PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

Evening Star, Issue 17824, 22 November 1921, Page 8

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

MILITARY CHAPLAINS. DISCRIMINATION ALLEGED. REPRESENTATION INADEQUATE. At, thq afternoon session of the General Assembly yesterday the report of the Chaplains Committee caused some discussion. The committee’s report concluded with, the .following clause;—“New regulations concerning chaplains have been issued by the Defence Department, and your committee felt called upon to enter a,very, strong protest concerning the constitution of the Board of Chaplains to be set up in each of the three commands. Should ithe. reply from the general officer in charge of administration be considered unsatisfactory, the committee will carry the matter further, for it is determined to leave no stone unturned in its efforts to secure for the Presbyterian Church its fair proportion of representatives on all chaplains’- boards.” Ine report was presented by the Kcv. D. J. A. Shaw, who said it was probably not known to. many members of Presbytery that there were some, 1,200 people within the bounds of Trentharn camp at present. The usual number was 700 or 800, The work of their chaplain, the Bev. A. Hardie, was spoken of most enthusiastically by those in the best position was received, and Mr Shaw submitted resolutions drawn up by chaplains attending Assembly. The first of these approved the appointment of the Rev,. A- Hardie, C.P., to Trentharn camp, and commended him for the good work be is doing. . The motion was carried.

,Tho second motion expressed regret that the Defence Department had not furnished the Assembly’s Chaplains’ Committee with a copy of the proposed regulations concerning chaplains. Mr Shaw explained that these were new temporary regulations, and no copy had been sent to him, even though he had reminded headquarters of the omission. The motion was carried.

Mr, Shaw then moved that the Assembly protect against tho discrimination shown in the case of chaplains as compared with . other non-combatant These regulations: were of a very drastic nature, and ’the chaplains had been singled out for special attention by the Defence Department. According to the regulations, their khaki would be so disfigured by black embellishments that they would go into camp as guys. If the Defence Department, had time to draw up such regulations, it, seemed to him that fact was very significant. He objected to having the uniform he had paid for out of his own pocket disfigured in that ridiculous way. Hie Church of England men could go into camp without any difficulty, and ho had no quarrel with that; hut he demanded His own right to go in in the same way. On the first occasion ho had had to pay his own mess bill and play second fiddle to a alergyroan who was not even a chaplain. On the second occasion he refused to submit, and the O.C. also took a firm stand on the matter, so that it was put right, and there was no further difficulty. The Rev. W. M'Lean, who seconded the motion, reminded tho Assembly that a year ago he had given a warning that they would have to keep their eyes open on the Defence Department. All that ho anticipated had happened. Tho new regulations were actually in force, and the ‘'millinery” of their chaplain at Trentham had been affected. He used the word “ millinery ” because Bishop Sadlier had so described the new uniform recently. Formerly chaplains were divided into four classes—fourth class with rank of captain, third with rank of major, second with rank of lieutenant-colonel, the first with rank of colonel. Under the new regulations they were still to be commieaioned officers, out they had no rank. The Defence Department professed that the new regulations were in the interests of the chaplains on the ground that rank had proved a barrier between the chaplains and the men. The chaplains had not found It so, and the bonds of friendship created with the men during the war •till existed. The department now took away from them the advantage of rank, took away the Sam Browne belt, and plastered them all over with black. They felt strongly that these regulations discriminated against chaplains, as compared with army Service, medical, dental, and veterinary officers, for whom no change was proposed. He hoped the Assembly would give every support to the Chaplains’ Committee so that they might claim their rights in this respect. The motion was carried.

Mr Shaw further moved—“ That the Assembly demands that adequate representation be given on chaplains’ boards and the establishment.” He stated that the representation laid down on the chaplains’ boards in''each command was Church of England three, Roman Catholic two, Nonepisoopal Churches four. He submitted that that was an insult to the Presbyterian Church. (“ Hear, hear.”) Were they to allow that kind of thing year after year’? The Defence authorities seemed to say that the Presbyterian Church had. always served well and had never been troublesome, and so that was the kind of reward that .had. been given them. Had their Church served less faithfully than the two denominations eo carefully specified? Had their young men volunteered in smaller proportion or served with less distinction? Was there any reason at all that could be given for this deliberate slight? They had sent in a protest pointing out without any ambiguity whatever that whereas the department had taken car© to specify the number of representatives for the third largest Church in New Zealand, it had forgotten to do eo for the second largest. Put, after all, it was not a question of strength of numbers. He ventured to say that the Presbyterian Church . was the Church that was most influencing public opinion, that there were as many people attending its Sabbath services as any other, and that in keeping up high ideals and promoting a true spirit of service it counted as much as any other Church in the land. To set them aside in this fashion was something ill befitting a responsible body of men. After waiting weeks for a reply he had been informed that as all the denominations had been asking for representation the chaplains’ boards might be abolished. That, howover, had not been done. The Church of England received due consideration. They deserved it. The Roman Catholic Church had behaved in such a way that the department was afraid of it. Because the Presbyterian Church had served quietly it was set aside in this way. Ho believed they found the very same thing in reference to the secular education given in our schools when they looked beneath the surface; chaplains were tolerated and not much more, and if it could be done it seemed they would bo pushed out altogether. The time had come for their Church and for other Churches to make their voice heard in unmistakable fashion, and' rhow that behind the voice there was a strong united Church with a real influence in the life of this country. The motion was carried. Mr Shaw then moved that the Be vs. D. C. Herron, D. J. A. Shaw, qnd W. M’Lean be the Presbyterian representatives on the Northern, Central, and Southarn Commands, and that these have power to appoint another representative in each command, should provision bo made for another representative. Dr Gibb seconded the motion, and expressed his personal appreciation of Mr Shaw’s great work in this matter. “Wo should tell the Government in plain terms we won’t stand any of their nonsense.” said Dr Gibb.' “ That is just about it.” The motion was adopted, and it was resolved to send copies of the relevant ' sect! one of the deliverance to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defence, and to Presbyterian M.P.s, The Rev. D. C. Herron then moved—- “ That, the Assembly congratulates the Chaplains’ Committee on the stand it had taken in demanding that our Church be more adequately represented on the proposed chaplains’ board, and assures the committee that in this matter it is expressing the'mind of the whole Presbyterian Church, in. New Zealand, and will stand behind-it'in its determination to see that pur Church hag representation in keeping

■with its strength.” Such a resolution, he said, would strengthen the hands of their chaplains in their lonely fight. The Eev. W. R. Hutchison seconded the motion, which was canned. YOUTH OF THE CHURCH.

