GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23351, 17 November 1937, Page 9

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CHAIR OF NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES REV. J. A. ALLAN APPOINTED (Special to Dailv Times) AUCKLAND, Nov. 16. At the morning sederunt of the General Assembly the Rev. R. S. Watson spoke of the centenary of the church. He said success depended upon arousing the enthusiasm of aii members, young and old. An endeavour was to be made to have the leaders of the church in the New Hebrides. China, and India present in the Dominion. February 26, 1940, was tha centenary of the holding of the first service of the church on the shore at Petone. It was hoped also to bring forward proposals for the future ex tension of the church's work. The assembly had authorised the publica tion of an authoritative history of the Presbyterian Church in the Dominion Mr Watson said that approach had been made to a competent authority The idea was that the history shoula be scientific, showing the contribution if the church to the progress of New ..ealand in various directions of life jiid thought. It was considered wise iti place memorials on,historic sites asiociated with the beginnings of ihz

.esbyterian Church in New Zealand. The assembly , approved the proposals, asking that a representative minister of the Church of Scotland .should be invited to visit the Dominion luring the centenary celebrations to ke part in them. Dr Dickie pointed out the necessity u>r great care in the choice of a representative, and that the help of a man who knew Dominion conditions and was able to meet the peculiar needs of the centenary celebrations be sought. The Rev. J. T. Steele pointed out the necessity for great care in carrying out the whole celebrations, and urged that only fitting an/ carefullyplanned meetings should be allowed.

CHURCH SCHOOLS The Rev. Gilman Dunn presented the report of the Board of Education, saying that church schools had 1357 pupils. The schools were fulfilling the purpose for which they were founded, and the principals were keeping the ideals of the founders in view An endowment assurance fund was worth considering in order to enable the children of poorer parents to send them to the colleges. This was being worked in one college which has now a fund of £3OOO for the purpose. It was a pity that some Presbyterians did not realise the value of the colleges. This was a serious defect in the mental outlook. The Rev. H. A. 'Mitchell stressed the fact that the religious training in the colleges was adequate. He said that in view of the labour laws of to-day it was gratifying to know that increasingl numbers of boys were coming to the schools. Mr James Robertson, chairman of St. Cuthbert's College Board of Governors, addressed the assembly, saying that the college was started in 1914 because a need was felt for a school v/here religious education could be given. The board was established as an incorporated company, and carried out the behests of the shareholders. The school had 250 pupils. The money Invested in the school was £40,000. No shareholder had lost money, but interest was not paid on the shares. Debenture interest, however, was paid, and some £BOOO worth of debentures had been repaid. The school was quite and worked in conjunption with the Presbyterian Church. SUCCESSOR TO PROFESSOR COLLIE " At the afternoon sederunt of the assembly the matter of the appointment of a successor to Professor Collie and the question of the procedure to be followed caused keen discussion The Rev. F. B. Barton moved that—"ln the light of th.e report of the special committee which met during the assembly, Professor Collie continue in the chair for another year and the assembly directs the Committee on Standing Committees to name a commission representative of the whole church, which shall call for applications and nominate a successor to Pro feasor Collie." Mr Barton said the choice of a professor of New Testament studies was so important that the necessity arose to be careful not to decide the issue in an atmosphere so ;.ense as had been generated during .he assembly. , On a vote being taken. Mr Barton s amendment was rejected. The Rev. John Paterson moved, arther. "That Professor Collie be ,sked to continue for a further year md a commission be appointed in Jreat Britain to nominate a man suitable for the duties involved in the -hair of New Testament studies. He : said that the Home Country had not ieen sufficiently searched for a successor to Professor Collie. Mr Barton, in seconding the • mendment. said it was in line with lis desire to postpone the appointnent. He desired that the appointee houla De a specialist in Greek The mpasse to which the assembly had .ume was such as to give adequate 'round to pause. The assembly rejected this amend

.ient also The Rev. D. C. Herron proposed, and .he Rev R T. Watson seconded, the nomination of the Rev. J. M. Bates for the chair ot New Testament studies in the Theological Hall. The Rev G. Budd proposed, and the tiev, J. R Blanchard seconded, the nomination of the Rev. J. A. Allan. On a vote being taken. 127 votes were cast for Mr Allan and 76 for Mr On the motion ol the Rev D. C. Herron. the election was made unanimous. Later Mi Allan came into the as sembly, and the moderator congratulated him on his nomination, which ihe Synod of Otago and Southland will confirm at an early date. Mr Allan is a member ji a wellknown Wellington family. He was educated at Victoria College taking his bachelor's degree in 1920. and in the following yeai he took his master's degree with honours in philosophy He pursued his theological studies in New College Edinburgh where his course was greatly distinguished His first charge in New Zealand was Seatoun, Wellington Later he was at St. Ninian's. Chnslchurch, and at present nc is at Mount Eden, Auckland MISSION DEMONSTRATION The evening sederunt was given over to a great mission demonstration in the Town Hall, when addresses were given to a very large audience by the Revs. J. G. Laughton. T. H. liosevearc, and H. G. Gilbert.