PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28952, 21 July 1959, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

Report On Church Work In India

The work of the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union in India was described by Mrs C. Campbell at the annual meeting of the Christchurch Presbyterian Association held recently. Mrs Campbell, who is Dominion president of the P.W.M.U., attended the jubilee celebrations of the Presbyterian mission in Punjab. She paid tribute to the work the missionaries were doing where the need was so great. In the old part of the mission hospital, the wards were cramped, but the work was as important and as well done as in a more up-to-date hospital. One of the sisters was lecturing eight hours a day besides doing other work. She had a heavy load while others of the mission staff were on furlough, and often worked in a temperature of 110 degrees. Mrs Campbell said she could not believe her eyes in the first two villages she visited when she saw the mud hovels and realised that people lived in them. At- a service one man brought a 10rupee note (about 15s) and yet he probably did not have enough to eat. Another brought a bag of wheat. He would have to do without some meals. “The church in northern India needs our active support," said Mrs Campbell. The Rev K. L. Warren (moderator of Presbytery) conducted prayers at the meeting.

In the morning, reports of the various special secretaries were read, and these were encouraging In the afternoon the annual report and financial statement were adopted, and a presentation was made to the retiring president, Mrs H. Graham Mrr R. Walker entertained the meeting with a solo

The following officers were elected:—president, Miss M. Laishley; vice-presidents. Sister Agnes. Mesdames Anderson, R. J. Griffiths, A. McNaughton, M. Royds, and H. Graham; secretary, Mrs A. McCallum; treasurer, Mrs E. Gallagher.