a single year sufficient to give him an inti-mate acquaintance with the Scriptures."

Coming to the Reformation, we find that thetime was exuberantly fruitful in exposition, and bythe ''Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God"was that mighty victory achieved. Let anyoneexamine the discourses of Calvin and Luther, and hewill see what prolific expositors these giants were.More than two-thirds of their discourses were ex-pository. The great Geneva theologian has in thishad few equals, if any. "For clearness of conception,concentration of thought, transparency and precisionof language and a power of transferring the veryspirit and soul of the sacred writers on to his page,no one has ever yet equalled him." Spurgeon said:"His forty-two or more goodly volumes are worththeir weight in gold." He laboured to declare themind of the spirit. When we reach the times of re-vival in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, wefind they were times of high Biblical effort. Theyproduced some of the noblest Biblical scholars and

expository preachers the world has ever seen. Howthe mention of the names of Lightfoot, Usher, Bax-ter, Howe, and Leighton warms our hearts.Appended to Matthew Henry's famous exposition ofthe Old Testament is the date, "Chester, October2, 1706.'' This famous commentary goes back twohundred years, so that the eighteenth century pro-duced one of the greatest expositors and one of God'sgreatest gifts to His Church. He at times preachedtextually, but ''every Lord's Day morning he ex-pounded a part of the Old Testament, and in theevening a part of the New, in both instances pro-ceeding in regular order.'' When shall we see hislike again?

In this historical survey it only remains to bepointed out that the greatest of our modernpreachers have been profound Bible expositors. Wit-ness the late C. H. Spurgeon. The preacher whodoes not possess his well-nigh sixty volumes ofsermons, or his "Treasury of David," or "Gospel ofthe Kingdom," should procure some specimenvolumes, and enrich by these wondrous expositionsnot only his library shelves, but his own heart andthe hearts of those to whom he may be called tominister. "Dinna forget Spurgeon," so said IanMacLaren.

Take, again, Dr Joseph Parker. If we examinethe twenty-five volumes of his ' 'People's Bible," wefind what it was that held together that unique min-istry. It was Bible exposition. In his preface to thelast volume on the Old Testament, he says: "It is,in my judgment, better to preach steadily throughthe Bible than to treat its sacred contents irregularlyand capriciously. . . . My experience is that con-gregations are not averse to systematic and exposi-tory preaching. Objectors there will, of course,always be. It is, however, quite in consonance withmy experience to affirm that the people who con-stitute the real strength of any church regard withappreciation all efforts at consecutive teaching. HereI would fain be the counsellor of those who are myjuniors in the ministry, and of those who shall arisein years distant, asking permission to exhort themnot to be irregular textists, but to be Biblical ex-positors." Take, again, Dr Alex. McLaren's thirty-two volumes of his matchless "Expositions of HolyScriptures." He was the prince pre-eminent of ex-pository preaching, and his expositions are his mostprecious legacy to the Church. And who at thispresent time appeals probably to a wider constitu-ency than any living preacher? He is the Bible ex-positor. Dr G. Campbell Morgan's ministry isessentially a Bible ministry. Wherever he goes, thepeople crowd to hear him, as Boston audiences didto hear the fiery George Whitefield at 6 o'clock inthe morning "expound the Bible." This is sufficientsurely to show the prominence, pre-eminence, andpower which have marked expository preaching in allages.

(To be continued.)

Baptisms.Palmerston—Five. By Rev. C. W. Duncumb.Hastings—Ten. By Rev. Keith Ewen.Brooklyn—Two. By Rev. W. S. Rollings.Whangarei—Nine. By Rev. F. Sampson.Caversham—Four. By Rev. Erie Evans.Epsom—One. By Pastor Chant.Invercargill—Two. By Rev. J. Carlisle.Napier—One. By Rev. John Ings.



The Veteran Honoured.

PRESENTATION TO REV. C. DALLASTON.

A representative gathering of the Baptists ofDunedin and district met in the Hanover StreetChurch on Tuesday evening, July 1, to publicly wel-come Mr Smeeton and to do honour to our lovedbrother, the Rev. Charles Dallaston. The Rev. GuyThornton, President of the local Auxiliary, was inthe chair. The proceedings opened with the singingof a hymn, and prayer was offered by the Rev. L. J.B. Smith. The Rev. Mr Kempton, in extending awelcome to Mr Smeeton on behalf of the localchurches, paid a tribute to the fine work done by thePresident of the Union.

Mr Thornton welcomed Mr Smeeton in the nameof the Auxiliary, and said how glad we all were tohave him in our midst and to hear from him of thework of the Union in other parts of the Dominion.

Mr Smeeton said he was grateful for the verycordial welcome he had received from the peopleof Dunedin. In the course of his travels he hadfound much cause for encouragement. The workin the country districts must, however, claim theirserious attention if they wished to continue to makeprogress. He stressed the advisability of using theduplex envelope system in our churches, and hisreference to the need of a training college for ourstudents drew applause from the audience.

Mr Driver then read messages from the churchesMr Dallaston had served, expressing greetings andgood wishes.

Mr S. R. Ingold, who had been Secretary of theOxford Terrace Church during the greater part ofMr Dallaston's ministry, wrote:—"The Oxford Ter-race Church counts it a privilege to be allowed tojoin our southern churches in a tribute to ourhonoured friend and former pastor, the Rev. CharlesDallaston. In accepting the charge of this churchat the conclusion of his college course in 1876, hebravely took hold of a very difficult proposition. Hefound but a handful of people. By his diligent andfruitful ministry he left a strong church of 360members; when in 1891 he accepted a call to Wel-lington During those fifteen strenuous years ourproperty was acquired and our present churchbuilding erected. The Sydenham Church hived offfrom us in the year 1880. The work that OxfordTerrace has been able, by the blessing of God, toaccomplish in more recent years has very largelybeen possible because of the solid foundations laidwell-nigh half a century since. We pray that ourfriend's years of usefulness may yet be many, so thathe may have further opportunities of proclaiming theglorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The Pastor and Secretary of the second churchwhich Mr Dallaston served wired:—"The VivianStreet Church congratulates you and wishes youmany more years of useful service to men and happyfellowship with God."

His third church (Napier) wired:—"The NapierChurch remembers with thankfulness the splendidministry of the Rev. Charles Dallaston. Goldenwishes."

Mr Driver stated that Mr Dallaston had servedmost of the churches around Dunedin. He had beenthe means of erecting the new building at Morning-

ton, had ministered for six years at Caversham, andhad rounded off his ministerial life at Roslyn; hehad formed the North-East Valley members into aseparate church when they hived off from HanoverStreet, and at Hanover Street he had conducted thelargest baptismal service ever held there. He hadmaintained all through his ministry the Gospel zealfor which the Pastors' College stood, and had kepthis character unsullied. He was glad the presenta-tion was being made to Mr Dallaston in the city withwhich his later life had been so closely associated,and that it was being made by the President duringhis official tour. The denomination had given itssenior minister a birthday present of practically £5for each year of his life, and did well to honour alife so nobly spent. It was better far to wreath achaplet of praise around a brother's brow than to laya wreath on his tombstone.

Mr Smeeton, in handing Mr Dallaston a walletcontaining a cheque for £367 8s 11d, stated that noman was held in higher honour among our ministersthan the guest of the evening. He was not so wellknown in the north as among the southern churches,but all through the denomination he was held in thehighest esteem. He had baptised a very large num-ber of believers, and his work had been crowned withmuch success. On behalf of the Baptists of theDominion he then tendered to Mr Dallaston warmestcongratulations on the splendid record he had madeby the grace of God during well-nigh fifty years ofservice, and wished for him a serene eventide to along day of consecrated ministry.

The audience rose to greet Mr Dallaston with ahearty round of applause when he stepped forward toacknowledge the testimonial of which he had beenmade the happy recipient. He expressed his deepthankfulness to all the friends who had contributedto it. He was glad to receive it in the church ofwhich he was now a member and with whose min-isters he had had so much pleasant fellowship. Thegift would lift him above the reach of financialworry; the cheque would check some anxieties! Allhis ministry had been to the Baptist Churches of New-Zealand, and he counted it a great privilege to havehad a share in the foundation work of the denomi-nation here. When he came to Hereford Street 18years ago, there were but few churches in thecolony. The Rev. J. Upton Davis, of Hanover Street,was his nearest neighbour. He had called the firstmeeting of Baptist ministers five years earlier thanthe date of the formation of the Baptist Union (1882).He had edited the first Baptist paper. It had beenhis privilege to aid in the erection of three BaptistChurches (Oxford Terrace, Vivian Street, and Morn-ington) and a Baptist manse at . Napier, and hadcollected between £4000 and £5000. One had saidthat a fit epitaph for him would be "And the beggardied"! He had baptised between 600 and 700. Hiswork had been rendered possible largely through thekindly ministry of his wife and daughter in the home.He owed more than he could tell to the prayers of hismother. He ascribed all praise to God, Who hadsaved and kept him, and hoped to speak His Wordas long as life lasted. He thanked all for kind wordsspoken and for a generous testimonial made.

During the evening solos were rendered by MissJessie McPherson and Mr Shrimpton, and recitationswere contributed by Miss Gracie Driver and MrsHampton Justice.

THE UNITED INSURANCE CO. LTD.FIRE — ACCIDENT MARINE.




Opening of White Swan Church.

The long-looked-for day of the opening of theWhite Swan Church and Sunday School arrived onSaturday, June 21. Weather conditions had delayedthe work several weeks, and the week leading up tothe day had been very uncertain; but Saturday prom-ised to be a lovely day, and, as the barometer rose,our spirits rose, too. and we knew that we werein for a good day.

The friends from the Edendale Church turned upin good numbers, and there were also many visitorsfrom the sister churches at Mt. Albert, Mt. Eden,Grange Road. Richmond, Epsom and the Tabernacle.All the people of the district showed themselves in-tensely interested in the opening, and the buildingwas crowded to its utmost capacity and everyoneenthusiastic for the work. It was a brilliant send-off, full of inspiration and the Spirit.

The Rev. H. R. Turner opened the meeting withprayer. Mr H. M. Smeeton, President of the NewZealand Baptist Union, occupied the chair, and spokeof the pleasure it gave him to be at such a gathering.The Rev. A. Anstice, of Mt. Albert, read the Scrip-cure portion. Mr Thatcher gave a welcome to thosepresent in the name of the residents of the district,and said he thought the church had been built as aresult of "spontaneous combustion." Mr A. R.Penman gave the report and a short history leadingup to this day. He told of a meeting of the Eden-dale teachers, held one Saturday evening in Sep-tember last, when Mr Enoch Woods, a veteranteacher and Sunday School worker, pointed out theneed of a Sunday School in this district; how therewere many children growing up who had never beento a Sunday School in their lives. The teachers feltthis to be a call to them to do something, and acommittee was set up to investigate. After numer-ous enquiries a room was secured in the house ofMrs Patterson, and from this starting point a Sun-day School was opened on October 28. The Eden-dale young men scoured the district in search ofscholars and to spread the news of the new SundaySchool. It was with some amount of anxiety thatwe awaited the response to our effort, but we wererewarded with the attendance of 24 children, althoughthe only seating accommodation was planks fastenedto kerosene boxes, and the music the music of thesoul. The Sunday School Union kindly gave us adozen Bibles, and the Baptist Young People's De-partment made us a grant of money. The EdendaleGirls' Bible Class have given two dozen hymn books,and from that time onwards our needs have beenmet often in the most unexpected ways.

Mr Enoch Woods saw to it that we had an organ,and one Sunday we found three seats awaiting uson the verandah—the gift of some anonymous donor.Many other things, have been supplied to us, and asour number grew the need of a church became im-perative. Towards this end a section of land waskindly given by Mr Morgan and vested in the BaptistUnion, and a donation of £50 by Mr Phil. Turner.

With this nucleus a meeting of the residents wascalled, plans discussed, collectors appointed, andwith an additional amount of over £80 collected inthe district, building operations commenced onEaster Saturday. The church has been built en-tirely by free labour. During the whole of this timethe school roll has been growing and now stands at45, with an average attendance latterly of nearly 40each Sunday.

Mr Phil. Turner gave the treasurer's statement,showing how the money had been expended, leavinghim at present a balance of £2 in hand to meet anexpenditure of approximately £70. Pastor C. Chant,of Epsom, representing the Auckland Auxiliary of the

Baptist Union, gave a short address. The Rev. R.Horn, of Richmond, dedicated the church in prayer.Mr Enoch Woods spoke words of wisdom, which comefrom a wealth of Christian experience covering along number of years. The Bible Classes at Mt.Albert presented the church with a polished oaktable and chair. Another gift that was much ap-preciated was a splendid Bible for pulpit use, donatedby Mr Grudge. The Baptist Y.W.B.C.U. gave anumber of hymn books and tune books.

A brilliant opening was brought to a close bythe ladies of the district providing afternoon tea,their catering being admirably done under very diffi-cult circumstances. The collection realised over£16, to which must be added a donation of £5. Nowthat the building is erected, it is proposed to holda service there every Sunday evening.

During the afternoon a Chesterfield chair, up-holstered in shadow tissue, was presented to MrsPatterson in recognition of her kindness in allowingus the use of her room for the commencement ofthe Sunday School. A telegram of congratulationwas received from the Rev. J. J. North.

A Presbyterian pioneer in the Dominion ofCanada maintained that a Church should be givenvisibility and permanence. For forty years or sothe Sydenham Church has lacked visibility. It hasbeer, tucked away in a side street, out of sight ofeverybody except the occupants of a dozen housesand the users of a read which leads to nowhere.When seen it is nothing to look at. Now it is goingto be put into the city's eye. The premises havebeen sold to the Seventh Day Adventists, and haveto be vacated within a few months. A new site,nearly three-quarters of an acre in area, has beensecured in the southern portion of Christchurch'smain artery, Colombo Street. It is a strategic stand.Several important thoroughfares are in close prox-imity to it. Many buildings are being erected roundabout it. On the whole, it is nearer than the presentchurch to the residences of the Sydenham folk. TheSunday School is to be built first. Plans for it havebeen adopted, and before these words are read thetimber will be on the ground. The work has to bedone with the utmost expedition, because it has beendecided to hold a great bazaar in the new schoolduring the last week of November next. It is hopedthat the foundation stone of the church will be laidwhen Conference comes to Christchurch in October.If any Baptist friends would like to have a fewbricks or boards in these buildings, the Sydenhampeople will be both pleased and encouraged.

The Council of the Baptist Churches of Auck-land, which is composed of the ministers and officersof the Baptist Churches of Auckland city andsuburbs, held its sixth annual meeting in the EpsomChurch on Monday, June 30. The Council was entertained for tea by the ladies of the Epsom Church,and in a lavish and truly Baptist way they providedfor the wants of their guests. The election of officersresulted in Mr A G. Jones, of the Epsom Church,being called to the Presidency of the Council, andMr W. Bigelow, of Grange Road Church, was re-elected Secretary and Treasurer. The annual reportreferred to the growing bond of fellowship betweenthe officers of our churches and of the sympathy

Auckland Baptist Council.

Advance, Sydenham!


Baptist Church at NorthBrighton.

There was a large and representative gatheringon Saturday afternoon, July 12, at North Brighton,the occasion being the unveiling of the foundationstone of the new Baptist Church. The work is inaccordance with an advance movement being carriedon by the Canterbury Auxiliary of the Baptist Unionof New Zealand.

After the singing of a hymn, the Rev. J. J. Northoffered prayer, which was followed by the reading ofPsalm lxxxiv by the Rev. W. A. Stuart, of Linwood.Mr J. Hayward (President of the Canterbury Aux-iliary) then gave an account of the inception andprogress of the work at North Brighton. The Rev.J. K. Archer having led in prayer, Mr Justice Adamsspoke of the need of Christian work, especially amongthe young.

The duty of unveiling the stone fell upon Mr andMrs C. Dixon, of Saltaire. Mrs Dixon spoke of thepleasure it gave to her husband and herself to seethe work in hand. The church was much needed inthe district. The temporary hall in which serviceswere now held was quite inadequate, and alreadychildren had been refused admittance to the SundaySchool through lack of room. The work was throughthe direct leading of God, and she foresaw muchblessing and joy mingled with its future history.After the singing of "O God, Our Help in AgesPast" the Rev. J. J. North closed the proceedingswith the Benediction.

The architect and builder, who is doing thewhole of the building operations free of cost, is MrA. C. Stewart, of Dunedin.

"Why I am a Baptist."By REV. F. A. CRAWSHAW, of Gisborne (Sometime

Vicar of Hinds, Canterbury).


Subscriptions received from 18/6/24 to 18/7/24.—Mosgiel, £6 10s; Auckland Tabernacle, £11 3s 3d;Oamaru, £1 14s; N.I.Y.M.B.C.U., £3 10s; Mr andMrs W. H. George, £18; Palmerston North, £3 0s6d; Mt. Albert, £5 8s; Hanover st. Church, 19s 6d;Hanover st. Sunday School, £1 0s 6d; Feilding, £13s 6d; B.W.M.U., £25; Edendnle Sunday School, £ 5 ;North-east Valley, £1 4s; Y.W.B.C.U., £12 5s;Wanganui, £1 18s 6d; Waihi, 10s 6d; Nelson, £213s 6d; Hastings Church, £1 0s 6d; Hastings SundaySchool, 6s 7d; Mt. Eden Church, £5 17s 3d; Mt.Eden Sunday School, £1 15s 6d; Y.W.B.C.U., £417s 9d; Petone, £1 4s. Total, £116 2s 4d.

In April, 1909—fifteen years ago—I joined thestaff of the Melanesian Mission at Norfolk Island.In 1911 I went from the Training College for Mela-nesian Teachers to San Christoval, in the SolomonIslands. It was here that the spiritual pilgrimagebegan which has ended in my finding a home ofliberty, rest, and peace as pastor of the BaptistTabernacle, Gisborne.

In those days, as an itinerant missionary, goingfrom village to village, oftentimes being the onlyEuropean man in the villages, I would sit on thebeaches in the moonlight and meditate. One subjectupon which much thought was spent was; "Why isit that I, of all my former Christian comrades, amthe only one that has left home and kindred andbecome a missionary?" I had belonged to a SundaySchool with a roll of over 400 scholars in Auckland,and yet no other former scholar of my generationhad become a missionary. The result of my cogita-tions was the conclusion that evidently we had notbeen made to think for ourselves and search theScriptures in a right way. A further result was thatI determined that I would not take so much forgranted, but would rather think things through formyself in the light of Holy Writ.

Just about this time a relative of mine wasconverted and joined up with "The Brethren." Weentered into a long controversy over his leaving theChurch of England, but as he would not accept whatthe early Fathers had to say about this or that, butinsisted on having Scripture for all things, I wasunable to convince him that he should not have leftthe Church of England. Gradually I, too, began tothrow overboard the weights of High Church train-ing and teaching, and in place of the dictum ofChurchianity, "The Church to teach and the Bibleto prove," I took that of Christianity, "Nevertheless,what saith the Scripture."

The years 1913-1915 were spent in New Zealandas curate at New Plymouth, but in June, 1915, at thecabled request of the new Bishop of Melanesia, Iwent back to the Training College at Norfolk Island.Ritualism had been introduced in a very large way bythe new Bishop, and I wore vestments, etc., underdefinite protest. Although a definite "Churchman,"I was strongly opposed to ritualism. No doubt, myexperience during. 1915 and 1916 helped me a fewsteps further towards light and liberty.

For health reasons, my wife and I returned toNew Zealand at the end of 1916, and I accepted aparish in South Canterbury.

Here an important step Baptistwards was sug-gested to me by the reading of the "Autobiographyof George Muller." This book I thoroughly enjoyed,and, next to the Bible, it, more than any other bookor person, has had the greatest influence in strength-ening my faith in God.

There was one part with which I did not agree,and which always annoyed me—the part which toldof his being immersed as a believer. He had beenbrought up in the Lutheran Church, and so had beenchristened and confirmed—hence we had much incommon in these respects, and I felt then that hehad made a mistake in being immersed. The resultof the annoyance was that my conscience troubledme over the question of "Believer's Baptism." Godcontinued to work his purpose out in me, and I be-came organising secretary for the New ZealandChurch Missionary Society, a definitely evangelical


created in a common desire for the promotion of de-nominational interest and the advancement of theKingdom. A welcome was extended to the ministerand officers of the newly-formed church at Edendale,a branch cause of our Mount Albert Church, andloving sympathy extended to the relatives of the lateMrs Alfred North and the late Mr S. H. Matthews,who was for so many years connected with the Auck-land Tabernacle. The retiring President (Mr A. T.Dow, of Grange Road Church) read a paper on"Loyalty to Christ, to Our Denomination, and to OurIndividual Church," and stressed the need for moreloyalty in our Christian duties as officers and mem-bers of our denomination and churches, and laidemphasis on the need for loyalty to our own IndianMission. The paper was listened to with great in-terest, and provoked a very useful and instructivediscussion on this important topic. The Councilwill visit Ponsonby Church for its next meeting earlyin September.


society. My work took me into most parishes in theSouth Island, and for the first time I came into closecontact with earnest evangelical ministers. Duringthis time the Bible became more than ever my rule ofguidance. When the New Zealand Church MissionarySociety amalgamated with the New Zealand Boardof Missions, for conscientious reasons 1 resigned,and went back to parish work. Instead of acceptingthe offer of a parish of my own, I went with anotherevangelical to work as his colleague in a largeparish. One thing which led me to do this was thatI had again become concerned very much over thesubject and subjects of baptism, and, as my col-league was sympathetic over this concern of mine,I could escape sprinkling infants to a large extentby his performing most of the ceremonies. This, Ifelt, would give me an opportunity of settling thematter in the light of the Scriptures.

In my High Church days, I had read all thebooks I could obtain written about Baptismal Re-generation, but, although I preached on the subjectand was as zealous then to get infants sprinkled asI am to-day to get believers immersed; the doctrinenever gripped me, and I could never grasp it.

Now I cams into contact with what seemed tohe a "via media"—the doctrine of Exclusive Breth-renism-Household Baptism. I endeavoured to satisfymy conscience with this, and for a couple of yearschloroformed my feelings with it, as by so doing itallowed me to remain in the Church of my fathers.Eventually I was asked to become vicar of Hinds,and after a time accepted the position, but in takingup this position I knew that I would face my Water-loo as far as remaining in the Church of Englandwas concerned.

Just about this time, one of my best friends,the Rev. F. Sampson, left the Church of Englandand became pastor of the Baptist Church at Whanga-rei. His doing this was the occasion of my giving,for the first time, study and consideration to theBaptist denomination. For years I had studiedBrethrenism, but could never satisfy myself that theywere truly Scriptural, but Baptists had never hadany of my thought or consideration. Mr Sampsonsent me a book which had convinced him that "Be-liever's Baptism" was the only Christian baptism,and this book, an old volume by Dr Carson, waseventually mainly instrumental in convincing andsatisfying me too.

I did, however, read carefully all the books Icould obtain which were written by "Infant" Bap-tists, but when they were all touched by the plumb-line of the "Nevertheless what saith the Scriptures"they proved to be wanting in convincing power. Ina favourite text often used by me for stressing theneed for increased interest in the missionary work ofthe Church, I at last found a sure rock upon whichto build my belief concerning true Christian baptism.In Matthew xxviii, 18-20 (R.V.), I see most clearlyto-day the threefold order of the Lord in His march-ing orders to His Church: Make disciples; thenimmerse them; then teach—i.e., build them up. TheSpiritual Pilgrimage was not yet over.

Satisfied about the question as to what is Chris-tian baptism, I was not yet satisfied as to where Icould find a true visible church. I obtained manybooks dealing with Baptist history and principles,and saw a very commendable example of what aBaptist pastor and congregation is like in PastorMatthews and the members of the Ashburton Taber-nacle. The book which convinced me of the absoluteScripturalness of the Baptist denomination, as faras principles were concerned, was a book called "TheChurch of the New Testament," by R. H. Carson,a son, I think, of the one whose book on baptism wasmy great help. This was loaned to me by MrSampson, who had had both books loaned to him

by Mr Laird, so that indirectly Mr Laird has beena help in this Spiritual Pilgrimage, of which myreaders have almost heard the end.

Unfortunately for my peace of mind, I heardof practices of certain Baptist congregations whichtroubled me much, and this, and the fact that Ilearned, too, that some Baptists did not seem toplace a due and right emphasis upon the ordinance,prevented me from joining the denomination ninemonths sooner than I did.

Baptists glory in the fact, that the New Testa-ment is their sole guide, but I was turned away fromthe denomination for some months—and I know thatothers are still turned away—because in some in-stances it is a vain glorying, for some have turnedto the "beggarly elements of the world," and peoplein search of a truly Scriptural body of people expectto find them leading the higher Christian life.

God was not finished with me yet, and eventuallyI turned again to the study of Baptist principles,and was once more convinced that the principles wereindeed quite Scriptural. This being so, I felt thatthere could be no hindrance to the Holy Spirit workingHis own way, and that, given a pastor and congre-gation prepared to work under the administration ofthe Holy Spirit, practices could in time be made toaccord with principles.

The principle "that each congregation is a con-gregation in itself, not to be interfered with in anyway by any other congregation and not to be heldresponsible for the doing of Baptists elsewhere,"gave me the confidence to join up with the Baptistdenomination.

God, Who had been working His purpose out inme for so many years, added to His blessing this,that He has called me to work in a place which, be-cause of its isolation, gives a fair opportunity of mybeing able to test the possibility under the aboveprinciple of proving that where the Holy Spirit hasHis own way. practices can be made to accord withprinciples. The Lord has said: "Ye are my friends,if ye do whatsoever I command you," and, havingproved the blessedness of knowing Him in this newway as my Friend and having found indeed that thepathway of obedience is the pathway of happinessand blessing, I have felt compelled to give this out-line account of my Spiritual Pilgrimage in the hopethat it may in some measure be the means of helpingsome fellow pilgrim out of the wilderness of doubt,indecision, or disobedience through the Jordan intoCanaan, where there yet remaineth much blessing tobe possessed.

The Literary and PressCommittee.

The Convener is glad to report that most of thechurches have responded to the request for theappointment of an agent to handle the Baptist book-lets in the Church and Sunday School.

Is there an agent in your Church? If not,make inquiries why.

A minister writes to say he secured a fine mem-ber through the passing on of a copy of the Rev. A.North's "Primer on Church Membership."

The committee has a limited supply of these at3d per copy. Send for some. We received an orderthe other day from Australia for our literature.Agents please report progress from time to time,and send for more.

"Primer of Baptism"—3d."Primer of Church Membership"—3d.

"A History of the Baptists in Outline"—9d.All from the pen of the Rev. Alfred North.

ERIC EVANS, Convener,Caversham, Dunedin.


Revival Expectancy in Auckland.By REV. JOSEPH W. KEMP.

The advent of the Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher toAuckland has been welcomed by his brother ministersof almost all denominations. Already, and barelysix weeks have passed, Beresford Street Congrega-tional Church has had a veritable rebirth, and theimpact of the preacher's personality is being felt byother denominations than his own. The story ofrevival in the Old Country, as witnessed by MrFletcher, was graphically and arrestingly told beforea large gathering of ministers of all denominationsin Pitt Street Methodist Church. Practically everylarge centre of the United Kingdom and Ireland hadbeen touched by the revival flame. He vividly de-scribed the spread of the movement from its EastAnglia and Scottish awakenings to the Bolshevik andCommunist centres of Glasgow to the slums of Lon-don and the aristocratic Nonconformist churches ofthe Metropolis. Melting and moving was the recitalof the incidents of quickening experienced in such aplace as the City Temple, under Dr Norwood, andthe localities visited by the Rev. Douglas Brown,whom he described as his very clear brother; alsothe towns and cities of Ireland, where, notwithstand-ing much that was undesirable, there had been amost evident work of the Spirit of God. "In everyplace revival had begun in prayer," said the speaker.It is the old, old story. We are not making verymuch headway with all our lumbering machinery;rather does it appear as if progress was retarded.Mr Fletcher emphasised the need for prayer, andcalled on Auckland ministers to gather regularly inprayer that the city may be caught in the revivalmovement. Those present at the meeting immedi-ately responded, and the Rev. Dr Laws, of theMethodist Church, suggested we meet on the morrowfor "ministerial conference," whatever Mr Fletchermight mean by that expression. To this we allagreed. The first meeting has been held. It wasone of prayer, fellowship, and conference. MrFletcher was invited to guide the meeting, for whichhis wide experience qualified him. Quite simplyand with much spiritual feeling, we were led outinto intercession for the city. "We have waved thecenser, but the plague has not been stayed," as itwas eloquently put by one brother in his prayer.Confession, contrition, and consecration marked theservice throughout. An attempt to organise for thefuture was precluded by the desire for prayer forpresent need. "I am not concerned about what willissue from such gatherings as this," said Dr Laws,with passion and pathos in his voice; "our presentneed is for prayer,'' and so feel all the brethrenWe may take it that such a manifest deepening spiritof desire in the hearts of so many of God's servantsis the harbinger of coming blessing and the preludeto times of refreshing. Well-marked features havepreceded and accompanied revival movements inevery age. One of these is a spirit of deep tender-ness and kindly sympathy leading to a gracioussweetness of Christian intercourse. It is common atother times to exaggerate the failings of others andto judge severely, but now there are genuine con-trition and identification with the evils of the Churchrather than censorious judgment upon fellow Chris-tians. In cultivating such a spirit, we believe weare moving along lines that will most surely bringabout the desired revival. As far back as the year1922, Rev. Douglas Brown said he found evidences ofcoming revival in all parts of the United Kingdom,and he gave his reasons:

(1) The widespread interest in revival meetings.(2) Extraordinary "intensity" of congregations.(3) Spontaneous response to appeals.(4) Lessening of prejudice and reserve in all the

churches.

(5) Remarkable increase of evangelistic fervourin churches of all denominations. Many ofthese evidences are with us.

The Auckland ministers have decided to meetevery Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock for prayer forrevival. Could not ministers in other cities so gatherand wait until the fire falls?

Treasurer's Statement.

Dr. Balance at June 30, 1924

Dr. Balance at June 30, 1924

Will Church Treasurers and Collectors pleasenote that our financial year is drawing to a close?Some have forwarded their statements together withamounts promptly each month, but a number aremuch in arrears with these, and from the abovestatement it will be seen that funds are badly needed.Kindly help us at this end by remitting promptly.

NOTE WELL.Will Treasurers of Churches and missionary

funds please remember that the financial year closeson September 20? The office (Box 693, Wellington;will be glad to receive funds you have in hand now.Keep the overdraft down as much as you can.

Statistical sheets and reports from the churchesshould be prepared in good time and forwarded tothe Secretary of the Union before September 10.

FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT JUNE 30, 1924.UNION:

Receipts.Expendi-

ture.

Expendi-ture.Receipts.

MISSIONARY:

Dr. Balance as at May 31,1924

Receipts for JuneExpenditure for June

Or. Balance as at May 31,1924

Receipts for JuneExpenditure for June

As per las t issueMangaramaramaOamaruMorningtonHaweraAdditional—

Napier S.S.Auckland TabernacleGreendale S.S.GisbornePalmers ton NorthInvercargi l lEdendale

(Whi te Swan S.S.)WanganuiNew Plymouth

(Westown S.S.)"Better late than

never"

Self-denial Returns.1923 1924 Increase Decrease

£1458

9121013

s.10111816

3

d.7606

10

£1395

11111913

s.883

1613

d.90083

£216

1

s.1616

d.46

9 09

25

£279

s.18

d.2

1 13 0

11315

171015

36

10

000000

11315

171015

36

10

000000

1110

20 1

110

20

8 6 8 6

1 0 0 1 0 0

£1505£1477

012

54

£1477 12 4 £1254 3 1 £281£254

113

21

£ 27 8 1£ 27 8 1

£ s. d. £ s. d.

262 0 10306 12 5

155 11 0

£306 12 5 £417306

1112

105

£110 19 5

£ s. d. £ s. d.

1,822 9 4578 13 2

£578 13 2 £2,180578

713

42

357 18 0

£1,601 14 3

Decrease









General Secretary: Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles,To whom all money for Home and Foreign Missions should be sent,except B.W.M.U. amounts, which must be sent to the Treasurer,Mrs C. Collins. 6 Bidwell street, Wellington.



To whom should be sent all communications regarding the dis-semination of Baptist literature in our Sunday Sohools and churches.

AUGUST, 1924.

What N.Z. Baptists Want.

We are becoming a reasonably well equippedChurch. We have a Foreign Mission which is lovedby all our people. We have an ideal children's home,a token of our philanthropic spirit. We have anAnnuity Fund which is going to take the ache ofanxiety from the declining years of our men. We arealso, and timidly, operating a Sustentation Fund.But there is one thing we lack.

The thing we lack is essential to us. It is notan extra. We have no adequate scheme for trainingour ministers. We want to focus the attention of ourwhole membership on this problem. In time pastwe have relied a good deal on importations. Our fourcity churches have generally fallen back on suppliesfrom abroad. New Zealanders trained in New Zea-land have either not been available or have not beenacceptable, as a rule. We are not sinners above allthe churches in this regard. The Presbyterians, inspite of Knox, cast their eyes beyond the seas whentheir larger churches fall vacant. There is a certainperversity in man, which our Lord hit off in aproverb which we will not here quote.

But, waiving this, the need of 90 per cent. of ourchurches cannot be met by importations. The bestmen are kept at Home, and have far more attractivespheres than this Dominion can offer them. Evenif our smaller churches could find the heavy travellingcharges, they cannot rely on getting the sort ofman they want. It is a very fine sort of man who isneeded in our smaller towns and churches. Anyone will not do. We must train men racy of our soil.We must give the young men of our churches towhom the holy call comes an adequate training forthe greatest calling that this earth offers. We have,of course, done something in times past. We receivedthe courtesy and opportunity of. Knox College. Wecannot pay too warm a tribute to the kindliness ofthe scholars of that famous institution. We with-drew our men some years ago for the simple andsufficient reason that our Church stands for a dif-ferent theory, both of the Gospel and of the ministryfrom that cherished by our Presbyterian brethren.

If we did not have a different theory we should haveno valid claim to separate existence. To us Christianfaith is not hereditary. To us the Christian ministryis not a profession; it is a calling.

For the past five or six years we have made shiftas best we could. We have used the Universitygenerously. The ministers, first of Christchurchand more lately of Wellington, have rendered invalu-able service to our men. But this is manifestly make-shift. Men should have community life. Theyshould be in daily touch with an adequate scholarversed in the Greek Testament and in theology. Thisis the least that we can do with. We want in oneof our four towns a house in adequate grounds inwhich the men and a professor may reside, and wewant that professor.

We cannot too earnestly say that an educatedministry is essential. Fervour and prayerfulness,and the longing to see men saved and coming to theknowledge of the truth, will take a young man acertain way. But he will not be saved from makinga fool of himself in regard to matters of fact andof theory by these things. His intellect must becultured and his memory must be stored. Then hewill take hold of his work and be a shepherd ofsouls—but not till then. The great name of Spur-geon has misled the Baptists to some extent. Spur-geon was not a university man. He was not agraduate from a theological college. He was almost,if not quite, a heaven-sent genius. He was, in spiteof sparse preparation, an urgent student. Thosemen "who are graduates in useless sciences andamateurs in necessary theology" are not to be com-pared with C.H.S. Nor are those ignorant zealots,who despise the midnight lamp and the scholars'zeal, of his company. We must have an educatedministry.

There can be no future for a church whose min-isters do not know their own subject and who do notknow the relations and bearings of all human know-ledge on that subject. The church is the one ex-tension school for most of our adherents. Those whoare shy of knowledge are not true Christians. Theyshould go to Bombay and join the Parsees. Theyare dualists. That was a magnificent saying ofAugustine: "My Master claims as his own possessionall truth wherever found." We will indulge in aquotation from Forsyth. He was discussing our topic,and reverted to the exclusion of dissenters from theuniversities. Those homes of learning were openonly to assenters. Yet the country professed tolera-tion. Forsyth says: "It was a deep and deadlypolicy that strove to neutralise the toleration actby cutting the root of the nerves that kept our mindsalive. It was truly and malignantly thought thatif we could be prevented from having an educatedministry we should presently need no more tolerationthan the dead."

Let us repeat that stinging word: "If we donot have an educated ministry we shall soon needno more toleration than the dead." The educationalstandards have risen during the last 25 or 50 years.General (though scrappy) knowledge is possessed bymost folk. These circumstances emphasise our con-tention. We must have a well-read and a constantly-reading ministry. Men of genius will educate them-selves, college or no college. But the average manmust be put to it. The drudgery of bookland mustbe encountered. Our Church has a philosophy theplace and value of which requires skilled interpreta-tion and defence. It is round that root idea ofpersonality that all our thought centres. An adequateknowledge of Greek released the Reformation. Butfor scholars we might all be Romanists still. Andbut for men who knew what they were talking aboutthe Baptist Church, with its return to individualismand to freedom, would neither have emerged norpersisted. Give us men who, with engaging and


communicative ardour, will preach the full-orbedGospel, and we shall do much for humanity in thisland.

Is there no one who will lead in this matter?Is there no man or woman who will make this pro-ject their own? To do it after you are gone is nothalf so interesting and satisfying as to do it whilecounsel and direction are possible. We know thatthere are some who have this thing at heart. Weplead for action. The moss must not grow on thisappeal. We see by faith the New Zealand BaptistCollege of to-morrow. We see ardent faces gatheredabout the professor. We want these things to passfrom dreamland into reality before we are mucholder.

OBITUARY.

A Baptist College forNew Zealand.

At last Conference a special committee wasappointed to deal with the matter of the training ofstudents for the ministry, and was instructed tobring down a report to next Conference with "defi-nite and detailed recommendations.''

The committee has held two sessions in Welling-ton, with the President (Mr H. M. Smeeton) in thechair. The members are unanimous in their recom-mendation that a Baptist College of New Zealandshould be established at the earliest possible date;and, further, that steps should be taken to securea property for such purposes.

All matters relating to the training of studentsfor the Christian ministry in association with suchan institution have been exhaustively dealt with, anddecisions arrived at by the committee. But thematter of first importance to the denomination is thefounding, if possible at the beginning of 1925, of acollege for the adequate training and equipment ofmen called of God for the work of the ministry.Perhaps the greatest thing done in the Old Testa-ment for the Kingdom of God was the founding bySamuel of the School of the Prophets. Some of themighty seers, not excluding David, had residencethere. According to one great interpreter of theGospels, the greatest and most fruitful work JesusChrist did during His three years' ministry was thetraining of the little band of men who were to bethe founders of His Church in the world. Certainly,if the Baptists of New Zealand are to use their oppor-tunity to help on the work of Christ's Kingdom inthis land, the key of progress will be found in theministry. In our churches are happily scores andhundreds of young men, many of whom have abilityto teach and to preach the Word. A college in vitalrelationship on the one hand with the passion andpurpose of the evangel, and on the other with theinstruments and methods of teaching, preaching, andevangelising, should compel many such to dedicatethemselves wholly to the work of Christ.

It may be that God has laid it on the heart ofsome of our people to help by a worthy gift towardsachieving a college. If the committee could reportto Conference substantial and sacrificial backing oftheir main proposal, it would greatly stimulate en-thusiasm, and would make possible the almost imme-diate realisation of the proposal. Should any heartsbe so moved, the President (Mr H. M. Smeeton)will be glad to hear from them.

W. S. R.

A significant hint of the uncertain value of Hun-garian currency is furnished by a report for 1923of the Baptist Union of that country, a copy of whichhas lately reached Dr Rushbrooke. On the title pageis printed: "Price, 1 egg; in America, 5 cents."

MR SEERINC H. MATTHEWS (AUCKLAND).

There passed hence on June 18, in his eighty-fifth year, Mr Seering Hall Matthews, one of Auck-land's earliest colonists, a highly-esteemed Christiancitizen, and an honoured member of the Baptistdenomination. Mr Matthews landed in Aucklandas a lad in the year 1848. On October 22 last, theseventy-fifth anniversary of his arrival, the New Zea-land Herald, in a special article, referred to his variedand interesting career. During the Waikato War inthe 'sixties, Mr Matthews saw active service inseveral of the outposts of Auckland. He gained alieutenant's commission, and subsequently a cap-taincy in the old Rutland Company (No 2 AucklandVolunteers). Later, he was appointed Superintendentof the Auckland City Fire Brigade, and with a crudeplant in a city of wood performed effective service.Me afterwards occupied important positions in com-mercial life. He was for some years confidentialsecretary to the late Mr J. C. Firth, the well-knownflour miller, and later established a practice as a pro-fessional accountant and company secretary.

Mr Matthews was one of the earliest officers ofthe Auckland Y.M.C.A. and Sunday School Union,having held the positions of Trade Secretary andafterwards President of the latter body. He was oneof the founders and the first Treasurer, of the NewZealand Baptist Union. But he was perhaps bestknown as the veteran Secretary of the AucklandTabernacle. He was admitted to membership bybaptism in the old Wellesley Street Chapel 50 yearsago. In 1876 he was appointed Church Secretary,during the pastorate of the Rev. P. H. Cornford, andheld the position till 1910, being then in his seventy-first year, having occupied the secretarial office for34 years and during the currency of seven pastorates.Upon resigning the post of Secretary, he was madean Honorary Life Deacon. He was also one of thefirst Trustees of the Tabernacle property. Of hismagnificent and devoted service one can barely speakadequately. He laid the Church under great obliga-tion by his watchful care of its interests and his zealand wisely-directed energy on its behalf. He wasno mere "fine-weather sailor." In difficult and critical periods he carried through the exacting duties ofhis post with loyalty and patience. He was a truefriend of the ministers and a beloved and trustedservant of the members. The frailties inseparablefrom advancing age kept him from the Lord's Housefor the past three or four years, but he was presentas recently as the Old Folks' Rally in May last, andthoroughly enjoyed the gathering.

At the funeral service in the Tabernacle, theminister (the Rev. Joseph W. Kemp) based a shortaddress on the words, "After he had served hisgeneration he fell on sleep." This, he said, wasprecisely what took place in our brother's case. Hehad fallen on sleep—a tranquil close to a noble life,a life of singular beauty and piety and one of re-markable usefulness. A brief service at the grave-side at Waikumete was conducted by Mr Kemp. Oneof the office-bearers of the "Fountain of Friendship"Lodge of Oddfellows also paid a tribute to the worthof their late brother, who had held the principal highoffices of the order. Mr Matthews is survived byhis widow and an adult family.

At the Communion Table on the following Lord'sDay morning, Mr F. N. Andrews, who had workedfor many years with Mr Matthews on the diaconateand the Board of Trustees, expressed the Church'ssense of loss in parting with so good and true anofficer, who had served his Master and his Churchwith ability and fidelity for many long years.


MRS NEWTON.

On June 21 there passed away an old andesteemed resident of Auckland, Mrs Pheoba Newton,widow of Henry Newton, at the mature age of 92years. Mrs Newton was baptised at Zion Chapel,Chadwick Street, London, and was later in member-ship at South Parade, Leeds, and Eastburn Taber-nacle. Arriving in New Zealand in August, 1875, thedeceased lady joined Wellesley Street Chapel, underthe pastorate of the Rev. P. H. Cornford. Two yearslater, Mrs Newton went to Thames with her husband,where she remained for some years, residing withher son, Mr W. H. Newton, afterwards going toreside with her daughter at Avondale. The deceasedlady was respected and beloved by her many friendsat Thames and Auckland, and although a greatsufferer had borne her afflictions in a true Christianspirit for a long period.

MRS HILLIKER, SEN. (OAMARU).

Our Church has lost one of its first members inthe person of Mrs Hilliker, who was called to higherservice on July 4. Hers was a happy and triumphantentry into her eternal rest after a long life of devotionto her Lord. The deceased lady, who was in hereighty-fifth year, was most regular in her attendanceat the church services till the frailties of accumu-lated years prevented her from engaging in the moreactive services of the Church. Mrs Hilliker and herlate husband were staunch Baptists, and those whoknew them both can bear testimony to their long andfaithful service. Mrs Hilliker was a bright and con-sistent believer in her Lord. "The memory of thejust is blessed." Mrs Hilliker leaves three daughters—Mrs Hannah, Mrs Aitkenhead, and Miss Hilliker,of this town—and three sons—Mr F. Hilliker, MrW. Hilliker, and Mr T. Hilliker, living in Dunedin—who are active Church workers. To the bereavedones we tender our warmest sympathy.

MRS ALEX. BROWN.

On Sunday afternoon, June 22. there passedaway Mrs Alex. Brown, a member of the NelsonBaptist Church. The deceased was one who tooka prominent part in the work of the Church, moreparticularly in all that pertained to the welfare ofthe young people, being a vice-president of theYoung People's Institute and also associated withthe Young Women's Bible Class. Besides her Churchactivities, the late Mrs Brown had been connectedwith the local branch of the Women's Christian Tem-perance Union, occupying the position of secretary.As showing the high esteem in which Mrs Brown washeld, the funeral on the following Tuesday waslargely attended. The Rev. J. Laird conducted theservice, representatives of the W.C.T.U. also takingpart. On the following Sunday evening, a memorialservice was held in the church, the building beingcrowded. Among the congregation were membersof the W.C.T.U, and representatives of the BoyScouts. Mr Laird preached from the words, "Thanksbe to God, Which giveth us the victory." Mrs Brownleaves a husband and a young son, also a sister(Miss Witney). The fragrance of her memory willlong remain with us as a Church, one of her manyacts of thoughtfulness being the floral decorationsof the sanctuary.

Conference will be held this year in Christchurch,from October 8 to October 15. The Baptists of thatcity are hard at work preparing to give the delegatesa royal welcome. The programme is in hand, andwe expect to publish it in full in our next issue.

Wednesday, October 8.—From 10 in the morningthe committees will meet. In the evening there willbe a Welcome Tea to the visitors, and at the publicmeeting to follow the President's address will bedelivered.

Thursday, October 9.—The day's duties will be-gin with an early morning prayer meeting, and theLord's Supper will precede the business of the day.It is proposed to hold the Young People's Demonstra-tion that night.

Friday, October 10.—Early morning prayer willinitiate the day's task, again. The B.W.M.U. willtransact their business in the morning, while theUnion deals with its business; but it is suggestedthat the whole Assembly unite with our sisters ina Thanksgiving Service in the afternoon to celebratethe coming-of-age of the B.W.M.U. The eveningpublic meeting will deal with public Questions.

Saturday, October 11.—In the morning the min-isters will meet; a picnic and a special function inconnection with the opening of the new building atSydenham will take place in the afternoon. A con-cert, in which the combined Baptist choirs will assist,is planned for the evening.

Sunday, October 12.—The missionary sermonwill be preached in the morning; the new churchat Brighton will be opened in the afternoon, andthere may be an afternoon rally of the SundaySchools. It is also suggested that an open-air servicebe held during the day.

Monday, October 13.—Prayer meeting in theearly morning, followed by important business ses-sions of the Union and a public meeting at night.

Tuesday, October 14, will be Missionary Day.Business sessions will occupy the day, and at nighta great Missionary Demonstration will be held. Pos-sibly Miss Rice will be one of the speakers. Workin India and in New Zealand will be discussed.

Wednesday, October 15, will be the closing day.Al1 unfinished business will be dealt with, and atnight there will be a public tea. The Union sermonwill follow, and a happy united Communion willfittingly close the Conference.

It is hoped that there will be a large attendanceof delegates, and that God's best blessing will restupon the whole Conference. Pray that guidance maybe given in the completion of the committee's plans,and that we may have a Conference long to be re-membered for enthusiasm, spirituality, and upliftingpower.

Delegates cannot send in their names too soonto Christchurch. The Convener of the HospitalityCommittee is Mr A. F. Carey., Bealey Avenue, Christ-church.

Conference, 1924.

The Baptist Church at Durham Road. Gateshead,England, is seeking the present address of one ofits members, now believed to be resident in NewZealand. The officers of that Church would like tohave news of Mrs Laura McKenzie, if any of ourreaders should know her address.

MR A. MCLEAN.

We also regret to record the death of Mr A.McLean, who passed away during the month ofJune. His two sons are associated with the Churchand School. These two young men have the sym-pathy of a large circle of friends, as they haverecently been bereaved of both father and mother.




Mission Station at Duttkhala,

Situated about three miles from Brahmanbar ia . The photograph shows the school teacher and his wifeand their home and school. The place is in a mar sh, and most of the year our houses are an island.

Miss Peters.Miss Beckingsale reports a gratifying improve-

ment in Miss Peters's condition. Her temperaturewas quite normal again, and the doctor was allowingher to take long walks.

Miss Arnold.In last month's Baptist we reported that Miss

Eileen Arnold had returned from Calcutta Hospitalto Brahmanbaria. We regret to say that she is againin an unsatisfactory state of health, and has joinedMiss Peters at the Almora Sanatorium. The troublethat has occasioned this step has been detected early.This, taken together with Miss Arnold's usualrobustness and her otherwise sound constitution,gives reason to hope for good news in the very nearfuture. Let prayer ''rise like a fountain" unceas-ingly for these friends. Be sure to read the "PrayerMemos" in this issue."

Miss Beckingsale.Miss Beckingsale has had a much-needed change

to Darjeeling. She confirms the "weather report"given in our last issue, and says that the heat on

the plains this summer has been "fearful." MissBeckingsale has reopened the school at Chandpur,and bravely declares that she and Miss Cowles willdo their best to keep both stations going until MissBradfield's much-looked-for return.

Miss Cowles.From the foregoing it will be gathered that

Miss Cowles has made good progress since theillness which necessitated treatment in Calcutta. Thedoctor, however, advises that she must "go slow" fora while longer, and, though that will be hard for her,we trust that she will do so for her sake, our own,and the work's.

Rev. Harry Jones.We continue to get satisfactory reports, of the

progress this good brother is making in his languagestudy. We trust his health will stand the demandsmade upon it. He has a bright goal in front ofhim. and is steadily plodding towards it,

"The Listener."Our readers are giving "The Listener" a rest

ihis month which he doesn't appreciate: The Mis-sionary Questions column reveals the thinking of ourpeople concerning matters of moment on our ownand on other fields. Don't let our thinking getsluggish, and don't let us be afraid to ask ourquestions. Much useful information is elicited bymaking use of the column. "The Listener" wouldbe glad to hear from YOU.


The Young Folks' Messenger.The Editor of the Children's Missionary Mes-

senger, who happens to be at the same time Mission-ary Editor of the Baptist, received the other day aletter from a well-known secretary of one of ourChristchurch Sunday Schools. Our correspondentwas good enough to express appreciation of theeffort put forth to make our little missionary leafletinteresting to our young folks. Such a letter is likeangels' visits, and we appreciate the kindly note,most of all because it gave promise of urging uponthe Canterbury schools the importance of making anintelligent use of the Y.F.M. We wish all our super-intendents would take a fresh interest in its distribu-tion among their scholars, urging them to readevery line of it, to enter for its occasional competi-tions, and generally to make good use of itsinformation.

Memos. About Prayer.

A Message from Dan Crawford.Last week we joyfully baptised more than twenty

saved-and-know-it African souls. Now to-day comesthe news of thirteen baptised in our branch church onthe north shore of the Lake. Let me give you oneinstance of how one old-fashioned phrase from HisWord delivers unto salvation. Cold and casual toan American, it was that stabbing sentence, "TheSecond Death." Now try and imagine (but oh, youcannot!) what a strange thing. This African sinnerwas struck by such an incredible phrase, neverknown in all the centuries of African night, "TheSecond Death." It is their everlasting jibe that anyman, of any colour, can die only once. Once, onlyonce! It is their cheapest comment that any sort ofman can die only once. But here comes a new pointof prestige for the old mud mission house. What?So a man can really die twice, and this "SecondDeath" is as endless as eternity! So this is why thewhite missionaries "hurried" (?) to give the warningand tell of the way of escape. When a house is onfire, do not people rush to the flaming spot? This"Second Death" is the key to our activity. Nowonder we are at it night and day. If that darkdoom lies ahead, then why not leave all and warntheir African tribes? The business of the greatmines to the south and all the great trading housesdwarf into nothing when compared with the missionin its humble surroundings and its momentous mes-sage.

It is not in one case but in many that this phraseabout the "Second Death" has led. Africans toEternal Life in Christ.

Loyally yours,D. CRAWFORD.

Elizabethville, Belgian Congo,February 1, 1924.

The Christian who begins to tithe or to practicestewardship in regard to his income will have at leastseven surprises:

1. At the amount of money he has for the Lord'swork.

2. At the deepening of his spiritual life.3. At the ease with which he meets his own

obligations.4. At the pleasure he finds in larger giving.5. At his satisfaction in the practice of steward-

ship in his time, his talents and all his possessions.6. At himself for not adopting the plan sooner.7. At his new appreciation of the goodness of

God.

"If the Church must resort chiefly to prayer forthe missionary workers—workers and Church mustlabour together in prayer for desired conversions;and foreign work as a rule has been less fruitful insuch results where the Church has least lavished herprayers."

"It is the want of prayer that is disruptive andthat distorts the plans of God."—Speer.

"The world just now is sadly in need of betterservice, but before this can be rendered there mustbe better prayer."—Bishop Brent.

"Ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye have not,because ye ask amiss."—James iv, 3.

"It is much more difficult to pray for missionsthan to give to them. We can only really pray formissions if we habitually lead a life of prayer, anda life of prayer can only be led if we have enteredinto a life of communion with God."—ProfessorWarneck.

"Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers—take yeno rest, and give Him no rest, till He establish andtill He make Jerusalem a praise on the earth."—Isa.lxii, 6, 7.

"Whatever influences Christians one by one, andalso corporately, to devote themselves in the rightspirit and manner to missionary intercession, willmost directly and effectively ensure the realisation ofthe missionary purposes of Christ."—Mott.

"Personally, I firmly believe that only the prayersof friends at home enable us to keep at our workunder climatic conditions so enervating and depress-ing that human nature must succumb."—A Mission-ary in India.

"Nothing less than a Church whose individualmembers are tremendously in earnest can evangelisethe non-Christian world."—Mott.

"The neglect of prayer by the Church at homemeans defeat at the front of battle."—EdinburghConference Report.

I have seen something to-day which surprised mevery much, and I feel sure that the readers of "OurIndian Field" would like to hear about it.

To-morrow the great festival of the JaggernathCar will be held at Puri, necessitating the running ofmany special trains from Calcutta. But few of thepeople of this district can afford to go so far, and whyshould they when there is a temple of Jaggernathabout a mile to the East of Comilla? The originalbuilding is now an utter ruin, having been destroyedby successive earthquakes: consequently it has notbeen used for many years. It was octagonal in shape,and six stories high. But near by stands a much lesspretentious one-story brick building, containingseveral rooms, and in the central one the images ofJaggernath and his brother and sister may be seenany day in the week. To-morrow these images willbe placed in a rough "car," a huge skeleton structurewith central and corner towers. Hawsers will heattached to the Rath, and it will be drawn along theroad by elephants and by devotees, to a still smallertemple, about half a mile nearer the town. The wor-shippers believe that a sight of the god will save themfrom the necessity of a reincarnation. It is also con-sidered meritorious to assist in drawing the car.When a group of pilgrims is permitted (by thepriests) to see the god in the temple, they celebrate

A Systematic Giver's Surprises.

The Festival of the JaggernathCar.

By Miss B. HARRIS.


the moment with shouts, as of victory, and the wildestexcitement prevails when the car is being drawn alongthe road.

It is the custom of the local missionaries to attendthis festival for the purpose of selling gospel portionsand preaching to small groups of people, as it islikely that there are some among the pilgrims whoare really anxious to find the way of salvation. Thisyear we cannot go on the actual day of the Rath, asto-morrow will he Sunday. But we all went out thisafternoon and spent a few hours there. When wearrived, there were not many people about, but theirnumber gradually increased. Everywhere men werebusy with sheets of iron and bamboos erecting stalls,where sweetmeats, fruit, etc., will be sold, for thes?things are presented to the god as offerings. Car-penters were still working on the car, and others weredecorating it with greenery. Numbers of people weremaking a circuit of it, touching the planks with theirforeheads, and then picking grass from the groundclose to the wheels, and placing it on the car. Wewent about among the people and sold a fair numberof books and had opportunities of talking with someof the women and telling them of the true Jaggernath(Lord of the world).

There was nothing very new to me in all this.I had seen the same sort of thing many times before.Then what was it that impressed me so? It was thesight of a certain type of people who were certainlynot Bengalees. They came walking from far villages,in groups of a dozen or so, but altogether they musthave totalled some hundreds. The women carriedtheir babies tied to their backs, most of them worejackets, some of velveteen or lace, and loads of beadnecklaces. They were thick set and sturdy, andtheir features were distinctly Mongolian.

One's first instinct is to call them "Garos,' ' solike are they to those we have seen in the North ofMymensingh district. They must be first cousinsat least! Inquiries about them hve elicited thefacts that they are Manipuries, an aboriginal tribe likethe Garos, and that they can be traced back for abouttwo thousand years. It is said that about that timethe ruler of this part of the country married a Mani-puri wife. It would seem as though from that timea section of the tribe became recognised as a castewithin Hinduism. Nowadays their claim to be Hindusrests upon the observance of three annual festivals(including the one we are speaking of) all of whichare connected with the worship of Krishna. Anothersection of the tribe has become Mahommedan.

It seems to me a thousand pities that they shouldso easily have become entangled in the meshes ofHinduism. I cannot imagine that the Hindus ofthat day put forth any great effort to win them,though such attempts are not unknown in these mod-ern days. The point to be noted, however, is thatthough such a change of religion may raise the peopleslightly in the social scale, it also makes it harder towin them for Christ. Let us not forget that thereare many such tribes in different parts of Bengal.Their contact with civilisation means that their Ani-mistic faith is doomed. They will either be absorbedby Hinduism, Mahommedanism, or ChristianityWhich?—Our Indian Field.

" ' A chapel on every hilltop and Christians togreet you in every village.' This is not a report ofdeputation work at home, but almost a literal factabout the Lushai field. Another splendid feature ofthe Lushai Church is their realisation that they havebeen enlightened so that they may be lights in theworld. Many are now turning their eyes to themountains and valleys beyond, where Pois and Chinsand other tribes are still in darkness; and young menand women are volunteering to be the missionariesof the Lushai Church."—W. J. L. Wenger.

Christmas in a Bengal Village.By the REV. HAROLD BRIDGES, B.D.

Christmas in Bengal is known as the Christians'"Bara Din." The name means "Great Day" andthis year, at any rate, our little Christian communityat the village of Dayapur, Dacca, were resolved thattheir festival should be worthy of the title.

When Mrs Bridges and I arrived after a tediousjourney by river we found ourselves quickly involvedin the strenuous activities of the sports field, andsports were followed, as the sun sank over the riverin a blaze of crimson and gold, by a great open-airfeast. Then as darkness fell all gathered under thetrees by the church to feast their eyes on magiclantern pictures. Gradually the laughter whichgreeted the appearance of a number of humorouspictures gave place to more serious thoughts as thestory of the birth and boyhood of Jesus was por-trayed. The lecturer had but little to do, for theChristian lads and lassies themselves, by their eagerand accurate answers to questions put, preached theGospel of Christmas to their non-Christian neigh-bours who had flocked together to enjoy the show.The hour of bedtime was long past, but still thenumbers increased, and far info the night, to theaccompaniment of drums and cymbals, Christianhymns resounded.

The Sunday which followed Christmas began withan early open-air Sunday School, and every hour ofthe day was filled with activity. At two-oclock allthe Christians marched in reverent procession to theriver, where, amidst songs of praise to God, twoyoung women and a youth converted from Hinduismmade their public confession of Christ by baptism.One might have been back in New Testament times.'1'he river (instead of a tank in a modern churchbuilding), the simple Oriental dress of the people,the very musical instruments they used to accom-pany their hallelujahs—all contributed to the effect,as well as the crowds of Hindu and Moslem spectatorswho were awed to silence by the solemnity andbeauty of the ceremony, and by the obvious sincerityof all concerned in it. The procession was reformedafter the baptism, and wended its way back over thelong stretch of sandy foreshore to the little church,where we had the joy of receiving into fellowshipeight young people, and of joining with them andthe other members in a most inspiring observanceof the Lord's Supper.

Again darkness fell, and once more the magiclantern was requisitioned. This time a company ofsome four hundred people, gathered from all the surrounding villages, sat on the ground, oblivious to thechilly breeze that must have penetrated bitterly theirthin cotton clothing, gazing with rapt attention atthe pictures and listening most eagerly to the storyof the life and teaching and death of our Saviour.

We were awakened at the first flush of dawn bythe chorus of a beautiful Christian psalm; and as wemade our way back by boat to Dacca, cheered by ourhappy experiences, our only regret was that the in-habitants of the scores of villages we passed on theway could not equally appreciate the Spirit of Christ-mas, because the Saviour had not yet come to birthin the Bethlehem of their hearts.

It is useless to flog up a zeal for missions wherewe have lost the enthusiasm of the Holy Cross, andlive as if forgiveness were but an accident in religion.. . . It is from the centre of the church's life thatmissions grow, from the holy love of God as revealedin the atoning Cross. They do not arise at somepoint in the outskirts of Christian faith; they arenot among the church's luxuries."—P. T. Forsyth.


Impressions of Africa.

When a person is looking forward to enteringa foreign land, all sorts of ideas and imaginationsare conjured up in the mind, which are often mis-leading and disappointing.

Unfortunately, my landing in British WestAfrica was not original, for I had spent about twoyears in the East during the War, and some thingswhich would make an impression on the mind ofone who had never left home were passed by with-out a thought.

However, wherever one goes there are generallyone or two things which stand out pre-eminently.At Lagos, for instance, I was very much surprisedto see so many Western ideas, and were it not forthe heat and so many natives about, one wouldalmost think they were walking in some town athome. Motor cars, motor cycles, and ordinarycycles are very much to the fore, and one has tokeep a sharp look-out when going about.

All natives carry their loads on their heads, bothmen and women. I was in a shop at Lagos when ayoung native girl came in and was given a boxabout the size of a boot box. It went from thecounter to her head. The Africans certainly musthave very strong neck muscles, for they can carryquite a heavy load for a long distance; in fact, Ithink I am safe in saying that very few, if any,at home could carry the same weight the same dis-tance. A native will carry a load of sixty or seventypounds a distance of twenty miles per day for severaldays.

It is also remarkable how long a native can dowithout food in the morning. Coming up theBenue River in a canoe, the canoe-men will work

from three to five hours in the morning before havingbreakfast, and then they will work for six or sevenhours before partaking of another meal. Don't letanyone think that no African works, for one has onlyto look at their muscles to judge whether or notthey do any manual labour. Take, for instance, acanoe with over two tons in it, four men polingagainst a strong current, going in a zig-zag courseto avoid sandbanks doing from sixteen to twentymiles per day, consecutively for several days, andworking hard all the time. Their oars are not thesame as those used at home, but are after their ownpattern. Of course, going up river, they nearlyalways use poles for getting the canoe along, exceptin deep water.

It was a very pleasant surprise to see so muchgreen foliage, for, naturally, where there is so muchheat and no rain for about six months, one wouldhave thought that the ground would be almost barrenand desert. Travelling up country on the railwayand on the river, however, we found lovely foliage,including many fruit trees.

One cannot fail to be impressed by the respectwhich natives pay to the European, whether it isrespect from fear or respect because of the freedomwhich they enjoy. The natives very often take offtheir sandals and bow when a European is passing,and in some instances they dismount from theircycles and pay their respects to the white man.

The one great thing, however, which impressesthe mind is the lack of love and the disrespect forwoman. It is no unusual sight to see a woman carry-ing a load on her head and a child on her back (thatis how they carry their children), and the husbandwalking in front or behind quite free from anyburden. A woman can be divorced by native lawfor little or nothing at all. and she seems to be at

Mission Workers at Argatala Outstation.Rev. Kailash S. Das and his wife and four children, and Nagarbasi Mandal (colporteur) and his wifeand two children, Nagarbasi was a Namasudra shepherd lad who attended our .Mission School at

Duttkhala.


the man's disposal as his bread-winner and to satisfyhis lustful passions. The reason for this lack oflove is that they have not got the love of the LordJesus Christ in their hearts. Sin seems to be littleor nothing to them. What a change it would makefor them to have their hearts washed and cleansedin the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Truly, these people need our prayers. May moreand more prayer ascend to the Throne of ourHeavenly Father for the salvation of the Sudanese.—D. S., in the Lightbearer.

Missionary Imperialism.Imperialism is in the air. It meets us at every

turn. Our newspapers are full of it. The very wallsare emblazoned with it. Our ears are deafened withit. Whether what is called an Imperial policy is thebest fitted to enable us to discharge our duty withrespect to our vast colonial possessions, consistentlywith our purely national and insular responsibilities,I do not venture to say. I am no politician. But asone who has spent the best years of his life in CentralAfrica, and who has come very closely in contact withthe needs of its suffering peoples, I would venture todeclare unhesitatingly my deepest conviction—thevery deepest conviction of my soul—that nothing butan Imperial policy deliberately adopted and un-swervingly pursued by our Church in her missionaryenterprise can ever meet the necessities of the greatheathen world in general, and of the dark continentof Africa in particular.

But it may be asked: ''What do you mean by anImperial policy in missionary enterprise?" I mean adue and proper correspondence between the end inview and the means employed for the accomplish-ment of that end. The end of all the missionarywork of our Church, I take it, is nothing less thanthat "the kingdoms of this world may become thekingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.' '

And if this be so, let us see to it that the meanscorrespond with the end—in one word, that they areImperial. No more niggardly gifts; no more per-functory service; no more half-hearted, lukewarmprayers—but the pouring-out before God, warm fromthe heart, our fondest and most fervent petitions—the intensest longings of our soul for the ingatheringof those tribes yet "sitting in darkness and in theshadow of death"—the "al l" yielded up by all; "thesilver and the gold"; the whole life—body, soul, andspirit—to be used as and when and where He pleases,even though it may be in the "uttermost parts of theearth."

This, it seems to me, and nothing less than this,is worthy of our Divine Lord and Master and of thegreat end we have in view—

"Christ for the world,And the world for Christ.' '

— Bishop Tucker.

How we can Save Money.A simple way to save money is to stop giving!"There are too many appeals. Let us put an

end to them.""What a relief it would be!"But if I stop giving, why should not nil others

also end their gifts to philanthropies?If all Christians and other supporters of unselfish

ministries stop giving, what would be the result?Twenty-five thousand foreign missionaries would

be recalled and told that they must seek other em-ployment.

One hundred thousand native Christian workerswould be obliged to cease from preaching, teachingand Bible work and to turn to secular pursuits to earna living.

Nearly forty thousand Christian schools and col-leges in foreign lands would be closed, the teachersdismissed and the pupils sent home to live and diein ignorance of Christian life and truth.

Two thousand Christian hospital* and dispensarieswould of necessity be closed and the patients turnedout to suffer and die uncared for by skilled physiciansand nurses.

The printing of millions of Bibles, Christian booksand papers would stop in every place where the peopleare not yet sufficiently educated to pay their fullvalue.

In Christian lands, over 500,000 churches wouldbe closed and as many devoted pnstors would be toldthey can no longer "live by the Gospel."

The city missions where many outcasts of societyare transformed into new men and women, thesocieties for helping the poor, the hospitals that docharitable work, the schools not supported by taxa-tion, the religions educational literature and hundredsof other philanthropies would all of necessity be dis-continued.

The Bible training schools, and insufficiently en-dowed theological seminaries would be compelled toclose their doors and to cease from training Christianworkers.

In spite of all these philanthropic and religiousinstitutions now at work there is still an overabund-ance of misery and strife and sin in the world. . Whatthen would be the result if we were wholly deprivedof their influence and service?

What would be the result to the world, to ournation, to our children, to you and to me?

What would have been the result if no one hadover unselfishly given to us or for us?

What would be the result to you and to me ifthese outlets for unselfish giving were closed up andwe were compelled to spend all we have upon our-selves?

Would .you like to stop giving?Would you like to have all others in your com-

munity stop giving?Would you like to have all Christians and other

large-hearted men and women stop giving?If not, are you giving gladly, generously, intelli-

gently? Are you teaching your children to give,conscientiously, consistently, generously, gladly?

Are you rejoicing in opportunities to give wherehelp is needed?

What do we owe to others?What do we owe to God?Verily, verily"What hast thou that thou hast not received?""I t is more blessed to give than to receive."Is, there any joy or satisfaction equal to that of

truly helping others who are in trouble or of contri-buting to the support of some good work that yieldsabiding results? In this work we are in partnershipwith God, our Father, and with Jesus Christ, ourSaviour. "He maketh His sun to rise on the evil andon the good, and sendeth rain upon the just and on.the unjust."—Missionary Review of the World.

Robert Morrison faced the question of his life-work in a heroic manner. "Jesus, I give myselfto Thy service. Where shall I serve? When I viewthe field, I perceive that by far the greater part isentirely without labourers, or at least has but hereand there one or two, while there are thousandscrowded in one corner. My desire is to engage wherelabourers are most wanted."


Prayer really does make a difference. It reallydoes make things different from what they would havebeen but for prayer. In other words, "prayer

availeth much." This is the firm belief ofthe missionaries themselves, and a belief they en-deavour to foster in the minds of inquirers and con-verts.

A few months ago, at the half-yearly gathering ofthe Baptist Union at Bolangir, there were 750 presentat the first prayer-meeting! And many of them hadtrudged 20 or 30 miles, and a few of them 60 or 70miles, in the heat of the day or the dangers of thenight—for it is an area full of wild animals—to cometo this "Bethel" of their spiritual life. We musthave listened to 50 public prayers during these threedays. The simple trust of the child Christian andthe warm love of an ardent personal attachmentbreathed through their petitions and their praise.

Oh! for the child-spirit of these simple-mindedChristians of the wild hill tracts.

A letter from an earnest Bengali Mission workerto his missionary on furlough tells a story of prayerin the time of a cholera epidemic in some Christianvillages to the south of Calcutta. Some 80 peopleof a group of villages had been swept away by thesudden onslaught. A prayer-meeting was arrangedby a good Baptist brother, and some 600 peoplegathered from the Catholic as well as the Baptist com-munity in a meeting too big for the village chapel.Adds the brother:—

"Bless the Lord, the prayers were answered andthe epidemic ceased from the following day. As aresult of the meeting I am glad to say that ourbrethren and sisters have realised the goodwill of theEver-good God towards them, and they have beenencouraged to pray."

Like ourselves the Indian Christians of the Southvillages more quickly realise temporal distress thanthey do spiritual evil, but their recent experience maywell encourage them to pray both about matters tem-poral and matters spiritual.

Some time ago, together with several Indianpreachers, a missionary of the Society had gone towork among the pilgrims of the great annual festivalat Ganga Saugar, just beyond the mouth of theHughly on the wild coast of the Bay of Bengal. Sostrong was the urge of the waves towards the shorethat the steamer had to come to anchor a mile fromland, and surf boats took the pilgrim passengersashore. The missionary party hailed one of the manysurf boats, and, safely aboard, made in the directionof the beach. The surf was especially rough thatday, and as the boat neared the shore each succeed-ing wave nearly blotted out of view the palm treeson the land. At a critical moment the boatmanlost his nerve (he was used to the river, but not to thesea) and allowed the frail craft to go broadside onto the incoming waves. Before the boat could berighted it filled. The sea was too rough to swimashore, and it seemed that, like so many others onthat inhospitable coast, the whole party would bedrowned. Just as the boat went under water an-other boat—it seemed to all a wonderful coincidence—passed the prow, and afforded just time enoughto the preachers to jump aboard as it rushed throughthe surf.

The sequel came a few days later. The preachingparty returned to their village and told of their hair-breadth escape. "Why," said the preachers' wiveswhen they were told the time of the occurrence,"that was the very time that we all, with the Padre'sMemsahib and the other Christian women, were atthe meeting, and prayed that you might be kept safefrom all danger while at the Festival." And theystill recall the incident as the answer to their prayer.—Indian News Letter.

A Red-letter Day for Angul.By the REV. JAMES GUEST.

That day was indeed a red-letter day for Angul,for fourteen converts confessed their allegiance toChrist in baptism.

It was somewhat of a task getting to the place—16 miles away from Angul. First, I took my bicyclefor eight miles on the motor bus, then cycled on afew more miles over a very bumpy road, and thenhad a trudge on foot for more than an hour inblazing heat. Tiring work, but what a welcome atthe end! John, Achyut, Karim, and a number ofother Christians, with the new converts, truly gaveus (a friend went with me) a glad welcome, and gar-landed us in true Indian fashion.

They had constructed a place of meeting betweentwo rows of huts—bamboo mats on poles for a roof.After a short service we all trooped to the river, andin a big pool the ceremony took place, big, toweringrocks making fine platforms for us.

The roll was called, and seven men and sixwomen responded, and stood near the water inseparate groups. The banks were lined with Hindus,all eager to see this strange but simple rite. One byone the candidates came forward, first the men, thenthe women. John put questions in a loud voiceto each one, and, with a firm accent, each declaredhis or her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I nearly lost my voice in the joy of singing be-tween each baptism. It was very thrilling andjoyful, and yet so quiet, natural, and simple.

Then came a surprise! Lo! a seventh womanappeared in the water. Previously she had hesitated,but now her mind was made up, and she, too, boldlyconfessed her faith.

Then away to the village. I sat under a tree,with sandwiches prepared for me at home; but Iwas not alone. First some low caste men came andchatted, and gradually a crowd of Hindus gathered,and we were soon talking and singing "TheWay of Salvation" with great gusto, whiie the Babufolk were eating. For they had to cook their food,and this took some time.

Then at 1.50 p.m. we had a service. A finesight! Men, women, and children assembled, andbehind them Hindus, and, at the back of all, low-castes. Everyone was so reverent and orderly. Whatcould I speak about but the love of God? We re-mained with these people to the last moment possible,and very reluctantly came away. Men pushed ourbicycles for an hour, and borrowed umbrellas toshade us from the fierce sun. For over an hour wewalked, then cycled, and at last reached home inAngul—tired, sunburnt, footsore, but overflowingwith joy. This day was more than worth coming toIndia for!

These people I went to see belong to Karim'sclass, arid were all called Mohammedans. They arepoor, and only a few of them can read, but God hasa wonderful way of teaching and keeping such peopleas these, who surely love Him.

Please remember these and other seekers inprayer. There are other bands of the same class ofpeople in different States around, and we are afterthem. Karim is the advance guard!—MissionaryHerald.

At Bolangir (Congo) 221 were baptised lastyear, and in 30 years the Church there has increasedto a membership of 2646, with a Christian communityof between 10 and 11 thousand. In North Shansi,in the martyr country, there has also been a distinctmovement of grace, and 22 have been baptised—12men and 10 women.

Prayer Availeth Much.



A Handful of Nuts.

A mindful of nuts and some in the pocket willkeep you boys busy and contented for quite a time,whilst the girls do not object to helping us eat them.What great fun it is these winter evenings to gatherround the fire when lessons are done and with chest-nuts roasting merrily on an iron plate With whatdelight do we hear them pop and split when they arealmost ready for eating. Of nuts there is a greatvariety, from the big cocoanut down to the tinyfellows that grow on a hazel bush, and each servesits purpose. Some are valuable for food, eaten atthe right time and in the right way. Some have avery useful purpose as medicine, whilst others, likethe cocoanut, provide the world with necessary oils.We each have our favourites among the nuts,whether they be almonds, walnuts, or the delicious,though hardest of all to crack, Brazil nuts.

Long, long ago, nuts were more prized than theyare now. Great men and rulers would send them asa present to princes, whose lands did not grow nuts.Our Bible tells us that Jacob sent just such a presentto the Prime Minister of Egypt when his sons wentclown to buy corn in that land.

NUTS AND LOTS OF THEM.

Some are hard to crack and not much to lookat, often being quite ugly in their shells. A nut hasthree parts. First of all, the outer husk or rind,which, unfit for food, is both bitter and distasteful.It is the outer covering enclosing the shell. Astrange thing that shell often looks when it is dis-closed to view—rough, hard, and unlovely. Butwithin that shell lies hidden the kernel, with its sweetand tasty flesh. To get at the kernel you must re-move all the rest. Every scholar knows that lessonsare very like nuts. There is much to be unwrappedbefore we get to the hidden good, and through lifewe find it just the same. Work is a nut that looksanything but enjoyable, but get into it, and you willdiscover the secret kernel of progress and contentment. Each day brings us problems and difficultiesthat are really closed nuts—big and hard. How arewe to get any good out of them? It will be possibleif you

CRACK YOUR NUTS ONE BY ONE.

It is not usual to break them all together; evenif we could they would probably be crushed to use-lessness. To be in too great a hurry to get at thekernel is often the surest way of missing the bestpart. One at a time, and the biggest heap will bereduced to empty shells and kernels. Sometimes wegive up; the task is long and the shells are hard;we grow tired of cracking nuts. If someone elsewould only do it for us, how much more pleasant itwould be! Crack the nuts yourself; if they are notworth cracking they are not worth having. No gainswithout pains, says the old proverb. If you wantto crack any sort of nuts successfully, you must haveplenty of push. Even the hardest shell yields tosteady and continued pressure. There is One Whohas promised to take both our hands in His stronggrasp and make it possible to crack the hardest nutand extract the good within. Perhaps you havenever asked the Lord of the Garden to help yougather the nuts of life and open them. Then askHim to-day!

THE

"ALL BRITISH"LESSONS

Are becoming increasinglyPopular in

Presbyterian and otherSunday Schools.

There's a Reason!

The "All British" Lessons are winningtheir way by sheer merit against allobstacles. Their progress in New- Zea-land during the past two years has beenremarkable.

Look at the Diagram. I supply severalhundred schools with lesson material. In1922 about 2 per cent. used the British;in 1923 it increased to 20 per cent.; andin 1924 to 40 per cent.

A Baptist Sunday School Superinten-dent writes:—

"I look upon these 'All British'Lessons with favour, and so do theteachers."

Another Superintendent writes:—"The British Graded Lessons are

vastly superior to anything we havepreviously used."

Are you satisfied with your presentmaterial'? The best is not too good foryour school!

The "All British" Lessons comprise awealth of splendid material for teachersand scholars in each grade, includingsuperior Annual and Quarterly Helps forteachers and for the scholars, colouredpicture rolls, coloured picture cards,folders and lesson papers, all preparedby British experts.

The "All British" Coloured Picturesare real works of art, worthy of beingpreserved for permanent use in the school.

The "All British" Lessons are beingused by practically all denominations, andat least one Denominational Union isbasing its annual examination upon them.

SEND FOR FREE DESCRIPTIVELEAFLET AND SAMPLES.

A. H. REED"Pioneer of the Best Lesson

Material for New ZealandSunday Schools,"

Express Co.'s Building,

Dunedin.


Parables of Safed the Sage.

THE PARABLE OF THE NEST IN THE SPOUT.

The Sparrow hath found her an house and theSwallow a. nest in the House of God that standethhard by to where I and Keturah we live, and thePigeons also, they dwell there, and prosper and areHappy.

Now, in the summer time, when rains are infre-quent, they, make their nests in every old placeimaginable, and lay their eggs and hatch theiryoung. And there is a window high up that over-looketh a place where a Gable projecteth, and thereis an Eavespout and a Downspout. And the Down-spout hath an Iron Grating over the top inside theEavespout. And a Pigeon builded her nest abovethat grating. And it was a cool and well-ventilatednest.

And I and Keturah we saw it, and we said, Thatpigeon taketh large chances.

But the latter rains delayed, and the little birdshatched, and they lay there shockingly Nude on topof the few sticks of a nest that were on the top ofthe grating in the Eavespout. And the MotherPigeon brought them food, and I began to think thatthey would grow and get away before the Rains cameand the storms blew.

But there came a night when there was a Storm.And I wakened and Keturah wakened also.And I knew what was in the mind of Keturah.And I said, It is foolish of us to be troubled

about it. There are Pigeons enough, and they in-crease until they be a nuisance. Nevertheless, I amnot happy to think of them in that place.

And I rose, and I went into the House of God.And the tempest was beginning to break, and thelightning flashed.

And I stretched forth my hand, and took thefrightened little things, and I brought them inside.And I carried them out, and placed them in asheltered corner on the ground under where the nesthad been. And the Mother Pigeon found them thereand sheltered them till the storm was past.

Now that did not hurt me, nor greatly interruptmy sleep. For, though I was wetted in the rain, yetKeturah had my Bath-Towel ready, and I was soondry, and I went to sleep sooner than I should havedone if I had thought of those little birds drowningin the cold rain.

And I said unto myself, It is not that the Pigeonsare worth it. if a man were to value his time andhis labour; but there are other measures of valuethan those that may be estimated in cash.

And I said, I will never deny that in the sightof God we men are worth saving.


Auckland.—Mrs F. W. Gaze (collected), 12s 6d;Mr F. W. Gaze (col. box), £1 8s 6d; Miss E. MMason,5s; Mrs Metcalfe, £1 1s; Miss E. Mason,£l 1s; D. Rumble, £1 10s; Tabernacle BaptistChurch, £9 16s 9d; Official Collector, £53 8s. Total,£69 2s 9d.

Canterbury.—Greendale Sunday School, £6;Greendale Church, £6 14s; Kirwee Church, £1 l0s 9d.Total, £14 4s 9d.

Manurewa.—Sunday School, £1 4s 6d.Opua.—R. B. Martin, £1.Oamaru.—Baptist Church, £8 13s 3d.Papakura.—L. H. Keals, £3.Raetihi.—Thos. Atkinson, £1.

Te Awamutu.—E. C. Wiltshire (proceeds saleused stamps), £8 10s.

Thames.—Baptist Church, £23 12s.Whangarei.—Baptist Church, £3 6s; C. E.

Society, £1 6s. Total, £4 12s.Waihi.—Baptist Sunday School, £1.Grand Total, £135 19s 3d.


Clothing.—Mrs Skutt, 58 Firth st., HamiltonEast; Mrs Williamson, Station rd., Manurewa; MrsBrown, Richmond rd., Thames; Mrs Battson; MrsWilkes, 23 Richmond rd., Ponsonby; Mrs Bush, Par-nell; Miss M. Tapp, Clevedon; Miss Yeoman, 1 Eglin-ton Av., Mt. Eden; Miss Davis, Otahuhu School;Miss K. Hair, Waiareka, Oamaru; Mr F. Brook-banks, Chamberlain Av., Mt. Eden; Vivian st. JuniorBaptist Bible Class, per Miss T. Gandy, 6 Mudge ter.,Wellington South; Remuera Dorcas Club, per MrsWeetwood. 7 Ridings rd., Remuera; Otahuhu BaptistChurch; Oxford Terrace Baptist Dorcas Society, perMrs Thompson, 269 Tuam st., Christchurch; Vivianst. Baptist Church Ladies' Sewing Meeting, per MrsSamson, 56 Marjoribanks st., Wellington; LinwoodB.W.M.U., per Miss A. Moon, 704 Ferry rd., Christ-church; Aka Aka Ladies' Guild, Waiuku; Women'sSocial Band, Invercargill, per Mrs Wise, 86 Princessst.; Baptist Tabernacle Ladies' Sewing Circle, perMrs Gaze; Gonville Baptist Dorcas Society, per MrsNewton, 1 Tawa st., Gonville; Messrs Falkner & Co.,Karangahape rd.

Provisions, Etc.—Mrs Bush, Parnell, bananas;Mr Talbot, Manurewa, rabbits; Mr W. Lambourne.Ponsonby, anniversary tea, fruit, lollies; Mr J. C.Spedding, Remuera, figs, dates, biscuits; Misses Ber-nard and Barnes, Drury, honey; Messrs W. F.Tucker & Co., Khyber Pass, jellies; Messrs BycroftLtd., 200 flour, biscuits; Messrs Johnston Ltd., Cus-tom st., Auckland, cocoa; Messrs Murray & White,Manurewa, tinned fruit; Presbyterian Church, Manu-rewa, lollies and scones; Manurewa Football Club,scones, cakes.

Sundries.—Mr Jas. Treloar. Hamilton, modelyacht; Mr J. C. Spedding, Remuera, 47 prize books,record; Mrs Grinrod, Mt. Eden, scrapbooks; FullerBrush Co., Auckland, 1 doz handy brushes; Mr W.Lambourne, Ponsonby, gramophone records.



N.I.Y.M.B.B.C.U."SCHEME 200."

Posi-tion. Class.1. Brooklyn2. Palmers ton North3. Feilding4. Berhampore4. Nelson6. Thames7. New Plymouth7. Wanganui Senior9. Wanganui East

10 Petone11. G i s b o r n e12. Tabernacle , T13. Richmond, Nelson14. Richmond, Auck-

land15. Hami l ton Senior16. Cambridge

FIRST QUARTERLY SCHEDULE, 1924-25.

The following classes had not sent in their con-tributions by July 14:—Grange Road Junior, GrangeRoad Senior, Mount Eden, Hastings, Mount Albert,

Total amount sent Ju ly 14

No. on roll.Sen. Jun.

Quota.J u n e 3 0 .

Amountsent .

Ju ly 14.

Per-centage.

ofquota.

Quota.Sept. 30.

8116

2015

91320

675

183

79

—

—

510—

9——

53304

4——

2326333522141

22

0105

1015125054

1410

7

75

—

0000000000000

00

242633

231ll

20

001

1375

10150

12191071

14l5

1080

0130000808006

000

1331241011001008380806763626057

2218—

121422

2311120

11

66

1068825

1092

1818

119

—

0748993043965

53

£38 8 2


Brooklyn Junior, Napier, Wanganui Junior, VivianStreet Tabernacle (2), Gonville Senior, Epsom,Island Bay, Ponsonby, Whangarei, Hawera, Otahuhu,Gonville Junior.

Quotas are worked out on the following basis:—First Quarter—Seniors: 12 weeks at 3d plus oneweek's special effort at 2s; Juniors: 12 weeks at 2d,plus one week's special effort at 1s. Second Quarter—Seniors: 13 weeks at 3d; Juniors: 13 weeks at 2d.

Some of the classes have responded liberally tothe appeal to make a special effort. Men, we couldoften, if not always, give more than 3d or 2d perweek. Shall we not do it for the sake of our Masterand His work?

Remember, we are pledged to support two reallive men—the Rev. Harry Jones and Mr P. L. A.Crampton. Let us do it worthily.

Yours for victory,E W. GRIGG, Collector.

ference meetings commence at, say, 10.30 a.m. (ifprayer meetings, then 10.15 a.m.); and let theExecutive go home at a decent hour. It is peculiarlyunfortunate, sometimes, to have to go from an im-pressive Conference gathering to discuss the generali-ties of things. I have seen, more than once, mostof the glory of the evening gathering lost midst theturmoil of subsequent discussion.

I trust you, sir, with your practical and fertilebrain, will evolve some new method.—I am, etc.,

W. J. BARDSLEY.Dunedin, July 15, 1924.

Correspondence.

Dear Mr Editor,—Will you be good enough togrant me a little space in which to say "thank you"to the many friends who contributed so generouslyto the testimonial which was presented to me a fewdays ago by the President of the Union. Theamount far exceeded my thought, and will help tobanish anxiety from the days of old age.

It is a great privilege to have had a share inthe foundation work of the Baptist Church in thisfair land and to have served as one of its ministersduring a period covering 48 years. I recognise inthis splendid gift a loving tribute from old andvalued friends. Conference will afford an opportunityfor a larger word of thanks.—Yours sincerely,

CHARLES DALLASTON.

OUR CONFERENCES.(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Doubtless you will remember that I had aconversation with yourself and Mr Lascelles after thelast Conference in Wellington. The writer stressedthe point of the unfairness of the position, so oftenin evidence at our own Conferences, that delegates,who were members of the Executive, were taxed quitebeyond the point of reasonableness by the demandsmade upon their time and strength.

It seems to me that the business of our Unionis far too important to be "squoze through" as isconstantly the case under present arrangements.

I suggest that it is not fair to the ministerialbrethren, who ought to come back from a Conferencerefreshed, reinvigorated, and fit for "bigger" work.The general thing is that some go back—I meanthose on the Executive mainly—tired, weary, actually"washed-out."

The same applies to the business men on theExecutive. Some change ought to be made. Surelyit would be possible to extend the time of the meet-ings. I know, of course, that the immediate answeris that it would never do for the minister to be awayso long! As I have said, I think the importance ofour affairs would justify an extended term, thusstopping the " rush" system.

I urge, very specially, that the late sittings bematerially reduced. It is not even fair to the hostsand hostesses to be creeping into their homes at allhours of the night. Let the term be extended; letthe committees meet, say, at 9 a.m.; let the Con-

BAPTIST HOSPITALITY.(To the Editor.)

Dear Sir,—Under the snows of the SouthernAlps, I, as a stranger to Ashburton, have found sucha warm-hearted Christian welcome that I am con-strained to "say so." "Let the redeemed of theLord say so," and when we meet with redemptiveinfluences by the devotion, courage, and sacrificeof any of God's people, I think it is our simple dutyand privilege to "say so." Hospitality is one of thecardinal Christian virtues, and, though often imposedupon, it loses none of its dignity or blessing. Itfills life with glorious music and good fellowship.It runs through the New Testament like a ripple oflaughter and song, is the sweet handmaiden to allother fruits of the Spirit, and (Matthew xxv) is thefinal test in the great Judgment Day. Though nota member of the Baptist Church, I wish to confess tothe universal hospitality, of the Baptist people fromone end of New Zealand to the other. Often have Ibeen thus drawn into your churches for prayer andpraise. In Ashburton I have had the great privilegeof enjoying the hospitality of Pastor and Mrs Mat-thews, though hitherto absolute strangers to me.They are doing a fine work here, and I rejoice to seetheir greatest efforts among the young people, whoare being brought to decision for Christ. I learnthey are striving for a new church, and that another£1000 is still required to consummate the great enter-prise. If this should meet the eye of some goodfriend who can afford it, let me say that a gift tothis building fund would be a worth-while way ofbringing joy to the donor, as well as to the faithfulBaptists at Ashburton. I write surreptitiously sofar as my good host and hostess are concerned, butI feel so conscious of the real work they and theirhelpers are doing here that I am constrained to appealto you, Mr Editor, to help me cast this "bread uponthe waters." Pastor Matthews is so soulfully devotedto his Master's business that I am sure he would beglad of any assistance that would help the Baptistcause in Ashburton to "a place in the sun."—Yoursvery sincerely,

A. J. STALLWORTHY.

Ashburton, July 2, 1924.

MISSIONARY ENTHUSIASM.

Dear Bible Class Friends,—Your attention wouldno doubt be drawn to the urgent appeal in lastmonth's Baptist for definite prayer on behalf ofNurse Peters.

Our missionaries have a very distinct claim uponour prayers and support. We are reminded, timeand again, by them of the value they place upon thispart of our work here in the homeland.

It is well for us sometimes to review the situa-tion, and ask ourselves the question: Are we reallydoing all we can along these lines? What is themeasure of our individual interest regarding our

THANK YOU!


representatives on the mission field? Are we hold-ing ourselves in readiness for the call should it cometo us? This is a matter for our urgent prayerfulconsideration. We think of the great field of oppor-tunity In India and the work that is so dear to thehearts of our devoted missionaries, to say nothingof our Lord and Master Himself, Whose heart oflove yearns for the souls of men and Who has leftto us the responsibility of carrying the Gospel mes-sage to all the world, in obedience to His command,"Go ye, etc."

Our missionary staff is being sorely depleted bythe very trying climatic conditions, hence the greatneed for prayer that others may be called to fill theranks and that increased numbers will go forward inanswer to God's call. . Who knows but some fromour own classes may hear the call to "go forth"?The Rev. Hudson Taylor prayed for a hundred volun-teers, and the answer was over and above his request.I would suggest that we pray on somewhat similarlines. What God has done for Hudson Taylor Hecan also do for us, if it is in accord with His will.

