MINISTERS AS HISTORIANS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21806, 11 June 1936, Page 7

MINISTERS AS HISTORIANS

PRESERVING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH RECORDS "It seems a kind of disgrace if a minister does not know the history of his congregation. If he does know it, it is no real task to write it.” These remarks were made by the Rev. L. M. Rogers, Moderator of the Christchurch Presbytery, after Presbytery had decided yesterday morning to appeal to all congregations to preserve the records of their churches. The appeal was made on the recommendation of the life and work committee, which said in a report presented by the Rev. T. W. Armour that the records of some congregations were not complete and that the loss of documents was to be greatly regretted. The committee made three suggestions for keeping records intact. They were: (1) That the clerk should be instructed to ask sessions to duplicate lists of records in their possession, one copy to be retained by Presbytery and the other sent on to the General Assembly offices in Wellington; (2) that the clerk should suggest to congregations that records should be held so as to be preserved from fire and other damage: (3) that ministers should write a history of their congregations. The adoption of the report, moved by Mr Armour and seconded by Mr W. H. Rose, was carried unanimously.