IMMIGRANT CHURCHMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6495, 15 April 1908, Page 6

IMMIGRANT CHURCHMEN

I'HEY SOMETIMES GET LOSr. PRESBYTERY IS ANXIOUS. The fate of the immigrant church man has heen exercising tho mind tf tho Wellington Presbytery for .some time past. Many members of the Presbyterian Church, it is believed, are not promptly seized upon on their arrival in this Dominion, and tho result is that, in some cases that they are received into other churab.es with welcome, and become members of them. Committees have been set up by Presbytery at different times to take charge of new arrivals in the oity, and the names of several members have been sent Homo to tho Old Country to facilitate introductions as an ;s----sistanco t'i persons on the point of emigrating; but in spite of these measures members of tho Presbytery yesterday admitted that there was still a considerable leakage of immigrant Presl.yterians To other churches. The Rev. W. Shirer said he knew there were such defections to the Church of England and the Wesleyan Cki.rch. He knew of four or live families who had gone over in this manner. Although ho recognised t.h>; nee'i of having city missionaries to do this s it of work, that did not relie-ze the city ministers or the Presbptery of their duty in welcoming immigrants. Mr. Shirer was appointed convener of the committee.