It remains open for every class to do its utmostin stimulating a prayerful and increasing interest inthe missionary enterprise, and as individual membersto devote as much time as possible in private prayerthat the Lord may restore our missionaries to health,and also add to those who are going forward.

Yours in Bible Class bonds,JANEY REAY.

The missionary on furlough is often in a straitbetwixt two, the desire to depart to the work he loves,and the willingness to remain with clear friends ofolden days. In the present writer's experience thedesire to remain consisted to a considerable extentof the wish to hear sermons, a passion for whichseems to be the only proof of the Welsh ancestrywhich his name implies. For I do love sermons,hearing them and preaching them alike, and mypresent stay in England has given me happy oppor-tunities for both experiences. I have been bidden towrite down my impressions as a hearer, and here isthe attempt.

According to the journalists I might well haveexpected to be almost the only worshipper at most ofthe churches, which are said in the newspapers tobe "empty." But I had many companions at most,though it is true that at one there were only five ofus beside the choir when the deacons led the ministerin. Crowds like those at Rowntree Clifford's in theeast of London, or Dr Hutton's in the west, are, ofcourse, rare, but churches "comfortably" full werecommon enough, and many have been as crowded,though not as big, as those I have named. Twochurches in Birmingham, both Anglican, were havingtwo houses nightly, while more than one BaptistChurch in the same city could do well with a largerbuilding, and at Carrs-lane had to wait in a queue.I have been to Wesleyan, Primitive, Congregational,Anglican, and Baptist Churches, and have heardsermons, good, bad, and indifferent, but though theone which stands out supremely in my memory wasa Congregationalist's, I am proud to say that I didnot hear one from a Baptist pulpit which was notwell worth the journey to hear it. Dr Orchard's,however, was great, as old-fashioned in its analysisof the human heart as it was modern in its methodand urgent in its application. It was on the text:"forgett ing the things that are behind," but of thethings of which I leave behind the memory inEngland this is among the unforgettable ones.

From all the pulpits the old type of pulpit"rhetoric" has evidently gone completely; there wereno purple patches trying to conceal their patchiness,no series of perorations with a final peroration-to-the-nth to mark the close. The new style is con-versational, often colloquial; the journalists who stillwrite of the preacher's talking-down as to pupilsor inferiors, in ex cathedra tone, and with priestlybearing, must meet different ministers from any ofthose that it was my pleasure to hear. These reasonedwith us as fellow-men and fellow-sinners. Aboutpreaching, as about many other things, what youread in the papers you may know is not true.

Nevertheless, my most persistent impression isof a certain lack, and it is this negative thing thatI will try to describe, glad that before the words areprinted I shall be too far away to make it possiblefor any of my brethren to retort: "Very well, oldman, come and show us how to do it!" For I amwriting as a hearer, not as a preacher, and the factthat I could not supply the deficiency, and probablymight be even more deficient, does not make the lackless.

What I missed was a sense of, shall I call it"abandon," of gladness in the possession of a soul-transfiguring, outlook-transforming truth. If modernmethods of study of the Bible and history have taughtus anything, it is the certainty of Christ, the absolute-ness of His teaching, and the helplessness of any-thing else in this age of ours, so like in many of itsconditions to that in which the Christian religionarose amid so great a conflict of religions. Theearliest preachers of our Gospel had been smit witha glad surprise; they had made a delightfuldiscovery, they were sure they had the clue of themaze. Now it seems to me that we are in the samehappy position. I do not mean that we have a clean-cut, complete system of theology, guaranteed to lastfor ever, or that we feel sure about all things thatused to form themes of pulpit discourse. I do meanthat in the centralities we have not only passed awayfrom the old dogmatism, but that we have emergedfrom the critical uncertainty which succeeded it. Wemay be surer of fewer things than our grandfatherswere, but we are much more sure of a few than theywere, for we are really nearer to them, realise theirimportance more, and can relate them more vitallyto human history and individual experience.

Somehow, however, the hesitancy of mannerremains. The congregation is offered an expositioninstead of a declaration; a tentative suggestion,rather than a Gospel. The preacher is rather aphilosopher than a herald, exhorts us rather to con-sider a beautiful idea than to sing a new song untothe Lord because He hath triumphed gloriously.

It was a suprise to me that the minister so oftenwent outside the Bible for the children's address.Perhaps till we have to examine children's know-ledge, as I now often have to do, none of us realiseshow little it is safe to take for granted that theyknow the Book. Surely the children's address, whichis too often, I fear, the only opportunity the ministerfinds in the week to address his boys and girls,should be a definite lesson in some Bible teaching,or the telling of some Bible story. Not once nortwice have I heard children's addresses which reallycontained much that was beautiful and interesting,nothing distinctively Christian. This is only anotherexample of the same thing, the absence from themessage of the feeling that only we Christian peopleare at the secret source of every precious thing, andthat that source is supernatural.

It is natural that from most of the sermons,therefore, there was missing an immediate appeal tothe conscience and the will.

The minds that only need to be shown what islogical, or right, or appropriate, in order to act, arevery few. The ordinary man needs, when the con-

Impressions of a Hearer.By the REV. PRINCIPAL PRICE, B.M.S., Jamaica.


vincement is finished, a little pleading, and a littlepersuasion, and then still a little more. And notoften did he have it in the sermons I heard—to hisgreat impoverishment, I fear.

All of us preachers, indeed, find it easier topraise the Gospel than to preach it. One can say athousand true and beautiful things about it, anddelight the hearer. But to declare it so that itself isgood news to the weary and perplexed and sinful,to utter it so as to make even the satisfied to recog-nise that he lacks something, and that this is whathe lacks, that is indeed a task. Perhaps outside theNew Testament there have been two pre-eminentexemplars of the right way—Francis of Assisi andCharles Haddon Spurgeon. They were two of God'stroubadours, and it is the troubadour spirit we shouldcovet.

But I could not help envying my brethren all thesame. When I saw them facing hundreds of eager,live young men and women, and bright love-hungryboys and girls, how could I help it? When I sawthem coming out of the vestry in the company ofearnest, grave, godly, fatherly deacons, how couldI help it? Did I not use to be loved and advised byjust such people, young and old? And again andagain I felt with Forbes Robertson's father: "If Ihad a thousand lives to live, I would give them all,yes, all, to the Christian ministry." Often, by theCaribbean waters and beneath Jamaica's rustlingpalms and bamboos, I shall think of my brethrenand their congregations, and pray that God will giveto both the healthful spirit of His grace, and if anyof them will do the same for me, I am sure thetraining of Jamaica's ministers will be done better.

My Conversion.

A Hitherto Unpublished Article by Or JohnClifford, C.H., M.A.

To me, June 16, 1851, was a great day of theLord, of the manifestations of His love and grace.It was the day of my baptism into the name of theFather and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Itwas the day of my introduction to the privilegesand responsibilities of the Christian Church, and aday so filled with enriching and precious ministriesthat I never can forget it.

My baptism gave the visible and definite start-ing point to my new life; and every time the anni-versary of it has recurred in the succession of theyears, it has quickened gratitude, created penitence,reinforced faith, and furthered the consecration ofmy energies to God and to His Kingdom.

Plato says: "The unexamined life is not trulya human life," and experience testifies that self-criticism is the saving grace of life. The return ofJune 16 is always a call to self-searching, the weigh-ing of motives, the testing of progress, the in-vestigation of habits, and the readjustment of thedaily life so as to make more secure the realisingof life's ideals.

Of course, it was not the first or the mostmomentous experience of all. That occurred in theNovember of the previous year, and signalised thecompletion of a series of experiences in which con-lusion gave place to clear conviction, perplexity topeace, doubt to faith, and hesitation to a full dedica-tion of the soul to God. At a Sunday evening prayermeeting in Nether Street Chapel, Beeston, nearNottingham, the oppressive burden was lifted, andI entered into a liberty and joy that never passedaway. But that was personal and private. In asense it was wholly personal. The act of baptismwas the expression in public and before many wit-

nesses of that experience, and what it meant to mein the factory and the street and amongst my com-panions it is impossible to tell. But when I lookback on the 71 years since that solemn and auspiciousmorning, the words of Joseph Addison tell some-thing of my feelings—

"When all Thy mercies, O my God,My rising soul surveys,"

the evening of my baptism comes to the front atonce, and, "transported with the view" of the day,I am "lost in wonder, love, and praise."

The dawn of that Sabbath shines out with asmuch clearness as though it were to-day. Mind andheart were deeply stirred. I had recently with fearand trembling been before the elders of the Church,and they had listened to my story, given in answerto their questions; and on their report I was acceptedas a candidate for Baptism and Church Fellowship.Hence the early hours of this momentous day weredevoted to meditation and prayer, crowned by aprayer meeting at 7 o'clock.

The baptismal service took place at half-past 10.There were eleven candidates—seven women and fouryouths—and I was the last and youngest of them.The village church was crowded, for the whole vil-lage knew of the event, and they came from factoryand mill and elsewhere to witness the act. The Rev.R. J. Pike (son of the Rev. John Gregory Pike,Secretary of the General Baptist Missionary Society,and author of "A Guide for Young Disciples,''"Persuasives to Early Piety," and "Motives forPerseverance") was the pastor. His text was Johni, 25: "Why baptisest thou then?" A solemn awefell on the assembly, and in titter forgetfulness ofthe onlooking crowd, a feeling of rapture filled thesoul in testifying by the baptismal act the acceptanceof the claims of Christ and its purpose to serve Himand His Kingdom as long as life should last.

It was a rare occasion. The atmosphere waselectric with emotion. The hour was critical. Itwas a time of thanksgiving, exultation, and praise.Doddridge's words expressed the glad feeling of theheart—

"O happy day that fixed my choice,On Thee, my Saviour and my God!

Well may this glowing heart rejoice,And tell its raptures all abroad."

The welcome to the holy community was givenin the afternoon, at the gathering of the church forthe celebration of the ordinance of the Lord'sSupper.

The pastor gave special counsel to the newly-baptised, urged the recognition of the obligationsthey had undertaken, and assured them of the sym-pathy and prayers of the Church on their behalf.

At the evening service there followed a descrip-tion of the nature and functions of a New TestamentChurch as a brotherhood of believers, a fortress forthe defence of the truth of the Gospel, and an agentfor the propagation of Christianity.

Can you estimate the value of a day like thaton the life of the soul? Who could forget that itwas a day of public dedication to the cause of theKingdom of God! A day full of acceptance of re-sponsibility for the credit, the good repute, andadvance of the Church of the Lord Jesus? Thatbaptism put me in a definite place before my com-panions in the village and factory as a soldier ofChrist. It was the lifting of a banner I had todefend. It was a goad to the courageous defenceof the right. It was a shield in the day of battle.It was a fount of power. I was committed, publiclycommitted; I could not go back. I must be faithful,faithful to the end.

To this hour I give thanks to God for thatbaptismal day, and I urge those of you who have notconsidered this aspect of the teaching and exampleof Christ to examine it for yourselves.


Parish Maxims.By a Pastor.

Blessed is he who doth not say, Lo, what is thematter with the minister? Why doth he not fill thechurch so that there is no more room? but whogoeth out and saith to his friend, Come thou withme and I will do thee good, and so will the minister.Truly that man understandeth that one personalword is better than a whole sermon.

He that loveth to lounge about in his old clotheson Sunday and to say, Verily, what a bore is life!will never know the joys of the sanctuary. Truly,the end of that man shall be soon forgotten.

Blessed is the man who does not say, Let Georgedo it, meaning the minister. Yea, verily he goesand does it himself.

Blessed is he who doth not beat it speedily tothe next pew after the Benediction to speak to someold codger whom he has known, lo, these manyyears, but who hies him quickly to the strangerwhom he does not know and speaketh kindly to him.Yea, he will not go away from church and say, "Theman was not near me or I would have spoken tohim."

Whereunto shall I liken the family that readeththe daily papers diligently, and the handbills thatare thrown in on the doorsteps, and the Doings ofthe Duffs, and the Saturday Evening Post, and thecatalogue of the chicken show, and much morebesides, but never readeth a word of Holy Writ, eventhough the Bible lie in a conspicuous place on thetable? They are like unto men who would devourbread crumbs and cold beans, yea, and the leavingsof the garbage pail also, and pass up beefsteak andmashed potatoes. Or they are like unto the maidenwho would throw away a box of precious jewels—emeralds and rubies and diamonds—and wear uponher breast by preference some gilded stuff purchasedon the street in Corn Palace Week, or perchance wonat a nickel a throw.

Two things are too wonderful for me.The man who saith, It is good for my wife to

go to church, but verily I am good enough already.The woman who saith, when the snow falls a

little on Sunday, I must not go out, but hot foots iton Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday to any oldthing that is going on.

An Italian Vindication.

In a leaflet entitled "Baptism from a BaptistPoint of View," the Rev. C Seymour King recallsthe following incident from "C. H. Spurgeon's Auto-biography":—

"It was while staying at the Hotel des Anglaisthat the pastor adopted a very original method ofvindicating one of the two Christian ordinances whichwere always very dear to him. At a social gather-ing at which Mr Spurgeon and a large number offriends were present, Mr Edward Jenkins, M.P., theauthor of 'Ginx's Baby,' persistently ridiculed be-liever's baptism. It was a matter of surprise to manythat he did not at once get the answer that he mighthave been sure he would receive sooner or later. Theparty broke up. however, without anything havingbeen said by the pastor upon the question, but itwas arranged that the next day all of them shouldvisit Ventimiglia. On reaching the cathedral, MrSpurgeon led the way to the baptistery in the crypt;and when all the company had gathered round theold man who was explaining the objects of interest,the pastor said to his anti-immersionist friend: 'MrJenkins, you understand Italian better than we do;

will you kindly interpret for us what the guide issaying?' Thus fairly trapped, the assailant of theprevious evening began: 'This is an ancient bap-tistery. He says that, in the early Christian Church,baptism was always administered by immersion.' Thecrypt at once rang with laughter, in which the in-terpreter joined as heartily as anyone, admitting thathe had been as neatly 'sold' as any man well couldbe."

Increase of Church Membershipin the United States.

The census of religion in the United States for1923, compiled by the Christian Herald, shows thatthere are 45,457,366 communicants, representing again of 680,150 during the year, as compared with again of 797,565 in 1922.

There are 206,843 ministers, a gain of 2173; and237,404 houses of worship, a gain of 2384. Thelargest Christian denomination, the Roman Catholic,has 15,655,260 communicants, a gain of 133,616.Jewish congregations have 357,135. Thirty-fourBuddhist Japanese temples have 5639 worshippers.

Fourteen bodies of Baptists gained 192,520 com-municants, raising the totals to an aggregate of8,237,021; while 15 bodies of Methodists have8,622,836 communicants, a gain of 87,153. Thereare 2,465,831 Lutherans, 22,825 more than last year;2,462,557 Presbyterians, a gain of 61,290; 1,140,070Episcopalians, a gain of 10,463; 1,621,203 communi-cants of the Disciples of Christ, a gain of 68,490;and 647,450 Eastern "Catholics.

Among the larger of the other Protestant de-nominations which show gains are Reformed, UnitedBrethren, Latter Day Saints, Evangelical Synod, andCongregational.

An examination of the above figures with a viewto ascertaining the relative vitality of the churchesof America reveals the fact that the Catholic Churchwill double its numbers in 117½ years, the Anglicansor Episcopalians will double in 109 years, theLutherans in 108 years, and the Methodists in 98years. Then follows a very considerable variation ofthe ratio of progress, for it appears that the Baptistdenominations, which form already a very consider-able portion of the Christian community in America,will have doubled their numbers in 42½ years, whilethe Presbyterians, now the fifth Church in Americain point of numbers, will have doubled its member-ship in 38½ years. Even this ratio of increase, how-ever, is improved upon by the Church of Christ,which, according to its present rate of progress,should have doubled its membership within 23½ years.

It is therefore evident that the relative positionsof the Christian churches of America will have greatlyaltered by the end of the next half century. It isprobable, however, that the situation will havechanged much more considerably than the abovefigures indicate. The Catholic preponderance innumbers, which is a growth of recent years, hasresulted from the vast immigration of people fromthe south of Europe, and there can be. no doubt thatAmerica views with alarm the prospect of being con-verted into a Catholic country. This feeling hasprobably been one of the strongest influences behindthe recent Immigration Bill, which is chiefly directedagainst immigration from these countries. With thechecking of the flow of immigrants from SouthernEurope, and the encouragement of a larger flow ofpersons from Britain and Northern Europe, the situa-tion in the United States will undoubtedly undergoconsiderable modification, though it is evident that,even under present conditions, the Protestant denomi-nations are more than holding their own.—D. J. A.


Our Churches at Work.ASH BURTON (Pastor C. S. Matthews).—We

have had several additions to our membership. MrStallworthy, of Dargaville, spent a few days as theguest of the manse recently, and on more than oneoccasion spoke words of wise counsel to the gather-ing. A band of 30 young men, representing theSenior and Junior Bible Classes, were privileged tohear a splendid heart to heart talk from our brother,entitled: "The ModelYoung Man." On Wednesday,July 9, a very large and successful social gatheringof about 130 people met to welcome and do honourto the esteemed president, Mr H. M. Smeeton, ofAuckland, who spoke ably on the claims of theBaptist Union. About 20 of the young people satfor the Union examination in July.

AUCKLAND TABERNACLE (Rev. Joseph W.Kemp).—Salutary lessons are being taken by thepastor on Sunday mornings, a notable one being"The Menace of the Mixed Multitude"—Numbersxii. This is one of the consecutive studies in OldTestament history, which commenced last year. Thebuilding is quite full every Sunday night, when anout-and-out evangelistic service is held and the Wayof Life made very plain. The subjects have rangedround such practical questions as : "If I Am Not aChristian—What?", "Is It Ever Too Late to Mend?"Mr Kemp has commenced at the mid-week Biblestudy lectures, a course on "The Tabernacle in theWilderness," illustrated by his own chart. Animproved attendance is already noted. We havebeen favoured with two splendid addresses deliveredto very large audiences by Rev. Paul Kanamori, ofJapan. Our visitor's topics were: "My Conversion,My Wandering from Christ, and My Return toChrist," and "Personal Experiences, in the GreatJapanese Earthquake." Two of our aged membershave passed into the presence of their Lord—Mr S.H. Matthews, to whom reference is made elsewhere,and Mrs W. H. Carter, of Albany.

BERHAMPORE (Rev. Dr Catchpole).—All de-partments are progressing favourably. Our attend-ances have shown a marked increase since the GipsySmith campaign, and a keen interest is being main-tained. The Bible Class issued the seventh issueof their paper, "The Call," on July 10. New sub-scribers are wanted. A council has been formedconsisting of the leaders of the various organisationsof the Church. The first meeting was held on July14. The object of this council is that all depart-ments will work together, and also that the membersof the various societies be brought closer together inthe way of socials, etc. Mr Vin Brown was electedsecretary.

BROOKLYN (Rev. W. S. Rollings).—The visitof the President of the Union, Mr H. M. Smeeton,to our church was much appreciated. The meetingat which Mr Smeeton spoke to us took the form of asocial evening, when a large number of our membersand friends attended. The work of the Union, andits methods and workings, was put very clearly, andwas quite an inspiration to many, as also was a de-scription of the Manurewa Children's Home and itsoccupants. During the visit of Gipsy Pat Smith toWellington, our services, in common with otherchurches, commenced at 6.30 p.m. and closed at 7.30p.m. on Sunday evenings, so as to allow plenty oftime for those who wished to attend the meetings.Our church anniversary was held on July 6, and bothservices were well attended. The morning service

was taken by the Rev. Clarence Eaton, and theevening by our own pastor, and at this service severalfriends were received into membership, some bytransfer, and two who had been baptised the previousSunday. On the following Tuesday we held a churchsocial, when the Rev. L. McMaster, the Presbyterianminister, and also Rev. F. E. Harry and H. E.Edridge, spoke words of encouragement for the comingyear. Our secretary's report, and also the financialstatement, were excellent and speak well for thefuture. Our Bible Classes and Sunday School arestill doing good work, and during the month visitedthe Home for the Aged and Needy and gave severalitems. These visits are much appreciated by theold people, who show their pleasure in many ways.

CAMBRIDGE (Pastor F. Discombe).—At ourJune Communion service we had the pleasure of re-ceiving into church fellowship the young people re-cently baptised. Five others have been added toour church by transfer. The attendance at churchservices continues very good considering the windyweather, the week-night prayer meeting also beingwell supported. We regret to report the departureof two of our young men recently—Colin Murray toHastings, and Frank Lea to Palmerston North.They are missed from our Bible Class and church.services. On July 6 our church services were con-ducted by Mr J. Gilbert, of the local Y.M.C.A., inthe absence of our pastor from home. Our heartsgo out in sympathy to our pastor and his wife, whosuffered the loss by fire of their house and the wholeof its contents during their temporary absence on theafternoon of July 9. Mr Discombe has thus lost thewhole of his valuable library, besides other personaleffects of value.

CAVERSHAM (Rev. Eric Evans).—We arepleased to report that our work progresses steadily,the attendances at the Sunday services being wellmaintained. The membership of the Young Women'sand Young Men's Bible Classes is growing. A SeniorEndeavour Society has recently been started amongour young people, and is proving very helpful anda means of service. On July 1 and 2 a very success-ful sale, of work was held in the school hall. Theladies of the church, in conjunction with the YoungWomen's and Young l ien's Bible Classes, enteredinto the work with great enthusiasm and were ableto contribute quite substantial amounts from theirstalls, our Manse Fund being considerably augmented.

EPSOM (Pastor C. Chant).—A forward move-ment has been made by this church by the startingof a branch at Royal Oak, a populous and growingdistrict half-way between Epsom and Onehnnga. Theopening service, on July 6, was conducted by PastorChant. About 50 residents were present and showedencouraging interest. Five young people connectedwith our church accepted Christ during Gipsy Smith'smission. To help these and other young Christians,a Senior Endeavour Society has been formed andmeets every Saturday evening. Owing to pressure ofother duties, our Pastor has retired from the leader-ship of the Y.M.B.C. This position has been ac-cepted by Mr W. Craig, an enthusiastic and. experi-enced Bible Class worker. The young men gave asocial on July 8, in honour of the retiring and in-coming leaders.

GISBORNE (Rev. F. A. Crawshaw).—During themonth our pastor completed his first year of ministryamongst us. Double offerings were asked for on theSunday, and over £19 was forthcoming to wipe offthe bad effects of wet weather on the finances. Thelaying down of a large width of concrete from thegate to the church steps is a great improvement, and





H. ODELL & SON, Printers, 48 Manchester Street, Christchurch.

should lighten the work of the caretaker. A prettywedding took place on the 9th, when Miss ElizaSimpson and Mr Len. Markie, two church members,were united in holy matrimony. Mr Hambly, thebest man, an old scholar of the Sunday School, nowof Wanganui, officiated with much acceptance at theorgan for the previous Sunday services, the churchorganist being on his holidays. About 30 peoplegathered at the parsonage on the previous Thursday,to a gift evening, when the happy couple were therecipients of some useful presents, and a very en-joyable evening was spent. The EvangelisationSociety, of which our pastor is chairman, held theirmonthly meeting in the Tabernacle on the 7th.Prayer centred round the proposed visit to Gisborneof Paul Kanamori, the Japanese evangelist, fromwhich we anticipate great blessing. We are glacito notice many strangers amongst our evening con-gregations. Members have been specially appointedto keep an eye on these and make sure they get awarm wlcome and are made to feel at home.

GONVILLE (Rev. A. J. Grigg, B.A., D.D.).—Last month we were pleased to have a visit from ourUnion President, Mr Smeeton. The meeting at Gon-ville took the form of a combined social of the threeWanganui churches. On Sunday, July 6, the annualmeeting and tea of the Girls' Bible Class was held.

GRANGE ROAD (Rev. A. S. Wilson).—The ac-commodation of our church was taxed to the utmostat the morning service on June 29, when the Japaneseevangelist, Rev. P. Kanamori spoke. The eloquentaddress on his own life story was a great inspirationto all, and his visit is an event which will leavegrateful memories. it is with very great regret thatwe record the departure of one of our greatestworkers, Mr R. L. Price, who has been transferred toTaranaki by his firm. He occupies a large place inour hearts, and his work and fervour will long beremembered. The vacancy in the superintendence ofthe Sunday School has been filled by Mr A. T. Dow.

HAMILTON (Rev. H. G. Hercus).—We reachedanother important stage in our church history thislast month, when Mr James Wilson was appointedassistant minister. We have opened up two moreout-stations, and Mr Wilson is largely doing out-station work. We now have seven such preachingcentres. One good sign about our church life is thelarge number who stay to the Communion service.On the first Sunday in this month there was just on160 present, while at every such, service new mem-bers are received in. An increasing number ofyoung men are attending the services, and the onesand twos are being gathered into the kingdom. Aquiet, steady, fruitful work is being clone.

HASTINGS (Rev. T. Keith Ewen).—On Friday,June 27, the scholars of the Sunday School were en-tertained by the superintendent and teachers at anenjoyable romp, with refreshments. The followingSunday, at the morning service, prizes were presentedto the members of the Young People's WorshippingLeague. It is very gratifying to record the greatinterest taken by the young people of the church inthe mid-week prayer meeting. This marks a decidedimprovement in the spiritual condition of thechurch. A word of praise is due to the choirfor the excellent anthems which they have rendered,

proving a spiritual help and stimulus to the increas-ing congregations. The services at Pukahu, con-ducted by our pastor, continue in interest. The at-tendance at the monthly evening service, conductedby Mr C. Palmer, also at Pukahu, is most promising.

HAWERA (Rev. E. N. Goring).—The attend-ances at our services have been very satisfactory dur-ing the last months, Mr Goring giving very inspiringaddresses. Three new members have joined. Thework, however, is suffering because we are not in ourown church building. This important matter mustbe taken in hand right away. Three heaters havebeen installed in the cold hall where our services areheld, and these have been very much appreciated.We were greatly cheered by a visit from our N.Z.President, Mr Smeeton, who met the friends in ahappy gathering at the residence of Mr F. W. Horner.Mr Smeeton gave us a fine address on Baptist Unionactivities. An encouraging aspect of our work is theJunior Endeavour and Sunday School, which arelargely attended and give great promise for thefuture.

INVERCARGILL (Rev. J. Carlisle).—Since ourlast report appeared in these columns we have sufferedin the loss of our sister Mrs A. Macdonald (neeHilda Schroeder), who passed away after a long andtrying illness. Mrs Macdonald was a true followerof our Lord Jesus, and constantly witnessed for Himby her kind and loving disposition. On Wednesday,June 25, the Young Women's Bible Glass gave a verysuccessful concert in aid of the Missionary Society;£8 17s 6d was collected as a result of this effort.On Thursday, July 3, we were privileged to receive avisit from Mr Smeeton and Rev. Guy Thornton, thePresident of the Baptist Union and the President ofthe Otago and Southland Auxiliary of the BaptistUnion respectively. The welcome given to thesetwo brothers was warm, and the message deliveredby each was full of encouragement, and will no doubtresult in much good being done in the future. Itwas decided at a recent church meeting that the workof building a Sunday School at Georgetown should beproceeded with as early as possible'.

ISLAND BAY (Rev. H. E. Edridge).—We arepleased to report progress in our work at the Bay,several new members having recently joined thechurch, and we have several applications for baptism.The work of the Sunday School is well maintained,.the record attendance having reached 110 children.Twenty-nine scholars sat for the Wellington SundaySchool Union Scripture examination. The YoungMen's Bible Class recently held a successful social,judging by the numbers present and the success ofthe effort. There is every evidence of increasedactivity among the class members.

MT. EDEN (Rev. Adam Clark).—Through thegenerosity of some of the young men, the electric lighthas been installed throughout the manse. Three newmembers have been received into fellowship duringthe month. Our Endeavour had a visit from theTabernacle Senior Endeavour on a recent Mondayevening. It was quite enjoyed. During our pastor'sabsence at the Whangarei Mission, our pulpit wastwice occupied by the Rev. R. Horn, both addressesbeing very much enjoyed by those present. Theother two services were taken by Mr Russell Grave





and Mr J. Ferguson. Wednesday evening, the 9th,a social evening was held at which our pastor toldof his mission and experiences at Whangarei. Thismission was truly prompted and led by God, much ofGod's power was evidenced, a fair number converted,and many spiritual lives deepened. Supper wasserved at the close by the ladies. Last Sunday wasthe first of a series of talks on the Great FundamentalTruths of Christianity, illustrated by a very finechart. On June 20 a quiet wedding was solem-nised, when Miss Olive Cranston, one of our choirmembers, was married to Mr Morgan. The churchhad been tastefully decorated by some of the bride'sfriends.

MORRINSVILLE (Rev F. Parry).—We havejust held a sale of work, which was a success, andwe take this opportunity to thank all who helped usin this effort. On July 13 we held special services,our pastor completing his first year's ministry withus, Both services were well attended. We cantruly say that the past year has been one of muchblessing. Our pastor's services are much appreciated.Every Friday evening the Junior Endeavour meet,this class being well attended by young folk, manyof whom have recently given their hearts to the Lord.We have started using the Redemption Hymn Bookat our evening services, and in order to learn newhymns, a "sing-song" commences twenty minutes be-fore the service. We thank the donors for thesebooks—the Y.W.B.C.U, of Auckland.

NAPIER (Rev. John Ings).—On July 1 was heldthe annual church business meeting. The Sundayfollowing was the church anniversary. In the morn-ing the service was conducted by the Rev. Hughes, ofHastings, who took for his theme: "Helpers togetherwith God." In the evening our pastor spoke on the"Unity of the Church." Mrs Rosewarne sang "Hewas Despised," and "Divine Redeemer," and MrsReid sang "Rest to the Weary." The annual socialwas held on the Tuesday evening, when the Rev.Metson, of Trinity Methodist Church, gave an ad-dress on "Christianity in Action in Common Life."Also at that meeting we had to say farewell to Mrand Mrs Mills, who were leaving for Christchurch.Mr Mills, besides being a deacon, was also treasurerand choir-master. His going has caused a gap whichwill be hard to fill.

NEW PLYMOUTH (Rev. A. H. Collins).—Wewere exceedingly glad to welcome back our deacon,Mr J. A. Valentine, B.A., who has been away fromus for the past three months. Our minister is givinga series of sermons on the Bible on Sunday mornings.The first was, "The Bible as Literature"; second,"The Bible as Revelation." Both of these dis-courses showed brilliant thought and study. TheVoung People's Club has recommenced its weeklymeetings and the interest is very keen, which augurswell for the session. Bible Classes and SundaySchool are well maintained in numbers and enthusi-asm. We are glad to record a baptism during thepast month. The result of the Manse Debt Fund isso far very encouraging.

NORTH-EAST VALLEY (Rev. S. Morris).—On Saturday, May 31, our Young Men's Bible Classheld a concert in North-east Valley Town Hall, forthe purpose of raising funds to complete their class-room. This room is being erected by the youngmen in their spare time, and we are glad that thisconcert gave them a help in the finance. On Thurs-day evening, June 12, we held our annual choirsocial. At the close of a very pleasant evening,opportunity was taken to make a presentation to MrW. R. Beadle, who is leaving us. Our pastor, whospoke on behalf of deacons, Sunday School teachers,and choir members, made reference to Mr Beadle's

untiring service as Sunday School superintendent,deacon, and choirmaster. On Saturday evening, June28, the Young Women's Bible Class held a very suc-cessful sale of work in the school hall. Theyrealised more than the necessary amount to fulfiltheir obligations, and were able to give a substantialamount towards reduction of debt on school hall. Ayoung people's service was held on Sunday evening.June 29, when the members of the Bible Classesassisted our pastor and took part in the service. Aspecial appeal was made to young men and women toyield to Jesus Christ. At the close of the servicea social hour was spent in the school hall, the timebeing taken up in singing and social intercourse.The service was brought to a close with celebration offamily worship.

OPAWA (Rev. L. C. H. Barbour).—The work issteadily growing and there are decided signs ofspiritual uplift amongst our people. We had thepleasure of a visit from Mr Smeeton, President ofthe Union, on July 6. He visited us in the after-noon and saw our Sunday School, together with agood number of parents and friends who came tomeet him and who were very interested in what hehad to say to us. Our Sunday School is increasingin numbers, especially the little ones, so that we arenow faced with the problem, of where to put them,and we have come to the conclusion that we mustbuild a room for a primary department before thehot weather comes. A good number of strangersare coming to the evening services. Twenty-four ofour scholars sat for the Scripture examination. AYoung People's Society has been formed, the object ofwhich is to foster the devotional, mental, physical,and social life of the young people.

OWAKA (Pastor Garner).—A very enjoyable socialwas held during June to welcome our new pastor.Mr Stenning was in the chair, and with him on theplatform were the Rev. Eric Evans, of Caversham,who represented the Otago and Southland Auxiliary,and Mr Barr, who represented the Presbyterians.The Presbyterian choir came to our aid and renderedseveral anthems. The Bible Class choir gave severalitems very nicely, and the usual cup of tea was handedround. We are glad to have Mr Garner settled withus, after being without a pastor so long. Serviceshave been commenced at Hine Hine, where the peopleliave been so long without meetings of any kind, andwhere a Sunday School was started over a year ago.The attendance at the several preaching stationsseems to be on the increase.

OXFORD TERRACE (Rev. J. J. North).—Dur-ing the month we were favoured by a visit from thePresident of the Baptist Union of N.Z. (Mr H. M.Smeeton), who addressed the congregation on a recentSunday morning. The Tennis Club gave a concertin aid of their funds, in June, the result being over£17. During the evening Mr North, on behalf ofthe members of the church, presented our organist(Mr W. M. Lawry) with a handsome oak tray—silver-mounted and suitably inscribed—to mark the occasionof his marriage. Mr North addressed a combinedand largely-attended meeting of the Young People'sInstitute on June 15. The subject, "Sketches ofIndian Life," was much enjoyed. The YoungWomen's Bible Classes held a sale of cakes andsweets on a Saturday afternoon recently, with excel-lent results. The series of winter sermons on "TheSeven Deadly Sins" continues to attract particularlylarge congregations. On July 6 a special and mostimpressive Gospel service was held, with very beauti-ful singing and a full church. A male chorus wasparticularly effective. Preparations for Conferenceare largely occupying the thoughts of many of us atpresent.


PALMERSTON NORTH (Rev. C. W. Duncumb),—Decisions for Christ is the paramount business ofthe church, and we have had seven during the pastmonth. Truly the Holy Spirit is working in ourmidst. On June 22 a baptismal service was held,one candidate offering. But before the service con-cluded two others availed themselves of the oppor-tunity, and a further three signified their willingnessto follow their Master, one of them being a prominentMethodist local preacher. Two of these were bap-tised on July 6. At the church meeting on July 8it was deemed advisable to purchase a new organ.The old instrument has rendered excellent service inleading the praises of God. but is now worn out. Itwas also decided to commence a Band of Hope. Atthe evening service on July 13 another decision forChrist was recorded. Our pastor is undoubtedly be-ing used by God in this church. The attendance atthe services is keeping up; this especially applies tothe morning worship. The Senior Bible Classes aremaking satisfactory progress under enthusiasticleadership.

PONSONBY (Rev. S. J. Campbell).—We join withthe Baptist churches of the entire Dominion in payingour tribute of love to the memory of our dear friend,Mrs North, beloved wife of our one-time pastor. Wealso record the passing of another elderly saint, inthe person of Mr Dix, a regular worshipper at themorning meeting. We were privileged to have avisit last month from Miss Gladys Collins (on fur-lough). The three grades of the school, as well asparents and friends, assembled in the church to hearher most interesting address. Miss Nellie Wilkin-son's recent missionary talks to Bible Class girls andEndeavourers were very helpful, and warranted biggeraudiences. We are pleased to report growing con-gregations, especially at the morning services. TheYoung Worshippers' League has been reinstated, withMiss Katie Jenkins as secretary. The Literary andDebating Club recently had a variation in the wayof a lantern lecture, including incidents in the lifeof the converted Cornishman Billy Bray.

PETONE (Rev. F. H. Radford).—We held ourhalf-yearly meeting and social during the month,when a summary of the church's activities showed allbranches to be in a satisfactory position. We werealso favoured on this occasion with a visit from MrSmeeton, President of the N.Z. Baptist Union, whoaddressed us on the work being done by the N.Z.Baptist Union, when his remarks were most enlighten-ing and interesting. The ladies of the church havebeen most busy in raising money for the installationof the electric light, and they very quietly told usthat it was now our turn to do something, so themen of the church arranged a social and concert, atwhich a good number attended, the men renderingitems and supplying supper. This proved a success,as have also the ladies' efforts, so that up to datethere is but one-third of the amount left to be raised.

TIMARU (Rev. H. G. Goring).—The annualchurch meeting was held on July 9. The secretary'sreport stated that the minister, assisted by his wife,had rendered consistent service to the church andpeople, Mr Goring having given regular attention andoversight to every organisation. Thanks to mem-bers and friends, they have succeeded in raising £1577s, which, with Mrs Black's £100, had enabled themto reduce the liability on the manse by £257 7s. Twoof the church members had offered for special work,

one for the foreign field, and the other for the min-istry. The treasurer stated that there was a creditbalance of £10, and money raised from all sources forthe year amounted to £728. The following officerswere elected for the ensuing year:—Church deacons—Messrs Carpenter (life), W. Marsden, E. Spence, andP. Williams; secretary, Mr W. Marsden; treasurer,Mr W. S. Long; auditor, Mr Carpenter, deaconesses—Mesdames Savage, Buxton, and Thompson; missionarycollector, Miss Thorn; Union collector, Miss New-lands; prayer meeting organist, Miss Rae; flowersteward, Mrs Henderson; robe steward, Mrs Thomp-son; Baptist agent, Mrs Black; electric light and bap-tistry steward, Mr Swain; press reporter, Mr W. S.Long; Baptist reporter, Miss Newlands; literarysteward, Mr Swain. Mr W. O. Long made an offerof a birthday challenge of £50 to be raised by Janu-ary 29 to assist in the Manse Fund reduction. Afterthe business, Mr H. M. Smeeton gave an interestingtalk on the work of the Baptist Union. The follow-ing Sunday, the Rev. Guy Thornton, of Dunedin, con-ducted the anniversary services. The addresses provedvery helpful and were much appreciated. The threefollowing evenings we listened to a series of mostinteresting lectures by Mr Thornton. As a result ofthe anniversary we rejoice in the knowledge that fourof our young folk were won for the Master.

WANGANU! EAST.— The work of the churchgoes steadily on, and the attendances at the serviceshave been well maintained. The young people, underthe leadership of Mr E. Grigg, are showing keeninterest and promise in their club. On a recentSunday evening our student pastor exchanged pulpitswith his brother, Rev. A. Grigg, of Gonville. TheJunior Endeavour, under the leadership of MissSmith, is doing good work, and also the choir, whohave been fortunate in securing the services of MrEmmett, senr., as choir conductor. The sum of £13was raised for self-denial, crowning last year's efforts.On June 8 we had the opportunity of hearing MrSmeeton on the work of the Union in its variousorganisations.

WHANGAREI (Rev. F. Sampson).—The mostimportant work of the month has been the visit ofRev. Adam Clarke for a twelve days' mission. Thearrangements were so suddenly made that it wasimpossible to carry out the usual plan of holding pre-paration meetings. However, notice was sent tomany of the churches and to individual prayer part-ners, asking them to come to our help. Saturdaywas wholly given up to prayer. Sunday opened withprayer at 7 a.m. We are satisfied as to the valueof intercession. The missioner came in the powerand wisdom of the Holy Spirit. At every servicethere was the closest attention and interest. Greatliberty was experienced. The main features of themission were the presentation, without question, ofthe Word of God, and the prominence given to pro-phetic truth. Afternoon Bible readings were givenon the book of the Revelation. These readings weresupplemented by a finely illustrated lantern lecture.The truth of the imminent coming of the Lord wasconvincingly put. Many have been interested andhelped, and ask for further instruction along thisline. There were decisions for Christ; nine youngpeople were baptised; Christians were brought search-ingly, yet in love, to the place of separation; surelythere must have been sincere response. The pastor'sministry has been thoroughly confirmed. The Lordis plainly with us. We thank Him and take freshcourage.




40th Year of Issue—No. 489. SEPTEMBER, 1924. Price 4d.Post Free 4/- per Annum

Boys and Sin.Under the caption "A Gesture to the Baptists,' '

we referred last month to the desire of the masterof the Mill Mill School, the great Congregationalinstitution in England, to find something to corres-pond to Confirmation in a boy's life. We suggestedthat in Believers' Baptism the thing wanted by DrJacks could be found. We notice that several cor-respondents to the British Weekly said the samething. There has evidently been some considerabledebate on the whole situation, and it seems to havecentred on the phrase in the English prayer book,in the General Confession, that we are "miserableoffenders" and that there is "no health in us ."These phrases are either modified or dropped whenNonconformists use the General Confession, as manyindeed do. That seasoned Christians should sayweek by week that there is no health in them is ad-mittedly rather morbid. But Dr Jacks goes muchfurther, and, in a fighting speech on "FoundationDay," he declared that public school boys as a wholewere neither miserable nor sinners. We should havethought that a better knowledge of human nature wasa necessary qualification for such an office as DrJacks holds. That boys are not sinners is the mostsurprising statement we remember hearing a respon-sible man make. The average boy fights a prettybleak fight with his animalism, and much moreclearly than a philosophical head master he knowsthe meanness and the beastliness of much withinhim. Indeed, we hold very firmly that a strong doc-trine of sin is the first requisite for the understand-ing of this difficult world. If the world is not in amess through sin, then the blame of the hurly-burlyrests with God. If the Mill Hill boys were yearningfor some form of confession when they reach beyondthe age of puberty, it was because they knew sin,and sought, through resolute alliance with Christ,victory over it. We have heard clerics attacking DrWhyte for his fierce insistence on sin. One specialaffair called forth their condemnation; that was theplace where he told a slum audience in the Cow-gate that he had found out the name of thewickedest man in Edinburgh, and that it was Alex-ander Whyte. We prefer Whyte to Jacks. The blood-lessness of many a pulpit is occasioned by theabsence of that strong note, "Flee from the wrathto come."

Ministers and Facts.In our article last month we referred to the great

need for adequate knowledge by ministers, especiallyin regard to matters of secular knowledge. A min-ister cannot know everything; but a diligent ministercan know the outlines of scientific and economicquestions at least so well that he will not make afool of himself when he refers to them. Probably hewill be safer to refer little to them. Men do notcome to church to hear how old the world is or isnot, or to hear whether man was slowly or sud-denly created. They come to worship and to getsight of Christ. A bungling reference to mattersextraneous to the Church's true purpose may estrangea man who is seeking comfort and grace in Christ.This is an old and not a new trouble, and we werespecially interested in a quotation from St. Augustine,recently used, and which we here commend to generalnotice. "I t is a very shameful and dangerous thingand one to be carefully avoided that an unbelievershould hear a Christian talking nonsense about theearth, the air, the motions and magnitude and dis-tance of the stars, the courses of the seasons, thenature of animals and minerals, and such like scien-tific questions, on the pretended authority of Scrip-ture. For if his hearer has a real knowledge ofthese things grounded on observation and reasoning,he cannot refrain from laughing at the abyssmalignorance of the Christian." That could not bebetter put. Augustine escaped from his age andspoke to the ages.

Him and His Hymn Book.The British Weekly started out on the hopeless

task of winning an eternal hymn or two by the offerof a twenty-guinea prize. The number of spinstersand ministers and others who had a shot at thattwenty guineas reached the respectable total of 2980.The number explains the tribulations of editors ingeneral. Floods of so-called verse pour in on un-offending heads. Everyone seems to think taat ajingle with a sparklet or two about the daisies anathe little birds that build nests constitutes a claimto a place among the immortals. But, alas, it is notso. The staff of the British Weekly, as Punch wouldhave it, were quite weakly when they had finished upthe 2980 MSS. They discovered a gem or two amongthe mountains of dust; also a joke or two—especiallythis (probably from a determined old maid):

"The blessings of a single lifeAre more than we can count."


T H E O R G A N O F T H E B A P T I S T UNION.

THE

Passing Notes.

190 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. September, 1924.

But could anything be more futile than the attemptto waken the muse by an offer of so much in hardcash? A poem—to say nothing of a hymn—sowritten is bound to be balderdash. The only hymnsthat can claim to be eternal have an element offrenzy or of inspiration about them. Matheson tossedoff "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go" in a sortof a trance,, after a medical verdict and a woman'sverdict that threatened to shatter all things. Theyoung High Anglican on the orange boat in theBonafacio Straits did his "Kindly Light," hardlyknowing that he did it. Could either piece havebeen produced for a competition? We cannot be toograteful for our hymn book. It is always catholic inthe best sense, and after, the British Weekly speci-mens its value seems to be greatly enhanced. Wequote in full the hymn that won in this affair. Ourreaders can judge for themselves. It is found inanother column of this issue.

The Last Wrong of Woman.We have marched in the last half century so far

toward the full emancipation of woman that it comesas a shock to know that the iron door still shut inthe face of our mothers and sisters is the door ofprelatical churches. The stiff, unbending attitude ofthese institutions, cumbered as they are with warpedand ignorant traditions, is unpardonable. Womenare said to love man-millinery, when worn by ecclesi-astics. They kiss on their knees the episcopal ringof Roman bishops. The other bishops don't go quiteso far. Would women do them deference if they knewthe fierce determination of the prelates to keepthem down at all costs? Every woman in the worldshould have a copy of Miss Maud Royden's sermongiven in the City Temple at its jubilee. We give our-selves the pleasure of quoting some phrases:

I want to make it understood by those whodo not realise how tremendous its importanceseems to some of us—I want to show just whyit is that this thing goes so deep. You see, fora man to say that women have not sufficientphysical endurance or physical strength for cer-tain kinds of work or perhaps for public lifemay be a misconception, but it is not an insult;it is simply a statement of what such a manbelieves to be true. Even to say that a womanlacks intellectual power does not go so deep. Itmay be wrong; I think it is wrong; but it doesnot hit the very nature of a woman. But to say,as it is said to-day, that a woman may have thecapacity to speak and the power to speak andthe intellectual ability to speak; that she may-even speak as well as a man, but that she mustnot speak in a church because it is a consecratedbuilding is an insult to the very depths of awoman's nature. It means something far morethan intellectual inferiority or physical in-feriority; it means that there is something inthe very nature of a woman which desecrates aholy place. You may think perhaps that thatis an exaggeration, but I assure you it is not.

During the time of my ministry in the CityTemple, the Rector of St. Botolph's, Bishops-gate, asked me to take the three-hours' serviceon Good Friday. He did so because it is stillillegal for a woman to speak at a statutory ser-vice in the Church of England, and the threehours' service is not a statutory service. There-fore, when the Bishop urged him to withdraw hisinvitation to me, he pointed out that he waswithin his rights because the service is not astatutory service, and the Bishop replied that hisobjection to my taking it was that it was a speci-ally sacred service! It is against that kind ofattitude that the modern woman of to-day is set,with a determination which can only increasewith the opposition. It is not possible for a

woman to accept any position which implies thatthere is something—not in her brains or hercharacter or anything else that is personal toher—but in her womanhood that makes it unfit-ting for her to speak in a consecrated place

It is a sense of something that is to me in-describably foul in this opposition to the spiritualministry of women that makes us so consciousthat it must be overcome. In the political fightI have met with brutality, with coarseness, evenwith violence, but I never met in the course ofthe political struggle with that certain qualityof insult and baseness that I have met in theecclesiastical world. I am aware that there arethousands of people who oppose that thing forwhich I stand for reasons that are, if not suffi-cient, perfectly honest and good and sincere;but there is also a certain uncleanness of imagi-nation in the minds of some of these who are ourmost determined opponents, a quality of unclean-ness about womanhood and about sex, which isour last worst enemy, and which must be de-feated if the relations between men and womenare to be as sane, as wholesome, as sweet, aslovely, as God surely meant them to be, whenwe are told that "God created man in His ownimage, in the image of God created He him;male and female created He them."

War on War.American Christians are showing themselves as

lively or more lively than those British Christianswho met in "Copec" conference in Birmingham.All the churches save the Roman seem to have com-mitted themselves to war on war. On September 12,unless something happens, there will be a great trialof strength between the War Office and Christiansentiment. It promises to be a very spectacularaffair. The Government seems to have taken noteof what the Methodists and Baptists and Presby-terians have been saying in their congresses, andthey have taken the occasion to apply the acid testto the talk. General Pershing, the national war hero,is about to retire. He is to use his last day of officefor a death wrestle with the new Christianity. Itlooks to us as if history is going to be made thismonth. Either the U.S.A. Government will backdown, or the churches will be publicly humbled andtheir ministers made to eat humble pie in public.Here is the Christian Century's statement of thecase:

American churches are in the full tide of amighty movement against the whole war system.The Presbyterians have just pledged all theirenergies "to the outlawing of war and the hasten-ing of the day when nations shall learn war nomore." The Methodists have called the con-tinuance of war the suicide of civilisation, andhave said: "We are determined to outlaw thewhole war system." The Baptists have termedwar "the most colossal and ruinous social sinthat afflicts humanity," and have likewise saidthat it is "not only futile but suicidal." Thereis scarcely a church group in the country butthat has set its face against the whole businessof making war. All these groups recognise theunique position in which the United States findsitself for leading in a positive programme, forthe making of peace.

Into the face of this mounting sentiment, theGovernment, with apparent deliberation, has castthe challenge of an announced Mobilisation Day-Taking advantage of the approaching retirementof General Pershing as a focussing point forpublic attention, the War Department is planningon September 12 to carry through the same pro-cesses that, under the Act of June 4, 1920, wouldgo into effect with a declaration of war. In-

September, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. 191

dustries are to be tested as to their instantavailability for the production of war materials;units of the regular army and national guard areto be brought to righting strength; a nationalarmy, in the approximate proportion of fivevolunteers for every regular member of themilitary forces, is to be enrolled. All this is tobe done under the impetus of a press cam-paign and "patriotic meetings." The meetingsare, in due course, to be opened with prayer byministers. In other words, the churches are tobe presented with an abstract war and asked tobless it.

Some Mems.Two vacancies are occurring among pastorates.

It will be seen from the Mosgiel report that theRev. E. Weston has resigned. The Grey LynnChurch is vacant through the transfer of the Rev.E. Horn to Tauranga. . . . We anticipate thatthese vacancies will occasion a useful rearrangementof our forces. . . . The Rev. F. E. Harry seemsto have been round the North Island with a paintbrush. A man who starts to blot out the blue inNew Zealand will have some job. Cheerfulness willkeep breaking through. . . . We understandthat the Rev. C. W. Duncumb was chosen to refereethe Soccer match Manawatu v. China. Ministershave varied lives. . . . And that brings us tosay that a new minister has been chosen for thecentral church in Melbourne. The Rev. W. DoddsJackson, B.A., is a famous inside left player, andhad 40 goals to his credit playing for a leading EastAnglia club. He is also a cricketer, a tennis player,and a golfer. He was a captain in the field artilleryin the War, and has an Italian Croix de Guerre. Wesuppose that, incidentally, he is a preacher, and sogreat a preacher that it takes all this field work tokeep fit. We hope he may do well. . . . Theyare proposing to build a central church house inSydney where the old Bathurst Street Church stands.A very fine block of buildings is planned. . . .The fourth Australian Baptist Congress is to meet inAdelaide in 1925. . . . A very remarkable Bap-tist died recently at Waimate in the person of MrE. Bannerman. He had been a resident of thattown since 1874, and, though never happy enoughto enjoy fellowship in a Baptist Church, he neverceased through those years to labour in a remarkableway as leader of an undenominational Bible Classfor young men, among whom he was very popular.He was a pioneer worker in temperance matters, andin every way a great citizen. We wish he had beenmore widely known among our people. Three daysafter his death his wife also passed to her rest atthe age of 81 We understand that theEpsom Church is hoping to start work at RoyalOak. . . . By the Makura on August 5 , MissWynnie Bardsley, of Dunedin, left for the U.S.A.,where she is to be married to Mr Eric Nicol, sonof Mr Arthur Nicol, of Whangarei. She is accom-panied by Miss Marjorie Nicol, who expects to spenda year in the States enlarging her teaching experi-ence. Mr Eric Nicol's appointment with theY.M.C.A, is at Mineola, Long Island, New York.Miss Bardsley is daughter of Mr and Mrs W. J.Bardsley, of Dunedin. .

Mainly Political.

A near friend of the Rev. R. S. Gray was askedto suggest lines for the memorial stone. Thosechosen were both from Robert Browning—the firstfrom "The Epilogue": "One who never turned hisback, but marched breast-forward"; the other from"The Grammarian's Funeral" : "He's for the morn-ing." A simple stone of Scottish granite has beenerected at Karori.

The situation in regard to the fight against theliquor traffic grows more interesting every month.Naturally both sides are preparing for the conflictthat will take place in the House of Representativesthis session.

A Base Slander,Those who have been long in the fight have had

plenty of experience of the depths to which theliquor party will sink in their efforts to maintaintheir position. It is doubtful, however, if they haveever before reached baser depths than they havetouched in endeavouring to fasten upon the late Rev.R. S. Gray the responsibility for the third issue ofState purchase and control on the ballot paper.Anybody familiar with the Rev. R. S. Gray's mag-nificent fight against that traffic will reject withscorn the assertion that he agreed to the third issuegoing on the ballot paper in consideration of theprohibition party securing the advantage of the baremajority and the elimination of the four-years' in-terval between the carrying and going into effect ofprohibition. We think it is a literal truth to saythat R. S. Gray actually gave his life in the fightagainst the liquor traffic, and we are absolutely cer-tain that he would not have even considered sucha proposition without discussing it with his col-leagues on the New Zealand Alliance. The liquorinterests, however, are in such a state of terror anddesperation that they do not hesitate to slander adead man if thereby they can cause confusion inthe public mind and create an impression that theAlliance did accept the State purchase and controlissue. The Alliance has already reprinted the mostemphatic declaration that there was no compromise.This declaration was made by the Hon. Sir FrancisBell in the following terms, and can be found inHansard by all who care to look:—

As a matter of fact, each side emphaticallydeclared that it would not compromise in anyway. The two representatives in my room de-clared that they were not authorised by anybodyto speak. Nothing of that nature took place.When honourable members say that something ofthe kind took place, then I reply, "I know, andthey do not."—(Hansard, pp. 725-729.)

There is abundant evidence of an attempt to makemuch of this matter, and it is, therefore, importantthat all who are interested in prohibition should bein a position emphatically to deny the allegation thatis being made.

Craft in New Zealand.The opponents of prohibition love to assert that

prohibition in the United States has produced graftand corruption in public life. In this connection itis interesting to note that the New Zealand FreeLance of July 16 and Truth of July 19 both containedparagraphs calling attention to the fact that therehad been activity in brewery shares, that this activitywas associated with politics, that the liquor trafficwas seeking to secure a dissolution of Parliament inorder to avoid having a poll in 1925, and thus savethe enormous amount of money they would spend ifa poll takes place. Now, a dissolution can be forcedonly by some dishonourable manoeuvres behind thescenes. Let it be made quite clear that we aremaking no allegations against any M.P.'s. But ifthese things are common report, as appears fromthe paragraphs to which we refer, it must be quiteclear that those responsible for them have someevidence that the liquor interests are attempting tobuy or bribe politicians with a hope of bringingabout a dissolution, and thus postponing the liquor


poll that is due in 1925. When the Rev. J. Dawsontold the Methodist Conference in March this yearthat he feared the liquor trade was endeavouring tosecure dissolution, he was bitterly denounced by theliquor press, which alleged it to be "fantastic tosuppose that the trade could use its money to per-suade the parties or sections of them to sacrificetheir party considerations and devote their energiesto bringing a dissolution about by some tactics whichwe cannot imagine." Time and the financial baro-meter above indicated show that Mr Dawson's fearswere well founded. That experienced parliamen-tarian Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., also apparently realisesthe danger, and proposes to introduce a Bill thatwill safeguard the 1925 poll in the event of adissolution.

Progress.It is encouraging and inspiring to be able to

report that in a large number of districts in theDominion the young people's work in connectionwith temperance and prohibition is making marvel-lous progress. Band of Hope meetings with 200 andeven 400 in attendance are reported, and in manycases adults also are attending the meetings. Thisphase of the work has undoubtedly taken on a newlease of life, and is one of the most hopeful signsof the times.—J. M. M.

The noise of hammer and saw has been heard togood purpose at North Brighton, for in an incrediblyshort space of time the new building has been com-pleted. It stands on the main thoroughfare—theBowhill road, a monument to the glory of God andconsecrated zeal of His servants. On Saturday,August 16, at 3.15 p.m., an expectant group stoodbefore the closed door, while Mr A. C. Stewart, ofDunedin, spoke words of a dedicatory nature. Hestressed the responsibility which devolved upon thosewho would make this their church home, and calledfor steadfast zeal in the building up of a spiritualedifice. Then, turning the key, he threw wide thedoors, and invited, all to enter the sanctuary, whichwas indeed "the house of God and the gate ofheaven."

The building was speedily filled, and a serviceof dedication followed, in which the Christchurchministers participated. The Chairman of the Can-terbury Auxiliary. (Mr J. P. Hayward) occupied thechair. The Rev. J. J. North delivered a tellingaddress based on the incident of the despondent dis-ciples of the Crucified Christ. His portrayal of theRisen Lord, challenging the disappointed fishermento renewed effort, was strong with appeal to theinstigators of the work at Brighton. He urged themto expect success, to labour in the spirit of conquest,and to go forward to win men for Christ.

Mr J. P. Hayward conducted worship on Sundaymorning, August 17, and the dying of Jesus wasremembered at His table. At 2.30, the SundaySchool, a bright and hopeful feature of the newventure, assembled with parents in attendance. MrStewart, that man of parts, gave a breezy talk tothe young folk. The service at 6.30 was conductedby the Rev. A. W. Stuart, there being an attendanceof 60.

The special gatherings were finalised on Mon-day, August 18, when the Spreydon Baptist Choirrendered a varied programme of sacred music of avery high order, and again the seating accommoda-tion was fully taxed. The Rev. J. K. Archer gavea helpful and encouraging address. During theevening Mr Hayward spoke words appreciative of theinvaluable service rendered by Mr A. C. Stewart,

who has given his time gratuitously in the prepara-tion of the plans and in the erection of a beautiful,well-built, and comfortable house of God. On behalf of the friends at Brighton he made a presenta-tion of a silver-mounted "Pyrex" entree dishinscribed: "To Mr and Mrs Stewart, from friends atNorth Brighton." Those who know the genialbuilder can picture him as he replied, humbly ex-pressing his indebtedness to God for the privilegeof being a co-worker in the Kingdom of Christ.

The building is complete, a hopeful work is inprogress; but a small indebtedness has been in-curred. Will any big soul, with an interest in thewider Kingdom of God, kindly help these pioneersin an unchurched district? Donations may be sentto the Treasurer (Mr C. Dixon), "Saltaire," NorthBrighton, Christchurch. Thank you!

Treasurer's Statement.FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT JULY 31, 1924.

Dr. Balance as at June 30,1924

Receipts for JulyExpenditure for July

Dr. Balance at July 31, 1924

Dr. Balance as at June 30,1924

Receipts for JulyExpenditure for July

Dr. Balance at July 31, 1924

SPECIAL NOTICE.—It is imperative that theabove debit should be wiped out before our booksclose on September 20. I should therefore be gladif collectors and supporters will kindly note andremit their amounts as early as possible before thatdate.


A WORD FROM CHRISTCHURCH.

The united churches are preparing to give a full-hearted welcome to the 1924 Conference. Greatthings are anticipated and are being prepared for.The immediate concern of the Hospitality Committeeis the providing of homes for the appointed delegatesof the churches. The size of the modern housemakes old-time hospitality difficult, but it will beattempted. Co-operation from the delegates them-selves is specially asked. Christchurch wants toknow at the earliest possible moment (1) the namesof all delegates appointed and (2) details as to anyprivate arrangements entered into or in prospect.Information on these two points should be sent tothe Convener of the Hospitality Committee, Mr A. F.Carey, 107 Bealey avenue, Christchurch.

UNION:

Receipts.MISSIONARY: Expendi-

ture.

Receipts.Expendi-

ture.£ s. d. £ s. d.

245 0 6110 19 5

149 14 11

£245 0 6 £260245

140

46

£ 1 5 13 10

£ s. d. £ s. d.

1,601 14 2562 15 7

£562 15 7 £2,014562

715

107

412 13 8

£1,451 12 3

North Brighton Opening Services.

September, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMMEOF

MEETINGS AND SERVICES

193

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8.9.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m.—Committee meetings.

Annual meeting Baptist Women's MissionaryUnion.

6 p.m.—Delegates' Welcome Tea. Welcome speechesby Mr A. F. Carey and Rev. J. K. Archer.Replies by Rev. A. S. Wilson and the Vice-president (Mr T. E. Toneycliffe.

7.30 p.m.—Evening session. Prayer, Rev. S. Morris.Chairman, Rev. F. H. Radford Presidentialaddress, Mr H. M. Smeeton.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9.7 a.m.—Prayer meeting conducted by Rev. 11. G.

Hercus.9 a.m.—Devotional meeting conducted by Rev. T.

K. Ewen.9.40 a.m.—Lord's Supper conducted by Rev. C.

Dallaston.10 a.m.—Session of Union Roll call. Minutes

Appointment of Conference officers and commit-tees. Resolution of sympathy in re departedmembers. Election of Ministerial members.Notices of motion. Annual reports: (1) Secre-tary 's; (2) Auxiliaries'—(a) Auckland (Pastor C.Chant, (b) Central (Mr J. R. Carey), (c) Can-terbury (Rev. E. E. Smith), (d) Otago andSouthland (Mr C. J. Darracott).

11.30 a.m.—Prayer interval by Rev. R. Robertson(five minutes).

2.30 p.m.—Session of Union. Prayer led by PastorL. A. Day. Discussion on Secretary's and Aux-iliaries' reports. Finance Committee's report.Treasurer's report. Summarised reports ofchurches. Notices of motion.

3.45 p.m.—Prayer interval by Rev. Guy Thornton.7.30 p.m.—Young people's demonstration. Pro-

gramme provided by scholars of district SundaySchools. Chairman, Rev. E. N. Goring;speaker, Rev. Eric Evans. Collection for YoungPeople's Department.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10.7 a.m.—Prayer meeting conducted by Rev. C. D.

Gardiner.9.30 a.m.—Devotional meeting led by Rev. A.

Anstice.10 a.m.—Session of Union. (1) Report of Young

People's Department Committee; (2) reports ofBible Class Unions; (3) discussion; (4) StudentsCommittee (Rev. H. K. Kempton), SpecialStudents' Committee (Rev. W. S. Rollings); (5)notices of motion.

11.30 a.m.—Prayer interval by Rev. L. J. B. Smith.2.30 p.m.—Session of Union. Prayer by Pastor E.

Nicholls. (1) Reports: (a) New Zealand Baptist—Editor (Rev. J. J. North), Manager (the Secre-tary). (2) Notices of motion—(a) In re electionof Missionary Committee, Rev. C. W. Duncumb;(b) in re Ministerial Adjustment, the Secretary:(c) in re Baptist Day, the Secretary; (d) in reElection of President, the President; (e) in reElection of Students' Committee, Auckland Aux-iliary.

6.45 p.m.—Prayer by Rev. T. H. Eccersall.7.30 p.m.—Evening session. Public questions.

Chaiiman, President of Union. Speakers: Rev.W. S. Rollings, "The Liquor I ssue" ; Rev. J.J. North, "Gambling I ssue" : Rev. A. H. Col-lins, "Good Citizenship" (address of 20 minuteseach).

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11.9.30 a.m.—Ministers' meeting (Baptist Ministers'

Association). Chairman, the President. Devo-tions and business. Speaker, Rev. A J. Grigg,B.A., B.D., "The Hidden Wealth of the NewTestament." Afternoon, Conference picnic at"Saltaire," New Brighton.

8 p.m.—Grand concert by combined choirs. Con-ductor, Mr V. S. Peters; organist, Mr MelvilleLawry.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12.11 a.m.—Missionary sermon. Preacher, Rev. John

Takle. Service conducted by Rev. J. Carlisle.3 p.m.—Open-air service in the city. United Chorus

Choir sings. Chairman. Rev. J. J. North;speakers: Rev. Joseph W. Kemp and Rev. C.W. Duncumb (for other preaching engagementssee end of programme).

MONDAY, OCTOBER 13-7 a.m.—Prayer meeting conducted by Rev. H. G.

Hercus.9.30 a.m.—Devotional meeting conducted by Rev. W.

E. Lambert.10 a.m.—Session of Union. (1) Election of officers

and committees; (2) notices of motion; (3) publicresolutions.

11.30 a.m.—Prayer by Rev. H. R. Turner. Recessfor Committee to prepare Budget.

2.30 p.m.—B.W.M.U. Thanksgiving Service, Mrs T.E. Toneycliffe presiding.

8 p.m.—Evening session. Baptist rally. Chairman,the new President; speakers: Rev. Stanley Jen-kin, Rev. F. A. Crawshaw, and another. Subject,"The Baptist Church in Relation to the Life ofthe Day."

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14.MISSIONARY DAY.

7 a.m.—Prayer meeting conducted by Rev. Thos.Weston.

9.30 a.m.—Devotional meeting conducted by Rev. F.A. Parry.

Id a.m.—Business session. Reports: (1) Secretary's,(2) reports fiom the Field, (3) Treasurer's, (4)Administrative Committee's, (5) Editor of Mis-sionary Messenger's; discussion. Reports ofB.W.M.U.; discussion. Notices of motion.

11.30 a.m.—Prayer by Rev. Alfred North.2.30 p.m.—Business session. Prayer by Rev. John

Laird, M.A. Election of officers and committees.Notices of motion. Budget, etc.

3.10 p.m.—Prayer by Rev. H. G. Goring.6 p.m.—Conference Tea.


7.30 p.m.—Missionary meeting. Chairman, Rev. H:G. Hercus; speakers: Miss Rice, Rev. J. Takle,and Rev. John Ings.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15.

7 a.m.—Prayer meeting conducted by Rev. E. R.Western.

9.30 a.m.—Devotional meeting conducted by Rev. F.Sampson.

10 a.m.—Business session. (1) Reports—(a) AnnuityFund; (b) Sustentation Fund; (c) Board of In-troduction and Advice; (d) Manurewa Home.(2) Notices of motion, Appointment of Two Evan-gelists (Auckland Auxiliary).

11.30 a.m.—Prayer by Rev. Adam Clarke.'-'.30 p.m.—Business session. Prayer by Pastor C.

S. Matthews. Dealing with notices of motion.7.30 p.m.—Union sermon. Preacher, Rev. F. E.

Harry. Service conducted by Rev. H. K. Kemp-ton. Communion service conducted by Rev.Alfred North.

N.B.—The prayer intervals should be limited to fiveminutes.

Notices of Motion.

(1) That it be an instruction to the Programme Com-mittee to set aside the first day of Conferencefor spiritual exercises.


(2) That, owing to the frequent inclemency of theweather and lateness in the season, the Week ofPrayer and Self-denial be altered from the begin-ning of May to March.


Personal Members of the Union.It is important that the roll should be revised

and brought up to date at next Conference. Allsubscribers of 10s and upwards to the Union fundsare entitled to nomination. Will those interestedplease notify their church secretary at once if theywish their names enrolled?


WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 39-9.30 a.m.—Devotional.9.30-12 a.m.—Business session. Reports. Election

of officers, etc.2.30 p.m.—Devotional.3-5 p.m.—Business session. Notices of motion. Dis-

cussions. Unfinished business.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 13.2.30 p.m.—Grand thanksgiving service in celebration

of the twenty-first anniversary of the L'nion; thePresident (Mrs T. E. Toneycliffe) in the chair.

NOTICES OF MOTION.(1) That the method of voting be the same as that

adopted by the Baptist Union—viz., that personalmembers be eligible to vote, but that the vote ofa delegate will equal that of ten personalmembers.

(2) That each branch with a membership up to 50be represented by its President and one delegate,and that one extra delegate be allowed for every50 members or part thereof.

OTAGO UNITED MEETING.(Per Mrs E. W. Roy, Secretary).

DELEGATES TO CONFERENCE SHOULD CALL AND SEE US.

Sets of 52 Envelopes each, in cartons, cost less than one farthingper member per week.

Why wait three or four months to procure from England whenwe can supply from stock at lower prices?

Letters explaining the Duplex System and Promise Forms alsosupplied.

LARGE STOCKS IN CHRISTCHURCHReady for Printing to Suit Your Particular Church.

ORDINARY OFFERING ENVELOPESeither Plain or Printed, at Low Prices..

H. ODELL & SON, Ltd.(Near Kaiapoi Woollen Co.'s Factory). Telephone 2924.

Programme B.W.M.U.

PRINTERS andSTATIONERS

48 MANCHESTER STREET, CHRISTCHURCH.

CHURCH FINANCE SIMPLIFIED.


Equipment for Service.

THE ART OF EXPOSITION— (Continued).

II.—THE PRINCIPLES OF EXPOSITION.By REV. JOSEPH W. KEMP.

The word "exposition" means "to lay open," or"a setting out to view." The old divines used theword "exegetical," meaning explanatory, and thispart of the preacher's business must never be absentfrom his mind. He must make clear the truth.From this fundamental principle he must never de-part. It will require knowledge, insight, tact, andnot a little skill.

1. It is essential that the Bible expositor shouldstudy deeply the Word of God for himself. "If it isworth His while to give us the Book, it is worth ourwhile to toil to fathom its depths, to saturate ourthinking and feeling with its truths." It is thesecret of perpetual freshness, and the preacher whohas steeped himself in the Bible will have, asMcLaren one time said, "a clearness of outlookwhich will illumine many dark things, and a firmnessof touch which will breed confidence in him amonghis hearers."

2. This deeper study of the Bible presupposesa reading of the Bible. "Do we read the Bible?"asked Principal Whyte of a company of students inGlasgow. "We assume we do, but do we read i t?"asked the venerable divine. Bible reading is essential to the expositor's work.

In expounding a book the preacher will, in thefirst place, read the selected book through andthrough and through, until its words and itsphrases have become part of himself, and he hasgrasped the book in its great outline. If this canbe done in the original language, so much the better,but it is by no means essential. It is to one's ad-vantage if he can use the original tongues, but theBible was not given to scholars, but to the people,and for the most part we must be content to readthe Bible as we have it in the Authorised Version.In this connection, let me suggest a little bookwritten by the Rev. James M. Gray, D.D., Dean ofthe Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, U.S.A.. on"How to Master the English Bible." In this bookDr Gray gives his own personal testimony to Biblereading pure and simple, and it has also some valu-able notes on Bible exposition.

3. Having read the book, intended for exposition,there will be the prayerful selection of some par-ticular paragraph, or, what is better, the book willbe divided into sections, and the entire course ofstudies bearing thereon mapped out. The expositorwill then proceed to discover the main thought ofeach paragraph under review. This central idea willreceive illustration and enforcement from the entirepassage. Once having acquired some little skill asan expositor, the difficulty will not be the povertyof material, but the overwhelming store of goodthings from which one has to draw.

Perhaps it might be fitting to introduce here thesuggestion that people bring their Bibles to the ser-vice, and use them more or less in following thepreacher. In many of our churches one misses therustle of the Bible leaves which is so significant apart of the service in Scottish congregations. Toknow that people have their Bibles and are usingthem is a great help to a Bible expositor. It is notnecessary that there should be much searching ofpassages, for some find they lose interest if theyare called upon to flit over the Bible during a

sermon. Moreover, the habit of turning from verseto verse is not one that suits all preachers. Still,thc Bible should be there, for it is manifestly muchbetter for the preacher to know that his hearers arefollowing him with a Scriptural interest than to seethem with an evident disregard as to what part ofthe field in which he is gleaning. The example ofthe Bereans (Acts xvii, 10, 11) may be profitablyfollowed by modern congregations.

4. The expositor will aim at correct interpreta-tion; and for this he will equip himself with suchunspiritual implements as lexicons, grammars, andconcordances.

For work in the original tongue, invaluableassistance will be obtained by reference to GeorgeWigram's "Englishman's Hebrew and Greek Con-cordances" or Strong's "Exhaustive Concordance,''and, of course, Liddell and Scott's Greek-EnglishLexicon will not be overlooked. Such work is calledverbal and grammatical exegesis, but no sane ex-ponent of Scripture will parade this part of his workbefore his people.

"He must not," as Dr Taylor observes, "turnthe pulpit into the chair of the exegetical professor,and spend a long time in hunting down some poorGreek participle, or digging up some obscureHebrew root."

Biblical investigation is for utility, and not forshow; therefore, what need is there to detail theprocesses from the pulpit? It is tiresome, and to themajority of hearers utterly unintelligible and worsethan useless. This leads me to incidentally remarkthat in expository preaching all appearance ofpedantry should be avoided. No possible good cancome of it, and it is odious in the extreme. If aman cannot give the results of learning withoutbeing pedantic, it is because his attainments havenever been made his own. In addition to theseworks, the expositor will not despise the help to befound in the use of the best and most reliable ofmodern commentaries. Out of a host of good ones,mention may be made of Ellicott's commentary forEnglish readers, Lightfoot's commentaries on theEpistles, Moule's expository studies in thePrison Epistles, and his commentary onRomans in the "Expositor's Bible." From theBishop of Durham's method of exposition muchcan be learned. In his day he was perhapsthe greatest master of that branch of ex-position which appeals to the heart rather than tothe head. He gives his own translation of the textwith a running commentary interspersed. Then fol-lows a discussion of the ideas of the section trans-lated. The exposition is practical and devotional,with literary and historical questions relegated tofootnotes. To the above works should be addedHastings's ''Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels,"also "Dictionary of the Apostolic Church," whileConybeare and Howson's "Life and Epistles ofPaul" will yield much to the diligent student. Anhonest man will differentiate between wholesaleplagiarism and the assimilating of what others havesupplied and reproducing such "after his ownorder.'' The expositor must first take into himselfthat which afterwards he is to give out to others.

From the fact that our Bible was written inthe East, there are in it Orientalisms, metaphors,peculiar expressions, and idioms which the expositormust explain. There are in the Bible poetry, alle-gory, parables, types, figures of speech, symbols,and so forth. These, for the general run of hearers,require explanation. For laws governing the inter-pretation of Scriptures, see valuable material in DrAngus's "Bible Handbook," new edition, from page176 onwards. The matter there cannot be excelled.

STEVEN'S HEALTH SALT is the Salt that sweetens life. Try a dose first thing In the morning.

II.—THE PRINCIPLES OF EXPOSITION.By REV. JOSEPH W. KEMP.

196 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. September.. 1924.

Old-time Revival Meetings.By REV. ADAM CLARKE, Mount Eden.

With the object of awakening interest and pro-voking a longing for an old-time revival, may I callattention to these few points concerning old-time"revival meetings"?

First of all, in every genuine "revival meeting,"the outstanding feature was the "Holy Spirit Power."It was on Him the preacher relied, and for Him thepeople prayed, and to Him they looked more thananything else, for power. Those were the days whenunlearned men, without any special training, butfilled with the Holy Spirit, wrought such great thingsin the name of Jesus Christ. The weak point withmany a church and preacher to-day is not that theyhave been too well trained, or that they know toomuch; it is they trust too much to their own efforts—sincere, well polished, faithfully prepared messagesthat carry comfort and a measure of inspiration tothe hearers, but so often lacking that "old-timepower" that sends people away forgetful of thepreacher, his voice, manner, etc., but thinking onlyof the inner message and of Him Who sent themessage rather than of the messenger. How oftenwe hear the Rev. So-and-so spoken of as a greatpreacher. What do we mean by this? There isanother man who is a great actor, and crowds go tohear him. Is there any difference in the state ofmind of the crowd leaving the place where the greatpreacher, with all the modern machinery of an up-to-date church, and the crowd leaving the placewhere they have heard a great actor in one of Shake-speare's great plays? There ought to be a verymarked difference. But is it not true that far toooften both parties leave their meeting-place with thesame self-satisfied feeling? They have been enter-tained and comforted. But under Holy Spirit preach-ing, no one should feel comfortable while still bear-ing the guilt of unforgiven sin.

Secondly, old-time preachers preached the Wordof God—ofttimes with a very literal meaning. Intheir zeal they warned people "to flee from the wrathto come"; "Hell" was just as real as "Heaven";they believed the statements of God's Word, as muchabout one as the other; they believed there was noother name given under Heaven whereby we couldbe saved but the "Name of Jesus" ; they made theBible the final court of appeal. "Thus saith theLord" was, and should be, the beginning and theend of every message.

Thirdly, old-time revival meetings were alwaystimes of much prayer. People came together andasked God to bless, and make them a blessing.Maybe the prayers were strangely expressed, andoften accompanied with strange mannerisms; butthey were the sincere, earnest pleadings of men whobelieved that without the help and blessing of theHoly Spirit all their singing, preaching, and work-ing would be in vain. They believed that all menand women who died in sin and unforgiveness werelost—that "where Christ is, they could never come."Their love was so real that they did not stop to argueabout these matters. They simply sought to "snatchmen as from the burning." The modern preachercuts out a lot of this, and we have a lot of Christianswho find it nice to believe it all as the preachersays, and not the Word of God. The fire and bloodbeing dispensed with, we have a nice, comfortablesocial church club that's going to make the worldbetter by example. Personally, I would rather havehalf a dozen of the old blood and fire type than achurch full of bloodless, cold, lifeless, formal, good,but good-for-nothing Christians.

Fourthly, the old-timers were not afraid ofemotion. I am quite aware that there are two sidesto this question, but we cf modern times havepreached self-control, and tried to practise it to suchan extent that life—full-blooded life—has been robbedof one of its most natural ways of expression. Byall means let us continue to "keep our bodies under,"but let the Holy Spirit have a "say," and a veryloud one if necessary now and then. We should bequite prepared to put up with a loud voice and theearnest pleading of the Spirit-filled men, for our verysedateness and correct manners have carried us toofar away from where the Holy Spirit can use us.

One other point: Most of the older preacherspreached for conversions—they appealed for a defi-nite decision. Like a hunter having found the game,they pointed the gun straight at it, fired straight,and then went and picked up the wounded andbrought them to Jesus. They were out to win menfor Christ, to save them from sin and its cursedness.They were doing business for their Lord. Now, toooften, we do it for "our Church," "our congrega-tion," "ourselves."

If we want a revival we can have it by preach-ing in the power of the Holy Spirit the Word ofGod, backed up by much prayer and with, a definiteobjective—the conversion of men and women. This,and this only, is the class of work God sets His sealupon; other kinds may lead to fame and popularity,but not to a revival.

Obituary Notices.

MRS JANE MORTON BROWN (SPREYDON).

It is with deep regret that we have to record thedeath of our dear sister Mrs Brown, who for 45years has been a faithful and consistent member ofour church at Spreydon. Mrs Brown was veryhighly esteemed by all who knew her. Great earnest-ness marked all her actions, and every cause thattended to uplift humanity enlisted her sympathy andsupport. Pleasant and interesting in conversationand manners; constant in attendance at churchservices and prayer meetings, we, as a church, havelost a strong pillar. Her association with theW.C.T.U. extended over many years, and her un-failing kindness endeared her to all who knew her.

T was privileged to attend her golden weddingcelebration, and I shall never forget her reply to thepresentation she received from the church. Shesaid: "I thank God for this church and SundaySchool, and for all it has meant to us and ours.God has wonderfully blessed the efforts of the workershere to us and our children." Our late sister leftseven sons, four daughters, and 30 grandchildren,and I think I am correct in saying that all her sonsand daughters are associated in membership withsome of our New Zealand churches. Her last illnesswas marked by her deep concern for others, and hermessage to her church was, "Keep on preaching andteaching the Gospel." Such was her testimony after45 years' experience, and she was anxious for othersto know it. By her death we have lost a sincereand faithful member, and one whose life bore con-stant testimony to the truth of the Gospel. Herfuneral was largely attended. A short service wasconducted in the church by our pastor, the Rev. E.E. Smith, and at the graveside our pastor and theRev. J. K. Archer officiated. The following Sun-day evening our pastor conducted a memorial service,which was largely attended, preaching from the text.Psalm 17: 15.—"I shall be satisfied when I awakewith thy likeness." "Truly her children arise upand call her blessed."—D.S."


MRS EMMA JACKSON.

The late Mrs Emma Jackson, who passed awayat Sumner, on August 2, was born on August 23,1837, in London. Her parents were of the AnglicanChurch, and for several years she attended theirservices. When she was about 20 years old, she,with her aunt, went to hear the Rev. C. H. Spurgeonand other Baptist preachers, and after a time wasconverted and convinced of the truth of believer'sbaptism. In 1860 she came to New Zealand, twoyears later marrying the late Mr J. Jackson, whohad arrived from England in 1855. They commencedtheir married life in Rangiora, and, finding someBaptists there, associated themselves with them,both being baptised by the late Mr Mannering, in a.stream a little south of the present Baptist Church.When the Church was formed a little later, theywere among its first members, and the late MisJackson well remembered the first services held inthe first Baptist chapel (as it was then called), andwhich still forms a part of the present building.She continued here a regular attender with her hus-band and family for a large number of years, andthis was no easy matter, as there were over threemiles to go, and a dray was the only means of con-veyance in those days. Some years after, throughlack of preachers and congregation, the church wasclosed, and the late Mrs Jackson then joined the"Open Brethren," but was still a Baptist in heart,and never failed to take an interest in the churchwhen it was reopened under the ministry of the Rev.W. Lamb, in 1897. She was willing to help in anyway that lay in her power, with the church interests;was of an amiable disposition, and could seem to winthe heart of any child. Her two daughters, whopredeceased her. were both members of Baptistchurches, and she leaves four sons, all of whom areengaged in Christian work of some kind, so that, asone of her children said at a reunion, on her eightiethbirthday: "Her children arise up and call herblessed."

MRS J. G. FRASER (CHRISTCHURCH).

Mrs J. G. Fraser, relict of our late President,passed to her rest at the great age of 84. Hercheery disposition, her large sympathies, her unfail-ing charities, made her very popular among the widecircle of her friends. She persisted in her devotionto her church, to the Dorcas society, and to her visit-ing till within a fortnight of the peaceful close ofher happy life. She died early on Sunday morning.August 3. She had desired to pass on the Sundayto her rest, for so had her man before her. She ismourned by her daughter, Mrs Geo. Burn, whocared for her during the years of her widowhood,and by her two sons, Mr J. Fraser, of the ArmadaleChurch, Melbourne, and Mr G. A. Fraser, a deaconof the Oxford Terrace Church, Christchurch.

Rev. J. Takle's Lectures.

AN APPRECIATION FROM PROF. CONDLIFFE.

The Rev. John Takle has just concluded a seriesof popular lectures to the students of CanterburyCollege upon "The Peoples and Problems of India."The lectures were, given at the request of the Col-lege Board of Governors upon the recommendationof the Faculty of Social Science. The professorsand lecturers who have to deal with the developmentof social organisation and social problems felt thatthe opportunity of hearing the problems of Indiadiscussed at first-hand by such a competent authorityas Mr Takle was one that their students should notmiss. From various causes the attendance at thelectures was not as great as their excellence de-served, but of the lectures themselves there isnothing but praise.

The lecturer's obvious mastery of his subject,the careful and thorough preparation of each lecture,the choice of the exactly fitting and beautiful words,the plentiful illustrations and touches of personal andhuman interest that lit up the vast problems underdiscussion as by a ray of sympathy betokened theskill of the born teacher, and won golden opinionsfrom professors as well as students.

The lectures were an innovation. It was thefirst occasion upon which any person outside thestaff of the college had been asked to deliver anextended course of lectures. It was another mile-stone on the road towards freeing the Universityfrom the tyranny of a narrow course of studiesbounded and limited by an examination syllabus. Itwill be followed by other courses directing the attention of students to the great world-problems of thepresent day.

All agreed that the new step had been takenunder the direction of one who had shown himselfboth thinker and doer. It was another proof of thefallacy of the cloister; of the truth that the studentwho has also worked and fought in the thick of thefight beats out in his conflict the vital principles thatthe stay-at-homes merely dress up in logical fashion.One felt instinctively that the reverse was equallytrue, that he who had brought to missionary enter-prise the thoughtful and wide vision of a statesmanand had seen beyond the walls of church and villageand even continent to world problems was in thetrue line of spiritual descent from William Carey,and, like him, would know his work increased.

All teaching is disappointing work except tothose who look for something other than immediateresults. The lectures are over, but their influencedoes not cease. Carefully written out at the requestof the professors of the Faculty, they will be typedand deposited in the College Library for students toread at their leisure. Their words breathe the spiritof their author, and that spirit does not travail with-out result.—J. B. C.

Self-denial Returns. Baptisms.

As per last issueMrs S. J. OrrSpreydonPonsonby Sunday School

(addi t ional )Auckland Tabernacle

Auckland—Thirteen. By Rev. J. W. Kemp.Thames—Three. By Rev. W. E. Lambert.Grey Lynn—Four. By Rev. E. Horn.Linwood—Two. By Rev. A. W. Stuart.Kaiapoi—Three. By Rev. J. Hiddlestone.Island Bay—Two. By Rev. H. E. Edridge.Palmerston—One. By Rev. C. W. Duncumb,Mosgiel—One. By Rev. E. Weston.


£7 12 3

£1,5121,504

816

74

£1,604 16 4 £273 18 11 £281273

1118

211

£7 12 3

23

1819

07

23

1819

57

7 8 2

£1,505

s.0

d.5

£1,477

128

s.1206

d.400

£254

120

s.30

17

d.10

10

£281

s.11

d.2

1923. l924. Increase. Decrease.

Decrease









General Secretary: Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles,To whom all money for Home and Foreign Missions should be sent,axcept B.W.M.U. amounts, which must be sent to the Treasurer,Mrs C. Collins, 6 Bidwell street, Wellington.

All Y.W.B.C.U. amounts collected by District Treasurers to beRent to the Dominion Treasurer, Miss M. Beckingsale, 16 Montaguestreet, North-East Valley, Dunedin.


To whom should be sent all communications regarding the dis-semination of Baptist literature in our Sunday Schools and churohes.

SEPTEMBER, 1924.

He Digged and Went Deep.

We have settled down so comfortably to St.Matthew's version of the Sermon on the Mount, thatfew of us recognise the words that stand at the headof this leader as part of our Lord's peroration. St.Luke's account is less picturesque in most respects.But when it comes to the story of the two builders,we think that he is the more satisfying of the two.It was the custom with public teachers to weave theadventures of the countryside into their talk. Eigh-teenth century preachers in England, when paperswere rare and dear, did the same to a remarkableextent. Indeed, the sermon was often the week'snews sheet, with morals duly drawn. There is thestory of a Scottish preacher who had announced, withproper reference to our mortality, the demise of hisKing. His audience on the following Sunday wasstartled by the declaration: "Ma brethren, it was a'lees I telt ye last Sabbath."

We take it that if there had been a "JerusalemHerald" in the Bible days that there would have beena special from Galilee bawled through the narrowstreets and thrust under the nose of worshippersentering the beautiful gate. "Floods in the HillCountry. House in Nazareth Swept Away. TheFamily Perish." This might be followed by a parfrom a special correspondent detailing the case anddwelling on the circumstance that a house equallyexposed to the water had stood unhurt. The editorof the Herald would assure the general public thatit was all a matter of foundations, and that the hilldwellers cannot be too careful, for the thickest bedof shingle is a poor substitute for rock. We thinkthat the story with which Christ clinched his sermonwas founded on fact, and that part of the sensationcreated was so occasioned. One of the most recentcommentaries in the "International" series vouchesfor it that Nazareth men had sometimes to go down20 feet to get a rock foundation.

The affair may be reconstructed thus. Twoyoung men acquire sites in a ravine. They want tobe near water, for water is precious. They haveto accept flood risks, for in the monsoon the trickling

stream may become a roaring flood. The men areabout to marry. The one has an easy mind on thefoundation question. The blue skies deceive him,and the rainfall for the past few years has been verylow. The other has the day of storm in his dreams.He sweats through the shingle. He is out of sightin the pit he has digged, and still his shovel throwsout its stream of dirt. "Come, you anxious fool,''his friend would cry, "my walls are rising, and youare still in the ditch." But at last from his hole thecry would come, "I have i t ! " and on the motherrock he would lay his corner stone. His walls,maybe, would hardly be above ground when hisfriend's house was done, and his bride broughtproudly home, and they would laugh at that dourman. But at last he, too, would finish. His house,anchored to the everlasting hill, stood complete.That winter the tragedy occurred. Record floodsturned the trickle into a furious river. From hisswiftly-built house a white face looked out and avoice cried, "My God, if I had only digged deeper!"But the floods prevailed. The shingle bed was sweptclean away, and the house with it. But theanchored house looked down unhurt on the waste ofwaters. That may very well have been a memoryof Christ's boyhood. That may very well have beenpart of the tradition of that countryside, and so anirresistible point for the preacher to conclude on.

We are vitally interested in houses. Building isthe universal trade. We build a house that no onecan build for us—not even God. In that house welive. With that house we face the judgments ofman and God. Jesus teaches that His words are theraw material for this building of ours. If we do Hiswords we build a house that is rooted in reality, agracious, graceful house. But if we toy with Hiswords, we still build; but our foundations are seton shingle. Are we toying with His words? Arewe playing with our religion? There is a cloud likea man's hand on the horizon, the heavens will pre-sently be dark. God Himself cannot hold up a houseso built. He can only write its epitaph: "And thefall of that house was great."

What is it that makes a man a Christian? Itis not his creed. Creeds have an importance, butthe importance has been grossly exaggerated. "Notwhat I d o believe, but Whom." Faith is confidencein Christ, the repose of the soul in Christ. But wecannot trust Christ and flout Him. Faith withoutworks is dead. When we do His will, we, like thewise man of Nazareth, "dig and go deep and layour foundations on the rock," and only then.

Let us come to grips with this "digging andgoing deep." Do we not want above everything totouch reality, to have an unshakable foundation forour life. We are, as Pascal would say, "like reedstrembling in the midst of creation." Gusts of ill-health, bursts of passion, poisonous surroundingsare all so like to sweep us away from our frail hold-ing. We want a grip the immovable things.Papini, in his extraordinary autobiography, cries:"I do not ask for bread, glory, or compassion. WhatI ask for, what I humbly beg for on my knees andwith all the strength and passion of my soul is some-what of certainty, one small but sure belief, oneatom of truth." In Christ we can do this thing, wecan "dig and go deep." In Him the rocks ofeternity are found. Rooted and grounded in Him aman is unshakable. "Who hears My words anddoes them not builds on shingle." There is one partof us that is essentially shallow, and that is ourintellect. With cur intellect we argue and what wecall prove. With it we admire. We can do all thisin a singularly detached way. The sophist arguesone side to-day, and, with equal cogency, the otherside to-morrow. Our mental ideas are very lightlyrelated to our personality. When we are merely

September, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTI8T. 199

m e n t a l l y i n t e r e s t e d in C h r i s t , w h e n He w a k e n s nomore than our artistic interest, we are hopelesslyshallow. Reality is not reached that way. Thedeeper parts of our nature must operate. To digdeep, we must love Him, and obey Him Thepoorest one who loves Christ is greater than thecleverest one who argues for Him. Who loves Himdoes His will. It is in the deed done for love thatthe rock is reached. We meet Christ in the Christlydeed.

