PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 295, 10 November 1934, Page 12

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. MANY SUBJECTS DISCUSSED. PROCEDURIToF APPEAL. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Nov. 9. The Presbyterian General Assembly to-day considered a resolution from the Auckland Presbytery recommending that an official statement be prepared making clear the Church’s position with regard to British Israeiism, this resolution proceeding from an Auckland petitioner’s request for a full investigation of the claims that the Anglo-Saxon people are God’s ancient people of Israel. It was finally resolved to appoint a committee to prepare a resolution reporting to a later session of the Assembly, but there was a considerable discussion. Rev. James Milne mentioned the desirability of toleration and the Assembly Clerk said the Church was prepared to tolerate the views of these people, but were they prepared to tolerate the Church’s views ?

Rev. Mr Steele (Duntroon) declared it would he regrettable if the impression were given that the Church regarded British Israeiism as a serious danger.

In presenting the report on the Theological Hall, Rev. D. C. Herron said the committee was jealous of the doctrines preached and had no misgivings about Dr Dickie’s teachings. The type of criticism levelled at Dr Dickie tended to become an obsession. Wherever he was known or heard Dr Dickie reassured the people and in future his work for the Church would be fully recognisd. An echo of the dissension at St. Andrew’s (Palmerston North), in which the Assembly reversed (on the appeal of the minister) the decision of the Wanganui Presbytery, was heard when that presbytery presented an overture seeking a revision of the present prooedure of appeal, giving the congregations direct representation at appeals. It was decided to submit the overture to the judicial committee to prepare a report for the next Assembly. Mr W. B. Tennent spoke in support of the overture. He said the matter really arose out of a special meeting of the Assembly in December last in relation to the dispute in St. Andrew’s Church. This was probably the first case in which such an appeal had been heard and he held that the system laid down in the. Book of Order failed. He did not desire to reverse the decision of the December meeting, but he did wish to amend the regulations so as to give the congregation involved adequate representation before the Assembly. Too much reliance was laid on how the case was presented and too little on the facts. Mr Tennent’s speech was in excellent taste and made a marked impression on the Assembly. Rev. John Paterson spoke from the point of view of the Presbytery of Wanganui, urging that no minister in such a case as that of Palmerston North should be made the prosecutor of his brother minister. He said that in involved cases a judical committee of the Assembly should investigate all documents before the meeting of the. Assembly. The public questions committee’s report was presented by Rev. F. H. Wilkinson. Regret was expressed that the Government was not alive to the menace of gambling. A film committee was working in Wellington, and efforts were being made to support a better class of film. The matter of freedom of speech was one to be safeguarded vigilantly. Rev. D. hi- Martin spoke of a petition in process of signature asking for fuller rights for discussion of matters over the radio. A North Auckland speaker mentioned the restrictions on civil servants. It was agreed to urge Presbyterians to safeguard the rights of freedom of speech. Rev. J. R. Blanchard moved : “That the Assembly express unswerving opposition to any proposal calculated to spread and intensify the gambling spirit, and exhort all members to cultivate the Christian principle of stewardship of money so that the spirit of gambling may pass from the hearts of men.” It was decided to set up a committee on marriage and divorce. Rev. J. D. Smith pointed out that New Zealand divorces are six times as many as in England and Wales. Mr Smith urged that ministers should carefully instruct their young people in the principles of marriage and he urged the preparation of a pamphlet on the matter which might be used by the minister. Rev. Mr Paterson urged that where a divorced party sought to make a second honourable start in marriage the Church should not withhold its blessing. It was pointed out that in 1921 the Assembly made a pronouncein6lit; along tho lines of IMr Paterson s contention. Mr H. H. Barton presented the report of the Women’s Missionary Training Institute. He emphasised the fact that the students came more and more from the whole of the Dominion. A very fine type of woman was asking for training. A woman workers’ superannuation fund had been established, but was not very strong yet. Of the £SOOO capital required only £BB4 was in hand. It was urgently necessary to secure the necessary capital Mr Barton emphasised that this fund , was separate from the women s beneficiary fund which was for foreign missionaries! The Church was not yet awake to the importance of the work.