PRESBYTERIAN FOREIGN MISSIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19969, 10 December 1926, Page 7

PRESBYTERIAN FOREIGN MISSIONS.

REPORTS ON CHINA SITUATION. AN IMPROVEMENT. The monthly meeting of the Presbyterian Foreign Missions Committee was held on Tuesday evening, when the Rev. G. H. Jupp presided. The sympathy of the committee was expressed in connection with the death of Mrs James Baird, of Invercargill, who rendered notable service to the missionary cause for many years, particularly as president of the Southland Prcsbytcrial Association of the Women’s Missionary Uniom Arrangements were made for the Rev Or. H. M'Neur to visit the North Auckland Presbytery on deputation in February, and other North Island Presbyteries in March. Later on—in May, June, and July of next year—it is proposed to hold a combined missionary campaign, in. which the foreign, Home, and Maori Mission Committees aie being asked to join. The Secretary reported the preparation of a pamphlet entitled “New Zealand s Missionary Task’’ for use in connection with the report of the New Zealand Missionary Conference, which has been adopted as the mission study book lor 1927. . In accordance with authority given by the General Assembly, the committee appointed representatives to the National Missionary Council, which meets in Wellington on February 17—namely, Mcsdamcs Robb (Auckland) and R. S. Allan (Dunedin), Revs. G. H. Jupp and H. H. Barton. The thanks of the committee were accorded to Mr and Mrs 11. C. Campbell retiring members; to the honorary medical referee. Dr W J. Porteons; to the general treasurer and his staff; to the editors of the church papers and the local press. Members newly appointed by the Assembly were welcomed (including Mrs Swann, who was present for the first time). The executive was instructed to prepare a special minute of appreciation in connection with the coming-of-ago o. the P.W.M.U., and particularly thanking the union for the provision of missionary manses or rest homes in Dunedin and Auckland for missionaries on furlough.Mr F. L. Law, Chinese evangelist, reported on a successful visit to Greyraouth. Dr A. L. Warnshuis, secretary of the International Missionary Council, wrote expressing deep interest in the National Missionary Conference held in Dunedin in April, and in the formation of the National Missionary Conference held in Dunedin in April, and in the formation of the National Missionary Council, tie commended to the atention o fthosc interested in missions the “International Review of Missions and the “Bulletin” of the International Missionary Council. It was reported that a farewell tea had been held by the committee in Dunedin m connection with the departure of the Kev. F H and Mrs Wilkinson and of Miss A. D. Hancock; and the Rev. W. Mawson wrote advising the committee that a iaige and interested audience in St. Davicl s Hal . Auckland, had been addressed by the Rc%. J D MTvenzio (who has just returned from a visit to the New Hebrides), and had then resolved itself into a farewell meeting in connection with the dcpaiture for China on the follow ng day (December 3) of Mr and Mrs Wilkinson and family and Nurses E. E. Goodson and D. RobertS °The Candidates Sub-committee reported in regard to the number of students who were preparing for missionary work abrod. It was pointed out that these offers of service were a strong challenge , church to do its part in them and. in making it possible or them *° F 1 dertake the task to which they willing to consecrate themselves. FINANCE. Accounts were passed for payment totalling £206 5s 7d, and donations ledged with thanks, totalling £286 3s Bd. Incfuded in the latter. were; Anonymous, for evangelistic work in the Canton Lagos Mission, especially in connection with the Key Institute, £SO; bequest late M ss Irvine, £SO; North-East \ a 11 ®? fu’ £IOB 7s 5d It was reported that tlio General Assembly had agreed to t 'e new scale for missionaries salaries and allow ai.ces, to come into force as from Octobc 1926 It was also reported that the Assembly had' resolved that oue-tenth of the receipts for the last 10 years to the capital or legacies fund, apart from amounts iHd under special trusts .should bo annually trarisfered to the working acounts INDIAN MISSION. High &hS bO The a ßev ho W m” Ryburn t was the hostel would be finished before Chrhtmns. The Minister o M» tion. a Hindu gentleman visited the school recently, and seemed well, pleased with it Mr Ryburn is now issuing in Urdu a school journal along the lines of the New Zealand School Journal, and it is meeting ItMBLTiSi si r- t 0 *• lishment of industrial work in connection with the mission, one proposal being to co-operate with the American Presbyterian Mission For this work an appeal has been Sadi tor a suitable missionary a man with practical mechanical ability and experience and of sound business capacity b Tlfe CU. Gray is now engaged in a nost-graduate course in Glasgow, and ex nects to sail for New Zealand, with his wife S 'family, for the rest of h,s furlough early in January. CHINA. Letters from the Rev. H. Davies the secretary of the Canton Mission, and from Dr John Kirk indicate a steadily impioving condition of affairs in the mission district The blockade of Hongkong and the open boycott of British goods, etc., closed on October 10 as the Canton Government had promised, and communication between Canton and Hongkong was reopened. The Chinese are now once more free to come and go on the Shameen. Chinese employees are back at work tneie, and household servants can again bc engaged. “The policy of the British Government.” writes Dr. John Kirk, “is still obviously one of continued patience, and 1 believe it will meet with the reward it deserves. The naval engagement with the Chinese troops at Wanhsien made very little impression at all here, tor the simple reason that the Chinese troops involved were on the side of Wu Pei-fu, who is the enemy of the southern forces. We are very much enjoying the resumption of our work as usual at Kang Qhnen . . Wc are all well and happv.” Writing on October 28. the Rev H. Davies stated that conditions continued to improve: there was no hindrance to coming and going: trade relations had been reopened, and business on Shameen was said to be approaching normal again. Indications were in favour of a readjustment of international relations on a friendly basis. . The only thing feared was the increase of banditry, and the British authorities were strongly averse to women going into the interior. Kang Chuen. however, is only 12 miles from Canton, and can hardly be said to belong to the interior. Dr E. W. Kirk wrote announcing his departure for his new position as professor of anatomy in the Changsha Medical School, Hunan, on October 9. It was agreed to prepare a minute appreciative of Dr Kirk’s services. NEW HEBRIDES. Letters were received from all the stations indicating that the work was going forward well It was reported that a cablegram had been received from the Prime Minister stating that he was doing the best possible in connection with the condominium. The matter was difficult. The General Assembly had joined with the Australian mission authorities in urging an investigation on the spot.