That old and honoured home missionary MrHarry Long is very anxious that we should empha-sise the wonderful blessing that is reached throughdoing the will of Christ in baptism. That is morethan a confession on our part. It is an occasion inwhich the divine blessing specially reaches the soul.We say so with emphasis. In that deed Christ istouched. The life roots itself in the rock. So, also,is it in the other sacrament. But beyond all sacra-ments the costly decision made for His sake, theservice rendered, the sacrifice made—all these aredeep digging. A life so founded will not be shaken.Let us in this day of shams and of declensionsee to it that we are rock-like men. Let realityring through our services and be the undertone inchurch and home and world.

The Grace of Hospitality.By REV. A. H. COLLINS.

The Bible rings with the praises of hospitality.From the days when Abraham welcomed strangersto his tent and discovered that he had "entertainedangels unawares," on to the time when the sistersof Bethany provided home and a meal for the Son ofMan, the Book, by precept and example, extols thesacrament of human kindness, as seen in hospitality.In the New Testament this grace is exalted into oneof the positive virtues of the Christian life. A bishopof the Primitive Church must be "given to hospi-tality.'' Our Lord emphasised the possibilities ofthis service of man when He said that "a cup ofcold water given in the name of a disciple" shouldnot fail of its reward, and further declared that suchlike deeds may determine destiny. "Inasmuch as yedid it unto one of the least of these My brethren,ye did it unto Me.'' It is sometimes said that thisgrace does not flourish under modern civilisation. Insimpler times men kept open house. There, were nohotels, and travel would have been impossible with-out private entertainment. The chief man of thevillage was under a sense of obligation to providefor all who passed that way. It is still so in somelands. The people are glad to receive strangers whocome with introduction and news from the old world.But in modern Europe, so the critics say, hospitalityis a lost art. Hotels and boarding-houses havecrowded it out. Even the King sends the nation'sguests to the Hotel Cecil. How far this is true, weneed, not stop to consider. Methods suited to simplertimes may require modification under our more com-plex conditions. There is not the same need of thesame opportunity. We are not living in days oftierce persecution, when men were driven from homeand kin, and when shelter and protection are de-manded at the hands of those who share our re-ligious convictions and disabilities. But the factremains that in showing kindness to strangers"some have entertained angels unawares," and thatby exercising kindness and sympathy we may discover "angels" in human guise, men and womenwhose conversation and influence may far outweighall that we can do for them.

A man is not only known by the company hekeeps, but he is made or marred by it. Society is

educational and formative. The character of ourchildren is formed not at school alone, but in thehome, and one of the chief factors of a home is theguests we welcome there. A man can hardly renderhis children greater service than in making his homethe resort of wise and good men. In that case theguest will give more than he receives, for he maywaken noble thoughts, quicken the mind, and refinethe heart. Many a lad has dated the dawning of abetter life from the stay of a good man in his father'shouse. Alas! the reverse is also true.

One of the most notable examples of gracioushospitality recorded in the Holy Book was promptedby the recognition of moral worth. The woman oiShunem was attracted by the simple, wholesome, un-affected goodness of Elisha It was not that he wasa man of distinction, a brilliant conversationalist,or "a man of light and leading," but that he was"a man of God." Perhaps we are all ready enoughto entertain rank and genius, but not so ready toput character first. We do not say "He is a good man"with quite the same enthusiasm that we say "He isclever." The bright, soaring, strong intellect ispreferred before the pure in heart. We are impressedby rank in the world of letters more than status inthe Kingdom of God. Not a few would rather en-tertain an English nobleman than a home missionaryfrom the backblocks; a Red Republican would soonerreceive an aristocrat of doubtful morals than aplebian of clean blood and pure record. We wouldnot allow a smallpox patient to enter our house; butwe tolerate the presence of a man who breathesmoral miasma. We are shocked by an ungrammati-cal sentence, and very lenient toward the "whitelies" of fashionable society. We would dismiss theuntidy and unpunctual servant, and pass by graverfaults in a guest. And yet goodness is the chiefthing, and we have not learned the first principlesof the doctrine of Christ unless we have learned toesteem character above riches. "Be careless in yourdress, if you must," says Mark Twain, "but keepa tidy soul."

''Kind hearts are more than coronets.And simple faith than Norman blood."

Hospitality has its perils. We say nothing ofostentation, save that it is vulgar, or of extrava-gance, except that it is wicked. But that is a poormeal where the chief thing is the food on the table."Plain living and high thinking," or what any manwho respects human nature should care for most.But conversation is an art in which Anglo-Saxons donot excel. Dr Dale says: "The flow of soul is whatthe middle class Englishman knows, very little about.Our souls are more like sluggish canals than spark-ing trout streams. Medical students and solicitorsunder 40 can talk. Here and there a clever, well-read woman can fill a room with pleasant music,talking herself, and making others talk, too. Buta party of well-to-do Englishmen is rather a drearyaffair. Yet speech is man's glory. What power forgood lies in well-directed conversation! I am notthinking of what is called "pious talk," for thatmay be utterly irreligious. But why should oursocial hours be wholly occupied by trivial things,of dress and sport, of society scandal, and the doingsof "the smart set"? Are there no worthier themes?Are not the difficulties of home missions worthier, ofdiscussion than the blunders of the city council?Would not the progress of Christianity in India bea better subject than the squabbles of politicalparties? The crucial lest of hospitality is motive."A cup of cold water" must be given in the nameof a disciple in order to reach its highest value.Love makes the action fine. We may be sure thewriter of the Epistle of the Hebrews did not meanthat hospitality was to be shown to strangers inthe hope that "angels" would be found amongst


them. They are to be received "unawares," other-wise the fragrance of the deed would be gone. TheGospels tell us of one who invited Christ to hishome from a wrong motive. He had no sincereregard for his guest, and showed it plainly by omit-ting the ordinary courtesy of the East. The Masterfelt the slight, and read Simon a needed lesson asHe recounted the courtesy which had been omitted.In another case a woman glorified a rustic meal byan offering of pure love; and in each instance motivedetermined the value of the deed. Jesus never hada home of His own where He could receive Hisguests, and yet in this matter of hospitality, as in allelse, He is our faultless example. There were twooccasions on which He showed this grace on avast scale. His guests were simple peasant folk,the fare was homely, the table was the open sky,the serving men were fisher folk, yet never was feastmore royal, or guests more welcome, and ' 'Hisbanner over them was love."

In receiving and showing hospitality our Lordseems to have been guided by two simple yet far-reaching principles. First, it fostered kindly humanrelations. It helped to break down artificial barrierswhich kept men apart, and it strengthened the bondsof goodwill. When men meet at the same table, theyget closer together, misunderstandings and preju-dices melt, mutual dislikes and suspicions die. Howoften we come away from the first close touch oractual acquaintance with one we had shunned andsuspected, saying: "He is not such a bad fellowafter all." Well might Pere Lacordare say: ''Aboveall things, be kind; kindness is the one thingthrough which we can most resemble God, anddisarm men. Kindness in mutual relations is theprincipal charm of life." Christ came to promotegoodwill amongst men, to bridge the gulf betweenclass and class, and He did it in part by the sacra-ment of hospitality. His second purpose was topromote love to God. He went to the house ofZaccheus to eat bread, and took life and hope tothat darkened soul. Some of our Lord's mostprecious sayings were His table talks, it is a raregift to be able to. lift conversation out of the ditchand lead it to lofty levels, and Christ did thisperfectly.

"Glorification of War Must End."

We quote the actual text of the declarationagainst war passed by the Methodist General Con-ference of U.S.A.

"Millions of our fellow-men have died heroicallyin a 'war to end war.' What they undertook, wemust finish by methods of peace. War is not inevit-able. It is the supreme enemy of mankind. Itsfutility is beyond question. Its continuance is thesuicide of civilisation. We are determined to outlawthe whole war system.

"The patriotism of the Methodist EpiscopalChurch has never been challenged. Neither ourmotives nor our loyalty must be impugned whenwe insist on the fulfilment of pledges made to thedead and assert our Christian ideals for the living.Governments which ignore the Christian conscienceof men in time of peace cannot justly claim the livesotr men in time of war. Secret diplomacy andpolitical partisanship must not draw men into thedilemma of deciding between support of country andloyalty to Christ.

"The world is now open to a crusade for peace.War-weary nations everywhere are eagerly waiting.America must lead the way. Our nation and ourChurch can do now what we may never be able todo again. We set ourselves to create the will topeace. We recommend that a prayer for peace be

prepared and used at every communion service.Through its educational programme, our Churchmust mould the present youth of all races into apeace-loving generation. We shall launch an aggres-sive campaign to teach the nature, causes, and conse-quences of war. The glorification of war must end.

"We set ourselves to create the conditions forpeace. Selfish nationalism, economic imperialism,and militarism must cease. The establishment ofthe principle that conscription of wealth and labourmust be the counterpart of any future conscriptionof human life will be a powerful deterrent againstwar. As great odium must be put upon the warprofiteer as was ever put upon the slacker. Theprotection of special privileges secured by investorsin foreign lands has too often imperilled the peaceof nations. This source of danger must be pre-vented. The rights of the smallest nation must beheld as sacred as those of the strongest.

"We hold the cause of peace dearer than partyallegiance, and we shall tolerate no dilatory orevasive attitudes on the part of those who representus.

"We set ourselves to create organisation forpeace. Grateful to our Government for its leadershipin the movement toward reduction of armaments andthe promotion of tribunals for international arbitra-tion, we insist upon a more decided and aggressivepolicy in these directions. We urge our Presidentto summon another conference of the nations for themore drastic reduction of armaments. We demandthe immediate entrance of the United States into thePermanent Court of International Justice. The par-ticipation of the United States in a League of Nationswill receive our active support. We shall elect mento public office pledged to secure these ends. Theballot and other direct processes of democracy mustnow be employed in securing a warless world.

"World Christianity is enlisting in the campaignfor peace. We seek alliance with all the forces whichmake for the principles here advocated. We, there-fore propose that our Church now assume its re-sponsibility by appointing at this general conferencea commission of 25 members, composed of fivebishops, ten ministers, and ten laymen, authorisedand instructed to call a conference of the religiousforces of the world to consider the best plans andmethods for making the impact of united Christen-dom against the evils we deplore. The principlesof brotherhood are plainly challenged.

"The progress of the Kingdom of Jesus Christis clearly at stake. The issues are so momentous,the opportunity for leadership is so great that wehere and now call upon all people to avoid divisiveand fruitless discussions and unite their energies inthis great crusade for a war-free world. To thissublime end we dedicate ourselves, and for its accom-plishment we invoke the blessing of Almighty God."

At a recent conference the Wesleyan Presidentgreeted Mr Lloyd George with this story:—"AMethodist minister out for a walk met an old womanwith a donkey and a cart full of peat. He put hisshoulder to the wheel, as it was a steep hill. 'Thankyou, your riverence,' said the old woman; 'with onedonkey I could never have done it.' That's what Ifelt like, sir, till you arrived." Mr Lloyd Georgehugely enjoyed this, but he was ready to cap thestory. " In our district," he said, "one of thosepatient, docile animals to which the President re-ferred was reserved for a local preacher every Sun-day morning. One preacher refused to mount it.'Why,' said one of the deacons, 'your Lord andMaster was not too proud to mount an animal of thatkind.' 'Ah, I know,' said the preacher, 'but Heknew his tricks.' "



Sympathy with the Rev. W. Barry.The current number of Our Indian Field (the

missionary magazine of the Australian Baptists) reports the illness of our friend the Rev. Walter Barry.Apparently the exceptionally hot summer is respon-sible, as in the case of some of our own missionaries.Our sympathy with our friend is very real, and ourhope and prayer for his quick recovery most sincere.

Is it the Long-looked-for Awakening?Those who read in the August Baptist the Rev.

Wm. Carey's remarks upon the movement among theNamasudras in Bengal will have felt a thrill of eagerexpectancy in relation to the outcome of this spiritof inquiry. Further news shows that the movementis spreading. We cull some sentences from OurIndian Field. "The inquiries from villages in theSerajgunge district continue on an unprecedentedscale. . . . Hindu and Mohammedan leaders, be-coming alarmed, are doing their utmost to arrest themovement towards the Christian faith.'' "Rajbarialso is sharing in the exceptional opportunity thathas come to us on our Australian field. . . . Itseems we are on the edge of a possible mass move-ment towards the Christian faith. . . . The callis widening, and it is difficult for the missionariesto keep pace with the demand for spiritual help."

Where Do We Come In?First of all, through the door of thanksgiving—

rejoicing with our Australian friends in the manifestapproval of God resting upon their faithful labours.

Then on to earnest prayer that this heartening move-ment may prove to be an ever-increasing and endur-ing work of the Holy Spirit. Mass movements havetheir inspiration, but they have their perils, and wemust pray for prudence as well as enthusiasm. Then,if this work be of God (as surely it is), our own dis-tricts must sooner or later catch the holy fire. Weare neighbours on the field, and our hope and prayermust be that as our Australian friends are beginningto see the results of their labours on a scale hithertounknown, so we, who have laboured and prayed sideby side with them, may witness with them a greatand gracious ingathering. May we be ready for thatday of the Son of Man when it bursts upon us.

Heartening Finance, Too!Australian Baptists have been practising self-

denial for missions. Here are some of the resultsto date: Victoria, £2500; South Australia, £1000;Queensland, £700; Tasmania, £250; Western Aus-tralia's returns are not yet known.

Two Honoured Leaders.The Rev. F. C. Spurr, in reporting to the British

Weekly the great annual meetings of the BaptistMissionary Society held at Cardiff, tells that when aspeaker on the missionary platform mentioned thenames of the Revs. W. Y. Fullerton and C. E. Wilson(secretaries of the B.M.S.) two thousand delegatessprang to their feet and cheered for several minutes,"it was a demonstration of affectionate regard andcomplete confidence in their leaders." An effectiveanswer, too, to the campaign of suspicion andcalumny that bigotry and intolerance have been re-sponsible for.

Miss Collins.Miss Collins, who spent several months with her

parents and sister in New Plymouth, and who soeffectively addressed the Girls' Bible Class campersat Easter, is now doing deputation work in Australia.Queensland has given her a very warm welcome.

The Jetty at Brahmanbaria.


"Are We Down-hearted?"

Chandpur. June 20, 1924.My Dear Friends,—It is a very wet afternoon .

the rains have broken, and the very long monthsof dry and blazing heat are ended for the present.Just now it is fairly cool; everything in the houseis damp; the outside world is sodden. In a fewdays the sun will shine again, and the steamy, stickydays begin. This is the time for mosquitoes andother insects and for malaria. It is also the timefor itinerating, when we can visit the farthest cornersof our district and carry the Gospel to those who areaway from the beaten track. We are greatly fearingthat this work will be much hindered this year be-cause of our reduced staff. At present, on thewomen's side, only Miss. Cowles and I are left, andone is tied to Brahmanbaria and one to Chandpur.When are we going to have enough workers on thefield to be able to say that we are seriously attempt-ing to evangelise Tipperah? We have the oppor-tunities and the buildings; we need the men andwomen. Probably, some of you are feeling verydiscouraged. You have sent some—if not many—to help us, and they have broken down in health.You wonder if it is any use sending any more. Butthat is not the way to win the war. When gaps aremade in our ranks, others must rush in to fill them.When the enemy seems to be pushing us back, re-inforcements must be rushed up from the base, andnot a foot of land surrendered. The cause is notlost. Some of those who have fallen are only temporarily disabled, and will come back to renew thetight. Others will still continue to help though theymay not be permitted to return to the front. Surelythe very difficulties will be a challenge to the noblestand best of our young people to dedicate themselvesto this high calling. Some of us have been permittedto spend a few years in India, and those who havebeen here longest are perhaps the most optimistic.We have seen such big changes in our day. Cornewith me into the hospital, and see what proof wehave there that our mission is not a failure. Thedoctor and two of his assistants are Mohammedanconverts, representing the English, Australian, andNew Zealand Baptist fields. Contrast them with theMohammedan moulvie who walks the streets withflowing garments and proud, supercilious face. Thesemen are following the lowly Christ, touching the out-casts, cleansing loathsome wounds, spending them-selves in the service of those whom they once hatedand despised. And in the ward the Biblewoman whois talking to the woman was herself a Hindu onlya few short years ago. Christ has wrought a miraclein her life. In Him she has found freedom fromsuperstition and ignorance and fear; has found, too,self-respect in dress and demeanour, has won therespect of others, and is happy in the privilege oftelling her sisters of the love and mercy of herSaviour. And what of those to whom she is talking?Here is a young Mohammedan woman actually will-ing that a man should see her face, answering hisquestions sensibly and audibly. In the next bed is ayoung Hindu widow; she is eating her meal underthe very shadow of a Mohammedan and with Chris-tians in the room. If she liked she might crawl outon to the verandah, or. better still, on to sacredMother Earth, which nothing can pollute. But no;she smiles and says. "We don't observe these cus-toms as we used to do!" In another bed is a girlreading Mark's Gospel. Her mother is a widow, andteaches a small village school. Another sign of thetimes! Even the girls must be educated these days.

and a Hindu widow who can read has a chance toearn her living. This woman is anxious about herdaughter's future. She is poor, and does not knowhow she is to pay the money necessary to securehusbands for them. A few months ago she was inthe hospital, and confided her difficulties to MissRice. Alter hearing the Gospel, she said she nolonger believed in idols. She would like to be aChristian. But what of her girl? Miss Rice sug-gested that they all come amongst us and learn tofollow Christ. Now both her daughters are ill, andshe has brought them to the hospital, and, wonderfulto relate, left them in our care. She evidently trustsus.

It is something to have lived to see thesechanges, to have helped to break down prejudices,to have won the trust of some of these women, tohave had a part in winning some to Christ and intraining them to become the messengers of truth totheir fellow countrymen. These are the things thatoutweigh the discomforts and make the heart sing.Do not some of you hear the Lord saying: "Whomshall I send and who will go for us?" Those of youwho have had the vision of Him, the crucified One,sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, His trainfilling the temple, will gladly cry, "Here am I; sendme!"—Yours sincerely,

E. BECKINGSALE.

A Hindu Fakir on His Couch of Spikes.(It is in such ways they seek to achieve merit.)

The deep spiritual feeling and power of theIndian Christian, especially when he has been givensufficient education to enable him to express th.itfeeling, is one of the greatest sources of hope forthe spread and development of Christianity. Insermon, in living, in song, that spiritual note issounded. There are few finer hymns in the Englishlanguage than that of Miss Ellen Goreh, native ofIndia, commencing with the lines—

"In the secret of His presenceHow my soul delights to hide:

O how precious are the momentsThat I spend at Jesus' side."

The Christianising of India will give a newimpulse and a new power to the Christian movementthroughout the world, for it will add to the presentstrength of our faith the great spiritual resourcesof one of the world's oldest nations.—From Mission-ary Notes, January, 1923.

A CHEERY BUT SEARCHING LETTERFROM THE FIELD.

The Spiritual Power of India.


Missions at the British EmpireExhibition.

This great Exhibition at Wembley, London,offers a wonderful educational opportunity. Thosewho visit the "Christian Service" exhibits cannotfail to be impressed with the evidence that Christianmissionaries are a great civilising force in everycountry where they work.

They have been pioneers in caring for lepers.They have been pioneers in medical work for

the neglected.They have been pioneers in education of women.They have been pioneers in work for outcasts.The missionaries, inspired by the ideals, ex-

ample, and command of Christ, go about doing goodand proclaiming "Good News." A visit to theExhibition gives clear evidence of the missionaryinfluence and ideals in India and West Africa.There are photographs and models of missionschools of all kinds, of hospitals and dispensaries.There are pictures of churches built by Africanlabour and of Indian Scouts and Wolf Cubs;samples of work from industrial missions; literatureprinted in the vernacular. It is a great source ofeducation for those who wish to learn.

the time is not yet. The need is for immediaterelief. Do we believe that God can send it in answerto our importunity? Or are we settling down to apessimistic acceptance of "things as they are," con-tent to wait for them to come right? Let no suchreproach rest upon us. Let those who are "theLord's remembrances give Him no rest" until Hehas done "the wondrous thing." Let us not be con-tent to pray in general terms for our mission. Listenwhile the Master tests us. "What will ye that Ishould do for you?" And then press this definiterequest upon Him Who loves to be besieged bypraying people: "Lord, give us on our field at leastone trained and experienced man for the urgent needof to-day."

Yours in prayer partnership,H. M. SMEETON, President.STANLEY W. JENKIN, Chairman

of Committee.

An Open Letter to our People.

The present missionary situation in India iscritical, and our fervent hope is that ail lovers of ourSaviour and of His great redemptive purpose areviewing the problem through eyes anointed withmuch prayer.

Our effective working staff on the field at pre-sent consists of two ladies from New Zealand—MissBeckingsale and Miss Cowles, with about 25 Indianworkers in all departments. Dr Amir Hossain is afully-qualified medical man in charge of our hospitalat Chandpur. Happily, Miss Bradfield is about toreturn to India, and upon her arrival the task of"the dauntless two" will be somewhat lightened.Miss Peters and Miss Arnold are both in the sana-torium, and the time of their return to the work onthe plains is uncertain, though we are pleading inprayer for their complete recovery. Our friend MrHarry Jones is yet too new to the work to assumethe heavy responsibilities which for many years havebeen so effectively discharged by our senior malemissionary. The Rev. W. C. Hunter, of the B.M.S.,who for about two years has rendered invaluableservice in Mr Takle's absence, leaves us at the endof the year for furlough, after which he will rejoinhis colleagues in his own society. At present wesee no prospect of being able to "borrow" anotherman from any other society to take charge until MrJones is able to do so.

Was ever crisis more critical? Was ever problemmore pressing? Was ever the call to prayer cleareror more insistent? We have recruits preparing togo out. We have candidates offering. But theireducation is incomplete, and even if they were ableto sail immediately they could not enter upon theactive work for two years after their arrival, for ittakes that time to acquire the language.

The trend of missionary policy is in the directionof entrusting greater responsibilities to the Indianworkers; and it may be that in the near future wemay be able to take a bold step towards the endorse-ment of such a policy. This, we fully believe, .isthe ultimate solution of the missionary problem onour own and other fields. But, tor us at anyrate,

In the July issue of the Baptist, mention wasmade of the encouraging work going on in the Aus-tralian Baptist field of Serajgunj. Letters appearedfrom the Rev. W. Carey and the Rev. W. Church-ward Kelly, who has charge of the field. Both wrotehopefully of an ingathering. We must keep in touchwith the movement, and look for a great drawing ofthe net in the near future. B.M.S. men are there co-operating with our Australian Baptist brethren.

The Rev. J. D. Raw, who knows the Namasudrathoroughly, writes to the B.M.S. Monthly NewsLetter as follows:—

"Babu Hemendra Nath Datta, a broad-mindedBrahmo (Indian Unitarian), who has won the sym-pathy of the Namasudras by his efforts on their be-half, visited those centres in the Serajgunj districtwhich have been most affected by the movementtowards Christianity. The report of his tour pub-lished in the Jyaishtha number of Pravasi is veryinteresting reading. The outstanding personalitywho impressed him most was Sitanath, the barakarta (leader) of the Namasudras. Hemendra Babusays that he owes his influence to his force of char-acter rather than to any educational attainments.When asked how many others were likely to followhis example if he became a Christian he replied, 'IfI embrace Christianity I do not think anyone will beable to avoid becoming a Christian.' Hemendra Babuwas impressed by the prosperity of the people. Hesays: 'I have seen many districts where Namasudrasare in the majority, but never such a tine field ofwork as this. They are almost all prosperous culti-vators. Their habits are unusually clean. The dis-trict is healthy, and there is no malaria. Theirbaris (homes) are usually large, clean, and wellventilated.' In spite of this, he was surprised tofind the population practically stationary. He foundin several cases one or two children surviving outof a.family of nine or ten. This infant mortality hefound on inquiry to be due to child marriage.

"The writer gives full credit to the motives andmethods of the missionaries who have been so suc-cessful in winning the hearts of the people. Headmits the force of the appeal to escape from thebondage of caste into a free brotherhood. He issevere on what he considers to be the corruption ofHinduism, which has made such a movement pos-sible. He longs for a radiant and purified Hinduismto be set before them. His example and that of othersocial reformers led a number of high-caste Hindusto receive water from the Namasudras, but he seemsto have been somewhat doubtful of the effect of thisaction, since it was largely nullified by some Con-

God is Working.

THE S I T U A T I O N IN INDIA .


gress youngmen who made brave speeches but failedat the critical test of drinking water from the out-casts' hands.

"A letter from Mr Kelly confirms HemendraBabu's pessimism regarding any radical change inthe attitude of the Namasudras to be produced bythis jal-chal (taking of water). He says that high-caste people came to blows in one of the meetingswhen the matter was under consideration, and theNamasudras were filled with indignation and disgust.All that Mr Kelly sees strengthens his conviction thatthe movement is from above.

"Meantime, the Barisal Churches have beendeeply stirred by the news, and I have letters orverbal news almost every day of churches and indi-viduals keen to thrust in their sickle. Some areoffering their time, and others are contributingmoney to pay their travelling expenses. The Councilhas the arrangements in hand, and it is hoped thattwo or three parties sent and supported by thechurches will visit the field during July and August.We shall be very glad to hear of churches in otherdistricts who would like to join in this Churcheffort.

"This news from his old field has been to MrCarey like a cool breeze on a hot night. He writes:'God bless them and make them a blessing. Nothinghas cheered me for a long time so much as thisnews of their going. We shall pray for them.'

"If, as we believe, this is our greatest evange-listic opportunity in Bengal during recent years, letus, who cannot go, join in united and unceasingintercession."

A Christian's Financial Creed.

"Copec" and Foreign Missions.

The great conference on politics, economics, andcitizenship, held at Birmingham in April last, gavea large place to the subject of inter-racial questions,involving as these do consideration of the missionarycontribution. The following paragraph from theMisisonary Review of the World is significant: —

"While the conference was British, there were50 or more delegates from the United States, Europe,India, and China. Mr O. Kandaswami Chetty, ofthe Madras Christian College, spoke of the reflexvalue of missions in religious education at home,and of the new sense of unity among the homechurches which foreign missions have created. Chris-tianity is a very live thing abroad, and is compellingthe simplification of religion in its presentation bymissionary workers. Mr Chetty presented with greatearnestness the plea that Christian merchants andGovernment representatives should be sent to theEast, where contact with the other sort of Westernrepresentatives of commerce and government has sounfavourably affected the Oriental estimate of themeaning and value of Christianity. Mr Chetty hasnot yet joined the Christian Church, on the groundthat as a non-Christian in a Hindu society he mightdo more toward bringing in the Kingdom of Christ.He asserted, however, that he is a Christian, havingaccepted Christ as 'God's manifestation in the lifeand history of mankind.' "

"He'll come back." So said a veteran mission-ary to me once as I bewailed the recanting of aconvert. And if the conversion was real, with evena little experience, they do come back, sooner orlater. It is not a year since one denied and openlyrelinquished Christ and took again the vow of Islam.What pain it gave us, and him. But he is back, awiser and a better man. Many prayers and wonder-ful love would not let him go. There are others notback yet. "They'll come back.''

I believe and will endeavour consistently to acton the belief that—

(1) All that I have is held by me only in trust.It originally came from God. and belongs to God, asI do.

(2) Money is not in itself "filthy lucre." It isstored-up power. It represents so much of myselfthat can be set at work in China or India or NewYork or Colorado or New Zealand.

(3) God counts on the use of this money to doHis work, to preach His Gospel, and to build Hischurches; to train His workers and to send theinout; to teach, to heal, and to save His children; tohelp establish His Kingdom of righteousness, love,and peace.

(4) A right use of my income is one of my firstduties as a Christian. Until I do this my prayerswill be empty. I am saying "Lord, Lord," whileI do not the will of my Father.

(5) A definite proportion of my income should beset aside for the service of God in behalf of myfellow-men. This proportionate giving is an acknow-ledgment of God's sovereignty over all my posses-sions. It also guards against selfishness. It is abusiness-like and Christian method. Giving by im-pulse and without system does not harmonise withthe supreme importance of God's work.

(6) At least one-tenth of my income should beused exclusively for God's work—as my personal "in-come tax to God." As I am receiving far more fromGod than did the children of Israel or any formergeneration, so I ought gladly to give more thanone-tenth if I am able.

(7) I desire to have partnership with God in mybusiness and in His work in the world. I shouldinvest God's money at least as carefully for Himas I do in my temporal business. I should keepstrict account of God's fund and not trust to guess-work. I should study the needs of the world fieldand of the Church and its work so that I may givewisely. I should give my prayers and myself withthe money entrusted to me as a good steward ofJesus Christ.

"This is their Task."

The Rev. C. H. Watkins, M.A., D.Theo., at onetime assistant to the late Dr Clifford, was principalof a college in Bengal through a most trying politicaltime. This is what he says after retirement toEngland: —

"Perhaps I may add a word more particularly onthe position of the Christian missionary. That posi-tion is anxious and difficult, and sometimes verythankless. The work is wearing, the staff insuffi-cient, the climate enervating, the station often re-mote and lonely; and these things tell on the mindand spirit as well as on the body. It is pleasant tohelp people, but the applications seem endless andincessant, and the patriarch Job, though he mightnever be impatient, would sometimes be limp andtired. Not only patience and hopefulness, butphysical strength also, need to be inexhaustible. Thepolitical situation brings its own perils, and thepadre can neither be heartily in politics nor whollyout of them. He is by his calling and election anarbitrator, but he will sometimes be an arbitratorwhom neither party wants—a Jew to the Greeks anda Greek to the Jews. He must love India; he must

(Adapted from Harris Frankling Rall, GarrettBiblical Institute, Chicago.)


be loyal to England. Suspicion is rife and self-satisfied, and often it will remain after all his efforts—not because it is justified, but because it is en-

joyed."And the main task to which he is now setting

himself, in the endeavour to train his Indian succes-sors, is trying to any mortal, and must at times go"against the grain." It is splendid to contemplatethis self-subordination from a distance; it must some-times be melancholy work to the man who is doingit at close quarters and from day to day. 'I mustdecrease' cannot have been an easy thing for Johnthe Baptist to say. But there is a greater examplethan that. The present mission policy, and, in itsdegree, the Government policy also, remind one ofa passage that ranks among the greatest in the NewTestament—the description of our Lord's own mis-sion as a 'kenosis,' a self-emptying; 'Whereforealso God highly exalted Him.' ((Phil, ii.)

"Those who are engaged in such a task in Indiado not need any enfeebling pity, but friends who canoffer them understanding and comradeship from thisside should give it lavishly."

"Nini."Nini's story begins in Serajgunge. Rescued as an

infant, her mother having died, Nini was cared forin the "Babies' Castle" for six years. Then she wassent to Mymensingh to the Girls' Boarding School,under Miss Seymour's kind care. As I think of her,a series of pictures flashes through my mind.

1. It is Sunday morning at Mymensingh. Theschool "crocodile" is slowly winding its way overthe green coming back from church. Lagging be-hind, quite apart from the others, is a little girl ofsix or seven. How perverse and tiresome she i s !How the girls have tried to teach her to walk inline! How patient the teachers have been! Butthere she is again, naughty little Nini, keeping asfar off as she dares, stopping quite still when anyonelooks round for her. "Don't trouble at all abouther," says wise Miss Seymour; "she will soon comeif you take no notice of her." And truly, when the"crocodile" turns in at the mission gates, Nini slipsin with the rest.

2. Seven or eight years later we are on a riversteamer, travelling towards Mymensingh, Nini andi. The wilful, peculiar child was not without mentalability. She gained a Government scholarship fromour Mymensingh School, and was sent to Krish-nagar, a C.M.S. station, for further study, with aview to teacher training. Now the holidays havecome, and, as I happen to be travelling towardsMymensingh, it falls to my lot to be Nini's escort.She is so happy and excited at the thought of goingback for the holidays that her natural shyness andreserve break down completely. She talks on, inthe dusk of the evening, all about her new schoolfriends and the teachers and the doings of the year.It is evident that her deeper nature has been arousedwhile under the teaching and influence of the devotedC.M.S. missionaries. But as yet her spiritual im-pulses are fluctuating, and many prayers are stillunanswered when she finally leaves Krishnagar andcomes back to her old school as a trained teacher.

3. It is 1921. Miss Hogben is on furlough. MrKhan is in Mymensingh conducting a series of meet-ings for the deepening of spiritual life. He speaksto the hearts of the Christians, and men and womenand boys and girls hang upon his words. Our heartsare burdened for those in our care who have not yetgiven themselves to the Saviour. We think of Nini,and others, who, for reasons unknown to us, stillkeep back what they have to give to Him. At mid-day I am sitting in my room thinking of these things,

when the curtain is moved aside, and I see, standingin the doorway, Nini, her face lit up with the lightof heaven! The next moment she is kneeling at myside. Very few words are needed, but, from that day,she is "His for ever." Two years of quiet, faithfulwork and steady growth follow. Miss Hogben isdelighted, both with her work in class and with herinfluence in the school.

4. Now we come to the present. My sphere ofwork is in the Girls' School at Biri Siri. The year1923 left behind some serious problems. Our fourteachers all resigned their work, three to be married,and the fourth for family reasons. I went down toMymensingh in December wondering what could bedone. It might be possible to get help from two orthree of our old girls, but how could I possiblymanage without one good teacher?

Then came a joyful surprise! Nini, for someunknown reason, thought she would like a changefrom Mymensingh, but wishing still to remain in ourmission, offered her services for Biri Siri! We talkedplainly to her of the inconveniences of Garoland, butNini was quite sure she could be happy there, andshe wished to go. So here she is, to our great joyand comfort. It would take another letter to tell ofher life and work here. Suffice it now to say thatshe has thrown her whole heart and soul into thework, she is very happy, and her influence is tellingin every way for Jesus Christ.

CONSTANCE WILLIAMS (A.B.B.F.M).

Queen of the Dawn.

By Miss HILDA MCLEAN, of Mymensingh.

When travelling by boat it is hard to judgeone's rate of progress by keeping one's eyes fixedon the water. It is good, at times, to lift them tothe coastline, and gain encouragement from the sightof landmarks, once so far ahead, now fading awayin the hazy distance far at the rear. At Easter timesome such glance at the changing coastline of thehistory of India's widows was given to us. Wethanked God, and took courage.

On Good Friday morning, after our service,while glancing through S. P. Carey's "Life ofWilliam Carey," kindly sent us by Dr Whitley, Icame across the harrowing description of the firstSuttee which he witnessed! Suttee! We havealmost forgotten that there ever was such a diaboli-cal custom. Thank God the ship of progress has leftthat dark, cruel headland of death far behind. Thepresent Hindu widow may sometimes be tempted,by reason of her galling dependence upon her rela-tives, to wish that Carey's efforts to abolish Sutteehad not succeeded, and that she had been burned todeath on her husband's funeral pyre; but she is safein expressing that wish, for the good ship will notretrace her course to that grim headland. Even nowshe is rounding the headland of Dependence, and anow point gleams in sight. Shall we call it theheadland of Daring?

What joy would have filled Carey's heart had hebeen present at our service on Good Friday morn-ing, and seen a newly-widowed Hindu girl seatedthere amongst the Christians! When Queen of theDawn told me that she was coming, I could notbelieve that she really would. Yet she did, withconsent of both parents, and so enjoyed it that shecame again on Easter Sunday, bringing her littlesister with her.

Here is her story in outline. Some five yearsago, when a girl of about 14, Usha Rani (Queenof the Dawn) began to read the Bengali Bible withme. She was distinguished from my other Zenana


pupils by her remarkable memory and her practicalturn of mind. She would ask questions such as:"How should I pray? How can I serve Jesus in myhome here?" Questions not always easy to answer,especially with her anxious mother keeping watchfulears and eyes upon me.

It was not long before her marriage wasarranged, and she was sent far away to her hus-band's home. One day a letter came telling of hisserious illness, that she was praying in the name ofJesus for his recovery, and wanted me to do thesame. My reply never reached her. Probably hisrelatives know why.

A few months ago I found that she was backin her father's home, no longer a bride, but a widow.A widow! Queen of the Dawn a widow! It seemedimpossible to picture her in widow's garb, sufferinga widow's privations. What was my astonishment tofind her unchanged!

It was hard to believe my eyes, but harder stillto believe my ears when she told me that, from thevery day of her husband's death her father hadbegun to prepare her himself for the matriculationexamination. tie is assistant head master at theMymensingh Government Boys' School. How Ithanked him for daring to save his daughter fromthe dreary existence of the orthodox Hindu widow!

The examination is now over, and, like all trueBengalis, Usha Rani thinks that she has done well.While awaiting the results she is preparing for herarts course, as her hope is to win a degree andbecome a teacher. The English Bible being amongstthe compulsory text-books for English, she is nowreading it with me.

The mother has forgotten her fears. It was onething to see her daughter reading the Bengali Biblewith a Christian missionary; it is quite another tosee her studying the English Bible with a real Eng-lish coach, even though she be one and the sameperson. She is as friendly now as the father hasalways been.

Usha Rani, Queen of the Dawn! Her nameseems to suit her as she stands with her face turnedtowards no dark headland of cruel Death, no drearyheadland of lifelong Dependence. Her eyes catchthe dawn of a new day gleaming bright over therosy headland of Daring. Yes, she has dared tobreak away from Hindu customs, and to be thesecond girl widow in Mymensmgh district to takeher matriculation. Others will follow.

We rejoice with them in their new hopes andambitions, yet our joy is clouded by a great fear.Wherever there is daring there is also danger, andwe know that these girls are not yet ready to over-come the new temptations that emancipation fromthe restraints of Hindu custom will bring them.

Does not this danger of theirs awake in ourhearts an answering daring, a resolute resolve tospare no effort to bring these young Indian girls toa knowledge of the Christ, Whose strong protectinghand alone can save them?—Our Indian Field.

The Prime Minister and Missions.The following letter from the Prime Minister to

Lord Arnold was read on Wednesday evening, May14, at the meeting of the Colonial Missionary-Society:—

10, Downing street, S.W. 1,May 14, 1924.

Dear Arnold,—Please inform the good friendsintending the City Temple meeting this evening thatI have found it impossible, almost at the lastmoment, to carry out the tentative promise I madeto be with them at the gathering. I am sure theywill be able to appreciate how very difficult it is justnow to fulfil all those engagements entered into out-ride my official duties.

I have perused with much pleasure the reportof the good work done by your missionaries in thefield. Theirs is a great adventure; their task is notan easy one; and the results accruing from theirlabours cannot be calculated by the commercialmethod of profit and loss account. So long as theymay cause one home to be brighter, one humanheart to be unburdened, and one child to be educatedin a higher faith, that is a profit to the human racewhich cannot figure in any balance sheet. Theirs isa spiritual crusade; work, for the spirit of thingsthat are noble, is more essential now than ever. Theworld requires the crusader once again.

I hope they will be encouraged in this grandcrusade by those at home who cannot, in the verynature of the case, see exactly how much is beingdone by our missionaries. I wish them well in theirmagnificent labours.—Yours faithfully,

(Signed) J. RAMSAY MACDONALD.The Lord Arnold.

A "dhoole"—-a mode of conveying ladies.


By UNCLE OLIVER.

Here's a Riddle.

Many girls and boys are quite clever at askingand answering riddles; the more puzzling they are,so much greater the honour of finding the answer.So here's a riddle which interests us all, even motherand father may join in answering it if they can.

What is that which we all possess, which costsus nothing when we have it first, but may becomeworth a great deal? It has no voice, yet we hear itevery day. It has no body, yet we constantly see it.A faithful friend and a bad enemy, it never leavesus in life, and follows us to the grave.

This strange and puzzling thing cannot bebought, for money will not purchase i t ; neither canit be exchanged if we grow tired of it. Once ours,it is ours for keeps, whether we like it or not. Wecannot get rid of it, but must acknowledge it to beour very own. Can it be possible that we all pos-sess such a thing as this? We do! There is noneso poor he does not have it, none so young that hedoes not need it, nor any so rich not to use it.Is it the same for all? Not at all, for yours is notmine, and mine is not the same as yours; we wouldnot change it if we could.

If you have not already guessed our riddle,simple as it is, we must try and help you. So, ifwe take our Bibles and open them at the Book ofProverbs, chapter 22, we shall find a clue to theproblem. Why, of course; there it is as plain aspossible. It could be nothing else than that. Whydid we not find it out before?

But, having found the answer, shall we stop amoment and think what it all means. Would wechoose it rather than great riches? I wonder! Howwonderful it would be to be able to buy anythingand everything we wanted or desired; great richeswould make that possible. But if we had to takeinstead the very opposite to a good—a bad one,what should we do? Great riches, money, jewels,do not last, neither do they give that real happinesswhich continues. They must, be left some day, orthey may leave u s ; but we can never be really poorif we have a good——. The world has very manyrich people in it, but those who have the other pos-session are not nearly so numerous.

It is a terrible thing to carry a bad——. Therewas Judas, of whom we read in the New Testament;he had money, and always coveted more; but everytime we read of him we think of that one thing bywhich he is remembered. Then we think of Jesus,so poor that He had nothing friends or enemiescould take from Him save the few garments He wore.Yet ever since, girls and boys and men and womenhave been saying and singing of Him—

"How sweet the name of Jesus sounds."And to-day thousands upon thousands are known asHis followers, proudly bearing the name by whichHis disciples were first called in fun and ridicule—Christians.

So our riddle answers itself after all. There isthat — by which we are known through life. Wemay make it honoured and respected, or we maybring disgrace upon it, until at last we are ashamedto own such a —. But there is another answerstill. We may possess that which is worth morethan all riches and which also costs nothing but theearnest resolve that we will be worthy of it.

My riddle is ended, but the answer is yours!

THE PARABLE OF BEING SURE OF THERICHT.

I and Keturah we had a Difference of Opinion.And it came to pass about the space of an Hourthereafter that I thought thereon and I went untoKeturah and said:

My dear, I was mistaken. Thou art right.And Keturah said, What month and what day of

the month is this? Let the name and the numberthereof be ascertained. And let them be recordedin Red, that I may have this day in remembrance.Eight-and-thirty years have I lived with my Hus-band, and now for the first time he hath acknow-ledged himself to be in the wrong. Well it is forme that I have lived to see this day. For if I haddied and gone to Heaven there could have been nosatisfaction there so great as this. But listen untome, my lord. Why this delay? Wherefore hast thouwailed eight-and-thirty years?

And I said to Keturah, this is the first timeI have ever been in the wrong in matters of disputewith thee; and now that thou dost mention it, I amnot so sure that I was in the wrong this time.

And Keturah said, I will hasten and accept thineacknowledgment while it is yet within my reach;for it is too good thing to last long. And now,behold, I have been making some Doughnuts, andI have had rather better success than usual. Tryone of them, and let me know if I am right aboutthat also.

THE"ALL BRITISH"

LESSONSAre becoming increasingly popular inBaptist and other Sunday Schools.

THERE'S A REASON.

A Baptist Sunday School Superintendentwrites: "I look upon these 'All British'Lessons with favour, and so do the teachers."Another Superintendent writes: "The BritishGraded Lessons are vastly superior to anythingwe have previously used."

The "All British" Lessons comprise a wealthof splendid material for teachers and scholarsin each grade, including superior Annual andQuarterly Helps for teachers and for thescholars, coloured picture rolls, coloured pic-ture cards, folders, and lesson papers—allprepared by British experts.

Send for Free Desorlptlve Leaflet and Samples.

A. H. REED"Pioneer of the Best Lesson Materialfor New Zealand Sunday Schools."

Express Company's Building,DUNEDIN.

The Children's Column. Parables of Safed the Sage.

So I ate of the Doughnuts, for I seldom eat asfew as one of them. And I said, Thou art so ever-lasting right about the Doughnuts, thou hast small


need to be right about any of the things we discuss,and canst well afford to let me be in the right con-cerning all other matters.

And Keturah said, We will divide the matter, inthat way. Nevertheless, remember this, my lord,it is a great satisfaction unto a woman to be acknow-ledged right part of the time. For howeversomuchshe may be proud that her husband is a man ofsound judgment, and one who sitteth in the gatesand one to be renowned among his fellow men, yetat home he is the husband of one wife, and thatwife liketh a sort of even division of the business ofbeing right.

And I am inclined to think that there is something in this, and that it is well for a man that nowand then he acknowledge unto his wife that she isin the right. And inasmuch as the world is verycertain to convince him often that he hath mademistakes, it is well that he share with his wife thebusiness of being right on a fifty-fifty division.

Especially if she maketh good Doughnuts, andgiveth them as a reward of her being right.

Young People's Dept."Give its the young, and we will create a New Mind

and a New Earth in a single generation."Acting Secretary: W. H. NEWTON, Chairman ofExecutive, 68 Surrey Crescent. Grey Lynn, Auckland.

At the time of going to press, the followingclasses had not contributed:—Linwood, Opawa,Sydenham junior, Greendale, Timaru, Ashburton,Mosgiel, North-East Valley, Esk street, Invercargill,Gore, Oamaru, and Invercargill North.

Bravo, Roslyn! You have done valiantly; butwhat shall we say of the non-starters? Fellows, letus not forget that at Camp we pledged ourselves todo our utmost, and set £100 as our objective. £1116s is not very far on the way to victory. At therate we are travelling now we shall scarcely reachour last year's mark.

The days are early yet, and we still have ninemonths ahead of us, so let us redouble our effortsand every class strive its utmost during the nextquarter to shoulder Roslyn from the enviable posi-tion of head of the list.

Don't forget! 1.—£100 is our objective. 2.—Next quarter ends on October 31.—Yours for success,

ARTHUR G. SMITH,Hon. Missionary Treasurer, S.I.Y.M.B.B.C.U.

"Even a grandfather who passed his tests atOxford or Cambridge 50 years ago shrewdly sus-pects that the little lady in curls, who calls herselfhis granddaughter and sits on his knee, is a keen,dispassionate critic of his dress, of his speech, ofhis actions, and that his conduct in all the greatissues of life, particularly in regard to pocket money,is noted by his grandson and reported to his grand-son's friends."—Sir Arthur Keith.

The annual examination and Young People's Day,1924, are now both past events, and the results areawaited with interest, the former by those whobravely faced the ordeal; and the latter by theExecutive, which hopes that the Day was made oneof special appeal and united prayer, the outcome ofwhich shall be a renewed consecration of the teachersand the definite enrolment of many of our youngpeople in the army of the King of Kings and of HisChrist.

Despite the circular letter sent to all our super-intendents during the first week in April, much mis-conception evidently exists with reference to thedenominational papers set in addition to the Scrip-tural knowledge papers. The Executive has author-ised me to state that these were prescribed and pro-vided (at no little cost) in compliance with whatwas reported to it as the very definite wish of the1923 Conference at Wellington.

It is now evident that there are very weighty-objections to the plan adopted. As a matter offact, some of these were advanced in the discussionwhich preceded the adoption of the motion directingthat these extra questions be set; but the Executivefelt that it should loyally comply with the wish ofthe Conference.

I have now to ask that each Provincial Com-mittee, and indeed that every one of our schools,will carefully consider the best ways and means ofensuring that our young people shall know theScriptural basis of our Baptist position and possiblysomething of the great principles for which we stand,and of our glorious history as a people.

Here are two suggestions which have alreadybeen offered:—

(1.) That "Review Sunday" be used for thegiving of such instruction—Graded Outline Lessonsbeing published from time to time in this column.

(2.) That a special examination, somewhat onthe lines of the recent one, be held at a date laterthan those conducted by the Auckland and Welling-ton Sunday School Unions.Special to Superintendents and Secretaries—

(1.) How is the New Scholars Campaign pro-gressing in your school? Some schools are doingvery well indeed.

(2.) Have you sent along your statistics yet?(3.) Have you remitted the amount received in

response to the Department's Envelope Appeal?If the answer to "2" and " 3 " is "No," please

reply without further delay. Two applications fromnew schools for '''grants in aid" are perforce heldover until the Executive knows its financial position.

WM. H. NEWTON,Chairman of Executive.

The following gifts, in response to the depart-ment's appeal for funds, are gratefully acknowledged:New Plymouth, £ 1 ; Hawera, 12s; Oamaru, £1 10s;Richmond (Grey Lynn), £1 10s 4d; Thames, £1 1s;Oxford Terrace, £3 17s 9d; Hanover street, £1 9s;Opawa, 14s; Feilding, 11s 6d; Mt. Albert, £1 12s6d; Wanganui East, 18s 6d. Total to August 15,1924, £14 16s 7d.

Mrs Guy Thornton desires that money forY.W.B.C. Syllabuses and for Leaders Library shouldbe paid in promptly. Verb. sap.


Total

12

34567891011

RoslynHanover street, seniorHanover street, juniorMorningtonSpreydon, juniorOxford Terrace, juniorOxford Terrace, seniorCaversham, seniorSpreydon, seniorOxfordCaversham, junior

£22111100000

s.1008510

15141255

d.00000006600

Class.Amount

Sent.

S.I.Y.M.B.B.C.U.SCHEME 52.

Position

£11 16 0


"CONFERENCE."(To the Editor.)

Sir,--Whcn I penned my letter which appearedin your August issue, I was somewhat busy andpressed for time. Will you, therefore, be goodenough to allow me to add thereto the suggestionthat, if the days of Conference were extended, asI suggested they should be, it would be possible forthe Conference to sit on some of the mornings, thusallowing the committees to meet and transact what-ever business was necessary. I do not think thatI err when I suggest that delegates would welcomethe opportunity of a morning or so "off" that theymight have the opportunity of renewing acquaint-anceship with old friends. Oh, I know that delegatesshould come to Conference to be always in attend-ance, but some do not attend ALL the sittings, forthe very reason I have suggested Give them theopportunity to be free, without breaking any un-written law. The Executive ought to get more con-sideration than it does at present anyway, surely.

It is not the proper thing that, as I suggestedin my last letter, they should return to their churchesand new work fagged and "dog tired."

If my suggestions do happen to merit any con-sideration at your hands, might I suggest that youurge churches to send their delegates to the Con-ference in Christchurch charged with the authority tovote for an extended term of sitting in the future?.

Thanking you, sincerely yours,W. J. BARDSLEY.

Dunedin, August 11. 1924.

EXTENDING TIME OF CONFERENCE.(To the Editor.) .

Dear Sir,—I quite agree with Mr Bardsley that"the business of our Conference is far too importantto be rushed through," and one often returns homedisappointed that very important matters have hadto be shelved for lack of time. What is required,in my opinion, is economy of time, not extension.Delegates are not able now, especially some of ourbusiness men, to spare eight days plus travellingtime. The final business of Conference is usuallytransacted by a fast thinning house; therefore, ex-tension of time is not the remedy. I would like tomake a few suggestions, viz.:

(1) That some of the evenings be used for busi-ness sessions. Concerts, demonstrations, publicmeetings, at which addresses are ably given on im-portant subjects, have their place; but too frequentlynothing practical is accomplished by them for ourdenomination. I admit we all appreciate these publicgatherings, and they afford a welcome respite, butthe fact remains we are assembled to tackle anddiscuss problems vital to the interest of our denomi-nation.

(2) Let us receive less deputations, and whenone is admitted confine it to one speaker and one toreply. Receive the same 15 minutes before the lunchadjournment, and delegates will see there is notrespassing on time.

(3) Impress upon delegates, new and old, at theopening of Conference the excellent advice given bythe Rev. H. K. Kempton when welcoming delegatesas President in 1912—viz., "That a delegate's reputa-tion does not depend on speaking to every motionbrought before the Conference."

(4) If some delegates could be less loquacious,valuable time would be saved and business consider-ably expedited.

(5) Would it not be possible to make some ofthe reports presented more concise?

(6) Commencing each session sharp on time.I wish also to add that I hope the Programme

Committee can see its way clear this year to givea session for a full discussion on a home missionpolicy. I do not mean by that two or three addressesgiven at a public meeting on home missions here andelsewhere. We have had that more than once in thepast, and there it has ended. Many returned fromlast Conference feeling very disappointed at the waythis vital subject was shelved. We were not com-forted nor satisfied at being told "our Union is thisyear opening two new causes, Opawa and Edendale,and placing ministers therein." The honour ofestablishing these causes belongs entirely to theprogressive people of the Sydenham and MountAlbert Churches. Opawa was ripe for a pastor twoyears before the appointment was made. How longis it since the Baptist Union opened a church as aforward movement?

It is imperative that the home base be strength-ened if our many other branches are to be efficientlymaintained and extended. Surely our meagre pro-gress in this Dominion as a denomination ought toarouse us to united action without delay.

May God raise up in our midst a real live Bap-tist with a home mission vision!—I am, etc.,

WM. E. LAMBERT.Thames, August 13, 1924.[Our correspondent might have remembered that

the last forward movement of the Union is only ayear old.—Editor.]

(To the Editor.)

Dear Sir.—Will you allow me, through yourpaper, to thank the many friends and fellow-workerswho, through the past ten years, have extended to mesuch cordial Christian fellowship. In writing a littleword of farewell, as I am about to enter upon missionwork (still holding Baptist doctrine), I would like toexpress the desire that the kindly feeling of goodwillmay continue on their side as it will on mine Withprayerful wishes for God's rich blessing on the de-nomination, towards which I shall always entertainonly affection and cordial goodwill, I remain, Sir,—

Yours in the indissoluble bonds of Christ,EDWARD R. WESTON.

"Against Sunday Sport."

"One of the finest British sprinters has decidedon religious grounds not to run in the 100 metresrace for his country, which begin at Colombes, Paris,next Saturday," says the Evening News prior to thecommencement of the Olympic Games.

"He is Eric H. Liddell, and his decision meansa serious loss to the British team, as he is an ex-British champion for the 100 yards, holding the Bri-tish record for that distance (9 7-10).

"Mr Liddell is a staunch Presbyterian, and hisdecision is due to the fact that the heats of the 100metres race are to be run off on Sundays. His re-ligious convictions are against Sunday sports."

GOITRE.—A market gardener in the Hutt Valley,Wellington, leports that his wife, who suffered formany years from Goitre, has by persistent applica-tion of Q-tol got quite rid of the trouble. She useda bandage soaked in Q-tol every night for six weeks,and is delighted with the excellent result.

Correspondence.


Young Women's Union,

The annual meeting of the Y.W.B.B.C.U. (Auck-land Centre) took place at the Mount Eden Churchon August 5, when about 30 girls met for tea. Atthe meeting which followed over 70 were present.The President (Miss Newton) welcomed the dele-gates, and, during the course of her remarks,stressed the necessity for co-operation between thevarious classes. In answer to the roll-call, eachclass in the Union answered with a text, the countrycorrespondents also reading greetings from Thames,Waihi, Whangarei, and Milford.

The result of the "Special Effort Campaign"was announced by the Treasurer (Miss Penman).The Mount Eden Class was again successful in win-ning the Kretschmar Shield, having collected £7 5swith an average of six members. The total amountcollected by 12 classes was £72 11s 4d. This wasallocated as follows:—One-half to foreign missions,one-quarter to home missions, and one-quarter to theManurewa Home. Mrs Kretschmar, in a few appro-priate words, presented the shield to the winningclass. The total amount that had passed throughthe Treasurer's hands during the year was £146 6s4d, showing an increase of £46. The balance sheetof the Easter Camp was read by Miss Billman (theTreasurer), and showed a credit balance of £50.

The reading of the annual report by the UnionSecretary (Miss Dixon) showed a membership of319, with an average attendance of 240, representing18 classes. During the year three classes havejoined the Union. A report of the Easter Campwas read by Miss Grigg, and the secretaries of thecity and country classes also presented interestingreports.

The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Miss Newton; Vice-presidents—MrsTurner, Miss Turner, Miss Mill; Secretary, Miss E.Carpenter; Treasurer, Miss Cowley.

Miss Gaze moved a vote of thanks to theretiring officers, and this was heartily carried byacclamation. Before the meeting concluded thePresident mentioned that after the forthcoming Con-ference the Dominion Executive would be in Auck-land, and asked for earnest prayer for those whohad been elected on that body. A meeting full ofinterest and inspiration was brought to a close bythe singing of a hymn and prayer.

Some Book Notices.

waited him and would charm him into peace. Thoseto whom the bizarre in literature is dear should notmiss Papini

"Food for the Fed-Up" and "The Wicker Gate,"both by Studdert Kennedy, and published in paperby Hodder and Stoughton at 2s 6d a copy net. Thesebooks are on their own. "Woodbine Willie,'' as hewas called at the Front, is High Church,who throws you into a fit by invoking hisholy aunt in the midst of his sermon, or bybidding you stop talking through your best Sundayhat. His style is colloquial to a degree unknown be-fore; but his thinking is very masculine. The firstof these books deals with the Apostles' Creed. Hemeets the situation as an avowed modernist. He isprepared to "fisherise" all the old theories; but heseems to come back to most of them. As an indexof what men think who are outside orthodoxy thebook is a vade mecum. But before a man adoptsthe positions of this astonishing preacher, he hadbetter think things through well. The second bookis on the Lord's Prayer, and is in the style and hasthe value of the first.

"The Value of Money," by R. H. Wilson, ofChristchurch. This book is by a well-known Presby-terian elder. It deals with the money problem in avery wide and wise way, and has already run intoits second edition. Mr Wilson is a devoted churchman, and is out to secure for the Church that shareof the money of the Christian people which belongsof right to Christ. Many a sidelight is introduced.A life's diligent reading is laid under contribution.The booklet may be had for 1/- from 216 Ollivier'sroad, Christchurch.

"A Man Finished." (Giovanni Papini. Hodderand Stoughton; 10s 6d net.) This leading publish-ing firm made a hit by issuing Papini's "Life ofChrist," which has run into 15 British editions andis selling still. The weird pen work, the Italianflavour, and the Catholic tinge made the book unlikeany other. But Papini's personal history has nowbeen given to British readers in the form of anautobiography covering his earlier years. It is re-markable stuff. The young Florentine misanthropebelieves he may have been bom wailing the Mar-seillaise instead of venting the usual whimper ofastonishment. He had invoked death for himself inbad verse before he was out of his adolescence. Hewas a confirmed pessimist holding universal suicideas the only gospel for the race while he was stilla young man. He played the Socrates on the Piazzato the annoyance of all and sundry. He rushed intowild publicity with a journal. He brushed love asideafter wretched experiments. He rings down thecurtain in a frenzy, not knowing that the Christ

The 20-Guinea Prize Hymn.

BRITISH WEEKLY COMPETITION.BEST IN 2980.

GOOD FRIDAY HYMN.

(To an old Gaelic Melody of Lament.)

On the sorrowful hillside of green-breasted Calvary.O dismal the wound in the heart of my Lord;

O dark is His anguish while man offers mockery,O deep is the sting of the mournful red sword.

On the sorrowful hillside the sin of HumanityDelivered Him bound to the death of the Cross;

O dark is His anguish, O dread is His agony—The Lover of men in the hour of His loss.

On the sorrowing hillside the sad night is echoingThe sigh of His grief, and He fades as a cry;

O dark is His anguish, the black night o'ershadow-ing.

My heart cries within, "Who so sinful as I ? "

Ah, sorrowful Calvary, this day I have found thee,My heart is the place of the cross of my God,

And thoughts born of anguish lament aloud bitterlyMy sins that have fashioned His burden, His load.

Ah, Jesu, so tender! Ah, Jesu, so fair!Restore me my heart and dwell Thou there;

By all Thy dread anguish, by all Thy sharp misery,O keep me from shame and Thy grace let me

share.

"Life is an unending series of examinations,no matter what branch of medical science isselected."



The following letter, bearing date August 11,has been received from the secretary of one of ourchurches with a membership of under 200. It ispublished here in the hope that many others of ourfriends will be encouraged to emulate their effort,and thus help on our work:—

Dear Mr Whitton,—Enclosed you will findcheque for £30 as a contribution to the Manu-rewa Children's Home.

I have fulfilled the promise as the repre-sentative of the Home in connection with the—— Baptist Church to organise a special effortto raise an amount in accord with the circularsent out.

As the result of a jumble, cake, and lollystall, and a few donations, we raised £30, whichwas very satisfactory.

If all the churches made a similar effort thefinances of the Home would greatly benefit.

I am hoping to do even better next year.With kindest regards,

Yours sincerely,

LIST OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO DATE.

Auckland.—Tabernacle Baptist Church, £20 2s3d; United Protestant Orphan Homes Society, 7s8d; Miss I. Buckland, £1 1s; Grange Road BaptistChurch, £2 14s 6d; Mount Eden Baptist Church, £17s 7d; Y.W.B.C. Union, £12 5s; Official Collector,£51 5s. Total, £89 3s.

Dunedin.—North-East Valley Baptist Church, £118s.

Feilding.—Baptist Church, £1 18s.Hastings.—Baptist Church, £30; Y.W.B.C, £ 1 .

Total, £31.Kaiapoi.—Baptist Church, £ 1 ; Mrs J. Wilson,

5s. Total, £1 5s.Linwood.—Baptist Church, £2 5s 6d.Milford.—Baptist Church, £1 5s.Palmerston North.—Baptist Church, £6 5s.Nelson.—Baptist Church, £ 1 .Rangiora.—Baptist Church, 10s.Waimate North.—Wm. Collier, 6s.Waiuku.— H. F. Knight, £ 1 .Wellington.—C. G., £1.Grand total, £138 15s 6d.


Clothing, etc.—Mrs Honnor, 59 Courtney street,New Plymouth; Mrs Skutt, 58 Firth street, HamiltonEast ; Mrs Johnston, Beresford street, Bayswater;Mrs Farmer, Tainui street, Spreydon; Mrs A. M.Roberts, 7 Royal Terrace, Remuera; Mrs Brinsmead,Manurewa; Miss Brown, Otahuhu; Miss Smith, Rus-sell road, Manurewa; Miss Clarke, Hobb Building,Cathedral square, Christchurch; Vivian Street .Bap-tist Ladies' Sewing Guild (per Mrs Samson); SeniorGirls' Class, Oxford Terrace Sunday School, Christ-church; Tabernacle Ladies' Sewing Meeting (perMr H. V. Taine, 45 Strand arcade, Auckland).

Provisions, etc.—Mr Landless, Alfriston road,Manurewa, large quantity lemons; Mr Walter, Manu-rewa, buns: Mr F. Fuller, c/o Mr Bayly, Tirau, tin

lollies; Mrs Dawson, Auckland, lollies; Mrs Woolley,Epsom, lollies; National Trading Co. of New Zea-land, Auckland, sack rice; Messrs Burns, Philp &Co., 3 Albert street, Auckland, 12lb tea; HoneyProducers' Association, Stanley street, tin honey.

Sundries.—Mrs Galletly, 284 Blenheim road, Ric-carton, dolls and materials; Mrs A. M. Roberts,

Remuera, books; Mr McDonald, Manurewa, severaltrees; Mr Boagey, Papakura, magazines; MrDearsly, "Young Citizens."

THOS. E. WHITTON,Secretary and Treasurer

20-22 Swanson street, Auckland.August 14, 1924.

Reverence.—I owe my minister reverence as theambassador of God sent to teach me a better way ofliving than the selfish, sordid existence I might beguilty of but for his trained guidance.

Affection.—I owe my minister affection that hemay be strengthened by the knowledge that themembers of the church he is trying to serve are knitwith him in the bonds of holy love and unity.

Trust.—I owe my minister trust that he may befree to serve the church unhampered by criticism andfault-finding.

Generosity.—I owe my minister generosity thatif his methods seem a little strange or a little sensational to my conservative nature I may not be narrowenough to insist that he shall change them, but may,instead, rejoice in the good that he is doing.

Prayer.—I owe it to my minister to pray for himeach day that God may bless him and make his ser-vices a blessing to everyone with whom he comes incontact.

Protection.—I owe to my minister the protectionof kindly silence by refraining from repeating in hispresence the slander or unkind gossip that wouldworry him and prevent him from doing his best work.

Time.—I owe to my minister enough of my timeto help him in his work, when and where he needsme.

Encouragement.—I owe my minister encourage-ment when vexations and annoyances make his workdifficult, or when he feels that his work is not pro-gressing as it should.

Appreciation.—I owe my minister a kindly wordor appreciation when his sermons are especiallyhelpful to me.

Consideration.—I owe it to my minister not tointerrupt and hinder his work with petty and un-necessary calls upon his time and sympathy.

Attention.—I owe my minister the courtesy ofattention when I go to church, that he may not beannoyed and troubled by seeing from my carelessinattentive actions that he is not holding myinterests.

Charity.—I owe it to my minister to overlook anytrivial flaw or little personal peculiarity that is merelya mannerism of speech or action, and in no wayhinders his work.

Gratitude.—I owe it to my minister to remembergratefully the many times he has helped me to bearsome trial, and the precious outpouring of his sym-pathy that strengthened and helped me when someloved one entered the Valley of the Shadow.


ESTABLISHED 1862. BRANCHES THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND. CAPITAL, £1,000,000


What I Owe My Minister.


Financial Support.—I owe my minister my portionof his salary, paid promptly and cheerfully, that hemay not be hindered in his work by financial worry

Remembering the nobility of the Christlike menwho have ministered unto me, I feel that my debt tothem can never be fully paid. It is too great.

— Lilian E. Andrews, in The Frontier Christian.

Why I am a Nonconformist.BRITISH WEEKLY PRIZE PAPER.

The true Nonconformist is he who is such be-cause of honest conviction and reasonable faith. TheFree Churches are members of the Puritan family.Puritanism has always stood for a spiritual inter-pretation of Christianity and the Christian Church,and we say, with Milton, this interpretation "it hathbefallen us to assert with God's assistance,against regal tyranny over the State, and Statetyranny over the Church."

(1) I am a Nonconformist because I am a be-liever in religious liberty. The early ChristianChurch of the New Testament maintained freedomfrom secular and State control, and claimed inde-pendence in its own sphere. The chapters of his-tory reveal tragedy, corruption, and strife when anypolitical or civil authority has had a deciding voicein regulating the activities of the Church. Spiritualproblems can be adequately dealt with only byspiritual courts, and spiritual issues depend ulti-mately upon spiritual agencies for their solution.The Christian Church is primarily, if not solely, aspiritual agency achieving results by spiritual means.In a recent text-book on "Citizenship" a writermakes this statement: "To-day, we as citizens agreethat the Government has a full right to control thematerial things of our social, industrial, and politicallife; but we claim that no Government can rightlycontrol our spiritual life. This is a matter entirelypersonal—between ourselves and God. And ourclaim is allowed." Religious freedom is a pricelessheritage, won at great cost by our fathers, and Iwould be a Nonconformist for the reason, if therewere no others, that the Free Churches stand aloneas the trustees of this freedom.

(2). The Nonconformist Churches are our greatbulwark against Papal domination. The Anglo-Catholic movement is weakening the resistance ofthe Church of England against Rome, and the workof the Reformation is in danger. That work was aglorious reassertion of fundamental truths and arevival of spiritual religion, and it were worth beinga Nonconformist to keep this faith alive.

(3). The "seat of authority" for us is not Popeor council, bishop or tradition, but Jesus Christ asrevealed in the New Testament and to our hearts.We offer to the world what He offered, based notupon dead ecclesiastical dogmas, but upon the livingverities of the Gospel.

(4). Nonconformity also stands alone in itsemphasis upon the freedom of individual opinion.We are not bound by any cold stereotyped creed, andwe accept all the enlightenment that comes throughmodern thought and knowledge. Our leaders to-day are in the van of scholarship, and in preachingzeal and ability they are at least equal to any oftheir brethren. Best of all, they are true to Himwhose life is "the Light of men."

Laziness.

1 dreamt I was a missionaryIn a far-off clime.

I spent my days inventing waysFor filling up my time.

I felt I'd got a priceless job,With simply naught to do;

With ease profound I'd sit aroundEnamoured of the view.

Beneath the palms I oft reclinedWith natives round me seated;

With simple air and virtue rareMy lessons they repeated.

And when the passing day was warmI'd spend it most in sleep;

And thus my nerve and strength preserveIn rest both pure and deep.

No problems rose to vex my soul.Of district or of worker.

The mission staff (now pray don't laugh!)Had not a single shirker.

And as they did their work so well,What use in interfering?

So I advised and sympathised,And helped them on by cheering.

No hours of travelling in the sun,No tramp from town to village;

No fevered haunts or racial tauntsMy time and patience pillaged.

No hours of weary work in school,No fever drove me crazy;

No driving scourge of duty's urgeForbade me being lazy.

Ah, what a glorious life was this!'Mid spiced and balmy breezes.

Who'd stay at home and never roamWhere every prospect pleases?

And then across my tranquil dreamThere crept a sombre, hue;

I woke and yawned, the day had dawned,With three men's work to do!

— B.M.S. Monthly News Letter.

The Rearguard."Goodness and mercy shall follow rne all the

days of my life."—Psalm xxiii.But why "follow" me? Why "go before"? Be-

cause some of my enemies are in rear; they attackme from behind. There are foes in my yesterdayswhich can give me fatal wounds. They can stabme in the back! If I could get away from the past!Its guilt dogs my steps. Its sins are ever at myheels. I have turned my face toward the Lord, butmy yesterdays pursue me like a relentless hound!So I have an enemy in the rear.

But, blessed be His Name, my mighty God isin the rear as well as my foe. "Goodness and mercyshall follow m e ! " No hound can break through thatdefence. Between me and my guilt there is the in-finite love of the Lord. The loving Lord will notpermit my past to destroy my soul. I may sorrowfor my past, but my very sorrow shall be a ministerof moral and spiritual health. My Lord is Lord ofthe past as well as of the morrow, and to-day "I willtrust and not be afraid."—J. H. Jowett.

There is something sacred about wages. Theyrepresent homes and families and domestic destinies—Henry Ford.



Our Churches at Work.AUCKLAND TABERNACLE (Rev. Joseph W.

Kemp).—The pastor's Sunday morning discourses onlessons from the wilderness life of the Israelites area continual source of instruction and edification tothe Lord's people. The evening Gospel serviceshave gathered round the great central theme ofCalvary, and the choir's part has been a great aidin carrying home the message. The Thursday mid-week Bible lectures are still occupied with the courseon the "Tabernacle in the Wilderness"—a theme sorich in teaching. School, Bible Classes, ChristianEndeavour, and Men's Meeting are all splendidly at-tended, and are suited to patrons of various ages.A recent social evening, for members who had joinedthe church in the last two years, was very success-ful.

BERHAMPORE (Rev. D. Catchpole).—Sinceour last report, the Young Women's Bible Class gavea concert worthy of special mention, the talentamong our young women's class being quite equal tothe young men's reputation of Berhampore. TheYoung Men's Bible Class had their tea two weeksago, at which some business was done and some finetalks given. These Sunday evening teas are reallyfine to bring our young men together. The leader,Mr V. Brown, will have taken to himself a wife erethis issue is out. The ladies of all organisationsare now meeting at regular intervals to solve prob-lems and to form a closer co-operation with thechurch and officers. At present our pastor has beenlaid aside and we are having supplies for a fewSundays. We are exceedingly grateful to thesevarious ones who have and are so willingly helpingus.

CAVERSHAM (Rev. Eric Evans).—The SundaySchool held its anniversary on Sunday, July 27, andwas favoured with beautiful weather. The morningservice was conducted by Professor Powell, ofU.S.A., who spoke to the children on "Playing theGame.'' Miss Warner, in the afternoon, gave thechildren a delightful address, our pastor speaking tothe parents at the evening service. The specialsinging by the children, under the baton of Mr C.Clark, was quite up to the usual standard of excel-lence. We are experiencing a demonstration of theworking of the Spirit among our young people. Sun-day, August 10, was "Decision Day" in the SundaySchool, when several of the scholars indicated theirintention to become Christians. At the eveningservice the members of the Young Men's Bible Classall took some part, our pastor giving an inspiringaddress, at the conclusion inviting decisions, whentwo young men signified their desire. A short prayermeeting brought a most inspiring service to a happyconclusion, when three more stepped over the line.

EDENDALE (Rev. H. R. Turner).—A period ofexceptional activity was brought to a climax onThursday and Friday, August 7 and 8, when theladies of the church held a sale of work. For weekspast they had been busy making things useful anddainty, and as a result of their labours our BuildingTreasurer has been cheered by the addition of nearly£60 to the Manse Fund. Our needs are many, butthe building of a manse was our pre-eminent need,and the work has now been commenced. Our churchlife maintains its deep spirituality, and the Sundaymorning prayer meetings are well attended. Theattendances at the Institute are good, and manynow workers have recently been added to our list.The Sunday School continues to progress, and thescholars are now busy with their preparations forthe anniversary on the last Sunday in September.

The work at White Swan continues to give us causefor satisfaction. A service is now held every Sun-day evening, our pastor occupying the pulpit on oneSunday each month. These services are very wellattended, averaging about 50 to 60 per service. Thechurch is now without debt on either building orland.

EPSOM (Pastor Chant).—A concert, arranged bythe young women of the Bible Classes, and held onJuly 10, was the means of raising over £5 for BibleClass Union Effort for Missions and Manurewa Home.The Sunday School has just concluded a two months'campaign for new scholars. This was enthusiasticallycarried out by the boys and girls divided into twoteams, and resulted in 46 names being added to theroll. Parents' Day was held on July 27, when severalmothers and fathers joined with the whole school ina bright afternoon service. The church was filledon Wednesday, July 23, when Paul Kanamori, theJapanese evangelist, told the story of his spirituallife. The C.I.F. barometer is gradually rising, andnow shows a total of £345 collected in four months,leaving £155 to be brought in before October.

GISBORNE (Rev, F. A. Crawshaw).—Good con-gregations have gathered during the month. Themorning addresses have been on "The Fruit of thoSpirit," and in the evenings the first chapters of theBook of Revelation have been the theme of power-ful evangelical addresses with, generally, a specialmessage to Christians also. Questions from thequestion box have also been answered. The monthlyevening song service on August 3 was very largelyattended, tho orchestra assisting. Those who at-tend the 7 o'clock prayer meeting on Sunday morn-ings proclaim it a great season of refreshing—wewould our mid-week meetings could enjoy such liberty.We regret to report the loss by death, suddenly, ofa staunch adherent in Miss Christina Rosie. In theremoval of Mr Cremer to Auckland we lose a verylive Christian. A convert at the recent mission ofDr. Oliver, Mr Cremer linked up with our churchafter baptism, as did also his wife. He has servedin the choir and Sunday School, and latterly on theDiaconate and with Te Hapara local preachers, andwill be much missed from the Saturday night open-air ring. Young People's Day was celebrated inboth Sunday Schools, and the town Bible Classesheld a combined rally, at which there were severaldecisions for Christ. It is hoped to have a youngpeople's baptismal service some Sunday afternoonshortly. Te Hapara evening services are being wellattended, and our pastor is giving monthly lanternlectures out there, which help to stimulate interest.

RICHMOND, GREY LYNN (Rev. R. Horn).—Special efforts in connection with the Forward Move-ment Fund raised £56 12s 6d, of which £26 was col-lected by the ladies, and £6 11s 6d by the Y.W.B.C.,which generously gave half the proceeds of a specialand a very successful concert. On July 13, the 16thanniversary of the formation was celebrated by ser-vices conducted by the Rev. H. J. Ralph, of theGreen Lane Congregational Church, in the morning,and by the pastor in the evening. The choir ren-dered an anthem at each service, and at night MissG. Robinson sang Handel's "Come Unto Him." Atthe public meeting a most interesting address wasgiven by the Rev. Paul Kanamori, the Japanese"Moody." The annual report was of a very en-couraging nature, especially with respect to the BibleClasses and Sunday School, but the treasurer had toreport an adverse balance slightly exceeding thediminution in the Union Grant. Thanks to our pas-tor's success in obtaining, free of cost to the church,a huge load of rocks, a much-needed improvement inthe appearance of the church grounds has beeneffected by a band of willing workers under the ex-pert direction of our Mr Fletcher.


GRANGE ROAD (Rev. A. S. Wilson).—Duringthe past few weeks interest in our Young Men'sMission Band has greatly increased, and the bandhas conducted a number of services in variouschurches. Services at popular beaches will be heldduring the summer months. On Young People'sSunday, the Rev. Lionel Fletcher, of Beresford Con-gregational Church, addressed the Sunday School atthe afternoon service, when a. number of youngpeople decided for Christ. The annual thankofferingto the church has amounted to over £60 this year.

HASTINGS (Rev. Keith Ewen).—The monthlyprayer meetings have been resumed at HavelockNorth, in the residence of Mr H. Paynter, encourag-ing; attendances. The little prayer meeting held atthe rnanse on Saturday evenings, has been discoveredby the young people of the church, and is proving asource of spiritual blessing to them. On July 23a special effort was made by the church, on behalfof the Manurewa Children's Home. In the after-noon, cake and sweet stalls; also a jumble stall, didexcellent business. Afternoon tea was provided ata small charge. In the evening a most successfulconcert was given by the Sunday School scholars.Donations, collection, and takings for the dayamounted in all to the gratifying sum of £30 for thismost deserving cause.

ISLAND BAY (Rev. H. E. Edridge).—A verypleasant evening was spent recently under the aus-pices of the Young Women's Bible Class, in co-opera-tion with the senior Sunday School scholars, whena dialogue was given representing missionary workin India. We congratulate the Y.W.B.C., and con-sider that their effort is deserving of repetition. Wealso tender our best thanks to Mr McClusky, ofBrooklyn, for his kind assistance with lantern. OnTuesday, July 29, a good audience listened attentivelyto Rev. Harry's popular lecture, "A Cure for theBlues," the proceeds realising, by gifts and promises,over £20. We extend to the lecturer our thanksfor his valued assistance in the work of our branchof the Auxiliary.

KAIAPOI (Rev. J. Hiddlestone).—Things aremoving at Kaiapoi. There is new life in the church.The Sunday School has grown out of recognition,difficulty being experienced in finding room for allthe classes. A flourishing branch of the Young Wor-shippers' League has been established, and the tworows of children in the front every Sunday morningare good to see. They appreciate their minister'sspecial "talks." A baptismal service was conductedon one Sunday evening, when three believers werebaptised. On the following Monday another youngfellow acknowledged his Saviour according to themanner of our church. Much local interest wasaroused by the services, and the ministers of theneighbouring Presbyterian and Methodist churchespreached sermons on "Baptism," with mixed results.So solid has been the improvement in our church'saffairs that, at a recent church meeting, the mem-bers saw fit to increase the salary of their minister.A song service was held on Sunday evening, August17.

LINWOOD (Rev. A. W. Stuart).—Linwood'sscribe is not dead. Steady progress is reported, amarked advance in the morning congregations, asplendid attendance of children in the WorshippingLeague, and a general spirit of hearty fellowship inall departments. The church was greatly encour-aged by Mr H. M. Smeeton, President of the Union,who paid a special visit to Linwood during hissouthern tour. The Sunday School has now a fullstaff, a number of ladies having joined with us.The Manurewa agent, Miss Moon, reports good re-sponse to the penny appeal, and also generous giv-ing of clothing. Our prohibition agent, Mr C. F.

Jones, is vigilant, and keeps his reading circle wellsupplied with suitable literature. We are launch-ing a campaign to remove the debt of £235. Cananyone kindly help us?

MORRINSVILLE (Rev. F. Parry).—On July16, we had a social evening following the specialservice held in connection with the completion of ourpastor's first year's ministry with us, which was re-ported last month. About sixty folk were present.Speeches were made by two of our officers, tellinghow the work had prospered due to our pastor'sfaithful ministry. A musical programme was ren-dered, followed by supper bringing a happy gather-ing to a close. We are holding two weeks' prayermeetings to prepare for the mission, which is tostart on August 25 and continue for two weeks, andwhich will be conducted by Rev. Adam Clarke, ofthe Mt. Eden Baptist Church. We ask all to re-member this mission in prayer, that much blessingmay be the result and God's Kingdom extended. TheB.W.M.U. ladies held a financially successful giftafternoon at the manse on August 5. Our pastorhas commenced a Tuesday night Bible Class at Ta-tuanui, one of our out-stations about six miles out,having an average attendance of seventeen. Thesemeetings are proving very helpful.

MOSGIEL (Rev. E. R. Weston).—We wish toplace on record, for July 9, the first evening weddingto take place in our church. The ceremony was per-formed by our pastor, and the church was filled tooverflowing. Strangely enough, practically all parti-cipants came from "over the seas," and made aninteresting group. A very successful concert wasgiven in the public hall, under the auspices of com-bined Bible Classes, to aid our mission and classfunds, and much thanks is due for an excellent pro-gramme provided by our Dunedin friends. We havealso, owing to an unforeseen contingency arising, tovoice our regret that our pastor's ministry, so faith-fully carried on here for the past three years, hasabruptly terminated. Many friends wish him andhis Godspeed in their new sphere of service.

MORNINGTON (Rev. T. Weston).—The attend-ance keeps up very well at the services. Our min-ister, Rev. T. Weston, is giving a series of addresseson "The Second Coming of Christ," which are prov-ing very helpful. Last month our Girls' Bible Classheld an "Age Social" for missions. We have beenpleased to welcome into membership two members ofour Young Men's Bible Class, who were recentlybaptised. The annual meeting of the Sunday Schoolwas held last month, and the report of the roll andattendance shows a considerable increase, and thework generally is in a forward condition.

MT. EDEN (Rev. Adam Clarke).—Among manyitems of interest for the month, we note, that at theannual meeting of the Auckland Y.W.B.C. Union,held at Mt. Eden Church, our girls retained "TheShield" for the greatest amount raised—per member,for missions. At the annual meeting of the localB.W.M.U., Mrs Smeeton presided, and gave us asplendid, informative, and inspiring address on thepresent condition of our work in the field in India.The secretary's report showed an increase of 10 newmembers for the year, and with the offering at themeeting, the finances were over £1 better than lastyear. The Rev. A. and Mrs Ingram are returningto the Chinese Mission field, leaving here early inSeptember, to take up special work on behalf of allmissionaries, and with the hope of establishing arescue work among the released slave girls, manyof whom would otherwise enter a worse kind ofslavery. Their many friends wish them Godspeedand every blessing. Old Mt. Eden Baptists will cele-brate their Diamond Jubilee on November 22 to 30,

September, 1924 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. 215

and are looking for a great reunion, much rejoicing,with sincere thanksgiving. Old friends and mem-bers should plan their holidays to be in Auckland forthat occasion.

NEW PLYMOUTH (Rev. A. H. Collins).—Ourminister is continuing his very effective Sunday morn-ing studies on the Bible. Recently we have started aprayer meeting before the evening service. Wehave lately farewelled one of our oldest members ofthe church,. Miss Ambury, a foundation member,Sunday School teacher, librarian, Cradle Roll Supt.,a valuable member of the choir, missionary collector,sick visitor, Christian Endeavour leader, etc. Theseare some of the positions she has filled with dis-tinction. At a pleasant social, to show the affec-tion in which she is held, the Church and SundaySchool presented her with a suit-case and rug, bothsuitably monogrammed. On Sunday, August 10, wehad the privilege of listening to Rev. F. E. Harry.In the afternoon he spoke to the members of thecombined Bible Classes on "Standing Fast ." Atthe evening service he made an earnest appeal fordecisions and consecrated lives. On the Mondayfollowing, his famous lecture, "A Cure for theBlues," was given. It is a splendid lecture and onewhich could be given with great profit in all ourchurches. As the result of his appeal, the magnifi-cent sum of £36 odd was taken up or promised atthe meeting. Mrs Craig gave a very inspiring songduring the interval. Church work is making steadyprogress in all departments.

NORTH-EAST VALLEY (Rev. S. Morris).—The Young Women's Bible Class has presented abeautiful oak Communion table to our Church. OnSunday, August 3, at the close of the evening service,before gathering around our Lord's table, we dedi-cated it to His service. On Thursday afternoon,August 7, the quarterly B.W.M. Union of Dunedinand suburbs held a combined meeting in the schoolhall. On Tuesday, August 12, Mr McDonald, whoworked for many years in Central Africa, gave anillustrated lantern lecture on his work on the Congo.The lecture was held under the auspices of theYoung People's Guild; and the proceeds are to gotowards the John Callaghan Cot.

NELSON (Rev. J. Laird, M.A.)—On the firstSunday in August, Mr E. Nees, hon. organiser of theYoung Men's Bible Association of the Central Auxili-ary, visited the church and held meetings in the in-terest of the Bible classes. Mr Nees addressed themembers in the afternoon, and about 70 remained fortea. The church was well filled at the evening ser-vice, when Mr Nees again spoke. Several membersof the Men's Bible Class took part in the service.The Institute meetings are being well attended, anda series of interchange with the young people's organ-isations of the city churches have been arranged.During the month the members of the Wesley Guildcontributed a profitable evening with an account ofthe mission work in the Solomon Islands. TheYoung Men's Bible Class has been entrusted with theconduct of services in the outlying districts, andhave held two afternoon services at Ngatimoti, withvery encouraging prospects, the settlers attending inlarge numbers and showing keen interest in theservices, which are held monthly.

OTAHUHU (Pastor N. Garlick.)—It is withpleasure we report continued interest in our services,the congregations being well maintained, and thework generally is in a. forward state. On June 2the B.W.M.U. welcomed the Dominion President, MrsToneycliffe, who gave a most interesting address onher visit to India. From July 13 to 27 an evan-gelistic campaign was conducted by Mr Rolls (Princi-pal) and the young men of the New Zealand Train-ing Institute. The Sunday services were held in the

public hall and Gaiety Theatre, and on week nightsin our own church. All the services were verywell attended, and a few decisions made for Christ,but although we did not reach the outsider, forwhom the mission was intended, many Christianstold of blessings received, and we felt that God'spresence was realised. Pastor Garlick has re-introduced the Young Worshippers' League, and thefirst Sunday morning's attendance was very encour-aging.

OXFORD TERRACE (Rev. J. J. North).—Ourcongregations have been strongly maintained allwinter. The minister has concluded a very effectiveseries on the seven deadly sins. The chorus choiris doing wonderfully good work, and is directly re-sponsible for many an outsider's presence. Theaverage number of choristers is about the 75 mark,with an enrollment of 100. Mr V. C. Peters haswon a great place in the affection of the people. MrA. F. Carey has been elected a life deacon of thechurch. We are hoping to have two extra tenniscourts laid down by conference. This will make afine ground of four, with a croquet ground in pros-pect. The Y.M. have built a good pavilion duringthe winter. Mr A. R. Jordan's work as super-intendent of the young life of the church is invalu-able.

PALMERSTON NORTH (Rev C W. Duncumb).We had a visit from the Rev. F. E. Harry on August4, when he delivered his famous lecture, "A Curefor the Blues," in the Municipal Hall. The largeaudience voted it an unqualified success, and showedtheir appreciation in subscribing approximately £20to the Auxiliary Extension Fund. Our seating ac-commodation is always taxed for morning worship.The message of God's great love, preached on August3, gained two decisions for Christ and brought us allnearer to the Master. August 8 marked the suc-cessful commencement of a Band of Hope under theleadership of Mr Dymock. The attendance of youngpeople and adults was very encouraging. Weeklycottage meetings have just been inaugurated, andare proving very helpful and enjoyable. The YoungWomen's Bible Class special effort for missionsamounted this year to £13 14s, plus £o for the sup-port of a Bible woman in India.

PONSONBY (Rev. S. G. Campbell).—At our an-nual election of officers we were pleased to add toour diaconate Mr Turner, of Hastings, and Mr Ron-ald Kemp. Mr H. Kitchen still carries on thearduous duties of secretary and treasurer. We haveencouraging words from Mr E. Grigg, the pastor ofthe East Wanganui Church. We regret to recordthe death of Mrs Moorman, who came to us a fewyears ago from the Thames. A Sunday SchoolTeachers' Tea was held on Sunday, August 10, whenit was decided to commence a recruiting competitionfor new scholars. We were very pleased to wel-come Pastor Norman Garlick at the monthly inter-change of pulpits. We gladly report the recoveryof Mrs W. Long. A special effort, organised by ourtwo young women's classes, resulted in over £10being raised for missionary funds.

RANGIORA (Rev. J. Hiddlestone).—The "Mis-sionary Evening," organised by the members of ourbranch of the B.W.M.U., and held on Wednesday,August 13, was in every way a success. The Rev.J. Hiddlestone presided over a full house. Wewere privileged in having with us the Rev. JohnTakle, whose interesting and instructive address onthe work in East Bengal was greatly appreciated.The programme also was much enjoyed, the itemsbeing very suitable. A sale of goods and refresh-ments followed, the whole resulting in a very satis-factory sum.

216 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST.

SYDENHAM (Rev. J. K. Archer).—Work onour new buildings in Colombo street South is pro-ceeding apace. The framework is already up, andthe work will be completed within three months,when we shall have a fine school hall as large as ourpresent church, with four class-rooms, vestibule, in-fant school, and a commodious kitchen. The men ofthe church are putting in their Saturday afternoonslevelling and improving the section. Our financialeffort is meeting with a gratifying response. Headedby gifts of £200 and £50 from two of our friends,other sums are rapidly coming in. In additionthere is great enthusiasm in the work for our Christ-mas Fair, when we hope to raise £500 in Novembernext. Committees are at work making goods andcollecting funds. Two successful concerts have beenheld in aid of the Sunday School section, and alsotwo socials and a jumble sale, while many smallgatherings have been held in private homes. Wewelcome home Mr E. D. Brown after his visit toEurope, and he has given us two very fine lectureson his travels. We regret to record, however, theloss of our superintendent and deacon, Mr G. E.Burt, who has moved to Napier, and who with MrsBurt will be greatly missed.

THAMES (Rev. W. E. Lambert).—Our work isgoing forward. The attendances at the services arewell maintained, and recently we have had record at-tendances in the Sunday School. We have a "YoungWorshippers' League" with a membership of 44. Forthe last quarter there were 459 attendances, withan average of 35 young people attending at the morn-ing service. On July 28 a baptismal service wasconducted by Mr Lambert, when three of our BibleClass members, two boys and one girl, confessedtheir Lord. The young ladies recently gave an en-joyable entertainment in aid of the Y.W. BibleClass Union. We are raising £100 for the renova-tion of our Sunday School, and subscriptions arealready well under way. The ladies have promisedpart of the proceeds of their sale of work for thisobject.

WANGANUI (Rev. S. Jenkin).—The membersof the B.W.M.U, recently took their annual thank-offering. It is gratifying to record the amountreached was £17, which exceeded the sum of theprevious year. A very enjoyable social evening wasspent on July 29, at which there was a large re-presentative gathering of church members andfriends. An interesting programme of musicalitems was given, the chief event of the evening be-ing the presentation of a cheque to the organist (MrRae Nelson). Our pastor, on behalf of the mem-bers, expressed warm appreciation of the servicesrendered by our organist. It is with joy that wereport the continuation of the evangelistic campaign,and give thanks for the manifestation of Christ'ssaving power in our midst. It is encouraging toknow that a number of adults have made the "greatdecision," a special feature being young men. Atea was arranged on Wednesday, August 6, when aconference was held over the tables to enable theofficers of the Central Auxiliary (Rev. Harry andMr Carey) to meet the church members. A specialappeal was made for the extension work. Theamount asked for was either donated or promisedbefore our friends left us. The following eveningthe Rev. Harry gave a splendid lecture in St. Paul'sPresbyterian Hall, entitled "A Cure for the Blues."

WANGANUI EAST (Student Pastor E. Grigg).—July 27 was Young People's Day. Our pastorpreached appropriately at both services and pleadedfor more workers for the Sunday School. Duringthe afternoon service, a number of the elder scholarsmade the decision for Christ. A grand concert,given by the Sunday School scholars, was held on

July 31. It was a great success, as shown by thelarge appreciative audience. The Sunday Schoolfunds will benefit by the sum of £9. Great creditis clue to the performers and promoters of the con-cert. We are sorry to report the resignation ofMr Joyce from our Deacons' Court. He will bemuch missed.

