PRESBYTERIANISM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 44, 21 February 1940, Page 11

PRESBYTERIANISM.

GROWTH IN N.Z. CENTENNIAL ASSEMBLY. i . HOPES POE WORLD PEACE. t (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. > In his address at the opening of the Centennial General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand in St. Andrew's Church to-night, the Moderator, the Rt. Rev. J. Lawson Robinson, spoke of the Church'* debt to the past and suggested how the past might be used to help in solving the problems of to-day. Speaking of the Presbyterian pioneers who landed at Petone in February, 1840, from the ship Bengal Merchant, Mr. Robinson said that they comprised 116 adults and 30 children. Insignificant though their numbers were, they were yet the progenitors of the present-day Church. In the course of a hundred years that little band of 146 souls had grown into a great communitv of 363.000 •people, who, in New Zealand to-day, declared themselves to be Presbyterian. After speaking of the inspiration and experience to be gained from a study of • the past and a counting-up of the great inheritance it had left, Mr. Robihson pointed out that the study must be carried out with discretion and that the searcher should know what he ■ was seeking. •.; v .. Value of Principles. "A. thing is not necessarily good because it is old," he continued, "but all the same there are acknowledged principles which are timeless. And principles are of greater importance than precedents. The ministry of the past ?»>Opt to provide precedents, but to vindicate principles." S''The Moderator emphasised the unity of human life —past, present and future pp£?and the need for meeting the ever:new tasks and difficulties of the present with a fresh mind. The world, he said, was at present in travail and a new order of society was coming to birth. What the character of that new order would be no one could clearly discern. A civilisation with frankly" material ideals was dissolving.

It was clearly evident to-day that the peace of the world did not rest solely or chiefly on economic systems. As President Roosevelt had said a few weeks ago, the problem of a new world order was a problem of faith. The Churehes had been most successful in resisting State absolutism, and in their growing power Mr. Roosevelt saw the principal hope for re-creating the basis for a community of nations. Loyal Address. The loyal address read at the opening of the assembly, expressed loyal allegiance to the Throne and affection for His Majesty. Regret was expressed that the occasion of the assembly was darkened by the clouds of war, and the assembly hastened to assure His Majesty that it would be their unceasing prayer that" the protection of Almighty God might be granted to His Majesty's forces on land, on the sea, and in the air. They prayed also that in the providence of God there'might be found a just and lasting peace. In the face of the threats to religious liberty in many parts of the world the assembly assured His Majesty that they esteemed highly the full liberty of religious opinion and worship enjoyed under His Majesty's rule.

The centenary resolution which was passed offered adoration and thanksgiving, to God and solemnly rededicated the Church to her divinely appointed task. It recalled also the faith and fortitude of pioneer ministers, elders and members of the Church, and remembered all 'those who had served the Church with vision and devotion during the past 100 years. Closer Co-operation. The opinion that there was a very urgent need for closer and more active co-ordination between the Churches of Australia and New Zealand was expressed by the Very Rev. Dr. John Mackenzie, former Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, and representative of that Church at the Assembly. In many respects the Churches of Australia and New Zealand were complementary to each other and already one had given much to the other. In the present time of distress Australia and New Zealand were facing common dangers, opportunities and problems. The political and economic relationships of the two countries with each other in the past had been most unsatisfactory. In that • sphere certain childishness had been manifest. A second great war had altered all that. The two nations were realising once more that they were one people with a common destiny and duty. Recognition of that elementary fact must have consequences both for the Church and the State of the highest significance.

Among the other overseas delegates are the Rev. W. Miskell, Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Rev. J. G. Inkster. Presbyterian Church of Canada, and Mr. E. M. Jarvis, Presbyterian Church of South Africa. Also attending is Mr. G. H. McNeuV, who spent 38 years as a missionary in China.

In welcoming the overseas delegates, the Moderator said Mr. Miskell had been a missionary for about 40 years in Mukden, Manchuria, and the Assembly, was proud to have the distinction of welcoming a man who had done such noble work in that far country. The Moderator spoke of the high.regard in which Mr. Mackenzie was held in New Zealand, and said that in Christchurch in particular no man would receive a heartier welcome. The. Assembly was very pleased to have Mr. Jarvis present, and it was hoped his visit would help make New Zealand better known in South Africa.