FOREIGN MISSIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20720, 13 November 1930, Page 5

FOREIGN MISSIONS.

PRESBYTERIAN WORK. PROGRESS IN HARD TIMES. The need for taking a broad view of missionary work throughout tho world was stressed by tho Rev. George Budd, Moderator of the General Assembly, at (he annual meeting ol tlie Auckland Presbyterial Association, held in St. David's Church yesterday afternoon. Mr. Budd paid a tribute to the work of the Missionary Union, which, he said, was very largely responsible for tho interest being taken in missions by the Church in general. A danger to be avoided was to let tho "homo base" shrink. Mr. Budd advocated a greater use of deaconesses by the city churches in their work.

The Rev. Morgan Richards, Moderator of the Presbytery, who presided, said that in the year past very satisfactory work had been accomplished in view of the difficult economic situation. The annual report, presented by the secretary, Miss M. Rhodes, stated that there were now 40 branches and the membership was 968. Several branches showed an increase in membership and all had reported a year of steady work. The funds for the year totalled £lol3, about £B7 more than the receipts for the ]2 months ended June 30, 1929. Of that sum, £205 had been allotted to home missions, £96 to Maori missions, £133 to tlifi Maori Mission Birthday League, £530 to foreign missions, and £lO2 to the semijubilee thank-offering. In addition to work among the Maoris, sums of money and goods had been sent to India and Santo. The fact that the semi-jubilee of the Presbyterian Women's Mission Union had just been reached was mentioned by Mrs. 0. W. Webster, who said that it was on November 9, 1905, in Auckland that the constitution of the union was adopted, following on a conference of representatives of the four provincial unions then in existence. The union had grown until in 1929 there were 7951 members and about £13.000 was raised. The election of officers resulted as follows President, Mrs. T. Mackv; vicepresidents, Mrs. W. Mawson, Mrs. G. Cruickshank, Mrs. I. E. Bertram, Mrs. W J. Ryeburn and Miss M. Young; secretary, Miss M. Rhodes; assistant secretary, Miss M. Galloway; treasurer, Mrs. A. Henderson.