WELLINGTON (Rev. F. E. Harry).—Duringthe month a church social was held to mark thesecond anniversary of the arrival of our pastor andhis wife and family in Wellington. There was alarge attendance, and a most enjoyable time wasspent in Christian fellowship, with musical andother items contributing to make the gathering adistinct success. The speakers indicated that allthe agencies in connection with the church were in ahealthy condition, and it was remarked that theprevious Sunday evening's Communion service wasthe largest held in the church for many years. OnSunday last, in the absence of the pastor, Mr L.Crampton, B.A., conducted the morning service, andthe Rev. Howard Elliott occupied the pulpit in theevening. There were good attendances at both ser-vices. On Wednesday evening last Mr Harry gavehis lecture, "A Cure for the Blues", and notwith-standing the inclemency of the weather the churchhall was well filled. Mr Ivory occupied the chairin the unavoidable absence of Mr Cathie, and he out-lined the efforts being made for the raising of fundsfor the assistance of the smaller churches. The lec-ture was much appreciated by those present and isbrimful of humour and common sense. At theclose of the lecture Mr Harry had the pleasure ofannouncing that the quota allotted to Vivian streetfor collection had been exceeded.


Subscriptions received from July 18, 1924, toAugust 18, 1924.—St. Anne's Sewing Class, £6 ;North-East Valley Church, £1 4s 6d; North-EastValley Sunday School, £1 8s 8d; Feilding boxes, £219s 9d; Napier Sunday School, £1 1s; Napier SeniorBible Class, £1 5s; B.W.M.U., £23 18s; AucklandTabernacle, £27 10s 9d; Whangarei, £1 10s; GrangeRoad. £8 3s 6d; B.W.M.U., £125 14s 6d; PonsonbyChurch, £10 5s 2d; Ponsonby Sunday School, £214s l i d ; Oamaru, £22 9s; Spreydon Sunday School,£ 5 ; Hastings Church, 15s 6d; Hastings SundaySchool, 6s 7d; Nelson, £3 10s l0d; Vivian street,£31 0s 5d; Waihi, £1 10s; Auckland Tabernacle, £208s 2d; B.W.M.U., £60 18s 2d; Oxford Terrace Sun-day School, £18 18s 2d; Brooklyn, £2 9s 4d; Han-over street Church, £18 18s 6d; Hanover street Sun-day School, £7 0s l i d ; Hanover street J.C.E., £2 0s7d; B.W.M.U., Ashburton, £6 3s; Y.W.B.C.U., £833s 8d; N.I.Y.M.B.C.U., £16 10s. Total, £514 16s7d.

The pastor of a popular church greatly pridedhimself over the idea of never forgetting a personor a name. At the close of a Sunday morning ser-vice he shook hands with a young man who evidentlyexpected the pastor to remember him, but whomthe brilliant pastor could not at all place. To coverhis defeat and retreat, the pastor took out his memo-randum book, and, pencil in hand, he asked; "Letme see; how do you spell your name?" The youngman looked him solemnly in the eye and spelled"S-m-i-t-h." "Give me your hand," said the en-thusiastic pastor; "I am delighted to meet an old-fashioned Smith. So many of these starchy fellowsspell it 'S-m-y-t-h-e.' "

September, 1924.


40th Year of Issue—No. 490. OCTOBER, 1924. Price 4d.Post Free 4/- per Annum

Passing Notes.Conference.

The annual gathering of the Church is due.Delegates have been chosen by the churches in largenumbers. Christchurch, 1924, will be as representa-tive as any gathering we have held. Christchurch inOctober is a sort of vestibule of heaven, for the cityis full of trees and gardens. Conference Sunday willwitness the opening of the new Sydenham Church.That far-sighted and courageous venture will be dedi-cated. Services will also be held at the new North .Brighton Church. An open-air service will be heldon the banks of the beautiful Avon. The full chorusof the of the church choirs will sing among therhododendrons. We plead with the delegates toapproach Conference in a dedicated spirit. Greatthings remain to do. Indeed, it is a case of "thepetty done and the undone vast." We must praythrough, and shed the blood of sacrifice. We mustenter deeply into the missionary spirit of our faith.Our home problems are many. We ought to see thatin both Hawera and in Palmerston worthy buildingsare erected. There are no needs that we know of inan external way so urgent as these. We have theproblem of a college, to which the President has sethis hands to see through. The foreign work is asfull of challenge as ever. We have a wonderful listof applicants, and an equally appalling shortage ofstaff. Till our new men and women are trained weare against a problem of large magnitude. Ourveteran missionary, the Rev. John Takle, will belaying down the charge he undertook 28 years ago,and which he has fulfilled with so much honour. MissHilda Rice will be welcomed home after very efficientand effective service. We shall, we hope, get anunderstanding of the times and a sight of what weought to do. We again entreat that delegates ap-proach the gatherings in a dedicated spirit.

Olympia and Sunday.A blow has been struck for a decent Sunday by

a young divinity student of Scotland, who, incident-ally, is a champion sprinter. We commend the wholeaffair to the careful notice of our readers. We heardthrough our press oracles that a selected Britishchampion for the Olympic Games had refused to runin heats on Sunday on the ground that it hurt his

conscience to do so. There was a howl of "wowser,"and the crowd who are dedicating Sunday to tennisand motors got a jar. Then this "wowser" ranagainst the world in a quarter-mile race and brokethe world's record, breasting the tape in 47 3-5sec.He ran, the critics said, like one inspired, and TheTimes called it "the most dramatic race ever seenon the cinder track." This was on a Saturday. Thefollowing day, in the Scotch Church in Paris, thewinner was the preacher. His text was: "Open Thoumine eyes, and I shall behold wonderful things inThy law." A crowd of fellow-athletes noticed thesame quiet concentration in the pulpit as on the track.Who was this youth? The son of an L.M.S. mission-ary in Mongolia, who is carrying on Gilmour'swork. With his brother, he was sent home for educa-tion. Both brothers have done brilliantly. The elderhas qualified for medicine, and goes out to China.The younger, our hero Eric Liddell, is going as amissionary to the same country. Eric's return toEdinburgh was of the nature of an ovation. He wasdue to be capped B.Sc. He was crowned by theVice-chancellor with wild olives. He preservedthroughout the ordeals of publicity an unaffectedmodesty. His call to defend Sunday was very timely.Continental Sundays mean good-bye to quiet and touniversal opportunity. His dedication to China is areminder that the claim of Christ is for the best thechurches can give.

The Holy Sepulchre was, we think, very merci-fully lost. The earliest Christians believed that thenew religion was of the spirit, and that it was re-leased from the rocks of Jerusalem. They wereneither place nor relic worshippers. The besom ofwar completed their indifference. Before the siegelines were drawn by Vespasian in 68, the Christians,with one accord and in obedience to our Lord's word,forsook the city. The site of Calvary and of Joseph'sgarden were, we think, irretrievably and by a provi-dence of God lost. The Master's word had fulfilment."Neither in the mountain nor in Jerusalem .shall ye worship." A church fallen into utter worldli-ness craved for that which was lost. The traditionalsite of Calvary and of the Sepulchre outrages historicprobability. Torrents of blood were shed in theattempt to recover the holy places from the misbe-liever. There in the midst of a city the Pope's bat-tallions keep watch over the hoary mistake. GeneralGordon, of all men in the world, came to the con-



THE

218 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. October, 1924.

clusion that a certain hill outside the Damascus Gatewas perhaps Calvary. He also found an empty gravenearby which he surmised might be the grave inJoseph's garden. Tourists have visited Gordon'sCalvary in large numbers since. Now, some stoneshave been found on the spot which seem to havebelonged to a temple of Venus, which Hadrian, inthe year 135 A.D., is said to have built over thesepulchre of Christ for its complete defilement. Wedo not think that there is evidence that after the over-throw of Jerusalem by Titus in 70 A.D. the site ofCalvary was remembered. But, even if it were, wecan think of few more deadly things than a redis-covery of Calvary in 1924. We should have such anoutbreak of unchristian superstition as we cannotcontemplate without misgiving. The Pope would geta jolt, for he is pledged to another site. But truereligion would get a worse jolt, for true religion isspiritual worship.

Scraps of Paper.

The savage German jest is possibly to recoil onour heads. If the liquor trade is to have its waywe shall be involved in an ignominy as deep as theGerman. The Maori, it is well known, was the oneaboriginal race that deliberately adopted prohibition.The old hate of intoxicants has never left them.White man's liquor was a worse peril than the bananagrog which they left in Hawaiki. The Maori Warbroke out over what they regarded as British perfidyin this regard. We did not honour our plightedword. We did not protect the pahs from the liquorseller. The old problem is recurring over the KingCountry. That large central territory was given tothe Maori as a preserve. It consists of nearly4,000,000 acres in the centre of the North Island.With the gift went the undertaking that liquor shouldbe excluded. When the Main Trunk was put through,it had to traverse Rohe Potae. The Maoris gave allthe necessary land, and secured a solemn undertakingthat the land should not be denied with liquor. Thesense of self-preservation was strong in our bravebrothers. They foresaw the extinction of the Nativerace if fire-water flowed freely. No undertaking couldbe more explicit than that with which the Governmentbound itself. But the insatiable trade has not ceasedto knock at that barred door. The increasing settle-ments of pakehas in the territory has been the occa-sion for ceaseless clamour for license. Some Maorishave been coerced into signing petitions for the deathwarrant of their race. The bulk and all the respon-sible chiefs have stood firm; but Government is evennow considering the matter The Church will haveone voice. Such an infamy will not be permitted.The flag of New Zealand shall not again be stainedby liquor outrage on the famous Maori people.

"The Heart of a Father" is the title of an anony-mous book for which the Rev. F. C. Spurr is respon-sible. The day on which Mr Spurr joined the "Mar-loch" to make the journey to the world congress atStockholm, he laid in an untimely grave the body ofhis little son, who had been drowned under patheticcircumstances. The brave and earnest man and hisaccomplished wife were the centre of much sympa-thetic attention. They made the journey to escapefrom the thronging memories. Mr Spurr told us inconversation of the many charms of the little son,and his most remarkable musical gifts. We do notknow whether there is something peculiar in the airof Birmingham, which is now Mr Spurr's home, butit is at anyrate a curious coincidence that Sir OliverLodge and Mr Spurr should take the same path and"seek to the wizards that chirp and that mutter" fornews of their lost boys. The Principal of the Birm-ingham University lost his son Raymond in the War,and published a beautiful description of him as the

first part of a book which concluded with what mostpeople thought to be balderdash. The mediumstalked a great deal about spiritual cigars and othertrifles. Men wondered what comfort Sir Oliver couldget out of such tripe as was served up to him. Mrand Mrs Spurr put themselves into connection withan anonymous lady who "discovered" the child in aplace called "Summerland." He was identified byhis eyes and laughter, and Mr Spurr thinks that hislaughter and his eyes were unique. He believes alsothat he has secured a spirit photo of his littleAnthony. We do not want to write bitterly, but weare unable to regard this excursion into forbiddenterritory with equanimity. Northcliffe has been re-ported as earning flannel suits for himself and"boundering" it in the spirit world. But these re-ports leave us cold. To pick up evidence from thisgutter of that which in Christ is proclaimed fromthe skies is pitiable. Kipling's words sound like ajudgment:

"The son must send word to the mother that boreThrough an hireling's lips; 'tis the rule of Endore."

France and America.These two old allies have differed sharply lately.

France has only 3 per cent. of her people enrolledas Protestants. The rest are Romanists or secular-ists. Yet, when she recently elected a President, shechose Gason Doumergue, a Calvinist. It is enoughto make Louis XIV turn in his grave, and all theexiled Huguenot blood flowing now in English,Dutch, and German veins to cry aloud. On the otherhand, America, with a very considerable Catholicpopulation, has again, and after a very sharpstruggle refused to call an R.C. to the Presidentialchair. Members of every other sect have served inthe highest executive office, but the door of the WhiteHouse has never and seemingly will never admit anR.C. People have been asking why Uncle Sam is sointolerant, and answers have been made. None ofus surely can approve of Ku Klux Klan. None of uswishes to see any religion discriminated against inthe democracy. It is against our basic principle offreedom that any should suffer civic disability forconscience sake. But the case of the R.C. is a caseapart. Against the whole structure of the modernstate the Catholic Church is set. The ideas of free-dom and of authority held by the State are antitheticto her. We believe in the supremacy of the spiritual;but they localise the spiritual in the Pope and thehierarchy. The obligation of the Catholic is to obeywithout question the requirements of the HolyChurch. Those requirements are often sheer politics.But the political head of a Republic whose politicalconclusions in some cases might be dictated fromRome would be a danger to public peace. That iswhy the Democratic Convention was contorted forweeks. That is why an otherwise able and acceptablecandidate was blackballed at the last. The better aRomanist a man is, the more is he impossible as aresponsible politician in a free country. The strugglebetween Church and State which fills the historybooks between 400 and 1900 is not over. Mr HilaireBelloc expects to see it revived in its extremest form.The world cannot endure the Roman claims. Weleave men to their masses if they feel like that, butwe cannot put the reins of power in hands that areguided by ecclesiastics.

Spurgeon's Grandson at the Tab.Harold Spurgeon, M.A., B.D., Principal of the

Irish Baptist College, was born in Auckland, andNew Zealanders will have a kindly memory of him.He has not appeared in the pulpit much. He strodedown the steps to the rostrum at the Elephant andCastle a few weeks ago, and a very large congrega-

October, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. 219

tion of folk to whom the Spurgeon tradition is dearwere there to greet him. C. H. S. first preachedin the Tab. in 1861. Thomas succeeded to the pulpitin 1893. In 1924, Harold Spurgeon stood where hisforbears stood before him. A slim figure, unlikefather or grandfather, yet with reminiscences of both.He wears a short coat, tie in sailor knot, handker-chief showing from breast pocket, and hair brushedsharply back. W. Y. Fullerton, the biographer ofthe two earlier Spurgeons, was there with his note-book, and, while he wants the young man to dropthe professor and use more force and speed, he isunqualified in joyful appreciation of a typical Spur-geon sermon on "One Lord." He used an Irishsaying, as befitted an Irish professor: "Beware of aman whose God is in the skies." He drew forth apenny to illustrate the relation of the King and theKingdom. He laid the unhappy Duke of Montroseunder contribution. Fullerton says: "Both fatherand grandfather would have been glad if they hadbeen present. Perhaps they were. Who knows?"

Sundries.

Dr Clifford being dead yet speaks. A commem-oration service in Westminster Chapel was addressedby both Mr Asquith and Mr Lloyd George. Thelatter closed his appreciation by the piece out ofthe Progress where Christiana bids farewellto Greatheart. . . . The Rev. John Takle com-memorates this month the twenty-eighth anniversaryof his dedication to missionary work. . . . TheJapanese Government has opened all the schools ofTokio to Christian teachers, and 150,000 children arereached in that way. . . . At the Sunday SchoolConference in Glasgow, Mr Dearsley, of Auckland,was elected a Vice-president, and the Rev. L. B.Busfield a member of the Executive. . . . MrBusfield also addressed very successfully the Con-gress. He expects to be back in New Zealand inthe middle of October. . . . The Rev. R. Rob-ertson has resigned Oamaru, and undertakes asecond pastorate at Mosgiel, commencing at the endof October. . . .The Sydenham Church sold itsold property, and has rebuilt a mile nearer the hillson a very promising site. The new name of thechurch is to be the Colombo Street Baptist Church.Incidentally, Colombo Street is four miles long.Visitors must start to look for it at the rightend. . . . A Lutheran pastor who has recentlypublished says that when he has selected a text hetakes it for a walk up and down the village street,and acclimatises it so. Then he goes home andprepares his sermon. . . . Close touch withreality is a sine qua non of good preaching. . . .Professor Condliffe, we are glad to notice, won a£25 prize in the all-British peace competition.

We regret exceedingly to hear of the very gravecondition of Dr Catchpole's health. He has under-gone a critical operation, and as we write lies verynear the margin. We assure Mrs Catchpole of thedeep sympathy of all our people.

Farewell to Miss Gillanders.

Election of Committees.—Will delegates obtainconsent of nominees before nomination to preventdisappointment.

Executive Meeting.—Members please note thatthe Committee meets on Wednesday, October 8, at9.30 a.m., at Oxford Terrace.

Entrance to Annuity Fund.—Any ministers wish-ing to join are requested to hand applications to theSociety early in the Conference.

Notices of Motion will be received each day ofConference at the close of the morning session.


A large number from the Baptist Churches ofthe Auckland district assembled at the Tabernacleon September 17 to bid farewell to Miss H. Gil-landers, prior to her leaving for our field in India.Rev. H. Hercus, President of the Auxiliary, took thechair. Rev. A. Wilson offered the opening prayer.The President of the Union (Mr H. M. Smeeton)read part of Romans x. Greetings were read frommany churches, Bible Classes, ministers, and others,including Dr W. G. Pettit and Rev. M. W. P. Las-celles, Secretary of the Missionary Society. Ad-dresses were given by the chairman and Rev. A.Anstice. Pastor Chant offered the validictory prayer.

Miss Gillanders, in replying, acknowledged thehelp received from the Rev. H. Hercus, who hadbaptized her, and Rev. A. Anstice, whose church shenow attended. She had received many kindnessesfrom folk in the Auckland Baptist Churches. Shefelt her own weakness, but was going forward inthe strength of the Lord, Who had said, "My graceis sufficient for thee." She loved the boys and girls,and hoped her work would be amongst the children.She thanked God for a Christian home and the in-fluence of her father and mother. She hoped tomake progress year by year in the language andthe work on the mission station. She trusted inthe Lord, and it was her desire "His love to tell,His praise to show."

Prayer by the Rev. Joseph Kemp brought thegathering to a close.

The music, led by the Tabernacle Chorus Choir,was a great help to the meeting.


FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT AUGUST, 31, 1924.

Dr. Balance as at July 31,1924

Receipts for AugustExpenditure for August

Receipts.

87 8 3

Dr. Balance as at July 31,1924

Receipts for AugustExpenditure for August

Dr. Balance as at August 31, 1924

GOITRE.—A market gardener in the Hutt Valley,Wellington, leports that his wife, who suffered formany years from Goitre, has by persistent applica-tion of Q-tol got quite rid of the trouble. She useda bandage soaked in Q-tol every night for six weeks,and is delighted with the excellent result.

Conference Notices.

UNION:

£ s. d.

Expendi-ture.

£ s. d.

15 13 10

187 11 11

£20387

58

93

MISSIONARY:Receipts.

Expendi-ture.

£ s. d. £ s. d.

1,451 12 3509 6 9

364 9 0

£509 6 9 £1,816509

16

39

£1,306 14 6


£87 8 3

Dr. Balance as at August 31, 1924 £115 17 6


CONFERENCE PROGRAMMEOF

MEETINGS AND SERVICESWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8.

9.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m.—Committee meetings.

ANNUAL MEETING BAPTIST WOMEN'SMISSIONARY UNION.

9.30 a.m.—Devotional Leader, Mrs F. E. Harry.10 a.m.—Business Session. Roll Call. Minutes.

Reports. Election of Officers, etc.2.30 p.m.—Devotional Leader, Mrs Guy Thornton.3 p.m.—Business Session. Notices of Motion. Dis-

cussions- Unfinished Business, etc.6 p.m.—Delegates' Welcome Tea. Welcome speeches

by Mr A. F. Carey and Rev. J. K. Archer.Replies by Mr W. J. Bardsley and the Vice-president (Mr T. E. Toneycliffe).

7.30 p.m.—Evening session. Prayer, Rev. S. Morris.Chairman, Rev. F. H. Radford. Presidentialaddress, Mr H. M. Smeeton.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9.

7 a.m.—Prayer meeting conducted by Rev. H. G.Hercus.

9 a.m.—Devotional meeting conducted by Rev. T.K. Ewen.

9.30 a.m.—Lord's Supper conducted by the Rev. C.Dallaston.

10 a.m.—Session of Union. Roll call. MinutesAppointment of Conference officers and commit-tees. Resolution of sympathy in re departedmembers. Election of Ministerial members.Notices of motion. Annual reports: (1) Secre-tary 's; (2) Auxiliaries'—(a) Auckland (Pastor C.Chant, (b) Central (Mr J. R. Carey), (c) Can-terbury (Rev. E. E. Smith), (d) Otago andSouthland (Mr C. J. Darracott).

11.30 a.m.—Prayer interval by Rev. R. Robertson(ten minutes).

2.30 p.m.—Session of Union. Prayer led by PastorL. A. Day. Discussion on Secretary's and Aux-iliaries' reports. Finance Committee's report.Treasurer's report. Summarised reports ofchurches. Notices of motion.

3.45 p.m.—Prayer interval by Rev. Guy Thornton.7.30 p.m.—Young people's demonstration. Pro-

gramme provided by scholars of district SundaySchools. Chairman, Rev. E. N. Goring;speaker, Rev. Eric Evans. Collection for YoungPeople's Department.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10.

7 a.m.—Prayer meeting conducted by Rev. C. D.Gardiner.

9.30 a.m.—Devotional meeting led by Rev. A.Anstice.

10 a.m.—Session of Union. (1) Report of YoungPeople's Department Committee; (2) reports ofBible Class Unions; (3) discussion; (4) Students'Committee (Rev. H. K. Kempton), College Com-mittee (Rev. W. S. Rollings); (5) notices ofmotion.

11.30 a.m.—Prayer interval by Rev. L. J. B. Smith.

2.30 p.m.—Session of Union. Prayer by PastorC. Chant. (1) Reports: (a) New Zealand Baptist—Editor (Rev. J. J. North), Manager (the Secre-tary). (2) Notices of motion—(a) In re electionof Missionary Committee, Rev. C. W. Duncumb;(b) in re Ministerial Adjustment, the Secretary;(c) in re Baptist Day, the Secretary; (d) in reElection of President, the President; (e) in reElection of Students' Committee, Auckland Aux-iliary.

3.45 p.m.—Prayer by Rev. T. H. Eccersall.7.30 p.m.—Session of Union. Motions on public

questions. Chairman, President of Union. Rev.W. S. Rollings will move Conference motion on"The Liquor Issue." Rev. J. J. North will moveConference motion on "Gambling Issue." Rev.A. H. Collins will speak on "Good Citizenship."

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11.9.30 a.m.—Ministers' meeting. Chairman, the Presi-

dent of the Baptist Ministers' Association. De-votions and business. Speaker, Rev. A. J. Grigg,B.A., B.D.: "The Hidden Wealth of the NewTestament."

Afternoon.—Conference Picnic at the residence of MrC. Dixon, "Saltaire," New Brighton.

YOUNG WOMEN'S BIBLE CLASS UNIONANNUAL TEA.

8 p.m.—Grand concert by combined choirs (100voices). Leader, Mr V. C. Peters; organist, MrMelville Lawry. Tickets, 2s.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12.11 a.m.—Missionary sermon. Preacher, Rev. John

Takle. Service conducted by Rev. J. Carlisle.3 p.m.—Open-air service in Victoria Square. Chair-

man, Rev. J. J. North. Speakers: Rev. JosephW. Kemp and Rev. T. Keith Ewen. Dedicationof New Brighton Church, and opening of newSydenham Church (each at 3 o'clock).

MONDAY, OCTOBER 13.7 a.m.—Prayer meeting conducted by Rev. H. G.

Hercus.9.30 a.m.—Devotional meeting conducted by Rev. VV.

E. Lambert.10 a.m.—Session of Union. (1) Election of officers

and committees; (2) notices of motion; (3) publicresolutions.

11.30 a.m.—Prayer by Rev. H. R. Turner. Recessfor Committee to prepare Budget.

2.30 p.m.—B.W.M.U. Thanksgiving Service in cele-bration of the twenty-first . anniversary of theUnion, presided over by the President (Mrs T-E. Toneycliffe). Speakers: Miss Rice, Mrs H.H. Driver, Rev. A. North. President's address,Mrs T. E. Toneycliffe; subject: "Those WhomJesus Loved." Greetings from sister organisa-tions. Musical items. At this service a thank-offering will be taken up.


8 p.m.—Evening session. Baptist rally. Chairman,the new President; speakers: Rev. Stanley Jen-kin, Rev. F. A. Crawshaw, and Rev. H. K.Kempton. Subject: "The Baptist Church in Re-lation to the Life of the Day." Address of 20minutes each.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14.MISSIONARY DAY.

7 a.m.—Prayer meeting conducted by Rev. Thos.Weston.

9.30 a.m.—Devotional meeting conducted by Rev. C.W. Duncumb.

10 a.m.—Business session. Reports: (1) Secretary's,(2) reports from the Field, (3) Treasurer's, (4)Administrative Committee's, (5) Editor of Mis-sionary Messenger; discussion. Reports ofB.W.M.U.; discussion. Notices of motion.

11.30 a.m.—Prayer by Rev. Alfred North.2.30 p.m.—Business session. Prayer by Rev. John

Laird, M.A. Election of officers and committees.Notices of motion. Budget, etc.

3.45 p.m.—Prayer by Rev. H. G. Goring.6 p.m.—Conference Tea. Tickets, 1s 6d.7.30 p.m.—Missionary meeting. Chairman, Rev. H.

G. Hercus; speakers: Miss Rice, Rev. J. Takle,and Rev. John Ings.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15.7 a.m.—Prayer meeting conducted by Pastor E. T.

Jones.9.30 a.m.—Devotional meeting conducted by Rev. F.

H. Radford.10 a.m.—Business session. (1) Reports—(a) Annuity

Fund; (b) Sustentation Fund; (c) Board of In-troduction and Advice; (d) Manurewa Home.(2) Notices of motion, Appointment of Two Evan-gelists (Auckland Auxiliary).

11.30 a.m.—Prayer by Rev. Adam Clarke.2.30 p.m.—Business session. Prayer by Pastor C.

S. Matthews. Dealing with notices of motion.7.30 p.m.—Union sermon. Preacher, Rev. F. E.

Harry. Service conducted by Rev. Joseph W.Kemp. Communion Service conducted by Rev,Alfred North.

N.B.—The prayer intervals should be limited to tenminutes.

Dr Russell H. Conwell, the president of TempleUniversity, Philadelphia, recently delivered hisfamous lecture, "Acres of Diamonds," for thesix thousand one hundred and fiftieth time, and an-nounced that he had decided to retire from the lec-turing platform. He is 82 years of age, and thestrain of the many institutions he conducts is provingtoo much for him. For 54 years he has been lectur-ing, and the proceeds of his lectures have amountedto the enormous sum of 12,000,000 dollars, every centof which he has given away in providing scholarshipsin the Temple University for 3400 men and womenstudents.

"I was sitting in the gloamin', an' a man passedthe window. He was the lamplighter. He pushedhis pole into the lamp and lighted it. Then he wentto another and another. Now, I couldna see him.But I knew where he was by the lights as they brokeout doon the street, until he had left a beautifulavenue of light.

"Ye're a' lamplighters. They'll know whereye've been by the lights. Ye'll want your son to bea noble man. Let him say wi' pride when you'vepassed on: "Ma faither lit that lamp.'"—Sir HarryLauder.

CHURCH FINANCE SIMPLIFIED.DELEGATES TO CONFERENCE SHOULD CALL AND SEE US.

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H. ODELL & SON, Ltd.48 MANCHESTER STREET, CHRISTCHURCH.

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Same Lecture 6,150 Times.



Canterbury Auxiliary.ANNUAL MEETINGS, SEPTEMBER 3, 1924.

The annual meetings, held at Spreydon, werecharacterised throughout by sincere fellowship andenthusiasm. The executive met at 10.30 a.m., anddisposed of much business, adjourning for lunch tothe hospitable board of Mrs Thomas. The afternoonsession commenced at 2.30 with the President (MrJ. P. Hayward) in the chair. Delegates answered theroll-call, and the conference was duly constituted.In his opening remarks the President called attentionto the "home-going" of stalwart workers. Hemoved—"That a vote of sympathy be placed on re-cord with Mr and Mrs C. Dixon in the loss they havesustained in the death of Mr Croskill. His work asa founder and pillar of the Church at Kirwee andhis liberality in connection with the new church atNorth Brighten call for special mention."

The Rev. J. J. North moved—"That the Canter-bury Auxiliary of the Baptist Union places on recordthe loss it sustained during the year through thedeath of Mr H. E. Hiddlestone, a noted and success-ful leader in the Young Men's Bible Class move-ment."

Occasion was taken to convey greetings to theveteran worker Mr George Holland. The Rev. J. K.Archer moved—"The annual meeting of the Canter-bury Auxiliary wishes to greet you on your birthday.We are mindful of the valuable services you have ren-dered to many of our churches and to the Auxiliaryas a whole. We trust your remaining years will berich in health and happiness."

The church reports from aided causes werebright and encouraging. Opawa rejoiced in a yearof steady work under the Rev. L. Barbour, withactivity in all departments, and a new primary de-partment almost completed. Linwood's herald an-nounced a year of steady progress, a mission held bythe Rev. F. Harry with good results accruing, goodfinances, an increase in membership of nine, andan attempt being launched to remove the debt of£235. Kaiapoi and Rangiora expressed gratitudefor the good work of the Rev. J. and Mrs Hiddle-stone, and bright prospects. Oxford, under PastorRobertson, with Miss Gainsford as secretary of thechurch, were expectant of good things. New Brigh-ton recorded a happy opening of the new church,new workers enrolled, and keen expectancy. In addi-tion, Ashburton was embarking on a buildingscheme. Sydenham has abandoned the old site atElgin Street, and is building in a more favourablelocality. Altogether, the sun seemed to have shoneinto the rooms where the reports were written. Theybreathed a spirit of steady endeavour and quiet per-sistence in service.

The following officers were elected for the en-suing year:—President, Mr A. F. Carey; Vice-presi-dent, Rev. A. W. Stuart; Treasurer, Mr. J. P. Hay-ward; Secretary, Rev. E. E. Smith; Auditor, Mr H.C. Jones; Executive—Revs. J. J. North, J. K. Archer,L. Barbour, Messrs C. Dixon and D. Sykes, and MrsGoring.

The following resolution was moved by Mr C.F. Jones and carried—"That this meeting of theCanterbury Auxiliary, recognising the need of givingthe prohibition movement the full support of the Bap-tist Church, respectfully urges the Baptist Confer-ence to make a strong appeal to all the churches ofthe denomination to each create its own definite orga-nisation to forward work for the victory of prohibi-tion, such work to be done in conformity with theplans of the New Zealand Alliance. Further, that

this meeting of the Canterbury Auxiliary affirms itsunshaken faith in Prohibition as the one practicalsolution of the liquor problem."

Special mention was made of the services ren-dered by Mr and Mrs Dixon, Mr J. P. Hayward, andMr A. C. Stewart in connection with the cause atNorth Brighton. Mr Stewart, of Dunedin, has beenhonorary architect and builder, and his aid has beengreatly appreciated by the Auxiliary.

At 6 p.m., the struggle with motions and resolu-tions was concluded, and the delegates partook offellowship around the tea-table. The ladies of Sprey-don had spared no efforts in their provision. Thetables were well laden and tastefully decorated. Sucha time afforded opportunity for renewal of friend-ship.

The evening session was well attended. TheRev. J. Hiddlestone delivered an able and forcefuladdress on "Personal Evangelism." He urged fullerconsecration to the tremendous task of evangelism.Pastor C. Matthews read a thought-stimulating paperon the problems attendant upon young people's work.He made a plea for a more sympathetic co-operationwith the youth of our churches. Time spent in dis-cussion would have been of value, but we were calledby the minister of the inviting church (the Rev. E.E. Smith) to gather at the Lord's Table. Thus amemorable day was brought to a close by the re-membrance of Him who gives all inspiration andpower for another year of service in the cause of theChurch of God.

Equipment for Service.

Over and over again it has been stated that ex-pository preaching is not popular. Now, that is nota question which should concern the preacher. Itis told of the late Dr Dale that when he proposedtaking his people through a doctrinal course ofaddresses, he was met by the objection that theywould not like it. He replied: " I t is not what theylike; it is what they need." Where the "l ike" andthe "need" conflict, the expositor must regard thelatter, for his call is not to gratify the tastes, butto benefit the souls of his hearers. But if expositorypreaching is not acceptable, wherein lies the fault ?In all probability with the preacher rather than withthe hearer.

To be Acceptable and Profitable.

(1) The expositor must guard against too muchdetail. If he persists in a protracted exposition ormicroscopic examination of every verse in a par-ticular book, he will find his congregation growweary and dwindle away like that which attended theministry of the Puritan Caryll, who for seven yearspreached on the book of Job with such painful andpainstaking toil that his hearers were reduced toseven persons. Perhaps the warning is hardly neces-sary, for I do not suppose there is much danger ofour modern congregations ever having inflicted onthem such courses of sermons as those associatedwith the names of Caryll, Owen, Manton, Gill, Dur-ham, Sibbes, Goodwin, Watson, Brooks, and othersof the same school. It may be our Christianity is theweaker for the want of them.


THE ART OF EXPOSITION—(Continued).

III.—THINGS THE EXPOSITOR MUST GUARDAGAINST.

By REV. JOSEPH W. KEMP.


(2) The exposition must not be a mere runningcommentary. There is a kind of cheap commentingwhich has been described as "illustrating the ob-vious, explaining the evident, and expatiating on thecommonplace." Spurgeon's hearers valued his com-ments on the reading lesson hardly less than hispreaching, but the secret of such extraordinary in-terest with which these comments were received is notfar to seek. "As a rule," said the great preacher,"I spend much more time over the exposition thanover the sermon." Those expository notes areprinted along with the sermons published by Mar-shall Brothers. There the preacher may taste forhimself the kind of thing Spurgeon served up to hispeople. For the ordinary man to adopt such amethod might resolve itself into nothing more norless than the toning down of the statements of thesacred writers by utterances which are necessarilyless forcible than the writers themselves, and therecannot be any profit to the hearers of such dilutionof the intense significance of Scripture language.

(3) The expositor must guard against presentinga seemingly learned enumeration of all the interpreta-tions which commentators have given. I do notthink the average congregation cares the veryslightest what this British or that American or theother German commentator thought. The peoplewho come to our churches want results, not processes,and he is a wise man who refuses to parade beforehis hearers the methods by which he has arrived athis conclusions.

The main purpose of expository preaching is,according to Dr McLaren, "the drawing out intoclear statement, the supporting by forceful argument,and the impression by emotional pleading what Godhas been pleased to say to man," and if this purposeis kept in view there is little fear that there willalways be a hungry congregation waiting for theWord of God. The people are hungering for theBible, and a Bible ministry will not want for a con-gregation.

Obituary Notices.

MR EDWIN TURLEY (AUCKLAND).

On August 23, Mr Edwin Turley, senior elderof the Auckland Tabernacle, passed peacefully andsuddenly homeward at the age of 69. He was anative of Staffordshire, and came out to the Dominion42 years ago. He had given his heart to the Saviourin childhood, and was baptised at the age of 11 bythe Rev. Benwell Bird, of Birmingham. Before leav-ing England, he was engaged in Sunday Schoolteaching at the Grosvenor Street Baptist Chapel,Manchester. Upon coming to New Zealand, he wasassociated with the great soft goods house of SirWm. McArthur and Co., and was the first town tra-veller in Auckland to be set up with a horse andtrap. In business circles his religion won for himthe respect of the man of the world for its genuine-ness. He joined the Ponsonby Baptist Church dur-ing the pastorate of the late Rev. Charles Carter,and served successively as teacher, Sunday Schoolsecretary, and superintendent. After a few yearsspent in Dunedin, he returned to Auckland, and wasappointed an elder of the Tabernacle. He was aman of prayer and of transparent piety, and onewith whom was the secret of the Lord. The calm-ness of his spirit was revealed on his countenance.He ever had a kind and gracious word for his pastorand fellow-officers. In his later months, our brotherwas a great sufferer, but so trustful was he that hewas able to thank his Lord for the strange ministry

of pain. His death was a literal translation. Heknew no dark valley. Mr Turley is survived by hiswife, his son (Mr Albert W. Turley), and daughter(Miss Vera Turley)—all consistent and true churchmembers and earnest Christian workers.

MR R. CROSKILL.

Canterbury Baptists lost a well-rememberedpioneer when Richard Croskill passed the GreatDivide. Our friend reached Greendale so far backas 1870. He was of Methodist parentage, and hadcome from Lincolnshire. His house was always opento those who preached the Gospel. He was a royalhost. He married Miss Jane Johnson. She was bap-tised in the Selwyn River, and he at the TerraceChurch. For 50 years Mr Crcskill was superintend-ent of the Kirwee Sunday School and treasurer of theChurch. When farming became too great a tie, heand his wife removed to Spreydon, and took a closeinterest in the Church there, and was made a lifedeacon. His wife passed on in 1917, and he spenthis last years between the homes of his daughters(Mrs C. Dixon and Mrs W. Calder). One of his lastacts of generosity was the gift of an organ for theNorth Brighton Church. Our brother reached theripe age of 86, and died full of years and of peaceWe thank God on all our remembrances of him.

The North-East Valley Sunday Schoolroom wasthe place of meeting for some 50 Bible Class girlsand leaders on Saturday, September 16. Tea waslaid in the hall, which was prettily decorated in paleblue and lemon streamers and bowls of wattle. Sucha chatter we had over the tea-table, and we were inthe mood for the few games which followed.

Mrs Hiett, our President, then received the giftsof money which we had brought. Miss Bradfield hadbeen invited to come and accept the money, but she-was unavoidably detained. Some classes had adoptednovel methods for raising funds, such as cleaning thechurch or having a lemon evening or more generallyby straight-out giving. The total amounted to about£90, and some further gifts are expected which wehope will bring us the grand total of £100, being anincrease of £24 compared with last year. MrsThornton led us to the Throne of Grace in thethanksgiving and praise, and we all joined in thesinging of the Doxology.

Mrs Hiett then called on Mrs Reuben Richard-son, of the China Inland Mission, to tell us aboutthe work being done there. She held us spellboundwith the tales of two Chinese women and how won-derfully the Spirit of God was working in far-awayChina. The lives they live are as a reproach to us,for they are fearfully persecuted and ill-treated. MrsRichardson told us how her text, "Come ye your-selves apart and rest awhile," had, when she was de-pressed or discouraged, filled her with a sense ofpeace and joy.

Mrs Thornton spoke for a few moments of thegreat mission for which Mr and Mrs Richardsonwork, and then the meeting was closed with thesinging of Gipsy Pat Smith's chorus "Be LikeJesus."

A letter of love and joy that she is able to returnso soon to the mission field was sent from the meet-ing to Miss Bradfield A very hearty vote of thankswas tendered the North-East Valley Class for itskindness and hospitality.

"The preservation of health," said HerbertSpencer, "is a duty. Few seem conscious that thereis such a thing as physical morality."

Otago Y.W.B.C. Union.


A Baptist College.By J. F. JONES, D.D.

Our worthy President has set before him theestablishment of a Baptist College as the enduringmemorial of his year of office. This fine effort shouldreceive the hearty support of every loyal Baptistthroughout the Dominion. For a long time it hasbeen borne in upon many of our people that we havenot been paying adequate attention to our homebases. Our foreign mission policy has been grand,and has naturally appealed more powerfully to theimaginations and hearts of our people than our homework; but, obviously, we cannot continue to maintainthe heavy obligations of our foreign work—much lesscan we extend it and carry it forward—unless we payserious and continuous attention to our home missionand extension work. Now, a first-class training insti-tution is essential to our denominational existence,and Mr Smeeton is to be congratulated and shouldbe heartily encouraged by our community to makehis ideal a living reality.

Now, it may be that some folk may be dauntedby the vision of land and elaborate buildings. Butneither land nor elaborate building is necessary atthe beginning of such a scheme. A hostel forstudents and lecturers, where a denominational spiritcan live and flourish, and denominational ideals canbe fostered, is all that is really required for a com-mencement. Some will remember that for manyyears before the building of the magnificent pile ofbuildings known as Knox College, the PresbyterianChurch had for its training college a lean-to at therear of Professor Dunlop's house, where such menas the Revs. W. J. Comrie, R. M. Ryburn, R. Fair-maid, G. Miller, and many other prominent Presby-terian ministers received their training. Two pro-fessors divided the work between them, and the workwas never better done. It is not the buildings, butthe teachers and students that make a collegefamous. A wise syllabus of work faithfully adheredto, the right kind of students, and competent teachers—these are the essentials for successful ministerialtraining. Of course, fine buildings, worthy of ourdenomination, are to be desired, but they are notessential to the making practicable an up-to-datescheme for training our own men. The matter ofgreatest importance is the introduction and mainten-ance of a high standard of Christian character andculture among the students.

In this connection it may be pointed out that ourCollege Faculty could act in close co-operation withany one of three first-class British universities, onthe theological side, so as to make it possible for allstudents who so desired to leave the college after afour or five years' course with the bachelorship ofdivinity as well as a good practical training on theactive side of the ministers' work. Thus our menwho were able to take the full course would be asfully equipped for their all-important life-work asany ministers of any denomination in the world.

We must not fall into the mistake of thinkingthat the young men are afraid of hard work. Theright kind of young men like high standards, andfeel it is worth while striving for the highest equip-ment for service. The easy way is not a man's way.The prize worth having must be fought for. Thehigher the standards the better will be the men whoaim at reaching them. The location of such a col-lege is a matter of some importance. It should, ofcourse, be within a moderate distance of a universitycollege, so that students might take their arts and

science work, where necessary, at the least expendi-ture of time and strength. Then it should be centralin the Dominion, so that the men would be availablefor supplies at any point in the Dominion at shortestnotice. Our denominational offices being in Welling-ton, and that being the most central point fromwhich, at least expense of time and money, the menmight supply in case of sickness or summer holidays,would point to that city as being the most suitable.

Any way, we should rejoice that our Presidentshould be so earnest about this vastly importantmatter, and all exert ourselves to the utmost toaccomplish something worthy of our Baptist tradi-tions.

Correspondence.

(To the Editor.)

Dear Sir,—Why not a Conference under canvas?A good old-fashioned camp meeting would give theopportunity for a climax to our annual gatheringsthat would be an inspiration to us all.

Possibly (more than likely) it would develop intoa great time of spiritual revival and blessing. Thiswould find a reflex uplift in all our assembliesthroughout the Dominion, and be such a success asto become an annual fixture.

There is a good deal in what Brothers Bardsleyand Lambert have said in re business sessions, publicdemonstrations, etc. Business, of course, must bedone. What I think we all need is a definite spiritualfocus at Conference. We could at least try for oneyear to all go into camp for the 10 days. Detailscould be carefully arranged. The first result I be-lieve would be the quickening of the prayer spiritand in a time of definite and leisurely waiting on Godfor blessing find that we had upon us a revival thatwould cheer all our people.

The Conference is usually a time of continuousrush from the suburbs to a series of very interestingmeetings, and to many an additional whirl of commit-tee meetings lasting into the early hours.

Some delegates may be frail and unable to"rough it" in camp. For such, a special provisioncould be made. Stretchers, palliasses, etc., can makecamp life very comfortable. The camp could beheld in the spring.

However, there is the suggestion. I do not be-lieve that blessing necessarily comes to a campgathering. The conditions, however, are favourable.The manifest blessing attending the annual campgatherings of our young people at Easter could beexpected in the parent assembly.

It is an innovation well worth a trial. We wouldall get to know one another better.—Yours heartily,

RAY L. PRICE.September 9, 1924.

Dear Sir,—In the September issue of the NewZealand. Baptist, the Missionary Treasurer of theS.I.Y.M.B.B.C.U. gives a list of Bible Classes thathave not contributed. Among them I notice theGreendale Class is mentioned. The Greendale Classis part of the Greendale Baptist Sunday School, andtheir contributions have been sent from the school.During the year ended August 31, the Young Men'sClass has contributed £3 9s 4d to the ManurewaOrphanage and £2 13s l0d to the N.Z.B.M.S.—Yours sincerely,

C. H. ADAMS,Sec. Greendale B.S.S.

Greendale, September 15, 1924.



EXTENDING TIME OF CONFERENCE.

Dear Sir,—I note in the September Baptist thatMr Bardsley still advocates extending time of Con-ference, and suggests that churches should instructtheir delegates to vote for it. Many in my churchthink the suggestion is unreasonable, and not in thebest interests of Conference. If all churches were ina position to pay their delegates' travelling expensesat least, extension might be considered; but underour present method delegates have to pay their ex-penses and give their time. In my opinion, if MrBardsley's suggestion is adopted, it will mean poorerrepresentation, and Conference will consist simplyof those possessing means and leisure—a thing tobe avoided.

We should not place any barrier that would pre-vent one church having full representation, and ouraim should be to secure all the new blood possible,especially our young men, at our annual Conference.Economy of time is the remedy, not extension.

Thank you, Mr Editor, for your footnote to mylast letter. For the enlightenment of your manyreaders who are not sent annually to Conference, itis a pity you did not inform them what the last homemission forward movement launched under theUnion's auspices a year ago was. It would havebeen appreciated.— With kind regards,

Yours sincerely,WM. E. LAMBERT.

Thames, September 15, 1924.

[Everything done at Conference is reported inthe New Zealand Baptist.—Editor.]

(To the Editor.)Dear Sir,—Will you allow me a final word re-

garding Conference? By the time this is published,we shall be within a few days of the meetings, andon behalf of the Hospitality Committee I should liketo say that "all things are now ready," and a warmwelcome from all the churches in Christchurch dis-trict awaits our friends.

Delegates will have been advised of the namesof their hosts. If anything prevents their coming,may I urge the importance of at once communicatingwith me as well as with their host.—Yours verycordially,

A. F. CAREY,Convener Hospitality Committee.

107 Bealey Avenue, Christchurch,September 20, 1924.

Laying Foundations.

The Band of Hope season will soon draw to aclose. All interested in this work have been greatlycheered and inspired by the remarkable revival inBand of Hope work and work amongst young peoplein connection with our churches. World's Tem-perance Sunday will be celebrated throughout NewZealand generally on November 2. The New Zea-land Alliance Young People's Department is pre-paring special material for circulation to ministersand Sunday Schools in connection therewith. TheNew Zealand Alliance is grateful to Sunday Schoolofficers and others who have given their time andeffort to developing the work amongst the youngduring this season. In scores, if not hundreds, ofcases the foundations have been well and truly laid,and the educative work will go on and bear fruit.Whatever fluctuations the fight may show at the

polls there can be no doubt that the sure and certainway to carry Prohibition is to grow young Prohibi-tionists. That is what the revival in the youngpeople's work is bringing about.

REACHING THE HOMES.

One of the benefits arising out of the increasedwork amongst the young people has been the revivalof interest in the movement for the abolition of theliquor traffic. There can be little doubt that if thechildren are interested in their Band of Hope orTemperance Club, it is sure to become a topic ofconversation at home, and this leads to interest onthe part of the parents. In addition, the littlepaper, "The Challenge," issued by the New ZealandAlliance and widely distributed through Bands ofHope, finds its way into the homes and so helps toincrease the interest that is being aroused. Thelabourers in this field amongst the young, therefore,have a double reason for thankfulness. They are notonly instructing the children and building up anantipathy to alcohol in the child mind, but they arein addition educating the parents who need educatingand reviving the interest of parents who are in sym-pathy with the movement but may happen to beapathetic. There has been very clear evidence ofthe revived interest amongst adults following uponthe renewal of work amongst the children.

A BASE BETRAYAL.

In view of the fact that New Zealand has wonfor itself laurels by reason of its administration inSamoa, which includes the abolition of the liquortraffic there, it is surely sinister that in our ownDominion there should be persons and interests atwork seeking to inflict the legalised liquor traffic onour Maori brothers and sisters. Our relationshipwith the Maoris has all the sanctity and strength thatlong association in a common citizenship brings, andit would be a base betrayal if we were to permit un-scrupulous interests to fasten so destructive anddeadly a thing upon the people of the King Countryas the legalised liquor traffic. The churches, happily,are speaking in no uncertain voice on this topic, andit is to be hoped the Government will stand firmin support of the original covenant that prohibits thesale of liquor in the King Country.

CRITICS SELF-CONFOUNDED.

Those who are anxious to see the Government ofthis country officially mixed up in the degradingliquor traffic are asserting that if the CorporateControl proposal were adopted it would not be fairto take a vote on the question inside of nine years.They say that this "reform" could not have a chanceto make good inside of nine years. Think of whata small, compact, law-abiding Dominion this is andthen remember that they want nine years in whichto see whether or not this experiment of theirs wouldprove a success. Yet these same people have nohesitation whatever in declaring that Prohibition inthe United States is a failure because it is not 100per cent. efficient after it has been in operation onlya little over four years. The United States has apopulation of 112,000,000 people, with at least20,000,000 aliens; has two land borders, and a highlyorganised liquor traffic trying to defeat Prohibition.But those in favour of liquor here are not willing togive the United States nine years in which to havean opportunity of proving that Prohibition makesgood. The fact is that the progress towards maxi-mum efficient enforcement of the Prohibition law dur-ing the last year or two has been really marvellous.—J.M.M.







The Offices of the Baptist Union of New Zealand and of the BaptistMissionary Society -





To whom should be sent all communications regarding the dis-semination of Baptist literature in our Sunday Schools and churchos.

OCTOBER, 1924.

Accidia.

An Anglican Bishop published a little bookunder this caption, and was promptly charged withhaving invented a new sin. It had not been thecustom for the English to rank this strange-sound-ing thing among the sins, but the English areinsular—yet less so than ourselves. In the middleages when the schoolmen worked out their analysisof the maladies of man they placed "Accidia" intheir list as the last, and possibly the worst ofthe rout. What the schoolmen meant was redis-covered in France. The Great War gave a newslang to the world. Much of it has alreadyperished. But some of it is a permanent enrich-ment of language. The word "Fed-up" outstands.Fed-upness is accidia. It is sloth, but it is alsothat which is behind sloth, and that is loss ofinterest. Nothing is more deadly than that. Itis the end of the section.

In one of his most searching parables our Lordrelated laziness and wickedness t o g e t h e r . " Thouwicked and slothful servant." To the careless eyethe connection is not obvious, yet it is rudimentary.A lazy man is on the way to be a wicked man.In his book on criminology, Havelock Ellis hasthis dictum: "The criminal is essentially lazy. Thewhole art of crime lays in the endeavour to avoidthe necessity of labour." The man who gets drunkis too lazy to earn real happiness. The man whopicks a pocket is too lazy to fill his own properly.The man who beats his wife is too lazy to love her.Laziness is the root of crime. Ruskin puts it,"The choice is given to every man born into theworld whether he will be a labourer or an assassin.Whoso has not his hand on the stilt of the ploughwill have it on the hilt of the dagger." Perhapsthe most amusing incident relating to laziness isto be found in Margot Asquith. She met a trampnear her father's house, and made an earnest effortto understand him. It was raining; he was shelter-ing under a hedge. He was taciturn. She gavehim a cigarette and lit up herself, and he began

to thaw. Then she put her poser, "You seem towalk all day and yet go nowhere. When you wakeup in the morning how do you shape your course?''To which he replied: "Well, Miss, I looks aroundto see which way the wind is blowing, and I alluswalks with the wind." When such a fellow comesdown the wind the wise folks look to their pullets.Laziness is the mother of crime. A lazy Christianis a portent.

But why are people lazy? Because they don'tcare a hang, because nothing interests them. Interest is the nerve of the soul. Interest keeps yougoing, gives you pep. If you have no interest inthings you become a vegetable, you become fatand gross with the eyes of an animal. You yearnfor the lost interest. You want the thrill that lifeought to give you. You do mad things and badthings in a desperate attempt to reawaken interest.The Loeb brothers, of Chicago, are cases in point.So, too, were the old Romans. The abominablecruelties of the arena were only possible to a lazyand a jaundiced race. Life had ceased to be in-teresting. Slaves worked and fought for them. Freecorn relieved the plebeians of the necessity of toil.The downward way was steep.

"No slower and no quicker passedThe impracticable hours."

"Accidia'' was the besetting sin of the oldmonks. "Who says monastery says marsh." Thepoor fellows immolated within those pitiless walls,with a routine of masses, antiphonal singing ofpsalms, and endless prayers, were bored stiff."Accidia" came down on them like an armed man.They loathed their prayers under attacks of"accidia." They turned in fierce contempt on thereader mumbling through his task in the refectory.They hated each other. An indescribable inertiaseized the victim of this malady. Dinner was the oneagreeable sensation of the day. The "miserereseats" which are shown in old cathedrals were de-signed to tip forward to his confusion the drowsypriest. Dore has a picture of a novice entering themonastery and looking with frightened eyes at thegross, dull, mechanical monks who are to be thecompanions of his life. They have all succumbed tothis deadly sin.

But "accidia" leaps the barriers of sect. A min-ister can drowse over the Anglican prayer book, andhide his gapes as best he may. The phlegm ofcustom may be in his throat. It was of such a priestthat a well-known agnostic said: "I have knownseveral men more enthusiastic over fleas and wormsthan this man was over Jesus Christ." Noncomform-ists may also fall victims to it. They are indeednominally saved from routine; but every one knowsthat every minister develops a routine of his own. Aman has need to watch himself like a falcon. Themoment that the return of Sunday bores, that thepreacher's task becomes irksome, it may be knownthat "accidia" is claiming another victim.

We referred to the War- The worst enemy thatthe generals knew was this feeling among the men."Fed-up" was a worse thing than the rum ration.The futility of everything, the wicked waste—

'Tain't the suffering as I grouse at,I can stick my bit o' pain;

But I keeps on allus askin':"What's the good and who's to gain?"

When a man asks these questions and can getno answer, then his soul is going to die, and theuniverse (for him) is in ruin. It is essential in workthat a man should love his work. If he do not, heis a foreordained failure. A soldier was put on themat for malingering. The sergeant complained tothe officer: "This man's 'eart isn't in 'is work.""What is his work?" "Pickin' up paper and orange


peel about the camp, but 'is 'eart isn't in i t ." Poorchap it is hard to be an interested scavenger. Yetif a man is a scavenger he had better be interestedin it. It's that, or it's u-p.

Now, in religion, this matter is life and death.Religion ought to be the hot-point in life. In re-ligion a man makes his highest connection—enterson his supreme adventure. We see God slowly trans-forming his evolving world. We sec Him bringingthe human to crown the lower creation. We see Himfighting the beast in man and evoking the saint. Wesee Him in Christ within the circle of human life,displaying in achieved character the true meaning ofmanhood. We see Him displaying the heavenly lovein the glory of Calvary. We know that His Spirithas through twenty centuries striven with men fortheir salvation and not in vain. We behold ourmodern world haunted by the Spirit of Jesus. Ifreligion is dull, what in the name of heaven is theGreat War, or Piccadilly, or the Broadway? Thewatchwords of Jesus were "Life" and "Spirit." Theseare the death of ennui. These spell the overthrow of"accidia."

A young Florentine named Papini has been open-ing his heart to the world. He tells of his incurablepessimism, of his rooted conviction that suicide wasihe one way out of the horrid mess of life. "A manfinished" is the strangest piece of melodrama that weremember to have seen. But his book was not longprinted before he met Christ. He closes his bookon the life of our Lord with these words: "All thelove of which our ravished hearts are capable is forThee, O Crucified One, Who wast tortured for oursake and Who dost torture us with Thine implacablelove." If any man is fed up, whether by the routineof life or by human littleness, of which church lifesometimes shows us too much, let him tarry awhile atthe place of the skull, and let him pass on to Pente-cost and the fiery tongues. The Spirit of Jesus isthe death of "accidia.'' And "He giveth not theSpirit by measure."

Great Baptist Central Mission,

WEST HAM ACHIEVEMENT.

On Wednesday of last week the Rev. Rowntreeand Mrs Clifford and the Church at Barking roadsaw the complete realisation of the hopes and thedreams which they have cherished during the last27 years. At the opening services of the newchurch in 1922 Dame Clara Butt, who has long takena great interest in the work in West Ham, gener-ously promised to give the organ needed to completethe .scheme. The organ has now been installed, andwas formally opened and presented to the church byDame Clara Butt at a Dedication Service held ona Wednesday in July.

On her arrival Dame Clara Butt was received bya Guard of Honour, composed of Boy Scouts andGirl Guides, and was escorted to the platform by Mrand Mrs Clifford. She was accompanied by herhusband, Mr Kennerley Rumford.

After Mr Clifford had read some appropriate pas-sages of Scripture, the Sanctus was beautifully sung

without accompaniment, and the Lord's Prayer waschanted. Mr Clifford then made the following state-ment as to the purposes of the gathering:—

'Dame Clara Butt and Friends,—It is fittingthat we should offer to God the sacrifice of thanks-giving for the event which brings us together to-day.An event which crowns the noble gifts which made thedream of this new sanctuary a reality. This sanc-tuary is a witness to the present activity of God andto the wealth of human love poured out on the altarof sacrificial giving.

"Among the many rich gifts which have amazed andhumbled us is that of this organ from Dame ClaraButt. Why should this lady, the queen of song,with a magnitude of interests, express such generoussympathy and interest in an East-End mission.Surely it is her big heart of love tuned to the musicof our Lord's compassion for the multitude. It wasinspired of God, Who gave her the voice of a cen-tury.

"'This organ is a free and spontaneous gift, en-hanced by the gracious manner of the giving. Inthe name of the people associated with this mission.Dame Clara Butt, we thank you from the deeps ofour heart, and we pray that the eternal riches maybe abundantly yours."

OPENING THE NEW ORGAN.

Dame Clara Butt then unveiled and opened theorgan in the name of the leather, the Son, and theHoly Ghost, praying that it might always be usedto the glory of God and in the service of theChurch. The Dedication Prayer was offered by Dr.Charles Brown, and the organ was then heard forthe first time as it led the great congregation in the"Te Deum." It is a noble instrument of surpassingbeauty of tone and great compass. It is built in twosections in chambers left for the purpose above andon each side of the platform. The keyboard is atthe side of the platform below.

The dedication service concluded, a delightfu1

concert followed. Mr Herbert Cooke, who was theorganist for the occasion, played a suite which fullyrevealed the beauty and the power of the instrument.Mr Kennerley Rumford sang "There is a green hillfar away" with exquisite taste and feeling, and MrW. H. Squire contributed solos on the 'cello. DameClara Butt sang an Italian song, set to the musicof Handel's "Largo." The effect was overwhelm-ing. Probably no one understood the words, butthe haunting beauty of the music, as interpreted bythe most wonderful voice of our time, spoke to everyheart. It was one of those experiences the memoryof which will last as long as life itself. As anencore, Dame Clara Butt gave "The Lost Chord."

EXTINCTION OP THE DEBT.

In thanking Dame Clara Butt and her friends,Mrs Clifford said that during the last 27 years up-wards of £80,000 had been expended on the buildingof the Church and its many institutions. Of thisgreat sum only about £500 remained unpaid, and shemade an earnest appeal for the complete extinctionof the debt to crown a great day in the history ofthe Church. Her appeal received an immediate andgenerous response. The collection amounted to morethan £500, and the Church is now entirely free fromdebt.


ESTABLISHED 1862. BRANCHES THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND CAPITAL, £1,000,000

Wellington Branch: 324 Lambton Quay. EDWARD C. ROWE, Manager


The gathering in the afternoon was of invitedguests only. Dame Clara Butt and the other artistsgenerously repeated the concert in the evening, whenthe Church was crowded to the doors by a greatcongregation, composed of the members of theChurch, the Women's Meeting, and the othersocieties connected with the Mission.

A Visit to the Annual Conferenceof the Dutch Baptists.

By DR J. H. RUSHBROOKE.

Holland is not one of the Great Powers of theBaptist world. The membership of the Dutch Unionnumbers scarcely more than 3000. The vigour ofthis little group is, however, attested by an increaseof 50 per cent. during the past ten years, and thelast "Union year" (which closed six weeks ago) sawan advance of 10 per cent. The Dutch Baptists pos-sess leaders of fine quality, whom it was a privilegeto meet at their Assembly—the Rev. B. Planting, thehonoured and beloved Secretary; the Rev. J. W. Wee-nink, who, as a preacher, editor, and educationist,is making a notable impression without as well aswithin Baptist circles; the Rev. J. Louw, whose pre-sidency of the meetings revealed a remarkable graspof all the business. Mr van Beek will, I hope, alsolong be included in the list. This highly esteemedbrother, after nearly half a century of service, re-linquished pastoral responsibility a few months ago;and the Assembly has elected him an honorary mem-ber for life.

This year's meeting-place was Deventer, a townof about 25,000 inhabitants, delightfully situated onthe Eisel. A fine mediaeval church, now in the handsof the Dutch Reformed Communion, is the distinctivearchitectural feature, though partly spoiled—likemany other fine old churches—by shops and dwelling-houses built on to its walls. Pleasant parks and at-tractive residences impress even the casual visitor,and Deventer has flourishing industries; carpets, cot-ton goods, and ironwork hold (I was informed) theleading positions. Historically, the city has associa-tions with Thomas à Kempis; and in modern daysSteyn, afterwards President of the Orange FreeState, was born there.

About one hundred members form the BaptistChurch in this pleasant town, and they worship ina rectangular building ("Beth-el"), which is almostan exact counterpart of an English village chapel of60 or 70 years ago. Here the "forty-fourth GeneralAssembly" was in session when I arrived. It hadlittle resemblance to our Cardiff meetings, or to thegatherings in connection with American Baptist Con-ventions. The notes of these Dutch meetings arehomeliness, intimacy, individual responsibility, andinitiative. To find parallels on our side of the NorthSea we must betake ourselves to some of the smallerAssociation sessions or recall the General BaptistAssembly which expired a generation ago. Thelimited number of members—less than 100, all activeworkers in their local churches, and collectively re-presenting a Union so small that almost every dele-gate has a fair knowledge of the conditions of everychurch and a personal acquaintance with his fellow-delegates—such conditions create a fellowship withsomething of the warmth of family feeling. I havenowhere seen more simply expressed the democraticnote which is—or is assumed to be—distinctive ofBaptists. Such an assembly is able directly to dealwith business that in larger unions is necessarilyentrusted to committees. It was interesting to listen

to a discussion regarding three candidates for theministry, one of whom it was decided to send toHamburg for training, a second (with the assistanceof a donation from New Zealand) to America, whileit is hoped a third (destined for the foreign field)will be trained in England. These young men werecalled in at the close of the conversation, and a wiseand inspiring "charge" was delivered to them by thePresident. Reports were presented regarding thetwo papers issued by the Union—"De Zaaier" (TheSower) and "De Christen." The latter circulatesabout 1000 copies weekly, one to every three mem-bers, but the conference was not satisfied; more mustbe done by way of propaganda, and it was resolvedthat immediate steps should be taken to ensure aweekly output of 10,000! The Stockholm "message,"it was felt, would be invaluable as a means of makingthe Baptist position known; the Assembly adoptedit, and resolved to print and circulate an edition ofseveral thousands. Two "fraternal delegates" werechosen to visit the triennial conference of the GermanBaptists; and the conference expressed the hope thatour British Assembly next year will also receive adelegation. (Nothing is more striking than thishunger for fellowship on the part of our Continentalbrethren; we must pay heed to it.) The Budget for1924-25 was submitted, discussed, and enlarged! Themeeting heard with interest that in one place aRoman Catholic Church had been acquired by theBaptists—surely a rare event! Free and frank dis-cussion characterised the, whole of the day's proceed-ings, and the spirit which pervaded all was an effec-tive preparation for the Lord's Supper in the evening.The celebration was marked by extreme simplicity;two hymns, a brief address by the local pastor (whopresided), the reading of the words of institution,thanksgiving, the distribution of the elements, andthe offertory. The sequel moved me deeply; it tookthe form of a sustained outflow of testimony andexhortation, and for about 40 minutes brief addressesfollowed one another impromptu with an occasionalverse of a hymn. The Holy Spirit's presence wasmanifestly realised; yet there was no trace of mereemotionalism or of an effort to "work up" an atmos-phere. From first to last, deep spontaneous rever-ence informed every utterance.

It remains only to add that the brethren extendedme a hearty welcome, received with joy the fraternalgreetings I offered on behalf of American and BritishBaptists, reciprocated these, and exhibited keen andthankful delight at hearing of the advance of theKingdom of God through the labour and testimonyof Baptists in other lands. These Dutch brethrenare large-hearted Christians. They are greatly glad-dened at the prospect of receiving assistance fromAustralia, and recall with abundant appreciation thevisit of the Rev. A. J. Waldock.

Baptisms.Auckland—13, by Rev. J. W. Kemp.Gisborne—4, by Rev. F. A. Crawshaw.Epsom—4, by Pastor Chant.Ashburton—1, by Pastor Matthews.Hamilton—7, by Rev. Harold Hercus.Grange Road—3, by Rev. A. S. Wilson.Whangarei—7, by Rev. F. A. Sampson.




William Carey, God's Visionary.

Conference, 1924.The sessions of the Missionary Society to be

held this month in Christchurch are eagerly antici-pated. The situation in India calls for profoundestthought and most earnest prayer. We shall haveMiss Rice with us. The missionary sermon will bepreached by Mr Takle.

Honourable Mention.Dr S. Zwemer, at the conference on work among

Moslems, which is referred to in another column,recommended to missionaries to Moslems a long listof books on their particular subject. We were gladto notice in the list Mr Takle's "The Inward Way."

Our Missionaries' Health.Gratifying reports from private sources are to

hand concerning Miss Peters and Miss Arnold.Miss Peters is regarded as being well enough toleave sanatorium, but on account of the rainySeason it is deemed advisable that she should notReturn to the plains just yet. Miss Arnold chafes

under restraint, and declares that she is well. Inspite of interrupted studies, she will sit for hersecond language examination in December.

Annual Meetings of the Australian Board.

A friend writes from Australia telling of theexceptionally fine meetings of the Mission Boardheld in Melbourne during the month of August.The principle of pooling all State missionary funds,which two years ago was affirmed in theory, isnow being put into effect. Annuity funds will alsobe pooled, so that missionaries will in future havebehind them all the federated churches of the Com-monwealth. Victoria's total missionary contributionfor the past year was £8350. Two new mission-aries. Miss Collier and Miss Prest, are sailing forIndia this month in company with several"veterans."

Miss Bradfield.We bid an affectionate farewell to our friend

Miss Bradfield, who is to join the outgoing Aus-tralian missionaries on the s.s. Moldavia, sailing onthe 28th inst. We are sorry not to see her at Con-ference, but it has been decided that, as the situa-tion on the field is so critical, the more quickly MissBradfield can return to India the better. She willbe accompanied by Miss Gillanders—Mr Jones'sfiancee, to whom we bid God speed and for whomwe wish a life of happy usefulness in India.


An Interesting Letter.

FROM "HARRY JONES."

My Dear Friends,—The last nine clays have beenthe best of my stay in Bengal. During this time,Mr Hunter and I have been travelling in the missionboat Shantimoni all through the northern part of ourdistrict. Two of the Bengali preachers accompaniedus, but they travelled in another boat.

This is the last day of our tour; we are nowon our way back to 'Baria, which, according to themap, is 15 miles away—quite a long way in a boatthat does only three or four miles an hour. Wehave three kinds of motive power—we may be eitherpoled along or towed, or else, if the wind is favour-able, a sail helps us along in good style. We hadreckoned on getting home to-day, but a head windhas delayed us considerably, and we may have tospend another night on board.

At present the boat is being poled along, andthe boatment are singing at their work. It is notusual for them to break into song though. Onlya few days ago, Mr Hunter and I were speaking ofthe usual sober behaviour of the Bengalis. Theyare naturally serious, and even the children seem tohave little of the spirit of play. The little ones inMiss Beckingsale's home are quite different though;we can often hear them laughing and shouting attheir games. Christ gives happiness to the chil-dren; is there a better test of the truth?

Well, back to the boat again. Such travellingas we have been doing can be undertaken only dur-ing the rainy season. At this time the country ispractically under water. Rice and jute crops aregrowing, but it matters not how high the waterrises—the crops grow correspondingly and keeptheir heads above water. The water over the fieldsis from two feet to eight feet high, and as it doesno harm to the crops to pole a boat over them weoften take a voyage "across country" as it were.

The villages are scattered about on little areasonly a few feet above the water. The average dis-tance of the villages from each other is about three-quarters of a mile. In some places they are morecongested, and then again there are areas or circlesof two miles where there are no villages. As I lookout the window now I see one patch of water about300 acres in extent and no village in it. I know thatwater isn't usually measured by acres, but I wasbrought up on a farm! Away west I can just makeout a line of low hills in Tipperah Native State, our"Tibet," as the Rev. J. J. North has named it.

I'll tell you a little about the work that we havebeen doing. The morning hours from 7 to 11 havebeen spent mostly in the homes of the people. Wego two by two: Mr Hunter and a Bengali preacher,and the other preacher and myself. The one whowas kind enough to take me with him had twomen's work to do, for I could give only moral sup-port. The usual procedure is to approach the en-trance to the "bari ," or cluster of houses, wherethe father, sons, and "in-laws" live, and ask if wemight spend a little time there. We are invariablyasked to stay, and stools are brought out for usto sit on; these stools are about three inches high,and it is quite an art for a long individual like meto sit down gracefully on one. Sometimes there willbe a chair for the sahib, but they seldom use them,preferring to sit on these low stools or on a mat onthe ground. In the baris we get an audience offrom six to thirty; occasionally there are more.

Having explained that we are Christians, andthat we have come to give a little teaching, thepreacher starts on his talk. The people grasp the

truth by means of a story more easily than in anyother way; for this reason we use exclusively Bibli-cal stories with the poorer, uneducated people. TheProdigal Son is a story that they can easily under-stand, and the pictures that we carry help to aclearer grasp of the truth.

The preacher talks for about 20 minutes or halfan hour, and the listeners are very appreciative.The Bengalis are courteous; we cannot complain oflack of respect for our message. Occasionally aMohammedan will show a little bad grace. Whenthe preacher is finished, a few questions may beasked, and then we offer for sale Gospels and otherbooks that tell of Christ in a simple way. A nomi-nal price is charged for the books; it is reckonedto be better than giving them outright. Gospelsare sold for one pice (about a farthing);

Working in this way, we cannot visit more thanfive or six baris in one morning, but quite a fewhear the good news. The women seldom appearopenly, but listen and see as much as they can frominside their houses. The boys follow us round fromplace to place.

Throughout the trip we have arranged to spendthe afternoons in the bazaars. The bigger villages haveone day of the week as a market day; perhaps twodays of the week will be market days. The peoplefrom the adjoining villages gather at these marketsto trade their produce, buy provisions, etc. I esti-mate that there were 4000 people in the largestmarket that we visited.

In those places our work begins at 3 o'clock inthe afternoon- With an armful of books each, weleave our boats and get mixed up with the bazaarcrowd. In this we work separately. Immediatelyupon entering the bazaar, we Europeans grow a tailof small boys. They follow us round for about anhour, and then the novelty of our presence wearsoff.

Work in the bazaars consists solely of sellingbooks and preaching. At about 5 o'clock we gettogether for an hour's preaching. Getting a crowdround to look at one's books is an easy matter, butthey are not so ready to buy. Their first questiongenerally is, "What kind of books?" The reply,"Religious books," either finishes the matter orelse leads them to look at one.

You have no doubt heard that the people of theEast are "bargainers." They live up to their re-putation. The books that we sell, if sold in theshops, would cost seven or eight times what we sellthem for. In spite of this, a prospective purchaserwill offer, to begin with, a third, or even a half,of the stated price of our books. Many of them askus to give them to them because, they say, theyare poor men. If we did that we could get rid of ourstock in a couple of hours.

I gave a few books away though. One case Ihave in mind now. A young fellow listened intentlyright through an hour's preaching and singing.About half an hour later in the bazaar, he cameup to me and asked if I would give him a book.He appeared to want the book badly, but wasashamed of himself for asking for it. He said thathe had no money. I knew that it was the boy whohad listened during the preaching in the bazaar, forI had taken particular notice of him. He had greyeyes that made it easy to place him, for very fewof the Bengalis have grey eyes. After a few ques-tions, I gave him a Gospel of Matthew, and thatwas the last I saw of him. The regrettable part ofit is that it may be a year or two before we areagain in that part. If that boy is a seeking soulnow, will he still have a hungry heart in a year's time?The enemy will be doing his best to destroy theseed, and the seeker may no longer have the desire


to know the truth that alone can set him free. Witha full staff we could go round those places everyfew months.

I'll have to stop, but I have told you nothingyet about our lantern lectures in the evening—someof our best work I believe. We were out about everyother night, once until midnight. We could alwaysget a crowd of 200 or 300. We would set up ouroutfit in any old place, generally outside.

Bengali and I are becoming a little betteracquainted, though I wish that my progress werefaster. The study of it continues to occupy most ofmy time. I appreciate your prayers in this direc-tion. My first examination is in December.

I am glad to say that I am quite well and re-joicing in the Lord. Kindest regards to all.

Yours in joyful service,HARRY JONES.

Brahmanbaria, July 31, 1924.

The Extent of Islam in theWorld To-day.

At a recent conference on work among Moslems,Dr Zwemer said that the Moslems' unity is a spiri-tual unity, and that their solidarity was almost likethat of missionaries. We were faced with seven-foldproblem:—

(1) Historical.—Why did God allow Asia andAfrica to be over-run by Moslems? Is Islam God'spunishment for the Oriental Churches? Or is it astepping-stone to win them back Was Mohammeda true prophet? If true, has God stultified His pur-pose? If false, how long, O God, how long?

(2) Statistical.—There are about 235 millionMoslems in the world to-day. There are more Mos-lems in Bengal than in Arabia, Egypt, and Persiacombined, and they are more accessible in Bengalthan in those other countries.

(3) Political.—One hundred and three millions,or 44 per cent. of the entire Moslem population ofthe world, are living under British rule; 36 millionsof Moslems, or 15 per cent., are in Dutch posses-sions; 28 millions, or 12 per cent., are in Frenchterritory; 17 millions, or 7 per cent., are in Russia;28 millions, or 12 per cent., are in Independent Mos-lem States; the other 10 per cent. are scatteredthroughout the world. Moslem mosques may befound in Perth, Berlin, Paris, London, and in othercities of the world.

(4) Social-—Dr Zwemer divided the Moslemsocial problem under three heads: (a) Defectives;(b) delinquents; (c) dependents. Illiteracy, igno-rance, and an appalling child mortality were theorder of the day. In Egypt, out of the 13 millions,half a million are blind. If we do not preach theGospel to these, we "do it not" to Christ. "Inas-much as ye did it not unto one of the least ofthese . . . ye did i t not to Me!" Misunder-standing rather than perversity caused the Moslemsto reject the truths of the Incarnation, the Death ofChrist, the Atonement, the Trinity.

They have only a caricature of Christ; we havethe true picture. We need to fill in the details forthem.

(5) Religious.—"Islam is as the moon that haseclipsed the sun of Christianity." "Moslems arewhat they are because of what they believe." "ManyMoslems love Christ." The day of the eclipse willpass—it is passing—and the sun is shining in manyhearts in Moslem lands, and they rejoice in theLight.

(6) Missionary.—The Bible has been translatedinto all Moslem languages. Mohammedan misunderstandings have all been met and published in Eng-lish and other languages. Every city of over 100,000is occupied in some way by Christian missions. Re-sults are found in every country where the Gospelhas been preached. There never was so much en-couragement by mutual hopefulness in work amongMoslems as there is to-day.

(7) Personal.—In conversing with Moslems ourattitude should be sympathetic. "Are you in searchof the Truth? I am. Let us seek Truth together.""What you deny is wrong through misunderstand-ing." "Sometimes we win our argument, but loseour man. It is far better to lose our argument andwin our man." In support of sympathy beingshown, we mention briefly one incident. A youngMoslem had been acting as clerical assistant to amissionary. He had had many opportunities of hear-ing of Christ, and listening to arguments for andagainst Christianity. But none of these things hadappealed to him. One night he and the missionarywere out in the district. They decided to stay ata certain place one night where there was accom-modation for only one. The youth had fever, sothe missionary insisted on him sleeping on the bedand taking his bedclothes, while the missionaryrested on the floor. This act of sympathy led tothe youth's conversion.—Our Bond.

Caste and Snobbery.

The drawing-room meeting was over. We hadheard with deep sorrow of the caste distinctions inIndia, and the missionary had told us how it hin-dered the coming of the Kingdom there. But as weleft the house, we had beneath our pain a sense ofsatisfaction that in our beloved and Christiancountry no such distinctions checked the progress ofthe Church. We parted at the door; but, as I hap-pened to be taking the same road as my dear friendMiss Lavinia, we fell to talking of the interestingbut painful theme that had been brought before us.

"Yes, it is all very terrible," she remarked."No wonder," I replied, "the Gospel moves so

slowly in that land.""We have our difficulties," she said, after a

pause; "it is so hard to reach the dear workingmen, but happily we have no caste in England."

At this moment a workman passed, carrying abag of tools. He had a careworn face; it was clearhe might have been embittered, but he had foughtbravely, and won his battle.

"Good afternoon," I said with a smile; he re-turned my greeting with a timid glance at MissLavinia. She apparently did not see him.

When he had passed, I said: "Don't you knowJohn Simpson? He is a splendid fellow. He hasbeen in our church for years. By the way, I thinkhe sits near to you in church."

"Yes, he does," she replied; "a most worthyman."

"I thought you did not know him," I answered."Oh, yes; I have known him for years," she

said."You did not see him just now?" I queried."Yes; of course I did.""But you took no notice of him," I remarked."You don't seem to understand," she said, "that

I know him in the Lord.""I am sorry," I said, being somewhat angry,

"that you are not in the Lord now.""I wish," was her reply, "that you would dis-

tinguish between irreverence and humour."


Our Church and ForeignMissions.

Psalm lxvii.

1. In the deepest sense, says Bishop Mont-gomery, there are no foreign missions. The Chris-tian Church has one work, everywhere among allsouls, in the one human family, who are alike theobjects of the same Love and the same Redemption.We have to consider some aspects of that work as itrs carried on in non-Christian lands. The charter ofsuch work lies in our Lord's solemn parting commis-sion. His last recorded words were: "Unto theuttermost parts of the earth." And the example ofHis apostles ratified their Master's command. Theinstinct of expansion belongs to the very genius ofthe Gospel. The Church which is in no sense amissionary Church is really dead.

2. The first missionary lesson which this Psalmsuggests is that the spiritual prosperity of the Churchat home becomes a fountain to feed missions abroad.Whatever reanimates the centre reinforces the remotecircumference. And conversely, when the Churchgrows mechanical or secularised, its foreign agencieswill be smitten with paralysis and failure. It is re-markable to notice how frequently great foreign mis-sionary enterprises have followed as the outcome ofsome deep arousal and quickening of Christian life inlands already called Christian. Those who criticisethe Keswick Convention must confess that it hasbeen the parent of forward movements in the foreignfield. One token of a genuine revival is that it re-vives the zeal of the Church for spreading the King-dom of God.

3. "That Thy way may be known upon earth,Thy saving health unto all nations." The Gospel inits essence is remedial. It claims to be the onemeans of healing for the common malady of humannature—the sole cure for the corruption that is in theworld. In Coverdale's Bible there is a curious render-ing of the sentence, "Is there no balm in Gilead?"(Jeremiah viii, 22); which Coverdale translated,"There is no more Triacle in Galaad." The oldword "Triacle" meant any sovereign remedy or cure-all. And it reminds us that the Bible contains theone panacea for our evil and misery, God's univer-sal medicine for mankind. In one sense we may saythat all missions are medical missions. The Gospelcontemplates the whole world as one vast hospital,full of guilty souls and wounded hearts and warpedand diseased wills. And it offers the Divine cleansingand healing and renewal as the one remedy for allsorts and conditions of men. The Gospel piercesbelow those surface distinctions which separate differ-ent races and mark off various civilisations. In theprofoundest realities it sees that "there is no differ-ence"; all men have one need—and one Deliverer.

4. And therefore this catholic Evangel claims allnations and kindreds and peoples and tongues for itsinheritance. In its elemental simplicity, it belongs byright to them all, and it wins its way among themall. Too often, indeed, we hamper its energies andretard its conquests, because we assume that pureChristianity necessarily involves any of the externalfeatures of our own civilisation. We forget, forexample, that the primitive Christians, the earliestsaints and martyrs, were destitute of nearly all thosecomforts and refinements which to us have becomelike second nature. And we can hardly conceive ofsuccessors of the apostles living to-day in equallyprimitive fashion. Yet surely Asiatics and Africanscan find "saving health" in the New Testamentwithout being inoculated with the restless fever whichwe call "progress." What necessary connection isthere between the Gospel and scientific discoveries?The chiefs in Uganda need not be a bit better Chris-tians because they have now leamt to use type-writers; and the electric trams which run down thestreets of Seoul cannot carry a single Korean intothe Kingdom of Heaven. Righteousness and peaceand joy are blessings which God hides from the wiseand prudent, and reveals oftentimes to those who are"babes" in science and civilisation, for so it seemsgood in His sight.

5. Those who look forward in faith to the fulfil-ment of God's missionary promises and the victory ofChrist's Cross, anticipate a Church of the futurewhich will certainly be no mere copy of the Churchof the present. It is a strange and marvellous thingthat "Christianity has for so long a period been con-fined mainly to the white peoples; but its mission isto mankind, and mankind is not in any large propor-tion white." Surely there are great neglected andforgotten Christian ideas, which will be recovered andcome to their own in the fullness of time, when Hindu

I took no notice of this outburst, but simplysaid: "In Him we live and move and have ourbeing"; and I changed the subject.

Before I left my friend I had promised to takeher young women's class on the following Sunday.

The Sunday afternoon came, and I betook my-self to the large class held by my friend. I waspleased to see so many present, but there seemedto be a separation, between the ' 'young ladies" andthe "young women." This distinction came out inthe reading of the register. I was listening with afaint interest till I noticed after the name of MissEthel Story and Miss Euphemia Marshall, the simpletitle Laura Jones, and Amelia Smith, and other irre-larities followed of the same kind.

"I don't wonder," I said to the teacher, "thatyou often drop the 'miss' and shorten the list."

"You don't understand," she replied with asmile, "some are ladies and some are servants."

"And these distinctions," I said, "exist even inthe Lord."

As we walked away from the class we talked to-gether of the minister whom the church was thinkingof calling to the ministry. We had found him aftermuch searching and prayer. We asked much, and webad received it.

"Undoubtedly he is a man of God," Miss Laviniasaid.

"He has a splendid record," I added."So powerful in prayer," she said."So rich in his exposition," I responded."I am quite certain," she added, "that he is

filled with the Spirit, and in every way fitted for us,but——"

"What is lacking?" I said, in some alarm."Nothing in him," she answered, "but his

wife——""She seems to me a noble woman," I said."So she is ," was the reply, "but do you know

she once served in a draper's shop in this town?""So much the better," I said."You don't seem to see," she replied, "that we

shall have to call upon her, and it will be very diffi-cult."

"Why?" I asked angrily."You have been imbibing Socialistic ideas," she

said, "and I cannot think what you will come tonext."

"Caste," I said, "is undoubtedly a hindrance.""I am glad," was her answer, "you have changed

the subject.""But there is no respect of persons," I replied,

"with Him.""What a beautiful t ru th!" was her last word,

for we had reached her door by this time.E. S.


theologians and Chinese mystics and negro saintscontribute their own characteristic gifts to theChurch's common treasury. God shall bless us in-deed when all the people have learnt to praise Him.

T. H. DARLOW.

The New Mediterranean World.

A CONFERENCE ON OLIVET.

Rev. W. F. Hunter's Bible Class.

A Soldier and Missions.

"Eastern Missions from a Soldier's Standpoint,"by Colonel G. K. Scott Moncrieff, C.I.E., is an in-teresting tribute to the efficacy of missions in Indiaand China. Colonel Moncrieff's military duties havetaken him to the Punjab, the North-West Frontier,and to the Chinese capital in the year when therewere 10,000 martyrdoms to the Christian faith inChina. Holding no brief for any particular society,but writing as an interested spectator, he expresseshimself distinctly in favour of missionaries as theagents who effect a change more lasting and bene-ficial than any government can bring about. Hetestifies to the courage of the Chinese Christians atthe siege of Peking, when their countrymen werestorming the walls, under orders to burn them. InChina, persecution springs from the feeling againstforeigners, and is bad enough; in India, the accept-ance of Christianity is a more terrible trial, for itinvolves a great social ostracism. Among thePathans, whose qualities are both manly and bar-baric, Colonel Moncrieff spent eight years, and hedescribes the baptism of a Pathan: "Close to thefont, arrangements are made whereby, after baptism,the newly baptised, after emerging from the water,disappears behind a screen, whence he presentlycomes out in clean white garments, to take part withthe congregation in worship. I have seen a Pathanconvert, one of a tribe who had shortly before beenat war with us, thus take his place beside Britishsoldiers in their red coats, men who had come towitness the ceremony." Colonel Moncrieff does notbelieve that natives resent any reasonable attempt tointerest them in the Gospel. On the contrary, hesays, they welcome it when made in a sympatheticspirit.—Southern Cross.

By BASIL MATHEWS, in the British Weekly.

On the sacred acres of the Mount of Olives,where the risen Christ met His bewildered disciples,80 twentieth-century missionary disciples, comingfrom every continent of the world, met in conferencethis April.

It would be difficult to discover in all those nine-teen hundred intervening years any Christian fellow-ship on that Mount of Olives so pregnant with boththe mystical and practical significance of Oliver.

Dr John R. Mott, who presided, had alreadychaired three regional conferences on the problems ofthe post-war world of North Africa and Western Asia,for which two years' preparation had been madeconferences in Constantine for Morocco, Algeria, and,Tripoli; at Helouan for the Nile Valley, the Soudan,and Abyssinia; and at Brummana on the Lebanonfor Syria and Palestine. To the Jerusalem (Olivet)Conference, in addition to carefully selected groupsfrom each of these areas, there came men and womenfrom Turkey and the Balkans, Arabia, Mesopotamiaand Persia, Central Turkestan, North India, and theDutch East Indies. The personnel, while it includednative leaders of many of these areas, had a largeWestern representation, including British, Scandi-navian, American, French, and German.

There was the flashing, buoyant chivalry ofCanon Gairdner; the quiet, coherent drive of Presi-dent Watson, of Cairo; the volcanic enthusiasm of DrZwemer; the blended saintship and humour of BishopGwynne, of Egypt and the Soudan; the lone-trailheroism of Miss Trotter, of North Africa; the steadilyburning flame of social and evangelistic zeal ofBishop Linton, of Persia; the quiet, eirenic guidanceof Bishop MacInnes, of Jerusalem; the peerlessscholarship of Professor Margoliouth, of Oxford; andover it all the strong, mellowed, incisive chairmanshipof Dr Mott. Where every man and woman was socarefully picked, one could catalogue the whole con-ference in this way without discovering nonentity orinefficiency of mind or spirit.

The astounding fact that the Greek Patriarch ofJerusalem spontaneously lent the fine Greek Churchbuilt on this sacred site, and allowed the green baize-covered oblong tables for the 80 delegates to beerected in the aisle for these continuous ten-hour-a-day conferences, made the sense of uniqueness in theoccasion and the representative character of theconference all the stronger.

A REVOLUTION IN THOUGHT

To try to cram even a catalogue of the subjectsand discussions into a short article would be futile.The first outstanding issue is the absolute convincingproof that emerged that in the last five years a re-volution of thought, spirit, and structure has begunin those areas that cannot be paralleled in a thousandyears of Moslem history. Pan-Islamism is dead, be-cause the new volcanic national movements (whichhave created a new Egypt with Raghloul Pasha atits head, a new Turkey with Mustapha Kemal, anda vibrant Arab world with King Hussein as itsgreatest leader) have broken the old unity of theMoslem world as surely as the rising nationalisms inEurope broke the old Holy Roman Empire.

The shattering impact of the War itself, therise of clamant nationalisms and race movements cut-ting across Pan-Islamic policy, the Bolshevik ferment,the Caliphate agitation, the increased government of


Islamic peoples by European Powers, the critical de-bate on the civilisation of Christendom, the eastwardspread of European scepticism, the rebellion againsttraditionalism and external authority, the hunger forknowledge of new scientific thought and invention,the canvassing of the status of Oriental womanhood,the growing spirit of fraternity in and with theOriental churches, and some strong reactionary move-ments, are all factors in producing a profound andwidespread change that can be described soberly andwith precision as epoch-making.

Every phrase in that paragraph stands for newand highly powerful movements, and the conferencein Jerusalem had within it the men and women who,through daily and hourly contact, understand thosemovements with unsurpassed intimacy.

The astonishing new development of transportacross these areas, revealed in the conference, showedthat unity of plan and purpose for Christian workersin those areas was possible for the first time. Forinstance, to-day, instead of having to go to Baghdadvia Bombay, you can reach it in nine days fromLondon by a 19-hour non-stop motor run fromDamascus, taken every day by a regular flotilla ofcars; while in a few months it is expected that asimilar service will run right up into Persia. Themagnificent new motor roads of North Africa, theextension of the Baghdad railway, the trans-desertrailway from Suez to Jerusalem, and so on, all helpedto make it possible for the first time to plan thecreation of a new International Council ranging fromPersia across to Morocco and from the Soudan tothe Caucasus. It is astonishing that it is easier nowfor people from all those areas to meet, say, in Cairothan for people from the different regions of China tomeet in any one city of that land.

Following its first recognition of the swiftlychanging life of these ancient lands, and this newpossibility of unifying action, came the convictionthat the truly Christian approach to peoples of theseareas must not be that of a crusade, but of a de-velopment from within the peoples themselves of newleadership and life. It was recognised that thespread of the Kingdom of God in these lands couldbe achieved only by the churches of the countriesthemselves, both the ancient and the newer ones. Thedelegates came to a profound sense of shame at thewrongs which Western civilisation has perpetratedthroughout history, and felt that the old bloody feudsof race and greed can be healed only by a new spiritof reconciliation.

The practical "findings" of the Conference onthe occupation and accessibility of the lands and thepeoples, the methods of evangelisation, the develop-ment of the Church, education, leadership, literature,the new needs of womanhood, the meeting of medical

and social needs, and the expansion of co-operationare during this summer to be brought before themissionary organisations of North America, Britain,and Europe, not only through the missionary societyboards, but on the wider range of the platform andliterature.

In toto, the conference at Jerusalem revealed anew situation, which undoubtedly calls for a quitefresh alignment of thought and policy on the partof Western Christendom, not only religiously, butpolitically, for the peoples of the Moslem world.

A stately Mahommedan pensioner came to ourbungalow this morning for sympathy and help. Hetold us that his grandson was very ill, and asked usto go and try to heal him. After a hurried meal wecycled off to this Mahommedan home. As we ap-proached the home we heard the wailing of the womenwithin the courtyard. The old pensioner came outto meet us. Inside we found a group of relativesaround the poor little patient who lay on the verandah.The grandson's eldest sister, a bright little girl ofsix years-, was caressingly smoothing her brother'shair. Her large brown eyes filled with tears as shelooked up appealingly for us to try and save herbrother. A glance at the patient was enough to con-vince us that there was no time to be lost, so we toldthe grandfather to send for a doctor at once. Hereplied that he had sent twice but that the doctorhad not yet come. Suspecting pneumonia, we cycledback again for materials for poulticing. Withintwenty minutes we were back again. This time noone came out to meet us, and the sound of weepingwas louder. We entered the courtyard, but theAngel of Death was hovering about the sufferer. Theeyes of all again turned appealingly to us, but weknew there was no hope. We placed a sympathetichand on the shoulder of the stately old man andwatched. We had waited but a moment when thelight nickered out of the bright brown eyes. Thepensioner's grandson was dead. The whole strongframe of the pensioner trembled with a terrible grief.He walked with us across the courtyard. Our handstill remained on his shoulder, and he seemed to leanhard on us for sympathy. We yearned to say some-thing that would comfort, but our lips were sealed,—sealed because the heart-broken old pensioner was ofanother Faith. He sorrowed not as we sorrow; hesorrowed as others who have no hope! We returnedhome with a heavy heart, determined to live, to per-suade, to preach with new passion, and zeal and love,the Story of the Hope that is in Christ Jesus.—OurBond.

