PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Otago Witness, Issue 3216, 3 November 1915, Page 65

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

FOREIGN MISSIONS COMMITTEE. A special meeting of the Foreign Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church was held on Tuesday afternoon, when there was a good attendance of members. Professor Hewitson presided, and Dr Porteous and M ss James wore present by invitation. Professor Hewitson reported x that Knox College Council having given him leave of absence and the Mission Council at Canton having cabled unanimous approval of his going as sole deputy, ho had decided to accede to the request of the committee, and would proceed to Canton at once. Mrs Hewitson would accompany him.—lt was resolved to telegraph to the executive of the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union in Auckland, asking it to appoint Mrs Hewitson as a representative. The Secretary read the draft report of committee to be presented to tho Assembly meeting at Auckland on November 17. With some slight alterations this was approved for presentation. The report showed that the health of the large staff of missionaries had been good, that tho ordinary income (£1423) was £461 higher than for any previous year, that the reports from the fields were all highly encouraging, that there was a surplus of income over outlay for tho year amounting to £341, that a large number of wcli-qualihed men and women were volunteering as missionaries, and that there was considerable increase of missionary interest throughout the dominion. Ihe dx - aft of “recommendations” as Assembly resolutions was also approved. Ihe most important of these is: “The Assembly authorise the committee to send out as many of the missionary volunteers as shall be ready to go, due regard to bo given to the state of the finances.” In the absence of the convenor from the Assembly, the Rev. Jas. Chisholm (and, failing him, the Rev. James Aitken), with the secretary, were appointed to support tiie report and recommendations before the Assembly, Mr Chisholm also to be acting convener. Dr Porteous submitted a statement of suggested expenditure of the £4500 that has been raised for the mission buildings and equipment in India.—lt was resolved to forward this to the council on the field for consideration and report. It was agreed that Dr Porteous should confer with Mr P. Y. Wales regarding the plans for the hospital and other buildings. Dr Porteous also submitted notes for the guidance of medical referees when examining candidates for service in the Punjab field. Miss James forwarded Dr Riley’s medical certificate that she was now in good health and able to resume her work at Canton. She reported her intention to sit for examination in maternity nursing on December 1, and to leave for Canton soon after. —Tho committee expressed pleasure at tho favourable report, and Professor Hewitson spoke of the high esteem in which Miss James is held by Sister Every and Dr Ritchie. In anticipation of a favourable medical report upon, and the acceptance of, an Invercargill volunteer for the Indian mission, arrangements were agreed to for her residence at the Women’s Training Institute in Dunedin next year before going out. The Rev. R. Fairmaid forwarded the annual report of the Chinese Church in Walker street, which was received, for presentation to the Assembly. The report states that Mr Henry White, who is honorary president of the church work, has been assisting in the mission for over 25 years. Writing from Jagadhri, India, on September 11, Miss Henderson says: “ The weather is intensely hot and dry. As yet tho Punjab has had no rain. A fall of snow low down was reported from beyond Simla yesterday, with the remark : ‘ This usually means that the monsoon is over.’ The hordes of locusts that have been wandering round the Punjab for the last month would in themselves be sufficient to dryup all the springs of Hope. They are troublesome only in dry seasons.” Tho Rev. W. J. Comrie sent a full statement of the every member campaign receipts for the Canton Sites and Buildings Fund, showing that tho total contributions were £12,891 10s 7d, which, with interest and transfer from the old Hospital Fund, make the total received £14,372 8s 2d. The Timaru P.W.M.U. reported two large cases of hospital supplies sent to the mission in India. “Anonymous” (Dunedin) forwarded £4O for the Canton mission. Mr W. H. Adams reported that “ Otago Central," who has for many years contributed anonymously to the schemes of the Church, had this year sent £4O to be thus applied. It was resolved to ask tho Assembly to place the Rev. A. L. Miller upon the roll of tho Presbytery of Outha; also to ask that tho special fund raised by Dr and Mrs Porteous for the Indian mission should be i xempted from tho usual assessment of 6 per cent, for Assembly expenses.