Buntingford Rural Deanery
Conference at Buntingford
Africa and the World Call
A meeting of the representatives of the Ruri-Decanal Conference for the Rural Deanery of Buntingford, took place at the Assembly Room, the George Hotel, on Saturday afternoon.
The Rev. W. Mc C. Kerr, of Meesden (Rural Dean) presided, supported by the Secretary (Rev. W.L. Shepherd, of Hormead).
The clergy attending were - Rev. A. Howard (Layston), Rev. F.R. Williams (Anstey), Rev. L.W. Wright (Wyddiall), Rev. W. Jobson (Braughing), Rev. H.F. Webb-Bowen (Barkway), Rev. E.E. Empringham (Cottered), Rev. A.G. Langdon (Munden), Rev. J.L. Dutton (Aspenden) and the Rev. A.G. King (Westmill). A goodly number of lay members were present.
The conference opened with prayer, offered by the Rev. A. Howard.
The Rural Dean stated that the Diocesan Board of Finance were anxious to adjust the assessments of the Diocesan Quota in parishes where it was considered that the assessment was too high. It was decided to appoint a committee to represent the parishes concerned, and the Board of Finance had asked for names to be submitted and a date selected for discussing the assessment.
The conference was of the opinion that the date of the meeting should be left over until it was ascertained which parishes proposed appealing against the assessments. Those elected to serve on the committee were Rev. A.G. Langdon, Mrs Dimsdale and the Rural Dean.
The Rural Dean said he thought the quotas were assessed the same as last year.
The Rev. C.W. Alington, of Baldock, the addressed the conference on "Africa and the World Call." The demand, he said, had arisen from the very sudden opening up of Africa by explorers.
He referred to the work of Livingstone, and of his challenge to the Universities; it was through Livingstone's message to the Universities that the mission to Africa took its birth. In dealing with Africa it should be remembered that the population of white men to black at 1 and a half million to eight million. A hundred years of most splendid missionary work had created a problem of its own, extracts from one book showing that in one diocese alone the baptisms were 14,000 a year.
The demand had also risen from the opening up of the country by the settlement of alien races, the great strides in commerce and industry and by the work of missionaries. The Missionary Societies had made such headway, that at the present time 90 per cent of the education is in the hands of the Missionary Societies. (Applause).
The speaker then dealt with extracts from the report on Africa, and at the close of his address, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the proposition of the Rural Dean, who said that before they met that afternoon, someone had said it was a pity they were not discussing the new Prayer Book. He (the Rural Dean) was very glad they were not. (Laughter); he thought that they should look to the great problems which had to be dealt with, and not trouble so much over matters which were of comparatively small importance.
A discussion on the World Call followed, the Rev. E.E. Empringham and Mr W.J. Pitcher taking part.
The conference then closed, after which tea was provided.