"Your Prayers are almost everything to us. Often the mails aredelayed, and we may be weeks letterless, as in many another land theyare months; but the prayers come via heaven, and God forwards theanswers straight on to us. Dear friends, will you not send us ever somany prayer telegrams? Pray for us whenever you think of us, turningthought into prayer, and know that not one ever 'mis-carries.' Nor willthe answer come too late."

— A Missionary in Japan.

But our Lips were Sealed.


The Children's Column.By UNCLE OLIVER.

It's Growing Time.

"Fine growing time this," said the farmer, rub-bing" his hands with delight as he walked. Therewas but little to sec as he looked over his big field,for a steady rain was falling, but the farmer did notwant to see things; he knew. Seeds and all sortsof things were in the ground, and soon would beshowing themselves. But some of us cannot wait,and because we are so very much in a hurry we digour seeds up to see whether they are really growing.The farmer knew that, first of all, the seeds werevery busy below the surface making sure of thingsby getting a good root hold. You could not see themat work, but they were growing at the bottom first.All the winter the trees had been storing up theirlife underground and out of sight. Oh, no, youcould not see anything; neither is there much totake notice of when boys are working at theirlessons. They, too, are storing up knowledge fortheir life. We all have to begin to grow from thebottom, for only mushrooms grow in a night.

It 's growing time now, and the sap begins torise in the trees, and every little plant is busy grow-ing inwardly. There is a wonderful growing placewithin each of us—the heart, which is our life. Ifthe heart ceased to do its work for one hour or less,we could not live, but if the heart is growing it iswell. On a garden heap someone had carelesslythrown some daffodil bulbs; over and around themdust and rubbish had gathered, and later a fire hadbeen lit to burn the rubbish up. One day, out ofthe ashes there peeped a tiny sheath of green thatopened out into a beautiful daffodil. Buried in dust,scorched by the heat, its heart was sound, and whengrowing time came it flowered. It 's most importantto grow inwardly, for there is the secret of allgrowth.

We all know something about the boy Samuel,and of him it is written that "he grew before theLord." Others did not know what was going on inhis heart because he was growing inwardly, but itwas known, and "he grew on and was in favour withthe Lord, also with men."

Next outward and upward, for the time comeswhen we know that there is growth, because we cansee it. We cannot remain always the same; we mustgrow somehow, for growth is the law of life.

"Hurrah! Hurrah!" say the trees, "we aregrowing; look at us. Soon we shall have not onlybuds but leaves." "Our business is growing," saysthe merchant, "and I am becoming a very rich man.""Growing; yes, I am growing stronger," says thepoor sick person; "soon I shall be able to do asothers.'' We are growing older and happier," sayfather and mother, as they watch their girls and boysgrowing.

But swelling is not growth. A swelled head doesnot mean a wonderful growth of brain; neither is aswollen face a sign of growth, as many a boy knows.

It's growing time, and everybody seems to begrowing; but how are we growing and how shallwe grow? "Grow in grace and in the knowledge ofJesus," so it is that Peter, the friend of Jesus, tellsus in his second letter. "In grace—what's tha t?"Why, just every kind of goodness. "Knowledge?"Yes, but not merely book knowledge or head orschool knowledge, but in the learning of Jesus.

To learn what He was and what we must be isjust to grow like Jesus, Who, as Luke tells us, ad-vanced inwardly in wisdom, outwardly in stature, andupward in favour with God. There is no better wayto grow than this.

About India.

One-fifth of the human race lives in India.

India's area is 1,802,000 square miles, 60 percent. of which is administered by Great Britain,it is eight times the size of France, or as large asthe whole of Europe without Russia.

India's population is 315,000,000— about threetimes that of the United States. India has morepeople than are found in all Europe outside Russia;the Punjab has as many as Spain and Portugalcombined.

Illiteracy is much greater among the womenthan among the men. While 106 men in each 1000are literate, only 10 women in each 1000 can readand write. Only 18,000,000 people can read.

Millions go to bed hungry every night in India,for in hundreds of thousands of villages the soil isinadequately tilled, rotation of crops is practicallyunknown, poorly-fed cattle are in the pasture, andthen often the rain fails to fall.

Whole village groups are asking for baptismin some parts of India. The people are mostly fromthe low castes, whose only hope is in Christianity.This is called the "mass movement" toward Christ,because they move in families and in groups ratherthan as individuals.

THE"ALL BRITISH"

LESSONSAre becoming increasingly popular inBaptist and other Sunday Schools.

THERE'S A REASON.

A Baptist Sunday School Superintendentwrites: "I look upon these 'All British'Lessons with favour, and so do the teachers."Another Superintendent writes: "The BritishGraded Lessons are vastly superior to anythingwe have previously used."The "All British" Lessons comprise a wealthof splendid material for teachers and scholarsin each grade, including superior Annual andQuarterly Helps for teachers and for thescholars, coloured picture rolls, coloured pic-ture cards, folders, and lesson papers—allprepared by British experts.

Send for Free Descriptive Leaflet and Samples.

A. H. REED"Pioneer of the Best Lesson Materialfor New Zealand Sunday Schools."

Express Company's Building,DUNEDIN.


Young People's Dept."Give us the young, and we will create a New Mind

and a New Earth in a single generation."Acting Secretary: W. H. NEWTON, Chairman ofExecutive, 38 Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn, Auckland.

The following additional gifts to the funds aregratefully acknowledged:— Previously acknowledged,£14 16s 7d; St. Albans, £1 3s 6d; Gisborne, £ 1 ;Spreydon, £1 17s; North-East Valley, £1 1s; Gon-ville, £1 3s 10d; Timaru, £2 5s; Invercargill North,£1 2s; Island Bay, £1 5s; Hastings, £1 6s 7d; Lin-wood, 11s; Napier, 10s 6d; Ponsonby, £l 4s 6d;Palmerston North, £1 0s 6d; Sydenham, 7s; Ber-hampore, £1 13s 7d; Westown, New Plymouth, 8s 6d.Total to September 17, 1924, £32 16s 1d.

Sunday School ExaminationResults.

Papers. Marks.37165

3410423

4422

5314

111

Not158

Not9

278

2310Not976

18Not33

910101125

116151012Not

2129540254

1702343

148497

2654902225

1115135774

75taken

490418

taken496

1942588

1338442

taken700382440

1180taken

2107460659395883

155925

850788703618

taken

Papers.4619164119421557265

31191177

1586

1027

92420

1Not76

202533

910101126

51615101212

Marks.30801220†937

259312572279100441561342306

17961012877441447777567377615

1928*730

16561136

72r e c ' d . *

425460

135214712204

514704575845

1724‡267

1029§768758818669

Marks.520917601191429516003763110168102244531

291111471651516447

1267985377

11113870131829941578

72700807900

253214714311

9741363970

17283283

2921879155614611436669

(*) Wellington S.S.U. marks.(†) One paper (S.S.U.) missing:. Scrutiny now in

progress.(‡) Two papers (S.S.U.) missing. Scrutiny now in

progress.(§) One paper (S.S.U.) missing. Scrutiny now in

progress.

Forty-one schools participated, presenting 690candidates, of whom no fewer than 133 did not. takethe denominational paper.

Owing to the failure of no fewer than 43 secre-taries out of 65 to return the statistics asked forJune 9 and the fact that in many cases the returnreceived certifies the school to have neither teachersnor officers, the allocation of the Union ChallengeShield cannot be determined. Will secretaries pleasesend me at once the number of children on the rollat the end of the March quarter who (a) being undernine years of age, entered and sat for the examina-tion; (b) were aged between nine and 17 years,whether they sat or not.

WM. H. NEWTON,Chairman of Executive, Y.P.D.

September 16, 1924.

In the denominational section of the examination,the following candidates headed the lists in theseveral grades:—

DenominationalSection.

S.S. UnionSection.

EdendaleEpsomGisborneGrange RoadHamiltonManurewa HomeMilfordMount AlbertPonsonbyOtahuhuRichmond, G.L.Te HaparaThamesWaihiWhangareiWhite SwanGonvilleHastingsHaweraIsland BayNapierNelsonNew PlymouthWestonPetoneWanganuiWanganui EastAshburtonOpawaOxford TerraceSt. AlbansSpreydonTimaruGoreHanover StreetInvercargill N.N.E. ValleyOamaruOwakaRoslynSouth Dunedin

41 Schools 557 29,892 690 45,188 75,180

TotalGrade I.—Teachers and officers; 14 candidates.

Mrs Ross Penman, EdendaleMiss May Penman, Mount AlbertMiss M. A. Carpenter, RichmondMiss Elsie Carpenter, Richmond

Per cent.98908576

Grade II.—Bible Class members (over 17 years); 15candidates.

I. M. Lilly, Mount AlbertMiss Phyllis Utting, Mount Albert

7572

Grade III.—Senior scholars (ages 15 and 16 years);57 candidates.

Miss Olive Jarvis, EdendaleMiss Phyllis Gear, EdendaleMiss Irene Finnie, Hanover StreetMiss Amy Thompson, Mount AlbertMiss Molly Takle, Oxford Terrace .Miss Dorothy Ferguson, GoreMiss Rene Frobarth, GoreMr Cyril K. Smith, Hanover StreetMiss C. W. Harper, GoreMiss Ruby Browne, EdendaleMiss Annie Smith, Mount AlbertMiss Nellie Scruton, Manurewa HomeMiss Edith Spencer, WaihiMiss Dorothy Hyde, Mount AlbertMr Jack Fraser, Oxford TerraceMr James Brand, GoreMr Harold McFadgen, Oamaru

Grade IV.—Ages 13 and 14 years.

Aubrey Baigent, AshburtonRoberta B. Poison, SpreydonAileen Thompson, Oxford TerraceEveline Lambie, RoslynRona Jennens, NelsonPatricia Taylor, PetoneMargaret Bollard, Hanover StreetArthur Thomas, SpreydonLyle Latimer, Hanover StreetStanley Day, NelsonSybil Berry, GoreMavis A. Andrew, Oxford TerraceLinda Loy, AshburtonMona Whitworth, PetoneCarrie Smith, Island BayDelta Kershaw, NelsonLily Lambert, ThamesGeorge Lambert, Thames

9695949392928584827978767572717171

Per cent.999796959594929290908585858585858585


Grade IV.—Ages 13 and 14 years (Continued)—

Merlin Burgess, EdendaleJessie McKay, Hanover StreetHelena Gibbs, Island BayHarry Hesketh, Island BayAlma Keen, OwakaJessie McHutchen, Island BayMarjorie Lewis, AshburtonRobert Reid, North-East ValleyAlbert Mudd, PetoneJoyce Wattam, Mount AlbertBeatrice Hammond, GonvilleFrank McArthur, HaweraMae Donaldson, Oxford TerraceBarbara Jones, Oxford TerraceBetty Yeoman, AshburtonLois Wade, AshburtonFlorence Crawford, AshburtonMavis D. Larcombe, St. AlbansAlbert Blair, Oamaru

Per cent.80808080757575757570707070707070707070

Mavis Shute, Wanganui EastHetty Takle, Oxford TerraceD. W. Thomas, SpreydonEileen Rowton, EdendaleViolet Childs, Oxford TerraceZealand Isbister, ThamesKeith Edridge, Island BayConstance Gibbs, Island BayJean Davis, Oxford TerraceHazel Mason, Hanover StreetMarjorie Sheffield, EdendalePhyllis Cory, EdendaleJoan Loy, AshburtonThelma McKenzie, Richmond, G.L.Kenneth Sheard, Island BayEdna M. Hudson, Island BayCyril Smith, Island BayNaomi Yeoman, AshburtonArnold Hopkins, AshburtonNancy Hopkins, AshburtonElinor Pitt, Oxford TerraceBetty Thompson, Oxford TerraceFrances Reddell, Oxford TerraceEdna Keen, OwakaDorothy Young, SpreydonDivina Ferguson, GoreDoris Brown, Hanover StreetClifford Wallace, Grange RoadEsma Gussey, Manurewa HomeAmy Caite, NapierHelen Hercus, Oxford TerraceRita Kennedy, TimaruClifford Lakeman, GoreEric C. Smith, Hanover StreetWilliam Benfell, North-East ValleyGladys Winsor, Mount AlbertAlma Stewart, Mount AlbertZaida Brown, Mount AlbertEsther Doust, GonvilleVera Ings, NapierCharles Bradley, EdendaleDorothy Watts, EpsomDoreen Notten, PonsonbyPhyllis Brown, ThamesDouglas Franklin, NapierGwenneth Jordan, Oxford TerraceJoan Burt, Oxford TerraceMarjorie Cooper, OwakaSydney Handisides, SpreydonCassie Handisides, SpreydonVerner Cooper, Hanover StreetArthur K. Smith, Hanover StreetRalph Jones, North-East Valley

Arthur R. Crews, OwakaIvor Ferguson, GoreMima Purnell (under 9 years), ThamesBetty Greenwood, Grange RoadJohn Eastwood, Manurewa HomeJoyce Teixeira, Mount AlbertJoan Donovan, ThamesShirley Hobbis, ThamesDudley Aires, Island BayDorothy Hesketh, Island BayPeter Heal, Island BayHerbert Blackmore, New PlymouthGwladys W. Twose, St. AlbansGwendoline Hewton, OwakaDorothy Norrie, Grange RoadStella Norrie, Grange RoadKenneth Greenwood, Grange RoadPhyllis Purdie, Grange RoadMuriel Gibbon, Grange RoadGeorge Anderson, Grange RoadNoma Lord, Mount AlbertRoy Turner, Mount AlbertGrace Moore, Richmond, G.L.Peter Tait, Island BayDorothy Jesse, WanganuiFlorence Laws, Wanganui EastElsie Adams, Wanganui EastLeslie Hercus, Hanover StreetGwen Slack, PetoneMona Porter, PonsonbyEunice Wallace, Grange RoadMarjorie Stewart, Mount AlbertRay Smith, Mount AlbertKitty Tait, Island BayIsabel Jennens, NelsonEric Laird, NelsonNoel Keeley, TimaruRonald Thomas, Island BayViolet Cross, EdendaleKathleen Watson, Grange RoadRuby Body, PonsonbyKenneth Hudson, Island BayKeith Howan, Island BayJ. Noel Clark, Island BayPhyllis Lorna, Island BayMoira Dunstall, NapierNora Krahagen, NapierDoris Burt, Oxford TerraceCharles Rosie, OamaruRaymond Wright, OamaruJohn Taylor, Petone

Grade V.—Ages 11 and 12 years (Continued)—

Grade V.—Ages 11 and 12 years.Per cent.

1001001009898959595959290909085858585858585858585858585858080808080808080787878787875757575757575757575757575

Grade VI.—Ages 9 and 10 years.

Arthur Bell, North-East ValleyElva Baddiley, EdendaleDonald McMillan, WanganuiDouglas Cory, EdendaleFrank Diver, Manurewa HomeMax Neary, Manurewa HomeBarbara Wood, PonsonbyTrevor Cowell, Richmond, G.L.Gus Andrews, Richmond, G.L.Olga Booth, GonvilleEileen Tullock, HaweraElsie Heal, Island BayL. Searle, NapierDavid A. Dale, WanganuiLionel Beissell, Oxford TerraceJean E. Brasier, Hanover StreetWinifred A. Russell, North-East ValleyHilda Slack, North-East ValleyEllie Marks, North-East ValleyI. Henry, PetoneEva Fawcett, Oamaru

Per cent.757272707070707070707070707070707070707070

989898959595959595959595959592929090909090909090909090909088858585858585858280808080808080808080808080


May Plumpton, EdendaleKeith Houison, EpsomJoyce Petersen, Manurewa HomeStanley Spencer, Mount AlbertMavis Lord, Mount AlbertIan Stephenson. Mount AlbertFlora Sheddan, Mount AlbertR. Fanthorpe, Island BayMervyn Arthur, NapierAlan Foote, Oxford TerraceAlan Stanton, St. AlbansJoyce Cooper, OwakaRex Goldsmith, GisborneBruce Dow, Grange RoadNoeleen Bryson, PonsonbyPeggy Hammond, GonvilleMyrtle Carter, NapierCora McEwan, NelsonDoreen Aston, NelsonArthur Hislop, NelsonMolly Hatherley, St. AlbansHerbert Benfell, North-East Valley

The question: "You are not foolish enoughto believe in a God, are you?"

I believe in the skill that created a world,Long ago in a mystical dawn,

And stretched forth the heavens, with stars thicklypearled,

And dappled the coat of the fawn;I believe, for I, too, am a maker of things,

And I know what it is to achieve;I see a design in the butterfly's wings,

I am foolish enough to believe.

I believe in the love of a Father of All,Who is kind to the evil and thief;

A Giver of Gifts in the camp and the hall,With a heart that is wrung with my grief;

I believe, for the love of a father I knew,And not all in vain do I grieve,

His heart was the proof that the story is true,I am foolish enough to believe.

I believe in the love that came seeking afarTo die on a hilltop alone,

A love that no cross-shadowed vision could barFrom trying to care for its own;

I believe, for I know the great splendour of love,No fables my heart could deceive,

In my soul is a spark of the radiance above,I am foolish enough to believe.

I believe in the tomb that was riven one dayBy the conquering soul of a man,

That brought back the breath to the pale, bloodlessclay,

Fulfilling an infinite plan;I believe, for I see the green spears of the grass

From its place the fast-rooted rock heave,I see from its mummy the butterfly pass,

I am foolish enough to believe.— Berta Hart Nance.

Book Notices.

"Pilgrim's Progress," retold by the Rev. Pal-grave Davey. That unique man, young beneath hissilver thatch, Palgrave Davey, has issued a bookthat will, we anticipate, run into many editions. Hehas retold John Bunyan's dream. He has cut outrather tiresome theological debates and left, not aBowderised, but a humanised "Progress." Everyword of it will make its appeal to the child mind.People with children will be glad to know this. Thecharming little book is prefaced with a glowing intro-duction by Arthur Mee. The book itself is elfishlyillustrated by Maidie Tabuteau. To get the booksend 5s to the Book Manager, N.Z. Children's Mis-sion, P.O. Box 150, Auckland, and a copy in a card-board box will be sent back. Thanks, Mr Davey!

"Maid of Stoney Streams," by Faith Baldwin.(Sampson Low, 7s 6d net.) This very clean andbreezy tale is set in an American frame. It is thesort of quiet love story that does the reader good,as a day at the sea does. Sex problems do notstick out as they so often do in "the latest novel."One rises from the read with a clean and happy feel.The plot is slight yet sufficient. The tale is a littlewindow through which much real life can be seen.(Copy from Robertson and Mullins, Melbourne).

"Fidelis," by Jane Abbott. (J. B. LippincottCo., 1dol 75c). The sort of book to give to a girl.The authoress has won her spurs as a writer of girls'books. Her latest is worth a place on any youngmiss's book shelf. A young girl's struggle for schoolrecognition and the way she won it. A female edi-tion of the David and Jonathan affair with a hauntedhouse to boot make up the staple of a good, clean,and vigorous story. Copy from Robertson andMullins, Melbourne.

Loyalty to Christ, to our Denomination,

and to our Individual Church.

Robert Browning on our Lord:"That one face far from vanish rather growsOr decomposes but to recomposeBecomes my universe that feels and knows."

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

By the retiring President, Mr A. T. Dow, at theCouncil of Baptist Churches of Auckland, held atEpsom Baptist Church on Monday, June 30, 1924.

Brethren,—In seeking for a subject upon which tospeak to you this evening, I have endeavoured tofind one, which in my opinion, would be of practicalvalue to us all from an individual point of view, aswell as from a church and denominational aspect,and in choosing the title of "Loyalty," I trust thatL shall strike a note which shall awaken us to aneven stronger sense of duty as Christian men. Speak-ing as a military and business man, I have foundthat duty loyally done makes for one hundred percent. more efficiency than that carried, out becauseof compelled service. In military life, we find thatonce a definite plan is decided upon by the commanderafter consultation with his senior officers, the naturalthing to look for is that loyal co-operation of all sub-ordinate officers. Without the loyalty of all, theplan of campaign will probably fail. History sup-plies many striking examples of such incidents. Soalso with the business life. The director or managerwho cannot count on the loyalty of his subordinates,cannot be assured of final success. The value ofloyalty in all walks of life cannot be under-estimated.

Grade VI.—Ages 9 and 10 years (Continued)—

The Answer.

Per cent.78757575757575757575757570707070707070707070


Coming to the realm in which we desire to existus church officers—in the Christian life—we allrealise that before we can claim to have become a sonof God, we must first submit to our great glorifiedLeader, the head of the Church, our Lord and SaviourJesus Christ, and then to make progress in ourspiritual life, we must be loyal to our great Captain.Then, too, whilst the church on earth may demandthis or that of us as individual members, we must becareful that we render exact and full obediences toHim. If He says "Love one another," we must loveeven those who differ from us, even though they maybe our brethren. If He says "Preach the Gospel toevery creature," I as a church member must be readyto help the church to take the Gospel to the back-blocks of our own beloved New Zealand, and to thelands beyond the seas. in fact, in all great moraland social questions loyalty to Christ must eclipse allquestions of expediency. We must also rememberthat loyalty to those regenerated by the one Spiritis manifested by making the brother of low degree,by the world's standard, feel that in Christ's churchthere are no classifications of this kind, but thatgodliness and usefulness are the supreme qualities,and that all are one in the body of Christ. Comingto the Christian Church, we recognise that we areliving in a day when, though people cheerfully ex-tract all the advantages of' the Christian Church,they cheerfully avoid its responsibilities. it isnecessary, therefore, that we as officers must em-phasise "Loyalty." We must resist the tendencythat people have to give and work for all sorts ofenterprises and missions in preference to our own—the participation in the many kinds of missions whoseinner working history and statistics we know reallylittle about rather than respond to the challenge ofthe great difficulties and discouragement of EasternBengal—our own field. This aspect of our foreignmission work should be noted by officers who shouldsee to it that our members are loyal first to our ownfield. We must be loyal to our denomination, stand-ing by its enactments as far as conscience will allow,having a predisposition to agree rather than to differ.We have a glorious heritage in being Baptists. Dowe fully realise i t? Do we protect it as we should?Are we thoroughly earnest, loyal Baptists? Weshould have enough loyalty to wish to extend ourdenomination in the land in which we live. Let useach ask of ourselves, "Have I ? " Do I possessthat vision splendid when I should see a Baptistchurch in every place where there are enough peopleto form a cause. Then in the matter of our ownchurch, do we support all its activities. Forexample, do we realise it to be our loyal duty to at-tend our suburban meetings rather than rush off tothe more exciting and entertaining city eveningservices? Does the lure of the crowd attract us likemoths to a candle, or are we making Baptist historyin the suburbs? Romance and caprice rather than adownright steady prosecution of conscientious loyalduty is harmful to the character and training of usand all church workers. Again, do we give regu-larly and systematically that allotment or portion ofour means to our church funds, or are we haphazardgivers? Do we as officers realise our responsibilitiesin this matter, not alone with ourselves, but are wehelping our congregations to understand what is re-quired of them as church members? Do we recognisethe Scripture, which admonishes us in our giving to"Purpose in our hearts"? It has been a realpleasure to me to hear how many of our churcheshave progressed since they have adopted the "duplexenvelope scheme." Have we done our part to ourchurch as officers in encouraging this systematicmethod of giving, not alone amongst the seniors of

our congregations, but more particularly among theyoung people? if we have not, we have lost theopportunity of encouraging that spirit of loyaltyamongst the young. In dealing with loyalty tochurch officers, has it occurred to you that as ourofficers are elected by the votes of the members, thatonce there, they are entitled to confidence and re-spect. In the past, it has been found that in somechurches, to be in office is to be a target for criticismsand rude plainness of speech. We must train ourpeople to freedom of speech, but at the same timeto reverence the Scriptural office of deacon and elder.Again, loyalty to the church's minister. No militaryman, no man in any great and responsible position inthe world, no Prime Minister at the head of hiscabinet, should have more loyalty than your pastorin the church of Jesus Christ. In other spheres itmeans chaos if the leader does not lead. The min-ister should be protected by his officers from affrontsby ignorant but well-meaning members. It is notnecessary, I am sure, to labour the words whereinthe New Testament gives him his place, and if we areloyal to the commands in the N.T., we must en-deavour to loyally support the man of God wholabours amongst us. This, then, brings us to loyaltyto our fellow-members. We must stimulate the con-ception of the One to-day, remembering the Scripturalteaching that if one member suffer, all the memberssuffer with it. That not wealth, not position, butspirituality and intelligence combined with a capacityfor team work, should be the most prized qualifca-tions for officers of the church. Lastly, but notleast, loyalty to the truth.

It is a matter for sincere thankfulness that ourchurches and their pastors strike so clearly anevangelistic note. This is all the more remarkablewhen we consider the freedom and democracy of ourcongregational form of church government. We maywell believe it is the leading of the spirit of God.We must be loyal to the Bible as the inspired Wordof God, and not be carried away by those moderntheories and dogmas which lead us to the ditch. Inconclusion, to be loyal to Christ and the work that Hehas called us to, we should be rich spiritually—Godloves to see the wealth that He has enriched us within Christ worked out in our souls, so that we moveabout here in a certain spiritual dignity and mag-nanimity. God looks for these things. He hatesa certain smallness and nearness which belong tothe flesh among his people. The apostle Paul was"as poor yet making many rich." There was a large-ness of soul in him. Have we each and every onea "largeness of soul"? I pray God that He willawaken us to a sense of loyal duty to Christ, to ourdenomination and our individual church. God wouldhave the riches with which he has blessed us de-veloped amongst us, as we are in fellowship one withanother. May it be so in the power of the Spirit.

What do we plant when we plant the tree?We plant the houses for you and me;We plant the rafters, the shingles, the floors,We plant the studding, the laths, the doors,The beams and siding—all parts that be ;We plant the house when we plant the tree.

What do we plant when we plant the tree?A thousand things that we daily see;We plant the spire that out-towers the crag,We plant the staff for our country's flag,We plant the shade, from the hot sun free;We plant all these when we plant the tree.




ASHBURTON (Pastor C. S. Matthews).—Theusual weekly meeting of the Young People's Societyon Monday, August 25, took the form of an earlymembers' re-union, when there was a good gatheringof past and present members. Mr F. A. Silcockread a paper on the early history of the society,which was formed about 28 years ago and which hasexisted through the years and has been a very im-portant branch of the church activities. Severalother early members also spoke, and a profit-able evening was spent. We were pleased to wel-come Mrs H. B. Hughes, of Hastings, a former pas-tor's wife, who spent a few days among local friendsrecently. Rev. E. E. Smith, of Spreydon, occupiedour pulpit very acceptably on exchange Sunday, Sep-tember 7. One of the young people, Miss J.Saunders, was united in matrimony to Mr Percy Nobleon September 10, and received a presentation and thebest wishes from her church friends. The SundaySchool scholars' annual tea and entertainment tookplace on September l i . After the children's teathe church was well filled with parents and friends,when an excellent programme was submitted by thescholars. The proceeds, about £8, are for the Manu-rewa Children's Home.

AUCKLAND TABERNACLE (Rev. Joseph W.Kemp).—The sixty-ninth anniversary of the churchwas observed by two splendid services on Sunday,August 24. The pastor took as his morning subject,"The Diadems of the Redeemer," and in the even-ing, "The Prizes of Transgression." The next daywas observed as "Thanksgiving Day," when £260was brought in by members. A tea and public meet-ing followed, addressed by the pastor, Mr H. M.Smeeton, Rev. Farquharson Jones, D.D., and MrRussell Grave. A resolution of greeting was passedto be forwarded on in writing to the two personslongest on the membership roll, Mrs Tonson Garlicksenr., and Mr Chas. G. Hill, both having joined thechurch over sixty years ago. At the annual businessmeeting of the church, Mr S. T. Page, secretary,read a good report, showing that during the pastfour years (the period of Mr Kemp's pastorate) 300had joined as members, the roll total now standing at804. The treasurers, Messrs Lamb and Edmiston,prepared and presented a financial statement whichshowed their receipts as £5124. A further £1900had passed through the hands of the departmentaltreasurers. Of this grand total of £7100, two-thirds went to help funds outside the direct needsof the Tabernacle. "There is that scattereth andyet increaseth." A resolution was heartily passedexpressive of appreciation of the powerful spiritualministry of the pastor and acknowledging God's richfavours bestowed through His servant. Three much-esteemed members, advanced in years, have beentaken hence during the past month, Mrs Thomas E.Carter, aged 78; Mr Peter Hutchinson, aged 81; andour Senior Elder, Mr Edwin Turley. A referenceto Mr Turley appears elsewhere.

CAMBRIDGE (Pastor F. Discombe).—We areindebted to Mr Wilson, assistant minister, BaptistChurch, Hamilton, Rev. F. Rapps, late AucklandCentral Mission, and Mr Gilbert, of the localY.M.C.A., for supplying our pulpit recently. Atthe annual meeting of our B.W.M.U., held on Sep-tember 2, all officers were re-elected, a Bible beingpresented to Mrs Discombe (President) as a token oflove. Progress in our work was reported, our dona-tion to missionary funds being more than double thatof last year. We held our church annual meeting

on September 3, the officers elected being:—Secre-tary, Mr Peter Murray; Treasurer and Organist, Mi-Frank Broad; Deacons, Messrs Riley, Lea, Gilbert;Sunday School Superintendent, Mr Lea; Reporter,Mrs Lea. Our reports show a general advance inall sections of the church work, the envelope systemadopted 12 months ago having proved effective inreducing our debt. On a recent Sunday the BibleClass members presented Mr Discombe, Leader, witha Schofield Bible as an expression of love and esteem.

SOUTH DUNEDIN (Rev. Guy Thornton).—OnWednesday, September 3, we held our annual meetingand election of officers. The most interesting itemswere the annual report, balance-sheet, and buildingcommittee's financial statement. The annual re-port disclosed a satisfactory state of affairs in allbranches of the work. At the commencement ofthe church year our roll contained 109 names. Thisnumber has, during the year, increased to 124. Sun.day School and Bible Class rolls contain 233 names,including 20 teachers. Mr Ashton has almost com-pleted his fourth year as Superintendent. Uurtreasurer, Mr J. Downie, presented his report, which,showed a credit balance of about £30—a most gratify-ing result. Our secretary, Mr C. J. Darracott, laidbefore us the building committee's financial state-ment. This document fully substantiated our sec-retary's remark that the giving of the people has beento the point of sacrifice. Between £700 and £800has been raised during the past year, and this quiteapart from the general fund which also created arecord for South Dunedin. A comparatively smalldeficit on the new building remains, not to worry us,but to spur us on.

EDENDALE (Rev. H. R. Turner).—On Monday,August 18, the newly-formed Institute held the firstof its social gatherings. It was a Shakespeareevening. A week later it was with regret that wemet to say farewell to Mr and Mrs W. Dixon andfamily, so far as active membership with us is con-cerned. They have moved to a district too distantfor them to take an active part in our work. Therewere many expressions of appreciation of the workthey have done for Edendale. Mr A. R. Penmanspoke on behalf of the Church, and Mr Scampton onbehalf of the teachers of the Sunday.School, in whichMr Dixon and two Miss Dixons were teachers. MrCory spoke for the choir, in which there were fourmembers of the family. Mr C. C. Harris made asmall presentation to Master Dixon, aged 9 years,who has been a regular attender every Sunday morn-ing along with his father. Mr Wyvern Warin, onbehalf of the Boys' Bible Class, presented Mr Dixonwith a leather handbag. A book of "Daily Readings"was presented to Mrs Dixon from the choir. Lovelybouquet presentations were made to other membersof the family. Mr Dixon replied and spoke of thehappy time he had spent amongst us, and the in-spiration it had been to him to work at Edendale.Several friends rendered music during the evening.Rev. H. R. Turner occupied the chair and the churchwas well filled. A branch of the B.W.M.U. wasinaugurated on Tuesday, August 26. The followingladies were appointed to fill the various offices:—MrsTurner,, Vice-president; Mrs Scampton, secretary;Mrs Jarvis, treasurer; and Mrs Kiff, missionarycorresponding secretary. The branch commencedwith a membership of 11. Mrs Anstice addressedthe meeting. At a second meeting, Mrs H. M.Smeeton gave the address. Members from neigh-bouring B.W.M.U's. were present, and further addi-tions made to the membership roll. A sacred can-tata, entitled "The Rolling Seasons," was renderedby our choir—a very creditable rendering both byprincipals and chorus. The cantata was given underthe conductorship of Mr Cory, and added about £5to a fund for the purchase of a new organ.


EPSOM (Pastor C. Chant).—The Royal OakBaptist Mission, which was started in July, is makingencouraging progress. There is an attendance ofover 40 at the Sunday evening service, and onSeptember 7 a Sunday School was commenced. Ata baptismal service in our church recently three ofthe candidates were from this branch and nine ofthe friends there have linked up with us in churchmembership. To give an opportunity for Royal Oakand Epsom folk to become acquainted with eachother, a social was held in Royal Oak hall, and provedvery successful. On the eve of her marriage to MrC. Watts, a social was given in honour of MissDorothy Aspinall, who has been connected with theSunday School since its inception, first as a scholar,and also a faithful member and worker in the church.A presentation of a sea-grass chair was made fromthe church, and a beautiful vase from the SundaySchool. At the wedding on September 3, the churchwas filled with friends and well-wishers of the happycouple. The Y.M.B.C. celebrated their anniversaryin August, when about 120 young people were presentat a Sunday afternoon meeting and tea. Our fourBible Classes are now meeting at the conclusion ofthe lower school, thus making more class-room spacefor all grades.

GISBORNE (Rev. F. A. Crawshaw).—On Sun-day, September 7, a young people's baptismal servicetook the place of the usual Sunday School. Fouryoung people were immersed, and the service wasdoubtless an inspiration and example to many youngbelievers present. A contingent of the elderscholars from Te Hapara attended, and a combinedBible Class tea followed. Later a large congrega-tion gathered for the monthly song service, the popu-larity of which continues most marked. On Sundayevening, September 14, we had with us Rev. PaulKanamori, the "Moody of Japan," and the seatingcapacity of the church, which had been speciallyaugmented, was taxed to the utmost. TheB.W.M.U., under the capable leadership of theDominion President, continues to flourish. Anafternoon held at the home of Mrs Nicol was largelyattended, and the funds considerably swelled. Theannual meeting was held on September 4, about 40being present, and an address was given by thepastor. Mrs Toneycliffe was re-elected leader forthe ensuing year. Lantern lectures on "Pilgrim'sProgress" have been given by the pastor, both intown and Te Hapara, in the former instance in con-nection with the Young People's Institute. MrsToneycliffe, at a recent mid-week meeting also gave alantern talk on our mission field in India.

GONVILLE (Rev. A. J. Grigg, B.A.).—Muchsorrow was felt last month when we heard that ourfriend Mrs J. T. Smith had passed away. Althoughfor some time she had not been able to take anactive part in the church work, Mrs Smith had alwaystaken the keenest interest in the work of all thechurch organisations. Our Sunday School has suf-fered a great loss in the death of one of our seniorscholars, Miss Hazel White. During the visit ofrepresentatives of the Central Auxiliary, a combinedtea was held at Ingestre street, when the work ofthe auxiliary was brought under our notice, andpromise cards were distributed. Rev. Harry gavehis lecture, "A Cure for the Blues." On Thursday,September 4, some friends from the WestbourneSunday School, Castlecliff, gave a very enjoyableconcert in our church, in aid of our Sunday Schoolfunds. Their help was very much appreciated. LastSunday our church was lighted by electricity for thefirst time, and we found this a great improvement.

HAMILTON (Rev. Harold Hercus).—At the endof July the B.W.M.U. held their annual meeting.The reports showed a very successful year. Al-together £148 had been raised. £100 was sent tothe Missionary Union; a new sewing machine, whichwas badly needed, was purchased; Rev. Harry Jones'shouse linen was provided; material was purchasedfor the current year's work; and a small amounttowards our delegate's expenses to conference wasretained. Special efforts had been made to raisethe funds for some of the above objects. We hadthe privilege of a visit from Paul Kanamori, whooccupied the pulpit for one service. The BibleClasses held a rally early in September to fare-well Miss Nellie Gillanders, who leaves for Indiashortly. A large number of young folk attendedand were addressed by Miss Gillanders and Mr Her-cus. One of our young women, who has just finishedher training at the Waikato Hospital, is also offeringherself for our field in India. Six new memberswere received in at the Communion service at thefirst of the month, four of them being Junior BibleClass members.

HANOVER STREET (Rev. Knowles Kempton).—The work of the church has proceeded much asusual. The introduction of Redemption songs hasassisted in popularising the evening services, and atthe monthly Young People's gathering an orchestrahas been introduced. The Sunday School enrollmentnow stands at 250, the highest attendance of 220being recently recorded. To bring the parents ofchildren into contact with the teachers a parents'social was recently held. Several of them haverecently attended the church services. The YoungPeople's work in C.E. Bible Classes, clubs, "TuxisSquare," and "Hanover Girls in Training," andBand of Hope, has all been most encouraging.

HAWERA (Rev. E. N. Goring).—Since our lastreport the attendance at our services has been wellmaintained. Mr Goring is at present giving a seriesof sermons on "The Lord's Prayer." Those he hasalready given have been most inspiring. Miss Brit-land, who has transferred from Brooklyn, has takenup a class in the Sunday School. We heartily wel-come her. The lecture, "Tit for Tat," given by theRev. F. E. Harry in aid of the Auxiliary funds, wasa great success, the hall being filled and our quotaobtained.

INVERCARGILL (Rev. J. Carlisle).—Our pastorhas commenced a series of monthly addresses onpractical questions. Two subjects have already beendealt with, viz.:—"The Christian in Business," and"Does it matter what we believe?" Excellent pro-gress is being made with our new building schemeat Georgetown. The foundations have already beenlaid and much of the preliminary work is well underway. A pleasing feature about the scheme is thelarge amount of free labour offering from the men-folk of the church. We are particularly indebtedto Mr Carlisle for the amount of practical help heis putting into the work. The Women's SocialBand held a "Bring and Buy" sale recently at whicha little over £13 was raised for the new building.The financial side of this forward movement is caus-ing us some anxiety, but the move is an act of faithon the part of the church, and though our member-ship is chiefly composed of what is termed "workingclass," we are hoping to be able to open the newbuilding free of debt. Needless to say, donationsfrom old and new friends of the Invercargill churchwill be gratefully acknowledged by our treasurer, MrL. R. Lewis, Herbert street, Invercargill. Arrange-ments have been made for a stone-laying ceremonyto be held on Wednesday afternoon, September 24.


NORTH INVERCARGIL (Pastor L. A. Day).—We are glad to report that our pastor has recoveredfrom an accident which laid him aside lately for twoweeks. During the past 11 weeks, three back-sliders have been restored, and there have been tenconversions. In quite a few others there are "greatsearchings of heart" which, we believe, will bringglory to the Lord Jesus Christ before long. Theannual report was presented on August 4, showing17 as an increase of membership, and 23 baptisms.The average attendance at the Communion servicesstands at 55, and at the Sunday services, 85. Eachfinancial statement showed a small balance in hand.The following were elected on the committee:—Messrs Blomfield, Bryant, Jordan, Pay, Sherburd,Mesdames Bryant, Macphail, Miss H. Jameson. MissRobertson was elected "The Baptist" Agent, andMrs Macphail "The Baptist" Reporter. The weeklyprayer meeting has increased in attendance andpower, some 20 or more being present, and about15 attend the vestry prayer meeting before the even-ing service. The Sunday School has practicallydoubled, there now being 139 scholars on the roll.A visitor lately remarked upon its good order andefficient control. The East Road services have in-creased in attendance. Friends held a sale of workthere on August 20 and realised £36 for the build-ing fund. The Sunday School there, also, has prac-tically doubled.

LINWOOD (Rev. A. W. Stuart).—Our congrega-tions are being well maintained, and it is encouragingto have to report further progress, two new membershaving been received. The annual meeting of theB.W.M.U., which was held on September 4, took theform of a social afternoon, and the attendance wasa record. One new member was received. Splendidreports were read showing an increase both in mem-bership and in donations. Miss Moon also read thefirst annual report of our work for the ManurewaHome. Mrs Stuart was re-elected President. Amost interesting paper on the English years ofWilliam Carey was read by our President, and MrStuart read quotations from Pearse Carey's Life ofthe great pioneer missionary. The services of theRev. J. Hiddlestone, of Kaiapoi, and Pastor C. H.Matthews, of Ashburton, were greatly appreciated onthe Auxiliary exchange day, September 7.

MILFORD.—(Pastor E. Nicholls).—Since lastreport a new Alexander organ stool has been pre-sented to our church by Mr F. H. Wood. The op-portunity for such a gift was obvious to all, and theofficers of the church are very grateful to Mr Woodfor rising to the occasion. We are sorry to reportthat our pastor's youngest son, Lionel, has beenseriously ill for three months with a tumour onthe brain. He is slowly recovering, although stillquite blind. The special help of some and thesympathy and prayers of all the church people havebeen behind the pastor and his wife in their timeof trial. A C.E. has been started on Saturdayevenings and has been well sustained by the youngpeople of our church. The Sunday School wintersocial was given to the scholars, when an entertain-ing programme was given by the children under thesupervision of Mr J. R. Penning. A small sale ofwork was held to aid our manse fund.

MOSGIEL.—We are glad to report that the at-tendances at our church services are gradually in-creasing. Mr E. A. Benfell, who was a missionaryin Brazil for several years, has preached at most ofthe services for the last five Sundays. His sermonshave been very helpful and instructive. Mr Kaye,our choir-master and Bible Class Leader, has beenthe preacher at several of the Sunday morningservices. Some of the members of the Y.M.B.C.

assisted at the services, and two of the deacons gaveaddresses to the children. The prayer meetings arebeing led weekly by the deacons in turn. The Rev.R. Robertson (a former pastor) has accepted aunanimous call to the pastorate, and will commencehis ministry here on the first Sunday in November.We can assure Mr Robertson of a very hearty wel-come back to Mosgiel.

MT. EDEN (Rev. Adam Clark).—Our pastor hasbeen at Morrinsville conducting a mission. Muchprayer has been offered for this work. Our pulpitwas filled by the Revs. E.. Turner, Horn, and Anstice,also Mr Lilly. Mr Clark returned from the missionrather spent. We are looking forward to greatblessing at our coming jubilee. The boys' gym-nasium club held a successful social during the month.An aged member of our congregation passed peace-fully to his rest recently in the person of Mr Barker.Our heartfelt sympathy is with his daughter in herloss. We have had to part with one of our deacons,who is also our Junior Boys' Bible Class Leader. MrClarkson has taken a position at Waihi, and is leav-ing us immediately. He will be much missed by us,on account of his fine Christian character.

NELSON (Rev. J. Laird, M.A.)—During themonth we have had a visit from Rev. H. E. Harryand Mr W. Carey in the interest of the finances ofthe Central Auxiliary. The quota required fromNelson (£52) was reached within a few pounds,which it is hoped will be collected in a few days.Mr Harry delivered his popular lecture, "A Cure forthe Blues," before a large audience. A goodlynumber met the deputation at tea previous to thelecture, and a profitable hour of social intercoursewas spent. The Children's Worshipping Leaguehas been re-formed with encouraging results, about70 children attending the morning service. A re-cent wedding in the church was that of Mr PercyStewart with Miss F. Bertram. The bridegroom isthe second son of one of our early members, whosefamily have been long associated with the church.

NORTH-EAST VALLEY (Rev. S. Morris).—OnSunday, August 31, the members of the Young Men'sBible Class assisted at the evening service, when ourminister gave his quarterly address to young people.Thursday afternoon, September 4, the members ofthe B.W.M.U. met, when Mrs Richardson, who ison furlough from China, gave a most interestingtalk to them. On Sunday afternoon, September 14,the Dunedin and district Young Men's Bible Classesheld their quarterly rally at North-east Valley. Wehad the honour of afterwards entertaining them totea.

OPAWA (Rev. L. C. H. Barbour).—The build-ing of our primary department room is well on to-wards completion. We shall have a nice large roomfor our little children. A social was held on August13 to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs A. L. Scott, who,with their family, have removed to Dunedin. MrScott was associated with the Sunday School fromthe commencement, and prior to his leaving wasSunday School Secretary and Leader of the YoungLadies' Bible Class. He was presented with a clockand a brief bag. A united meeting of the B.W.M.U.was held at our church on August 20, and in theabsence of the Vice-president, Mrs Adams, was pre-sided over by Mrs E. E. Smith. Mrs Haycock, amissionary from South America, gave a very interest-ing address on the work there.

OXFORD TERRACE (Rev. J. J. North.)—Thework of the church goes on steadily. On the secondSunday of each month the evening service is speciallyevangelical. Mr North's sermons are appropriate


and powerful, the singing most effective, and thechurch crowded. The church choir is an immensehelp. We have recently welcomed several new ar-rivals from the Old Country and elsewhere. Wehave also regretfully said good-bye to some of ourmost faithful workers—the Spencer family havinggone to reside in Adelaide. Mr Spencer was theloved Leader of the Chinese Class, Mrs Spencer, theefficient and cheerful secretary to the B.W.M.U.,while Miss Spencer ably filled the same post for theY.P.I. Presentations were made by the ChineseClass to Mr Spencer, and the B.W.M.U. honoured MrsSpencer likewise. The annual meeting of the DorcasSociety was held on August 27, when a large numberof ladies attended and Mr North presided. The re-ports of the secretary (Mrs Thompson), and thetreasurer (Mrs Ingold) were well received, and SisterGrace gave an interesting and touching account ofthe work done during the year. She spoke of manyhomes that had been helped and gladdened by thework of the Dorcas Society. Officers for the ensu-ing year were elected, after which music and after-noon tea with social intercourse brought an enjoy-able afternoon to a close. An interesting feature ofthe meeting was a presentation, made by the Presi-dent (Mrs North) to Mrs S. R. Ingold, as recognitionof an endlessly sympathetic service. Since Mr Northreturned a year ago 52 people have applied to join thechurch. The William Carey afternoon at B.W.M.U.proved most interesting and instructive. The hallwas filled with missionary enthusiasts. Sister Gracepresided over the gathering. Extracts from the lifeof William Carey—his boyhood, his marriage, andearly service for Christ, birth of missionary society,journey to India, translation work, the first convert,Krishnu Pal—these had been prepared and were readby the following: Miss Roma Carey, Miss MargaretAdams, Miss N. Dawson. Their intelligent render-ing of the subject made the life of the pioneer ofmodern missions most realistic and interesting. Fol-lowing the readings, the audience joined in singingthe hymn composed by Krishnu Pal. It being thelast meeting at which our secretary would be present,the members of the B.W.M.U. and Dorcas Societycombined in making a presentation to Mrs Spencer,whose departure to Australia is much regretted.Afternoon tea was served at the close.

ST. ALBANS.—Since last report we have had avisit from the choir of our sister church at Opawa.The concert was very enjoyable and full of interestto all. Our Sunday School anniversary is fixed forConference Sunday and the Sunday following,October 12 and 19. We are busy practising and shallbe glad to welcome any visitors to conference. Ourchurch services are continuing to be a blessing to usall. Though numbers are not as we would wish, weanticipate that as the summer weather advances weshall see an increase. Mr Twose continues to min-ister very helpfully to us, and his visiting the parentsof the Sunday School scholars has made an improve-ment in the attendance, many coming more regularlythan here-to-fore. We were very glad to have PastorRobertson, of Oxford, on the Auxiliary ExchangeSunday. His ministrations on that day were veryhelpful. Our Band of Hope has held some goodmeetings this season, and under Mr Sykes's leader-ship it has welcomed many new members.

THAMES (Rev. W. E. Lambert).—During thelast month the church has suffered a loss throughthe removal to Paeroa of Mr and Mrs Amy, who havefor many years been active workers in the congrega-tion. On the 27th August, the ladies gave a socialevening in honour of the departing friends. Therewas a good attendance of members and severalspeakers complimented Mr and Mrs Amy on theirwork in Thames and wished them well in their new

sphere. The annual sale of work was held on the11th inst. in the Sunday School. The building hasjust been decorated and was handsomely decoratedfor the occasion. There was a copious display offlowers, produce, cakes, sweets, and handwork of allkinds. Business was brisk and nearly everythingwas sold. The proceeds amounted to £72, and theladies are to be congratulated on the fine result oftheir efforts.

TIMARU (Rev. H. G. Goring).—We are sorry tolose from our church one of our deacons, Mr C. W.Keeley; also our choirmaster, Mr W. O. Long, both ofwhom have taken up farming. A "Family Worship"service was held on a recent Sunday morning, whenparents, with their families, gathered for worship.Mr Goring took for his subject the "Perfect Home."The Busy Bees, assisted by the Endeavour boys, gavea most enjoyable missionary evening in the LascellesHall. Credit is due to Mrs G. Keeley for trainingthe children so splendidly. We were pleased to havethe Rev. L. Barbour with us for the CanterburyExchange Sunday. His messages proved very help-ful and were greatly appreciated. The combinedgymnasium classes gave a grand display in aid ofthe musical instrument fund. Mr E. Spence and ourpastor worked hard training the classes, and we wereable to add £10 toward the purchase of a new organ.

WANGANUI (Rev. S. Jenkin).—An "Orange"Sale, organised by the ladies of the B.W.M.U., re-sulted in £39 8s 5d being raised for missionary funds.The members of the Band of Hope recently enter-tained the children from the orphanage to a tea,about 60 children being present. On September 3,the prayer meeting look the form of a special servicefor new converts. The service fittingly concludedwith the Communion. The officers and teachers ofthe Sunday School are to be congratulated on secur-ing the services of Mr Jones as Superintendent. Wewish him joy in his work amongst the children. Atour last Communion service, our pastor received twofriends into church fellowship. The spring flowerservice was held on Sunday, September 14. An ap-propriate sermon was preached by our pastor. Theflowers were afterwards sent to the sick of our con-gregation and to the hospital. The choir held theirannual meeting. Reports were most encouraging.The officers were re-elected, and we look forwardto another year of useful service.

WANGANUI EAST (Pastor E. W. Grigg, B.A.).—Our branch of the B.W.M.U. has been busy dur-ing last month. The special effort took the form ofan American afternoon, and Cobweb social in theevening, the result of which was £12 sent forwardfor home and foreign missions. One Sunday even-ing during August, our pastor exchanged pulpits,when we had the pleasure of listening to CommandantMiddlemiss, of the Salvation Army. The youngpeople's interest in their Institute is growing, andthe ping-pong tournaments are well attended.

WHANGAREI (Rev F. Sampson).—The Socialevent of the month has been a send-off to Miss Mar-jorie Nicol, to whom the Education Board has grantedtwelve months' leave of absence to visit America.She hopes to spend part of her time there in educa-tional work. Miss Nicol's bright and cheerful pre-sence and help will be much missed in choir and Sun-day School. Spiritually we have a sense of comingblessing. Prayer is increasing. Besides the mid-week prayer meeting, there is the gathering of a fewat 7 a.m. each. Sunday. Before each of the Bap-tismal services we have held a very profitable and en-couraging all-day Saturday prayer meeting. Atthese services, which were held on three alternateSunday evenings, seven were baptised. Others aremaking enquiry. Again we thank the Lord and takerenewed courage.


WHITE SWAN BRANCH (Rev. H. R. Turner).—The work at White Swan maintains a vigorous life.The school keeps up its attendances, and changeshave been made which we hope will tend to carry outthe work more efficiently. Mr Penman, as Super-intendent, and Mr Scampton, as Secretary, who havecarried on the work in conjunction with their work atEdendale since the commencement, have resigned,and Mr Phil Turner, who has been connected withthe work for many months, has been appointedSuperintendent, and Mr C. O. Harris, Secretary andTreasurer. The Sunday evening services are wellattended. The Rev. H. R. Turner occupies the pul-pit on one Sunday in the month, and local friendshave very acceptably taken the services on the re-maining Sundays. Through the kindness of MrJarvis in procuring slides, the Rev. H. R. Turnerwas able to give a lantern lecture on the "Life ofChrist, during the month. The attendance and col-lection were alike encouraging. When we look backover the past year and remember that at last con-ference the work at White Swan was not commenced,and now there stands a visible witness for God in theshape of a church, and through the kindness of manyfriends, no debt outstanding on either land or build-ing, we are very thankful and feel that faith, andwork, and earnest prayer have been amply rewarded.

Reports from Oxford, Ponsonby, Petone, Ber-hampore, Palmerston, New Plymouth, and IslandBay reached Christchurch one day too late. Latestdate is the 18th. Verb Sap.


List of donations since last acknowledged:—Auckland.—Auckland Tabernacle Baptist Church,

£11 12s 9d; F. A. Cleveland, 5s; Edendale BaptistChurch, 14s 8d; Epsom Baptist Church, £4 14s 6d;estate A. Lawrie (deceased), £30; Otahuhu BaptistChurch, £1 5s ; Official Collector, £61 1s. Total,£109 12s 11d.

Christchurch.—Spreydon Baptist Church, £3 16s5d; Oxford Terrace Dorcas Society, 5s. Total, £41s 5d.

Dunedin.—Caversham Baptist Birthday League,£3 10s; N.Z.Y.W.B.B.C. Union, £57 16s 1d. Total,£61 6s 1d.

Thames.—Baptist Church, 13s 6d.Wanganui.—Gonville Baptist Junior C.E. Society,

£1.Wellington.—Brooklyn Baptist Church, £ 1 ; Ber-

hampore Baptist Church, £5 16s 5d; Vivian StreetBaptist Church, £3 5s. Total, £10 1s 5d.

Grand total, £186 15s 4d.

List of gifts to date:—Clothing.—Mrs F. Gaze, Mount Eden; Mrs A.

H. Collins, New Plymouth; Mrs McDonald, RussellRoad, Manurewa; Mrs Penning, East Coast Road,Takapuna; Mrs Dive, Arney Road, Remuera; MrsDreadon, Russell Road, Manurewa; Miss Moorhead,Auckland; Miss Woodward, Edminton Road, Hender-son; Tabernacle Ladies' Sewing Class; Gonville Bap-tist Dorcas Society (per Mrs F. Newton); "Anon."(per Mr F. Gaze).

Provisions.—Mr Walter (Remuera), buns andscones; Mr George Smith (Manurewa), four settingsof eggs, skim milk; Junior C.E. Society, WhangareiBaptist Church (per Mr H. White), case of lemons.

Sundries.—Mr Dearsly, "Young Citizen" papers;Mr D. A. Handisides (154 Gloucester Street, Christ-church), children's papers; Mr Finlayson (Manu-rewa), large quantity firewood; Mr Penning (EastCoast Road, Takapuna), Scripture roll; Mr A. G.Jones (Epsom), sample material; Mr Crornbie (Manu-rewa), one pair live bantams; Miss Woodward (Hen-derson), wool; Miss E. H. Brooks, one scrap book;Miss Moorhead (Auckland), books, etc.; "Anon."(per Messrs Smeeton), samples material; TabernacleLadies' Sewing Class, one bedspread.


Subscriptions received from 18/8/24 to 18/9/24.—Hanover street, £15 18s; Mrs Freeman, 10s; Kaiapoi,£4 13s; W. C. Dixon, £ 3 ; Brooklyn, £2 13s; Thames,£17 8s; Miss L. Cleveland, 15s; Island Bay, £1 2sl0d; Feilding, £2 0s 6d; Hastings Church, £1 1s 9d;Hastings Sunday School, 11s 6d; Richmond N., £33s; Hanover street Church, £6 14s; Hanover streetSunday School, 19s 2d; Mt. Eden, £3 18s 6d; F. A.Cleveland, 10s; Auckland Tabernacle, £31 13s; Lin-wood, £2 13s; Sydenham, £7 16s; B.W.M.U., £25;Mr and Mrs W. H. Newton, £ 1 ; Opawa, £1 12s;Caversham, £1 7 9s; Y.W.B.C.U., £106 18s 1d; Waihi,14s 6d; Roslyn, £2 4s; Mrs R. S. Gray, 10s; NewPlymouth, £3 9s 9d; Epsom, £2 5s; Edendale, 18s11d; St. Albans Sunday School, £2 13s 4d; Nelson,£8 1s 6d; Wanganui, £3 3s 8d; Gore, £1 18s; Feild-ing, £2 14s 6d; Oxford Terrace, £46 7s 5d; Roslyn,£2 18s; Ponsonby, £3 17s 4d. Total, £342 5s 3d.


Subscriptions received from 18/8/24 to 18/9/24.—Caversham Sunday School, £4 9s; B.W.M.U., £3212s 6d; N.E. Valley Church, 11s; N.E. Valley Sun-day School, £1 3s 2d; Gisborne, £6 16s; Mrs S.Peters, £4 ; Kaiapoi Boxes, £4 18s 7d; Kaiapoi C.E.,£1 0s 8d; Invercargill C.E., £2 10s; B.W.M.U., £4316s 6d; Greendale Sunday School, £5 0s 4d; Waihi,£1 5s; Miss L. Cleveland, £1 10s; Nelson, £5 17s 6d;Island Bay, £2 5s 8d; Hastings Church, £1 1s 9d;Hastings Sunday School, 11s 6d; Auckland TabernacleChurch, £ 3 ; Auckland Tabernacle Sunday School,£18 4s 4d; Auckland Girls' M.B., £ 8 ; B.W.M.U.,£111 3s 4d; Hanover street, £26 10s; Hanover streetSunday School, £3 9s 5d; Palmerston Worth SundaySchool, £2 14s 9d; F. A. Cleveland, 10s; AucklandTabernacle, £135 19s 3d; Rangiora Sunday School,10s; B.W.M.U., £96 10s 11d; Mt. Albert Church, £26s 3d; Mt. Albert Sunday School, £4 ; Kirwee, £4 0sl0d; Caversham, £18 8s 11d; Owaka Church, 12s 9d;Owaka Sunday School, £2 4s 3d; Oamaru, £29 5s 5d;Gisborne Church, £5 13s 1d; Gisborne Sunday School,£2 13s; Gisborne Te Hapara Sunday School, £3 13s11d; Y.W.B.C.U., £228 5s 6d; Edendale, 6s l0d;C. C. Harris, £ 3 ; St. Albans Sunday School, £5 6s;8d; B.W.M.U., £73 7s 8d; Nelson Church, £2 15s;Nelson Sunday School, £6 6s 6d; Thames Church,£17 8s 9d; Thames Sunday School, £2 14s 7d; Wan-ganui Church, £5 17s 1d; Wanganui Sunday School,£3 10s 3d; Wanganui J.E., £4 10s; Feilding, £119s 6d; Gonville C.E., 11s Id ; Gonville Sunday School,£5 17s 11d; New Plymouth, £2 9s 6d; Oxford Ter-race B.W.M.U., £73 4s 1d; Oxford Terrace Church,£32 15s 1d; Roslyn Church, £7 10s; Roslyn SundaySchool, £2 1s 6d; Ponsonby, £2 9s 4d. Total,£1101 6s 5d.

CONFERENCE NUMBER.

VOL. XLI., No. 491. NOVEMBER, 1914.









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THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST.ii.





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THE


40th Year of Issue—No. 491. NOVEMBER, 1924. Prlce 4d.Post Free 4/- per Annum

DIARY OF 42nd CONFERENCEOF

Baptist Union of New Zealand.CHRISTCHURCH, OCTOBER 8-15.

The 42nd Conference of the Baptist Union wasconvened (as Americans would say) in the city ofChristchurch, on the 9th of October in this year ofgrace 1924. Its chief figure, H. M. Smeeton, is awell-known layman and citizen of the city of Auck-land. His appointment last year in Wellington wasa particularly popular one, and people felt thatcourtesy and strength would be conjoined in thePresident of 1924. Christchurch (it can be saidwithout poisoned bombast) is a wonderful place inthe spring. England is in the air. The lawnshave not yet been rolled for a thousand years, butthey are very green. Willows from St. Helena standsentinel above the purest of rivers. Japan has senther flowering cherries. The Himalayas have con-tributed Rhododendrons. The sky has a cloudlesshabit, "from maze to blue maze." The Church inwhich Conference held its meetings is the TerraceChurch, situated on the river banks, its pillars wellfestooned with creeper. The scenery of Conferencecould not be bettered.

The climate of a conference is not, however, de-termined by wind and weather. Paradise can holda hell in its lap. And in grim surroundings aheaven may be set up. "The squalid streets ofBethnal Green," gave Matthew Arnold his sight ofthe brave preacher, who fed on Christ, the livingBread. We think that the assembling delegates feltthe constraints of the Spirit. They sought to matchparadise without, by paradise within. The frontdoor of the city for northern delegates is the worsttunnel in the world. Christchurch is engaged in anassault on a laggard government. None of themotor folk whom Mr A. F. Carey and Mr WilfredDrayton led, grieved to see smutty and coughingnortherners land on the station platform. It is thelocal theory that every visitor from the other islandbecomes an indignant agitator for the electrificationof the hole through the hill.

The Terrace Church possesses artists in flowers.They had given themselves to their task of beautify-ing the buildings with the utmost ardour. Lilieshad been brought in great abundance from beyondthe alps, and with club moss, made a wonderfullyeffective decoration scheme, devised (we wish to add)by Mrs T. W. Voller and Mrs Elsom. The firstgreat function of the Conference was the welcometea. The delegates from north and south flockedlike doves to the window. They were guidedthrough the baffling streets by their hosts. Thehall was crowded to capacity point. Nothing couldbe happier in the way of festal gathering. Theladies of all the local churches served tables. Postprandial eloquence flowed smoothly. The Mayor ofthe city, Mr J. A. Flesher, a well-known Methodistlayman, spoke graciously. He found himself verymuch at home among the Baptists, and amused him-self and us with figures among which he good-humouredly lost himself. Mr Flesher found pleasurein the four square social enthusiasm of our Church.

The local welcome was voiced by Mr A. F.Carey and Rev. J. K. Archer. Mr Carey was in linevoice and humour. He struck high notes. Hehad handled the ticklish task of arranging hospi-tality. He found beds for over 120 outside dele-gates. He was astonished to find that his min-ister's offer of "the equivalent of an angel" had notbrought business. Hostesses frankly did not wantangels. But he judged they had made pleasanthuman contacts. The Rev. J. K. Archer was greatlyimpressed by the number of young men delegatedto Conference. He paid effective tribute to veterans,and to the liberty in the Gospel found among theBaptists. The Vice-president, Mr T. E. Toneycliffe,replied with a varied humour, in which climate, con-cord, and other things figured. The Rev. F. E.Harry, last year's host, concluded the feast of witand wisdom. He has been host to 16 Australian



246 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. November, 1924.

Conferences, and so is a scarred and seasonedveteran. He is, as "blue" people generally know, aninimitable raconteur. He gave us a "cure" pillfrom a London cabby. Cabby had been hurt by ascowl from another cabby. He threatened thescowler. The scowler protested innocence. "Garon, yer gave me a nasty look." "I know yer 'avea nasty look, but I didn't give it to you." Nobodyexpects a very exact application of an howler. Wewere well content to laugh with our retailer of optim-ism.

The Presidential.The Church, looking its best, was well filled

to honour the President, and to hear his message tothe denomination. The Chairman, the Rev. F. Rad-ford, held the reins well. He was supported by avery strong choir. Service commenced with aglorious singing of the Te Deum (Jackson's). Allgood Baptists know "Jackson's ." We remember300 British delegates standing on the decks of the"Marlock," in the waters before Stockholm, andsinging unaccompanied the immortal adoration. Wethink no better note could be struck for an open-ing "exercise." The choir, under V. C. Peters,sang the "Gloria in Excelsis" in an unforgettableway. Mr Secretary cleared notices away in vigorousstyle. With some well-chosen introductory remarks,Mr Smeeton was on his feet, facing the ordeal of his"presidential."

It appears that five minutes after his election thenew President knew what his address at the year'send should be. We imagine that is a record per-formance. But Mr Smeeton's Christian life hasbeen to some extent devoted to the solution of theproblem, of money. We happen to know that headopted a scale of giving when he was poor, whichhe has pursued unflinchingly through the years of avery active and successful business life. Mr Smee-ton is persuaded that money is all right if it isrightly used. He hunted Papini (who calls it dirtystuff) with a whip. While the science of gettingholds the town, he would have the Church cultivatethe joyous science of giving. He opined that Jewsgave 50 per cent. in the hey day of the faith of theOld Covenant. The method that Mr President be-lieves should be everywhere adopted is the DuplexEnvelope. He would have every church face itsfinancial problems with boundless hope. Let themput up a budget, and ask the membership to under-write it. Let a rise in salary or profit be instantlyreflected in the regular envelope gift. Let newsfrom the mission field be so well distributed thatthe mission half of the envelope may be very buoy-ant. Mr Smeeton gently disclaimed knowledge oftheology. He showed an abundant knowledge ofhis own subject. We hope that in every church thepeople will worship God with their offerings. Ifthey do the local optimist will be the treasurer.

Introducing the Business.The first sessions of Conference were prefaced

by a 7 o'clock prayer meeting conducted by the Rev.Harold Hercus. A 9 o'clock prayer meeting waspresided over by the Rev Keith Ewen. At 9-30 thewhite cloth of the Lord's Table was spread, and atits head the veteran minister, Rev. C. Dallaston. Apleasant sunshine fell upon the hosts of lilies, andupon the hushed and reverent group of worshippers.The signs of salvation were distributed by six min-isters. This is the first time that we have so com-menced a Conference. We hope we shall always doso in the future.

Thursday's Narrative.INTRODUCED BY REV. A. ANSTICE.

A full attendance of delegates greeted the Presi-dent with a stirring welcome, as in a few well-chosenwords, he opened the first business session of Con-ference. The following Conference officers were ap-pointed:—Minute secretaries—Rev. L. Day and Mr L,Crampton; Organists—Miss R. Collins and Rev. R.Turner; Press reporters—Revs. H. Radford and A.Stewart.

"Roll Call" constituted Conference. In answer-ing, delegates were requested to "pivot" in order togain a more rapid acquaintance. This they obedi-ently did—not without some amusement. A fewwell-known names were greeted with applause,notably that of Mrs Woolley, Pastor W. Garner, ofOwaka Home Mission fame, Miss Marks, belovedmatron of "Manurewa," and our missionaries Rev.J. and Mrs Takle and Miss Rice. The Rev. C.Dallaston was associated as an "extra." Total num-ber of delegates, 145. Greetings from absentee well-wishers were received, and ordered to be recipro-cated.

Revs. J. J. North, W. S. Rollings, and F. Harrywere constituted a Public Notices Committee.

A resolution of sympathy with the relatives whoseloved ones had been called home during the yearwas moved by Mr H. H. Driver, and carried byConference silently standing. Foremost amongthose thus remembered was the name of Mrs A.North, who had been a faithful wife for half a cen-tury and a true helpmeet to the Rev. A. North inhis strenuous career as minister and denominationalleader. The Hon. Gilbert Carson, prominent inpolitical, social, and religious life, a past Presidentand great upholder of our Union; Mr Seering H.Matthews, for over 30 years secretary of the Auck-land Tabernacle, and Mr Geo. Maunder, who wasreferred to as having possessed singular beauty ofcharacter and integrity. The other names honouredwere Messrs H. E. Hiddlestone, George Calder, A.W. Hamilton, Croskill, J. Wood, Mesdames J. G.Fraser, J. T. Hannaby, T. H. Lammas, A. Chidgcy,J. M. Brown, E. Jackson, J. Russell, J. Hill, T. Hay-cock, and the Rev. D. Catchpole, who had so re-cently been called suddenly home from his labours inthe Berhampore Church. Mr Driver closed his re-marks with an apt reference and a poetic gem.John Wesley had said to his brother: "They maysay what they like, Charles, about our people; theydie well!" And these were the lines:—

"Man's life is but a working day,Whose tasks are set aright:

A time to work, a time to pray,And then a quiet night.

And then, please God, a quiet nightWhere palms are green and robes are white;

A long-drawn breath, a calm for sorrow,And all things lovely on the morrow."

NEW MINISTERS.

Ministerial status was granted to two brethrenin moving the reception of Pastor C. H. Matthews,the Rev. J. K. Archer referred to the good work doneby Mr Matthews, which had procured him ministerialrecognition, although the prescribed course of studyhad not been taken. In seconding, the Rev. J. J.North mentioned his sustained and successful workin Ashburton, where his name was fragrant. PastorL. A. Day, of North Invercargill, was proposed bythe Rev. H. K. Kempton, seconded by Rev. J. Car-lisle. Good work had been done as a student and

November, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. 247

high marks gained. Difficult work had been under-taken and successfully accomplished at North Inver-cargill. Both briefly replied.

As an evidence of advance three new churcheswere received into the Union, all of them suburban.Edendale (Auckland) had commenced independentchurch life with a foundation membership of 17, thisseparation from the Mt. Albert Church closely follow-ing the settlement of the Rev. R. Turner. Goodprogress was evidenced, and a branch already formedat White Swan where a building had been erected ona section given by a resident, and all now free ofdebt. Both church and branch are working in dis-tricts where no other body is represented. Opawa,in a flourishing Christchurch suburb, has more thandoubled both school and congregation under the inspiring leadership of Rev. L. Barbour. NorthBrighton is a new cause, and owes much to the in-terest and sacrificial labours of Mr C. Dixon and MrA. C. Stewart.

SECRETARY'S ANNUAL.

In presenting his 42nd annual report, the UnionSecretary gave praise to God for a year of progress.Membership had increased by 306, the figures being:

Finance had been well maintained, and newbuildings had been erected at Hamilton, South Dun-edin, Sydenham, N. Brighton, and White Swan. Afew pastoral changes had taken place during theyear. The services of the students to the churcheswere mentioned with gratitude. Referring to theincorporation of the Union, churches were urged toplace their properties in trust forthwith. Thirty-nine churches had been visited by the Secretary dur-ing the year; 224 names had been placed on therecorder's list; and a further tenure had been se-cured for the office premises. Thanks were ex-pressed to Rev. F. Harry, who filled the office so ac-ceptably during the secretary's absence from New-Zealand.

"AUXILIARY REPORTS."

The Auckland Auxiliary report was read by theSecretary, Pastor C. Chant. An effective visitationof the churches had been made by the President andSecretary, accompanied by the President of theUnion; and an official hospital visitor had been ap-pointed.

Mr Ivory read the report of the Central Auxiliary.A strong extension fund of £1000 had been estab-lished—£500 as a result of Rev. Harry's lecture tour,which incidentally had helped to cure New Zealandof the "blues." The Canterbury report, read byRev. E. Smith, sounded an optimistic note, good pro-gress being reported in all the churches. Mr H. H.Driver presented the Otago report. A year of ad-vance had been experienced, and a new cause hadbeen commenced at Invercargill. Pastor Garner hadbeen appointed to the Owaka Home Mission station.Appreciative references were made in each report tothe visits of the President and Union Secretary tothe churches, resulting in much cheer and encour-agement.

FINANCE.

The financial statement was presented by theSecretary. Of the total of £2105 19s 10d, thechurches had contributed £1978 15s 2d. Other note-worthy contributions were: B.W.M.U., £122;Y.W.B.C.U, £170 12s 8d; Young Mens' Bible ClassUnion, £100; and the result of the self-denial appealregistered £494 10s 9d. A pleasing feature was thebalance of £252 19s 5d, which, however, has sincebeen appropriated, and thus extinguished. The sumof £1317 1s 8d had been disbursed as grants in aidto churches. Two laymen had kindly donated toour headquarters an office safe. Their desire tomake our office "safe" is much appreciates.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Rev. W. D. Rollings introduced discussion onthe reports, during the progress of which the Rev.C. Dallaston availed himself of the opportunity toreturn thanks for the testimonial presented him dur-ing the year. Forty-eight years ago this month hehad accepted the pastorate of the Oxford TerraceChurch, proffered him through the Rev. C. H. Spur-geon, of the Metropolitan Tabernacle.

The Finance Committee's report was presentedand adopted. Discussion on this report and thefinancial statement was opened by Mr R. Ellingham.

The task of summarising the Church Secre-tary's reports was entrusted to the Rev. J. K. Archer,and was well performed. Some humour and muchinformation was extracted from the 55 reports sub-mitted. One church recorded a noteworthy achieve-ment. It had "crossed the snow l ine!" Mostchurches, however, reported a more genial atmo-sphere, and sought rather to bask in the sunshine.The brief survey was followed with great interest,punctuated by applause.

The report of the Rev. R. S. Gray MemorialFund showed that £495 8s 2d had been received dur-ing the year. The fund is well fulfilling the pur-poses for which it was created. From it this yearthe general annuity fund benefited to the extent of£50.

"OUR INFANT."

The report of our "Infant" Committee wasmoved by the Rev. E. Evans, Convener of the Liter-ary and Press Propaganda Committee. A newedition of the Rev. A. North's primer on Baptism,numbering 1500, and a Baptist history by the sameauthor, have been issued—1000 of the latter are al-ready distributed. Rev. L. B. Smith had workedstrenuously in fostering press propaganda. Thiscommittee may become self-supporting, and evenrevenue-producing.

Delegates were intensely interested in the dis-cussion of this report. The year's administrationwas praised and mildly criticised. It is apparentthat great things are expected of this committee inthe days ahead.

Second Day: Friday.

In the brightness of a sunlit city the delegatesgathered for the sessions of the second day, the devo-tional meeting being led by the Rev. A. Anstice.The Young People's Department had the privilege ofpresenting its report as the first business of the morn-ing. Mr W. H. Newton, the enthusiastic chairmanand acting secretary of the department, read withemphasis, interpolated with incisive comment, the re

RECORDED BY REV. S. MORRIS.

Removed—By DeathBy TransferOther methods

Membership, August 31, 1923—Admitted—

By BaptismBy TransferOther methods

Net gain

Membership, August 31, 1924—

370254201

825

64251204

519306

6821

6515


port, which the assembly found of great interest.The statistics revealed that there are this year 70schools, an increase of 4; a total staffing of teachersand officers of 932, an increase of 47; with scholars(under 17) 6409, an increase of 440; and Bible Classmembers (over 17) 1338, an increase of 37.

It was extremely gratifying to know that 732 ofthe teachers are Church members, and that at least150 scholars joined the Church during the year and89 became teachers. Forty-one cradle rolls contain837 names, whilst the membership of Senior ChristianEndeavours is 307 and the junior societies 800.

EXAMS.

The examination results were followed with keeninterest. Seven hundred and forty-one scholarsfrom 44 schools actually sat, which, compared with1923 figures, manifested an increase of one school and73 examinees. Unfortunately, only 548 candidatestook the denominational paper. Our newest school,and one of the smallest, Hina Hina. in the Catlinsdistrict mission, qualified for the high honour of head-ing the list of schools in the combined examinationresults, and becomes the holder of the ChallengeShield. The five next highest schools in order ofmerit are Edendale, Mount Albert, Island Bay, Gore,and the Manurewa Home. Through the generosityof an anonymous country Baptist, an essay competi-tion was made possible, the subject chosen being"The Baptist Church: What it Stands for." Thesenior prize-winners were Mr Gordon Hendry(Hanover Street) and Miss Marjorie Thornton (SouthDunedin); the juniors were Miss Edna Lowe (Caver-sham), Miss Olive J aw is (Edendale), and Mr A. J.Thomas (Spreydon).

Young People's Day was held among the schools,and the resultant contributions to the department'sfunds from 32 schools amounted to £37 3s 11d. Thelist is not yet complete.

The subsequent discussion on the report revealedthe great interest of the Assembly in our work amongthe young. Emphasis was placed upon the suggestionfor special literature for the use of our girls andboys. Opinion was divided concerning the appoint-ment of an organiser for the department's work, butabsolute unanimity was shown in the desire to developto the full the possibilities among the scholars of ourschools and the young people of our denomination.

BIBLE CLASSES.

The Young Women's Bible Class report preparedby the Dominion Secretary, Miss Olive Gibson, wasably presented by Miss D. W. Buchanan, and proveda most encouraging document. The Union has amembership of 965, an increase of 159, with 101 bap-tisms during the year. Three most successful campshad gathered the young women together in happyChristian fellowship. The syllabus prepared for theclasses has proved a great success, and is alreadyfinding favourable consideration among the YoungMen's Union. The finances showed a total of £60113s 10d, exceeding last year's total by £104 8s 9d.Foreign and home missions and the Manurewa Homebenefited by these efforts.

The young men of the North island Bible Classeswere represented by Mr E. W. Grigg, who read thereport of the Union, whose membership approachesthe 500 mark with some 45 classes. The Easter campat Awapuni was a time of inspiration to the 200 youngmen who gathered. The classes are taking a greaterinterest in missions in a very practical and financialmanner.

A cable of hearty greetings from Mr A. Hoby,who is at present in London, was received with muchwarmth, whilst a gracious and inspiring telegram

from the Rev. Alfred North, whose absence is muchregretted by all, brought tender reminiscences to allhearts.

At the close of the morning session, the delega-tion gathered outside the church for the benefit ofthe photographer's art, after which the welcomeluncheon adjournment.

The afternoon session received from the Rev. R.H. Kempton the report of the Students' Committeeand the diligent application of our students, MessrsCrampton and Eade, to their work.

Two deputations were introduced by the Rev. J.J. North; the first, whose spokesman was the Rev. S.Lawry, represented the New Zealand Alliance. MrLawry paid a great tribute to the interest and sacri-fice made by members of the Baptist Church in thefight against the liquor traffic, and appealed for acontinuance of that hearty co-operation in the presentcampaign. The reply of the President left the depu-tation in no doubt concerning the support whichmight be expected from the Baptist people.

The second deputation was from the ChristchurchMinisters' Association, in whose name the Rev. N.Webster extended the heartiest greetings and goodwishes to the Conference.

The greatest interest of the afternoon centredaround the report and recommendation of the specialCollege Committee, which was presented by the Rev.W. S. Rollings with persuasive feeling. The Assemblythen had the privilege of listening to a graceful ad-dress on the question from Professor J. B. Condliffe,of Canterbury College, who is also a member of theOxford Terrace Church. The professor's addressmade a great impression upon all present; his clear,decisive argument for a denominational college carriedthe weight of experience. Inter alia, the professordeclared that the ministry of to-day must take aliving and vital interest in social problems. The dis-cussion was carried on with vim by senior ministers,who quoted Whittier, and by younger men, some ofwhom likened themselves to minor prophets, whilstthe Assembly rocked with laughter. Mr H. H. Driveremphasised the splendid assistance rendered by theauthorities of Knox College to our students in thepast. With absolute unanimity, the first recommenda-tion of the committee was carried—"That it is desir-able that a Baptist College should be established inthe Dominion at the earliest possible date." The re-maining clauses were deferred for consideration at afurther session.

The motion standing to the name of the President—"That on and after the year 1925 the Vice-presidentof the Union shall ipso facto become President forthe year following—was seconded, and with smalldiscussion carried, and therefore will become operativeat next year's Conference.

The evening session was devoted to motions onpublic questions, with the President of the Union(Mr H. M. Smeeton) in the chair, and, although itwas the night in which extended business facilities areoffered to the public, a goodly crowd gathered tolisten to our Baptist orators.

The first resolution upon the liquor issue wasmoved by the Rev. W. S. Rollings in an impassionedspeech. Baptists, as Mr Rollings reminded us, havenever been in doubt, either in public or in private,concerning their convictions on the drink traffic. Westand to-day concerning the matter where we stood20 years ago. The traffic, badly founded, rests upontwo master passions: the passion for gain and thepassion for squandering; it is the prostitution of anatural appetite. Alcohol is man's all-round de-stroyer of his physical being, intellect, character, andsoul; the ally of disease and crime; stimulator andpropagator of every vice that degenerates the human



race. Corporate control, with its brazen propositions,was no remedy, for, were the drink traffic to be con-ducted by parsons or even Baptist deacons, it wouldnot lessen its evil. In pleading but soul-stirring sen-tences, Mr Rollings spoke against the introduction oflicense into the King Country, quoting as he closedRewi's great challenge to the force arrayed againsthim. Ake, ake, we will fight on for ever and ever!

The resolution, enthusiastically carried, ran:—We reaffirm our deep conviction that the only

cure for the evils of alcoholism is the entire elimi-nation of the liquor traffic through national prohi-bition.

We offer resolute and unqualified oppositionto the proposal for corporate control now beingconsidered by a parliamentary committee, believ-ing that it is in no sense a measure of reform;and further, that such would involve the State inactive partnership in what we believe to be animmoral trade.

We view with amazement and indignation theproposal to open the King Country to thelicensed trade. Such a violation of the sanctityof a national covenant, solemnly made and fre-quently reaffirmed, would be an unspeakable of-fence against the living and the dead of theMaori race, and would shame us in the eyes ofthe nations.

The Rev. J. J. North moved the second resolu-tion as follows:—

The Baptist Union of New Zealand viewswith concern the growth and menace of thegambling habit in this country. The Union be-lieves that the vice of gambling is inimical to allthe great interests of national life, and that aninitial mistake was made when State recognitionwas given to it by the legalising of the totalisator.The Union denounces the present attempt ofGovernment to enlarge gambling facilities by ex-teliding the number of race days, and holds it tobe a dangerous threat to public well-being. TheUnion believes that the hour has come for loversof their country to unite for the destruction oflegal recognition of the gambling contract.

"We are," declared Mr North, "a shocking ex-ample to older nations of how to play the fool inpolities." The Government stands convicted of des-picable political cowardice, for as soon as a questionof morals arises, it fails absolutely to give a lead tothe people. Instead of the country controllinggambling, gambling is controlling the country, whichtherefore stands in the pillory. We have everyreason since one of our ex-Presidents was so closelyidentified with the legalisation of the totalisator thatwe should be most emphatic on this question in anendeavour to undo the glaring evils of that greatmistake.

Those who were present will not forget the wayin which Mr North presented his resolution, whichwas seconded by Mr H. H. Driver and carried.

The Rev. A. H. Collins spoke upon "Good Citizen-ship," describing himself as an anti-climax to theprevious speakers. Youth and beauty had spoken withvigour and force, and "now doddering old age comesupon the stage with a sleeping mixture." Thespeaker traced the growth of civic privilege of re-sponsibility through the years till the present. Thepassage between the period of serfdom and theposition of chattels and slaves, and to-day with itsfreedom is a chapter not be read without wonder."Pass on the torch of t ruth; it passed to us fromancient sires, who kindled it at martyr fires; passye it on."

We are citizens, but what are we going to dowith it? (1) We shall use it. Votes are not toys,

but tools; and yet not more than 50 per cent. of ourcitizens count it worth while to use their votes, andthose who go have to be carted there like logs. (2)Use your citizenship unselfishly as a sacred trust andchiefly on behalf of the poorest and the neediest ofthe folk. We are afflicted with the bad citizenshipof good men. (3) Using our citizenship unselfishly,we shall give supreme place and regard to moralissues. A good citizen is a gentleman, a Christiangentleman. Mr Collins concluded a forceful, thought-ful address with Mr Blake's oft-quoted lines:—

I will not cease from mental fight,Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand.

Till we have built JerusalemIn Zealand's green and pleasant land.

Conference Concert.(By Our Own Reporter.)

All the evening meetings were greatly brightenedby a very strong combination which Mr Victor C.Peters had organised from the Oxford Terrace, Syden-ham, Spreydon, Opawa, and Linwood Baptist choirs.

On the Saturday evening the church was filledto overflowing to listen to the Conference concert.For two hours we enjoyed a musical treat that wasalmost unique. Whether the other cities of theDominion had ever heard a finer concert we do notknow, but certainly its superb qualities have neverbeen surpassed in Christc.hurch. Fourteen items, andevery one of them a "s ta r" ! Choruses, solos, quar-tets, double quartets, part songs, motets, anthems(unaccompanied), double trios, and the old favouritehymn, "Nearer, My God, to Thee," arranged as aquartet for male voices. All the accompanimentswere most sympathetically played by Mr W. MelvilleLawry, the accomplished organist of the Oxford Ter-race Church.

Conference Sunday.OXFORD TERRACE.

The services at the Terrace Church were verywonderful. In the morning there was a great andreverent congregation, and the service was led bythe Rev. Joseph Carlisle, of Invercargill. His finevoice and reverent reading of Scripture and leadingof prayer helped exceedingly. So, too, did the singingand the special choral items. In this setting of ex-pectancy, the Rev. John Takle rose to preach hislong-expected missionary sermon. Nothing could ex-ceed the impression created. Using the missionaryimplications of the book of Jonah and the revelationthere of national spite and of racial antipathy, MrTakle pressed on his hearers the critical position ofthe world to-day. He quoted two prayers—an Indianand an African—in which appeal to Christ is madeagainst the hated supremacy of the white man. Theessential character of the Christian faith as inter-national was stressed. The demand was made thatthe love of man as man, and irrespective of creedand colour, should be maintained in all our hearts.The Christ of all the world for all the world was pro-claimed afresh, and the congregation moved out intothe splendid day feeling the universality of the Chris-tian faith and His Lordship Whom our hearts love.

A very effective and beautiful children's addresswas given in the afternoon by the Rev. HaroldHerons, of Hamilton.

The evening service saw the church packed tocapacity. The officers managed, by lining the aisles,to accommodate the crowd. A full choir led the


worship. An unforgettable male quartette, "NearerMy God to Thee," was a feature. The disturbance ofthe congregation through a faint was very effectivelyquieted by chorus singing. The Rev. J. W. Kemp,with his Scottish accent, his virile form, his minglingof suppressed humour and of intense appeal, kept hisaudience intact till 8.30, and the concluding illustra-tion was, we think, the most moving and patheticthat we have heard. There was no doubt at theTerrace that we had heard great things. In theprovidence of the Spirit there will be a goodly harvestin the souls of men.

OPEN AIR.We had a wonderful time on a golden afternoon

on the green sward by the pleasant waters of theAvon. The rotunda was occupied by the TerraceChurch choir, with Mr Peters in command. Thecrowd that gathered at the call of some of oursweetest hymns was large and motley, and as orderlyas in church. Mr North presided, and after theLord's Prayer, in which the crowd joined, called onthe Rev. Keith Ewen. He, with his Scottish tongueand rolling tones, had a great hearing, and struckdeep and true notes. Then came the Aucklandleader, Joseph Kemp, with Scotch of a different mix-ture. His hold was wonderful, and from a half-dozenpoints of view he pressed the Gospel on the noticeof the people. "Diadem" and "The Kindly Light"filled in the close of a glorious opportunity in aglorious way.

SYDENHAM.A large congregation assembled at Sydenham for

the morning service, which was made memorable bythe fact that it was the closing service in the oldbuilding. The Rev. J. K. Archer, pastor of theChurch, conducted the service, and the Rev. CharlesDallaston preached the sermon. In the afternoon theSunday School portion of the new building in ColomboStreet was opened, the attendance being very large.Mr T. E. Toneycliffo, Vice-president of the Union,declared the premises open, and public worship fol-lowed, the Rev. AY. S. Rollings, of Brooklyn, havingcharge of the proceedings and the Rev. A. H. Collins,of New Plymouth, preaching the sermon. At theevening service the building was again well filled, andthe service was conducted by the Rev. J. K. Archer,assisted by the Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles, Secretaryand Treasurer of the Union. A feature of the day wasthe excellent singing and the generous offerings.

SPREYDON.A representative congregation assembled on Sun-

day morning in the Spreydon Baptist Church andlistened with the keenest interest to the Rev. R. H.K. Kempton. Mr Kempton took for his subject "TheThreefold Quest of the Soul." The message camewith power and refreshing to the church, and willlong be remembered by those present. The children'saddress was given by the Rev. L. J. B. Smith, andthe prayer was offered by Pastor Garlick. Miss Gains-ford addressed the Sunday School in the afternoon.Her words were received with much acceptance.

The evening service was taken by the Rev. J.Laird, M.A. The subject of the sermon was "De-mocracy at the Cross Roads of Life." We were de-lighted to have Spreydon's old pastor in our midstagain, and his thoughtful sermon held the congrega-tion in rapt attention. We were pleased to see somany ministers in the church. The day was one ofinspiration to us all.

LINWOOD CHURCH.Linwood was pleased to welcome the Rev. F. E.

Harry on Sunday morning. His address to the chil-dren won young and old alike to close attention. Amost helpful sermon was given from Ezek. xi, 16:

"Yet will I be to them a sanctuary for a little whilein the countries where they are come." At 6.30 p.m.the Rev. H. G. Hercus occupied the pulpit. He waslistened to with great appreciation as he pictured theyoung seeker after eternal life. The text in Markx, 17: "Good Master, what shall I do that I mayinherit eternal life?" formed the basis for a mosttelling appeal to surrender to Christ. ConferenceSunday at Linwood was a day of joyfulness.

NORTH NEW BRIGHTON.

The pulpit was occupied in the morning by theRev. C. D. Gardiner, whose message was most help-ful. At 3 p.m. a service of dedication was held inconnection with the new building. Mr H. M. Smee-ton, President of the Baptist Union, spoke apprecia-tive words to the children present, and also urged thechurch members to greater service. He announcedthe reception of the Brighton Church into the BaptistUnion. The Rev. A. Anstice also delivered anaddress. Friends then adjourned to the groundsof Mr Chas. Dixon, "Saltaire," where the Rev. A.W. Stuart conducted a baptismal service, Mrs Astonconfessing her faith in Jesus Christ. The eveningservice was conducted very acceptably by Rev. L.A. Day.

OPAWA BAPTIST CHURCH.

Conference Sunday was a very happy one withus. A good congregation assembled at the morningservice, when Rev. A. Grigg, B.A., B.D., was beforeour people. His very scholarly address was honestlyappreciated, and his visit will be remembered. Inthe evening we had Rev. E. N. Goring. It was aspecial service for the children, being the repetitionof the Sunday School anniversary. Mr Goring madehis message adaptable to both parents and children.His appeal was strong, and his visit, too, was greatlyappreciated.

Monday, October 13.RECORDED BY MR H. H. DRIVER.

The devotional service was conducted by PastorR. Robertson. Prayer flowed freely, and made anexcellent prelude to the business of the day.

The President, from whose brow the halo was fastfading, resumed the chair at 10, and the election ofofficers for the ensuing year was proceeded with.Messrs W. H. Newton, F. W. Gaze, E. Grigg, B.A.,and N. Garlick were appointed scrutineers of theballot. The number of names placed on the black-board for office proved how well off the Union is inthe men prepared to serve it to the full limit of theircapacity.

ELECTIONS.

At the first ballot for the Presidency, the Revs.F. E. Harry, Joseph W. Kemp, and H. G. Hercusheaded the list, but none had a clear majority. Ona second ballot the Revs. F. E. Harry and H. G.Hercus came top, and then finally the honour fellto the Rev. F. E. Harry. Mr Harry said it was anabsolute unsought honour. He had held the Presi-dency of the Baptist Unions of New South Wales,Victoria, and Western Australia, and counted it anhonour to be called to fill the chair here. It wouldbe his aim to further the interests of the College andto foster an evangelistic passion among the ministers.

Mr J. R. Carey, of Petone, was elected to theVice-presidency.

Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles was unanimously re-elected Secretary.

Rev. R. H. Knowles Kempton was re-appointedConvener of the Board of Introduction and Advice.


OUR LEADERS.

The Hon. Solicitor (Mr O. Mazengarb) and Hon.Auditors (Messrs C. Collins and T. Auton) were re-elected.

Finance Committee: Messrs H. M. Smeeton,Chairman; W. Lambourne, W. R. Ellingham, W. E.Bush, R. C. O'Connor, C. Cathie, A. R. Jordan, A.F. Carey, C. E. Beckingsale, E. W. Roy.

Executive: Revs. S. Jenkin; J. J. North, H. G.Hercus, J. K. Archer, R. H. K. Kempton, J. W.Kemp, W. S. Rollings; Messrs T. E. Toneycliffe, A.Carey, W. Lambourne, H. H. Driver, W. R. Elling-ham, F. W. Gaze, W. H. Newton, and R. O'Conner,and the President, Secretary, Treasurer, and DistrictPresident of B.W.M.U., and the President ofY.W.B.C.U.

