PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20116, 29 November 1928, Page 13

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

WORK OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY CHOOSING OF MINISTERS. ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES LOCATED The annual sessions of tlio General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand were continued yesterday for the seventh day. The moderator, the Right Rev. Professor Ilewilson, presided. It was expected the business would end this morning, but it now seems possible that it may continue until to-morrow.

An overture from (he Auckland Presbytery asked for the setting up of a committee to deal with the whole subject of ministerial tenure and related matters. The overture proposed that while the right of call was safeguarded to congregations, a settlement committee should bo set up in each presbytery to keep in touch with ministers and congregations desiring a change, to collect and tabulate information, to see that vacant charges were filled, and to facilitate the transfer of -ministers.

Mr. H. B. Burnett said the proposal was the result of negotiations between the Auckland Officebearers' Association and the presbytery. There were often cases of hardship both to congregations and ministers, and the 'purpose of the present proposal was to try and remove these. The Church was :in a process of evolution in this matter of choosing ministers. He proposed that a committee should be set up to go into the whole question and report to the next assembly.

Successful Canadian Plan. The working of a similar system in Canada was explained by the Rev. W. Gilmour, of Edendale. It was a successful combination of the Methodist and Presbyterian principles.

On the motion of the Rev. L. H. Hunt the matter was referred to tho Home Mission Committee. He said they were all agreed that the present system was highly unsatisfactory. Tho report of the committee on reorganisation, already twice considered by the assembly, was again brought before it by the Eev. W. J. Comrie. An advisory board with a personnel of 27 to discharge the functions of the present finance committee was set up. It was decided that the locations of assembly committees be as follows Foreign missions, Auckknd; home missions, Auckland; Maori missions, Waikato; public questions, Dunedin; life and work, Southland; theological hall, Dunedin; youth of the Church, Christchurch; sustentation fund, Dunedin; beneficiary fund, Wellington; supply and appointments, Auckland; statistics, Wairarapa. Mr. Comrie said the reason for locating the hoipo missions, foreign missions and supply and appointments committees all in Auckland was largely personal, as the conveners of the committees had their homes here.

New Treasurer Appointed. The resignation of Mr. Comrie from the offico of church treasurei was accepted as from January 1 next, and he was granted a year's salary. The f.nance committee was directed to draw up a minute of appreciation of Mr. Comrie'a services. Mr. V. G. Chapman, of Wellington, his late assistant, was appointed as his successor at a salary of £SOO, with £IOO house allowance. Tho new treasurer was introduced to the moderator and was welcomed by the assembly. The Rev.. W. Mawscn was appointed foreign mission secretary until next assembly, and his salary increased to £SOO, with £IOO house allowance. The report of tho Beneficiary Fund Committee showed that tho credit balance on August 18, 1927, was £153,330. Tho income for the year had been £20,391, which included bequests amounting to £I7OO and £SOO received from the fire insurance fund. Tho expenditure had been £11,840, and £7E3 had been paid to members withdrawir.g from tho fund, leaving £7757 to bo added to capital, which now stood at £161,086. There were 283 contributors to the fund.

Tho Rev. A. B. Todd, of Wellington, who presented the report as convener of the committee, said he had !>ervcd 38 years on tho committes. He would like to remain as convener for another year because of tho impending changes in tho Church offices in Wellington. Tho annuities to ministers, wicows and children totalled £II,OOO, which was 7 per cent, of tho capital. Aid to Scots College.

A report on the Church collegse and their finance, submitted by tho Rev. Dr. Gibb, was heard in private. On Dr. Gibb's motion tho assembly agreed to make from the insurance fund a grant of £SOO a year for five years to Scots College, Wellington. Tho Women's Beneficiary Fund Committee reported an inconio of £1383, and capital of £8377. The fund had now reached a position cf stability. Mr. Conirio said tlio fund would shortly receive a bequest that would send it soaring into a very strong position. The report of tho publication:} committee submitted by the Rev. G. H. Jupp stated tho committee had rece.ved with much regret the resignation of Mr A. H. Grinling, who had filled tho position of editor of tho Outlook for 27 years. It was agreed to foiward to Mr. Grinling a letter expressing high appreciation of his work. Mr. Jupp said tho committee could see its way to make a temporary appointment to the editorial chair, but could not make a permanent recommendation as >et. Tho view that tho time was ripe for changing tho headquarters of tho publications committee was expressed by tho Rev. J. T. Macky, of Dannovirke. Ho also suggested tho appointment of a fulltime editor.

Tho Rev. L. H. Hunt, Mount Eden, proposed that the paper might be published fortnightly or monthly, instead of weekly. Women's Training Institute.

The report of the Women's Training Institute Committee, presented by the Rev. H. 11. Barton, Lawrence, was adopted. Mr. Barton paid a high tribute to the retiring superintendent of the institute, Sister Margaret, who is being succeeded by Miss M, Salmond.

The fact that the nvenues for servico for trained women wc.ro not opening up in the Church as might bo expected was deplored by tho Rev. G. Budd. It was a serious thing that there wore trained and competent women for whom thero were no positions available in the Church. The Church's gratitude to Sister Margaret was expressed by tho moderator, while the assembly stcod in heir honour. Tho Rev. Tulloch Yuille, of Knox Church, Duncdin. was appointed to re present tho Church in Edinburgh next vcar on the occasion of tho union of ie Church of Scotland and tho United Free Church.;