PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17094, 25 February 1919, Page 6

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS.

THE WAR WANDERLUST.

LIQUOR REFERENDUM.

[Br TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. At the Presbyterian Goneral Assembly to-day, Chaplain Ronald Watson said it was very necessary to give careful consideration to the theological students of the Church, who returned from tho war, in order that they should fit themselves foi- the ministry as soon as possiblo. The restlessness of the military life, tho wanderlust, together with the absence of books, made it difficult for a man who had been at the front to get down to study again to keep his " nose to the grindstone. " The Church now was represented in tho Free (Jhufch College, Glasgow, by fine students of strong tnnstuui cnarac ter. It was wise to send students to the Old Country, as thero they got into touch with the gTeat social and Labour proolems. It was wise, also,- to keep in touch with tho students. When ho was attending a meetiue of the I'resbyterian chaplains in France, proposals lorwnrded by the Theological Committee " blew in" on them like a refreshing breeze. The chaplain spoke highly of General Richardson's kindness in giving three Presbyterian students in tho ranks an opportunity to attend the Free Church College at Ulas-

gow. The assembly decided to establish a fund to help soldier studbnU and to commend it to the sympathy and liberality of the people. The Theological Committee was instructed to prepare a booklet on the claims >of the ministry, and to bring the claims before young men; also to make arrangements for continuing thp studies of students on active sen-ice.

The committee recommended that as Dr. Watt, professor of Hebrew at Knox College, has announced his intention to resign at the close of next session a committee should be appointed to confer with the synod of Otago, Southland, as to his successor.

The no-license question was brought under the notice of the assembly by the Revs. J. J. North and S. Lawry, of the New Zealand Alliance, who attended a 8 a deputation to ask the assembly to put its full strength into the campaign. Mr. North said it was recognised that the Presbyterian Church had done tremendous work for the cause.

The Rev. A. C. Lawry said the cause on April 10 might hang on a single vote, and every Christian man and woman should be sure that his and her vote counted.

The assembly thanked the deputation and expressed strong appreciation of the objects of the alliance. The invitation of the Invercargill Presbytery for the assembly to hold its 1919 meeting in Invercargill was accepted. It was decided to remit for the consideration of presbyteries a proposal that assistant ministers should bo granted a seat on the courts of the Church.

It was decided to urge sessions and presbyteries to hold decision days to bring to a personal decision for Christ young and old. and especially the young people of the Sabbath school. It was agreed to remit to presbyteries for consideration a proposal to provide for junior membership in the Church. It was resolved that no more students !be admitted to the course for home missionaries in the theological hall after 1921. Motions expressing the assembly's gratification with the signing of the armistice, and the near approach of peace, and with the formation of a League of Nations, were agreed to.