Rev. J. J. North was re-elected Editor of the"N.Z. Baptist."

Literary and Press Propaganda Committee:Revs. Eric Evans (Convener), A. North, R. H. K.Kempton, L. J. B. Smith, S. Morris, and Mr H. H.Driver.

The Sunday School and Young People's Depart-ment was located in Auckland, with Rev. L. B. Bus-field as Organising Secretary.

Rev. Eric Evans was elected Union Preacher,with the Rev Leslie J. B. Smith as Deputy.

Annuity Fund Committee: The Secretary (Con-vener), Messrs J. R. Carey, C. Cathie, R. C. O'Con-aor, and E. Toneycliffe, J. Nicol, H. Ivory, and Rev.F. E. Harry.

Sustentation Fund Committee: The Secretary(Convener), Messrs J. C. Spedding, H. H. Driver, W.R. Ellingham, C. Cathie, R. C. O'Connor, T. E.Toneycliffe, H. Ivory, A. R. Jordan, F. Gaze, andW. H. Lamb.

Pastor C. Chant, Secretary of the AucklandAuxiliary, extended a hearty invitation that the nextConference be held in the fair city of the north. Onthe motion of Mr H. H. Driver, seconded by the Rev.J. Laird, M.A., the invitation was gratefully ac-cepted. The Auckland churches have previouslyentertained the delegates in royal fashion, and aConference full of pleasure and profit may be antici-pated.

THE NEW COLLEGE.

It fell then to the lot of the Rev. W. S. Rollingsto introduce the reconsidered recommendations of theCollege Committee, as to the location of the pro-posed Baptist College. It was an honour to becoveted, and ML Rollings was fully seized of the im-portance of the duty which he discharged. He pro-posed that the projected College be established inAuckland ; that the trustees of the Auckland Taber-

nacle be approached as to the possibility of thefacilities of the Tabernacle being made availablemeanwhile for the benefit of the students ; and thatthe Rev. J. J. North be approached with a view tohis appointment as the first Principal of the College.

Mr Rollings moved the adoption of the recom-mendations. Rev. J. K. Archer seconded. MessrsH. H. Driver, G. D. Cox, Ray Turner, Eric Evans, A.Anstice, E. Goring, D. Sykes, A. W. Stuart, and F.E. Harry spoke to the motion, and it was carried witha solitary dissentient. All felt that an opportunityof supreme importance to the denomination had pre-sented itself, and that an historic event of high sig-nificance had occurred. Great appreciation was ex-pressed of the anticipated generosity of the trusteesof the Auckland Tabernacle, and deep sympathy withthe Oxford Terrace Church in the prospective loss ofits minister. Tho unanimity of the Assembly inpassing a resolution with such vital and far-reachingissues was regarded as a distinct sign of the pre-sence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Rev. C.Dallaston led the Conference in praise of God forHis gracious overruling, and then all rose and sangthe Doxology.

Mr North said that the proposal which had cometo him very suddenly, suggested such dislocations inhis life that he had not been able to focus the matter.He was impressed by the extreme cordiality of theAssembly. His habits of life had been connectedwith the work of the ministry, and he was not surehow the matter would eventuate and what line oflife would be the best for him to adopt. He wouldearly consult his officers, and asked the prayers of theAssembly that he might be guided of God to a rightdecision.

A cablegram was received from Mr Lascelles'sson, announcing that Principal J. Mullins, of Louis-ville Seminary, was to pay a visit to Australia, and itwas left to the Executive to endeavour to secure himfor a tour through the Dominion. Principal Mullinsis President of the Baptist World Alliance, and hemay count on the heartiest possible welcome if hecan call to see us while he is so near.

BAPTIST RALLY.

The new President discharged his first publicfunction at the great Baptist rally in the evening.The addresses reached a high standard of excellence,and the interest of the audience was held to the last.Rev. F. A. Crawshaw dealt with "The Baptists in theChurch." The kernel of our position was perfectlysound because we maintained the absolute suprem-acy of Jesus Christ. We gave Him His rightful

The Editor of the Baptist, Rev. J. J. North.The Ex-President, H. M. Smeeton, Esq.

The New President, Rev. F. E. Harry.The Secretary and Treasurer, Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles.

252 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. November. 1924.

MEMBERS OF THE NEW EXECUTIVE.

place because we gave the Bible its rightful place.We held to the doctrine of soul liberty. We hadnever been a persecuting church, and ours was theonly considerable body of Christians of whom thiscould be said. We gave Jesus the lordship of ourlives and held the great principles of equality andfraternity in the Church of Christ. The earlyChurch was victorious because it made Jesus Christsupreme.

The Rev. R. H. K. Kempton dealt with ''Bap-tist, in the World,'' and took us in a mental aero-plane over the nations in which Baptists were found.Our position, he said, was now one of great numericalstrength. We were probably the largest Protestantdenomination in the world. We numbered over tenmillion members and far more adherents. The greatBaptist movement was a spiritual movement. Thespecial theatre of Baptist advance was America,where we had some eight million members, of whomthree million were negroes. In India one out ofevery six Christians was a Baptist. In Africa twoof the largest Baptist Churches in the world wereformed. At Yakusu was a church of over 4000 mem-bers, and at it 300 had been immersed last year. InEurope considerable advance had been made. InGermany, the land of Oncken, we had 54,000 membersand 30,000 Sunday School scholars. In Sweden werefound 60,000 members, with 200 students for theministry. In Russia the future of Christianity restedlargely upon the welcome given to our Baptist mes-sage. We stood for liberty, equality, and fraternity,and our future was radiant with happiness andpromise.

The Rev. Stanley Jenkin, who has just completed21 years of continuous service, rejoiced to speak againin the Church in which he was dedicated to the ministry. He dealt with the Baptist task in New Zea-land. Our supreme duty, he said, was to present theEvangel of Jesus Christ, and we must allow nothingto obscure the clarity with which He Himself standsbefore men. We must develop the right type of min-istry for carrying on the cause of Christ in this land,and we should adopt a more aggressive home missionpolicy. In all our auxiliaries causes had been closeddown, and we should be eager to open new fieldsin which no Christian testimony is at present beingborne.

All the speeches were marked by much earnest-ness, and were heartily applauded.

The Last Great Day of the Feast.

Tuesday's diary, recorded by the MissionaryEditor, may be found in Missionary Mail Bag.

Rev. F. H. Radford led the opening session forprayer, and called attention to Jacob's wrestling.

The New President.At 10 o'clock the retiring President formally in-

ducted his successor, and wished for him a year ofgreat happiness and prosperity. Mr Harry signedthe Conference Bible, the symbol of presidentialhonour, and assumed his new and onerous duties.He declared that his predecessor had won the affec-tion of our people by his devoted and efficient services during the year, and that he felt it a greatprivilege to succeed him.

The Grace of Gratitude.Thanks were then accorded to many who had

rendered service to the Union in manifold nays.To Mr A. C. Stewart for the valuable services

he had freely rendered in the erection of church build-ings.

To the Minute Secretaries, the Press reporters.and the Press.

To the hosts and hostesses for the generous andgracious hospitality they had extended to the dele-gates, and to Mr A. F. Carey, the Convener of theHospitality Committee

To the President, the preachers and speakerswho had fulfilled the various duties allotted to themwith devotion and fidelity.

To the Honorary Legal Adviser, and to the Hon.Auditors. Special thanks were accorded to Mr Chas.Collins, who was prevented by ill-health from con-tinuing to act as auditor.

To the Ladies' Committee, the choirs, the localcommittees, the officers of the Oxford TerraceChurch, to Mr Barbour (Secretary of the ConferenceCommittee), and to all who had contributed to thecomfort and enjoyment of the delegates and madetheir visit to Christchurch an experience to be re-called with delight.

"New Zealand Baptist."The manager's report was presented by the Sec-

retary and adopted. It stated that the circulationhad now reached 1800, and that the Editor's ableservices were highly appreciated. The paper hadbeen enlarged during the year, and was worthy of amuch wider circulation.



Annuity Fund.The amount of the Annuity Fund was received

with great pleasure. It showed that the revenue forthe year was £2326 (Church collections and dona-tions, £231; members' premiums, £375; loans re-paid, £1050; interest, £669). Three annuitants hadreceived £273. The total amount of the fund wasnow £8403. The payments had been based on anactuarial estimate of a fund of £10,000, and it wasmuch to be desired that the fund should be raisedto that amount at the earliest possible date. Thebeneficence of this fund may well commend it to theready help of our wealthier members. It was sug-gested that it would be a graceful act for the churchesto pay their ministers' premiums to the fund (from£1 to 3gns) as a birthday present or a Christmasbox. Will Church Treasurers please note this?

Special Sustentation and Auxiliary Fund.This most useful fund now stands at £4024, with

£530 secured by deed of covenant and £500 prom-ised. From the interest on this fund £269 was ex-pended during the year in assistance to 13 ministersand home missionaries. For the first time thecapital has been drawn upon, and it is hoped that theamount may soon be refunded. At present £30 isthe maximum amount that can be paid to any singlebeneficiary. When the fund has reached a grandertotal, larger allowances will be possible, and meagrestipends will be more liberally supplemented. Maythat day quickly dawn!

The New College.Rev. W. S. Rollings introduced the Constitution

of the proposed College, which had been carefullycompiled by the College Committee, and after slightalterations it was unanimously adopted. Revs. J. W.Kemp, R. H. K. Kempton, W. S. Rollings, J. K.Archer, John Laird, M.A., Prof. J. B. Condliffe, F.Horner, LL.B., A. F. Carey, A. N. Andrews, wereappointed the first College Committee.

The matter of the Home Mission course was re-ferred to the College Committee to re-consider andreport at the next Conference.Ministerial Status.

Rev. J. W. Kemp introduced a scheme for defin-ing the status of probationers and ministers, but asinsufficient notice had been given it was resolved toexpress general approval of the scheme and remit itto the Executive to give the required notice in orderthat the matter might be considered next year.

Board of Introduction.Rev. R. H. K. Kempton introduced Mr Russell

Grave and Mr Norman Garlick as students for theuniversity. Both young men are members of theAuckland Tabernacle and students in the BibleTraining Institute.

Mr Kempton also presented the annual report ofthe Board of Introduction and Advice, which hadrendered excellent service in the settlement of min-isters. It was adopted, on the motion of Rev. A. H.Collins, who was President of the Jubilee Conference,Nelson, when the Board was first established. Iturged inter alia that even when churches were engag-ing men temporarily, they should submit their cre-dentials to the Board for inspection and approval.

The report of the South Island Bible Class Unionwas read by Rev. Eric Evans and received. It re-ferred to the excellent Easter Camp held at Maheno.Rev. E. R. Weston.

The action of the Executive in accepting the re-signation of the Rev. E. R. Weston, late of Mosgiel,as a minister, was endorsed. The Secretary statedthat his retirement had been perfectly honourable,and that at his first public appearance in Wellingtonhe had clearly stated the reasons for his withdrawalfrom our ranks.

The Late Dr. Catchpole's Family.It was resolved that the churches be requested to

devote a Communion collection in November to afund for aiding the widow and family of the late Rev.D. Catchpole, D.D., of Berhampore. This requestis commended to the sympathetic liberality of ourpeople.

Takle Testimonial.The Chairman had the pleasure of reporting that

the Takle Testimonial Fund had risen to £773. Itwas anticipated that the churches will readily andcheerfully subscribe the balance of the amount aimedat.

Personal Members.The list of Personal Members, which had been

exhibited during the Conference, was adopted forinsertion in the handbook.

Clifford Memorial.It was announced that circulars regarding the

Dr. John Clifford Memorial had been distributed, andit was left to individuals to give it such help as theysaw fit.

The Secretary's notice of motion re ministerialadjustment was withdrawn.

Evangelism.Pastor C. Chant introduced a remit from the

Auckland Auxiliary that an evangelist be appointedfor each Island. Rev. J. W. Kemp urged that thisDominion was ripe for evangelism, and that theBaptists had a unique opportunity if they could butseize it. Rev. A. Anstice said that evangelism wasspecially needed in outlying districts, and that if anevangelist could be secured for aggressive work onBaptist lines immense good would be effected. Rev.F. Every stated that in many districts very inade-quate services were held. It was finally left to eachAuxiliary to arrange for such evangelistic enterprisesas it found practicable.

The Budget for 1925.The first business of the final session (the after-

noon of October 15) was the reception of the Budgetwhich the new Committee had toilfully prepared. Itwas carried through with remarkable ease andcelerity. Time was when half the time, of Confer-ence was spent in the effort to make a scanty revenuemeet extensive demands for financial aid. It is verygratifying that no more is now allotted than theUnion may reasonably hope to receive. The estim-ated income for the year is £2057. The followingexpenditure was approved: Students, £100; YoungPeoples' Department, £75 ; Printing, etc., £ 6 5 ; hand-book, £38 ; Sundries, £50; Hawera Church BuildingFund, £ for £ up to £150; Salaries and Offices ex-penses, £240.

Grants in Aid.Whangarei, £35 ; Cambridge, £40; Morrinsville,

£75 ; Otahuhu, £55 ; Richmond, £20; Takapuna,£35 ; Tauranga, £100; Waihi, £50; Edendale, £50;Island Bay, £40; Feilding, £20; Petone, £10; Gon-ville, £35 ; Wanganui East, £70 ; Richmond (Nel-son), £35 ; Palmerston North, £15 ; Lyall Bay, £90;Opawa, £90; Kaiapoi and Rangiora, £40; Oxford,£30; Linwood, £55 ; Owaka, £ 6 5 ; Gore, £35 ; In-vercargill North, £60. Sundries: Auckland, £50;Central, £25 ; Canterbury, £15 ; Otago, £15.

Contingency Fund.The Secretary announced that £50 each had been

allocated from the Contingency Fund to the Central,Canterbury, and Otago and Southland Auxiliaries forthe assistance of new causes which they desired toaid. Special thanks were expressed to the anony-mous donor whose generous gift of £500 had led to


the establishment of this useful fund. The Auck-land friends had liberally augmented this initialamount, and only the interest of the fund was avail-able for distribution.

Manurewa Home.Mr W. H. Newton presented the report of this

beneficent institution, which was received with ex-ceeding pleasure. Miss Marks, Matron of the Home,was called to the platform, and gave a deeply in-teresting account of the Home and the large familyof 76 needy children who were sheltered anil educatedwithin it. She appealed for increased generositytowards it. The Home belonged to the whole de-nomination, and merited help from Baptists allthrough the Dominion. The report showed that 455admissions had been made to date. Of the presentnumber of 76, 10 were from districts outside Auck-land. The auxiliary cottage, not being required asa hospital, had permitted the acceptance of 12 extrachildren. Churches, Sunday Schools, and BibleClasses had contributed £446. The Endowment Fundremained at £3300, which was far short of the £40,000aimed at. The Working Account for the yearamounted to £2895. Mr and Mrs Wiltshire hadraised £43 l0s by the sale of stamps. A concert bythe children had yielded £58. Forty-two of thechildren sat for the Sunday School examination. Oneboy of nine scored 95 per cent. of marks.

"O" v. "C."A breezy debate was created by an innocent-

looking motion by the Rev. W. E. Lambert that theSecretary specify the churches which were open-membership. It was suggested that "O" indicatedthe "open" churches. it was also suggested that" C " indicated the "close" churches. The futility ofthe proposal was urged, and after the delegates hadbecome tangled the previous question was moved andcarried, and the discussion was abruptly closed.

Women Home Missionaries.Mr H. H. Driver moved that ministers and aux-

iliaries be urged to ascertain the opportunitieswithin their districts for the employment of womenhome missionaries, and that they encourage youngwomen (especially those whose aspirations to foriegnservice had failed of fulfilment) to prepare and pre-sent themselves for work at home.—Carried.

Bible in Schools.Mr Driver moved that until Bible reading was

made part of the public school curriculum, everyeffort should be made to secure religious instructionby ministers and other qualified persons on the linesof the Nelson system.—Carried.

Russian Baptists.A resolution of sympathy with Russian Baptists

in their perplexities and perils was presented, but,alter discussion, withdrawn. Pleasure was expressedthat, in spite of all difficulties, the principles forwhich we stand were finding favour with the people.

The Church in the House.A recommendation by the Rev. W. E. Lambert

that the Union encourage the formation of smallcompanies of Baptists in districts where they werenot numerous enough to constitute churches was re-ferred to the Executive to deal with.

Finis.Thus the long agenda et loquenda reached its

conclusion. Reports and resolutions ended. Theformal business for which busy men and women hadgathered from all points of the compass was finished.The President thanked the delegates for their sus-tained attention to the diversified work of the Unionas it had been set before them day by day, and ex-pressed his pleasure that important measures hadbeen carried through with so much unanimity andharmony, and with the triple blessing of the TriuneGod, the eventful session closed.

An audience which completely filled the spaciouschurch faced the Rev. F. E. Harry as he rose topreach the Union sermon. The devotional servicewas conducted by the Rev. J. W. Kemp, and impres-sive musical items were rendered by the choir. Thecongregation was attuned to the preacher's messageand responded to his fervid appeal. Basing hissermon on James ii, 2: "If there came into yoursynagogue a man," Mr Harry asked: "If he comes,what will you do with him?" (1) Give him a royalwelcome. Make him feel that the Church can meetthe sense of the eternal within him. (2) Ignore hissocial status. Every man was fighting a hard battle,and needed encouragement and sympathy. The low-liest life could be lifted from insignificance and in-vested with meaning and worth. The greatestdiscoveries were not made in the laboratories of thescientists and the libraries of the savants, but inthe assembly of the saints of God. (3) Rememberthat he is a man with an intellect to grasp t ruthand a heart to respond to love. He can wonder andworship. He has unsuspected capacities for religiousconvictions and fidelities. Two soldiers confrontedwith the alternatives of Islam or death braved deathrather than deny the faith which they yet had neveropenly avowed. Many men were unconsciously Chris-tian. The human heart yearned for God, and thestory of the Cross met man's deepest need. Thepreacher must be a prophet, and lay emphasis on thesupremacy of the spiritual. (4) If a man came intothe assembly, lead him by the grace of God into theblessed fellowship of the redeemed. Surround himwith holy ministries. Foster in him the love ofthe best. Teach him, in the words of Captain Scott,the intrepid Arctic explorer, "to seek, to strive, tofight, and not to yield." Make him feel that theChurch of God is the true home of the renewed heartand the place in which human life attained and dis-played its real greatness.

Beneath the Cross.Then followed a Communion service, solemn and

sacred, in which the Master made Himself knownto His disciples in the breaking of bread. The Rev.J. J. North presided, and in few words and fit re-minded us of the meaning of the ordinance, its sim-plicity, and its age-long observance. Thanks wereoffered by the Revs. C. D. Gardiner and L. J. B.Smith. Six of the younger ministers acted as servi-tors. While they distributed the elements to thelarge gathering, the organist (Mr Lawry) played withexquisite feeling familiar tunes which recalled thesacred words to which they were wedded. The im-pressive service was a twofold Benediction—theJewish and the Christian, and by Hymn 640:—

Part in peace! Christ's life was peace;Let us live our life in Him.

Part in peace! Christ's death was peace;Let us die our death in Him.





THE PRESIDENT, REV. F. E. HARRY.

The New President.

Judge, Sir Henry Hodges, publicly thanked thePresident for his splendid service in the interests ofa clean city. Our leader has been very prominent inC.E. work. He has been, in addition to State dis-tinctions, Australian President of that great move-ment.

Mr Harry has probably created a world record.He has, through this election, been President of fourBaptist Unions—New South Wales, Victoria, WesternAustralia, and now New Zealand. We think MrHarry's record will take a lot of beating in this re-spect.

Like, most Christian soldiers, Mr Harry has avery representing sort of wife. Mrs Harry was adaughter of the Rev. F. Hibberd, who was five timesPresident of the New South Wales Union, and thekeenest missionary man in that State. Mrs Harrywas the originator of the Girls' Zenana Aid Society ofNew South Wales, and has been a great leader ofJunior C.E. work. Miss Gwen Harry, B.A., is onthe Indian field for one of the Australian societies.

The New President has announced himself as anenthusiast for the new College scheme, and he pro-poses to put it through. He has go enough to putanything through.

The verdict of three ballots gave the chair of theUnion for 1924-25 to the Rev. F. E. Harry, of Wel-lington. Mr Harry is a record. No man, we think,has so quickly reached the first position in the giftof the N.Z. Church. Two and a-half years ago hecrossed the Tasman Sea to become the minister ofour Wellington Church. In this brief time he hasbecome a Dominion figure. He had to waste notime in acclimatising. His thirty-two years in Aus-tralia put him au fait with Maoriland life. In the"No License" fight of last election he was a foremostleader. His lightning campaign for the H.M. Fundsof the Union, which netted £500, put him into thepicture for presidential honours. The declarationof his election was very popular.

Our new President is of Welsh descent. Wehave noted traces of the "hywl" in his oratory. Hewas converted and baptised as a boy, and enteredRawdon College at 1he age of 13. Among his fellow-students were Herbert Anderson, the famous Indianleader, William Carey, of Dacca; and James Mursell.He became "Ward" scholar in Rawdon, and wouldhave proceeded to Edinburgh for degrees had nothis health broken. He came to Australia in 1890,and has been under the Southern Cross without abreak ever since. He has held city pastorates inMelbourne, Sydney, Ballarat, and Perth. He hasalways had hard jobs, and has never had an un-pleasant church experience. That, we think, speaksworlds for his tact and grace.

Mr Harry has always been a great social leader.In Ballarat he was prosecuted for slander. He spokeSaxon about a beastly entertainment. The casewent through three courts. The Supreme Court

Our Vice-President.

Conference made a great choice when it calledJ. R. Carey to the vice-presidential chair. Americansare said to be careless to a criminal degree in fillingthis place. Fallen presidents have left fools to filltheir office more than once. We do not expect ourPresident to be killed by his Union duties this year.He may be the more prevented from doing, so by thesure knowledge that a very fit man is his substitute.So soon as J. R. C. was nominated, we foresaw hiselection. His work (now four years old) as AuxiliarySecretary has won for him golden opinions. Hiscolleague, R. C. O'Connor, and he have put throughbig things. Folk outside the central have lookedon and wondered. We are sorry not to be able topresent our Vice-president's photo to our readers.He modestly but firmly refused to produce one. Hehas, of course, the blood of the great Carey in hisveins, and is manse born. He is compact of eagerenergy. We enjoyed him as Church Secretary ofVivian Street years ago. We therefore know thatwhich we confidently affirm. We congratulate bothMr Carey and the Union on this election.

Our General Secretary.

We cannot let this Conference number throughthe press without recording our sense of admirationfor the quite remarkable grip that our General Secre-tary has on all the details of our work. He husbandsthe funds committed to his care with greater zealthan a private owner. He brought them all throughto the balance with credits. No ardent delegatetripped him on any matter of fact. On other mat-ters where there is room for divergent judgment, hewas not always on our side; but the side he took wasalways well considered, and he was seldom indeed leftin a minority. Add to this seasoned judgment andzealous care his hearty manner and deep fervour,and we have in Mr Lascelles an incomparable Secre-tary, for whom we give thanks. The smooth run-ning of 1924 Conference was due to his carefulpreparation and tact.



A Baptist College for New Zealand.For several years the project of inaugurating a

Baptist College for the training of our own men andwomen for the ministry at home and abroad has beenunder discussion. The haphazard methods whichhave been in vogue for the past few years have notbeen fair to the men, nor to the churches, and theplacing of this vital matter in the centre of denomina-tional thought and care, and eliminating the hap-hazard and partial, by providing a thoroughly soundcourse of training have occupied the thought ofseveral of our leaders. It fell fittingly to ourveteran friend, the Rev. Alfred North, to moveat the Wellington Conference last year aresolution appointing a committee "to consider thewhole question of the training of our students, andbring up to the next Assembly a report with definiteand detailed recommendations." This committee,under the chairmanship of the President, Mr H. M.Smeeton, met and conferred during the year, andsubmitted their report to Conference. The followingwere their recommendations:—

1. That it is desirable that a Baptist Collegeshould be established in the Dominion atthe earliest possible date.

2. That such College, if possible, should belocated in Auckland.

3. That an appeal be made throughout thedenomination for funds to secure a propertyfor College purposes.

4 That other methods, such as Church col-lections, subscriptions, legacies, students'contributions, should be adopted to securethe annual income for College mainten-ance.

These proposals were debated in a full house,and the Assembly unanimously, and with enthusiasm,committed the Union to the inauguration of a Col-lege by adopting the first resolution. Divergenceof view showed itself in the minds of the delegatesin regard to the other recommendations; and theywere referred back to the Committee for re-considera-tion.

The Committee spent the whole of Saturdayafternoon in conference, and submitted to the As-sembly a resolution expressing their conviction thatthe time had come for decision and action, and re-affirming the recommendation to locate the Collegein the northern city. It was accompanied by theproposals that the Tabernacle Trustees and officersshould be approached with a view to housing thecollege until such time as a college property couldbe secured; and further, the name of the Rev. J. J.North was associated with the resolution as the manwhom it was proposed to nominate as Principal.This met with the general approval of the Assembly,and was carried by an overwhelming majority.

Later in the Conference a Constitution for theCollege was adopted, and the following College Com-mittee appointed:—Revs. F. E. Harry and M. W. P.Lascelles (ex-officio), Mr H. M. Smeeton (chairman),Professor Condliffe, Messrs A. F. Carey, A. N.Andrews, F. Horner, LL.B., and the Revs. J. W.Kemp, H. K. Kempton, J. K. Archer, J. Laird, M.A.,and W. S. Rollings. The Committee receivedauthority to proceed with the proposals; to make thenecessary arrangements for the inauguration of theCollege; and beyond the amounts budgeted for thestudents, to raise the necessary funds to meet theexpenses for the year. In the meantime the projectfor securing a college building will not be pressed.

The Rev. J. J. North, who has been asked toaccept the office of Principal, in acknowledging thelove and confidence of the Assembly made it clearthat he was in no way committed to the proposal.His life was deeply rooted in the ministry of theEvangel, and the pastoral office, and he hardly likedto contemplate the tearing up of his life by the roots.All he could say was that the proposal would havehis earnest consideration.

The Committee responsible for making the nomi-nation were deeply conscious that if their proposalwere favoured it would mean cost, both to the pastorand the Church at Oxford Terrace. Mr North re-turned from his trip abroad with an enriched mind,and a deepened tone has been heard in his preachingof the Evangel. His ministry, both in the Churchand as related to the city, has never been more power-ful. But all high and worthy institutions arefounded on sacrifice. And a man in vital contactwith the all-round work of the ministry is best fittedto lead in the great business of conducting a schoolof the prophets. The prayers of many in ourchurches will go up to God for His guidance andblessing on this new move.

W. S. ROLLINGS.

The Editor, who is referred to in the articleabove, desires to say here how much moved he hasbeen by the expressions of confidence contained inthe call of the denomination to an office so capableof development and of influence. He is, as thereaders of this paper will know, very much engagedin affection to the Church at Oxford Terrace, towhich he has ministered for the past twelve years.The breaking of such a tie cannot be contemplated,on his side at least, without dismay. He is, at thetime of writing, still uncertain of his duty, and heseeks the prayerful sympathy of the people, thatwhatever decision he is led to make may be one withthe Divine Will.

Report of the Dominion BaptistMinisters' Association.

The annual meeting of the above was held onSaturday morning, October 11, at 9.30. Proceed-ings were opened with a season of prayer; othertime was spent in discussion of business relative tothe ministerial office. The Rev. A. W. Stuart sub-mitted the first annual report, detailing the forma-tion of the Association at the 1923 Conference, andrevealing a year of quiet activity. The infantsociety has not yet come to strength, but it existsfor the service of the brethren in the ministry. itwill function into more definite usefulness in succeed-ing days.

The following officers were all re-elected:—Presi-dent, Rev. A. Anstice; Secretary and Treasurer, Rev.A, W. Stuart; Committee: Revs. R. Horn, E. E.Smith, W. S. Rollings, E. Evans, J. Ings, E. N.Goring, J. Laird, M.A., J. Hiddlestone, J. Carlisle.

The Rev. A. Grigg, B.A., B.D., read a thought-ful paper on "The Hidden Wealth of the New Testa-ment." This was followed with close attention bythe hearers. He was cordially thanked by the chair-man.


Tuesday, October 14, 1924.A well-attended meeting of Conference delegates

interested in Young People's work, was held during;the luncheon recess. Many points of interest werediscussed, particularly with respect to the moreeffective organisation of this work. It was agreedmeantime, to urge upon the Department's local com-mittees in the four centres the appointment of suit-able persons as honorary organisers, and that stepsbe taken to discuss with the Bible Class Union Execu-tives the question of appointing a Dominion organ-iser of the work for and among the Baptist youngpeople of the Dominion.

The following resolutions were adopted: —1. That we urge, in the meantime, that each

of the four Provincial Committees of theYoung People's Department, appoint hon-orary organisers to strengthen the work ofthe Sunday Schools.

2. That, as time and occasion permit, a jointorganiser of the Sunday Schools and BibleClasses be appointed.

3. That, owing to the growing importance ofthe work of the Young People's Depart-ment, we respectfully recommend to theBaptist Union Executive, the urgentnecessity of devoting a full session offuture Conferences to the Department'sbusiness.

Wednesday, October, 15, 1924.1. That with a view to securing a larger re-

sponse to the Young People's Day appeal,the Department Executive, or alternatively,the Provincial Committees, issue a circularletter to the parents of all our scholars—including Junior Bible Class members—and also to individual members of theSenior Bible Classes, setting forth the ob-jects of the fund, and the general aimsand objects of the Young People's Depart-ment.

2. That with a view to combating the preva-lent evils of our times, the Department co-operate with the Literature and Propa-ganda Committee of the Baptist Union forthe judicious distribution of suitable litera-ture relating to public and private morality.

3. That the Department examine existing les-son courses, and recommend for 1926 oneuniform set for the Baptist Sunday Schoolsof the Dominion, and that they treat thematter as one of immediate urgency.

4. That the problem of the leakage betweenSchool and Church be earnestly enquiredinto this new year.

5. That it be a recommendation to the YoungPeople's Department Executive to endeav-our to secure that a half-day of future Con-ferences be devoted to the business of theDepartment.

R. A. HANDISIDES, Convener..

The following additional contributions to the De-partmental funds are gratefully acknowledged:—Ber-hampore, £1 13s 7d; Wanganui, £ 1 ; Mosgiel, £ 1 ;Lincoln, £1 1s 6d; Epsom, £1 10s; Brooklyn, £ 1 ;Petone, 15s; South Dunedin, £1 1s. Total to date(34 schools), £40 3s 9d.

This total is still less than the amount receivedlast year, but we understand there is more to follow.Will Sunday School Treasurers please attend to thismatter speedily. We are taking back from Con-ference further appeals from needy schools startingnew work or new departments, and our ability to helpothers is determined by the help we receive.

Baptisms.

Morrinsville—Eight. By Rev. F. Parry.Gore—Two. By Rev. F. Eccersall.Mount Eden—Seven. By Rev. Adam Clarke.Caversham—Eight. By Rev. Eric Evans.Lyall Bay—Seven. By Rev. H. E. Edridge.Oxford Terrace—Five. By Rev. J. J. North.North Brighton—One By Rev. A. W. Stuart.Vivian Street—Two. By Rev. F. E. Harry.Oamaru—Five. By Rev. R. Robertson.Hastings—Three. By Rev. Keith Ewen.

NICOL—BARDSLEY.—On September l6, 1924.at the residence of Mr H. Babcock Lampson, Wiscon-sin, U.S.A., by the Rev. R. Gordon Rugby, EricArthur, the only son of Mr and Mrs A. Nicol, Whan-garei, to Winifred Jefcoate, the elder daughter of Mrand Mrs W. J. Bardsley, "Normanston," St. Leon-ards, Dunedin. (By cable.)

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A PERMANENT COOLNESS.


A Great Method.

Probably the event of his presidential year which alayman looks forward to with most dreadful presenti-ments and finds least satisfaction in when it is over,is the delivery of this address. You will not, I amsure, expect from me a dissertation on any theologicalsubject, and I should probably satisfy neither younor myself if I attempted one; neither do I claimoriginality for all I say; where it is feasible I quotemy authority, for in this matter I can say with theApostle Paul, "I follow after." But from the firsthour of holding office I have not had any doubt in mymind as to the subject I should select to deal with.

Among the pregnant phrases unrecorded in theGospels, but which were retained firmly in the mem-ory of His hearers, is one which I have chosen as thebase of my remarks to-night. At the close of hisfarewell address to the Ephesian elders Paul enjoinedthem "To remember the words of the Lord Jesus,how he said, 'It is more blessed to give than to re-ceive:'" To unconverted human nature as weknow it best, the science of "get t ing" is perhapsmore familiar than "giving," and it is striking evi-dence of the revolutionary nature of the demands ofour Master that this common trait of character shouldbe so absolutely reversed and generosity enjoined asa privilege and a great aid to happiness.

S. D. Gordon, in his "Talks on Power," tells usthat next to prayer, money is the most powerful forcein the world, and in a recent address delivered inNew York Dr Fosdick informs us that Christ saidmore about the right use of money than upon anyother single subject, and he pressed upon men theirobligations regarding the making and use of wealth.I am satisfied, therefore, that I am fully justified intaking as my theme, "Christian Giving."

There is certainly no subject that takes up solarge a proportion of the time of Church officers asfinance, and every Church Treasurer, I think, willwelcome the propounding of a scheme that will re-move from his office the dread possibility (not to sayprobability) of a deficit at the end of the year.

But let us first ask whether these difficultiesought to exist, and I contend that a proper sense ofresponsibility developed in the mind of every Churchmember, and the regular setting aside of the rightproportion of the income of each one of us, whetherthat income be large or small, would lay once and forall time, the spectre of Church finance; would makethe work of our treasurers less burdensome, and liftfrom the hearts and minds of our ministers, especi-ally in our smaller churches, a weight of care thatoften is a fatal barrier to their doing their best workin the interest of Christ and His Kingdom.

Probably nine out of ten persons to whom thequestion is put, "What proportion of your incomedoes Scripture command or suggest that you shoulddevote to the Lord's work?" would answer without amoment's hesitation, "One tenth," this being prob-ably suggested by the Old Testament use of theword "ti the," though I think that if we examine thedemands made upon the Jewish nation under theMosaic dispensation, we shall find that by the timethe pious Jew had fulfilled the priestly demand forfirst fruits, wave offerings, sin offerings, hospitality,the care of the poor, and all other injunctions, hewould have probably parted with not much less than50 per cent. of his income, and I put it to youwhether we have any justification under the Reign ofGrace, to accept any lower standard than was laidupon the ancient Jew under the law of Moses. Andthe man who insists upon the application of the"tenth" principle in Christian giving goes a longway back in religious history for his authority.Obviously the same percentage will not apply fairlyat the present time to all persons alike, and theChristian with a large income can, and should, givea much larger proportion to God's work than is in-cumbent on the wage-earner. Proportionate givingshould be our rule, and "according as God hath pros-pered him" the controlling principle for every manin regard to this question.

I believe it to be the case, however, that ninetenths of a very small income will go further afterone tenth has been given to God than the wholeamount will go if it is all kept.

At that I shall have to leave it with you, for Ihave neither the authority nor knowledge of youraffairs to lay down any law for you, or to determinehow much you personally ought to give. In this,as in all similar questions, "to his own Master hestandeth or falleth."

But we cannot leave the matter entirely unsettled,in the very nature of things, the membership of aBaptist Church (and of other Churches, too, withdemocratic government) consists chiefly of people ofthe middle class and wage-earners, whose incomehas very little elasticity, with a sprinkling of pro-fessional folk and those who are living retired frombusiness life, so that with a more or less fixed in-come, it is difficult in most cases to part with largesums at any specific time; this produces a feeling ofunrest and difficulty, especially towards the end ofour Church or Union financial year, when there is ageneral scurry round "to get in" promised subscrip-tions to prevent deficits, and I have great sympathywith our lady collectors (to whom we owe everlast-ing thanks) who have too often to bring to our mem-ories promises made in absolute good faith, butwhich have become more or less nebulous througheffluxion of time.

In our investigations, therefore, we must, if atall possible, find some means of raising worthy con-tributions for the carrying on of God's work, thatwill permit of our contributing more and more forthe spread of the Gospel, and will at the same timegive to every Christian man and woman, boy andgirl in each individual life that delightful experiencethat "it is more blessed to give than to receive."

We certainly can improve in the matter of giving.for "to believe that better things are impossible isto make them impossible" was recently said in aleading article in the "Manchester Guardian," relat-ing to another subject, but equally applicable to theone we are considering.

That our task is not an easy one you will admit,but the problem is not insoluble, and the solution, Ihonestly believe, is a double-barrelled one, and liesin—

1. Each one giving proportionately to their in-come, and in—

Christian Giving.

NOVEMBER, 1924.



Sub-Editor: REV. S. MORRIS, N.E.V., Dunedin.Business Manager: REV. M. W. P. LASCELLES.All business communications to be addressed to the Manager,


Presidential Address by MR H. M. SMEETON,Christchurch, October 8, 1924.


2. The general adoption and thorough application of what is known as the Duplex EnvelopeSystem,

The adoption of this scheme in its entirety andits thorough and constant application (which is in asgreat need of remembrance as the adoption of theprinciple itself) may well sound the reveille of a new-era in Church finance.

"Oh, is that all?" I hear from many quarters,"Why, we've had the envelope system in our Churchfor years." My friend, a thing that is worth doingis worth doing well, and I do not know of any BaptistChurch in this Dominion (not even excepting my ownChurch) that has attempted to do justice to this sub-ject, or even attempted it at all in other than a spas-modic fashion.

This is a worthy task for our laymen of widestbusiness experience, who recognise that the work ofGod in financial matters is worthy of their bestpowers—and it is the privilege of the layman to con-tribute freely of his time, his ability, and his ex-perience to Christian service.

The minister, the Church visitor, the organist,and the custodian are usually the only salaried ser-vants in churches of our faith and order. Christiangiving should be primarily directed to the proper re-muneration of the salaried spiritual workers, particu-larly the minister.

We do not really "give" anything to our ministers, as a rule we recompense them with a beggarlystipend, for services rendered ungrudgingly and withno regard to the hours engaged, it is seldom morethan maintenance money and often not even that.

You church treasurers, with a credit balance afterproviding for liabilities, if of only a few pounds, atthe end of the year, did it ever occur to you that themoney was given primarily for the support of theminister, and you will not be doing any violence tothe intention of the donors if you hand the creditbalance over to him or better still to his wife, and be-gin the new year with a clean sheet and a clear con-science.

And if your church membership considers thatit has done its financial duty fairly by its minister,distribute your credit balance among two or three ofthe more needy Baptist ministers of your neighbour-hood. The cost of living has gone up enormouslysince pre-war days, but have we seriously consideredthe increasing of ministerial stipends to a proportion-ate degree?

The question of finance must be reconsideredand restated, and an adequate system must beevolved for meeting new requirements. We can nolonger "plod" along, however industriously, in theold way, and the financial hope of the future lies, Ithink, so far as our churches are concerned, in anextension of the Duplex Envelope Freewill OfferingSystem.

The principles of accountancy ought to be ap-plied to the question of Church finance as relent-lessly and as carefully as we all admit they should beused in the course of ordinary business transactions.

In too many churches, a willing (or oftentimes ahalf-willing) lady member is induced to accept ap-pointment as collector for Home or Foreign Missions,or the Manurewa Home, as the case may be, and theChurch is apt to rely upon the industry and pertin-acity of that one person to ensure the collecting ofthe required amount by the end of the church year.

It is quite true that you can never successfullyforce any financial scheme upon an unwilling people,but when a system that has so many aspects to com-mend it to the adoption of the churches as the DuplexEnvelopc System has, is brought under our notice,and where so many startling instances of revolu-tionary improvement in church finance have followed

its use, I think that in urging its thorough and com-plete adoption upon our churches I am recommendingto each church in particular, and to the Union col-lectively, a method that is able, if applied with judg-ment and persisted in with wise zeal, to solve verymany of our difficulties. Do not think that I place alight estimate upon the work of our lady collectors,not for one moment—every church treasurer willacknowledge their inestimable value—and as long ashuman nature is what it now is, there will always bea service that they can render, but my contention isthat their services should be used to gather in thecontributions of the casual given and that the greatbulk of our church income should consist of thevoluntary offerings through the Duplex Envelopes ofthe amounts each member feels that he or she iscalled upon to give to the work of the Lord, and theindication by each member on their envelopes of theamount they desire to allocate to each separate fund

I will now devote a few minutes to the particularconsideration of the Duplex Envelope System, andfor this purpose I have studied the excellent book on"Efficient Church Finance" compiled by Mr Adam B.Keay, to which publication I respectfully advise allwho are interested to turn for further light.

In showing how a higher standard of liberalitycan be reached, the writer indicates that the financialdifficulties of the past have been due in very greatmeasure to—

1. Lack of system, and2. Unfamiliarity of members with whatever sys-

tem may be in use."Ignorance requires to be expelled by education,

information, and inspiration. The Duplex EnvelopeSystem, as outlined, will not only meet the needs ofto-day, comparatively limited as they are, but willalso yield an increasing income as the churches or-ganise and seriously begin to win the world forChrist."

The compiling by the Finance Committee of abudget before the year begins, lets our people knowthe probably requirements before the money is spent,an advantage hitherto unknown in most of ourchurches; in fact, I do not know of any of ourchurches who issue a budget in advance as does ourUnion, and thus our membership is not aware exactlyhow much money is actually r.eeded. I quote fromMr Keay's book the conclusions of what an effectivesystem of church finance should be:—

(a) It should be based on Scriptural principles.(b) It should inculcate the spirit of worship in

the making of the offering.(c) It should heighten the spiritual aspirations

of a congregation.(d) It should increase the efficiency of min-

isters and office-bearers.(e) It should be possible of adoption by all the

members of a congregation.(f) It should increase the total of all the funds.(g) It should help to provide a reliable record

of attendance at church.(h) It should automatically reduce the number

of special collections.(i) It must be a system easily understood,

simple to work, and suitable for allchurches.

There seems to be a general consensus of opinionon all sides, and not only on the part of those whohave made the experiment, that the Duplex EnvelopeSystem as found in use in some parts of England andScotland, and in practically all the Protestantchurches in Canada and the States, is in every waythe most suitable method to adopt.

It is not my intention to-night to go into all thedetails regarding the general application of thisscheme, that must be left to the study of the indi-vidual church, but it is quite in order, as I conceive


it, that I should lay down some principles for generalguidance, and the adoption of which I regard asessential to the successful application of the system.

1. There must be a general agreement amongthe membership of the church moving inthis direction, and a realisation of the factthat here we have a way of unifying ourfinance that will increase our totals andimpose the least amount of work upon ourofficers.

2. There must be a general apprehension ofthe sacredness of money, and that the actof bringing our offerings to God in HisHouse is as real an act of worship andspiritual worth as other parts of the ser-vice.

3. There must be a realisation of the in-adequacy of the results of our presentmethods of contribution as a means ofworthily carrying on God's work.

4. If with these there be grasped the concep-tion that all our financial needs will be metby the adoption by our membership gen-erally of the practice of proportionate giv-ing—which will add largely to our totals,and—

5. That all unite in steady, consistent, andpersistent use of the envelopes through thewhole year, making good on our returnhome any deficiency caused by absence onholiday or through illness, and the usingof the whole 52 envelopes for each twelvemonths.

It is desirable that a budget be presented eachyear, carefully compiled beforehand by the FinanceCommittee of each Church, and containing a list ofthe funds which it is desired the Church shall sup-port, with amounts opposite each item, such amountsbeing based upon an average of the sums subscribedduring the last three years, with, say, 20 per cent.added for progressive usefulness.

It must be realised that "this is more than aquest for money, it is a personal invitation to eachindividual to put himself or herself as well as his orher means into practical Christian service."

Remember also that almost invariably the peoplewho do not fall in with the Envelope System are alsostimulated to give more liberally.

The amount required for "our own" Church is afixed and limited sum, of which every member shouldpay his just share. "Helping others" is a limitlessopportunity, towards which all should do their ut-most.

The use of the single envelope often fails to keepbefore a congregation the distinction between whatthey give for their own Church's use and their giftsfor others, and to show how almost completely ourCanadian brethren use the Duplex Envelope I willtell you that a large printing firm in that Dominionreport that of 18 million envelopes supplied in oneyear, 16 million were of the Duplex style, eight-ninthsof the users finding satisfaction in the Duplex plan.Another suggestion I will make, and which all min-isters will approve, is that you tear your envelopein two and place one part in the plate at the morningservice and the other at the evening service, thus en-suring that you are in your place twice every Sunday.

New members joining the Church, or regular at-tendants who are not Church members, should havethe system explained to them by an officer or enve-lope secretary, and no opportunity should be missedfor interesting all worshippers in the financialmethods of the Church.

Do not make the mistake of thinking that oneset of envelopes is sufficient for each household;

every individual member of the family, especiallywage earners, should be induced to become inter-ested, to share in the grace of giving, and realisethat the offering is a part of worship. Particularlyshould attention be given to the children, for I knowof nothing equal to this for inculcating in theiryoung minds the duty and privilege of systematicgiving. Every boy and girl will appreciate the addeddignity of contributing through their own envelopeand on which they themselves have marked the fundthey desire to assist.

It is infinitely more beneficial to a church tohave 30 such subscribers, of 3d each than one adultof 7s 6d.

Care should be taken to inform the membershipof our churches regarding the condition and work ofthe funds they are supporting, both local, Union,and missionary for the more people know about thegreat work being carried on through their offeringsthe more their enjoyment will be manifested by in-creased offerings.

A famous writer once said, "Never give a man anew inspiration to give without affording him anopportunity to give." If a great missionary appealhas stirred our people, ask for a higher permanentstandard of missionary offerings by increasing theamount in the weekly envelope, this will bring in farmore than a retiring collection.

A man must commence the practice and cultivatethe habit of giving when he is poor and before wealthhas biassed his judgment, or he will never be a goodgiver when his possessions have multiplied. It isvery valuable, too, for a definite sum to be promisedweek by week, for usually where no definite promisehas been asked the givings have gradually dimin-ished. Human nature has to be dealt with as it is,and in our present stage of spiritual aliveness, thissystem best meets the situation.

"But," say some, "what if this frightens new-comers?"...Our reply is, "What if it attracts them?"Failure to make a call upon the purses of those whojoin our churches is more likely to stifle their senseof responsibility than anything else. Instead oftheir being left to guess what they ought to give, inignorance of what the church needs, they will be en-abled by a little talk with a church officer to knowwhat may be reasonably expected of them.

People prefer to be connected with a church inwhich each member contributes their honest share,and confidence is at once inspired in their minds.It is thus, too, that the church's contributions tooutside work can be increased most easily.

The system is used as far afield as Formosa, andeven in such a poor district as our Baptist Missionin Barking Road, West Ham, London. Sister Hettie,the well-known wife of the Rev. Rowntree Clifford, indescribing a children's service in the new buildingat West Ham, tells of the boy deacons taking up theofferings, and of every child's attendance beingregistered by envelope, while if mother has only onehalf-penny or a farthing and three or four childrenare coming from one home, then the youngest childmust put the money in its envelope, and the othersput in their love and their "thank you" to Jesus forHis care and goodness. I have just been examiningthe result of a year's envelope returns from my ownchurch, and I am delighted to find that while thereare five funds contributed to on the side of theenvelope marked "ourselves," no less than 18 fundsare contributed to in the other half marked "Others,"and for every £1 given for ourselves much more than£2 was given for others.

If you desire to have things easier in your ownhouse make the work of God easier in His House.The increasing of your gifts to Him will never im-poverish you.



Indian Workers at Brahmanbaria.

Missionary Day:

OCTOBER 14, 1924.

"Faith has yet its Olivet," and on MissionaryDay we stand on Olivet with Jesus and listen againto His regral word, "Go ye into all the world andpreach the Gospel."

"As the Dew."The day was well begun with prayer at 7

o'clock, "Ere yet the world with smoke was dim."Followed another season of prayer at half past 9conducted by Rev. C. W. Duncumb. In such anatmosphere it is not remarkable that missionaryinterest and enthusiasm were at high tide.

The secretary's report chronicled a year at onceof great difficulty and of undaunted effort. TheField Reports will appear in an abridged form insucceeding issues so that our readers may knowfrom our agents themselves something of what isbeing done in Christ's name in all districts. Asentence or two here and there will serve to quickenanticipation.

"Heal the Sick."Dr Hossain reports 451 in-patients at the

hospital, and 10,970 out-patients who paid 19,290visits. These comprised 9,036 males and 1,934

females. Five hundred and ninety operations wereperformed and 3,754 injections were given for Kola-Azar, a terrible disease which seems to be gainingground in our districts.

Miss Beckingsale has kept the medical side ofher work going in spite of the heavy demands madeupon her for general supervision. In this depart-ment Miss Cowles also has given frequent help.Two thousand and thirty-seven new patients from63 villages paid 4,456 visits. Personal visits werepaid by the missionary to 82 patients in 22 villages.Thirty-four minor operations were performed.

Miss Cowles spent 68 days itinerating in thevillages. One hundred and twenty villages werevisited, 42 of which had not been visited previously.On this tour 601 books were sold.

"The Silver and the Cold."The financial statement showed an adverse

balance of £262 on the General Account. TheReserve Fund does us indispensable service in theway of financing the General Account when sub-scriptions and donations are slow in coming in.Some of the figures make praise-inspiring reading.The B.W.M.U. contributed £1,263 out of their totalreceipts of £1,525. The Young Women's BibleClass made a most creditable donation of £389 outof a total of over £600 gathered for denominationalpurposes. The young men contributed over £200for support of a missionary and the training of astudent.


The missionary portion of the Self-denial Offer-ing came very near the £1,000 mark. A total of£5,307 from all sources entitles us to maintain theclaim that our membership gives in the neighbour-hood of £1 per member towards missions abroad.Are we determined to keep this premier place?

"Luke the Second."During the morning news was received from

India of the appointment of a second doctor asassistant to Dr Hossain. The new doctor is DrJ. M. Ghosh, a son of Rev. R. C. Ghosh, who isa home missionary of the B.M.S. He will assumehis duties in the second week in December. Thisappointment may well be regarded as God's answerto many prayers for medical reinforcements. Weare glad for Dr Hossain's sake that the comingof Dr Ghosh to Chandpur will vastly relieve himand give him some liberty to go further afield inhis ministry of healing.

''The Marks of the Lord Jesus."The love in which Mr and Mrs Takle are held

was very touchingly displayed upon the moving ofa beautiful tribute of appreciation by Rev. J. J.North. We profoundly regret that acting uponmedical advice Mr Takle has tendered his resigna-tion as our missionary after 28 years of very con-spicuous service. In another place full justice isdone to this very touching event, than which nothingmore affecting could be conceived. This sentencefrom Mr North's speech, glowing at it did with thebeauty of a true affection, reflects the feeling ofscores of friends: "Mr Takle has been an architect,builder, leader, administrator, author, and inspirator.He has come home to live among us in peace andhonour."

"Not Unmindful."Rev. John Takle was thanked by special resolu-

tion for the missionary sermon, an utterance of greatbeauty and inspiration. We hope that either inthis issue or the next to publish the sermon in full.A very felicitous vote of thanks was, on the motionof Rev. H. G. Hercus, accorded to our agents onthe Field, "in sick bay," on furlough, and en routefor the Field.

Mr Rollings, who voiced our sympathy with MissArnold and Nurse Peters in their illness, said thatour prayer for them must be that they may "aboundin hope through the Holy Spirit.""From Strength to Strength."

A large part of the afternoon session wasdevoted to hearing the reports of the B.W.M.U.This truly great organisation has reached itsmajority, and in 21 years of fine service has, asonce said, "gone from strength to strength." Tohave contributed £13,000 to the funds of the Society,and to have fostered the prayer life of the womenof our churches during these 21 years, is a doubleachievement worthy to rank with the best exploitsof missionary enterprise. Mrs Harry presented theWomen's Financial Report, Mrs Collins, that in-comparable treasurer, having had to leave Con-ference on account of illness in her family.

"Timothy our Brother."Two missionary students—Messrs E. W. Grigg

and J. E. Simpson—were introduced to the Con-ference. By their earnest consecration and abilitythey had commended themselves to the Executive,and this body having committed them to theStudents' Committee, they were, by the Convener,Mr Kempton, brought before us with great con-fidence."Their Faces Thitherward."

Nine candidates in all are before the Committee,and prospects for increasing our staff in India withefficient workers were never brighter.

"With Them That Weep."A very tender word of sympathy with Rev. A.

North and family in their bereavement was utteredby Rev. J. K. Archer. Mrs Alfred North was greatly-beloved, and her memory is and will be fragrantamong us. The Conference rose in impressivesilence while the new President offered prayer.

"Not Grudgingly nor of Necessity."The Missionary Budget of £5,250 was adopted.

This will entail upon us all the maintenance of ourbest efforts in the past.

Pray for Us."The Secretary and Treasurer, Rev. M. W. P.

Lascelles, was re-elected. The Rev. S. Morris waselected Missionary Preacher, with Rev. F. A. Craw-shaw as Deputy. Rev. Stanley Jenkin was re-elected Missionary Editor.

"With One Accord in One Place."The missionary meeting in the evening is

almost universally looked forward to as "the bigevent" by Conference, and we were treated thisyear to missionary speeches of a very high order.The chairman, Rev. H. G. Hercus, although not amissionary from India, spent some years in thatcountry as a minister to an English and Anglo-Indian congregation. The fitness of his chairman-ship could easily be recognised.

The first speaker was Miss Rice, who was look-ing remarkably well considering her recent illness.Everyone shares with her the fond hope of herreturning to India in due time. Miss Rice's voicewas clearly heard, and all must have been impressedby her firm grip of her subject and the lucid treat-ment she gave it. Unfortunately we can only quotea sentence here and there from an address thanwhich Miss Rice has never given a better.

"Hinduism has become a mere tradition. It hasno cohesive principle of brotherhood. Hinduism iscaste, and caste is religion. In it mental andspiritual development is impossible. In India anold world has come to an end, and a new one hascome to the birth. Indians often confuse theChristian with the Englishman. The two are notnecessarily the same! Western civilisation is beingclosely followed: its evils are rampant. The Chris-tians in our district have come to the conclusionthat strong Indian leadership in spiritual things iscalled for, though they are not yet ready for fullresponsibility. We get converts not only from thelow caste and outcaste people, but also from amongthe educated Bengalis. Non-violent non-co-operationhas put a new element into Indian nationalismwhich is distinctly Christian."

In a speech delivered so passionately that itleft our tardy pencil lagging far behind, Rev. JohnIngs spoke on "Some Measurable and Some Im-measurable Results of Mission Work in India."Spiritual and commercial results were alike repre-sented in the saying of the Portuguese sailor as,in the fifteenth century, he knocked at the south-west door of India saying, "We seek Christiansand spices." The wealth of the East had enrichedthe West, but to what extent had the West enrichedthe East with spiritual things? Figures are dis-appointing to some, and to some unreliable. Thequestion is sometimes put, "Isn ' t it a case of stale-mate in India?" Mr Ings showed that even inpoint of numerical increase we at home would dowell if we came "up to the speed of the East ."In the past 20 years 250 per day have been addedto the Christian community. That is 91,000 peryear—an heartening total. In 20 years the increasehas been 1,830,962. India, be said, has the largestnumber of converts and the most rapid increase ofany Mission Field in the world. Over and above


tabulated results there is at work the influence ofChrist like the leaven in the dough. India is en-deavouring now to read into her sacred booksChristian meanings, and for 30 years her scholarshave been expurgating the vileness from her litera-ture. This is the fruit of the revelation of a pureand holy God to the Indian mind.

Rev. John Takle received an ovation whichmight have gone to the head of a man less wiseand balanced than he. Though compelled to retirefrom the front line, he refused to consider himself"a dud"—a determination in which everybody elsejoined. Mr Takle's great subject is Mahom-medanism. He is the Zwemer of the South, and itwas inevitable that he should speak of the challengeof Islam to the Christian Church. There are 70per cent. of Mahommedans in our district, and theyhate the Cross. They will spit upon our flag notbecause it is English, but because the Cross is onit. The social conditions of Mahommedanism area disgrace. This religion is not only non-Christian,it is anti-Christian. We have to bring God to themand to live God before them? Every Mahommedanis a missionary. If we could say the same ofChristians, how our missionary problems would besolved! Mahommedans are almost inclined to laughat our painful finance and our fevered endeavourto provide workers for our mission fields. Onceeducated Mahommedans used to study Tom Paineand Ingersoll, but now it thrills the heart to thinkof the change that is coming over them. Manywho do not profess Christianity, yet make Christthe criterion, and test our lives by that standard.The new spirit in India proves that missions arenot a failure. Gandhi was once asked what mis-sionaries ought to do to be more successful. Hisreply was: "You Christians must begin to live likeChrist. Practice your religion without toning itdown. Emphasise love, for it is essentially Chris-tian. Study non-Christian religions, and thus finda more sympathetic approach to the Indian mind.' 'For us the impressions of Missionary Day werecrystallised in Coster's verse, and this we make ourprayer:—

"O when in all the Orient lands,From cities white and flaming sands,Shall men lift dedicated hands

O Christ to Thee."

Conference By-Products.

"When I was a young man I volunteered forthe Congo, but was rejected. I have now a daughterin India, and I hope some day to send another.''This is a case of the Christian soldier being repre-sented by his daughters.—F. E. H.

"If I were a young man again India would bemy chosen field of service. I cannot for the life ofme understand why the foreign appeal does nottouch more of our young people."—A. H. C.

"I am a missionary enthusiast: I cannot claimto be a missionary expert."—C. W. D.

"If you want to kill me, put me on the Mis-sionary Committee.''—(A Returned Missionary.)

NOT INTENDED.

The speaker—a lady—had just concluded a mostinteresting and informing address, when the chair-man rose with the unpondered remark: "It willrefresh us now if we sing hymn 396."

"The Tabernacle will do its best," said thedelegate. "If the Tabernacle does its best for thisfund," said the new president, "the rest will beeasy for u s . "

"How modest these missionaries are! Theyalmost resent our praise! A lady missionary oncewrote me almost irately about a letter of apprecia-tion that had been couched, as she declared, inextravagant terms. I felt for the moment like aworm that wanted to wriggle off into its hole; butafter a moment I declared myself quite unrepented.These workers are heroic folk, say what they will,

and no words of ours can overstate the fineness oftheir service."—(Mover of Adoption of MissionaryReport.)

" I N EASTERN BENGAL."

Rev. J. C. Martin, of Melbourne, the GeneralSecretary of the Australian Baptist Board of ForeignMissions, has written an attractive missionarybrochure bearing the above title We acknowledgereceipt of a copy, and will review it in our nextissue. Mr Martin has many friends in New Zea-land who remember him when he was in ourministry.

The twenty-first annual meeting of the NewZealand Baptist Women's Missionary Society washeld in the Oxford Terrace Schoolroom on Wednes-day morning, with a very representative attendanceof members.

The session opened with a devotional meetingconducted by Mrs Harry, of Wellington.

At 10 a.m. the President, Mrs Toneycliffe, tookthe chair, and after the opening hymn and prayer,the business of the day commenced with a motionof sympathy with relatives of Mrs A. North, MrsCatchpole, Mrs Chidgey, Mrs J. G. Eraser, MrsRussell, Mrs Carter, Mr Carson, and others.

In appropriate words Mesdames Archer andIngold welcomed the visiting delegates. MrsSmeeton suitably responding.

In response to the roll call 58 out of the 60Branches gave or sent greetings

Mrs Driver apologised for the absence of MrsCharles North, whom we had hoped to have withus.

With great interest and pleasure we listened tothe secretarial report, prepared and read by MissGainsford. It was good to note the steady growthor our Union.

It was on November 5, 1903, at a WellingtonConference that the B.W.M.U. was inaugurated atthe suggestion of Mrs M. J. B. Bennett, wife ofthe then minister at Roslyn. Mrs H. H. Driverbeing the first President.

The second report states that 15 representativesattended the annual meeting, and responses weregiven from eight Branches. These were for thefirst few years mostly confined to the South IslandChurches, and it was not until the year 1907 thatBranches were formed in the Auckland district andin some other parts of the Dominion.

We have now 60 Branches, with a membershipof approximately 1250, an increase on last year of118; a new Branch having been formed at Edendale.

Year after year the reports have shown increasein the number of Branches, of membership, thecontributions to the funds, and the general efficiencyand effectiveness of the Union.

Report of Baptist Women'sMissionary Meeting.


The Treasurer's report showed the total receiptsfor the year 1923-24 were £1,525 13s 4d, and, ex-tending over the 21 years, £13,464 16s 0½d.

Mention was made of our great indebtedness tosome of our early Presidents, notably Mrs H. H.Driver, whom we were pleased to have with us,and Mrs A. North, dearly beloved by all, who hasreceived her call to higher service.

Deep gratitude to God was expressed by thesinging of the Doxology.

The election of officers resulted as follows:—Dominion President, Mrs C. S. Matthews; Vice-Presidents: Auckland—Mrs Fred Gaze; Wellington—Mrs R. S. Gray; Central—Miss Gaze; Canterbury—Mrs Ingold; Otago—Mrs C. North; Dominion Secre-tary, Miss Gainsford; Dominion Treasurer, Mrs C.Collins; Representative for Administrative Com-mittee, Mrs Rollings; Deputy Representative, MrsF. E. Harry; Auditor, Mr Godber. sen.

The meeting closed with the Benediction.

THANKSGIVING SERVICE.

An enthusiastic gathering met in Oxford TerraceChurch on Monday afternoon, October 13, to cele-brate the twenty-first anniversary of the BaptistWomen's Missionary Union. There were present onthe platform Mrs Toneycliffe (President), MissGainsford (Secretary), Mrs Collins (Treasurer); alsoMesdames A. S. Adams, Smeeton, Driver, Matthews,and Miss Rice, missionary on furlough.

Mrs Toneycliffe, in appropriate words, welcomedall, and expressed the pleasure it gave her in pre-siding over such a large audience.

Greetings were given by the following ladies:—Mrs Dr Brownlee, on behalf of Canterbury Presbyterian Missionary Union and Ladies' Auxiliary ofSudan Missionary Union; Mrs Moore, on behalf ofMethodist Missionary Union; Mrs Lorimer, on behalfof the London Missionary Society; Mrs McCoombs,on behalf of the W.C.T.U.

Congratulations and greetings were also sentfrom the Church of Christ, the Hawera Presbyterian,Anglican, Methodist, and Baptist Missionary Unions;Mrs Bennett, founder of the B.W.M.U.; Mrs Buck-ingham, a former missionary, and one of the earlysecretaries; Mrs Blackwood, Mrs Blackburn, MrsChas. North, Mrs R. S. Gray, and Mt. Eden BaptistChurch.

Mrs Toneycliffe, in the opening remarks of herpresidential address, spoke of her pleasure on beingPresident the year Conference was at Christchurch.It was at Christchurch that her girlhood days werespent. At Oxford Terrace she was baptised, andmarried. Her address was based on the words,"Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, andLazarus." She spoke of Christ's appreciation andvalue of the many who, with varied gifts, contributeto His service, and of the glory of the common-place.

Miss Rice, missionary on furlough, was intro-duced to the gathering, and received a great ovation.In well chosen words Miss Rice told of the miraclesof grace which God had performed in Brahman-baria, East Bengal. Her words were an inspirationand encouragement to all.

Mrs Collins, the Treasurer, gave a brief sum-mary of the financial report, and at its close wasthe recipient of a love-gift from the members presentas a token of appreciation of the splendid workshe had rendered to the Union. The gift took theform of a travelling clock and a bottle of smellingsalts. Mrs Collins briefly responded.

Mrs Driver, who was the next speaker, saidthis was a unique occasion, as it was the first timein the history of our Union that "our fathers andbrothers" had met with us. They joined with usto celebrate our twenty-first birthday. The title of

Mrs Driver's address was "The Bridge of Re-membrance." We were again reminded of the nobleand wonderful work accomplished by missionaryheroines of the past.

A feature of the gathering was the presentationof posies of beautiful flowers to the retiring Pre-sident (Mrs Toneycliffe), Mrs Matthews (who isher successor), Miss Rice, and Mrs Driver.

Suitable solos were beautifully rendered byMisses Dudney and Owens.

The thank-offering amounted to £12.A very happy meeting was brought t.i a close

by the singing of the Doxology.

Our Medical Mission.

REPORT BY DR HOSSAIN.

Now we have come to the close of another yearof our work in the name and to the glory of ourSaviour Jesus Christ amongst the people of Chandpurand surrounding districts.

There is no mistaking the fact that the workof our medical mission here is being blessed with themost striking appreciation of the people. The num-ber of in-patients in our hospital has risen to 451,the attendance of out-patients has gone up to a totalof 10,970 (9036 males and 1934 females), visiting19,290 times. In the direction of surgical operations,590 were performed, and about 3754 injections weregiven for kala-azar and other diseases. Kala-azar isa terrible disease which is spreading rapidly over thewhole of Bengal. It is five years since we first recog-nised it in our district, and since then it has gradu-ally been spreading all round. Including the isolationward, we have 24 beds, but just now we have 31patients to put in them, so some sleep on the beds,some on the floor, and others stay out on the veran-das, as each patient brings along one friend if notmore to look after him. There are now well over50 people occupying the hospital. This gives us theglorious opportunity of being able to tell of the loveof Christ to these people. Wednesday and Saturdayin the week are fixed for kala-azar injection cases.To-day is Saturday, and we have to inject 125patients. Considering the actual need to relieve thepoor sufferer, we are doing very little in view of thedemand. We know very well that the Gospel ofJesus Christ is essentially a Gospel of love. His min-istry on earth was marked by the works of healingand by His manifestation of love. He called uponmen to identify Him with His Father. Our missionto preach is coupled with the command to heal thesick. This very need, the multitude of physical suf-ferings, is a door of opportunity for the Kingdom ofChrist, for in the practical and effective demonstra-tion of love by establishment of mission hospitals anddispensaries there is brought into action that whichhas been proved everywhere to exert powerful andextensive leverage for the Kingdom of God, break-ing down prejudice and opposition and opening theway for the preaching of the Gospel. Themedical works are not a diverted missionary activity;they are in the mid-current of evangelistic endeavour.It is not something of merely secondary importancethat our kala-azar work at Chandpur and surround-ing places is bringing the patients from places yetunreached by the evangelistic worker, and, as anoutcome, sending hack the message of truth andopening up a way for the messenger. Medical missionwork is one of the biggest forces for personal evan-gelism upon the mission field. It is a mighty leverfor leading men and women to the Saviour.

Considering the above facts, I am thinking ofopening several centres in the district and visitingthem regularly. Thus it will serve all our purposes,


and I also hope some of my friends and friends ofthe poor sufferers will help me by supplying themission with a motor boat by which I can keep incloser touch with those centres without causing anyinterference with our hospital work. It is needlessto mention here that I shall be able to help themission with £40, if not more, yearly towards thecost of the boat from our hospital income. It willnot be out of place to add here that a time will comewhen the medical work of this district will be self-supporting and will require very little pecuniary helpfrom the Society, and that is my earnest desire andfirm conviction.

I sincerely request the friends and wellwishersof the pool sufferers to think seriously about increas-ing the accommodation of our hospital. I am sorryto mention here that almost every day I have to .refuse admittance reluctantly to needy cases for wantof accommodation. In this connection I like to ex-plain to our New Zealand friends that the above-mentioned kala-azar cases require a longer stay in

hospital for treatment than other cases. A completetreatment will require two or three months. Forthis reason our indoor number has not so much in-creased, though all round the year the hospital bedswere full. A Christian doctor is desiring to comehere. We are corresponding with him regarding hismedical qualifications, experience, etc. We hope weshall have him in our midst before long, when wemay extend our work more than at present.

Now, in concluding my report, I offer my heart-felt gratitude to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,through Whose mercy alone we have been able to con-duct our work so smoothly. I shall be failing in myduty if, by the way, I—on behalf of my countrymenand myself—do not express our smcerest thanks tothe people of New Zealand whose charity in trueChristian spirit has been keeping up the medical mis-sion working at Chandpur. I am glad to mentionhere that all the workers are enjoying good healthand spirit.

REV. J. TAKLE, MRS TAKLE, AND THEIR FAMILY.

The knowledge that our veteran missionary theRev. John Takle would be unable to return to Indiahas spread itself everywhere. Hope flickered nowand then, but the final verdict has been pronounced.Mr Takle's fine career in India has closed. He hasreturned comparatively young to his native land, butsorely broken in health and prematurely aged. Aglance at the photo above will remind our readersthat Mr Takle has a young family depending on him,and for several years he will be at large expense onthis account. The obligation lies on us all to providefor our honoured friend in the years, happy in hope,of his retirement. The battle for health is muchhelped when wolves are kept far from the doors. TheAssembly showed itself fully alive to the obligationsof love and honour. The following resolutions wereunanimously adopted:—

The Missionary Society has received with thegreatest regret the resignation of the Rev. JohnTakle as a missionary owing to persistent ill-health. The Society finds itself unable to doother than acquiesce in the verdicts of the doctorsthat return to India is impossible.

The record of 28 years of continuous servicehas been a glory and an inspiration to all ourpeople. We have constantly rejoiced in thestrong missionary leadership of Mr Takle, andin the steadfast support of Mrs Takle, whosebungalow has been, both to English and Indiansin the district, a directly Christian influence.

The achievements of Mr Takle as an autho-rity and author on Mohammedan questions hassecured recognition in many countries. The per-fect organisation of the mission station at Brah-manbaria is very largely due to Mr Takle. Thefoundation of the Christian Church in North Tip-perah has been well laid. The Society givesthanks to God for this great record of service,but finds itself unable to contemplate a severanceof relations, and directs that Mr Takle's namebe retained as missionary emeritus, and truststhat in God's mercy some years of happy anduseful retirement in New Zealand may remainfor him.

Following this resolution of recognition, the Pre-sident (Mr H. M. Smeeton) called on the Vice-president and on Mr A. F. Carey to move the follow-ing resolution:—

Retirement of Rev. John Takle.


The Society recognises the immediate neces-sity of making proper provision for Mr Takleand his family, and suggests the following pro-visions:—

(1) That a house, at an estimated cost of£1200, be secured in the city in whichMr Takle desires to live, and that thisamount be asked for as a special giftfrom the constituents of the Society.

(2) That, in addition to the annuity providedby the Annuity Fund, a pension of £100a year from the Society's funds be paid,such amount to he subject to such re-vision as may from time to time benecessary.

The carriage of these two motions was followedby a memorable scene. The new President had takenthis matter to his heart. He had discovered thatthe President and the Vice-president (Mr Toney-cliffe) each "felt" £100 over the proposal. In a fewmoments £770 was raised. We want the whole fundto be immediately completed. The value of the pro-posed gift lies in this: It secures to Mrs Takle ahome in which she may train her children, sitting rentfree. No better help could be offered. We are surethat the idea will make the same appeal to our peopleeverywhere as it made to those in Christchurch. Itlooks as though folk will need to be quick to get inwith their gifts. The clause relating to the pensionindicates our hope that Mr Takle's health may soimprove as to make some work possible to him. Wewant the brave ones to feel a sense of security andto have an assurance of love from the whole denomi-nation.

"Hopey."—Our contributor "The Listener" willdeal with your questions in next issue.—Ed. M. M.Bag.

Wanted—An Atmosphere.

One has just to know a little of the culture, thepersonal character and disposition of the men whohave all India by the ears. They are men who havegrown in close proximity to Christian leaders, whohave imbibed a great deal of Christian teaching,who have jettisoned almost all the essentials ofIndia's religious and caste system and hold onlythe name; men of reputable ability and respecta-bility, and who accord to the missionary a place ofconfidence and esteem. These are not asking thatthe missionary any more than other foreigners take alead in politics, but they do look to the missionaryto exercise a certain controlling, reforming moralinfluence that will create an atmosphere in whichtheir line schemes can safely mature.

From the most conspicuous leader of men in theland down to the obscure peasant there is an openadmisison of the want of a moral influence andspiritual leadership in India. And apart from theChristian missionary India has no friends whollydisinterested or wholly neutral and wholly universal.Moreover, never in the history of India were thepeople more ready to listen to a constructive proposalfor the peace and good-will of the country. Where-fore, our course being so clear, our orders so definite,our opportunity so momentous, our duty is unmistake-able. At the longest our term is short. Let us bedefinite in our approach to the heart of the people.Let us leave nobody in doubt as to what we are herefor. Let us take for granted that every soul wemeet is looking for God. Let us see in India's dis-content Christ's opportunity, and in the presenttemper of quiescent ambition the day of evangelismunrivalled, and unimpeded Gospel preaching.

W. B. (In "Our Bond.")

Primitive Methodist missions have gained moreAfrican converts in the past five years than in theprevious 50.

The Mission House and Church, Brahmanbaria.

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT.


The children were early on the Conference pro-gramme this year. A missionary cantata, "TheGarden in the Desert," contributed by representa-tives of our Christchurch Sunday Schools, drew anaudience which overflowed the spacious accommoda-tion of the Terrace Church. The large choir of chil-dren, under the baton of Mr V. C. Peters, excelledin the choir pieces. The various groups of girls,robed in many-coloured saris, suggested the ever-moving colour of an Eastern crowd, while one grouprobed in virgin white, representative of India's tragic:girl widows, made pathetic appeal. In dialogue aLinwood group first instructed the audience concern-ing William Carey and his vision, the story of hisearly days being excellently told. Then came groupsof Spreydon children to paint effective word picturesof the misery and hopelessness of India withoutChrist—a veritable desert. A business-like groupfrom St. Albans armed with pick-axes and anotherfrom Opawa and Sydenham carrying spades andbuckets told of channels made to irrigate the desertand let in the river of God's grace, and of work yetto be done. The desert transformed and made toblossom like the rose through the flowing into India'slife of the river of God was the suggestion of theOxford Terrace group. The entire cantata was amighty inspiration and a grand success, the audiencenot being slow to show appreciation of the efforts ofthose responsible for its production—the Rev. A. W.Stuart, Mr V. C. Peters, and Miss Petrie.

The Rev. E. Evans immediately added to the suc-cess of the evening with a powerfully inspiringaddress on William Carey, in which more than ordi-nary platform ability was displayed. The challengeof Carey's vision, of his endurance, and of his de-votion formed the basis of this gripping, challengingpresentation of the pioneer missionary's life.

Deemed a visionary, "a moonstruck, feather-headed fanatic," Carey launched upon the world oneof the most revolutionary movements of moderntimes. Carey's was a great life, his work a greatachievement, because his was a great God. Great-ness is not magnitude; pity, mercy, love is greatness,and here our God is great. Carey believed that suchgreatness demanded a great consecration on ourpart. Again, Carey was a sticker. "Whatever hebegan he saw through," said his sister. India forChrist was the passion of his life.

During the evening the President of Conference(Mr H. M. Smeeton) presented the shield for the bestaverage marks in the recent Sunday School examina-tions to Pastor W. Garner on behalf of the school atHina Hina, a new school with 20 scholars and oneteacher. The Rev. E. N. Goring presided over theentire programme.

The annual meeting of the Young Women's Bap-tist Bible Class Union was held on Saturday even-ing, during Conference. About 180 delegates andgirls sat down to the tea-, which was provided by thegirls of the Canterbury district. Mrs Stuart (Vice-president for Canterbury) spoke welcoming the visit-ing delegates and representatives of other classes,and Mrs Rollings (Wellington) and Miss Lovatt(Whangarei) replied. The meeting was then takenover by the Dominion President, Mrs Thornton, ofDunedin.

Mrs Thornton voiced the affectionate tribute ofthe Bible Class girls to the memory of Mrs North,and while all stood in sympathy Mrs Smeeton offeredprayer.

Miss D. Buchanan presented Mrs Thornton, MissRice, and Miss Gainsford with beautiful bouquets intoken of the girls' appreciation of their service athome and on the mission field.

Both the Secretary's and the Treasurer's reportswere read by Miss Buchanan, and showed a mostencouraging increase, both in membership and ingifts. There were 101 baptisms during the year, anincrease of 29 over last year. The Canterbury dis-trict still leads in the average amount given permember, and the girls of all the classes are to becongratulated upon the results of their efforts, over£600 having been raised throughout the Dominion.

A burst of applause greeted Miss Rice as she roseto speak, and her talk on the appeal of India toBible Class girls was one of the most interestingfeatures of the meeting.

Mrs Thornton then introduced the new Presi-dent, Mrs Smeeton, of Auckland, but as time didnot permit Mrs Smeeton to address the meeting, avote of thanks to the outgoing executive was passed,and the meeting closed with the Benediction. At asubsequent gathering, Mrs Smeeton gave an inspiringtalk to the leaders, and thanked the Christchurchgirls for their hospitality.

N.I.Y.M.B.C.U.

99

121383

207

183

1518

5687

12——

620

?———10—

——

9—

6———10

3—

4——

35

—42

20155

——

66

1015———

Total amount contributed since Easter, 1924:£82 6s. You see, fellows, that we are still £23 shortof the £105 which we should have, seeing that theyear is half-way through.

The following classes have sent nothing at allyet:—Vivian Street, Gonville Junior, Whangarei,Otahuhu, Island Bay.

With eyes on the £210 mark,I remain,

Yours in Bible Class bonds,E. W. GRIGG, Union Collector.

Y.W.B.B.C.U. Annual Meeting.

" S C H E M E 2 0 0 . "

S E C O N D Q U A R T E R L Y S C H E D U L E , 1 9 2 4 - 2 5 .

No. on roll.Sen. Jun .

QuotaSep. 30.

Amountsent

Oct. 16.

Per -centage

ofquota.

Amountsentfirst

quarterPosi-tion. C a s e .

1. Thames2. Hamil ton3. Pa lmers ton North4. New Plymouth5. Brooklyn Senior6. Napier7. Berhampore

PetoneTabernacle No. 1Richmond, Nelson

11. Kelson12. Mount Alber t13. Gisborne14. Wanganui Eas t15. Ponsonby16. Richmond, Auck.17. Epsom

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We congratulate the Rev. R. Turner on his mar-riage, which took place at Milton immediately afterConference. . . . Mr Lascelles's son has movedacross from Los Angeles to Louisville, and has enteredthe largest theological seminary in the world, overwhich Dr Mullins presides. We are glad to know thathe hopes to enter the New Zealand ministry.It is curious that the proposal to locate for the pre-sent the Baptist College at the Tabernacle buildings,Auckland, was anticipated by the Rev. Thomas Spur-geon. When the corner site was purchased, it washis dream that a Pastors' College might be rearedthereon. We are suggesting next door.Principal Mullins, who may visit us next October, isa typical American. Well dressed, tall, thin, nasal,methodical, whimsical, and logical. He is no end ofa man. . . . Dunedin doesn't seem to be able torun an Exhibition without a big gamble. The saidgamble was launched while the pious slept. It wasadvertised in northern papers before the Council ofChurches or the Presbytery awoke to the wickedness.Dust will fly in old Dunedin. And Robert Burns inthe Octagon will think thoughts. . . . We aresorry to notice that the pages of the Outlook havebeen a good deal occupied with querulous letters re-garding the Rev. Mr Murray and the Rev. FordeCarlisle. Mr Carlisle left our Church some years ago.Mr Murray never joined it, though he was excom-municated by the Presbyterians on the baptismalquestion. Mr Carlisle has now left the "UnitedEvangelical Church," founded by Mr Murray, andcomplains with reason of tyrannical methods and ofunfair treatment. The new "church" seems to benear the rocks. And these things are not edifying.

We are very glad to notice that the Rev. RayStewart is doing excellent and widely-appreciated workas seamen's missioner at Lyttelton. . . . "A mem-orial to Dr Clifford is being arranged for at his oldchurch, Westbourne Park. Copies of the plan werecirculated at Conference. If any of our readers wouldlike to help, remittances may be addressed to tin-Rev. S. W. Hughes, 41 Kingswood Avenue, Queen'sPark, N.W. 6, London. . . .

OBITUARY.REV. D. CATCHPOLE, D.D.

On Sunday, September 28, the Rev. D. Catch-pole, Pastor for nearly three years of the BerhamporeChurch, passed to his reward. Mr Catchpole wasa graduate of Woodstock College and McMaster Uni-versity, Canada. After a term of successful min-istry in Canada, he went to California where, for tenyears, he did highly important work.

Three years ago he came to New Zealand, andaccepted a call to the Berhampore pastorate. Hewas wholly devoted to the work of the ministry, andin conjunction with Mrs Catchpole, did a work whoseinfluence extended far beyond the borders of thechurch. He was a faithful and diligent pastor, anintensely earnest preacher of the Gospel, a lover andfriend of children, a Sunday School enthusiast, anda loyal friend. He also bore a worthy part in theactivities of good citizenship, and was a member ofthe Berhampore School Committee, Chairman of theBerhampore Free Kindergarten, and Chairman of theAssociated School Committees for Wellington.

During the last few months of his life he passedthrough the dark valley of suffering. But the lampof his faith shone undimmed. His faith took theform of trust, of fortitude, of cheerful acceptance ofthe good will of Cod, whether for life or for death.

On September 30 a service was held in thechurch, at which the Rev. F. E. Harry presided.The Revs. M. W. P. Lascelles and F. Radford tookpart, and the writer gave a tribute of praise to Godfor the Christly life and triumph of our brother. Athrong of people filled the church, and a greaterthrong was without. The procession moved awayfrom the church between the lines of boys from theBerhampore school, who stood to reverent attentionas their friend passed. A throng attended at thegrave-side, when the Revs. F. E. Harry and H. E.Edridge reverently committed the casket to the earthGreatest sympathy is felt for Mrs Catchpole and hertwo sons in their sorrow.


AUCKLAND TABERNACLE (Rev. Joseph W.Kemp).—During half the period which we now reportupon, the pastor has been absent with our other dele-gates at the Conference in Christchurch. During hisabsence, the Rev. Adam Clarke, of the Mount EdenChurch, took a Sunday evening service and gave twoof the mid-week Bible lectures. Mr C. J. Rolls,Superintendent of the Bible Training Institute, gaveus a remarkably fine discourse on a recent Lord's Daymorning, full of teaching on the Holy Spirit, underthe title "Honour to Whom Honour is Due." Wehave been favoured with a visit from Mrs Chas. T.Studd, of the Heart of Africa Mission and World-wide Evangelistic Crusade, who has addressed' threelarge meetings at the Tabernacle, putting the claimsof the great neglected fields with much fervour andforce. The Soudan United Mission held a successfulmissionary pageant in the Tabernacle School Hall onOctober 11. On the first Sunday morning of themonth Mr Kemp welcomed at the Communion Tablethirteen friends to church membership. The men'smeeting is having some fine gatherings. The doublequartet, for men's voices unaccompanied, is an attrac-tive feature. We have lost by death, after a verybrief illness, Mrs R. Wootton, of Grey Lynn, who,with her daughters, has been for many years in mem-bership with the Tabernacle. Our friend, who wasa sister of Mr Edwin Turley, who passed away twomonths ago, was. much respected and a consistentmember of the .Church.

BERHAMPORE.—The church annual businessmeeting was held on September 10, when our latepastor's report, annual report, and balance sheet werepresented to members. The following is the latepastor's report:—"Sermons preached, 82. Prayermeetings (including Wednesday mornings), 67. Visitsto hospitals, 90. Visits to homes, 1156. Funeralsconducted, 7; marriages, 5; baptisms, 8. Other meet-ings attended and many conducted, 60. Awaitingbaptism, 4." This report includes the work doneby both the late pastor and his wife, and the figure,themselves tell how much they did, even though hehad been ill for the last few weeks. The annual re-port showed a successful year of activities and asteady progress in all departments. Good attendanceshave been maintained at all meetings, and throughoutthe year a firmer and closer co-operation between alldepartments has been noticed. The treasurer's re-port showed a slight debit balance for the year, thereason for this being the Gipsy Smith meetings andother causes. The officers elected for the ensuingyear were as follows:—Choirmaster, Mr J. Duncan;Sunday School Superintendent, Mr Bade; Secretary,Mr Gardner; Treasurer, A. Kelly; Agent and Re-porter to New Zealand Baptist, H. Harris ; Deacons:Messrs Scott, Hunter, Gardner, Stevens. The anni-versary services were held on Sunday, September 14.

A Note or Two.


when the Rev. H. E. Edridge, of Island Bay, ad-dressed us in the morning and the Rev. M. W. P.Lascelles in the evening. The public meeting on thefollowing Tuesday was well attended, and representa-tives of the surrounding churches were present.

BROOKLYN (Rev. W. S. Rollings).—We aresorry to have to report the loss of two of our mem-bers, Mrs and Miss Cubby, who are leaving shortlyfor England, where they intend to reside. We held asocial evening recently, when our friends were fare-welled, and appreciation of their labours and fellow-ship was expressed. Our branch Sunday School atMornington continues to increase in membership.This school is under the superintendence of Mr F.J. East, and has a staff of willing teachers. Theonly drawback is the want of a more suitable building,which we hope to secure before the membership in-creases much more, as the present building is muchtoo small and not suitable for the purpose, being usedas a. State school through the week. The Band ofHope in connection with our main school is makinggreat strides. We are pleased to see the interesttaken and help given by many of our adults in thisimportant department of our work. Another of ouractivities, the Tennis Club, was officially opened ona recent Saturday afternoon, when quite a largemuster of enthusiasts gathered for the occasion, andthoroughly enjoyed the afternoon.

CAVERSHAM (Rev. E. Evans).—Our anniver-sary services were held on Sunday, September 21,when the Rev. R. H. K. Kempton took the morningservice and our own pastor preached in the evening.On the following Wednesday we held our annualsocial, when a large company met for a social hour.During the evening the church report was read, andit was a very encouraging one indeed. The member-ship shows a net increase of l6 for the year. Thework among the young people is very encouraging,the Senior Endeavour having a regular attendance

of about 40 young people. Our young ladies, witha membership of 35, have the largest Bible Class inthe South Island, while the young men have a mem-bership of 21. The Sunday School is also in a veryflourishing condition, and is still under the leadershipof Mr R. H. Todd. On Sunday, October 5, a verylarge congregation assembled in the church, wheneight young people of the Bible Classes followed theirLord through the waters of baptism.

EDENDALE (Rev. H. R. Turner).—The SundaySchool anniversary was held on September 28. Threeservices that day saw the specially-erected platformcrowded to its utmost capacity, although it had beenenlarged to accommodate our increased numbers. Theminister of our neighbouring Presbyterian Church(the Rev. J. D. McKenzie, B.D.) very acceptablyfilled the pulpit in the morning, and the afternoonservice was taken by the school officers owing to MrsR. Bailey being unable to attend. In the eveningthe pulpit was occupied by our own minister. Thecongregations throughout the day were good, and thecollections realised over £9. The annual school teaand meeting was held on Tuesday, September 30.About 150 scholars and adults sat down to a good tea.This was followed by a meeting at which the Rev. A.Anstice, of Mount Albert, gave an address. Thesecretary's report showed that the school roll hadincreased by 36, and now stood at 184, and the aver-age Sunday attendances showed a substantial increaseMrs Turner presented the prizes to the scholars forgood attendance. The programme was interspersedwith many musical items. On Sunday evening,October 6, an open-air meeting was held prior to theevening service, and whilst this was in progress aprayer meeting was being held in the church.

FEILDING (Rev. G. D. Gardiner).—We held ourannual church meeting in August , when we had withus Mr Ivory and Mr Lascelles. Our church has beenpassing through critical t imes, but we are still press-

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ing on. All the important officers of the church werere-elected, some after many years of office. The choirpresented the church with three gas heaters, whichhave been used during the winter. Our anniversaryservices were held on September 21, when we hadwith us the Rev. Stanley Jenkin, of Wanganui, whogave us two very fine addresses, the services beingvery well attended and the special offering also beingvery satisfactory. On the following Monday oursocial was held, and proved a very successful gather-ing. We have much to thank our Heavenly Fatherfor in the past year, and pray for His special guidancein the coming year.

GISBORNE (Rev. F. A. Crawshaw).—The twoSunday Schools held their anniversaries during Sep-tember. Te Hapara anniversary services took placeon the 21st, and were well attended, both afternoonand evening. Close on 100 children sat down totea on the following Friday, while seating accom-modation was at a premium for the concert, whichwas greatly enjoyed. Sunday, the 28th, was fine forthe town school anniversary. The special singingwas under the baton of Mr R. Mitchell. Mr Craw-shaw presided at the three services, and a very largecongregation gathered at night. The City Hall wasengaged on the Friday for the tea and concert, alarge number of parents and friends gathering toenjoy an excellent programme of items from thechildren. During the pastor's absence at Confer-ence, Sunday services were taken by Messrs Clareand Tattersfield, and mid-week services by MessrsCrafts and Gill.

GONVILLE (Rev. A. G. Grigg).—On September20 the members of the B.W.M.U. held their annualsale. The sum of £20 was raised for mission funds.Our Sunday School held its anniversary services onOctober 5. Rev. E. N. Goring, of Hawera, con-ducted the morning and evening services, and ourown minister, the afternoon service. The singingwas ably conducted by our friend Mr Emmett. Onthe Monday evening following the anniversary, thechildren were entertained at tea by the SundaySchool. The tea was followed by a concert givenby the children.

GORE (Rev. T. H. Eccersall).—We have beenfavoured with a visit from Mr Smeeton and Rev. G.Thornton. A baptismal service was held in thechurch last Sunday, when two Sunday School scholarswere baptised. On Wednesday last we farewelledMrs J. Cullen, a church member, at a social in thechurch hall. An enjoyable time was spent, and ourpastor, in voicing the congregation's regret at herdeparture, presented the guest with a suitable gift.Our best wishes go with Mrs Cullen in her new homeat Invercargill.

GRANGE ROAD (Rev. A. S. Wilson).—At ourannual meeting a pleasing report on the year'swork was presented, the membership roll show-ing an increase for the year. Messrs Bigelow,Cramp, Dow and Hyndman, retiring deacons,were re-elected, together with a new deacon,Mr Lucas. Messrs A. T. Dow, secretary,and W. Bigelow, treasurer, were re-elected. TheSunday services were conducted by Rev. H. Hercus,and were followed by the annual church social onWednesday, August 27. On the retirement of Ray-mond L. Price, Esq., from the diaconate, the follow-ing resolution was passed: "'That in accepting the

resignation of Mr R. L. Price as a deacon of theGrange Road Baptist Church, this annual meetingof members desires to place on record their high re-gard for Mr Price, and appreciates the services ren-dered by him, not only to his church, but also tohis Lord and Master during the past years. Hispersonality made him a true friend to all with whomthe service of the church brought him into contact,and his earnest Christian life made him a leader be-loved in all the spiritual activities of the church, torwe can bear witness that his record is true."

HASTINGS (Rev. T. Keith Ewen).—Our lastB.W.M.U. meeting took the form of a social afternoon,when we had a splendid gathering of women. Dur-ing the afternoon interesting letters from workers onthe field having been read, Mrs F. E. Barley favouredus with a solo. A most gratifying collection wastaken up. Afternoon tea was then handed round,bringing a very pleasant afternoon to a close. Anappeal was made at our church in connection withthe Prohibition movement, a good response resulting.On September 26 a most enjoyable concert was heldin aid of funds for the furnishng of our SundaySchool. The scholars of the Sunday School were re-sponsible for the first half of the programme, andadults the latter part. The programme submittedwas much appreciated by the large audience, andthe seating accommodation was fully taxed. Thetakings of the evening justified the special effortmade.

