PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19960, 19 November 1934, Page 4

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

MEETING OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY A REVIEW Speaking at St. Paul’s Church, Highfield, yesterday, the Rev. James Baird reviewed briefly the proceedings at the Assembly recently held in Dunedin. As their minister, said Mr Baird, he felt impelled to give them a concise account of what took place. Among other things he mentioned that there were 263 Presbyterian Churches in the Dominion, 609 church buildings, and 751 preaching stations with an average attendance of 78,000 people. For the carrying on of the work in Home, Foreign and Maori Missions, and for other work of the Church, the sum raised was £45,000, the gross income being £315,000. A very important part of the work was that of the Theological College in Dunedin, which was well endowed. It was in a flourishing state; the number of students training for the ministry had greatly increased. Not so long ago they had to import ministers and missionaries, but now they had 89 very able men who were qualifying for the ministry. He noticed at the recent Assembly that the work was now being done by the young men, the absence of old men being noticeable. It made one feel how time moves on; some had passed away, and some were too old to take part. Referring to youth work, he said it was regarded as of great importance that the children should get the best Instruction possible. The work of the Sunday Schools was criticised, but ne .assured them that great care was taken to prepare the syllabus for teaching the children to help them in their future life.

Public Questions. Besides enterprise in the Church there was the Church’s relation to the outside world. They were criticised for this. Those matters were handled by the Public Questions Committee and such questions as temperance, public morals, quality of pictures screened and gambling were dealt with. It was intended to widen its range of interest. Some people thought that the Church had nothing to do with the world socially or internationally. He could not agree with them. It was the Reformer, John Calvin, who said that Jesus Christ must rule in all the relationships of life. In the Home land the questions of the slums was taken up and vast changes were taking place to-day because the Church was making itself heard. Then there was the great interest in the matter of war. Some thought that the Church had no right to take an interest in such a thing, but it had. The whole world and social life were demoralised because of the war. The Church had a right to interfere. It preached the Gospel of the Prince of Peace. It said there was no barrier between the races. They were children of one Father and the Church must be interested in great international affairs. The Church was awake to those things. The causes of war were unworthy, and war must go. The Church also interested itself in economic affairs. The Church of Jesus Christ must see that there were those upon whom the times were bearing down upon cruelly, and were suffering more than was known. He often wondered if they realised what some people were suffering to-day. The Church had a conscience about that. He referred to Communism, Capitalism and Socialism, but said that these must all be Christian to be effective. Men and women must not be made the slaves of autocracy. One of the great questions in the world to-day was that of freedom or liberty. He could not see any British country developing in the way some other countries had developed, especially with a Scottish or British heritage behind it. The matter of broadcasting was discussed, and it was thought that the time was coming when the Presbyterian Church would have its own broadcasting station. Times changed, and they had to meet the demands of the times. Mr Baird spoke of the wonderful inspiration obtained at the Assembly meetings and of the feeling of assistance; of the confidence in the Gospel and the sufficiency of God and His grace in Jesus Christ and His love to all men. Professor Dickie made an excellent Moderator, and one of the features of the Assembly was the devotional exercises he conducted. They all came away greatly encouraged and inspired.