GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 55, 29 November 1923, Page 8

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

PROTESTANT CATECHISM ADOPTED

SCHOOL HISTORY BOOKS CRITICISED By Tei.eora.pii—Press Association. Christchurch, November 28. The Presbyterian General Assembly continued its sittings to-day. The report of the Protestant principles committee was presented by the Rev'. J. Chisholm (Invercargill). It stated that it was now in a position to recommend to the assembly a. Protestant catechism for use in junior Bible classes and among senior scholars in Sunday schools. In accordance with the decision of tho assembly two years ago, the committee had had under consideration the Protestant Catholic catechism drawn up by Dr. Buchanan Blake, of the United Free Church, Glasgow, and believed that it would meet the needs of the assembly'in the direction indicated. The committee’s attention had been drawn to the teaching of history in public schools. The series of text books known as “The Story of the British Nation” gave a most distorted version of great historic events in which Protestantism and Roman Catholicism played their parts together. It seemed to have been the purpose of the editors to keep out everything calculated to offend the susceptibilities of Roman Catholic readers and ihe great landmarks of Protestantism.

In moving the adoption of the report, Mr. Chisholm said that members of the committee had not thought that it a place for an "offensive campaign” against the Roman Catholic Church; that could be left to the P.P.A. Virile Presbyterianism was no campaign of “yellow flag-waving” on “a screeching tirade against the Roman Catholic religion.” The motion was seconded by Mr. L. Lilley (Invercargill) and carried unanimously. The following deliverance was adopted: “We urge Bible classes to include at least two studies in reformation principles or characters in the yearly syllabus; recommend the adoption of Dr. Buchanan Blake’s short catechism on the differences between the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches for use in Sunday schools and junior Bible classes, and that the whole matter be now referred to the youth committee to carry into effect; authorise the Protestant principles committee to approach the Department of Education with a view to more adequate presentation of the facts of history in our public schools; recommend to ministers and home missionaries the holding of the last Sunday in October as “Protestant Principles Day.” Care of the Feeble-minded. It was resolved to urge the Government to appoint a commission to inquire into the whole question of the care of feeble-minded, the treatment of “border-line” cases, and the working of the mental hospitals. It was resolved that it is undesirable to introduce the Young Citizens’ League into the Suhday school organisation. Church Doctrine. On the motion of the Rev. Hector Mac Lean, it was decided to appoint tho Dunedin Presbytery a committee to find out what was being done by other Presbyterian churches in the direction of a simple statement of the Church’s doctrine, and what relation such a statement had to the subordinate standards of the Church, and to report to the next assembly. It was decided that the next assembly be opened in St. Andrew’s Church, Palmerston North, on Tuesday, November 11, 1924. In closing the assembly, the moderator said that while the assembly had been sitting there had been a record temperature, but bsides that therg had been a record in the matter of temper. Not every assembly had conducted its business with such an absence of “heat” as this one had. There had been a few differences, but it had been a very harmonious gathering. FAITH AND ORDER MOVEMENT BT Telegraph.—Special Correspondent. Christchurch, November 28. At the Assembly last night, in the absence of the Rev. Gray Dixon (convener) the report of the faith and order movement was presented by the Rev. James Milne (Thames). He explained that this was an association of Churches working for union in Christendom. It was resolved that the movement be commended to the prayers and interest of the Church, and that a sum be voted to its, funds. An amendment that the sum to be voted be referred to the favourable consideration of the Finance Committee, was embodied in the resolution, which was seconded by the Rev. A. Finlayson (Dunedin), and carried unanimously.