MINISTER VISITS N.Z. TO ATTEND CELEBRATIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17854, 24 May 1926, Page 3

MINISTER VISITS N.Z. TO ATTEND CELEBRATIONS.

VERY REV J. WALKER WILL BE PRESENT AT COLLEGE JUBILEE. On his way’ to attend the jubilee celebration of the Theological College nt Dunedin as* the representative of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, the Very Reverend John Walker was in Christchurch over the week-end. lie has had a distinguished ecclesiastical career. Mr Walker, who has been , the guest of the Rev N. L. D. Webster, has served not only his church, but his country as well, having been a padre with the Australian Imperial Forces in the Great War. Incidentally the war rec-

ord of the family is a magnificent one, though marked by- tragedy. Five sons of the family went into khaki. In addition the head of the family- and one daughter also saw active service, but three of the boys did not return. The Very Rev J. Walker was a leading member of the Assembly of New South Wales before transferring to Victoria eighteen years ago and was its first Commissioner. lie might take the title “ Encourager-General,” as in his moderatorship address of 1922 he

stressed the point that it was sometimes felt that the clergy became discouraged and the congregations also. Jt was largely as a result of that speech that he was appointed Commissioner. In that position he largely developed home and foreign mission work. lie also completed the centenary thanksgiving fund inaugurated by him and was instrumental in raising £7OOO for various funds.

The visitor was Moderator-General in 1919-20 of Australia and Tasmania, during which time he visited all the states and the far inland mission stations even to Oodnadatta. Mr Walker is now in charge of St Andrew’s Kirk, Ballarat (the only church in Austral-

rsia officially called “kirk”). Although it has been in existence for 70 years he ia only the third minister, his predecessors being the Rev William Henderson and Dr T. R. Cairns, the latter at one time having St David’s Church, Sydenham (the building now is a picture show). Mr Walker was asked about the new law which the Presbyterian Church has adopted, that allowing a widow to marry her deceased husband’s brother. He stated that he was present at the assembly* whea the Rev Dr John Burgess gave notice of motion on the subject, but he was not present when the discussion took place. “It is the law of the land,” he said,” “so the Church could not but sanction it.” Mr Walker has always taken a keen interest in educational matters and some of his efforts have resulted in great financial help to various institutions—£ll,ooo for the Presbyterian College cf Queensland, £IO,OOO for Scotch College, Adelaide: £SOOO for the Ladies’ College, Adelaide; £SOOO for the Perth Boy-s’ and Girls’ College: and £IB.OOO for a similar institution in Ballarat.