ASSEMBLY MEETS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 21, 4 November 1938, Page 3

ASSEMBLY MEETS

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. CENTENARY FUND PLANS. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, November 3. The first business of the session of the General Assembly ol the Presbyterian Church of Npav Zealand Avas taken to-dav. The Moderator (the Rev. T. E. Riddle) presided. < The life and work committee submitted the following recommendations covering the recognition of the centenary of the Church: That the General Assembly, to meet in NoA’embor, 1939, be held in St. Andrew’s Church, Wellington, in February, 1940; that the commission of the General Assembly meet in November, 1939, to deal with routine business; that special centenary sei'A’ices be held in all our churches on the first Sunday in March, 1940; that the Assembly approves of what has boon done by the life and work committee to secure the presence of a delegate from the Church of Scotland at our Church’s centennial celebrations; that the Moderator lie asked to confer with the leaders of other Churches; that a request be made to the Prime Minister to set aside a day in 1940 for a national thanksgiving, with religious services, as distinct from the Sundays that Avill be observed by the various churches for their oavii celebrations; that Presbyterians be enjoined to arrange such programmes of events Avithin their bounds as they deem to be desirable for worthily celebrating the centenary of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand; that the action of the life and Avork committee and of the public questions committee in securing space in the Centennial Exhibition to he held in Wellington in 193940 be endorsed; that the money required for this purpose be a charge on the Presbyterian centenary thanksgiving fund. The treasurer (Mr V. G. Chapman) discussed the position of the mission funds, and stated that the average giving by a church member over the Avhole of Ncav Zealand had been 10s 2d, compared Avith the 13s 5d asked for. The Mata lira Presbytery, with, an average of 14s Id a member, had headed the list of presbyteries. The three main Avorking accounts in the mission funds showed substantial additions to capital for the year. Trust funds held by the treasurer for congregations had shoivn a large increase, having groivn from £31,865 in 1929 to £92,644. Trust Fund Accounts. -» The total trust funds, Avhich stood at £463,000, showed an increase of £13,000, and he ivas glad to be able to say that they had been able to weather the worst days of the slump Avithout the loss of a penny piece ol principal. The insurance fund had continued on its profit-making way, having shown a profit of £B2l for the last year. The report Avas received, and the Assemblv assessments Avere adopted.

The l'eport of the fife insurance fund committee stated that the total insurances held as at August 18, 1938, amounted to_ £1,140,493, an increase for the year of £103,380. The risk was distributed over .504 churches, 307 manses, 356 schoolrooms, and other buildings, the property of 389 congregations and other organisations. The levies paid by die congregations totalled £2539 19s Gel, and interest earned to £465 18s 2d; re-insurance cost £1425 16s Id; management expenses £424 9s, and net fire loss £334. The net profit on the year’s working was £B2l 12s 7d. Six fire Josses occurred during the year. The total loss totalled £2526 12s 2d, of which £2192 12s 2d was recovered from reinsurances. In accordance with the regulations, one-half of the net profit was added to the capital, which now stands at £12,776 8s 9d. There was carried to the distribution account the sum ot £4lO 16s 3d. The balance of this account, after providing for amounts authorised by the last Assembly for distribution and not yet paid, stood at £423 11s 6d. The committee recommended that £420 be distributed as follows: Theological hall committee (scholarship) £6O, John McGlashan College (scholarship) £3O, St. Andrew’s College (scholarship) £3O, Scots’ College (scholarship) £3O, beneficiary fund £9O. Levies unpaid by congregations amount to £726 14s Gch The report was adopted.

MEMORIAL TO DR. GIBB. POOR RESPONSE TO APPEAL. DUNEDIN, November 3. “I am ashamed of the Church in this matter,” said Mr T. C. Brash, convener of the Gibb memorial committee, when the report of the committee was being considered by the Presbyterian General Assembly to-day. “Tlie Assembly enthusiastically passed a motion for the establishment of a lectureship in pastoral theology,as a memorial to Dr. James Gibb, and now, after two years of effort, there is only £l3B 10s 8d in the fund,” said Mr Brash. The committee recommended that, in view of the poor response, no further action he taken “at this time, the amount received to he held and the interest, added year by year, until such time as a favourable opportunity presented itself for implementing the object of the appeal.

NEED FOR UNITY URGED. ‘•CHURCH FACING A CRISIS.” DUNEDIN. November 2. “We realise that the Church is facing a crisis,” declared Dr. J. D. Salmo nd, director of Youth Work, at the Presbyterian Assembly this morning, when discussing references to evangel-

ism in the report of the life and work committee. ■We aire living in an age when the drift is towards collectivism, and we should he thinking in terms of evangelism. The Church is not in touen with largo sections ot the people, and the time has arrived to make a definite attempt to make contact with people who often misunderstand and criticise. We are oiit of touch with large sections of the medical profession and organised labour.' Tie suggested the Church should make a demonstration of Christian unity in face of all “isms” and make a vital impact on the minds of the various dynamic groups. This was a matter of urgency at this time, when there was such a ferment of social and political ideas.