PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

Evening Star, Issue 17824, 22 November 1921, Page 6

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

Seventh Dat.— Tuesday, The General Assembly of tho Presbyterian Church of New Zealand was resumed to-day in I'nst Church, the BU-- I>. Dutton (Moderator) presiding. THEOLOGICAL HALL. The report of the Theological Committee stated that there had been tweutv-e.gl students in attendance at the Theological Hall, of whom ten wore in in the second, and twelve in the final year Out of the total number one was a student of tho Baptist clear, however, that the t.hurci was . from being in a position to meet ah the needs of their vacant charges Horn ite own college. It must be prepared to do more to help its young men hnanew y through their course. The committee ic ported a considerable advance in aspect lo congregational contributions lo the Theological Hall fund, a deficit of £soo havitm been reduced to £414. Arrangements for the holding of summer schools of thcolngv had been m hand both lor Auckland and Invercargill. It would undoubtedly be nt very great value that “ refresher" courses and summer schoo s of theology should bo established in suitable centres. . . , Tho Rev. IT. If- Barton, m moving the adoption of the report, said he would like to emphasise the fact that they needed more men in their Theological Ha l At present there were not enough to till the 'nps that occurred in the ministry from vc'ir to year. Better financial arrangements wcto also needed while their students were undergoing their courses. Certain bequests which had been left had enabled certain scholarships to be established. As tar ns the committee knew, the students had worked during the war with diligence and enthusiasm, and the standard of work had been good. There were those who said that the standard of tics logical training had been lowered; but that was not the case. He had had the opportunity oi visiting the theological col--I,,in Avdeev and Melbourne, and had I'lmnd Unit ;,n point of view of enrolments the college here was the largest. There was a world-wide dearth of candidates for tho ministry. Tho fact that the l.tiblo class movement here was strong was in a large measure responsible lor their relatively better position here. The liev. G. H. .Hipp seconded the motion, which was carried. It was also decided to thank the donors of scholarship and prize funds; function the scholarship proposals for 1922; empower the committee to grant, if necessary, sncli additional scholarships as the state of the funds and condition of the trusts connected therewith may warrant; thank the examiners ; and lo urge anew the vital importance of securing young men possessed of the necessary mental and spiritual qualifications for the work of the ministry. A Till BUTE OF RESPECT. On tho motion of Dr Gibb it was decided to place on record the Assembly's sense of the profound loss the Church and community had sustained in the death of the Hon. J. G. W, Aitkeu, of St. John’s, Wellington.