PRESBYTERIAN FOREIGN MISSIONS

Evening Star, Issue 19710, 10 November 1927, Page 13

PRESBYTERIAN FOREIGN MISSIONS

MEETING OF COMMITTEE The Foreign Missions Committee met on Monday evening, the convener (the Rev. G. H. Jupp) presiding. The sympathy of the committee was expressed in connection with the death of Mr G. Burn, of Christchurch, brother of Mr A. Burn, a member of tlio committee. The Secretary reported that a combined meeting for prayer for worldwide missions was being arranged lor Thursday, December 1, during St. Au-drew’s-tidc. The Rev. W. Mawson reported on the successful beginning of the student missionary campaign in the "Waikato Presbytery, where Messrs M. H. Feist, 8.A., “and Stanley Murray, ALA., of Knox College, Dunedin, have been engaged during tho last few weeks. It was also reported that the Rev. A. L. Mintcr, of Canton, was engaged in deputation work in Marlborough and North Canterbury until tho assembly, and that Mr J. W. Mansfield, of Am brim, New Hebrides, would conduct a few services and give some week-evening lectures in December and February. The Rev. A. Davis's mission study hook, ‘Peter Milne of Ngnna,’ being a life of Hie pioneer missionary of the southern branch of the church, is now completed, and a copy was laid on the table.

The Foreign Missions Committee’s manual, a handbook of regulations for missionaries, was considered in draft form and approved lor presentation lo the Assembly. Consideration was given to the conditions attaching to tlio position of foreign missions’ secretary; in view of tlio approaching resignation of the Rev. H. H. Barton. Donations were acknowledged totalling £J7 7s fid, and accounts were passed for payment totalling £96 Ms 6d. Tlio report for the General Assembly was approved in its final form. Tho Rev. 0. Michelseu,. of Tangoa, New Hebrides, reported fresh efforts to counter tbo evil effects of grogselling in his district. Mr W. H. Adams having reported the resolution of the First Clnirch sossion with regard to Dr John Kirk, “own” missionary of tho congregation, it was agreed, to acquiesce with regret in his proposal nob to visit New Zealand on his final furlough, and to express tho hope that it will be found possible for him. to come to the dominion al. some later date.

The following resolution was adopted with reference lo tlio resignation of the Rev. F. H. 'Wills inson from the staflj of the Canton Villages Mission:—“ The Foreign Missions Committee has received with sincere regret the resignation of the Rev. F. H. Wilkinson. Mr Wilkinson was ordained on August 9, 1920, and arrived in Canton on September 22 of the same year. He was ‘own missionary’ of the Anderson’s Bay congregation. The committee expresses hearty appreciation of his tine ability, of tho sincere interest lie has ever displayed in the work ol the mission, and of the brotherly spirit which characterised his relations with his missionary colleagues and Chinese Icllo.wworkors. In all his service Mrs Wilkinson proved herself an invaluable helpmate. The committee regrets that circumstances arising out ol the present Chinese situation have necessitated Mr Wilkinson’s retirement from the mission after a comparatively short period of service. The step which ho has taken was, however, in accordance with tlio mind of the Mission Council and of the committee, and was due .to his conviction, in which tlio council concurred, that under the changed circumstances there was not at present offering any sphere of work which called him with the sense that it was the task that God would.have him do here and now for China. The hearty goodwill of tho committee goes with him in his purpose t° cntei;tho^regular.work of the ministry in New Zealand.”