PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20114, 27 November 1928, Page 11

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

PROGRESS MADE AT SCHOOLS. NEW APPOINTMENT REJECTED. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand continued its sessions at St. David's Church yesterday, the Moderator, the Right Rev. Professor W. Hewitson, presiding. The morning was largely devoted to consideration of Hie report of the Board of Education. The report reviewed the year's activities of the following church colleges:—St. Cuthbert's, Auckland; lona, Hawke's Bay; Solwav, Masterton; Queen Margaret's and Scots, Wellington; St. Andrew's, C'lnistchurch; and Columba and John McGlashan, Dunedin. "We believe that our colleges are fulfilling an important function in the life of our Church and nation, and are attaining in no small measure to the ideal set before them at their inception namely, a sound education in a Christian environment," stated the report. "1 hey are taking an honourable place among the secondary schools of New Zealand in scholarship, in athletics, and not least, in character-building. There are encouraging signs that the difficulties occasioned by the wave of financial depression throughout tho Dominion are passing. but the burden of debt upon our college boards is still heavy." The committee suggested that tho Church should set itself to raise a substantial endowment fund for the relief of the colleges. Colleges Well Served. The Church might be well satisfied with tho progress made by tho colleges and with tho reports submitted by examiners upon them, said the Rev. W. R. Hutchison (Rangioia), convener of the Board of Education Committee, who presented the report. The colleges were fulfilling the aim of their existence in teaching the pupils not only how to know but howto live. .\t his instance it was agreed to forward to .Miss Margaret Mollison a letter of cordial appreciation of her services to the, colleges. Tho motion for the adoption of the report was seconded by the Rev. W. Bower Black, of Christchurch. who said the standard attained by the staffs of their colleges was very high. Tho Church wanted the academic side stressed ami it also wanted supremely tho Christian side emphasised. fie saw no reason why young men should not undertake service in those colleges in the same spirit as men entered the ministry.

The Moderator saicJ the Minister of Education. the Hon. R. A. Wright, had recognised that there was a distinct place in the education system for Church schools. .Nothing could be said too warm in praise of Miss Mollison's self-denying labour. She was a woman who radiated peace, a wise and good woman. Dr. Gibb was a man who always astonished him with his capacity for work, and he had done a very great day's work for the colleges of the Church. The report and recommendations were adopted. Church Organisation. Members of a deputation fiom Wellington were heard by the Assembly in committee on behalf of the Wellington colleges, and a representative committee was set tip in consider tho financial position of the Church schools and report. Further consideration of tlie proposals to rearrange the organisation of the Church was given by the Assembly at lis afternoon session. Ihe debate was resumed on tho proposal that a general secretary should be appointed, that his office should be combined with that of home mission superintendent. and that he should bo located in Wellington. After the debate had proceeded for a time it. was decided to consider separately the appointment of a general secretary. Tho proposal was opposed by the Rev. Dr. Gibb. of Wellington, on the ground that it was unnecessary. The Advisory Board set up was not an executive body, and therefore required no official secretary. Their church was already burdened with a sufficient number of paid officials. Ihe assembly clerk was already discharging the secretarial work of the ( hurch. 'I hey had managed exceedingly well in the past without a general secretary and would continue to do so. Opposition to the proposal was also expressed by the Rev. F. W. Robertson. There was no answer to tho question what tho duties of tho general secretary were to be. Important Work To-day. Tho Rev. .T. Rybtini, in opposing the proposal, said the Home Mission superintendent to whom it was proposed to io\e the tie w position was already as fully occupied with his work as any man :n the Chin'h. In support of the proposal the I!ev. fj. If. Hunt, said they were not appointing an additional officer, but saving one. There was great need of a personality who would act as a link between the assembly arid the various presbyteries. Other speakers spoke against fho proposal, including the F!ev. .T. Paterson. who referred to it as " a galvanised corpse."

After tho Rev. W. ,7. Connie, who was in charge of tho report, had replied to criticisms a vote was taken, and the proposal to appoint a general secretary was rejected. Mr. Connie said this was the most vital proposil in the report. A number of minor proposals bearing on assembly representation and tho rqjiduet of its business were adopted. The assembly agreed to send cordial messages of sympathy in their illness to the Revs. G. Lochore. of Whangarei, the Rev. M. Miller, of Ilelensville, and the Rev. J. C. Paterson, of Lincoln.