PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 29 March 1938, Page 8

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

CENTENARY THANKSGIVING SCHEME CAMPAIGN TO RAISE £300.000 i,v 1 clcgraph Press Association) AUCKLAND, 28th March. I A campaign' to raise a fund of : £300.000 as a centenary thanksgiving scheme for the celebration of the centenary of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand in 1940 was launched in •Auckland to-night, when a large and enthusiastic gathering packed St. David’s Hall. Those present included members of the- Auckland Presbytery, office-bearers and interested supporters representative of Auckland congregations. The meeting was presided <*>ver by the moderator of the Auckland Presbytery, the Rev. R. N. Alley. In extending a welcome to the gathering. Mr Alley said such a fine attendance promised well for the success of the groat cause to which they had set ’ themselves. 1 They had set out to attain something more than a material end. It was something which had a spiritual end and a spiritual basis. "In the brief space of 100 years many churches and manses have been built," and the Rev'. R. G. McDowall. That has involved large capital expenditure which congregations have had to provide by way of loans. They bear ordinary rates of interest, and repayments, with interest, mean a heavy burden which Hampers the work of the church. The total burden of debt is more than £200,006." ‘ ' "I feel our scheme is one of the most vital importance to our church,” said Mr, S. J. Harbutt. chairman of the committee appointed by the General Assembly to carry out the scheme. The objective was to raise £300,000 to be used', first to liquidate the debt, and secondly to provide for the future. The scheme set a task to. every congregation to strive to wipe off its own debt during the next three years. A welcome was extended to Mr J Henry Lang, who will direct the campaign throughout the Dominion. Mi Lang expressed confidence in the project and exhorted members to give whole-hearted support to the campaign.”