GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 54, 28 November 1923, Page 8

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ADMISSION TO MINISTRY HOME MISSIONARIES RECEIVED By Telegraph —Press Association. Christchurch, November 27. At the sitting of the Presbyterian General Assembly to-day, the Applications Committee recommended that the petition of the AVaikato Presbytery regarding Air. J. D. McFarlane, of Otorohanga, the petition of the Nelson Presbytery, regarding Air. E. 1. King, of Seddon, and the petition ot the Clutha Presbytery regarding Mr. J. Crawley, of Tuapeka AVest, that these home missionaries be received into the ministry, be granted, and that the presbyteries making petition be instructed to take them on trial for license. The Rev. Dr. J. Dickie, Professor of Theology at Theological Hall, Dunedin. moved an amendment that the applications be deferred for a year for consideration by the Theological Hall Committee in conjunction with the Homo Afissions Committee. He asked what was the use of educating ministers at all if they could be elected by a vote of the Assembly after eulogistic speeches had been delivered by their friends. i . The Rev. AV. H. Howes (Rangiora) seconded the amendment-. He remarked that up to the present fifty or sixty minister had been received into the from the home mission ranks, and it would be inadvisable to open the door too wide. . After considerable discussion Dr. Dickie’s amendment was negatived and the recommendation of the committee was adopted. The Applications Committee also recommended that the application of the Rev. J. Holmes, of Upper Hutt, for admission into the ministry of the Presbyterian Church be not granted on account of Air. Holmes’s age. • It was explained that Mr. Holmes was sixtyfive years of age, and had had a d.stinguished career in the Congregational Church. The Rev. AA . J. Com rie (Wellington) moved as an amendment that Air. Holmes be received into the Church without probation. The amendment was seconded by the Rev. R, Inglis (AVellington), and after being supported by the Rev. J. A. McKenzie (Moderator of the Upper Hutt station), was declared carried on a show of hauds. Prohibition Movement.

A deputation from the New Zealand Alliance waited on the assembly tonight. In welcoming the deputation the acting-moderator (Rev. N. McAra) said:' “I assure you l that the Presbyterian Church is in sympathy with the oreat movement for the freeing of New Zealand from the fearful curse of tho drink traffic. The Presbyterian Church is quit© sound and solid on this matter.” The assembly passed the following deliverance: “That the assembly appoint the second Sunday in November as Temperance Sunday, renew its recommendation to Sunday-school superintendents and teachers to give attention to the training of the young in total abstinence principles, and to give them an opportunity of signing the temperance pledge, request the Government to introduce legislation eliminating the State purchase and control issue so that a vote may be taken between prohibition and continuance, strongly protest against any attempt to introduce licenses into the King Country, and earnestly call upon tho Government to keep faith with the Maoris by maintaining the compact made in 1884-85. and to take all necessary measures for preventing the illegal' sale of liquor in that _ territory, protest against the effort being made to have the question of ‘corporate control’ placed upon the ballot-paper as a third issue, and request Parliament to resist the effort in view of the fact that there is no evidence of any demand for this issue by any considerable section of the people.”

During the debate the Rev. J. Milne (Thames) moved an amendment that tho clause requesting elimination of the State purchase and control issue bo erased. The first ground of his request. ho said, was justice. Thirty thousand people had voted for State control, and it was a surer thing than ever that in God’s good time they would yet see the liquor traffic under State control. (Cries of “Never, never.”) Tt was a question of justice to the 30.000 that the. State control issue should be left in. Prohibition was right in the teeth of liberty. Air. Milno tried to continue after tho Moderator had rung the bell, but there were cries of “Time, time,” and tho stamping of feet, so he had to retire. No one seconded Mr. Milne’s amendment and it was dropped.