PRESBYTERS ASSEMBLY

Evening Star, Issue 22805, 13 November 1937, Page 27

PRESBYTERS ASSEMBLY

SCHEME TO RAISE STIPENDS SUPPLY OF STUDENTS WELL MAINTAINED [Special to the ‘ Stak.’] AUCKLAND, November 12. A scheme to raise the stipends of ministers to a minimum of £3OO, and of homo missionaries to £2OO was put before the Presbyterian Assembly to-day by the committee on the principles governing stipends. The scheme involved the establishment and maintenance of a ministry fund thrqugh the church’s budget scheme. Out of this fund a congregation’s payments should be subsidised to give ministers a minimum of £3OO and ordained and married home missionaries £2OO per annum, with manse and adequate car allowance, which the committee suggested should be £l2 10s per 1,000 miles. Moving this the Ilev. A. M. MTarlane said there were 38 ministers getting less than the present theoretical minimum of £2BO, and 127 getting less than £3OO. • An alternative was suggested by the Rev. M. H. Feist, who ■ advocated the shaping of another scheme or schemes based on analogy of the present paymen ts_ to foreign missionaries. Asking why missionaries were paid according to their needs, and the competitive system perpetuated in the homo church, Mr Feist said it w'as not the highly paid ministers who were responsible, nor the congregations who wanted to give them good salaries, but the church had compromised with the ways of the world. “We have an opportunity of witnessing to Christ through our handling of money, and wo should not miss the opportunity.” Another amendment was moved by Dr J. D. Salmond and carried. Its effect is that the matter be referred to the Sessional Committee to report back to Assembly. “It is disgraceful,” said Dr Salmond, “ that we pay only £lB2 to home missionaries who do such fine work, and are bringing up families in these days when all prices are rising.” He also sqid the church should keep the problem in mind, as these issues had to, be faced. The community wanted to see in the church an organisation which put into actual practice the Gospel of Christ. The supply of students for the Ministry of the Presbyterian Church was being well maintained, said the Rev. D. C. Herron, presenting the,report of the Theolojgieal Hall’ Committee, but did not always meet the demand. He yrged ministers to watch for likely young men for the ministry. He regretted having to say goodbye to Professor Collie from the chair of New Testament studies. He was pleased to report three generous legacies for students for the ministry—£l,ooo from a member of the Remuera Church, £2,000 from a member of Parnell Church, and £I,OOO from a member of Roslyn Church; also a scholarship of £2O to, £3O from a Geraldine elder.

The Rev. H. A. Mitchell (Roslyn) said there had been real enrichment of the spiritual life of students in the pa.sk year. Students were looking for work, and the city ministers could get much assistance from them. THE NEW ' OUTLOOK.* “ The ‘ Out look ’ is dead; long live the ‘ Outlook,’ ” said Dr J. D. Salmond, presenting the last report of the ‘ Outlook ’ Committee of Dunedin. “ Next year the new ‘ Outjook ’ will be published in Christchurch. High praise of the ‘ Outlook ’ hs heard even from overseas, one minister saying it was the best of all the, church papers which came to him.” Speakers paid high tribute to Mr W. H. Adams, who for more than 40 years had served the church finely as honorary publisher of the ‘ Outlook.’ Mr J. Dick said he had lived for the Outlook,’ and all his work had never put a penny in his pockets. . Assembly carried a motion of appreciation and thanks unanimously, and with acclamation. On the motion of Dr Salmoud a tribute was paid also to the retiring editor, the Rev. 6. H. Jiipp, who carried on this as "well as the work of a parish for many years. Dr Dickie said few men had rendered better service to the church. He had never lost his freshness and enthusiasm. R.W.M.U. MEETING. The animal meeting of the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union was held in St. David’s Church this afternoon. There was a largo attendance of delegates from all over New Zealand. The Right Rev. W. H. Howes, moderator, presided, and opened the meeting with devotional exercises. He expressed appreciation of the work of the various branches, and congratulated the union on what had been accomplished. He introduced Dr A. L. Sutherland, of Jagadhrx, India, who had recently arrived on furlough. Dr Sutherland, in an address, expressed. his and. Mrs Sutherland’s pleasure at occupying the Auckland missionary manse, and at the warm welcome accorded them. He then gave a graphic description of hospital life in India, much of which was Good Samaritan work. The difficulties of medical work were many. Most of the work centred in Jagadhri Hospital, where there were 60 beds, holding about 1,000 patients each year, and an outpatient department registering an annual attendance of about 15,000. He was assisted in his work by Dr Harvie, one of New Zealand’s trained sisters, Miss Elliott, and an Indian assistant. Besides these there were scleral untrained helpers.

OPEN DOOR MANDATE. An active debate was aroused ai the evening session on international relations, and a resolution favouring the extension of the mandate system to cover all colonial territory dependencies was adopted. The llev. P. M. Wilkinson suggested that New Zealand should place the lloss Sea dependency under the League of Nations to indicate its willingness to share in its resources. The Rev. J. D. Smith said an open door mandate was the only way out of the dispute over the possession of territories with backward peoples. The Assembly would not accept the committee’s proposal that the Dominion should consult the League of Nations on its armament programme, and passed on to the next clause. It expressed hearty appreciation of Mr Jordan’s work on the League Assembly, but declined to discuss conscientious objection to compulsory military service. NEW EDITOR. The appointment of the Rev. L. M. Rogers as editor-manager ot the new ‘ Outlook ’ was confirmed.