THE PRESBYTERY.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20730, 15 December 1932, Page 4

THE PRESBYTERY.

DEATH OF PROFESSOR HEWITSON. MISSION WORK ON BEACHES SUGGESTED. The Cliristcaureh Presbytery met yesterday morning, the Rev. W. R. Hutchison presiding in the absence ol:' the Moderator, the Eev. J. A. Allan. Mr W. IT. Rose moved a vote of sincere sympathy with Mrs Howitson in the death of her husband, Professor W. Howitson, whose death had been a great loss to the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. He described the funeral services at Knox Church, Dunedin. Tho Eev. J. L. Robinson, in seconding the motion, also expressed his deej) sense of the Church's loss in the death of Professor Heivitson. Mr Hutchison supported the words of the two previous speakers. His own respect for Professor Howitson had been very great over since he himsolf had spent four years at Knox College. He believed that the professor had been one of the gifts of God to tho Presbyterian Church in New Zealand. The motion was then carried, members standing in silence. Tho chairman welcomed to tlio Presbytery the Rev. Carl Larsen, of Amuri, and also Mr M. Jackson, of the home mission at Cheviot. On the motion of the eJork (tho Rev. G. K. Ait-ken) it was decided to change the name of the Waiau congregation to Amuri. The committee which had been set up to investigate tho work being ftone by the Rev. T). B. Ash ford at New Brighton reported, through tho Rev. A. C. Watson, most favourably on the progress of the congregation. The meeting' received the report and decided, without discussion, to send it on to the Assembly. Mr Watson al.\> reported fa\ourab'v on tho work be'ng done bv Mr Keith AYatson, a Duaedin hcological student, in the single men's employment camps in Canterbury. On tho suggestion r.f Mr Watson proposals received from theological students that they should hold a mission in Christeliureh were referred to the Life and Work Committee. Mr Robinson presented a report on tho recent Presbytenal visitation to Sumner. The commission found that the work in the district had been faithfully carried out and was progressing satisfactorily. The finding was adopted. On the motion of Mr Robinson th- -1 meeting decided to seek the service:; of a young home missionary to send to the'iSumner district. An amendment that a licentiate should bo sent was defeated. On behalf of the Life - and Work Committee the Rev. T. W, Armour brought up the question of mission •work among the large crowds who went to the beachos at Sumner and New Brighton during the summer. Mr Armour said that the findings of the round table conference on youth work recently held in Wellington included the following:— "The crowded beaches in summer time open a special opportunity for open-air missions. If suitablo workers can be secured the interest of the children who frequent tho beaches coulu bo attracted by demonstration loßsons oil tho sand. Divinity students might assist in this work.' ? At the last meeting of the Christchurch Youth Co-operating Committee, which was also the Youth Committee of the Christehurch Presbytery, said Mr Armour, it had been suggested that the suggestion might well be applied by the Prcshvfor - to the beaches at 'iimner and New Brighton, ne moved: "That the Presbytery recognises that the crowded beaches in the summertime present a call and opportunity for service to the Churches. The Presbytery refers the matter to the sessions of the Sumner and Now Brighton congregations for consideration and report.'-' Mr Armour's motion was carried.