PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

Evening Star, Issue 20032, 24 November 1928, Page 4

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

SATISFACTORY SUPPLY FOR MINISTRY DR DICKIE PROPOSED AS PRINCIPAL OF THEOLOGICAL HALL [Bek United Phess Association.] . AUCKLAND, November 2d. £< Wo are able to state that the tide has turned in regard to the- supply of men for tho ministry,” said,the (lev. E. J. Tiplor, of .Dunedin, in presenting the report of the Theological College Committee. “We have sixty-sis students on our roll who have been certified by presbyteries, and that does not bv any means cove- all the men with Avhum I am in close touch at different stages in their work for the ministry. Particularly docs this apply to promatriculation students .The church is in a happy position in this respect.” The Rev. J. A. Thomson said that in Auckland men were offering freely, and tins year there had been ten taking tiro arts course at Auckland University College. The Rev. R. G. M’Dowall, of Dunedin, was appointed examiner in Greek (New Testament). Full minutes appreciative ot the long and valuable services rendered to tho Theological Hall by Professors Hewitson and Gumming, now retiring, were adopted with hearty applause. In acknowledging tho tribute, Professor Hewitson said he had long held that tho work of training men for tho ministry was the most important in tho church. It was agreed to change the title of the committee h-oiu Theological College to Theological Hall Committee. ft was decided to establish a new office of principal of Theological Hall, with five years' tenure of office and an allowance for travelling expenses. The adjournment was taken belore the proposal to appoint the Rev. Professor. Dickie as first principal was considered . MINIMUM STIPEND. Tho Rev. J. Pringle announced that tho Sustcntation Fund Committee hoped to be able to give a stipend of £-500 this year, in view of the more ■•onerous givings to the church. It was decided that the limit of tho amount of the grant [o any particular congregation ha not agreed to. Mr John Maun, who had been accepted for work in tho Maori mission field, was ordained to_ the ministry of the church by the laying on of hands. Professor Hewitson addressed the ordaince on the ‘ Prophetship of Life.’ YOUTH OF THE CHURCH. Tho Youth of tho Church report was (presented by tho Rev. A. B. Kilroy, who asked the moderator to present the medals and prizes won in tho Sunday school examinations, and diplomas in tho teacher training course. The report expressed thanks to the 4,300 Sunday school teachers and 900 Bible class leaders for their devoted and selfsacrificing labours, and joy at tho marked progress of tho teacher and tho lender. , Tho Rev. A. C. Wlutelaw, Bible crass travelling secretary, addressed tho assembly on his work. Tho Bible class movement had grown up in tho church as the expression of its youth, and in it was a tangible proof of the ideals of the young men and women of the dominion. Move would be asked of too Bible classes in the future than had been tho caso in tho past. Tho (pressing needs of the present were; (i) Attention to tho junior work to enable them to meet now conditions, and to capture tho young lor the service of their fellows; (2) the discovery and training of leaders; (3) the winning ot personal allegiance to Christ. It _ was necessary that the young people of the church should realise tho ideal of service’" in any honourable calling m Ido, and to such an ideal they re--siyonclhig wlion it was made ianTy firmly, "it was necessary to have faith in tlio youth of. .tho church. " MAORI MISSIONS. Tho Maori mission staff made a presentation to tlio Rev. J. A. Asher, who is retiring from the convcnersmp of tlio Maori Missions Committee. The gilt took tho form of a carved wahang stick symbolic of the Maori life and thought, and the junction between Maori and jmkeba. Mr Asher was also presented with a dressing case and au inkstand. . , It was announced that the missionary demonstration to be held in tho Auckland Town Hall on Monday evening will bo broadcast by IYA. At this palheiing home, Maori, and foreign missioiiE wifi ho discussed by workers in these llCkh ‘ NEW PROFESSOR. Tlio chair of Hebrew at Theological College, to which Dr S. F. Hunter (of Essemlon, Melbourne) has- been appointed, was made vacant by the retirement of tho Rev. Professor Gumming, who had held tho professorship for "nine years. Dr Hunter took his Mi.A. degree with second class honours in Senietic languages, and his B.D. at Glasgow University. At tho Melbourne College of Divinity ho took his B.D. with first class honours in Biblical and historical theology, and his D.D. by thesis. Ho won the James A. Paterson scholarship in Hebrew and Greek in 1910, tho John Clark Milo End scholarship for ihe post-graduate study of Scmcfcics, and the Glasgow University Oriental Society’s prize tor distinction in Arabic. At the conclusion of his course ho was first man in the Glasgow Theological College, and lie was "offered tho assistant professorship of Seme lie languages at Glasgow. Ur Hunter was minister of bt. Paul’s Church, Oamaru, I’rom August, 1915, to July, 1923. and is at (present minister of ono of the Impost cliurclic.? in Victoria.