DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23491, 4 May 1938, Page 19

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery was held last night. The moderator (the Rev. G. H. Jupp) presided. The Rev. 1. G. Borrie was welcomed to the presbytery. It was decided that Mr Lloyd Geering be received as a student for the ministry. STATE SUPERANNUATION A letter was received from the Rev. J. T. Mackie, convener of the Assembly’s Public Questions Committee, staling that the Beneficiary Fund Committee had referred to his committee the first Dart of the presbytery's letter concerning the proposals of the Government to superannuation. This was the part which was concerned with “ the scheme as related to the welfare of the community." After a long discussion by the Public Questions Committee in which it was pointed out that there was a very real danger that any evidence, the Church might offer against the Government’s proposals in their, present form could be misconstrued, so as to make it appear that the Church was not interested in haloing the needy, it had been eventually agreed that no action should be taken in the mater. The letter was received. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS The Rev. E. O. Blamires, secretary of the New Zealand Bible-in-Schools League, wrote at length regarding the intentions of the Government to put a stop to the system of voluntary religious observances which had been arranged in nearly 400 schools in New Zealand. He stated that this would be a most undemocratic action and he felt sure that the presbytery would not allow this new legislation to be passed without a protest. The clerk (the Rev. J. D. Smith! said that Mr J. B. Grant, the honorary secretary of the local branch of the Bible-in-Schools League, had already secured 3000 signatures to a petition .of protest, and that he hoped to secure 4000 signatures before sending it on.— (Applause.) Mr Smith said it appeared that there was some change of attitude on the part of the Minister ot Education in view of the strong expressions of sympathy with devotional exercises. The Minister now said that he was going to leave it to Parliament to decide. It was evident that the expression o 1 public opinion had had some effect Those of them who had not written to their member of Parliament on the- matter should do so at once. The Rev. J. Gilman Dunn moved- " That this presbytery views with grave concern the intention of the Minister of Education, as expressed before the Education Committee, to put a stop «.o voluntary opening devotional exercises as at present observed in some 400 schools in New Zealand The action proposed is most undemocratic, in view of the permission given by education boards, the consent of school committees, the evident approval of a very large percentage of the parents, and the unanimous approval of the School Committees’ Association To the knowledge of presbytery, these devotional exercises have a definite religious influence on the lives of the children concerned and in raising the moral tone of our primary schools The presbytery urges the Education Committee to give the whole matter very careful consideration, and trusts that nothing will be done to cause a curtailment or cessation of the religious exercises as at present being observed." The Rev. A. C. W. Standage seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. ECCLESIASTICAL COMMITTEE

The Rev. H. J. Ryburn submitted a report from the Ecclesiastical Committee, and referred to an overture submitted by the Presbytery of Oamaru regarding a different method of nominating the moderator of assembly. He moved that the overture be supported before the assembly, and the motion was carried.

Mr Ryburn staled that he intended to make a visit to the northern university colleges to deliver addresses under the auspices of the Student Christian Union, and Mr Smith was appointed convener of the committee during his absence.