ISLAND BAY (Rev. H. E. Edridge).—We arepleased to report steady progress in our church work,and the recent number of baptisms (five for themonth) have largely contributed to greatly increasedcongregations. The appearance of our church hasbeen improved by the addition of a porch, which hasbeen erected by voluntary labour. Recently a socialgathering was held to express our thanks to allhelpers. An opportunity was also taken to make asmall presentation to Mr Crampton (our Unionstudent), in recognition of services rendered. Inthe recent Wellington Sunday School Union Scriptureexaminations, our scholars won 13 prizes, seven first-class certificates, five second-class certificates, whiletwo of our scholars gained 100 per cent. of marks.We are proud to record that our school gained thehighest place for the Wellington district. Thisspeaks well for the devoted work of our Superintend-ent and teachers. Twenty-seven scholars sat for thedenominational examination on Baptism, gaining anaverage of 75.6. The banner for the best class inthe Union examination was awarded to No. 2 boys.

LINWOOD (Rev. A. W. Stuart).—We recordthankfulness to God for response to our appeal forthe removal of the debt of £235. Promises anddonations to date total £90. General work con-tinues to progress.

LYALL BAY (Rev. H. E. Edridge).—Our annualchurch meeting was held on September 23. Thegood attendance and animated discussion on thevarious points raised proved that "our little band"take a real live interest in the affairs of our church,and are not content with merely being on the roll.The secretaries and leaders of the various activitieswere able to submit very satisfactory and encourag-ing reports; it was very gratifying to hear the Sun-day School Superintendent and the leaders of theYoung Women's and Young Men's Bible Classescomment on the marked evidence of progress in theirparticular sections. The members showed their ap-preciation and confidence in the church officers by re-electing all to their respective positions. Our pastorwas most heartily thanked and deservedly eulogisedfor his great work and untiring endeavours on ourbehalf. We hopefully face the current year with theconfident expectation that the progress will be main-tained. We intend making an onslaught on our

MADAME D'ALVAREZ IN U.S.A.

Mr Horace Hunt, Mus. Bac., of Wellington, hashad a letter from 39 West 67th Street, New York,asking him to post a supply of Fluenzol for Madame'suse. She learned the value of Fluenzol for thethroat during her Australasian tour, and wrote:—"I t is a great ioy to recommend this magicFluenzol."


church debt by holding a sale of work early inDecember. Our ladies are already holding weeklysewing meetings, but as our band of workers is un-fortunately very small, any proffered gifts would begratefully appreciated. Our pastor had the pleasureof baptising two more believers on September 28,making a total of seven baptisms for that month,which is very encouraging.

MORRINSVILLE (Rev. F. A. Parry).—The chiefitem to report this month is the mission conductedby Rev. Adam Clarke, of the Mt. Eden BaptistChurch. Prayer meetings had been conducted fora fortnight before the mission) asking for God's rich-est blessings, and we can say we have received theblessings The mission commenced on Mondaynight, when there was a public meeting at whichminister and officers of the other churches, with us,welcomed Mr Clarke into our midst. The missionercame with power and wisdom from on high, and theWord of God was presented simply yet convincingly.Fourteen decided for Christ, eight being baptised.Each afternoon was spent on studies in the Book olRevelation. All Christians have been greatly helpedand blessed, as shown by the interest taken; also bythose who took the opportunity to express their feel-ings on the closing night of the mission. Theaverage daily attendance at the mission was 94. Wethank the Lord for His goodness to us, and pray thatmany who have heard and have not as yet receivedChrist will do so. We are pleased to report othersare seeking baptism. Our annual church meetingwas held on October 1; all offices were filled, theTreasurer, Mr E. McGregor, and Secretary, Mr R.Gibbs, being re-elected. Reports were read from theSecretary of each branch of the work, and these werevery encouraging. We are pleased to report an in-crease of 17 new members for the year. It was ourjoy to receive eight of these just recently, six beingbaptised during the mission.

MOUNT EDEN (Rev. Adam Clarke).—On September 28 we held our church anniversary. We had fineservices both morning and evening, our pastor preach-ing on both occasions. Special anthems and soloswere rendered by the choir and friends. On the fol-lowing Tuesday (September 30) the members' annualtea and business meeting was held, when there wasa very good attendance. The secretary's report re-corded a healthy condition of church life, and all de-partments showed signs of life and activity. TheSenior and junior Endeavours are both in good heart.The church received 21 new members for the year.The treasurer's statement showed an increase overlast year's finances. The following office-bearers wereappointed for the ensuing year:—Secretary, Mr F.Eade; Assistant Secretary, Mr Geo. Aubrey; Treas-urer, Mr J. M. Barker; Financial Secretary, Mr J.H. Barker; Associate, Mr E. L. Blampied; Choir-master, Mr H. Auger; Organists—Mrs Bridge, MissChilton, and Mr J. M. Barker; Representatives onCouncil of Christian Congregations, Messrs Hughes

Private'Phone.

and Gerlack; Agent for Baptist, Mr W. Wrigley; Re-porters to Baptist, Misses Cliilton; Representative ofManurewa Home, Mrs Stainton; Collector for Bap-tist Union, Mr Surman; Auditor, Mr Geo. Aubrey.On October 5 our pastor had the joy of baptisingseven men, three being scholars in the Sunday School.It was a splendid service, both in numbers and inspirit. This year we held a church social in con-nection with the Anniversary, to which everybody wasinvited. Quite a number attended. The eveningpassed with musical items and short talks from dif-ferent friends. Arrangements are in hand for ourdiamond jubilee, and we are looking forward to seeingmany old friends. The jubilee celebrations will ex-tend from November 22 to November 30. If anyfriends from a distance are thinking of coming, hos-pitality is being arranged. Will those who contem-plate attending please advise some of the MountEden people if such hospitality is required?

NAPIER (Rev. John Ings).—During last monthwe had two lectures at our church, the first being ahumorous lecture by the Rev. F. E. Harry on "A Curefor the Blues," while the other was given by theRev. Paul Kanamori, from Japan Mr Kanamorilectured in several of the churches, and on the lastnight of his visit he spoke in our church. Both lec-tures were well attended. On October 6 the SundayIndia with special slides. The offertory wasvery unfavourable, consequently the services werenot well attended. When our pastor returns fromConference it is hoped to repeat the Sunday Schoolservices. The tea meeting was held on the Mondaynight, and as the weather had cleared considerablywe had quite a large gathering.

NEW PLYMOUTH (Rev. A. H. Collins).—MissGladys Collins, our minister's missionary daughter,was farewelled at an afternoon social given by theladies of the church. She was presented with nThermos flask as an expression of the love and ad-miration in which she is held. Miss Collins sails forIndia on October 17. We shall take a keener interestin her and in her work because of our intercoursetogether. She gave a much appreciated lecture onIndia with special slides. The offering amounted to£12 10s. We have also said farewell to Mrs Honnorand her daughter, who intend residing in Aucklandfor a year or two. A social gathering was held, atwhich we asked Mrs Honnor to accept a travellingrug and Miss Honnor a Bible and a volume of Brown-ing's poems to remind them now and in the daysto come of our appreciation of the good work theyhave done in the Church and Sunday School. Aninterdenominational Bible Class rally was held onSeptember 21 in our church, and about 120 youngmen and women were present. The members con-ducted the service. Mr J. A. Valentine, B.A., gavea heart-searching talk on "Examine Thyself." Hiswords made a deep impression on his hearers. It isgratifying and encouraging to report that the Sun-day School is growing. Miss Lottie Valentine hastaken over Miss Honnor's class until the end of theyear. During our minister's absence at Conference,the Sunday services were taken by Mr J. A. Valen-tine, B.A., in the morning, and by the Rev. JohnCraig in the evening. Our Young People's Clubbrought an exceedingly interesting and profitable ses-sion to a close with a jumble sale and concert. Theproceeds of this final event is for the Tennis CourtFund.

NORTH-EAST VALLEY (Rev. S. Morris).—OnSunday, September 28, we celebrated our SundaySchool anniversary. In the morning, the Rev. E. O.Blamires conducted the service, and our minister tookthe afternoon and evening services. The splendidsinging of the children, under the baton of Mr RobertReid; the very large congregations and great interestin the services made the day a record one. On Tues-day, September 30, the annual demonstration of our


Sunday School scholars was held in the North-eastValley Town Hall, which was crowded with parentsand friends of the children. A very excellent pro-gramme was provided by the scholars, under thecapable leadership of Mrs P. J. Blackman, assistedby other members of the staff. From tiny totsright up to and including members of Bible Classestook part. At intervals in the programme the annualdistribution of prizes took place, when two ex-teachers—Mrs John Coombs and Mrs Medlin—presentedthem. On the Sunday our minister was at Confer-ence, Mr Patterson, of the New Zealand Alliance,took the services, and at the close of each made aspecial appeal on behalf of the Alliance.

OXFORD TERRACE (Rev. J. J. North).—Be-sides Conference, the main items of interest thismonth have been the visits of the Rev. F. E. Harryand the Rev. Paul Kanamori. Mr Harry, in additionto preaching to large and appreciative congregationson the Sunday, gave, during the week, his inimitablelecture, "A Cure for the Blues.'' The collectionfor the Contingency Fund, including promises,amounted to £60. Mr Kanamori preached twice inour church—on the Sunday evening, and on theTuesday following. On both occasions a greatcrowd listened intently to his story of the wondrousgrace of our Lord. Ten new members were receivedinto the fellowship of the Church on the first Sundayof October. Three of our young people have recentlywon the much-coveted University Blues—Misses W.and K. Partridge, and Mr Cuthbert Ridgen. Pro-fessor J. A. Condliffc has been awarded a £25 prizefor an essay in the Empire Peace Competition. Theminister's third son (Jack) has again distinguishedhimself at the Medical College (Dunedin). He alsosecured a "Blue."

OXFORD (Pastor Robertson).—The work inthis locality is still being maintained. We werefavoured with a visit from the Revs. J. K. Archer andE. E. Smith, representing the Canterbury Auxiliary.Several suggestions were submitted by them, where-by the church management might be placed on abetter footing. Another sale day afternoon tea hasbeen held, the proceeds being devoted to the DebtExtinction Fund. A gift afternoon was held at themanse in aid of the forthcoming sale of worn.

PALMERSTON NORTH (Rev. C. W. Dun-cumb).—Two important matters have occupied theattention of members during the preceding fewweeks. Firstly, we have decided to proceed with thebuilding scheme. The members sanctioned the mov-ing back of the present church building, the enlarge-ment and structure of class rooms, etc., and the re-commencement of the building fund collections.This initial work will cost approximately £500, andwe shall be exceedingly glad to receive contributions,large or small, towards this most necessary develop-ment in our work. All members are looking for-ward to the time when a new church can be erected.In the interim, the alterations will afford somemeasure of relief to the overtaxed classroom accom-modation. Secondly, the new organ has been in-stalled—free of debt. We are very thankful to Godfor this blessing. One decision for Christ was re-corded on August 17. A Bible Class rally and teaeventuated on August 24, when Mr E. Nees,Y.M.B.B.C. organiser for "Wellington district, paidus a welcome visit. Mr Nees occupied the pulpitin the evening, and his stay with us was most help-ful and enjoyable. During the month the Children'sWorshipping League, held their annual tea. Therehas been an average attendance of 40 at Sundaymorning services. We regret to report the departureof Mrs Cobbe, leader of the Y.M. Junior Bible Class,and Vice-president of the B.W.M.U. to New Ply-mouth. Mrs Cobbe's matured Christian experience,marked ability, and outstanding Christian character,made her a valuable worker in our midst.

PETONE (Rev. F. H. Radford).—The attendances during the month have been keeping up fairlywell. An evening wedding was solemnised in ourchurch (being the first of its kind), when Mr J. Littleand Miss D. Montgomery were united in the bondsof holy matrimony by our pastor. The members ofthe Young Worshippers League were presented withLeague, attendance shields, and those who had at-tended every week for the past six months were pre-sented with shields already framed. This proved tostimulate interest in the League and make it a desireof all shield holders to get theirs framed. Thesporting interest in our Y.M.B.C. is not altogetherdead, for on a recent Saturday they played Berham-pore class football. Petone were the victors. Theenthusiasm ran high right throughout the game,which was good and clean. Also, a combined socialof Y.M.B.C. and Y.W.B.C's. was held, when Wel-lington classes visited Petone. A very sociableevening was spent.

PONSONBY (Rev. S. G. Campbell).—Ourchurch anniversary was held this month, and wasvery well attended, not only by our usual congrega-tion, but by many old members of our church. Inthe morning the pulpit was occupied by Mr Anstice,and at night by Mr Moon. Both services were as-sisted by the choir, which rendered several very fineanthems. The celebrations were continued on thefollowing Tuesday in the form of a social evening,church matters being also discussed. We were verypleased to welcome our ex-deacon, Mr C. Chant, toour pulpit on Sunday morning, September 14. MrsSmeeton, of the Tabernacle, addressed a meeting ofthe Sunday School teachers prior to a tea on August31. We extend our thanks to Mrs Smeeton, as shehelped many of the teachers to a fuller consecration.

RANGIORA (Rev. J. Hiddlestone).—On Canter-bury exchange. Sunday, our morning service was con-ducted by Rev. J. K. Archer, who spoke very help-fully on "Have faith in God." A marriage of muchlocal interest took place in our Church on October8 the bride and bridegroom, Miss A. M. Watkins andMr H. Jackson, having been for many years activemembers here, and both holding the highest esteemof us all. The Rev. J. Hiddlestone conducted themarriage service. The Church building was prettilydecorated for the occasion with apple blossom andlilac. On the Wednesday evening before the wed-ding, after our usual prayer meeting, the friends ofMiss Watkins entertained her at supper, and made auseful presentation to her. We all join in wishingMr and Mrs Jackson all happiness in their unitedlife.

ROSLYN (Rev. L. J. B. Smith).—The annualmissionary sale of work was held in the Roslyn Bap-tist Church on September 16, and was largelyattended by members and friends. The sale provedto be a great success, and resulted in a good sum forforeign mission work. A special men's service washeld on Sunday evening, September 28. The churchwas crowded, and our pastor delivered a suitableaddress for the occasion. Several pieces were ren-dered by a male voice choir of over 40 voices, underthe leadership of Mr J. Dixon, and the singing wasgreatly appreciated by the congregation.

SPREYDON (Rev. E. E. Smith).—The children'sanimal spring flower show took place on Saturday,August 30, and was a great success, no fewer than82 entries being passed in, while the variety andquality of the exhibits was excellent. The followingday was Flower Sunday, when the children broughtbunches of flowers which were afterwards distributedamong the sick in the district, the remainder beingsent to the hospital, each bunch having a textattached. On September 3, the annual meeting ofthe Canterbury Auxiliary of the Baptist Union washeld in our church. The afternoon was spent intransacting the business of the Auxiliary, and this

November, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. iii.

was followed by a tea meeting, to which about 90sat down. The evening meeting was presided overby Mr A. F. Carey, the now President, and addresseswere given by the Revs. J. Hiddlestone and C. Mat-thews, the meeting being concluded by celebratingthe Lord's Supper. September 7 being ExchangeSunday, the Rev. C. Matthews took the service inthe morning, and the Rev. H. Goring occupied thepulpit in the evening.

VIVIAN STREET (Rev. F. E. Harry).—Duringthe month we had a welcome visit from the Rev. J.J. North, who preached to good congregations at bothSunday services. On the following Monday evening,there was a good attendance in the church to hearMr North's "Travel Talks" in connection with hisvisit to India and Europe. Benares, the city oftrampled flowers, the silent city of Akbar, and Luck-now, with its poignant Mutiny memories, were allgraphically described. The lecturer's vignettes ofHavelock, Colin Campbell, and Lawrence were vividand inspiring, and visibly affected the hearers. Weare looking forward to hearing further "Travel Talks"on some future occasion. Paul Kanamori, the greatJapanese evangelist, parsed through Wellingtonrecently, and he kindly consented to speak at VivianStreet. There was a good attendance, and his storyof his life and of incidents connected with his workin the Land of the Rising Sun was much enjoyed andappreciated. On Sunday last, in the absence of MrHarry at Conference, Mr J. Reid, M.A., Principal ofScots College, occupied the pulpit at the morning ser-vice. The preacher in the evening was Mr Reg.Stevens, late chief stoker on H.M.A.S. Australia, andnow the evangelist to men for the Y.M.C.A. ofAustralasia.

WHANGAREI (Rev. F. Sampson).—Septembersaw the end of our financial year, and, according tothe secretary's report and the treasurer's balancesheet, we have had a most satisfactory year. Theofficers re-elected were Mr Lovatt (Secretary), MrWhite and Mr Fairburn in the diaconate, while MrGwynn and Mr Mawson (Treasurer) were added totheir number. Mr C. Taylor was elected organist,with Mr Mawson as his assistant, while Mr Fairburnstill conducts the choir. Our pastor recently deliveredan address on "The Importance of Membership,"nicer winch the Lord's Supper was observed, and ninenew members were received into fellowship.—[Thisreport curtailed owing to pressure on space. Con-clusion next issue]

Auckland.—Mrs Johnson, 2s 4d; Mount AlbeitBaptist Church, £8 4s; St. Luke's Sunday School,Manurewa, 6s; Official Collector, £29 15s 6d, Total,£38 7s l0d.

Christchurch.—Miss S. E. Bell, £ 1 ; G. Dixon,£3 ; Oxford Terrace Church, £5 0s 5d; SydenhamChristian Endeavour Society, £1 10s; Spreydon StampCollecting Committee, 4s 6d. Total, £10 14s 11d.

Gore.—Baptist Church, 8s.Invercargill.—Esk Street Baptist Church, £13 14s.Tauranga.—Otumoetai Sunday School, 16s 3d; E.

C. Wiltshire (sale used stamps), £8. Total £8 16s 3d.Wanganui.—Wanganui Baptist Church, £1 9s;

Wanganui East Baptist Church, £2 12s. Total, £41s.

Wellington.—Mr and Mrs Godber, £1.Grand total, £77 2s.


Clothing.—Brooklyn Baptist Church (per Mr R.C. O'Connor); Mount Eden Baptist Church (per MrsStainton), Miss Valentine, 178 Balmoral road, Mount

Eden; Gonville Baptist Dorcas Society (per Mrs Newton); Nelson Baptist Dorcas Society (per Mrs J.Laird); Nelson Young Women's Bible Class (per MrsG. Newton); Mrs Andrews, c/o Messrs Andrews andClark, Queen Street, Auckland; Mrs J. Wilson, GasOffice, Otahuhu; Mrs Smith, Luke Street, Otahuhu;Mount Albert Baptist Church; Miss Larkin, Owen'sRoad, Mount Eden.

Provisions.—The Fuller Brush Co., Huddart.Parker Buildings, Quay Street, Auckland (one dozenhandy brushes); Kapai Corn Broom Co., 3 KitchenerStreet, Auckland (6 hair brushes. 12 scrubbingbrushes, 3 shoe brushes, 3 handy brushes, 3 hardbrushes, 6 blacklead brushes).

Sundries.—Miss Moorhead, Auckland (books, pic-tures, etc.); Miss E. Kojsyth, 15 Jellicoe Crescent(girls' papers); Mrs E. Palgrave Davy, Takapuna("The Pilgrim's Progress"); Mr Whitehead, Thame-(illustrated papers); Master A. Bush, Auckland(illustrated papers).

Provisions.—Mr Talbot, Manurewa (rabbits);Miss Woodward, Henderson (oranges); Mrs Stainton,Norman Street, Rocky Nook (box of sweets); MissPowell, Mount Eden (fruit and biscuits); MissLarkin, Mount Edeu (fruit); Lodge of Harmony, Ota-huhu (large box of cakes); Miss Shalders, PrincesStreet, Northcote (marmalade and fruit).


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iv. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. November, 1924.

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THE COLLEGE AND ITS PRINCIPAL, Page 273. THE MIRACLE OF THE MINISTRY, Page 285.

VOL. XLI., NO. 492. DECEMBER, 1924.




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ii.



40th Year of Issue—No. 492. DECEMBER, 1924. Price 4d.Post Free 4/- per Annum

New Zealand Baptist CollegeRev. J. J. NORTH accepts for 1926.

In our last issue we announced the decision ofConference in relation to our outstanding need. Con-ference voted for a college for ministerial training,and voted it as an urgency, and decided on Auck-land as its site, and called the Rev. J. J. North tobe its first principal. No time has been lost in ex-ploring the situation created by these resolutions.The outstanding difficulty related to Mr North.Would he find it a right thing to lay down his pas-torate and dedicate his life to the training of theministry of to-morrow? Like many questions of duty,this one proved to be complex. The circumstanceswere not within the purview of Conference. Duringthe intervening weeks these have been anxiously can-vassed. Mr North was led to conclusions whichhe submitted both to his church officers and to theCollege Committee. In brief, he found that he couldnot break summarily the ties that bound him to theTerrace Church, nor could he undertake the so-different duties of the college without a period ofpreparation. Yet he felt the solemn importance ofthe new development, and saw how intimately it wasrelated to the welfare of the Church and of theKingdom of God. Thirty years in the ministry havesupplied him with certain knowledge and experiencewhich should prove invaluable to young men whosehearts are set on the ministry of the Evangel. Hecould not ignore the fact that the other churchesof the Dominion had turned to experienced ministersto lead their college movements. He offered, there-fore, to undertake the task if a year's respite weregiven—that is to say, he would start with the sessionof 1926. The Terrace officers very unwillingly gaveconsent to this modified proposal. The College Com-mittee met in Wellington on November 19. Thereport of the College Secretary follows:—

A highly important meeting connected with theprojected college was held at Wellington on Novem-ber 19, when the new College Committee met underthe chairmanship of Mr H. M. Smeeton. The Rev.J. J. North wrote accepting the call of Conference tobecome Principal, conditionally on consent being given

to his remaining in his present charge for anotheryear, and then transferring to Auckland. Proposalswere also made for superintending the studies of theaccepted men in the meantime.

The session opened with a prayer meeting inwhich God's guidance was earnestly sought. Thediscussion was characterized by candour, but wasconsidered and deeply earnest, and also in the bestsense brotherly. As the meeting proceeded the twoconclusions of Conference were endorsed with un-hesitant unanimity:—

1. That the inauguration of the College shouldbe in Auckland, and should be concurrent with thetaking up of the office of Principal.

2. That Mr North was the man to lead theenterprise.

The Committee therefore concurred in Mr North'sdecision to take up the office in Auckland in 1926.

Great appreciation was felt of the readiness andgenerosity which the officers and members of theTabernacle Church showed in their response to therequest of Conference for facilities for college pur-poses, and we shall look forward with hope andexpectancy to the inaugural of the College in theTabernacle as its first home early in 1926.

In the meantime Mr North is the Principal de-signate and elect, and in the intervening year willbe able to adjust his outlook and perspective, hisplans and his preparation to the work which, hence-forth, will be the most solemn concern of his life.And the prayers of many will be for him, that underthe good hand of God, what may be the closing yearof his ministry in the regular pastorate, may becrowned with a great harvest of souls; and that hemay enter fresh from a fruitful pastorate so crowned,to teach men to become soul winners and upbuildersof men in Christ.

Will the young men of the churches consider theclaims of Christ upon them in relation to the min-istry in New Zealand and the wider field? Applica-tions for admission to College must be in the handsof the Secretary by September 1.


THE ORGAN OF THE BAPTIST UNION.

THE

274 THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. December, 1924.

Arrangements have been made for the studentsfor the coming year. Two who are taking their artscourse will be stationed in Auckland. The remainingfive will be in Wellington under the supervision ofthe Rev. F. E. Harry. The Rev. J. Laird, M.A.,was appointed to supervise the senior student inHebrew. The Rev. J. Takle was appointed to delivera course on Comparative Religion.

The year that lies before us must be one of veryearnest and all-round preparation. The President ofthe Baptist World Alliance (Dr E. Y. Mullins) ishead of the largest ministerial training college in theworld, and he is expected to be in New Zealand fornext Conference. Mr North proposes to establishimmediate contact with the Baptist colleges of theworld, and arrange the curriculum accordingly. Hewould like certain things to be. kept in view:

(1) He wants the denomination to fix its eyeon the objective. We want in a very few years asubstantial building in which the college can behoused, with necessary endowments for its upkeep.Community life for students, in connection with wideruniversity life, is much to be desired. There arepeople in our churches to whom this project willappeal The mission of our Church is very definite.It is no freak church. It is broad, based on the NewTestament. Deliberate choice of Christ and responseto His love, followed by confession of the faith—that is the basis of our appeal. We believe it to beChrist's way, and the only way we can take.

(2) He wants immediate contact with "lads o'parts" to whom the call to the ministry has come.Christ wants the best we produce. The heroism ofthe ministry in these difficult days and the sacrificeof it challenge our youth. We are sure there will bea great response.

(3) He would like at once to begin the formationof the college library. He would like to begin to layhands on necessary books, and would be grateful tothose who will help him in this matter.

The British Elections.What a landslide! The spirit of the dream has

changed Reaction has seized the reins. The en-larged electorate has justified "Dizzy/ ' and has goneoff its little head and voted for the party that standshistorically for squires, parsons, beer, and the Houseof Lords. The eclipse of Liberalism is one of themost moving of recent spectacles. Liberalism hasbeen the political creed of the Free Churches. Liber-alism broke the power of the old aristocracy, andbrought hope to the drab homes of the multitudes.Liberalism gave South Africa her constitution, andrisked everything to give Ireland a chance. But thenew Labour Party, with still more eager social pro-grammes, swept Baptists by the thousands into theirranks. The glamour of Lloyd George did not deterthe Cliffords from active sympathy with RamsayMacDonald. And let us say here that in our opinionno Government since one of Gladstone's has hadsuch serious moral purpose as the now vanquishedLabour Government. But it has gone the way of allflesh. Its settleinent with Germany, its devotion tothe League of Nations, its hostility to the bettingtax, will be remembered for good. We can only hopethat the new Premier will temper his sarcastic moodsand curb the bull-dogs who bark defiance at theforeigner, and let the better elements in his partycontrol the opportunity that now is his. As hehangs up his hat on the old peg in Downing Street,we hope he may remember that the day of the com-mon man has come, and that the common man wantsiustice in economic conditions, and peace in foreignrelations, and (whether he knows it or not) righteous-ness most of all.

What will Lloyd George Do Now?That is what many a man is asking. There is

enough originality in the famous Welshman to makereply difficult. The master of triumphant majoritiesnow leads an emasculated party. Liberal forces arenegligible in the new Parliament. Whether they willever again become formidable no one can say. Forour part, we do not think so. A third party is con-fusing. Plain issues have much in their favour.That is why our liquor referendum vote is so hateful.It is the same three-party system that bothers theBritish elector. If Lloyd George elects to spend therest of his life in trying to resuscitate the LiberalParty, we shall be much surprised. He will dosomething else we are pretty sure. He will not eatout of the hands of the Tories as his lieutenantChurchill has done. Nor is he likely to join theLabour Party. There is another role that a man withhis record and prestige could fill. It is a role inwhich undying honour could be won. Let himimitate the great Victorians whose names live forever. Cobden Bright and Shaftesbury never led bat-talions in party fights. They were specialists. Theyadopted some reform that in their judgment cried toheaven for settlement. They popularised it. On athousand platforms they declaimed it. They inducedhostile or indifferent political parties to give theirquestion right of way. They carried the flag of pro-gress to glorious victory. We would see our fellow-Baptist do something like that. He could fire thenation with the liquor problem. He could even adopta wider question—the one he hinted at in his Lime-house speech. He could make it the slogan of acrusade: "Service rendered the one valid title deedto wealth." Let the eclipsed statesman who is stillthe best-known Britisher in the world, follow theline of his genius. Let him become a man mad withone vital idea, and let him bite everybody.

That Stonewall.We ought perhaps to apologise for being so

political in this month's notes. But we won't.Politics have a great deal to do with the Kingdomof God. We cannot render to Caesar that which isCaesar's to-day without voting intelligently andwithout following up our vote as it registers resultsin the division lobby at Wellington. Our littlecountry had served up for its breakfast and tea for afull week Massey's folly. He would have his GamingBill. It was more to him than any other issue thislast session. He gave it pride of place. He thrustit on an unwilling house. Every scrap of evidencewas against the monstrous demand for moregambling. But what is evidence to a colonial politi-cian who keeps his pulse on up-country electorates?We have seen nothing more ignoble than the Govern-ment's action. When a moral question comes up, allobligations of party are relaxed. Massey will risknothing on a matter of public righteousness. He isnot game to tell the clamorous gamblers that theyare. damaging the country. He is told that this isthe case by the experts of the University of NewZealand. He snaps his fingers and goes his heavyway. The Racing Conference cracks its whip, andW. F. M. comes to heel. L. M. Isitt, Rolleston,Wright, and the Labour group put up a good fight.We thank them for it. Some daylight was let in.New Zealand has been put into the wretched positionof lackey to the "tote ." The licence granted by theState to the machine was the licence granted by thesheikh to the cold-nosed camel. The whole humpis now in the tent, and the sheikh is huddled in thecorner. Gambling is becoming the national industry.

Dr Fosdick and the Presbytery.Dr Fosdick, an eminent Baptist preacher of the

U.S.A., has for the past five years "supplied" thepulpit of the first Presbyterian Church of New York.

Passing Notes.

December, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. 275

Dr Fosdick's name became famous because of certainvery effective books which the Students' Union pub-lished. "The Manhood of the Master" is just thesort of book to arrest a young man's mind, it pre-sents in terse yet winsome words the human factorsin our Lord's life. But Fosdick's fame centres roundaccusations of heresy. There has been a typicallyAmerican fracas over what is there called "funda-mentalism." That there are dangerous heresies weall know. The Lord Who bought us may be betrayedagain in the house of His friends, Heresy-hunting,however, is a particularly poor form of sport, andsince the days of the inquisition it has been suspect,among freemen. With Fosdick's "heresies" we arenot familiar, and therefore we will not judge him.But—and that is why we refer to him—his name wasbefore the General Assembly, and that Assembly de-termined that he was not under their control, he notbeing an ordained minister of their Church. Theydesired to end the irregularity. They sent him thepolitest letter in the world, such a letter as they saythey never sent in all their lives before, inviting himto become a Presbyterian minister, and incidentally,though that was not mentioned, to subscribe to theWestminster Confession. Fosdick saw, in spite orwords well marshalled, that acceptance would betaken as a plea of "guilty." He also saw, with allthe Baptist people, that subscription to that vener-able document would be both embarrassing andfutile. He honours that and other statements offaith as records of the achievements of other ages,but as nothing more. He declined in clear andstrong words the fetters proposed. We want evan-gelical orthodoxy in our pulpits. The thin wine ofunitarianism will slake no man's thirst. We aresure, however, that credal subscriptions are no safe-guard at all. That is why we have none. The free-dom of a Christian man is in the bonds of the HolyGospel. Nor will we lightly barter that freedomaway. Whatever Fosdick's opinions may be, his re-fusal was assuredly right.

Moffatt's "Old Testament."Moffatt's "Old Testament" is in the press. Any-

thing closely connected with the Bible is of universalinterest. The Press Association has interested theworld in the forthcoming book. The publication ofthe A.V. was the one glorious feature in the reign ofthat wise fool King James. A recent poet featuresShakespeare's post mortem sorrow at having onlyMaster Tyndale's version of Holy Writ, and not thissupreme treasury of English undefiled. The RevisedVersion made a stir back in the 'eighties. Thelongest message ever sent over a cable was the re-viser's text of the Gospels and Acts. But neither ofthese versions is final. Dr Moffatt, a young and ad-vanced scholar, versed chiefly in New Testamentliterature, made himself a name, eclipsing Wey-mouth, by his modern version of the New Testament.We hear him quoted by pulpiteers everywhere. Hehas now translated in the same temper the OldTestament. The press has warned us that he callsNoah's ark a "barge." He tells us that "the idealof a translator is to let his readers enjoy part ofthe pleasure which the original once afforded to itsaudience in some far-off century, and I venture tohope that this translation may occasionally give sucha pleasure, in some degree, to those who cannotconsult the Hebrew Scriptures.'' We hope so. Asympathetic understanding of the Old Testament isgreatly to be coveted.

300,000 British Lepers.You would not believe it, but it is so. And the

300,000 are going to be annihilated. And at the headof the attacking force is one of our old ministers,Frank Oldrieve. He has been associated with themission to lepers for some years. We met him inIndia, and went with him to a leper asylum and

marked his close knowledge of the poor deformedfolk. Science has announced a cure for leprosy. Wesaw old sores covered with flesh like that of a littlechild. The profession is sure that the way to finalvictory is open. Leprosy, as everyone knows, was avery stubborn trouble in Saxon England. Thesquinting chambers in old churches were for thelepers. Robert Bruce was a leper. The toll washeavy. But the disease left our islands before thegrowing cleanliness of life. Its hold in the East isfierce. There are thousands of begging lepers on theCalcutta streets. But its day is nearing the end.The cure that is in use is an oil (Chalmoogra), whichwas used ineffectively by the old Indian practitionersin pre-British days. It is now injected, and worksthe great healing. A British Empire Association hasbeen formed, and Oldrieve is its executive head. Heis now on tour in the Philippines inspecting Americanasylums. We congratulate our good friend, and wepray success to the great crusade.

Spooks.We occasionally meet flabby, unnerved folk whose

mental wreckage is due to the excitements of theseance. We are therefore concerned to notice thatConan Doyle, who saw faeries on toadstools, shouldhave gotten the ear of the Press Association somarkedly. His training in the schools of the Jesuitsmay have made him familiar with those ropes. Hisfame as an excellent writer on other subjects has lentto his spiritualism an importance that does not belongto it. Take Armistice Day. The cables passed bythe Abbey, the Temple, and the fanes of orthodoxy,and featured the soft stuff talked at the Queen's Hall.Doyle asserted the extreme likeness of the life be-yond. God seems an absentee. But the children arethere—ribbons and curls and all, and smokers stillnervously finger their cigarettes. One, Owen, pro-ceeded to give souls to books, and declared that theburnt library of Louvain was being reconstructed inthe spirit world and was being used for referencepurposes. A female devotee set her camera on theCenotaph, and declared that circles of spirit faces,mostly young, were recorded on the sensitive plate.It is poor stuff. We wonder if our readers havenoticed a war book to which our attention wasrecently called, "The Road to Endor," by E. H.Jones. It tells of captured Englishmen who used theseance to fool the Turks and to open the door toliberty. They knew and said that they were fooling.A large proportion of practitioners are doing thesame without saying so, and some respectable elderlyfolk really believe in what is served up to them. Werepeat old warnings: "When they say to you to seekthe Wizard that chirp and that mutter, should not apeople seek unto their God?"

Hawera.Our readers will know that the cause in Hawera

is the last venture of our Union in church extension.Hawera is a bonnie town, and is fated to be a largetown. Its grass is very green, and milk and honeyflow from its surrounding pastures. We have secureda very fine section in the centre of the town. Verymuch spade work has been done by the Rev. E.Goring and his wife, and more still by the devotedgroup of members led by Mr Fred Horner. But abuilding is imperative. While we meet in a publichall we are regarded as gipsies. The Union hasoffered to subsidise pound for pound to £l50. Thewill give £300 for starting the building. We believethat our building expert and enthusiast Mr Alex.Stewart has already, so to say, got his coat off toit in anticipation. Let us get this thing done, anddone at once. Let folk of good will send alongcheques to the minister. Every pound doubles itself.The wool prices should help many a farmer to ex-press gratitude to God this way. And wool pricesoil all the wheels of industry. Come now, let thisthing be done right away.


N.B.His many friends in all the churches will grieve

to know that the Rev. A. North is lying very weakand ill at the home of his son, Dr North, in Dunedin.He is bearing his grievous illness with characteristiccourage, and he sends his love to the whole brother-hood. . . . The British Baptists have made a line movein appointing Douglas Brown commissioner on evan-gelism. He will move among the churches with historch. He seeks to set the country on fire.We are delighted to see that Collins Street Church(Melbourne) has welcomed its new minister, the Rev.Dodds Jackson. We hope that he will fit and makeMelbourne to know that a prophet has arisen. .The editor of the Australian Baptist (Mr Packer) isoff on well-earned furlough. He is a hard worker.

We are glad to know that the Rev. L. B.Busfield has returned in good health and heart tohis work for the Sunday School Union.Glad to see from the "Call ," the very good littlepaper of the Berhampore Class, that North Islandyoung men are securing 70 new subscribers to thispaper. We say to all and sundry: "Go thou and dolikewise." . . . The new property of the OxfordTerrace Church deserves attention from all ourchurches. A piece of land adequate for four tenniscourts and a croquet lawn has been secured. Thecourts are down and a pavilion built. With energyhalf a dozen of our churches could add such a pro-perty to their working plant. . . . The Rev. R.Robertson has been farewelled at Oamaru and wel-comed for his second pastorate at Mosgiel.The move of the Sydenham Church to new quartershas proved very successful, and Mr Archer reportshimself as much encouraged. . . . Some of ourcorrespondents insist on "missing the bus ." The"bus" leaves Christchurch en route for the printer'soffice on the eighteenth of each month. . . .Some of our correspondents cut out patches from thepoor stuff served up by the local papers. We don'trepeat; we expect independent and quite superiorreports. . . . Grange Road was too busy to getto Conference, for which we were all sorry. But theaccount in this issue explains a good deal. Readit. . . . The Wanganui Church did itself honourin passing an appreciative resolution on its minister'swork. Read it. . . . . There is gold in Roslyn.Turn up the church report, and sec what a minethey tap. . . . And that North-East Valley class-room and the new Invercargill building are wellworthy of our readers' attention. . . . Dr Mal-colm Gray, third son of the Rev. R. S. Gray, hassecured his M.R.C.P. degree in London. Dr Grayhopes to return to the Dominion and start work as aheart specialist. . . . A very vigorous sermon bythe Rev. W. S. Rollings on gambling appeared asleading article in the Outlook recently. . . . Acommitteeman from a southern city, called to a meet-ing in Wellington the other day, set out armed with awalking stick. His optimism was sprinkled in Christ-church and drenched in Wellington, and he returnedto his native heath a wetter and a wiser man.The Rev. D. H. Moore, who was with us two yearsago, and who was a most successful evangelist, wouldbe glad to undertake, missions in the Dominion inthe first three months of 1926. We shall be glad tosupply particulars.

To Our Contributors.Will our contributors kindly note that typewritten

copy should be interspaced out of consideration to thelinotype operators, who have to read and set rapidly.

Will others write clearly. Thank you.

The present year is closing with a note of dis-tinct encouragement for the church congregationsengaged in the fight against the liquor traffic.Twelve months ago the liquor forces were confidentthat things were going their way. They were boast-ing that license would certainly be granted in theKing Country; they fully expected that the Parlia-mentary Committee would recommend that corporatecontrol would be placed on the ballot paper as a thirdissue; and they had hopes of obtaining an alterationin hours of sale of liquor on the West Coast (theysought for sale after 6 p.m.). Bad as the Parlia-mentary Committee's report is from a communitypoint of view, the "wet" majority could not find thenerve to make the recommendations the liquor trafficso earnestly desired. The reason why they feared tomake these recommendations was that it had beenmade clear to them that the churches of the Dominionwere opposed to retrograde proposals. ( They learnedthis through the unremitting activity and pressure ofthe New Zealand Alliance organisation, which is thechurches in action against the liquor traffic.

A Poll Certain.As there has been no dissolution this year, a poll

on the licensing question in 1925 is now certain.In the normal course, a poll will take place towardsthe end of November or December. Seeing, however,that licensing legislation has not been brought downthis session and might be introduced early next ses-sion, the actual date of the poll may be different.Any attempt to embody the very reactionary pro-posals contained in the Licensing Committee's repoitin the legislation will result in a bitter conflict in theHouse, and no man can say what the upshot of thatwould be. It behoves the prohibition forces, which,of course, include the church congregations, to beactive and on the alert. No opportunity for educativework should be missed, and local organisationsshould be prepared for any emergency that mayarise.

The Church's Task.The splendid progress that has been made dur-

ing the past 12 months in the way of organisationand educative work has been made possible by thesustained support of the church congregations. Nextyear will be a critical year ending in a poll, and ittherefore calls for special consideration. If thechurches stand up to their task and continue theirsupport, then the liquor traffic cannot triumph. Ifthat continued support in the shape of personal ser-vice and sustained giving is not forthcoming, thenthe weakening of our forces will open the way for atriumph by the liquor traffic. Happily, there is everysign that the church congregations realise their re-sponsibility in this connection, and are willing tobattle valiantly on until the victory is achieved. Itseems certain that the liquor trade is straining everynerve to make future conditions harder if it shouldhappen that the traffic is not overthrown at the 1925poll. If we do not succeed, then we may expect avery powerful drive in the direction of lengtheningthe period between the polls and the granting of moreprivileges or protection to the liquor traffic. Thereis, therefore, need to nerve ourselves for a supremeeffort to achieve our objective in 1925. The power ofprayer, the productiveness of personal service andsustained giving form a combination that will surelydefeat the forces of evil. More money is needed toenable the backward country places to receive ade-quate attention. Some of these are already beingworked with the most encouraging results. If the

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others also can be dealt with, then there is everyreason to look forward to a final triumph at the nextpoll. Even if victory should not be ours on thatoccasion, the work that has been done and that willbe done in the interests of the young people andpublic sentiment generally is bound to bear fruit andbring a final overthrow of the liquor traffic.

The Security Plea.The sophistical argument put forward that with

a longer interval between the polls, giving greatersecurity of tenure, there would be a better conductof the trade, will not bear examination. The NewZealand liquor interests and their supporters argue-that if hotelkeepers were not threatened with the fearof prohibition being carried every three years, theirhouses would be much better conducted, and the evilsassociated with the trade would diminish. Thecrushing reply to this argument is to be found inGreat Britain. Everybody admits that the aboli-tion of the liquor traffic is not yet withinthe horizon of practical politics in Great Bri-tain. The publicans there are absolutely sureof their length of tenure. What are the condi-tions? In the great cities, particularly, there existin the poorer and slum districts the vilest dens ofiniquity, called public houses, that it is possible toconceive. Outside of these filthy and reeking estab-lishments hundreds and thousands of little childrenwait for hours in all weathers whilst their parents aredrinking themselves stupid inside. Nobody who hasmade personal contact with these beer houses and ginpalaces can ever forget their loathsome character orthe frightful havoc they work upon human life inthose districts. Throughout the length and breadthof the Homeland this is true. It is true also thatthe traffic is one inherently evil, and that securityin it tends not to safeguarding public interest, notto a more wholesome conduct of the trade, but to amore callous and hardened exploitation of humanfrailty for profit. The same thing would apply inNew Zealand. Security of tenure would mean not adiminishing of abuses, but rather increased intensityand persistence of them.

Redistribution.Probably none of the retrograde proposals is

more vicious or dangerous than the one to redistri-bute redundant licences. The suggestion that alicence not needed on the West Coast should be trans-ferred and granted in some other more prosperousplace is contrary to the spirit of the law. In the firstplace, if these licences are not required in the in-terests of the community on the West Coast, it isan outrage that they should be renewed year afteryear. The proper course is to suppress them en-tirely. To put these licences into other towns ordistricts is equivalent to granting new licences, andthat is opposed to the spirit of the law of 1910, whichlaid it down that no more licences were to be grantedin the Dominion. Unless we are very watchful, verystrenuous, and unyielding in our opposition, it iscertain that some communities in the near future,which have not now the curse of an open bar, will bedeploring its presence amongst them. Unceasingvigilance and unremitting activity is the price of oursafety in this direction.—J. M. M.

MADAME D'ALVAREZ IN U.S.A.

Mr Horace Hunt, Mus. Bac., of Wellington, hashad a letter from 39 West 67th Street, New York,asking him to post a supply of Fluenzol for Madame'suse. She learned the value of Fluenzol for thethroat during her Australasian tour, and wrote:—"It is a great joy to r ecomend this magicFluenzol."

Conference Etceteras.

The Rev. A. H. Collins lends ecclesiastical gran-deur to assemblies of the Union. His measuredspeech, full of well-chiselled phrasing, fits well withthe appearance of our dignified friend. He helped,he told us, to make the fortune of a pork pie mer-chant, for the said merchant rack-rented this Baptistminister. Mr Collins was a Democrat of an advancedtype before the pork pie merchant crossed his tracks.

The Bishop of Invercargill, in a vigorous assaulton the pale and anaemic Bishop of Dunedin for allegedbut unproven shortcomings in Student Committeehappenings, declared that a puzzled youth could notmake out from his instructions whether he was tobegin at the beginning or the end of a certain test-book. Blandly from the chair: "The young manmight surely have assumed that he should begin atthe beginning."

Professor J. B. Condliffe's visit to Conference in-troduced a very effective speaker to delegates for thefirst time. The professor, who is a Terrace man, pro-fessed no skill in speech, but was far too modest.He confessed a special debt to Pearce Carey's lifeof Dr Carey, and added that the copy he read waslikely to become uncommonly valuable, for on itstitle page was written " J . Takle." That was a veryneat and fine tribute.

The Gisborne minister spoke on the BaptistChurch, to which he has lately come from the Angli-can communion. He dealt a good deal with the doc-trine of baptismal regeneration—told a tale currentin clerical circles. A priest made a Christian of AhLung by baptising him. His brief instructions tothe baptised, to whom he gave the name of John, werein chief that he should not eat meat, but fish, onFridays. The priest was scandalised to hear thatJohn had reverted to pork chops on the forbiddenday. John, however, under challenge, stood hisground. "You no savvee. You take Ah Lung,sprinkle water, and make him John. I takee pork,sprinkle him, and he is fish." We seem to have heardthis before. But it hits at a religious abominationthat deserves to be smitten dead.

An amazement of Conference was the placid faceand clear-toned voice of Veteran Dallaston, who, 48years ago, received his call to New Zealand from C.H. Spurgeon.

The Rev. F. E. Harry as an advocate of aneducated ministry told of a priest who denounced aneducated ministrs. In the presence of his Bishop hethanked God for his ignorance. His Bishop replied:"Sir, you have a great deal to thank God for."

When the same inimitable raconteur climbed intothe presidential chair, he besought delegates to abhorabove all things the vices of Pharisees who "thinkthey shall be heard for their much speaking."

One of our ministers with American affiliationsurged that in regard of publicity the Baptists should"remove the bushel and let the candle function."

When the thanks to the very steady reporterswas moved, our irresistible new President recalledthat at a mission in Ballarat he visited the inquiryroom, and found a man there whom he challengedwhether he was a Christian. "Sir," was the reply,"I am a reporter."

Our two minute secretaries—the youngest of ourministers. L. A. Day, and the senior student, LeslieCrampton—sat together on the rostrum, and were asinseparable as Siamese twins.


The prayer intervals in the midst of morning andafternoon sessions were often enough oases "in wearywastes of sand." We plodded on in better heart, andthe climate sweetened after a halt by still waters.

So we are to go to Auckland in 1925. We hadsome city boosting this year. Let us all make a vowto say nothing about "queens" and "mountains" andother things when we step into the dear old "Tab."We are persuaded that such boosting as we often hearis vain. There are other topics.

The young Christchurch ministers did remark-ably good work for Conference. The Rev. L. C. H.Barbour was a very efficient and modest and com-petent secretary. The local committee rejoices in hissuccessful .work. The Rev. A. W. Stuart did yeomanservice in organising the young people's demonstra-tion which is reported on another page. He has bothgenius and patience and tact.

The Rev. C. W. Duncumb shook up the Assemblyby a successful attack on the "Constitution." Inbygone years many a breach was made in those ven-erable walls. The juniors of those days led manya. storming party. But of late the constitution hasbeen sacrosant. Then arrived the Palmerston Bishop,with a six-shooter, and a cowed Conference agreedthat the Missionary Society could be better managedby a directly appointed committee.

Anent that six-shooter. It seems that our thengreen friend felt it necessary to arm himself so whenhe left London for New Zealand. He suggested thathis misconception of Dominion life was equalled bythe Indian ignorance of some who are elected togovern the Society. Possibly.

Again and again Conference expressed itself asmissing its most familiar face. Every one wished thatthe Rev. A. A. North had been able to take the finalCommunion service, and every one wished he couldhave illuminated some of the knotty subjects.

OBITUARY.MISS CATHERINE MACDOUGALL,

of Dunedin and Napier.

An aged saint who had long borne many infirmi-ties with brave patience entered into rest on Novem-ber 7, when Miss Catherine Macdougall, at the ageof 88, heard the call to "come up h i g h e r " Most ofher life was spent in Dunedin, but for the last twelveand a-half years of it she lived with Mrs R. C. Leask,of Napier, in whose home she found sisterly kind-ness. Miss Macdougall was an orphan child—herfather died before she was born, and her mother afortnight after—and was cared for by GeorgeMogridge, a London philanthropist. She was con-verted in early life under the ministry of the Rev.John Kirk, of Edinburgh. She emigrated to thiscountry with other young women in one of the firstthree vessels to sail for the Otago Settlement. Shestarted one of the earliest day schools in Dunedinand a Sunday School for the children of what wasknown even in those early days as "the Devil's Half-acre." In March, 1861 (at the age of 28), she joinedthe Hanover Street Church, and was No. 1 on thechurch roll when her long life ended. During theministry of the Rev. John Williams she acted aschurch missionary or sister, and used her gifts withgreat devotion. Like Dorcas, she busied herselfmaking garments for the poor. Where sickness andsorrow were she was ever a welcome visitor. It washer special desire to win back to paths of virtueyoung women who had gone astray, and through herinfluence the first Female Refuge in the city was

founded. It was the rescue work of the SalvationArmy which led her to associate herself with it, andin the early days of its unpopularity she coveted thedisgrace of its open-air meetings. It was while seek-ing to win a young woman who had fallen that shewas tripped in George Street and sustained an in-jury to her kneecap which made her lame for therest of her life. Mrs Alfred North nursed her threemonths in the manse, but it required two yearsafter that in the Dunedin Hospital to enable her towalk again. When health permitted, Miss Mac-dougall took services in and around the city, andher addresses were ever thoughtful and gracious,although her deafness greatly limited her usefulness.She was a gifted letter-writer, and consecrated herpen to God. In all aggressive forms of evangelismand missionary activity she took deep delight, andattended a missionary prayer meeting a week beforeshe passed away. She exercised the ministry ofintercession all through her life, and her friend MrsLeask found in the Bible a prayer list of 54 namesof those whom she daily remembered before God.She ever lived near her Lord, and looked forward tothe time when she should see Him face to face. Shewas a great lover of Nature, and possessed artisticgifts which enabled her to win a gold medal pre-sented by the Otago Art Society. Her interest inChristian truth was intense, and her Bible was thetreasured companion of her life.

As the end drew near she wrote: "I have a greatdesire to see His face and hear His voice." Of theend itself Mrs Leask wrote: "The end was peace.The last words she said, with a smile of joy on herdear old face, were: 'Come, Lord Jesus, comequickly. Amen.' I had the dear remains taken tothe Baptist Church, where Mr Ings held a most im-pressive service. I chose 'How Sweet the Name ofJesus Sounds'—her favourite hymn, and I felt sucha thrill of joy as I realised, 'she can hear now.' Sheused to say: 'When I see Jesus, oh the joy! And Ishall hear!' " The Rev. John Ings, who used to holda communion service in the home for her benefit, re-ports that from the church the Salvation Army tookcharge after the funeral service. "The Silver Bandplayed impressively. The afternoon was perfect, thesky a cloudless blue. The music echoed and re-echoed as we wended our way up the hillside to thecemetery. It was an impressive service, yet withalbright and hopeful. As one said: 'It was such afuneral as our friend herself would have liked.' "

Thus closed an unusually long life worthilyspent.

MR JAMES WRIGHT.

On October 24 the Caversham Church suffereda severe loss through the home-going of Mr JamesWright. Mr and Mrs James Wright were delegatesto the Christchurch Conference, and it was only theday after his return that he was seized with a suddenillness, and almost in a matter of minutes we weremourning his loss.

Mr Wright's sudden passing came as a blow tothe whole community, for he was a man greatly beloved.

The funeral was one of the largest Cavershamhas witnessed. The Sunday School children sang atthe grave "Safe in the Arms of Jesus."

Our beloved life-deacon was in his sixty-ninthyear. He had been associated with the Church fornearly 50 years, and was our Sunday School Super-intendent for about 30 years. For many years he wasa Justice of the Peace, and for 19 years he was onthe Dunedin South Licensing Committee.

At the Burnside stock sales on the followingWednesday, very fine tributes were paid to his Chris-tian character by the president and other members ofthe Master Butchers' Association.


On November 2 we held a memorial service,when the attendance taxed the accommodation of thechurch. It was not a mournful service, but was avery impressive one. The Rev. Eric Evans spokeof two qualities of Mr Wright's life that had im-pressed him—its strength and its tenderness. Thepillars of moral principle were adorned with the liliesof a sweetness and a graciousness of spirit that wonthe hearts of all. Both his life and his death com-mended to us and urged upon us the acceptance ofJames Wright's Saviour.

Mrs Wright and the family have received sheavesof letters and telegrams of sympathy. We rejoiceto know that He that "healeth the broken in heartand bindeth up their wounds" has graciously upheldthem through this experience.

Opening of New Church at Colombo St.,Sydenham.

Conference Sunday, October 12, was a red-letterclay in the South Christchurch Church, lately calledSydenham, but in future to be called from its newlocation the Colombo Street Baptist Church. Bymost commendable efforts, the contractors succeededin almost completing the new building within about10 weeks of driving the first stake, and by equalexertions the men and women of the congregationwere able to impart to the grounds and building anair of tidiness and substantial comfort for the dedi-cation services.

In the morning the last service was held in theold home—the Elgin Street Church of hallowed mem-ories to so many. A large congregation representa-tive of every period of the church's history filled theold building, when the last sermon was preached bythe Rev Charles Dallaston, who was the foster-father of this little church when it was foundednearly half a century ago.

At 3 p.m. the new church, which is to be foundin Colombo Street South, close to the intersection ofTennyson, Somerfield, and Strickland Streets, waspacked to the doors; indeed, it was packed in a mostremarkable manner, and probably between 350 and400 souls obtained admission for the first service. Afine dedicatory address was given by Mr T. E.Toneycliffe on behalf of the Union. The first ser-mon, a call to "Sacrifice" as the essential basis ofthe Christian life and Church, was delivered by theRev. A. H. Collins, and the Revs. Rollings, Kemp-ton, and Archer also took part.

In the evening the service was conducted by theRev. M. W. P. Lascelles, and the Rev. J. K. Archer(pastor of the church) gave a powerful address fromthe text: "That He might have the pre-eminence."Great enthusiasm characterised the opening services,and the singing by choir and congregation was afeature of the day. Generous collections amountingto over £50 were received.

The new building, which is really a SundaySchool complete with four classrooms, infant room,and kitchen, stands on a large section at a splendidstrategic centre commanding the southern portion ofthe city. There is ample room for a. tennis courtbehind and a church proper in front of the buildingnow opened, and it is firmly believed that God'sblessing is upon this new move. Help from absentfriends would be welcomed by Sydenham folk.

Baptisms.

An important event in the history of InvercargillBaptists took place on a recent Wednesday afternoon,when the foundation stones of a new Baptist Churchwere laid at Georgetown.

The Rev. J. Carlisle presided, and the openingprayer was offered by the Rev. L. A. Day, of theNorth Invercargill Church.

The Chairman said the occasion was a red-letterday amongst the Baptists of Invercargill. He hadvisited Georgetown when he came to Invercargill fouryears ago, and was astonished at the rate at whichit had expanded. They had the nucleus of a finecongregation, to whom the Gospel would be preachedwithout adulteration.

The Chairman presented the Mayor (Mr A. Bain)with a souvenir mallet, and his Worship laid one ofthe foundation stones. He hoped the new churchwould have a long and prosperous career.

Mr C. S. Longuet then laid the second founda-tion stone.

Mr A. Dewe, in the course of an interestingaddress, spoke in high terms of the fine work donein the district by the Rev. J. Carlisle, to whose un-tiring energy and enthusiasm was largely due thecredit of the new church. He closed by presentingMr Carlisle with a silver trowel, which he used toplace the third stone in position.

The Rev. Guy Thornton (President of the Otagoand Southland Auxiliary of the Baptist Union) saidthat the new church in Invercargill was typical ofwhat was going on all over the world. Extraordinaryprogress had been made in the last 25 years. It wasa source of joy to him to hear their worthy pastor'sfearless statements of where he stood in relation tothe Word of God. He could assure them that hehimself believed in the true and unadulterated Gospel,and he believed that this was the church God shouldbless.

The builder (Mr S. Crosland) states that he hasreceived much assistance from the Rev. J. Carlisleand the young men of the congregation, who haddone practically more than half the work in connec-tion with preparation and placing of concrete blocks.—(Local paper report.)

Correspondence.

Palmerston North—Three. By Rev. C. W. Duncumb.North Invercargill—Four. By Rev. L. A. Day.Mount Eden—Three. By Rev. Adam Clarke.Otahuhu.—Three. By Pastor Garlick.

(To the Editor.)Dear Sir,—In common with very many of your

readers, I greatly appreciate your reference to theappointment of Mr J. R. Carey as Vice-president ofthe Union, as his work for the denomination, par-ticularly as. Secretary to the Central Auxiliary, hasbeen, and still is, an inspiration to all who are awareof it. Your remarks respecting my association withMr Carey in this Auxiliary's forward movements stirmy conscience to protest, inasmuch that while Ioccupied, more as a figurehead, the presidency of theAuxiliary, our Treasurer, Mr Henry Ivory, was oursheet anchor, relieving us of most of our financialworries because of his genius in rounding tightcorners Indeed, it was Mr Ivory's good wife whofirst suggested the holding of our big successfulfair.

My fellow-officers will, I am sure, heartily en-dorse these sentiments, although they are made un-beknown to them or to anyone else, Mr Ivory is abig man with a big heart for our Great Master'swork, and I feel unhappy at receiving credit that isundoubtedly due to him. Mr Carey will be pleased,I am certain, to see the above in print.—Yoursfraternally,

R. C. O'CONNOR.Wellington, November 16.

New Baptist Church at Georgetown.


The main contention for a place in the Churchshould be based on the fact that the kernel of ourprinciples is, sound. This is so because we crownJesus Christ Lord of all.

Is it right that He should be crowned within usas individuals and as a Church? Yes; because, asPeter says (Acts ii, 36): "God hath made . .Jesus Christ . . . both Lord and Christ," andPaul says (Col. i, 18): "He is the head of the bodythe Church, Who is the beginning, the first-born fromthe dead, that in all things He might have the pre-eminence."

This means that God intends that Jesus Christis to be an absolute monarch, and not merely a con-stitutional one with man as prime minister.

Baptists claim that we give to Him His rightfulplace, and with us He does have the pre-eminence inall things. We do not believe that He was only tohave that place for the New Testament times, butwe claim that the pre-eminence is for our times, too,for I Cor. 15, 25 says: "He must reign till He hathput all enemies under His feet."

How does it come about that Baptists are theonly large body of Christians who can claim that theyhave given Jesus Christ His rightful place in theChurch? It is because, with Baptists, the Bible,and the Bible only, is the sole and whole rule offaith.

We believe that an essential teaching of the New-Testament is that all power and all authority havebeen given to Jesus Christ. God has made HimLord.

Why did God make Him Lord? Because Godknew that man needs an authoritative voice and amaster who will tell him exactly what to do, who willsay with no uncertain voice: "This is the way; walkye in it." Men like to be sure that what they aredoing is the right thing to do. Hence we find anumber of people joined up to the Roman CatholicChurch because that Church, in a very dogmatic way,claims that she gives to her followers a voice ofauthority. Her claim is based upon the doctrineof the infallibility of the Pope. We know the claimto be a false one because it is based upon a falsefoundation, but many people are deceived because ofthe dogmatic way in which the priests teach thepeople.

I contend that we, as Baptists, have a decidedplace in the Christian Church because we are able togive men what they require—an authoritative voiceWe present this to men when we proclaim our prin-ciple of the absolute supremacy of the Bible in allmatters of faith and doctrine.

We neither add to nor take away from it. We donot add to it the traditions of men. nor do we askmen to subscribe to any articles of religion or tocreeds. We do not make use of creeds because, bythe use of them, the appeal is made to the head andnot to the heart, and so it is without power.

In this respect we differ from the other largedenominations. They add to the Bible the traditionsof men and the counsels of men. The dictum of

some of them i s : The Church to teach and the Bibleto prove; but ours i s : The Bible, and the Bible only,is to be the sole and whole-rule of faith and doctrine.

We believe that in the Bible the One Whom Godhath made Lord and Master has given His ordersand a pattern upon which the superstructure of theChurch is to be built. Furthermore, we believe thatHe expects us to work according to the pattern. Hedoes not ask for alterations, but for obedience.

At the time of the Reformation, the Reformersprotested against man in any way usurping theauthority of the Bible or of Jesus Christ. Theyclaimed then that the Bible, and the Bible only, wasto be the rule of faith of Protestants. But the RomanCatholics assert that the Baptist denomination is theonly large denomination which is truly Protestant!They credit us with that statement because we refuseto go to tradition for any of our beliefs.

Because we give to Jesus Christ His rightfulplace as an absolute monarch, we have become theexponents of the doctrine of soul liberty. We claimthat the soul must be free. No priest, no theologian,no church teaching must be allowed to come betweenthe soul and God. Because of this we begin at theCross, and not at the font. We do not force peopleagainst their will to become Christians by "infantbaptism." If infant baptism does not mean what theRoman Catholic Church and the Church of Englandclaim it to mean, then why perform an empty cere-mony? We , of course, do not believe it means any-thing. Cardinal Manning once said: "From the NewTestament you have as much authority to baptise ahorse as you have to baptise an infant!

We baptise neither. Why? Because JesusChrist, Whom God hath made Lord, says that we areto baptise believers only.

The soul must be free. No man can believe foranother, and no man can repent for another. Theremust be a personal transaction between each indi-vidual and Jesus Christ. To his own Master theservant standeth or falleth. There can be no othermediator between God and man but the Man ChristJesus. It is not by consecrated water, bread, or winethat we grow in grace, but it is by personal contactwith the living Christ.

This doctrine of the Scriptures and of ours ofsoul liberty has wrapped up in it the doctrine of in-dividualism. We claim that each individual mustgive an account of himself unto Jesus Christ, andwhilst we feel that to be truly Scriptural men mustbecome Baptists—so-called—yet we would not useforce to induce them to become such.

Our doctrine of individualism has given to us afurther claim for a decided place in the ChristianChurch, inasmuch as it has resulted in our being anon-persecuting church.

The Scriptures teach that the Christian shall bepersecuted, but that he must never persecute. Heshall suffer wrong, but never inflict it. The worldwill hate the Church, but the Church must pray forthem that despitefully use it. Hence we find that noNew Testament church was a persecuting church.

Baptists are the only considerable body of Chris-tians who can claim that they have always been anon-persecuting church. It has come to pass thusbecause we have always fought for liberty of con-science for each individual soul. We have alwaysfought for the crowning of Jesus Christ as. Lord ofall and for the giving to Him of the pre-eminence.

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What place are we to have in the ChristianChurch in the future? A much larger place than wehave at present. Why? Because I contend that wehold as principles—I have been able only to lightlytouch upon one or two—such doctrines as will enablethe holders of them in the power of God to go forthas conquerors and to conquer.

Why was it possible for a little band of men, suchas the early disciples were, to go forth and turn theRoman Empire upside down? It was because theyrendered to Jesus Christ complete and perfect obedi-ence to His expressed wishes and commands. JesusChrist gave His commands. He was Lord. Theywere servants. They gave obedience. They did notsay: "When we get to such-and-such a clime orpeople we had better modify or alter or leave outpart of the marching orders of our Captain." No!They obeyed orders. They gave to him the pre-eminence. They placed all the responsibility for thecommands upon Him. They gave to Him obedience,and He gave to those whom He found He couldtrust power to win mighty victories.

We have been more persecuted than any otherbody of Christians, and until recent days have neverbeen given a fair chance to show how our principlesare acceptable to men. But to-day our numbers areincreasing at a rapid rate, and a few months ago inthe Baptist it was stated that there are approximately10 million believers who adhere to our principlesto-day.

Why is it that we have increased so rapidly underthe more favourable conditions of modern days? Itis because with us Jesus Christ has His rightfulplace, and He knows that He can trust us with vic-tories because our only desire is that all who join upwith us should give to Him the pre-eminence in theirlives as individuals and as a church. He knows thatwe, as Baptists, never have and never shall add toHis instructions. We know that to do this will resultin someone else having the pre-eminence.

Once a church is committed to the Bible plusany other teaching, the logical ending to that churchis either to be swallowed up by or to adopt the teach-ing of the Church of Rome. The Church of Romerealises this, and the Roman Catholic controversialistsays: "If you take infant baptism from tradition,why not, as I do, take other doctrines and ceremoniesfrom the same fertile source?" Once any alterationor addition is permitted, confusion and strife is sureto follow.

I conclude by asserting once again that thekernel of our principles is sound, and that our claimto a decided place in the Christian Church is basedmainly on the fact that we have crowned Jesus ChristLord, and instead of making of Him a ConstitutionalMonarch we have allowed Him His rightful place asan absolute Lord.

Such is the claim Baptists have made in the past;we make a similar claim to-day. Let us see to itthat what we claim we practice. Unless we have Himwith us in everything and in whatever we do, we arewasting time and are hindering Him from extendingHis Kingdom in our hearts and in the world aroundus.

Let us in deed and in truth crown Him Lord ofall. In all things in our individual lives and in ourchurch life let us give to Him the pre-eminence. WithMoses let us say: "If Thy presence go not with us,carry us not hence; for wherein shall it be knownhere that I and Thy people have found grace in Thysight? Is it not that Thou goest with u s ? "

Baptists all, with Jesus as our King and Captain,let us go forward and on, on to victory.

Dare to do right,Dare to be true;We have a work that no other can do.

Correspondence.

( To the Editor.)Dear Sir,—Knowing full well that space in the

Baptist issues immediately prior to and followingConference is in urgent demand, I delayed sendingthis letter. I am quite sure, however, that shouldthe following account convey but a glimmer of thepicture before your humble scribe's vision, you willappreciate, in at least a small way, the magnificentachievement on behalf of missionary enterprise, andthe passing on of such eloquent facts to your readersmay stimulate a desire with some to emulate theexample of an industrious and zealous girl.

While visiting Napier, Miss McDuff, of theC.I.M., told how the Old Story was bringing muchpeace and joy to many souls in inland China. Theheart of Amy Carter, whose age is 12 years, was sotouched that she yearned to help in the work. Theyearning became a resolve, which was never allowedto abate for one moment, but was diligently prose-cuted till noteworthy success crowned her efforts.

The girl's resolve reached the ears of a friend,who handed Amy one shilling, for which sum twodolls were purchased. Fancy costumes being madeand fitted to them increased their value to twoshillings. This sum was used to splendid advantage,and presently friends began taking a loving interestin the girl's effort. Beautiful articles were brought,and ere long a collection, varied and exquisite, madepromise of a good sale. That eventually took placeon Saturday, September 20. There were three tablesrequired to display the goods.

The writer, wishing to see the display at its best,paid a visit prior to the sale. Magnificent describesit. Lolly-baskets, milk-jug covers, d'oyleys, babies'underclothing, pin-cushions, trinkets, dolls, and, ofcourse the ubiquitous Kewpies, were all arrangedwith no little taste.

One thing touched the writer profoundly. Thisgirl is passionately fond of plants and flowers, andthe plants she had fondly tended so long were there,also. Those who came with odd coppers in theirpurses were invited, by a cardboard man with a fineopen countenance to have a penny dip, a box containing the "dips" being just inside his capaciousmouth. The sale realised £12 2s.—I am, etc.,

GEO. BURT.Napier, November 14, 1924.

THE NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH SEASEXHIBITION AND GAMBLING.

(To the Editor.)

Dear Sir,—Your note on the relation of the Ex-hibition to the Mammoth Sports Lottery requires cor-rection. I am assured that the Directors of the Ex-hibition have had nothing to do with the scheme, andthat they turned down a proposal that the Exhibitionbe in part financed by a huge State lottery. All theyhave done in connection with the sports lottery hasbeen to agree to accept the lottery tickets as entitlingtheir holders to admission to the Exhibition and col-lect the shilling which would in any case be paid forall tickets presented. They derive no revenue fromthe tickets sold in other towns and not presented atthe entrance gates. It is cause for regret that theyhave recognised the lottery even to this extent, butit is not fair to charge them with launching themischievous scheme. The lottery was devised by acombination of sports associations with a view toraise funds for turning the site of the Exhibition intoa great sports area when the Exhibition buildingshave been cleared away. The scheme deserves, as



we think, the utmost reprobation of decent folk. Itis a shameless appeal to the predatory instincts ofhumanity. It dangles before all people the lure of186 prizes, ranging from £1000 to £5 for the risk ofhalf a crown. It is an insult to lovers of cleansport. It was planned secretly and sprung suddenlyupon an unsuspecting public. There was no timeto criticise and condemn it before it was advertisedthroughout the Dominion. The Christian conscienceof the community was flouted by it. . We do well todenounce the lottery itself and the methods by whichit was set on foot. We do well also to make gravecomplaint against the Minister of Internal Affairs fox-giving official sanction and approval of lotteryschemes which are fraught with so much moral mis-chief to the country. And we do well to blame Chris-tian folk who allow themselves to be implicated inthese nefarious schemes by purchase of lotterytickets. But we must be fair, and acquit the Direc-tors of the Exhibition of all blame for launching theMammonth Sports Art Union Lottery. To have doneso would have brought gravest discredit upon theirnoble undertaking.—I am, etc.,

H. H. DRIVER.[In our opinion the Directors have "brought

grave discredit on their noble undertaking" byaiding and abetting a scheme which they could easilyhave repudiated. They tied themselves into onebundle with the exploiters of the Dominion's simple-tons.—Editor.]

Why I Belong to a BaptistChurch.

BRITISH PRIZE COMPETITION.

FIRST PRIZE, "RHODON."

1. Historically.—Because it is nearest to the NewTestament ideal. Deviation from the immersion ofbelievers was post-apostolic. We trace throughouthistory those who have held Baptist views. TheGreek Church practises immersion., the Anglicanteaches it.

2. Etymologically.—No lexicographer gives anymeaning to "bapto" other than dip, or an action im-plying dipping. The Authorised Version translates"bapto" "dip" or its equivalent, in every instanceother than those passages having reference to bap-tism.

3. Theologically.—Baptism is the bulwark againstheresy. As commanded by Christ the ordinance em-bodied the Fatherhood of God, the deity of the Son,and the personality of the Spirit. The mode impliesspiritual death, burial, and resurrection. A BaptistChurch must, therefore, stand for the new birth, aconscious faith, and a regenerated membership.

SECOND PRIZE, REV. J. E. COMPTON.

I come of a Baptist stock. That is not a con-clusive reason for my membership, but ancestrycounts. I remain in the Church of my parents andgrandparents because:

Believers' Baptism was observed in the NewTestament Church;

The Baptist Church follows the New Testamentorder: Faith in Christ the qualification for member-

SECOND PRIZE, REV. A. H. LEWIS, B.A., D.D.Because:

(1) Baptists stand for loyalty to the principlesof the New Testament. We go not to ChurchFathers, Councils, or Creeds, but to the Fountainitself. I find in our Lord's "marching orders" thecommand to baptise believers, and that this wasobserved by Himself and was the common practiceof the early Christian Church.

(2) Baptists stand for the principle that onlythose who have passed through the great experienceof conversion are fit members of the visible Church.No other ordinance so beautifully symbolises thechange in the, life of the believer, that in Christ wepass from death to life

(3), Baptism is a beautiful sign of the gift of theSpirit, and so enables us specially to witness to this.

(4) Baptists stand, in a special way, for libertyagainst all State interference and all forms of Sacra-mentarianism and Sacerdotalism.

Direct subscriptions received from September 18to November 18, 1924:—To December, 1924, 4s: A.E. Mills, T. Baxter, Rev. F. C. Every, Mrs Maples-den; F. W. Greenslade, 8s, to December, 1924; T.Mehrtens, 4s, to October, 1925; Rev. W. Lamb, 4s,to March, 1925; H. Bloxham, 3s, to September, 1924,Rev. E. Richards, 8s, to December, 1925; Mrs Lockie1s, to June, 1925; Rev. E. P. Davy, 4s, to December,1925; E. A. Israel, 4s, to June, 1925; Mrs Wingfield,4s, to November, 1925; J. Rumgay, 4s, to November,1925; Mrs Mullins, 4s, to November, 1925; J. H.Carrad, 4s, to May, 1925; F. W. Mount joy, 4s. toOctober, 1924.

Private'Phone.


ESTABLISHED 1862. CAPITAL, £1,000,000BRANCHES THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND

EDWARD C. ROWE, Manager.Wellington Branch: 324 Lambton Quay.


ship; sacraments neither mechanical nor magical,but means of grace to those who believe;

Baptists believe in "the competence of the soulof man in the realms of religion"; therefore freeaccess to God proclaimed as right of every man with-out priestly intervention;

Baptists have consistently championed the causeof liberty—religious, civil, and intellectual;

Baptists cherish the world-vision; therefore theBaptist Church is a missionary church, evangelicaland evangelistic;

The Baptist Church is not perfect; but I do notknow a better;

Therefore I belong to a Baptist Church.


Equipment for Service.THE ART OF EXPOSITION—(Concluded).

In the first place, expository preaching will pro-mote the growth of the preacher's own mind. Hewill be led to passages which his own bent of mindmight incline him to neglect. Every man has hisfavourite themes and pet subjects to which he isstrongly attracted, and unless the preacher pursuessome set course of expostion he will be in clanger ofstunting his own growth as well as of wearying hishearers by a constant repetition of them.

(2) Expository preaching will enable a man withcomparatively slender abilities to acceptably sustaina lengthy pastorate. It may be a debatable point,but the suggestion is offered, that the neglect of ex-pository preaching may have something to do withthe short pastorates which are too often deplored.The expositor draws on the Word of God, which isinexhaustible, while the merely topical preacher soonfinds himself at the end of his resources. Dr WilliamM. Taylor informs us that he heard a venerable min-ister tell that Dr John Dick, a professor of theologyin Scotland, went in the early days of his ministryto a neighbouring clergyman in the deepest distress,saying to him: "What shall I do? I have preachedall I know to the people, and have nothing else togive them. I have gone through the Catechism, andwhat have I more?" To which his friend replied:"The Catechism! Take the Bible, man; it will takeyou a long while to exhaust that ." Yes, here ismaterial for a lifetime, even should it be the lifetimeof a Methuselah!

(3) Expository preaching is best fitted to interestand edify the people. It is a mistake to suppose thepeople are not interested in the Bible. It can in-variably be put down to the fact that the preachersare not interested in it themselves. We are told thatthe Scottish peasantry of the last generation knewtheir Bibles a great deal better than the averagecongregation of to-day. Why? Because the preach-ing of the former day was more Biblical than ours.A Bible-loving preacher will make a Bible-lovingpeople. During a ministry now extending over 26years, it has been my habit to expound the Word ofGod in the mornings of each Lord's Day, holdingmyself free for definite evangelistic themes for theevenings . At our week evening Bible lecture, I takea whole book, and deal with it, first in general out-line, and then in greater detail. During these yearsthe whole Bible has been gone over in outline, andin detail many parts of both the Old and the NewTestaments. My heart has been gladdened many atime by the testimonies of friends to the benefit ofsuch exposition, while the regularity of the attend-ances shows that they are sufficiently interested tocome again. Brethren, give the people the Bible.They are longing for it. They want something theycan rest their weary souls upon and that will liftthem out of the struggles of the week, and Bibleexposition is admirably suited to this end.

(4) Expository preaching allows the preacher tointroduce unwelcome truths without offence. Thereare many subjects from which a preacher shrinksfor fear of being accused of being "too personal,"which are sure to come in for treatment by the ex-pository method, and, when so treated, prejudice isdisarmed. Every teacher must at some time or otherdeal faithfully with certain sins requiring great deli-cacy of touch to prevent misunderstanding. To selectany one of these for a "hole discourse would arouse

suspicion of deliberate intent to give vent to personalanimosity, and so the object in view would be de-feated. Such themes, supposed to be objectionable,are touched upon in the most natural way by theexpositor. He, of all preachers, is free to declare"the whole counsel of God." "Yes," as Beechersaid, "the Bible touches all sides of human life andexperience, and Scriptural exposition gives endlessopportunities of hitting folks who need hitting." Thesquire can hardly stamp out of the church for a''Thus saith the Lord."

(5) Expository preaching will give the hearers afull-orbed view of the Word of God. Let any preacherdo as Spurgeon did—mark in his Bible the textsfrom which he preached, say, in a single decade, andhe will be surprised to see how very little of the bookhas been gone over. We ought to traverse thegoodly land from Dan to Beersheba.

(6) And finally, expository preaching will savethe preacher the drudgery of searching for texts andtopics, for, in the course of his preparation for hisexpository work, he will accumulate a mass of mate-rial for pulpit and platform work which will be readyat hand. The expository method relieves one ofthe mental strain and anxiety of finding suitable sub-jects for the Lord's Day, and greatly facilitates thework of the week. Let us adhere closely to theBook, and the Holy Ghost, Who has been given asthe Spirit of Truth, will lead us into all truth andenable us so to divide the Word that our presenta-tion of it shall be to the edifying of them that hearthat they may profit withal.

Thy life within my life, than self more near,Thou veiled spirit infinitely clear;From all illusive shoals of sense I flee,To find my centre and my rest in Thee.



Prompt and Equitable Settlement of Losses.Losses arising from Gas Explosion. Bush Fires, and



Principal Offices in New Zealand:AUCKLAND: Victoria Insurance Buildings.





Agents:Greymouth ... ... Duncan McLean, Ltd.Hokitika ... William Duncan and Co.Invercargill ... . Dalgety and Co., Ltd.Napier ... ... Dalgety and Co., Ltd.Nelson ... Levin and Co., Ltd.Wanganui ... Levin and Co., Ltd.Wellington ... ... Levin and Co., Ltd,Westport ... ... Mr A. W. Henley.



IV—THE ADVANTAGES OF EXPOSITORYPREACHING.

By REV. JOSEPH W. KEMP.




Sub-Editor: REV. S. MORRIS, N.E.V., Dunedin.Business Manager: REV. M. W. P. LASCELLES.All butlness communications to be addressed to the Manager,




General Secretary: Rev. M. W. P. Lascelles,To whom all money for Home and Foreign Missions should be sent,except B.W.M.U. amounts, which must be sent to the Treasurer,Mrs C. Collins, 6 Bidwell Street, Wellington.




We are living in an incredibly beautiful world.Nobody has the least idea how beautiful it is. Fornone of us is holy. To holy eyes this young summerworld may be paradise, or a suburb of it. Science,art, and religion have contributed to the enlarge-ment of man's appreciation of the beautiful. Buteverything is nothing. The sheer beauty of theworld sometimes makes you scream for joy. Andsometimes it forces you to your knees.

"Lord, I do fear Thou'st made the worldToo beautiful this year;My soul is all but out of me."

What empires our Lord Christ added to the territoryof the beautiful. He made men at home in the world.He made birds and flowers the Father's messengersof goodwill. The microscope and the lens have madenotable contributions. With shouts of delight menfind beauty in what was before time regarded withaversion. Fabre put us on terms with the insectworld. Things that "spin and sing and weave theirpretty webs and die" have become exponents of God'sart. What haunting words these are of Walt Whit-man ' s :"I believe that a leaf of grass is no less than the

journey work of the stars,And the running blackberry would adorn the parlour

of Heaven,And the narrowest hinge in my hand puts to scorn

all machinery,And the cow crunching with depressed head sur-

passes any statue,And the mouse is miracle enough to stagger sex-

tillions of infidels."But some eyes see nothing of all this. The eye

of a rattlesnake fixed on an orchid at whose throata humming bird is poised on fast-beating wings,what do these blue lenses see? Beauty? An oldMaori in his canoe on the heaving waters at theentrance to Queen Charlotte Sound, with Egmontlifted white above the green deep sea, and the alba-tross with motionless wings curving about him, whatdid he see? Beauty? Why was Wordsworth sosavage with Peter Bell? Because he trampled on

thousands of primroses in his zeal for tin pots andfor pots of beer, and saw nothing in them.

It is a commonplace of psychology that we seeonly what we are fit to see. Beauty is not a solidthing out there in space. It is the result of a com-bination of what is out there and what is within. Ifthere is not something within us that is appreciativeand responsive, we can see no beauty. For us thereis none. We are that rattlesnake, that Maori, thatold tinker Peter Bell.

It is a great moment in any life when beautymakes its first appeal. Maclaren, of Manchester,says: "I cannot have been more than six or seven.I was taken on an expedition to Gairloch. It musthave been a day in summer—warm, bright, quiet.In the perfect stillness that followed the arrival ofthe steamer I got my first impression of the beautyof Nature. Delight and awe took hold of me."Ruskin tells his story like this : "I was in the forestof Fontainebleau in France, lying on a bank by acart road, with no prospect whatever but a smallaspen tree against the blue sky. Languidly, butnot idly, I began to draw it. As I drew, the languorpassed away. The beautiful lines insisted on beingtraced. With wonder increasing every moment, Isaw that they composed themselves to finer lawsthan any known to man. 'He hath made everythingbeautiful' became for me the interpretation of thebond between the human mind and all visible things.I returned along that cart road feeling that it had ledme far."

If you have wakened up, if you have felt, if youhave taken off your hat to the beauty of the world,you are the person to whom these lines are addressed.Through beauty something is being said to us.,Through beauty you are being challenged with God'sproblem. That God has unsolved problems on handis obvious. The contradictions of life declare that.The sceptics say that God is either not good or notstrong, else His world had not been stained with sinand marred by pain. But these sceptics, like mostof those who construct dilemmas, are impaled on thehorns. There is a. third alternative, and in thatthird lies the courageous interpretation of our faith.The All Holy is Almighty. It was through no de-fect in Him, but through His perfectness that Hefreely made us free. His challenge through thisstrangely beautiful world is this: We are to make itas good as it is beautiful. His problem is to en-courage and enable us to do it. That is the missionof Christ.

We are affronted every day by the moral uglinessthat lies over against the physical beauty of theworld. There is a Parisian harlot, the vilest of hersex, perhaps the vilest of all creatures. For the cor-ruption of the best is ever the worst. She wears onher false breast, beneath her rouged lips, lilies of thevalley. There is a drunken man slobbering andhiccoughing. He leans against the stem of a flower-ing cherry tree in its full coronal of spring. Therewas a ship on which we travelled on the Australiancoast. The moon was full. The waves were phos-phorescent. Such a combination of peaceful beautycould not be bettered. But they rigged up a kinemashow on deck. Hundreds of passengers engaged indirty laughter over the elderly husband and the tricksof an amorous and immoral young wife. Do not thesecontrasts emphasise the problem which is both God'sand ours—the problem of making the world as goodas it is beautiful. He could create physical beauty.He cannot create for all His mightiness, moralbeauty. That can be secured only by man's freechoice and resolute action. But it is for the sake ofthat that God created the world. It is for that thatHe ceaselessly calls. The haunting beauty of theworld, of which the awakening mind is ever moreaware, is His ringing challenge to us to help Himout with His problem.

The Challenge of the Beautiful.

DECEMBER, 1924.


What, let us ask, is the special feature of theworld's loveliness, Is it a local adornment? Is itan occasional performance? Are the showy placestouched with His pencil, and are the obscure partsunadorned? Is the beauty of the world like a broochon a plain dress, or an orchid on a man's drab coat?Or is it a deeper thing? Is it part of all things?It is. We build our ugly little houses and arguewith the builder what we will spend on extras to re-deem the blot. We may garnish 90 per cent. ofugliness with 10 per cent. of decoration. But Hiswork is 100 per cent. lovely. "Thou hast made every-thing beautiful in its time." Flowers are the out-standing symbols. Before their architecture, theircoloration schemes, their fragrance, Solomon and histemple and his glory are tawdry. But if there wereno flowers, leaves are beautiful not only in thetenderness of spring and in autumn's bravery, but inthemselves. And if leaves and mosses and lichensare swept away, the rocks beneath are beautiful.There are revelations of crystalline loveliness. Thegranite gleams. Enter a cave and disturb the bats ;lift a torch, and the stalactites, like the pillars ofa faery palace,, stand in place. Dive to the ocean'sfloor and lift a bi-valve and open it, and the innersurface is a splendour of irridescence. The beauty,we are saying, is not an adornment added to a roughground work, as in all man's work. It is part of allthat there is in Nature. Where there is no man'seye to see, what perfection there i s ! "What flowers,the snakes have travelled far to sip their dew." Thereis the unceasing challenge of the thorough-goingbeauty of the world.

But the daughter of Herodias twines lilies in herhair for the infamous nautch dance. The drunkardleans heavily against the flowering cherry tree. Lewdpictures are shown under the splendid moon. Whata blot is man! His task is to set the beauty of holi-ness in the foreground of the cosmic picture. Takethis from the Fraulein Schmidt: "On the hills thismorning I was walking in the sunshine, and itseemed to me that I met God. And He took me bythe hand and let me walk with Him. And He showedme how beautiful the world is, and how beautiful thebackground He has given us, the spacious, splendidbackground on which to paint our charities andloves." But against the background we set ourmoral squalor.

We are challenged to be deeply good as the worldis deeply beautiful. But when the white flower callsfor the white life, our impotence overwhelms us, thebeauty mocks us. There is only one sight worthy ofNature's background, and that is our Lord Christamong the lilies on the mountain. He matches them.His beauty of soul is the compliment of the unearthlybeauty of Nature. He can make us like Himself.He can and He will create a new humanity whosesocial and whose private life will be an answer to thecontinuous challenge of all things—beautiful with thebeauty of holiness.

"Thy world is very lovely, O my God,I thank Thee that I live."

Like most men who love the Church and desire tosee the best types of ministry in her service, I havethought and read concerning such matters as re-cruiting for the ministry, the life of the student incollege, the responsibilities of college tutors, thenature of the college curriculum, the reasons for suc-cess or failure in the pastorate. Then I have myown experience of "getting into college," of six yearsof student life in this northern metropolis, ofthirteen years in the active pastorate, and five years

as a teacher in a college. These experiences are notrecalled because they constitute any claim that Ishould be heard. They are mentioned because theeditor has asked me to write frankly out of my ownexperience. And my experience, and that of otherswith whom I have conferred, do not by any meansagree with much that I have read on recruiting forthe ministry. One explanation which is often givenwhy men do not enter the ministry is concerned with

FINANCE.My experience of student life does not by any

means confirm this and other reasons why men keepout of the ministry. Personally I am not impressedby the things which keep men out of the ministry—or perhaps I had better say that I am not greatlyconcerned with the men who keep out of the min-istry. What amazes me is that men enter theministry at all, and that so many endure to the end.It is a mystery. It is doubtful whether the dearestfriend of the minister understands it. Even the manwho goes through with his ministry does not under-stand it apart from such an explanation as "the loveof Christ constraineth me."

We have recently examined the candidates whooffered themselves for entrance into this college, andwe have accepted five. And since this article is writtenwith a desire to evoke a sense of responsibility forthe training of the future Baptist ministry it will beuseful to consider these five young men and the prob-lem of their training. The first has matriculatedand is an analytical chemist in a large business. Thesecond has sat his inter-B.Sc. examination, andwas also preparing for research work in the labora-tory of a northern firm. The third has sat his inter-B.A. Honours examination, and intended to becomea teacher. The fourth is a costing clerk. The fifthis an articled clerk in a solicitor's office. When itis a question of finance, what is the prospect of theminister compared with that of a solicitor, or thehead master of a secondary school, or a manufactur-ing chemist? The son of a Baptist minister said toone of the students, "In entering the college I canonly say that you are either a fool or a hero." Isaid to one whose prospect was most promising, "Youknow that the ministry does not offer the financialrewards of your profession." He replied, "I knowthat, but I have made my choice." Yet we areoften told that men are kept out of the ministrybecause of finance. The statement is undignifiedand unconvincing. What is convincing is the de-liberate choice of these five men, and to me it iswonderful. I know their hearts will ache and break.They will come here at the end of September, andprobably before the end of October they will havetheir first experience of being "hard up."

As long as they remain here they will liveLABORIOUS DAYS.

Then they will settle in the pastorate andmarry and learn the responsibilities of spiritualleadership. As they preach they will find humannature slow and unresponsive. Thus they will touchreality as it smacks of the mill and the street andthe market-place. It is then for the first time thatthey will be compelled to face the financial limita-tions of their calling. It may be that one day theywill look into the faces of their loved ones and seethe tears and the beginning of ministerial travail.Then they will sit down and say, "And this is theBaptist ministry . . .!" At this stage a ministerreaches one of the most serious moments of his life.It is the moment of disillusionment. It is here thatsome men begin to weaken. It was at this pointthat the older generation of Baptist ministers used tosay that they would rather break stones than endureit. Since Dr. Shakespeare declared that the stone-breaking profession was overcrowded, some speak ofreturning to business, or they dwell on the prospectswhich were given up for the ministry.

The Miracle of the Baptist Ministry.By DR. TOWNSEND, Manchester College.


The vision and the romance of the ministry arenot easily retained. Nothing short of

TERRIFIC SELF-DISCIPLINE,which comes through prayer and work willretain them. Let it be said that the minister whohas lost the battle with himself in the day of dis-illusionment is of little use. He may wonder whyChurches hear him and pass him by. He may feelaggrieved because other and younger men are pre-ferred before him. There will be few friends frankenough to explain to him that his preaching has lostits ring and its sting. Such is the case with theman who weakens.

Now, these young men have heard these things.They have been warned of these things. Yet noneof these things keeps them out of the ministry. Onthe other hand, they are thrilled as men who standon the threshold of romance. If someone repliesthat it is the thrill of youth and inexperience, Ishould answer that Christ has more use for theirthrill and inexperience than for the man whose ex-perience has led him to lose his love for his work.My business is to see that they can glow when theyleave me; that the flame of their ministry shall bemore scorching because it is disciplined; that theyshall be as fresh at fifty as when they leave college.I shall tell them again and again, "The ministry isa glorious life if you do not weaken.''—BaptistTimes.


Handbook.—This is now in the hands of theprinter, and we hope to have them in circulationearly in December.

Catchpole Fund.—The Treasurer will be glad toreceive the gifts from the churches.

Takle Fund.—Will those who guaranteed certainsums at Conference kindly take steps to redeem theirpromises? It is desirous to get the necessary sumrecommended by Conference as soon as possible, asMr Takle's allowance from the Missionary Societyceases shortly.

Churches' Liability.—Owing to recent legalamendments, which have increased the responsibilityof employers, it is very important that our churchofficers should see that they are protected with anindemnity policy, which can be procured at a verylow cost from any reputable insurance company. Ihave pleasure in recomending either of the companieswho advertise in our paper.

Baptist.—I am very anxious that we should in-crease our list of subscribers. We have a journalthat we can be well proud of; tell others about it,and get them to take the denominational paper.

Collectors.—Will the collectors for the Home andForeign Mission Funds kindly collect and remitmonthly. Contributors give small sums more readily,and the cash helps to keep down our over-draft.


