PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21323, 16 November 1934, Page 16

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

o GENERAL ASSEMBLY CLOSES SOCIAL SERVICE WORK (PSJSS ASSOCIATION TELE»KIW.) DUNEDIN, November 15. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand closed to-day. Among the matters dealt with was the limitation of the right of call by aid-receiving congregations, the Dunedin Presbytecy overturing that the right of call be granted all congregations raising a minimum of £250 toward stipends. It was resolved to send the overture to presbyteries for consideration and report. It was mentioned that the McGlashan Fund for Indigent Gentlewomen had made grants of £448 to 26 persons in 1933 and in 1934 £452 had been given to 27 persons. Mr A. D. Thomson said the fund was not sufficient to meet all the requests for help. The advisory board was instructed to confer with representatives of the social service associations, with a view to securing co-

ordination in the administrative work. It was stated that some associations possessed large endowments over which the church had no control. The church knew nothing of the conditions attached to these bequests, nor of tho investmentwriadc. It was decided that the Church Property Trustees should confer with the Assembly's Social Service Committee about recording the income expenditure, and bequests of the' social service associations. The Rev. J. A. Allan reported tint a series of six tracts, under the title "Burning Bush Booklets," was proposed for publication. It was also decided to publish tracts on the various "isms" of to-day. 'An endeavour would be made to publish positive affirmations of faith, and destructive criticism of other beliefs would be avoided The budget and freewill offering committee reported that a large majority of the congregations favoured a system of regular giving. Mr W. H. Rose (Christchurch) said success or failure was in the hands of officebearers, and presbyteries must seek to develop the systematic contribution of money. He said that whatever the scheme had been tried success had been achieved. It was shown that the women's beneficiary fund for foreign missionaries had a capital of £12,000. The annual income was £I6OO and annuities paid totalled £350.