ON GRAND SCALE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 236, 5 October 1936, Page 5

ON GRAND SCALE.

CHURCHES IN U.S.A. PRESBYTERIAN FINANCE. CARRY HUGE ENDOWMENTS. The Presbyterian Churches of the United States of America must arouse feelings akin to envy in many a deacon's court in New Zealand, to judge from remarks made by the Rev. N. L. D. Webster Mr. Webster left St. Andrew's Church, Cliristchurch, seven years ago, for Adelaide, and, states the "Star-Sun," is now visiting the city again after an extensive tour of England, America and the Continent. Many of the American churches, it appears, carry colossal endowments running into millions of dollars. The buildings are nothing short of magnificent. Many again carry a staff of three —a ministet, an assistant minister, and a director of youth work. Few of the churches are without their paid quartet of singers and some even retain a paid choir. "The churches spend money like water." said Mr. Webster. Tlie programmes were carried out on a scale undreamt of in New Zealand. The Pittsburg East Liberty Church, for instance, cost seven million dollars and w-as the gift of Richard T. Mellon. The Central Presbvterian Church in New York had an endowment fund of three mil ion dollars. Income Assured. The churches budgeted for every itemPledges were entered into by the individual members of the churches at the beginning of the year, and the authorities were practically sure of the income for that year. There was a fine spiritual spirit evident in the churches. The young people played tlieir full part in activities. The youth directors had rendered magnificent e-ervice.

Mr. Webster represented the Australian churches at the Church of Scotland Assembly in May, and later travelled 3000 miles by car in the British Isles and 3400 miles in Central Europe. In. America under the auspices of the committee on the interchange of preachers for the promotion of national friendships, an organisation, he said, which had done wonderful work, particularly in cementing British and Americai relations. "Still Beat True." "We must realise," he said, "how true the hearts of the Americans are. Their hearts Still beat true to England, and they want closer relationships. I tried to keep before the Americans the idea that the future peace of the world lies with the English-speaking peoples, and I had ample support from the Americans themselves. I have nothing but praise for the Americans. It would be base ingratitude if I did not say so." Mr. Webster was chaplain-in-residence at the Lake Placid Club in the Adirondack Mountains, in the State of New York, for a week, and classes the experience as outstanding in his tour. There was no other club like it anywhere in the world. Divine service was held every morning. The 1400 members were all men of means, who annually spent their holidays there, coming from all over the United States. Streets of shops and all other facilities were included in the club property. High-speed Traffic. The New York traffic was a matter for wonder to Mr. Webster. "I have never seen cars so fast —almost a murderous rate," he commented. To cross a street against the lights was an adventure in itself. There was, however, so much traffic that it could not be allowed to dawdle along. Most of the people Mr. Webster met were anti-Roosevelt, but at the same time they would regard it as nothing short of a miracle if he was not returned again as President.