PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Evening Star, Issue 23553, 17 April 1940, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

ANNUAL MEETING OF SYNOD FOR OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND REV. C. J. TOCKER NEW MODERATOR The Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland, held yesterday, was presided over by the retiring Moderator (Rev. G. P. Mitchell) at the morning commencement, the Rev. O. J. Tocker (Invercargill) elected Moderator for the ensuing year, later presiding. The Rev. A. L. Miller, minister of the Chinese Church in Dunedin, was elected Moderator-designate. ■ Next Synod meeting was fixed for April 22, 1941, at First Church. «. CHURCH COLLEGES. A deputation consisting of members of the Boards of Governors of Columba and M'Glashan Colleges waited on Synod to give a report of the activities of the two colleges. Dr Elder, chairman of the Board of Governors of Columba College, expressed the sincere thanks of the board for all that Synod had done for the college. Without its generous assistance the school simply could not exist. The question often arose whether a school of this kind was of value to the church and the comumunity. Criticism was frequently levelled at private schools that they only existed for the rich, but he was convinced that if the school was well enough _ endowed it would institute scholarships to allow the children of poorer people to attend the school. Mr T. C. Ross, chairman of the Board of Governors of M'Glashan College, said that in times like the present the world more and more needed the. leadership of people with a definite Christian background. He expressed the thanks of the board to Mr and Mrs M'Nab for their help and inspiration at the school, particularly during the period following the recent fire at the college, and said that; the board had gratefully given Mr M‘Nab leave of absence to go overseas for military service. Mr M'Nab referred to the recent opinion expressed by Dr Cyril Norwood, the eminent English head that the war would mean the extinction of the great public schools, and said that, while economies and changes would occur, he firmly believed that_ any institutions which prepared children for life would not be allowed to die. If they went on as they were doing now they must be indestructible. Synod passed a resolution expressing appreciation of the services of the boards and staffs of the colleges and trusting that they would enjoy increasing prosperity. FINANCE COMMITTEE.

The Finance Committee reported as follows:—The factor’s statement of ac-, counts shows that the available surplus from the educational fund on December 31, 1939, was £991 14s 3d. In accordance with the resolution of Synod, three-fifths of this amount, £595 Os 6d, was paid to John M'Glashan College, and two-fifths, £396 13s 9d, to the Board of Columba College. The committee . recommends that the available surplus as at December 31, 1940, be paid over in the same proportions. A statement will be submitted to the Synod showing the moneys now availtable for payment off grants. We would draw the attention of Synod to the heavy drain on our available income during recent years by the voting of special grants running into many thousands. Having in mind the generous help given over a period of years by'" these special grants, we feel now that, only in very urgent cases ishould presbyteries send on applications for special grants to Synod. The total of ordinary grants for manse and church repairs, and special grants, during the last 12 months runs into a sum well beyond the income for that period. The committee has considered the present special grants, and, while bringing down’ generous recommendations, holds out no promise that similar generous treatment will be accorded in future. The Finance Committee greatly appreciates the splendid service being rendered to the Synod and the church by the members of the Church Board of Property, . , , The report was received, and a resolution was passed expressing the Svnod’s appreciation of the work of Mr J. M. Didk in the interests of Synod and the Finance Committee in particular. WORK IN CHINA. The work of the Presbyterian mission in China, with its attendant difficulties due to the conflict with Japan, was referred to by the Rev. 6. H. M'Neur, senior missionary in China, in the course of a brief address to Synod. He said that the mission was facing a new beginning in China, but it was not facing it in despair. He urged the church to consider sending out young men to the field because it was on the young men that the church had to depend in the future. 1 Mr M'Neur said that he had been disturbed by the report of the last General Assembly that financial considerations might mean the possibility of a reduction in the hospital and medical work of the mission in China. That very work, he said, had enabled the mission to carry on; if they were not carrying that on they would have been turned out of China long ago. There was a danger of thinking that medical work was lower than evangelical work, whereas it was actually evangelism. Carried out in the right spirit, it was the most effective form or evangelism at the present time. Mr M'Neur was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address. THEOLOGICAL HALL. The report of the Theological Hall Committee was moved by the Rev. D. C. Herron, who said that, partly due to the outbreak of war, they might expect a considerable drop in numbers in the future. Several students in the Dominion had already enlisted, and while their service would be missed by the church in the meantime those spared to return would gain experience by their contact with their fellow men. The committee was gratified to report that the staff of the Theological Hall had been temporarily strengthened by the appointment for three years of the Rev. Helmut Reihbein, who had been given full ministerial status by the General Assembly. The report was adopted. MISSIONS REPORT. ' The report of the Foreign Missions Committee stated that definite efforts had been made to secure a suitable man for the work of colportage in Otago and Southland, but the efforts ■ had been unsuccessful, and it was considered unwise at the present time to pursue the matter further. The report was adopted and the following committee was appointed for the ensuing year:—The Revs. H. H. Barton (convener), J. T. Y. Steele, A. 0.

Bowman, Messrs J. C. Kirkness and H. R. Wise. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. The following committees were appointed ; Bills and Business.—The Revs. J. G. 8. Dunn (convener), T. G. Campbell, H. A. Mitchell, Dr Gumming, _ and Messrs W. H. Adams and J. M. Didk. Judicial.—The Revs. J. G. S. Dunn (convener), S. C. Read, H. J. Ryburn, Dr Gumming, and Messrs J. M. Dick and R. L. Fairmaid.