The Youth of the Church Committee reported to the evening session that the director (Rev. R. M. Rybnni) bad visited Presbyteries for the purpose of completing the organisation begun the previous year, and a Presbytery Youth Committee had been appointed in each Presbytery. The scheme of lessons approved by the General Assembly was being taught in three-fifths of our schools; 302 schools use the Australasian Graded, and 187 use four or five other schemes. The grading of classes by standards had been generally approved, and the committee recommended that in future thy examination divisions should bo according to standards. _ , The Sunday schools statistics show an increase i \ every column. The scholars had increased by 1,084, and the total 39,247—wa.t the, highest yet reached. Schools had increased by nineteen and teachers by 237, and the total money gathered was £I,OOB in advance of last year. From these figures there were no doubt a few schools omitted. The Bible class figures also showed great increases. The mixed Bible classes showed a diminution of forty in' membership, and the En- 1 deavor societies had decreased by two and their membership by eighty-four; but, apart from these, the general increase was very marked. The number of junior classes snowed an increase of fifteen and senior of twenty-six ; the membership of the junior wtfs 194 in advance of last year, and the senior 559. The total membership was 9,991, so that a considerable recovery bad been made, and the highest total--10,237 —will soon bo reached. The total contributions had increased £958. The general treasurer's statement showed that the balance has increased from £1,194 to £1,395, but the full increase of the new expenditure had not been felt so far. If the proposals agreed to last Assembly were to be met. the congregational contributions must be doubled.

When the director was appointed there was an understanding that, he should be given a holiday to visit the Old Country. Your committee was of opinion that this should bo done as soon as possible before all the organisation of the youth work was centralised.

The adoption of the report war. moved by the P,ev. li. M. Eybuni. who referred to three necessities in the youth work. The first of these was loyalty, a souse of unity Some schools that were working in a particular way resented the proposals that wore made. As a Church they had to bo very careful what changes they made. It was difficult to get their proposals brought before schools. He was not asking for uniformity, but ho did think they needed great unity, A second need was a recognition of the importance of the work. He asked whether sessions had the interest they should have in the schools connected with their churches, and whether Presbyteries bad considered youth work as they should have done. He believed one of their most important works as a committee was to arouse the deep interest of fathers and mothers _in the spiritual welfare c.f the children in their homes. A third great need was that of solid Scripture teaching for Sunday school teachers and Bible class leaders. The Bev. J. D. Smith seconded tho motion, which was carried. Mr V. French, travelling secretary of the Bible Class Movement, the Bible class section of the report, which was also adopted. Dr Erwin presented the committee’s recommendations. To one asking that leave of absence be given to Mr By bum for eight months next year to visit Australia, Britain, Canada, and America in tho interests of youth work, Eev. L. H. Hunt moved as an amendment that the visit be deferred till next season. After considerable discussion Mr Hunt agreed to withdraw his amendment. _ The Eev. R. M. Bybum said he did not want any amendment withdrawn. If they opposed he hoped they would say so, and he would not go. Personally, it would, suit him much better to put off the. visit for a year, but from the youth work point of view he believed it was better to go now.

The motion for the adoption of the committee’s recommendation was carried with one dissentient voice. Mr V. French was reappointed Bible class travelling secretary, at a salary of £250 and £SO travelling allowance. The Rev. J. C. Paterson (Lincoln) moved the committee’s recommendations laying down the conditions of the annual examinations. He pointed nut that the committee had decided to grade the children according to school standards instead of age, and (hat it was asking the individual Presbyteries to undertake the work of examinations.

The recommendations were adopted

The thanks of the Assembly were ac corded Mr Paterson for his work in connection with the examinations. RECEPTIONS COMMITTEE.

The Rev. J. H. MacKenzie presented the report of the Receptions Committee, which was adopted. The report stated that the Revs. J. W. Shannon, Gen. Paterson, and J. L. Harvey had presented commissions from the Colonial Institute of the U.F. Church of Scotland and had been approved' by the committees as ministers of this and received by Presbyteries. PUBLIC QUESTIONS. The Rev. Dr Cameron moved—“ That Presbyteries be recommended to appoint each year Presbyterial Public Questions Committees, and that the. chairmen of the committees, together with a small committee in Wellington, be appointed ns the Assembly's Public Questions Committee. ’ —The motion was carried, GENERAL. The Presbyterian Church of England wrote commending the Rev. Robert Leggatt, of Bcrwick-on-Twccd, ns its representative.—Mr Leggatt was cordially welcomed, and conveyed to the Assembly cordial greetings from England. He paid a tribute to the work the Presbyterian Church was doing in New Zealand, particularly in the back blocks. It was decided to send_a letter of sympathy to I lie widow of Bishop Ncvill and to Bishop Richards expressing deep appreciation of the life and labors of the late Bishop Nevill. It was decided to appoint the first Sunday of May as Bible Society Sunday. It was decided to record the thanks of the Assembly to Mr J. Timson, organist to the Assembly for many years.