ANGLICAN MISSIONS

Evening Star, Issue 21233, 14 October 1932, Page 3

ANGLICAN MISSIONS

DUNEDIN DIOCESAN COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES OF THE YEAR The annual report and statement ol receipts and expenditure ol tlio Dunedin Diocesan Missionary Committee were submitted to yesterday afternoon’s sitting of Ihe Anglican Synod. 'The report read as follows: “Jn a year of such widespread financial difficulty it is not surprising that tlic whole amount required should not have been attained, and it is a matter of thankfulness that so much real interest lias been shown and so much sclf-sacriliec made on behalf ot the church's missions. The total amount received was £1,123 Is -Id, of which £1,383 3s 9d was on behalf of the budget. Tlie total amount budgeted for was £1,934, so that wo tell short by tho sum of £550 Ids 3d. “ The executive of the board, realising that if the whole amount ninied at were to bo obtained, a special eflort would be necessary, planned and put into being a missionary ( crusade throughout the dominion. J his was very effectively carried out in tins diocese. Four commissioners from Christchurch and Nelson dioceses —viz.. Archdeacon Haggitt and tlic Bevs. F. B. Redgrave, F. J. Baynes, and G. H. Schurr—visited during the last two weeks of April practically every parish, encouraging and inspiring clergy and people and improving parochial organisations. The diocesan secretary, the Rev. W. A. Hamblett, likewise visited parishes in South Canterbury in tho last week of May. Probably the lateness of the crusade prevented the full fruits of the eflort being gathered, but its effect should bo manifest in the present year also. “In August the Rev. W. Wilson Cash (general secretary in London ol the Church Missionary Society) paid a short visit to ibis diocese, spending part of two days in Dunedin. A splendidly attended meeting was hold in the Early Settlors’ Hall, and (wo other engagements of note were his addresses to the students of Otago L Diversity and the scholars of the Otago Boys’ High School. “In November the committee arranged a tour of nine of the principal parishes, and of all tho Maori settlements, for tlic Bishop of Aotearoa. The bishop gave a number of admirable illustrated lectures concerning tlic earthquake in Hawke’s Bay, and about £SO was contributed thereby to the Waiapu Church renovation fund. “The committee, in view of the very great dclicioncy which is found to exist in tho diocesan quota at the beginning of June (the last month ol the missionary year) earnestly requested parish treasurers to forward all missionary moneys quarterly to the diocesan missionary .treasurer. “The committee, in conclusion, thanks all vicars, box secretaries, collectors, and treasurers, and nil _ contributors for their endeavours in tho year just closed, and earnestly asks for their best efforts to roach the amount of £1,710, which is tho budget quota for the year ou which wc are now entered.” In moving the adoption of tho report and statement of receipts and expenditure, the Rev. W. A. Hamblett said they were passing through a difficult period, but nevertheless they were, as a synod, being asked to agree to do tlioir best, to raise £1,710 for tho board’s missionary work. This appeal was not being made unnecessarily or for an excessive amount, fn surveying tho missionary work he was sure that the people were seized with tlic value of the church. It seemed to him. however, that much of the work was being done by church societies and not by the church" as a whole. Numerous missionary societies outside tlic church had come into existence, and it seemed to show clearly that the church was lagging behind in -what God had willed for her. The spirit of God was calling for missionary work to bo accomplished, and if the church did not come lorward God would raise up others to do His work. He did not think that the amount of £1,7]0 was too much to ask from _ this diocese. It would be noticed in the papers that 900 people had travelled to Lawrence on Daffodil Day, and that similar excursion trains had left from the West Coast to come over to tho East Coast. Visiting artists had received great patronage in this city, and as all men- patrons could not possibly be heathens it followed that there was still money to spend. There was a call to the church, and particularly to church members wlvo had means, to assist in world-wide evangelisation. The Rev. A. T. Newman seconded the motion. Ho remarked that if every member of tlic synod, clergy, and laity would go back to their parishes and try to carry out tho message Mr Hamblett had laid before the synod—tho call from God for the evangelisation of the world—they would not fall far short of tho sum they were asked to find this year for missionary work. The Rev. F. C. Long, general secretary of the Hoard of Missions, Wellington. said lie would not like that opportunity to go hv without Hanking the diocese for what it had done during the past year. Much depended on the lead given by (ho vicar in his_ parish and mi the lead given by tho bishop—in that connection he thanked Bishop Richards for his support of the missionary movement —and he was glad to say there was not a bishop in New Zealand who did not say that missionary work was the first work of the church. He also thanked t,he parishes that had worked so well in such difficult times as tho present. Two or three of tho parishes had given large amounts, such as St. Matthew’s (Dunedin). St. John’s (Invercargill), Oaniarn, and the cathedral, and quite a number had paid their quota. Mr Long also thanked the parishioners for their support, and paid a tribute to St. Hilda's School lor its donation of £sl 7s Gd. ( Applause.t Although the church had done well in regard to missions, it ought to have done more. hi tho last nine years it had practically stood still, both m tho diocese ami in tho province, and in tho iast two years, no doubt owing to the slump, it had actually dropped back. The speaker compared the missionary work of tlic church with similar work of other churches and bodies, and said that as a church they must lose all complacency when they reflected on such a comparison. He also addressed himself to the effect of short payments towards missionary work in far countries. and emphasised that additional helpers should lie secured for tho mission field. The motion was agreed to. The following resolutions were carried:— (1) “That tlie appeal of the Diocesan Missionary Committee for £1,711) ho heartily endorsed by Synod.” (2) “ That tlie synod recommends that tho collections on Good Friday be devoted to tho Jerusalem and the East Mission.”