Subscriptions received from September 18 toNovember 18, 1924:—Timaru Church, £12 5s 8d;Timaru Sunday School, £3 8s 8d; Limwood, l5s 9d;North-East Valley, £14 11s l0d; Invercargill, £1312s; Sydenham, £18 14s 6d; Mrs W. Hart, £ 2 ; Gore,£3 8s 11d; Vivian Street Sunday School, £2 7s ;B.W.M.U., £93 16s 5d; Y.W.B.C.U., 10s; Hawera,10s; Mrs E. Cockrell, £17 10s; Invercargill ChristianEndeavour, £l 15s; Auckland Tabernacle, £27 5s 6d;Auckland Tabernacle (collection Miss Gillanders'sfarewell), £9 11s 8d; Richmond Sunday School, £ 2 ;B.W.M.U., £48 16s l0d; Vivian Street, £15 4s l0d;B.W.M.U., £ 5 1 ; Mornington, £11 7s l0d; Gonville,£3 11s; Wanganui, £1 10s 2d; Vivian Street SundaySchool, £l 11s 7d; Mornington Sunday School, £711s 3d; Mount Eden Church, £7 6s 5d; Mount EdenSunday School, £1 15s; Ashburton Church, £2 17s1d; Ashburton Sunday School, £5 15s 9d; Ashbur-ton Christian Endeavour, £ 5 ; North Brighton SundaySchool, 11s 6d; Oxford Terrace Sunday School, £311s; Hastings Church, 19s 7d; Hastings SundaySchool, 5s 8d; N.I.Y.M.B.C.U., £ 5 ; N.I.Y.M.B.C.U,£16 10s 3d; Grange Road Sunday School, £4 14s 3d;Berhampore Sunday School, £6 13s 8d; Rev. G. D.Cox, 10s; B.W.M.U., £13 15s 2d; Palmerston North,£7 2s 7d; Brooklyn, £4 7s 2d; H. F. Knight, £ 1 ;Y.W.B.C.U., £4 5s 6d; Hastings Church, 18s 2d;Hastings Sunday School, 5s ; Palmerston North Sun-day School, £2 17s 9d; W. Hart, £ 1 . — Total, £46117s 11d

On rising, drink half a tumbler of water dilutedwith a teaspoonful of Fluenzol. This cleanses theinterior and reduces temperature without weakeningeffects. Also shampoo the scalp with a little Q-toldiluted with 4 or 5 parts water. No evaporation aswith Menthol or Bay Rum, but a permanent coolnessis assured.

Pounawea Convention(INTERDENOMINATIONAL).

Before making Holiday Arrangements.

Remember!That the above Christian Convention will be held this

Christmas at Pounawea, Owaka, from December 25to December 29.

The speakers will be Mr Mallis, of India, and others.Write for a circular giving full particulars to

MR J. E. KINNEAR,179 Highgate,

Dunedin.

Receipts.Expendi-

ture.UNION:

Cr. Balance at20/9/24

Transferred toother accounts

Receipts for OctoberExpenditure for October

Dr. Balance as at 31/10/24

MISSIONARY:

Dr. Balance at 20/9/24Receipts for OctoberExpenditure for October

Dr. Balance at 31/10/24


£487 19 2

£659171

23

97

£171 3 7

171 3 796 6 7

£ s. d. £262

s.16

d.2

£131 14 7

£18554

151

92

£ 5 4 1 2

251

191

59

185 15 9

230 0 0

£232 19 5

£ s. d. £ s. d.

Secretarial Notes.


A PERMANENT COOLNESS.

Receipts.Expendi-

ture.



"Safe."With much joy we chronicle the safe arrival in

India of Miss Bradfield and Miss Gillanders. Manyprayers have followed them in their journeyings, andmany thanksgivings will be expressed at the newsnow given.

The Junior Messenger.The Missionary Editor was informed during Con-

ference that some Sunday Schools are not receivingthe Young Folks' Messenger. May we say one ortwo things anent this? The publishers have ad-vised us more than once that parcels of Messengershave been returned to them marked "Address notknown." This indicates that changes of address onthe part of school secretaries have not been notifiedeither to the Editor or to the Union office in Welling-ton, and until the new address is notified we cannotundertake to guarantee the regular delivery of thepaper. Delinquents, remember Cap'n Cuttle, and,"when found, make a note of."

If yours is a new school, and as such is notreceiving the paper, please send us the name andaddress of your school secretary and the number ofpapers you require, and we shall be very delightedto supply you. The Messenger is for as m a n yscholars as will read it. You will make us happyby your request to be supplied. Once more: We havebeen in schools where the Messenger has been leftlying in its postal packet unopened long after itshould have been in the hands of the young people,and sometimes superintendents or secretaries forgetto bring it from home to school, and a week or twopasses before it is in circulation. This is unfair tothe scholars who wish to enter our competitions andwhose replies have to be in by a given time. And"finally," as the minister says, if you are gettingmore papers than you can distribute, don't wastethem! Send us a post-card, and we will cut downyour supply. Or if your school is growing—as wehope it is—and you want some more, pass the wordto us and you shall get what you need.

Annual Missionary Sermon of the New ZealandBaptist Conference, preached at Oxford TerraceBaptist Church, Christchurch, on October 12,1924, by-the Rev. J. Takle.

There's a Wideness in God'sMercy.

(Jonah iv, 9-11.)

In some mission lands this book of Jonah is thefirst of the Old Testament books to be translated bymissionaries into the vernacular for the benefit ofconverts. It is essentially a missionary message toIsrael, a reminder that in Abraham all the familiesof the earth would be blessed, and that Israel wasto be a light to lighten the Gentiles.

Can you imagine a more unlovely prophet, or amore unlikely missionary than Jonah?

When commissioned by God to go Last, and takea message to the people of Nineveh, he disobeyedand went West, to Tarshish, in Spain, then thoughtto be the very end of the earth Jonah hated theNinevites not without cause, for they had crushedIsrael under their iron heel for over two hundredyears. His patriotism and racial pride stood like .abarrier against the proposal. But there was some-thing worse than his racial prejudices: Jonah wasout of harmony with God's will and purposes, andso failed in all other harmonies. He knew some-thing of the graciousness of God and His readinessto forgive men who repented of their sin. But toJonah it was intolerable that the divine mercy shouldbe wasted on aliens. What if the Ninevites repented?He could not bear the thought. He fled; but Godgave him a second chance, and finally the prophetwent to the wicked city, and I can imagine himpreaching as pungently as a Frenchman might havedone if, during the war, he had been sent to Berlinon a similar errand.

Was there ever a more amazing missionary campaign than this one of Jonah's? People, from theking on the throne to the lowest beggars by theroadside, repented of their sins in sackcloth andashes. There was a mass of piteous human lifekneeling in houses and in the streets, their con-sciences having been stabbed broad awake. Duringthe past twenty years we have heard a great dealabout the mass movements in India, but there hasnever been a movement anywhere to compare withthat in Nineveh.

Ministers and all fellow-workers in the Gospel!How we envy Jonah his success! How our heartswould thrill if on such a scale men would now turnto God. But the prophet's mood was wrong; weread that he turned away and made a shockingprayer. He told God that he would be happier deadthan alive in a world where detestable pagans,idolaters, and aliens were allowed to share in thedivine love. It is an awful picture! How sullen,how selfish, how unsympathetic the prophet was!

Like a great canopy over the whole story inJonah stretches the infinite and all-embracing loveof God. Oh, the patience and pity of God! TheMohammedans say that God has 99 names. Many ofthem are truly beautiful. The last on the list is"O Thou Patient One." How patiently God dealtwith Jonah. How feelingly He appeals to the prophetto take a saner viewpoint. The gourd that Jonah hadno hand in raising, a thing without a soul and ofno life-value, could not be compared with the soulsor Nineveh. God virtually says: "Would you haveMe destroy My own creation in great masses andnot feel it? May I not have pity? Is your heartnot melted, Jonah, at the sight of the people prostratein penitence? If not, then listen: What of all theinnocent ones? Think of the 120,000 tiny childrenin the city who cannot discern between their righthand and their left hand, who do not know good fromevil. Their angels constantly behold My face."Then, as if to strengthen the appeal of innocence,God extends His graciousness over the cattle. Oh,the all-embracing love of God! The divine heartyearned over men and grieved over their sin. Thereis no heartache, and no pain, and no cry of the.ransgressor that does not touch the strings of sym-pathy and sensitiveness in the heart of God.


"There is no place where earth's sorrowsAre more felt than up in heaven;

There is no place where earth's failingsHave such kindly judgment given."

Every incident in connection with the life andwork of our Lord Jesus resounds with the same noteof all-embracing love. He had no race-exclusivcness.It was His delight to mix with Greeks and Canaanitesand other semi-Gentile peoples, and He was neverhappier in service than when dealing with Samaritans—a people called "a mob" by the Pharisees, butby Christ "a harvest.' ' Our Lord gave these non-Jewish people very high honour, when, in a parable,He made one of their number the hero. When read-ing that parable of the good Samaritan, have youever looked upon the wounded man as one of the out-cast or backward races of the earth, who have beenleft half dead on the outskirts of civilisation? Hasit ever struck you that the pitiless priest of theparable might be the same as the pitiless prophet ofour story?

As you have read the parable of the prodigalson, have you ever applied it to a couple of races—the elder brother being the exact counterpart of Jonalior Israel — sullen, selfish, unsympathetic, un-brotherly? Praise God, the New Testament aboundswith a wealth of truth on the wideness of God'smercy. Its great texts are of God and the world:God so loved the world; God was in Christ reconcil-ing the world to Himself; God. the Holy Ghost wassent to convince the world of sin and righteousnessand judgment to come.

The distinctive message of this book of Jonahis timely for us to-day. The book is easily a mirrorof many an individual and nation in their attitude toGod and the world. So many people lack rightthoughts of God and His purposes concerning man-kind. Like the prophet, so many are all astray onreal life-values.

Patriotism, racial pride, and politics have an im-portant place in man's make-up, but if they arebacked only by self-interest and unholy ambition theyare, in God's sight, of no more life-value thanJonah's withered gourd.

Apply the story of Jonah to the racial antagonisms of the present time. During the last twentyyears exaggerated patriotism has been a pest tohumanity, and since the armistice there has been anorgy of nationalism.

When nationalism was first raising its head inIndia, Sir Ram Krishna Bhandarkar, an Indianjudge of the Bombay High Court and a well-knownsocial reformer, said to a missionary with passionatefeeling, "Why is it that men are turning away fromfaith in human brotherhood to this narrow national-ism which has no room in it for a wider love?"Why? In European countries the racial prejudicesdistress us, but the relations between the white andcoloured races are becoming increasingly painful.

What are the nationalistic slogans of so manylands in the East but the expression in differentlanguages and different forms of one passionate chal-lenge to the white races to leave the coloured peoplesalone to work out their own destinies? In onelanguage it is "Home Rule for Egypt" ; in another,'"Swaraj," or "Mahatma Gandhi Ke jai" ("Victory tothe great-souled Gandhi"). There is a pan-Arabmovement and a pan-Turanian movement, and a pan-Islamic movement. At heart they are one. Claimswhich were only whispered in private places ten yearsago are now shouted in the bazaars. And we Britishpeople need take notice, since three persons out offour in the British Empire are coloured people.

The dark races are now acutely self-conscious,while Anglo-Saxons in the East still retain a sense ofsuperiority which they believe to be inherent in theirbirth and blood. White arrogance is, unfortunately,still too common. It marks down the Indian, the

African, and the Chinese as "Niggers," suited onlyfor coolie labour and tally clerks, as "lesser breedswithout the law," as "far behind in their evolution,"and so on, and so on. But all these "hewers of woodand drawers of water" are found to be indispensableto the European in the East, who would amass afortune quickly.

I have known Indians to be removed from firstand second-class railway carriages by Europeans—although they had paid their fares and secured theirseats—simply because they could not be tolerated. Ihave known of Indians who were asked to leave Eng-lish churches in India because Europeans objectedto their being present in their national dress. Onesuch experience ruins the goodwill not only of theman insulted, but also that of any acquaintanceswhom he may tell. Such behaviour is displayed toooften by certain classes of the English communityAt the same time, there are many who agree withJohn Lawrence, one of India's finest administrators,that "Things done in a Christian way will neveralienate the heathen." Kipling says:

"By all ye think and whisper,By all ye say and do,

Your new-caught savage peoplesShall judge your God and you."

And the unchristian attitude is never forgotten.Will you be surprised, then, that Asiatic people arelooking for the day when they will be able to breakdown white superiority and dominance, and becomemasters in their own house? Professor Raju, promi-nent in one of the Indian universities, said recently:"Our biggest temptation is to dream of a greatalliance of Asiatic races against Europe." He putit mildly. The press of Asia is advocating such analliance, and the people are desperate. Some arepraying to God for some remedy. Here are a coupleof prayers of striking significance: A famous Bengaliwrote a prayer to Christ on Christmas Day, 1921.Here is a part of it: "Great-souled Christ, we whoare not Christians bow before You. We love andworship You, we non-Christians, for with Asia Youare bound by the ties of blood. We, the puny peopleof a great country, are nailed to the cross of servi-tude. We look mutely up to You hurt and woundedat every turn of our torture, the foreign ruler overus, our crown of thorns, our own caste social system,the bed of spikes on which we lie. There is no roomfor You in Europe; come to us, Lord Jesus. At thesight of You our sorrow-laden hearts will be light-ened."

Here is a prayer along the same line by a Chris-tian negro. It appears in "Darkwater," by W. E.Burghardt du Bois. After one of the struggles be-tween white men and negroes in the United Statesof America a few years ago, in which several negroeswere killed, one of their race wrote this litany foruse in his church: "Bewildered we are and passion-tossed, mad with the madness of a mobbed andmocked and murdered people. . . . We raise ourshackled hands and pray. . . . Keep not Thousilent, O God! Sit no longer blind, Lord God, deafto our prayers, and dumb to our dumb suffering:Surely Thou, too, art not white, O Lord!"

Christian men and women! When prayers likethese ascend to the ear of our heavenly Father fromperhaps men of every dark race to-day, it is surelytime that the Church took notice and urged the needof an immediate solution. Too many business men,professing Christians, will not face it, and if yousuggest that the solution is in missions and in thepreaching and living of Christ, they retort "mission-aries spoil the natives," or "our prestige must beconsidered." It would be a great thing if that word"prestige" were expunged from our language, soobjectionable has it become. Sometimes it appearsas if the white trader and professional man were


saying to God: "Hands off, this is our patch." Toomany judge everything in terms of dividends, andwill not tolerate any movement that tends to upliftthe people and help them to feel that they are menwith certain rights.

But, mark you, if there is any spoiling of thedark races, the business man is more to blame thanany Christian preachers working amongst them,since he, by his commercialism and industrialism,brings in a process of breaking down, giving nothingin return, while the preachers do aim at, and workfor, the betterment of the people.

This is the way it was put by a recent writeron Melanesia: "At some time or other we have allseen a little child heart-broken over the fragmentsof her doll. It is all the more pitiable and patheticwhen the broken doll is not replaced. If we aredoing no more among the child-peoples and back-ward races of the earth than break down their socialsystems, their gods, and their indigenous trades, leav-ing them desolate and forlorn, then we may expectthem to lose all interest in life and curse our racefor our intrusion." The writer is correct.

Does it not prove the need for missions? Ifthe average commercial, professional, and industrialmen who go from the West to the East do not in-terest themselves in the rebuilding of the social fabricwhich the violent intrusion of their Westernism hasdestroyed, then missionaries of the right type muststep in and save the peoples from destruction. Bymissionaries I do not mean merely the men set apartby the churches—men who are dependent on mis-sionary society funds—but every European who putsfoot on foreign soil. The coloured races call ourwhite men "Christ ians," whether true or not.Europeans are all missionaries and educators of goodor evil, of real Christianity or a form of atheism.

Present this aspect of the matter to many, manyEuropeans, and it has no more effect upon them thanGod's appeal to Jonah when He said: "Shall I nothave pity on My creatures?" The aspirations ofthe coloured man and the ambitions of the whiteman are as far apart as the east and the west.

What of a solution? As a large section of theChurch of Jesus Christ, we Baptists maintain thatthe solution of the problem is in Jesus Christ ourLord. He had no race-exclusiveness; He never spokeof His prestige. He taught that to minister to others,to serve our fellows, was the disciple's paramountduty and special privilege. He said: "He that willbe great among you let him be servant of all."Our Lord showed Himself to be the Ideal of sucha life. He "made himself of no reputation and tookupon Him the form of a servant and became obedientunto death, even the death of the cross," which crossproves the infinite value of the individual of everyrace. However low and degraded he may be, he isworth dying for.

St. Paul gave us another approach to the samesolution in his parable of the Body and its members,which is the Ideal for humanity. He says that weare "members one of another," that "when one mem-ber suffers, all the members suffer with it." Westand by these principles; to live them out willdisarm all suspicion.

As St. Paul in his day was sure that the racialand religious wall of partition between Jew and Gen-tile had been broken down by Christ, so we believethat all the walls of partition between white andblack and red and yellow have been destroyed by thesame Christ. Our divine Redeemer is the one andonly Solvent. This we believe; this we emphasise;this we preach; this is the basis of our missionarycampaign.

Types of Mohammedan Villagers.By A. L. COWLES.

The rains itineration is drawing to a close notbecause the time is unsuitable, but because we lackenough missionaries to keep the boat in use all thetime. Although we are crossing the tracks we tooklast year, yet we look out upon many villages thathave not been visited for two years, and some of themhave never been visited at all.

The prospect of doing any itineration at the beginning of the rains amounted to nil owing to thenecessity of keeping the Chandpur station open.However, we made arrangements for Chandpur whichleft me free to work in the district. This is my thirdvisit.

Dr Zwemer, who is an authority on work amongMohammedans and who has written many interestingbooks, has just paid a visit to India to stir up furtherinterest among missionaries. Reports of his meet-ings were being published in various papers, and asone read them one felt that more and more effortmust be made to evangelise them. India was speci-ally mentioned as the place where they could be mosteasily reached. So, with this in mind, I set out withthe intention of doing my little bit among them.How easy to be enthused by reading reports, but howeasy also to be repelled by actual contact.

Everywhere, with but few exceptions, the peoplelistened well. They often say: "No, no; we won'tlisten," but at the same time they provide us withseats, and we try and impress a few facts upon them.Sometimes they ask questions. The favourite one is ."What is the name of Jesus' Father?" This is askedwith an air of great innocence. We answer it, andusually they appear to accept the answer. Anotherquestion i s : "Who was created first: Jesus orMohammed?" In order to answer the question, itis necessary to know the reason why it is asked.There may be two reasons for this. If one answersthat Jesus was born before Mohammed, then they sayHis religion has come and gone, and now the truereligion, founded by Mohammed, is here. This isthe last revelation. They believe that by MohammedGod created the world, therefore, according to them,the answer should be that Mohammed was createdfirst. One old man tried to impress upon me thatMohammed is in all of us. He said: "Look into theeyes of everyone here, and you will see Mohammed."How current this belief is I do not know.

In one village we ran into a nest of moulvies.but they all came and had a look at us and then wentaway. We were departing, too, when a womanrushed out of the house to call us back. We returnedafter finding out if the master of the house wouldallow us to remain, and the woman listened mostintently.

We met two women who had been to Mecca withtheir husbands. They could not go to Medina, asthey had not got enough money. On the way back,one was ill, and was treated by an English doctor.Her one and only contact with a white person, whata great impression it would make! This womanlistened well, but seemed to be fairly satisfied withthe result of the visit to Mecca. The other, a verybright, pleasant woman, was far from being satisfied.She said: "Who are all these munshis and moulvies?They come to the house, tell us lies, eat our food,and off they go. It is like a man going off to shootwith his rifle: he brings back something and otherpeople eat it. The moulvies eat and we work."When I presented to her the claim of Jesus, she said:"I have a husband; I can't act without him. Whathe says, I must do."

Because the Khalif has been turned out ofTurkey, the Mohammedans are not so certain of theirposition as before. One sees small signs of the effect


even in Bengal, and that is why to-day the peoplelisten so well. They have no intention of believing,but they want to hear. This can truly be called amass movement—not towards Christianity perhaps,but towards what? No one can say. But it pro-vides us with our opportunity. Therefore may wehave the wisdom and grace to follow it up so thatsome may come to know Jesus as He would beknown.


Questions relating to our own missionary workin India, or to the missionary situation in general, areinvited. They should be addresed to "TheListener," care of Rev. Stanley Jenkin, Wanganui,reaching him not later than the 10th of each month.The name of correspondents will not be publishedunless desired.

"Hopey" asks: "(1) What influence has the preach-ing of Christ's coming (by which I mean the premillenial coming for His Church) upon theIndian mind? (2) What influence has the preach-ing cf the second death (by which I mean eternalpunishment) upon the Indian mind?"

As the vast majority of Indian people met bymissionaries have so little knowledge of the firstcoming of our Lord, with its wonderful revelation ofIncarnation. Atonement, and Redemption, which isthe missionary message, the subject of the secondadvent is often left for those inquirers who take amore extended course of teaching, and then withemphasis upon our Lord's injunction to "watch" andbe ready.

The Hindu and Mohammedan doctrines of "lastthings" differ so widely that the Christian worker mustvary his method of approach according to the indi-vidual. The Mohammedan view comes nearer to theChristian than that of any other religion, not except-ing the Jewish. But, after saying so much, it is farastray. Mohammedans believe that Christ will comeagain, but not as a blessing to the Church, but forthe triumph of Islam, since, in their opinion, He isto smash the cross and destroy all those who believeHim to be the Son of God. They believe in the re-surrection of the dead, and in rewards and punish-ment, which will be dispensed on their "day ofdoom." The teaching of Islam is that the punish-ment of hell will be eternal for Christians, Hindus,and all infidels, but all Moslems will be let off withlight punishment. That is their belief, and yet thereare perhaps no people who have greater fear of deathand the judgment than the Mohammedans have. Intheir case "fear hath torment"; so the missionary,while keen to draw men with the cords of love, hasoften to tell of the "wages of sin." Dr Parker said ."I would lather see men flying in on the wings offaith and gratitude, but if they crawl in through thedoor of fear they are still welcome."

The Hindu is not so impressed with our doctrine,since he adheres to the theory that his heaven or hellis experienced only in this life, and he believes thathis status in society or caste is the test of his pro-gress in spiritual development. A Brahmin, for instance, has almost attained a complete union withthe Divine Being, while a low-caste man or an out-caste may have still millions of years to go before hecan attain unto the perfection of his aspirations.Hindus believe that the soul must pass through eightmillions of births, lives, and deaths before the finalrelease. That is the Hindu's conception of eternalpunishment. The thought of the next stage of exist-ence being that of a rat, or a snake, or a humanmonster, must have its horrors for a superstitiouspeople even now Their one hope is that by their

law of karma they will be able, by self-denial, re-nunciation, and sacrifice, to lessen "the eight mil-lion" and bring about an earlier release.

Report of Women's Work, Brahman-baria, 1923-24.

E. BECKINGSALE.

This has been a year of unusual sickness amongour European staff, but we thank God for His sus-taining grace during times of anxiety. In Novem-ber Miss Rice had to go into the Tropical Hospitalin Calcutta and finally the doctors decided to oper-ate. I went to Calcutta then and helped to nurseher, and by Christmas she was back in Chandpur.In February, however, she had to return to hospital,and was there till April, when she was ordered toNew Zealand, and left early in May. In March MissPeters had to go into Hospital, and in April wasordered to the hills for six months, the rest of thehot season. Meantime Miss Arnold became ill. Iwas at Chandpur looking after Miss Rice's work, soall the strain of nursing her fell on Miss Cowles.When I was able to return to Brahmanbaria I foundMiss Cowles also down with fever, so she and MissArnold were both carried off to Calcutta and weresoon occupying the beds just vacated by Miss Riceand Miss Peters. Three weeks of rest and treatmentdid Miss Cowles a lot of good, and she was able toreturn to her work, but after seven weeks in hospi-tal Miss Arnold was ordered to the hills, so joinedMiss Peters at Almora. We hope both will comeback in October fit for life on the plains again, un-fortunately this break will postpone their passingtheir final Bengali examinations, though they arehoping to take some of the subjects in December,and the rest in July of next year.

With such a depleted staff we are finding it diffi-cult to keep the work going in Chandpur, but werevery anxious not to close the school. So after theMay holidays. I re-opened the school and spent afortnight there. Then Miss Cowles took my place.Now we have been able to get an elderly Bengaliwoman whom we can trust to chaperone the youngerteachers when we are not there. In this way weare able to manage by paying occasional visits instead of, as at first, one of us being tied at Chand-pur, and one to Brahmanbaria. We are looking for-ward to Miss Bradfield's return in October to lessenthe strain that at present falls on Miss Cowles andmyself. Owing; to all this, our work has been inter-rupted and curtailed, but we are glad that the schoolsand dispensary have not had to be closed, and thatthe work in the Widows' Home has been carried onas usual. We are very grateful to God that therehas been no serious illness in the home and orphan-age, and that our Indian staff has been kept in goodhealth.

The Biblewomen.—Srimati Susiila Bala Sircarand Srimti Santushta Das have done faithful workin the dispensary, and villages, and town, and havealso accompanied us on itinerating tours and intocamp, and have, by life and word, faithfully witnessedfor Christ. They are at present spending a monthin the Serajgunge district, helping some of the Aus-tialian Zenana missionaries, who are itineratingamong the Nama Sudras there. There is a distinctmove towards Christ among these Nama Sudras, andthe rainy season is being taken advantage of for aunited and organised campaign amongst them. Ourwomen are delighted to be privileged to have a partin it and are winning unstinted praise from the mis-sionaries for their earnestness and devotion and help-fulness.

Medical Work.—Owing to my frequent absencesthis year the dispensary has not been opened soregularly as other years, though Miss Cowles hastaken my place when other duties permitted her to


do so. During the year 2037 new patients fromvillages paid 4450 visits to the dispensary. I paid171 visits to 82 patients in 22 villages. Thirty-fourminor operations have been performed, and £7 3s 3dreceived in fees and for prescription papers. Icharge one anna (one penny) to every new patientunless desperately poor for a prescription paper, anda small fee if I attend the wives of professional menor merchants, who can well afford to pay.

Itinerating Zenana and Village Work.—Owing toso many other duties I have not been able to do somuch of this work as usual. I was able, however,to take one short trip on the Shantimoni last rains,and I spent a few days in camp in the cold season.I have also visited the outstations at Nabinagar,Dattkhala, and Argatala. I spent March and Aprilat Chandpur, also half of June, and have just re-turned from another short visit. The work in thehospital wards and the school and Zenanas was veryinteresting. I found women in the Zenanas whoremembered my starting the work them 26 years ago.They gave me a delightful welcome to their homes.In the hospital one has a unique opportunity, thewomen are free from household cares, so have leisureto listen to our hymns and Bible stories. Becauseof the kindness and medical treatment they are re-ceiving they are more favourably predisposed towardsus than ordinary village congregations, and in manyways one has a chance to show them Christianity inpractice and so make a more effective appeal.

Literature.—Gospels have been sold and tractsdistributed, and magazines posted to women and oldschoolgirls throughout the district as usual.

Widows and Orphans.—We have eight womenand twenty-three children in the Widows' andOrphans' Home. Of these four women and fivechildren are from other missions, the rest are ourown. Our babies are growing big, and nearly allare now attending school for at least part of theday. They are happy and healthy, and give us verylittle trouble. During the year one woman, whowas at Pubna and ran away from there, was broughthere, but after two or three mouths left us. Anotherwoman was brought to us by her relations, but afterwards, though she had, of course, lost caste, went tovisit them and persuaded them to let her stay in aseparate house. Another young woman deserted byher husband has come to us with her two littlechildren. Two babies have been given to us, butboth died. A girl of about 12 years of age was alsogiven to us last October: we could not keep her here,so she is in the Pubna Home. One of our youngerwomen, who has from the first responded well toteaching, was baptised last November. We havesent her to Pubna, and she took with her a babywhom she had the care of while here. One of ourold girls has returned to us. She was married threeyears ago to a convert in another district. The manwas afterwards persuaded by his relatives to recantand return to Mohammedanism, and a few monthslater he died. In order to get the property hisuncle then married her and, having got the rightto the land, was quite ready to divorce her, so shecame back to us and is now at Pubna; also three ofour older girls who have passed through the Mymen-singh School. Thus we have in the BrahmanbariaHome four women, twenty-three children; in thePubna Industrial School, six young women, one babyboy; in the Mymensingh School seven girls, one boy;in the Barisal School, two girls; in the TaridpierSchool, eight boys. Besides these, Sashi is earningher living at machine knitting and embroidery atOrakandi. Mukta is teaching in a mission school atRajshaki, Sorol is nursing under the Child WelfareLeague at Dacca. Joy is being trained as a nursein the Mission Hospital at Krishnagar. These allseem to be proving themselves trustworthy.

One of our widows was married during the yearto a widower in the Barisal district. We thank

all who help us in the support of these, and all whomake and send garments, write cheering letters, andremember us in prayer. But we beg you to sendus more missionaries. This is a time of great op-portunity. Opposition and prejudice have beenlived down, and throughout our district something isknown and understood of our aims, and character,and message. Throughout India there is a grow-ing restlessness and dissatisfaction among bothHindus and Mohammedans. The lower castes aredemanding their rights as men, and are throwing offthe yoke of the higher castes. Everyone is de-manding liberty. Never have the people listenedto our message with such open minds as at present.We want to be able to take advantage of this, andinstead we are handicapped by lack of workers. Thefields are ripe. Send the reapers. "Respond to thecall of the Lord of the harvest.

At the close of another year we are thankfulonce more to report a friendly attitude on the partof the people amongst whom we are working, a readi-ness to listen to the preaching of the Gospel, and aspirit of interest and enquiry in many directions.

I am convinced that a day of unusual opportunityis dawning, and that with a reinforced missionarystaff we might even now be gathering in the harvestfor which long years of faithful and devoted labourhave been patiently preparing. With our presentinadequate staff, it is to the missionary in chargea cause of continual sorrow that the amount of super-vision and administrative work he is compelled todo leaves so little time and energy for the essentialthing—personal contact with the hungering soulsaround us.

It was a great joy to all our workers to welcomethe Rev. H. A. Jones amongst us in December last,and we all took fresh heart at the sight of this be-ginning of reinforcements, with the promise of moreto follow. It must surely be possible, by some extraventure of faith and sacrifice, for a band of newmissionaries to come forth this year to help in thishour of urgent need and golden opportunity. "Iheard the voice of the Lord, saying, 'Whom shall Isend, and who will go for us?" Mr Jones, we arethankful to say, has kept in good health and madegood progress in his studies for his first languageexamination, to be held in December. He has con-ducted a regular weekly English Bible Class forstudents, and has also taken some of the Englishservices and rendered willing and valuable help inmany other ways. The Bible Class has kept us intouch with a band of young men, and in addition tothe actual teaching in class, there have been frequentopportunities for friendly intercourse and for press-ing the claims of Christ upon them in a personaland individual way.

There have been some changes in our Indian staffduring the year. Our evangelist, Sasanka Bahu,went from Chandpur in January for a course of train-ing at the Mymensingh Theological Institute. Twonew trained evangelists from Serampore College havebeen appointed to the staff, Babu Mahendra K. Sir-car being stationed at Brahmanbaria and BabuAkshay K. Bala at Chandpur. There has been agood deal of sickness among the Indian workers andtheir families, especially since the beginning of therainy season. Mrs Hunter, who has been very rundown in health for some time, was advised to goto England before the hot season, to recuperate, andshe left India with our two children at the beginningof April.

GENERAL DEPARTMENT.REV. W. C. HUNTER.

Annual Report, 1923-24.


The work at our outstations has been steadilymaintained, and the four boys' schools have con-tinued, not only as centres of primary education, butas means of imparting Christian instruction to thechildren and as open doors for evangelistic effortamong the people. Our preacher at Duttkhala isin close touch with the people of the twenty-sevenhamlets included in that circle, and he also visits anumber of villages and markets outside the circle.The people are mostly poor and illiterate, but areintensely fond of music. Again and again, afterlistening to the Gospel song and message, they areheard to say "Jesus is the true teacher. There isno help apart from Him. Christianity is the truereligion. We shall have to accept it one day." AtNabinagar, too, our preacher is welcomed in thehomes of the town residents, and visits more thana score of villages and markets, on foot or by boat,for preaching and house-to-house visitations and thedistribution of Gospels and Christian literature. InAgartala, although public preaching is prohibited bythe law of the State, our workers are in close con-tact with officials, lawyers, doctors, schoolmasters,and others in the capital, and many of these show avery friendly spirit and are glad to take part in re-ligious conversation and to purchase books. Manyof the hill people also come to the book depot, andalso receive our workers into their homes. Visitsare paid to the neighbouring villages and markets,some of them outside the State boundary, where norestriction is placed on the preaching of the Gospel,and also to the large railway junction at Akhaura.Our preacher, who was stationed there until a monthor two ago, believes that, before long, permission forthe preaching of the Gospel will be granted, but up tothe present we are not able to report any definiteprogress in this direction.

At all the outstations, as well as at Brahman-baria and Chandpur, there are inquirers and seekersafter the truth, who are receiving Christian instruc-tion. Some of them, we believe, are not far from theKingdom, while some may even have accepted Christand be counted among His secret disciples. Thenumber of inquirers in this field has impressed me allthe time I have been here. Many of those who areready to acknowledge the supremacy of Christare prevented by fear of persecution and ex-communication from taking the decisive step. Ineed not write here of the wonderful movement whichis going on among the Nama Sudras of Serajganj andother districts. We are watching and praying forsigns of a similar movement in this field, and thoughwe do not see them very definitely, there are indica-tions that many of the depressed castes are readyto follow a lead, when it shall be given by theirfellow-sufferers in other districts. Here again, thevery answer to our prayers, which we are anticipating,only demands with still greater urgency that ourmissionary staff should be strengthened without amoment's avoidable delay.

We are now in the midst of our rainy season,touring, both in Brahmanbaria and in Chandpur. MrJones accompanied two of the preachers and myselflast month on a tour in the northern part of the'Baria subdivision, and I hope to start next weekon another tour to the west and south. On thesetours we have found a general spirit of friendlinessand a readiness to listen to the message and to buythe Scripture portions. We spend the morningsamong the homes of the people, speaking andsinging and showing our picture rolls. In the after-noons we preach and sell books in the markets, andat night, where convenient, we show the magic lan-tern. In two places we showed the lantern inside thecourtyard of the leading landowners of the village,by their own arrangement—one being a Brahmin andthe other a Mohammedan. In the latter case thepeople sat on the dilapidated wall in front of an old

mosque to see the pictures and listen to the storyof the Son of God Who came into the world to liveand suffer and die for the salvation of men. Thewelcome given to us in two or three of the bazaarswas unusually hearty. Shopkeepers would take usinto their shops or stalls and get us to sit downbeside them and sing our songs, and as we sangand told the Gospel story people would crowd roundand listen. In one bazaar I came across a shop-keeper named Bonko, with whom I had a long talk,and who afterwards came to us in the boat. Hebelongs to the "mali" caste, and wants to arrangea meeting of the people of his village a little laterand to invite us to go and address representatives ofthe community. Like the Nama Sudras at Serajganj,they are considering whether they will become Chris-tians, as they realise that there is no hope for themin Hinduism, but they are hesitating at present forfear of being boycotted by barbers and washermen.Pray for Bonko and the malis.

I have continued my monthly visits to Chandpurfor attending to payments and other business, andthe English services for the Europeans there havebeen maintained. There have also been occasionalEnglish services at Brahmanbaria, Akhaura, andAshuganj.

In February last, "Baby Week" was celebratedthroughout India, and we were asked to take a lead-ing part in organising the local celebration. In-struction in matters relating to maternity and childwelfare was given with the help of the magic lantern,charts, and pictures, and in this work Miss Becking-sale and Miss Arnold took an active part.

The Australasian Baptist Union held its annualmeeting in our field this year, and the gatheringsat Chandpur on this occasion proved very interestingand helpful. The Rev. Kailash K. Das has beenappointed as secretary of the Union for the fourthyear in succession.

Through another year it has been my highprivilege to work side by side with New Zealand'sbrave band of Baptist missionaries out here in Ben-gal. I have become intimate with the difficulties withwhich the mission has had to contend, and have alsofelt the inspiration of fellowship with those who inpast years and to-day have been building up sucha noble edifice to the glory of the Redeemer's name.I appeal to the Baptists of New Zealand to see toit that this great work shall not fall to pieces forwant of a large and immediate response to the im-perative call for new missionaries.

The leader of the recent Mount Everest Ex-pedition, discussing the question whether Everestwill be attempted again, writes thus : "We are apersistent people; our record in war proves that wehave a certain genius for attaining through failureto success. The things that most stimulate andharden the determination of Englishmen areobstacles, failures, and casualties. I can speak forthe members of the present expedition in saying thatthe loss of our friends and the setbacks endured thisyear have made us, at least, feel strongly that now,if never before, Mount Everest must be climbed.. . . Sooner or later the torch lit by Mallory andIrvine must be carried on . . . to the summit."

In these words is a challenge to us to manifestthe same indomitable faith and courage in the fargreater and more momentous enterprise upon whichwe have embarked. "Wherefore seeing we also arecompassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,. . . let us run with patience the race that is setbefore us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Fin-isher of our faith, Who, for the joy that was setbefore Him endured the Cross, despising the shame,and is now seated at the hight hand of the Throneof God."


IN CONSIDERATION OF SPACE,

Young People's Dept."Give us the young, and we will create a New Mind

and a New Earth in a single generation."Acting Secretary: W. H. NEWTON, Chairman ofExecutive, 68 Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn, Auckland

A resolution passed at Conference requests thedepartment to examine existing lesson courses andrecommend for 1926 one uniform set for the BaptistSunday Schools of the Dominion

This is a very vital matter, and needs consider-able care and knowledge that a right derision shallbe arrived at. At the present time three differentlesson courses are being used by our schools. Thisis undesirable, and prevents the department fromrendering all the aid it would like to all our schoolsThe courses in use are the American InternationalUniform, the British Graded, and the Whole BibleLesson Course. The first-named is very extensivelyused among our schools, and is deservedly popularbecause of the excellent lesson helps, scholars' notes,picture rolls, and cards that are available for use withthis course. It was adopted about six years ago bythe department as the course to be used by all ourschools, and on this course the examination is based.

Its chief weakness is that it does not meet thegrowing demand for a graded course. The lesson forthe day is the same for Primary, Junior, Inter-mediate, and Senior. Some experienced superin-tendents prefer that this should be so, as they thenhave a "uniform" lesson throughout the schools. Theverdict of experts, however, is clearly against a uni-form lesson and in favour of a graded course, inwhich the lessons selected are suited to the age ofthe scholar. The British Graded Lessons supply thisneed, there being a different syllabus for Primary,Junior, Intermediate, and Senior sections of theschool. Some of our schools are inclined to favourthis course, and there is much to be said in itsfavour.

The Teachers' Quarterlies are the finest we haveseen, and would, we feel sure, be popular with ourteachers. As a department, however, we have hesi-tated to give this lesson course our imprimatur owingto the number of extra Biblical lessons which areincluded. For example, in next year's Junior course,the first five months deal with the life of our Lordand the King's Commission (illustrated by such livesas Wycliffe, John Howard, and Wilberforce). FromJune to August, there is an Old Testament coursewhich deals with the Exile, the Persian Deliverance,and the story of the Maccabees. The remainder ofthe year is given to incidents from the life of Paul.

The Intermediate course contains the following:Two months with St. Paul, a short series on RobertMorrison; then follow lessons on Jeremiah, Ezekiel,Nehemiah, Daniel, Judas Maccabaeus. Five lessonson the Bible Jesus used, and three on the Bible weuse. Two months are devoted to the teaching ofJesus, and the remainder of the year to "The Wayof Worship" and deals with Sunday, the Lord'sSupper, Giving, etc.

Now, what do our ministers and superintendentsthink of this course? The department is anxious toreceive expressions of opinion, and urge that our

responsible leaders should help the department to aright decision.

The Whole Bible Lesson Course is an ungradedcourse issued by the Christian Fundmentals Associa-tion of America. The course commences with Genesisand takes the scholars through the whole Bible. Thecourse started in October, 1923, and the end of theOld Testament is to be reached in March, 1925.

Nothing is more harmful, either in political orchurch life, than the unthinking acceptance of thecurrent trend or fashion of the day. I say advisedly"unthinking." No one wishes to put back the clockof progress, but does not history prove that the goodof every new idea or institution is gleaned after theprocess of winnowing. Having selected a hobby-horse, human nature is prone to ride it to the death.Baptists have been, and I trust ever will remain, un-fashionable peonle. Our fathers weighed the ten-dencies of the day in mental, moral, and spiritualbalances, and often onposed them at great cost.Entering into their liberty, I propose without preju-dice or fear to examine some tendencies of themodern Sunday School which appear to the writer tobe inimical to that splendid auxiliary to the Church.

I.—Harmony Between Church and School.

The attempt to reverse this order and to makethe Church merely auxiliary to the School is dangerNo.1. Many catch-phrases are used by the advo-cates of this "dis"-order: "We have waited muchtime endeavouring to snare the hoary sinner—let usconcentrate on the young"; "A fence at the top ofthe cliff is better than an ambulance at the bottom."Statistics are also used showing recorded religious de-cisions in carefully classified tables; but who recordsthe turning to God of the adult, which is often with-out demonstration? But all such phrases and figuresare either true and helpful or untrue, according totheir use or misuse. Certainly they are useful forpropaganda. The average mind likes its thinkingto be done for it and served up in just such tabloidform. But to be true to their name, Baptists mustnot be swayed by racy eloquence or tabloid phrases.Church and School should form an harmonious whole.The family is the Divine model, the germ of Churchand State. There babe and youth and age comminglein closest relationship. The Church local in all itsactivities is the Christian family. To debate as tothe relative value of Church and School is to bringdissension into the home—to this the present articlewill not descend. Securing the attendance of thechild for one brief hour each week does not warrantthe Church in neglecting the parents, some of whomstand for the hoary sinners already referred to. Inpoint of sequence the parent is first; the influence offather and mother extends over the whole week andall the interests of the child. Pre-natal influence,influence of example, admonition, and authority arein constant action, and if it is true that the Churchhas lost its influence on the parent, then she has lostthe most potent means of helping the child. Ex-perience reveals that the almost only permanent workis when the Church influences the home, and theSchool influences the child simultaneously. Beforethe advent of Sunday Schools, the Church producedmartyrs, Puritans, and Covenanters. The onus is onthe Sunday School to prove its worth. And this itsurely will do. But is there call to discredit themother that the daughter may prosper? That adultsare not influenced by the Church is not that they

The sub-editor has withheld "Uncle Oliver'sChildren's Column.

Sunday School and Church.SOME MODERN TENDENCIES.

By REV. A. ANSTICE.

Which Lesson Course?


are beyond the pale, but rather that the Church iswithout the power. In order to regain this, the needis for more and not less harmony. The distinctlynon-Christian home is a challenge to the Church to-day, the whole Church, including its every agency.An effective chain is in the three links: Church,Home, School; and whom God hath joined let noman separate.

II.—Church Activity and Home Piety.

In sequence is the second doubtful tendency-i.e., to be satisfied with Sunday School activity as asubstitute for home religion. This perversion actsand reacts. The parents too willingly forgo theirresponsibility, and the teacher, with an optimism aslarge, and flimsy as a toy balloon, accepts the respon-sibility. Alas! The Sunday School is not a templeof magic. Its back is broad and strong, but notstrong enough for such unequal burden. And, inspite of organisation and its band of earnest andmostly efficient workers, the leakage between Schooland Church continues. The scholar of yesterday isoften the voter who, to cover his doubtful practices,strikes a deadly blow at every moral reform. No-thing can just take the place of the Family Altar,though Church and School can supplement it.

III.—The Divine Model.When Jehovah sought to bless the world He chose

the family of Abram, and set His seal to the home asthe Divine model. Departure from this model seemsto spell danger. Over-organisation may hinder theeffectiveness of the School. Unnatural barriers maybe raised and spontaneity hindered. The economyof the home runs in natural channels. In the homeis place for the cradle and the couch of the aged,and all of youth, manhood, and womanhood that liesbetween; and all dwell together in closest contact.Evidently God's plan for development of character isthe reaction of childhood, youth, and age upon eachother. But in modern School organisation it isheresy for the infant to mingle with the youth; andarch-heresy for the Bible Class member to join inworship with the Intermediate School. Though notperhaps the intention of modern organisation, thisis, unfortunately, its result. The division into classesfor teaching was not thought to be enough. Depart-ments have emerged, and departmental prejudicesand even jealousies. Surely worship is a primal in-stinct in all ages, and all may join hand in hand inits discharge before separating to class work. Theresult of this principle of division is sometimesapparent in friction between youth and constitutedauthority in Church life.

IV.—Loyalty.

The fourth danger threatens the right of theChurch to govern her own household. Huge orga-nisations are seeking to govern our schools for us.I contend their standardised doctrines and methods,mostly the fruit of compromise, are contrary to thegenius of "the People called Baptists." But thegreatest danger from this source is that of dividedcontrol. Wittingly or unwittingly, it makes for dis-loyalty, and a house divided against itself will fall.The Church is called upon to subordinate all to cer-tain methods, and this upon the false premise alreadyreferred to. If she refuses so to do, she is accusedof neglect. This rebellious plaint is not absent fromdenominational assemblies. The Church local com-prising the School is a sacred unity. To her Mastershe standeth or falleth, and He must be her infallibleGuide. Without prejudice, I trust—and certainlywithout malice—I have taken a Baptist's liberty ofdiscussing a work dear to all of our hearts. Maysome thought be provoked at least.

Westhill Training College Impressions.By REV. L. B. BUSFIELD.

"Westhill represents the centre of the religiouseducational life of the British Empire. There is no-thing really like it in any other part of the world.There are some splendidly equipped religious educa-lional departments connected with one and anotherof the universities of U.S.A., notably Boston, buttheir outlook is not the same as Westhill's, nor istheir curriculum built up the same.

Westhill, as probably all our readers know, wasfounded by Mr G. H. Archibald, and the institutionundoubtedly bears the impress of his personality.Coming from Canada as a retired business man, hesettled at Bournville, and took charge of the SundaySchool there. His ability and unique gifts quicklyattracted the attention of the Cadbury family, towhose generosity and fine spirit Birmingham owes somuch. The work of training students really beganin 1907, when Mr Archibald secured the use of arented house. So successful was it that the demandfor a permanent building became insistent. SundaySchool leaders everywhere became interested in theArchibald system, and changes began to appear inmany Sunday Schools. The old-fashioned "infantroom," with its gallery, began to give way to theprimary room, with its chairs and its sand-table andits training class for teachers. In 1914 the presentbuildings were commenced, and very handsome build-ings they are. Since that time over 600 studentshave been through a course of training for a termor more in. length, and have gone back to their workin Church and School with a new vision of its possi-bilities and a new ability to cope with it.

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West hill exists to train men and women as leadersin the moral and religious education of childhood andyouth. The design is to foster a vocation that willplay a large part in the Christian civilisation of thefuture, and that will concentrate upon the child andthe adolescent. While giving theory its rightfulplace, and studiously reviewing the successes andfailures of the past, as recorded in the history ofeducation, the aim is to study experimentally thepioblem at first hand, to lead to independence andinitiative, and to avoid slavishly following any par-ticular method. Practical work, therefore, takes aprominent place in the Westhill curriculum, the design being" to produce not only wise theorists, butskilled practical workers. Students are expected toserve in some Sunday School either as teacher 01leader of a department. They are encouraged to ex-periment, and in this they have the advice of thestaff. There is also in connection with Westhill akindergarten school, and these children have regularBible study, conducted by the students in turn, inthe presence of their fellow-students and a memberof the staff. Afterwards the session is criticised—every detail coming under discussion, faults beingpointed out, improvements suggested, etc. These"criticism" classes form an important part of theWesthill training, and are invaluable. The membersof the staff also regularly give lessons to boys andgirls drawn from the Birmingham schools, and after-wards questions are invited from the students andexplanations given. The work done is thorough,practical, and covers a wide range of child psychologyand Sunday School method.

The number of students in residence is about 40.The college is always full, and there are more appli-

cations for admission than can be acceded to.A very important work is being done throughout

the Westhill Extension Courses. By this means themessage of Westhill is being taken all over England.A week's course of lectures and demonstrations isgiven in city or town by ex-Westhillians under thedirection of Mr Glover, the Extension Secretary. Inthis way hundreds of Sunday School teachers whocould not afford the time or money to take a course atWesthill are helped and encouraged.

President of Y.W.B.C. UnionSpeaks.

Dear Fellow-members of our Young Women's BibleClass Union.

As I enter upon my term of office as your Presi-dent, I wish to acknowledge as a Bible Class leadermy debt of gratitude to the Executive officers of ourUnion for their faithfulness and splendid serviceduring the past two years. Our President, by lifeand message, has called us to a life lived day by daywith Jesus and to a service rendered because of ourlove to Him. I would follow in her footsteps, andearnestly plead that we, as Bible Class members,should "Keep along the middle of the King's high-way, walking with Him as travelling companion onthe heavenward way."

Let us as Baptist women and girls stand true inthese drifting days to Him Who died for us onCalvary, and Who counts on our being willing to go"without the camp" with Him.

To our ladies I would give the message: "I labouraccording to His working which worketh in memightily," and to our girls: "These things have Ispoken unto you that My joy might remain in you."

Christ our mighty Leader,Going on before.

Calls each one to a happy fruitful year of servicefor Him. and I pray that that service may result inthe deepening of the spiritual life of each member andthe winning of many girls for Him.

Yours in His glad service,T. SMEETON.

North Island Young Men's BaptistBible Class Union.

Please address all matter for publication to theSecretary, Mauraki Street, Birkenhead, Auckland.

This being the first time the Young Men's BibleClass Union has had a page devoted to Bible Classnews alone, the Executive would like to take theopportunity to thank the officers of the Baptist forthe privilege which has been accorded and for thekindly assistance which they gave when first ap-proached on the matter. This page will, it is trusted,form a valuable medium for keeping in regular touchwith the various classes of the Union in a mannerwhich, up to the present, has been impossible.

The new President of the Auckland Union, MrC. Matthews, has sent a message which he wishesgiven to the members of the Union:—

"It is a great privilege to write a few words forthe Bible Class Page of the Baptist, it is a greaterprivilege to write a few words for the Master. As Iwrite, there comes to my mind the words of the Lordgiven to Moses at the passage of the Red Sea: 'Sayunto the people that they go forward.' I think it isa fitting message to young men, and I pass it onwith the prayer that God will bless His own Word.There is one important difference between us to-dayand the Children of Israel. They had just to 'goforward.' We must also 'go forward,' but to do soeffectively we must first 'go back.' Back to the Crossat Calvary, and there, and only there, shall we findthe way and the means of a definite progressive life;and as we think of Him Whose life was victory, andWhose death was a triumph, remember there are threephases of spiritual experience associated with, andessential to, true progress. The first is 'In Christ.''Abide in Me and I in you' are the words of Jesus,and He also declared that unless we do so we cannotbe fruitful. The words of the hymn finely expressthe thought: 'Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hidemyself in Thee.' May we all start just there, 'inChrist.'

"Secondly 'With Christ.' Does our life spellvictory or defeat? Is Christ our daily companion,or do we give Him a thought only on Sundays? Re-member the words of Paul: 'As ye have thereforereceived Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.'And, again, the words of the Psalmist: 'Oh, for acloser walk with God.' May we experience also thefellowship of Jesus. Then, being 'in Christ' andwalking daily 'with Christ,' the third phase will fol-low as naturally as daylight follows the dark. 'ForChrist.' The successful life is a life of service. Jesus,we read, Himself took the form of a servant, andPaul became the servant of all that he might gainthe more for Christ. Love is the first, and servicethe final, expression of Christian life. May we rev-erently paraphrase the old-time message and renderi t : 'Say unto the young men of the Bible Classes thatthey go forward, and let our going forward be inChrist, with Christ, and for Christ.' "

At the present moment, one of the most im-portant matters being considered by the local unionsis the matter of camps. In Wellington arrangementsare well in hand for the Labour Day Camp which isto be held at the Hutt Park, Petone. This is an idealsituation, and great results are confidently antici-pated. Unfortunately this site is not available fornext Easter, and some other position has to be found.In the north a somewhat similar position has to befaced. It was hoped that Motutapu, a beautiful spotsome miles by sea from Auckland, would be available,but the Methodists have first call on it, and at pre-sent wish to exercise their right. Invitations havebeen received from Whangarei, Thames, and Cam-bridge, but the local Executive has not yet decided,as some of the classes do not wish to go far afield.

Awapuni Camp.—The financial report is to hand,and the Treasurer is to he congratulated on the clear


and concise manner in which he has set it out. It washoped that the report could have been published thismonth, but this was impossible, so the report, to-gether with statement of receipts and payments willbe sent to class secretaries direct. A number of thepoints mentioned should be of great assistance tocamp committees in the future.

Next month it is hoped that a report from theDominion Council, which meets during Conference,will be available for publication.

Wellington Baptist Y.M.B.C.U.A happy and delightful time was spent by mem-

bers of the above classes at the Labour Day week-end camp, held at Lower Hutt Showgrounds. Theweather looked very doubtful on the Saturday morn-ing, and even began to rain while many were ontheir way to the camp. This, however, did notdamp the spirits of some 60 young men, and allbegan rolling up to take part in organised gamesin the afternoon. At 6 o'clock the annual meetingwas held, when the various reports were read. Thesecretary's report showed a marked enthusiasm ofthe various classes in all Union matters. During theyear a cup was donated by Mrs Edmeades, in memoryof her son, for an oratory competition. The mostimportant work done during the year was the appoint-ment of a District Organiser, in the person of MrErnest Nees, late leader of the Berhampore Class.His work is to visit all country classes and helpthem in all ways to become efficient Bible Classes.The treasurer's statement showed a slight creditbalance, and also that the finance of the camp wascoming out on the right side. The election of officersresulted as follows:—President, Mr Roy Nees; Vice-presidents, Messrs H. M. Nicol and W. Teeboon;Secretary, Mr R. Barker; Assistant Secretary, Mr H.Harris; Treasurer, Mr K. Roy; Organiser, Mr E.Nees. The next day (Sunday) dawned fine, andmany were the hearts lifted up to God in thanks-giving for enabling them to join together in suchfellowship as the camps provide. The Communionservice was in charge of the retiring President (MrH. Nicol), and nearly every one partook of theemblems of Christ. The next meeting was the studyof the conversion of Saul. The camp was dividedinto groups under different leaders, the groups thengoing into different parts of the camp and findingout their views on the subject. After a period ofhalf an hour, the groups met together in a body,and exchanged their various views. A profitable timewas spent at this study. .

The afternoon being free, many of the camperswent for a stroll around the beautiful countryside.At half-past 6 a song service was held, and this wasfollowed by the evening service, conducted by Mr L.A. Brunton. A bright, inspiring address was de-livered, the subject being "The Good Use of Physical Strength." One lad yielded his life to the Master,and another reconsecrated himself. A happy andblessed day concluded with a thanksgiving serviceconducted by the new President.

Monday being visitors' day, the crowds beganto turn up from town to enjoy a day's outing withthe young men. The weather was glorious (the bestfor five years), and everybody thoroughly enjoyedthemselves. The sports were run off in record time,Vivian Street coming off with the shield. A happytime was then spent by the visitors in organisedgames. When the time came for departure, everyone was sorry that such a splendid camp had cometo an end, and all are looking forward to the EasterCamp next year at Miramar. The success of theramp was due to the work of the President (Mr H.M. Nicol), the cook (Mr G. Scott), and the assistanceof the caretaker of the grounds, and also the finespirit displayed by all the men in camp. A socialat Vivian Street in the evening, when the trophieswere presented by the new President (Mr R. Nees),concluded a very enjoyable week-end.

ASH BURTON (Rev. C. S. Matthews).—Acomplimentary social was tendered our esteemed pas-tor and his wife on November 4, on the completionof seven years' faithful ministry in our midst. Re-presentatives of the church spoke of the splendidrelationships existing with our pastor, and of thegood work accomplished during the past seven years.Mr Loy, secretary, on behalf of the Church, handeda monetary gift to Mr Matthews, with best wishesfor a further term of happy and faithful service. OnConference Sunday, we were privileged to have theRev. F. A. Crawshaw, of Gisborne, with us to con-duct the services, and the following Sunday PastorDay, of North Invercargill, conducted the servicesacceptably. We were honoured in having the Rev.F. E. Harry, our new President, with us at the con-clusion of Conference, when he kindly gave his splen-did lecture, "A Cure for the Blues," to a largeand appreciative gathering, the proceeds being forour new church funds. Mrs Heycock, who is re-turning to mission work in South America early inDecember, gave a searching message on a recent Sun-day evening, and also spoke at a special meeting ofthe B.W.M.U. on November 18. Our tennis clubwas favoured with ideal weather for the opening day,November 8, the President, Mr James Cow, declar-ing the courts open in the presence of a good gather-ing. The annual Sunday School picnic was held onNovember 14 at Mr Cow's residence, Tinwald, whenthere was a large attendance of parents, friends andscholars, who were conveyed to and fro in motor cars.

AUCKLAND TABERNACLE (Rev. Joseph W.Kemp).—Mr C. J. Rolls (Superintendent of the N.Z.Bible Training Institute) has again served us on arecent Lord's Day morning. Mr Kemp has com-menced a series of Sunday night sermons on Jonah,and is drawing forceful Gospel lessons from thatmercilessly attacked book—a book which, however,will survive when all the critics' voices are silenced.The mid-week Bible study is beginning a secondcourse on the entire Bible—the first lecture bearingthe unusual title of "Thro' the Bible in one Night."Mr Kemp, in this series, aims at showing how thatevery book, from Genesis onward, tells of Christ.Our Tabernacle people were delighted to welcome backfor a brief season their former minister, Rev. H.


A Word of Greeting from the FirstDominion President of the

Y.M.B.C.U.Dear Fellows,—I was not present at the meeting

during Conference when this thing was done. Iwrite this word to thank you for the great honouryour delegates have done me in calling me to thePresidency.

My heart is all there where Bible Class affairsare concerned, and I will do my utmost to serve yourinterests.

You will hear that the Dominion Executive de-cided on the experiment of a combined syllabus withthe Young Women's Union for this year. I hope theclasses will all fall into line and give the experimenta fair trial. If it does not prove a satisfactory plan,we can alter it next year.

Let us each determine to contribute our bit tothe success of our class—there are fellows outside weought to be. tactfully laying hold of for Christ andthe class. Let us get a move on.—Yours cordially,

ERIC EVANS.


Knowles Kempton. Mr Kempton had a heartyreception, and was able to shake hands with hundredsof old friends, who were glad to note that, after alapse of time, his eye was not dim, nor his naturalforce abated. He gave us some excellent sermons,the first of which was 'Some of the Glories of theCity of God"—Psa 87: 1-4. He also delivered theThursday Bible lecture, taking the subject, "HowChristianity became a World Faith." Our pastorand other delegates have given us reports of theproceedings of Conference, supplementing the splen-did narrative in the "Baptist." The proposedCollege, and its location in our city, has arousedmuch interest. There has just been laid to restanother of our worthiest of Church members, MrWilliam Kendon, who passed away in his 70th yearafter a brief and severe illness and an operation.Our brother was of a most retiring nature, and,though often asked to accept office in the Church,declined to do so. He, with his family, were as-sociated with the East London Tabernacle in Rev.Archibald Brown's day. A daughter, Miss NellieKendon, a missionary in China, is known to manyof your readers.

CAMBRIDGE.—Since our last report, we haveheld our annual Church social, a small party fromHamilton Church coming over to assist in our pro-gramme, the Rev. H. Hercus, in his remarks as chair-man, stressing the importance of personal work inbuilding up the Church. We regret to report theresignation of our Pastor, Mr F. Discombe, who,owing to medical advice, is unable to continue theactive work of the pastorate. He hopes, however,to still act as leader of our combined Bible Class,and to assist in the Church work in any possibleway. We have also to report the impending de-parture of our friends Mr and Mrs Gilbert. Mi-Gilbert, who has been engaged as secretary of thelocal Y.M.C.A. for the past two years, has now re-ceived a call to the pastorate of the Waihi BaptistChurch, and commences his ministry there on Novem-ber 30. As consistent members and workers in ourmidst, these friends will be greatly missed, and ourdesire is that God's blessing may rest upon them intheir future work.

COLOMBO STREET (Rev. J. K. Archer).—Friends will notice the new name at the head ofthese notes. This has been a notable month forthe Sydenham congregation. The Church has movedbag and baggage to a new building and a new site,and it has adopted a new name more suitable to itsnew position, as it is now situated out of Syden-ham proper, on its southern side. On the 28thSeptember our Sunday School anniversary was held,and was a great success. The singing, congrega-tions, and collections have never been better, andthe services were acceptably taken by our pastor andthe Revs. J. D. Webster and J. J. North. On the30th a very successful tea meeting and the children'sprize-giving was held, and a number of old and pastmembers were present to celebrate the last suchgathering in the old building.

SOUTH DUNEDIN (Rev. Guy Thornton.)—A very fine lantern lecture was given on Wednesday.November 12, by Mrs C. T. Studd, of the "Heart ofAfrica Mission." We have still with us Mr and MrsRueben Richardson, of the China inland Mission.Our friends purpose, D.V., being back at their, stationby August of next year. Any of Mr Richardson'sold friends wishing to correspond with him will findhim at 65 Queen's Drive, Musselburgh, Dunedin.We much regret the departure of Mr Harry Ormrod,who has been transferred to the Wellington PostOffice. Mr Ormrod was a most successful workeramongst the young. As Leader of the Junior En-deavour, he did splendid work, and he has been ateacher in our school for a number of years. As asmall token of the esteem in which he is held by the

teachers, they presented him with a Schofield Bible,suitably inscribed.

EDENDALE (Rev. H. R. Turner).—The out-standing event this month has been the welcominginto our midst of our pastor and his bride. OnMonday evening, November 3, a gift evening washeld for the benefit of our pastor and his wife. Theladies, for several weeks, had been arranging thisevent, as only ladies can arrange such events, anda host of invitations had been sent out. The youngmen of the school waited to escort them from themanse to the church. Their entrance to the churchwas the signal for all the friends to rise and sing awelcome. Although words of welcome were spokenby representatives of various organisations, every-body tried to make the bride feel at home. Mr W.Dixon, on behalf of the church, presented Mr andMrs Turner with a silver cake stand, and Miss GwenScampton presented Mrs Turner with a bouquet ofred roses. Mrs Anstice, of Mt. Albert, also pre-sented Mrs Turner with an autograph album contain-the signatures of everyone present at the gathering.An interesting part of the programme was the open-ing of the gifts by Mr and Mrs Turner. After MrTurner had replied, supper was served, and the meet-ing closed with the singing of "Blest be the tie thatbinds." Mr A. R. Penman occupied the chair.

EDENDALE (White Swan Branch, Rev. H. R.Turner).—On Sunday, November 1, we held our firstanniversary of the Sunday School. Twelve monthsago the school was started, small in numbers, butlarge in faith. Now it is not only established inits own building, but also in the heart of every parentand scholar of the district. Under the conductor-ship of Mr Stevenson, the children had learnt manynew hymns, and on the day acquitted themselves ad-mirably, and everyone present felt the uplift of theirmessage of song. Mr Lilley, of Mt. Albert, spokea cheerful message to the children in the afternoon,and in the evening the Rev. H. R. Turner preachedto a congregation that crowded every corner of thebuilding. The day was an inspiring one. On Tues-day, November 3, the school held its first annual teaand meeting. Quite a good number sat down to asubstantial tea provided entirely by the ladies ofthe church. This was followed by a meeting pre-sided over by Mr Turner. The Rev. L. B. Busfieldgave an eloquent address, and the secretary's reportwas read by Mr C. C. Harris. This showed that theschool had 56 scholars on the roll, and that twoscholars had gained prizes in the Scripture examina-tion, and seven had gained certificates; also sevenhad gained certificates in the Baptist Unionexamination. Mrs Turner, jun., presented theS.S.U. certificates. An interesting little event tookplace during the evening, when Mr and Mrs Turnerwere presented with a lovely salad set of Doultonware, in celebration of their recent marriage, andthe children also presented them with several piecesof china.

GISBORNE (Rev. F. A. Crawshaw).—We hadwith us at the beginning of the month Pastor Mallis,of India, who conducted a mission, mainly for Chris-tians, extending over a week. Meetings were heldboth afternoons and evenings, and were well at-tended; it was encouraging to see present manyfriends from the sister churches of the town. Wewere very interested in Pastor Mallis's work inIndia. The work of the "One by One Band" wasbrought more under our notice, and recruits enrolled,while the powerful messages of exhortation were agreat blessing to all. We are indeed grateful toGod for the visit of His servant, and commend himto the churches of the denomination. Rev. Geo.Frost, of the Methodist Church, occupied our pulpiton the morning of the 9th inst, and preached withmuch acceptance, Mr Crawshaw taking the service atthe Methodist Church on the occasion of the SundaySchool anniversary. The Institute continues to do


good work amongst the young people, there beingan average attendance of 20. We are glad to reportanother £100 paid off the church debt, being theamount aimed at for repayment by November, andleaving £200 as the total amount of indebtedness onthe two church properties.

GRANGE ROAD (Rev. A. S. Wilson).—Our Sun-day School celebrated its "Coming of Age" on Sun-day, October 27, and this twenty-first anniversarywas the finest yet known in Grange Road history.Great credit is due to Mr Honeycombe for his train-ing of the children, and the splendid singing ofhundreds of happy-faced scholars was an inspirationto all who attended the services. Helpful addresseswere given in the morning and afternoon by Revs.L. H. Hunt and Evan Harries, and in the eveningour pastor preached to a congregation numberingover a thousand persons, on "Religious Home Life."The celebrations concluded on Tuesday evening witha tea and concert,' the prizes being presented by MrsWilson. The prosperity of our Sunday School isvery encouraging to its band of faithful workers. Arecent innovation is the Sunday School choir, ablyconducted by Mr "Barney" Wilson. Under hisleadership these young people render choice itemsat our morning services. Another pleasing eventwas our pastor's anniversary social, to mark thecompletion of two years' ministry among us of Rev.A .S. Wilson and Mrs Wilson, who, at the conclusionof a short season of prayer, "received" those presentin the social hall. Many congratulatory speecheswere made by officers and church members, and al-together it was a happy gathering. Our choir ispurchasing a new pipe organ at a cost of £485. Wehope to have it installed before Christmas. Thechurch is financing the scheme meantime, and thechoir are enthusiastically devising methods for rais-ing the necessary amount. We have purchased anadditional 18ft of land adjoining the church property.This, with our present available land, will provide thesite for the new church which we urgently need, andwhich, with God's blessing upon our efforts, we hopeto build in the not far distant future. Progress isin the air in our district!

GREENDALE (Rev. W. H. A. Vickery).—Onthe eve of Conference, the Rev. F. E. Harry paid usa visit, and delighted an appreciative audience withlas lecture, "A Cure for the Blues." The offeringwas taken for the Union Funds. The fifty-firstchurch anniversary services were held on Sunday andMonday, October 19 and 20. The Sunday serviceswere conducted by the Rev. C. D. Gardiner, of Feild-ing, a former pastor, whose addresses were of an ap-propriate, and helpful character. The services werebrightened by the singing of special pieces by thechoir. A large company gathered for the tea onMonday evening. The public meeting was presidedover by Mr C. H. Adams. The secretary, Mr H.Taege, presented the financial statement, whichshowed a credit balance of £21. We were delightedwith a visit by the Rev. J. J. North, who spoke firston "Sanctuary," and later gave an especially inter-esting "Sketch of Benares," the sacred city of theHindus. The Rev. C. D. Gardiner gave an address on"The Minister and The Congregation," and the Rev.O. Burnet (Methodist). "The Joy of the Lord is YourStrength." Chorus and part songs were given bythe choir, a vocal solo by Mrs Vickery, and a duetby Miss A. Shipley and Mrs L. Adams. Mrs Frewwas the accompanist. Miss M. Giddings presidedat the organ for all the services. The usual voteof thanks was moved by the pastor and carried withacclamation. The annual church meeting was heldon Thursday, November 6. The pastor presided.The various financial reports showed a credit balancein each case. All the officers were re-elected—asign that their work in the past had been well doneand appreciated.

HANOVER STREET (Rev. R. H. KnowlesKempton).—As last month's report missed publica-tion we will refer just briefly to the inspiring missionin our midst by the Rev. Joseph Kemp, of Auckland.The meetings were not attended by huge crowds, butit is evident that for very many it was a time of in-spiration and blessing. The Sunday School anni-versary was once again a great success, Mr Hiett 'sleadership of the children making for a wonderfultime of worship through song. The Superintendent,Mr Purdie, was well satisfied, also, with the monetaryresponse in support of his work. Several visitorshave occupied our pulpit, Rev. Samuel Morris, Mr S.G. Macfarlane, M.A., and Mrs Studd. As in othercentres, Mrs Studd did much to stir up our mis-sionary enthusiasm. Mr Ken. Brown, on a recentSunday evening, was given a farewell as he proceededto the U.S.A. on a business trip. Mr A. Restieauxhas been secured to carry on his work with theJunior Endeavour. All other young people's workis going well. The ladies recently held their missionary sale, and realised a substantial amount formissions. At the November Communion servicethe name of Miss Catherine McDougall, who hadpassed away at Napier at the age of 88, was men-tioned by Mr H. H. Driver. At the same service,Rev. Alfred North was borne up very lovingly inprayer, for it was reported that the weight of yearswere heavy upon him, and his spirit was reaching outfor higher service. The membership were also gladat this service to make an offering towards the sup-port of Dr. Catchpole's loved ones.

MOSGIEL (Rev. Robert Robertson).—The Rev.R. Robertson commenced his second ministry inMosgiel on the first Sunday in November. The wel-come social was held on November 13, Mr E. A. Ben-fell occupying the chair. The Mayor (Mr J. P.Walls) spoke a few words of welcome to Mr Robert-son, and also spoke of what he personally knew of MrRobertson's work when he was in Mosgiel previously.The Captain of the Salvation Army gave an address.Apologies were read from several of the Dunedinministers, and also from the local ministers. Soloswere sung by Mrs Munro, Miss Shaw, and MissOwens, and several anthems were rendered by thechoir under the leadership of Mr Kaye. The largeattendance showed the esteem in which Mr Robertsonis held in Mosgiel. On Monday evening, November10, we were privileged to have a visit from Mrs C.T. Studd, of the "Heart of Africa Mission," and onthe following Wednesday evening we had a visit fromMiss Rice, one of our own missionaries.

MT. EDEN (Rev. Adam Clark).—On October 10the Junior Endeavour Society held their annual teaand social, when the prizes for the year were pre-sented by Mrs Clarke, also the prizes won by themembers of the Young Searchers' League. We werepleased to have the President and Secretary of theAuckland Endeavour Union with us. The annualdisplay and social of the boys' gymnasium club washeld on October 23. Medals were presented to thebest gymnast and the most improved for the year.A chinch picnic was held at Henderson on LabourDay. On the first Sunday in the month our pastorhad the joy of giving the right hand of fellowship tolive new members, and the following Sunday, of bap-tising three, two being Sunday School scholars.

MOUNT ALBERT (Rev. A. Anstice).—OnOctober 1 our annual members' tea and meeting washeld. There was a good attendance. It was pleas-ing to note that our roll, now 107, shows an increasein spite of the fact that 16 of our members had beentransferred to form the new Edendale Church. MrJ. A. Penman, secretary, and Mr Bloxham, treasurer,were re-elected. Envelope Secretary and Treasurer,Messrs Roy Thompson and L. Utting respectively.Choirmaster, Mr A. Turner. Organists: Misses Uttingand North. All these were re-elected. Referencewas made to the fact that our pastor and his wife


have now been with us for over seven years. Theirministry has been characterised by great faithfulnessand earnestness, and we pray that this year God willcrown their labours with abundant blessing. MissGillanders, who has been accepted by our MissionarySociety for work in India, was unable to be present,but our secretary proposed the following resolution,which was carried unanimously:—"On the eve of thedeparture of our sister, Miss Gillanders, we desire toplace on record our high opinion of her sterlingChristian character. During the short period thatshe has been in membership with us, she has taken akeen interest in all the activities of the church, hasrendered special service as a Sunday School teacher,and as a member of our choir. We rejoice in herentry upon a missionary career. We assure her ofour deep interest in her, and of our prayers that Godwill richly bless her and enable her to ever realisethe presence and power of the Holy Spirit tostrengthen her for the tasks she undertakes." OnSeptember 2 our Young People's Society gave itsannual missionary demonstration. There was asplendid attendance, and the offering for missionarywork amounted to nearly £10. A varied programmewas presented, representing missionary work in manylands, and it reflected great credit on the enthusiasticleader, Mr Leslie Utting, and upon Mrs Turner andMrs Anstice, who so ably assisted him. This gather-ing was especially interesting, as at this meetingopportunity was taken to say good-bye to Miss Gil-landers, who was presented by Mrs Anstice with asmall token of the love and esteem of her friends atMt. Albert. Miss Gillanders sweetly and earnestlyreplied. On October 1 the annual meeting of theB.W.M.U. was held, when nearly 40 ladies were pre-sent. Mrs Turner presented the treasurer's report,which was very satisfactory. Mrs Turner has servedour branch as treasurer ever since its formation, andit was with great regret that her resignation was re-ceived, owing to the commencement of a B.W.M.U.at Edendale. She will be greatly missed, but weknow she will be a tower of strength at Edendale.Mrs Anstice was elected President; Mrs Gwynne,secretary; and Mrs Booker, treasurer. Organists,Mrs Paterson and Mrs W. Browne. The churchanniversary was held on October 24. We were privi-leged to have with us as preacher for the day, thePresident of the Auckland Auxiliary, Rev. H. G.Hercus, of Hamilton. His messages were helpfuland inspiring. There were good attendances at bothservices, and the choir rendered anthems. On thefollowing Thursday the annual public meeting andsocial was held, when the choir again rendered beauti-ful music. Our pastor was in the chair, and veryinteresting reports were presented by the secretaryand treasurer. Rev. L. B. Busfield, one of ourmembers, who had recently returned from the Glas-gow World's Sunday School Conference, gave an ex-ceedingly interesting address on some of his experi-ences while away from us. After singing the Dox-ology and the Benediction, the Indies served refresh-ments, and a happy time of social intercourse endedour meeting.

NELSON (Rev J. Laird, M.A.).—Since our lastreport the Sunday School anniversary has taken place.The services were held in the School of Music, andwere largely attended. The morning service wasconducted by the Rev. J. McNeil (Presbyterian), andour pastor took the evening service. The followingMonday an entertainment was held in the same build-ing, Mr T. Pettit presiding. Prizes were distributed,and a number of the anniversary hymns were sungby the scholars. Mr E. A. Wood conducted thesinging, Miss Thomson playing the Cawthron organ.There recently passed away one of our aged membersin the person of Mr J. Wood, who had been laid asidefor many years. The family have been long associ-ated with the church, and much sympathy has beenextended to the bereaved ones. During the month

Mrs Toneycliffe paid a visit to Nelson, and held ameeting with the local branch of B.W.M.U. Wehave farewelled Mr and Mrs H. North, who have re-moved to Christchurch.

NEW PLYMOUTH (Rev A. H. Collins).—On arecent Sunday evening our minister preached a power-ful sermon on the sin of gambling. Some of ourmembers, who were once inclined to buy raffle tickets,are now opposed to anything that savours of theevil.—(Quite time, too.—Editor's note). Our min-ister gave his impressions of the recent Conference-,in an extremely interesting and instructive way. OnNovember 5 our annual church business meeting andelection of officers took place. Generally speaking,the various departmental reports showed progressin their respective activities, and the reports werewell received. The financial statement showed thatover £400 was raised during the year. The follow-ing officers were appointed: Church Secretary, Mr W.J. Richardson; treasurer, Mr A. Ambury; deacons:the secretary, treasurer, and Messrs Diprose, J. A.Valentine and Hartnell; choirmaster, Mr Hartnell;church organist, Miss Coleman; deaconesses: MrsAmbury and Miss Drew; Sunday School Supt., MrA. Diprose; Sunday School secretary and treasurer,Mr Kidson; collectors for Baptist Union, Mrs R. Am-bury (foreign), Mrs Valentine (home); agent andreporter to "Baptist," Mr W. J. Richardson; auditor,Mr Gillespie. Hearty votes of thanks were accordedto all last year's officers, also to Mesdames Gillespieand Elliot for their splendid efforts in connectionwith the manse debt reduction fund. A grand con-cert was arranged by the Young People's Club forthe Tennis Court Fund. It was in every way suc-cessful. Mrs J. Craig, the organiser in charge, isto be highly commended for the splendid programmewhich was heartily enjoyed by a large audience.

NORTH-EAST VALLEY (Rev. S. Morris).—OnSunday afternoon October 19, the new hall of theYoung Men's Bible Class was opened. Our min-ister performed the opening ceremony, and was thefirst person to cross the threshold, followed by theleader of the class, Mr W. Benfell. The YoungLadies' Bible Class and many .members of thechurch were present. Our minister gave an addressof encouragement and enthusiasm. Mr C. E. Beck-ingsale expressed his good wishes, and congratulatedthe class on the way they had worked. Tributeswere paid to Mr W. Benfell. leader; Mr G. Beadle,builder; Mr L. Frank, former class leader; the lateMr Geo. Calder, who laid the foundation of the build-ing; and Miss E. Kropp, under whose able guidancethe present class left the Sunday School to form theBible Class, and almost all of whom, under theministry of our pastor, have also been baptised andreceived into the Church. During the afternoon avery generous offer was given by Mr and Mrs Sam-son to supply the material for the inside lining, thustaking the last obstacle away, and so securing anearly completion. We are glad to say that this build-ing stands as a monument to the young men'slabours, and that it is free of debt.

OAMARU.—The Rev. R. and Mrs Robertson re-ceived a warm-hearted farewell in Oamaru. Thechurch was crowded for the occasion. The Secre-tary, Mr Green, presided. The speakers includedthe Revs. Stockwcll, Clarke, and Archdeacon Russell.For the church itself Mr Geo. Carrad spoke veryappreciatively, and Mr MacFadgen presented a walletof notes, and Mr T. MacBride, for adherents, pre-sented an Oamaru rug. A very fine musical pro-gramme was presented.

OXFORD (Pastor Robertson).—We were fav-oured with a visit from the Rev. A. Stuart, of Lin-wood, for the annual Auxiliary exchange Sunday.His addresses, both morning and evening, were in-spiring and helpful. On September 28 we held ourSunday School anniversary by a social in the church.About twenty items, comprising combined singing.


recitations, and dialogues, were rendered, and muchappreciated by those present. During an intervalin the proceedings Mr Baxter was made the recipi-ent of a fountain pen, in recognition of his twentyyears' service as Superintendent, the presentationbeing made by Master Jack Collins, on behalf of thechildren. At the close of the programme supper wasdispensed. Services were conducted on the follow-ing Sunday, Rev. Wood (Presbyterian) taking themorning, and Rev. Featherston (Methodist) the even-ing. On Conference Sunday we had our late pastorwith us, the Rev. C. W. Duncumb, of PalmerstonNorth.

OXFORD TERRACE (Rev. J. J. North).—All thechurch activities are being carried on faithfully andwell. Recently the B.W.M.U. held its annual meet-ing, when all officers were re-elected, with MrsJones as secretary, to fill the vacancy caused by MrsSpencer's removal to Australia. Mrs Studd, organ-iser in England of the Central African Mission,preached at the morning service on October 19, andMr Reg. Stephens, of Y.M.C.A., the following Sun-day evening. Both told many interesting things tovery appreciative audiences. At the Sunday Schoolteachers' annual meeting excellent reports were read,showing the healthy condition of the school. Nine-teen young people were baptised and joined thechurch during the year. Several of these hadentered the school as small children in the infant de-partment. The Superintendent (Mr A. R. Jordan)and other officers were all re-elected. The tennis clubhad a successful opening for the season on October25, when a large gathering of church people assembledto join in the festivities. The gymnastic club closeda most successful season with an entertainment andsocial, which was much enjoyed. Now summer hascome the chorus choir sings on the church steps priorto evening service. This attracts many passers-by,many of whom would not otherwise hear the Gospelmessage. Mr North also speaks a welcome to thestrangers, many of whom respond to the invitationto come and worship.

OTAHUHU (Pastor W. Garlick).—During ourpastor's absence at Conference, our pulpit was veryably filled by some of the students from the N.Z.Bible Training Institute, Mr L. P. Rimmer, and twoof our deacons. On the evening of October 28, thechoir gave a social. A goodly number were present.Games were played, vocal and musical items ren-dered, and supper brought a pleasant evening to aclose. On Wednesday, November 12, our pastorofficiated at his first baptismal service, when threefollowed their Lord and Master through the waters.

OWAKA (Pastor Garner).—Our sale of work thisyear was not nearly so large an affair as in pastyears, and only about £58 was made. However, wehave already made a start to sew for next year, andhope for better results then. We are sorry to haveto lose Miss Bradfield from amongst us, but glad thatGod has so restored her health that she can returnto her work in India. A social, which was wellattended, was held in the church to bid her farewelland God-speed. The programme was mostly givenby the Bible Class members, who acquitted them-selves well. We met Miss Rice on Labour Day overa social cup of tea. She brought with her quite alarge number of interesting photos, and a pleasantand profitable chat centred round these and an ac-count of her work in India. The Balclutha Method-ist choir came in one evening recently and gave asacred concert in the church, which was much ap-preciated. We thank these friends for their help andentertainment. We are very glad that our branchSunday School at Hina Hina won the Garlick Shield.and congratulate both scholars and teacher.

PALMERSTON NORTH (Rev. C. W. Duncumb).—Three candidates were baptised during the month.The Sunday School anniversary services were held onthe 2nd and 5th of November, We had brilliant

sunshine; the church tastefully decorated withchoicest flowers; and the sweet singing of thechildren, assisted by an excellent orchestra. MrDuncumb occupied the pulpit morning and eveningon the Sunday. At the morning service he gave aspecial address to the scholars, and in the eveningHe was at the top of his form in dealing with theprivilege of parenthood. The special talk to thechildren in the afternoon, by Adjutant Garner, staffofficer of the Salvation Army, was a great success.On the following Wednesday, the services were con-tinued. The good attendance at the tea was con-siderably augmented in the evening. Scholars againrendered special hymns, whilst a quartette, recita-tions, pianoforte, and vocal solos were also con-tributed. Mr A. J. Shearer., the conductor, gainedmerited applause for his efficient training of thechildren. The Sunday School Superintendent (MrK. Dymock) struck an optimistic note in his briefaddress. The Sunday School Secretary's reportstated that, despite restricted accommodation andthe resignation of three teachers, the work showedsteady progress. There had been an increase in thenumber of scholars, whilst the finances wore in ahealthy state. This also applied to the YoungPeople's Worshipping League. Prize books anddiplomas were presented by our pastor. TheY.W.B.C. report mentioned the resignation of MrsHoward as Leader, and Mr Allen as successor. TheSecretary of the Y.M.B.C. reported a very eventfuland strenuous year's work, referring to the successfulN.I. Camp which they carried out. As a direct re-sult of the camp, they had learned to combine workand prayer, and the class had nearly doubled itsnumbers. During the year three of their memberswere baptised, two had joined the church, whilst twohad offered for the mission field. Mr Spencer, asleader, had proved a tower of strength. Altogether,the anniversary services were a marked success.

PONSONBY (Rev. S. G. Campbell).—Our workduring the month has continued steadily but un-eventually. We have had several new members inthe Sunday School, but are expecting more when ourrecruiting scheme gets into full swing. It was withvery genuine regret that we consented to the resigna-tion of our choir leader, Mr W. P. Long, from a postwhich he has held faithfully for about 20 years. Hisvaluable services have always been at our disposal,and we all realise that his resignation is a very keenloss. The choir, nevertheless, is determined tocarry on the work, feeling sure that someone will soonfill his position.

RANGIORA (Rev. J. Hiddlestone).—It gave usgreat pleasure to have with us on Conference. Sun-day the Rev. W .E. Lambert, of Thames. His ad-dresses were much enjoyed. Mr Lambert spentseveral years here as a student preacher in the earlydays of his ministry, and it was 23 years to the daysince last he stood in our pulpit.

ROSLYN (Rev. L. J. B. Smith).—Wednesday,October 22, was the, day arranged for our annualgolden offering, when the members and friends ofthe church had an opportunity of making free willofferings for the support of God's work. The sumwe anticipated raising was £100, and it was felt ifthis objective was reached that the congregation wasgiving liberally to God's work; but it was exceed-ingly gratifying and encouraging to all interestedwhen the announcement was made tha t £107 hadbeen freely given, and the best thanks of the pastorand officers of the church is tendered to all who madethe golden offering the success it was. On theevening of the same day a social was held in thechurch, when a varied programme was rendered andmuch enjoyed. Our pastor also gave some helpfuland instructive Conference echoes.

SPREYDON (Rev. E. E. Smith).—On October18 Miss Marks, the matron of the Manurewa Home,in a very interesting and informative speech, opened

December, 1924. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST

a garden party, which was held in the grounds ofMr and Mrs J. W. Thomas, on behalf of the aboveinstitution, when, notwithstanding the unsettled stateof the weather, about 60 persons assembled, and thesum of £10 was raised for that object. We held the58th anniversary of our church on October 26, whenthe pulpit was occupied in the morning by Mr Hercus,M.A., and in the evening by Rev. A. W. Stuart, therebeing good congregations at both services. On thefollowing Tuesday our anniversary tea meeting washeld, when about 90 persons occupied the tables, after,which we listened to a stirring address from Mr A.F. Carey, the President of the Canterbury Auxiliary.The meeting was then taken in hand by the choirwho, with the assistance of a few friends, admirablyrendered the cantata "Daughter of Moab," underthe able leadership of Mr D. Petrie, to the great de-light of the assembled company.

WANGANUI EAST—(Pastor E. Grigg).—Thework of the church goes steadily on. On Sunday,November 9, we had the pleasure of listening to MrGrinstead (No License Organiser), who stressed theneed of more loyalty in the temperance cause to winthe victory. The Sunday School anniversary, whichwas held on November 16, will be a red letter day inthe memory of those who heard the scholars singtheir hymns. Our pastor wielded the baton and, withthe help of an efficient orchestra, helped the childrenconsiderably. The Rev. Duncumb, of PalmerstonNorth, was the preacher for the day and spoke veryimpressively to the scholars in the morning and after-noon, and to the parents and guardians in the even-ing. Fine weather prevailed, and the services werewell maintained throughout the children's happy day.

WANGANU! (Rev. S. Jenkin).—The SundaySchool anniversary, held on November 2, upheld thetradition of former years, and the congregations wereup to the standard of the occasion. The Rev. Lea(Methodist) preached in the morning; Rev. Patter-son (Presbyterian), afternoon; and our pastor in theevening. Special hymns were sung by the scholars,the choir and Bible Classes assisting, and not a littlewas added to the effect of the singing by the ac-companiment of an orchestra. Credit is due toour able conductor, Mr R. Jenkins. The followingWednesday the anniversary services were continued.The scholars' tea was served to a number of happychildren and young people. In the evening ourSuperintendent (Mr. Gould) was in the chair. TheSunday School Secretary read the report, showingsteady progress. The prizes were presented to thescholars. We are indebted to our friends for theirgenerous help in that direction. The annual churchmeeting was held on November 12. The Secretary(Mr Sanow) gave an interesting and comprehensivesurvey of the work, creating in us a new inspirationfor days to come. The report showed a membershipof 192. The church has suffered loss, through death,of three members. Mr C. A. Gaze (Treasurer) gavea satisfactory financial statement. Interesting re-ports were given in connection with other activities,and were most encouraging. During the evening,the following resolution regarding our pastor wascarried: "That the officers and members desire toplace on record their gratitude to God for the sevenyears of faithful ministry. They record their deep-ening sense of the efficient ministry of the Word main-tained so ably, consistently, and with much profit.They remember with keen appreciation his faithfuland sympathetic pastoral work, especially in rela-tion to the sick and sorrowing, a ministry in whichhe has been splendidly assisted by Mrs Jenkin.They delight to know that his interest in the widerreligious and civic life of the city has won himselfrecognition from his brother ministers, and an as-sured place in the community as a prophet of right-eousness. In conclusion, we all accord him ouraffectionate and loyal support in the year of ministry

that lies before him." At the close of the Sabbathevening service, the newly-appointed officers wereimpressively dedicated at the Communion for anotheryear of service.

WHANGAREI (Rev. F. Sampson).—At therecent Senior Endeavour .membership campaign,Young Men v. Young Ladies, the young men won,with nine to then credit, so the young ladies, whobrought seven new members, provided tea on thelines of a banquet, speeches and toasLS terminatinga very successful campaign. We now have 34 nameson the roll and the attendances are splendid. OurJunior Rndenvoiircrs held a similar campaign, andtheir membership was increased from 28 to 40. Sincethe opening of this year, one of our deacons and hiswife (Mr and Mrs Acteson) have been the happy re-cipients of two sons-in-law, the first one, Mr HoraceMawson, claiming his bride, Miss Edith, onJanuary 3 The church was most tastefullydecorated by friends of the bride, and thehappy couple received many handsome pre-sents. After the wedding, Mr and Mrs Mawsonmotored to Dargaville, where they sojourned for sev-eral months. Recently they came back to make theirhome amongst us, and the church folk called a socialevening, at which a presentation in the form of asilver cake dish suitably engraved was made as atoken of the esteem in which they were held amongsttheir friends. Both Mr and Mrs Mawson are activeworkers in many branches of our church work. MrWilfred Begbie claimed his bride, Miss Doris, thesecond daughter of Mr and Mrs Acteson, on June 21.Again the church was very prettily decorated andfilled with interested friends of the contractingparties. The happy couple received many beautifulpresents. Mr and Mrs Begbie are making their homeat Onerahi, a seaside suburb of Whangaiei. The Rev.Mr Sampson conducted both ceremonies.

The Rev. F. C. Every, who has supplied theWaihi Church for some time, is available for preach-ing engagements, and may be addressed care of theUnion office.


Subscriptions received from September 18 toNovember 18, 1924:—Mosgiel, £1 16s; Timaru, £67s; North-East Valley, £2 8s; Hanover Street, £218s; Greendale, £8 14s; Oxford, 12s; Invercargill,£11 17s; W. Hart, £ 1 ; B.W.M.U., £22 ; South Dun-edin, 6s; Oamaru, £5 14s 6d; N.I.Y.M.B.C.U., £ 5 ;Auckland Tabernacle, £46 3s 6d; Brooklyn, £1 1s;Ashburton Church, £ 7 ; Ashburton Sunday School,£ 2 ; Auckland Tabernacle, £6 17s 9d; Mount Albert,£8 15s 6d; Spreydon, £5 12s; Vivian Street, £7 12s5d; Mornington, £6 18s; Palmerston North, £12 16s6d; Hawera, £ 2 ; Brooklyn, 10s; Wanganui, £2 6s2d; Richmond North, £1 16s; Mount Eden Church,£4 12s 2d; Mount Eden Sunday School, £1 15s,Waihi, 11s 6d; Oxford Terrace Sunday School, 16s9d; Hastings Church, 19s 7d; Hastings SundaySchool, 5s 8d; N.I.Y.M.B.C.U., £16 10s 3d; GrangeRoad Sunday School, £3 16s 6d; Spreydon, 5s ; F.J. Staples, 10s; Rev. G. D. Cox, 10s; PalmerstonNorth, £7 2s 8d; Hanover Street Church, £2 17s 6d;Hanover Street Sunday School, £1 10s 3d; Brooklyn,£2 3s 7d; Berhampore, £l 9s; Feilding, 16s 6d;Y.W.B.C.U., 5s; Waihi, 12s 6d; Hastings Church,18s 2d; Hastings Sunday School, 5s.—Total, £228 13s11d.


iii.

iv. THE NEW ZEALAND BAPTIST. December, 1924.

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Documents

SAMUEL BARRY W. LAMBOURNE At ELSON'S PHARMACY