THE PRESBYTERIAN MODERATOR

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 259, 2 August 1928, Page 11

THE PRESBYTERIAN MODERATOR

WELCOMED TO WELLINGTON THE CHURCH’S GREAT MISSION At the last Presbyterian Assembly the Rev. .lames Aitken, M.A., was elected Moderator for New Zealand, and he has just accepted the invitation of the Wellington Presbytery to spend three weeks in the capital city, occupying local pulpits each Sunday and addressing various gatherings in the week. Last night the Moderator was officially welcomed at St. John's Church Hall, the Rev. R. S. Watson, Wellington Moderator, presiding over a large gathering. Amongst those present, were the Right Rev Dr. Sprott, Bishop of Wellington, the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup), Hon. A. D. McLeod (representing the 1 rune Minister), and the president of the Wellington Ministers' Association, Kev. W. J. Comrie. The chairman remarked that they were met to welcome the Moderator ot New Zealand, an office of which they were very proud. Having explained the procedure of electing the Moderator, the chairman said the Church belieted m education, and they were glad to know that two sons of Mr. Aitken were studyiiv' in England, one of them being a Rhodes Scholar. They had invited representatives of the community to take part in the welcome, for exacting service was demanded of their head. As Moderator of the Wellington Presbytery it gave him great pleasure to welcome Mr. and Mrs. Aitken, a welcome in winch all would sincerely join. An Unique Occasion. The Mayor, extending a hearty welcome to the city, said the occasion was a unique one, represented by the Church, the State, and the municipality. He (the speaker) was acting in a double capacity, as Mayor, and as an elder of the Church, and'he was sure the office of Moderator was worthily filled. The Church over which he presided, had a membership ot 45,000 to 50,000, and came second only to the great Anglican Church, to which they were so closely allied in fellowship and attachment. In regard to places of

worship, schools, etc., they were even greater than the membership. They were a democratic and evangelistic church, standing for an educated ministry and an educated democracy. They were proud of the history of the Church and her fight for truth, and especially her efforts on behalf of the young, which showed vision. Their Moderator had a distinguished career as a thinker and worker in education, and was also a great preacher, and he hoped that in the days to come they would both see and hear him again. The Hon. A. D. McLeod, in welcoming the Moderator, referred to the Moderator's predecessor, who was a layman of the Church, a politician, and a statesman —the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken. The speaker had been asked to express the regret of the Prime. Minister that he could not attend that gathering, ns there was a Bill in which the Church was interested, and which he hoped would not result in a “Donnybrook.” (Laughter.) Anglicans’ Debt to Scotsmen. The Bishop of Wellington said he was glad to take part in the welcome personally, for the Moderator and himself were not unknown to each other, and also on behalf of the whole Christian Church, for they owed a debt of gratitude to the Presbyterian Church. He knew of no students who had made a greater contribution to their knowledge of the Bible, and particularly the Old Testament, than the scholars of Scotland, to some of whom he referred. The Church of England had a special debt of her own owing to Scotland, for the present'Archbishop of Canterbury was a Scotsman, and retiring at the age of 80 years, was being succeeded by another Scotsman. So he acknowledged the debt of the Church of England with gratitude. A warm welcome on behalf of the Presbyterian Church in Wellington was extended by the Rev. AV. J. Comrie, treasurer of the assembly, and further on behalf of the Wellington Ministers’ Association. Custodian of the Highest Ideals. The Moderator was given a hearty ovation. and in response thanked all the speakers for their good wishes. It had been interesting to listen to such a varied description of the characteristics of the Presbyterian Church, and ho admitted that he was very proud of the Church in which he had been brought up and in the ministry of which he was serving. It was a greater Church than even some of their members supposed, for its pervading influence was spread over the world. The largest Presbyterian Church in the world was in Hungary, and as a Church they had a great past, and a great opportunity before them. It had an influence on the individual, the community, and the State.

The Moderator proceeded to say that from the number of people whom they saw going picnicking on Sundays or pursuing some other form of pleasure they would think the Church was being neglected altogether. People talked of tho changes in tlie prices of commodities and events in South Africa and New York, or events at Trentham were considered of great importance and discussed. How often did they hear men discuss the Church, tlie things tlie Church was doing, where she was failing, even her failures? Was it that modern times regarded religion ns the superstitions of tlie old fashioned? It was not so. He urged upon them that they should show greater interest in the Church and its work, for the Church was the custodian of tlie highest ideals, the loftiest and brightest vision the. human race had ever cherished, gave them the most inspiring and comforting thoughts of God, and was the greatest conception of the brotherhood of man. Tlie Church wanted enthusiasts who would “boost” her, speak well of her, to rise and defend lier work against all the foolish and shallow criticism directed against her. The proceedings were interspersed with musical items.