PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23647, 3 November 1938, Page 7

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

THE INAUGURAL SESSION SERVICE IN FIRST CHURCH The -inaugural session of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand was held in First Church last evening, the function taking the form of Divine service conducted by the retiring moderator (the Rev. W. H. Howes). The main address was delivered by the incoming moderator (the Rev. T. E. Riddle, of the Presbyterian missions in India). Retiring Moderator's Address Addressing the gathering, the retire ing moderator said he proposed to break with tradition by not delivering the customary sermon, preferring to leave the inaugural address to the moderator-designate. All he proposed to do was to examine for a few moments, without comment, the outstanding features of the past year The past 12 months, he said, had been an intense period in many respects International events had cast their shadow over every village and hamlet in the civilised world, and a great sigh of relief had gone up when wiser counsels prevailed and war was averted. It might only be a postponement, but whatever the motives actuating those

who had helped to bring about a peaceful settlement, the world must still be heartily glad that it was. for the time being at least, spared the horrors of war. The speaker referred to the persecution of the Jews in many countries of the world, and expressed the sympathy which all Christian people must have for the victims of such oppression, and went on to speak of the unrest and uncertainty in Palestine that tiny country which must always hold a place of importance in the hearts and affections of Christians. - , Mr Howes said that the eyes of the whole Presbyterian Church at the present ' time were on Canton, the centre of the church's missionary work in China. For many months past there had been a lot of anxiety for the safety of their workers in that field. He was glad, however, to De aDle *° pass on to them that night the latest news from Canton, received by cableonly that afternoon oy the superintendent of missions (the Rev. George Budd). The message stated that all their workers were safe and at their posts. For that, the entire Church would, indeed, be thankful, and he felt that they, would all sincerely hope that a wise over-ruling Providence would finally bring the warring nations together in peace and amity. At home in New Zealand the year had been an eventful one; There had been many trials in the form of epidemics and diseases among man and beast and just lately' there had been the upheaval of a general election. He was not going to say anything about the political nature of that event, but he thought that there was cause for deep regret that there had been disclosed a backward trend in the temperance cause. The movement was not making progress and it had been by small margins only that they had retained no-license in those areas which were not open to the licensed The speaker commended the Centenary Fund Campaign upon which the church was * embarking, and emphasised the spiritual as well as material importance of the effort. It was to be hoped that all their financial objectives would be gained but it was equally important that the efforts .to be made should be reflected in a quickening of interest in the work of the Church. In conclusion Mr Howes expressed his gratitude to churches and congregations, throughout the Dominion for the kindness and co-opera-tion extended to him during his period as Moderator.

Mayoral Greetings Greetings to the conference were conveyed on behalf of the people of Duneclin by the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen), who referred briefly to the early history of the Presbyterian Church in Otago and said that the people of the province, its institutions, and the names of its towns and localities were mainly derived from Scotland and Presbyterianism had in marked decree moulded the traditions and spiritual life of the community. In the business that would be placed before the conference they would probably find many references to the problems of the day. They were troublous days in which they lived. Unrest and distrust were world-wide and seemed to emanate from Europe where various "isms" and Dernicious doctrines had so obscured the minds of the people and shaken their beliefs that they could only grope blindly for spiritual guidance and comfort. These problems, however, though they chal lenged the Christian church also provided it with an opportunity, and it was the layman's hope that the Church would be able to submit some simple solution of them In their own par ticular sphere he hoped that the assembly would be enabled to do some thing to further that objective Be lieving as he did that Christianity was the very foundation of civilisation he thought that the Church's first task was to foster and cherish those beliefs and convictions upor which evßrvthing else was based. Mr Allen recalled the great work for the community of such leaders of the Presbyterian Church as Dr Burns Dr Stuart, and others, and said that in Dunedin to-day the church had a worthy successor to its greatest lead-

ers in Dr Dickie, who had attained a reputation throughout New Zealand and in the Old Country as one of the great theologians and thinkers of his time. Referring to the social services of the Presbyterian Church. Mr Allen said that the scope of the work was indicated by an expenditure last year of £7949 8s 7d on four children's homes vhich housed 75 children and the Ross Home with its 58 inmates. r .n the past 30 years the Presbyterian Social Service Association in Dunedin had cared for 1100 children and 323 old people in its homes while throughout the Dominion the church had 500 children and 50 old people in daily care which cost £20,000 a year The speaker also referred to the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union conference which was being held simultaneously with the assembly, and concluded with good wishes for both organisations in their deliberations.