PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21320, 13 November 1934, Page 19

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

* MEETING OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY (PRJS3 A3SOCIATIOV lELIOBAiI.I DUNEDIN, November 12. At to-day's sitting of the Presbyterian' General Assembly, the reports of the church property trustees and fire insurance fund were received. ifhe Assembly agreed to allow the Church Property Trustees tc take over tije ownership of the lona College property in Hawke's Bay, on the distinct understanding that the present debt on the property is not to be transferred tp the General Assembly. The carelessness of the private or congregational trustees was referred to, and it was recommended to the assembly that the Supreme Court ruling should be obtained". It was reported that the fire insurince fund holds insurances to the smpunt of over £1,000,000. -Mr A. D. Thomson commented on the fact that fire levies unpaid amount tij £7OO, and he said that this was a careless and unfair action for which church managers deserved censure. Hie tendency of the assembly to make giants to needy funds from the fire insurance capital, was deprecated. More than £9OOO had recently been drawn from the profits. This was more than the fund had earned. 'r.'if. was agreed to amend the regulations so as to prevent inroads upon the profits by motions in the assembly before being carefully considered. .Speaking on the Maori Mission reportf the Rev. D. D. Scott said that the church was ministering to more than 4000 Maoris and nearly 2000 Europeans. The missionaries to the Maoris give Scripture lessons to 1500 children and almost 1000 children attend Sunday Schools. The sacrament of Baptism had been administered to more than 1000 persons and nearly 56i)Lmembers are on the Maori Communion roll. A motion to direct the Home Mission, and Theological Hall Committees to consider which of the Home Missionaries should be given full ministerial status was keenly debated, and was finally rejected by a decisive majority. f The question of the purchase of a "block of land suitable for a training farm for Maori boys was discussed. The request came from the Maori, leaders and not from the Church. The Refv. J. G. Laughton laid the facts before the assembly and moved that the block of land offered to the Church be purchased. He said there was money in hand for the purpose, pnd if the authority was obtainable from a responsible board there was a good opportunity to help the Maori peot)le. The assembly authorised the purchase. Power of Deaconesses The He v. D. M. Hercus questioned the validity of the action of the committee in gazamng uaaconesses working in the Maori field as officiating ministers under the Marriage Act, and moved that the matter should have come before the assembly. Before being decided, the Rev. J. H. McKenzie gave reasons for what had been done, and the action of the clerk of •the assembly was confirmed. Later a motion was carried stating that the women missionaries working under the Maori Mission Committee are ministers of religion for the purposes of the Marriage Act. Missionary Demonstration Knox Church, Dunedin, was crowded for a missionary demonstration. There was great entnusiasm when all the fields occupied by the Presbyterian Church were described. = The Rev. Angus McKenzie, speaking of the" Maori Mission'work, stressed the shame which the Church should feel because they had begun work among the Maoris so late, 29 years .later than the Anglicans. He described the work of preaching and social service which was necessary, and the medical help which each missionary could render, and he appealed for more workers to meet the increasing opportunities. •.The Rev. George Budd spoke on Home Missions, and showed the marvellous change which had come oyer work which was being carried On. He told of generous donors to the needs of missionaries, and called "Pon the church to seize the opportunity presented. .The Rev. J. L. Gray, from Jagadhri, • *naia, said that critical days such as these were eloquent arguments for advance. The history of the church snowed the wisdom of advance. Reaching led to medical service and to educational efforts, and so to industrial work. He spoke of revival Wvements in Khasar and in Jaga«nri, and urged that their work must aavance if they were to hold what 'hey had gained.