PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Wairarapa Age, 11 March 1930, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

MAORI MISSION WORK.

* DUNEDIN, March 10.

The Assembly gave consideration to proposals for a forward movement in the Youth of Church work and on the motion of the Rev. J. A. Allan (Rieearton) it was resolved that a professor and director of religious education be appointed, who shall be an expert in religious education of sufficiently high academic standing to justify his being a member of the senatus of the Theological Hall and he shall have adequate training in theology. The Rev. Professor Hewitson seconded the motion, which after a brief discussion was carried. The salary was fixed at £450, with a house allowance. It was further resolved that a Sunday .School Secretary, who shall also be secretary to the Youth Committee, be appointed, preferably a man with experience in the work of the ministry and with general training in religious education, the salary to be £4OO, with a house allowance of £lOO. Christchurch was moved as the location of the Youth Committee. Wellington was also suggested, but Christchurch was accepted on a show of hands.

The resignation of the Rev. R. M. Ryburn (present Director of Youth Work) was accepted, to date from the close of the next assembly. In the afternoon the report of the Maori Mission Committee was adopted on the motion of the Rev. Gilbert, in the absence of the convener, the Rev. Hay, and the Assembly expressed sincere gratification at the continued progress of the Mission among the Native people. Nurse Euphemia Doull, who has already given long service to the Mission, was ordained as deaconess to the Maoris and appointed to Matahi. On the motion of the Rev. J. Laughton, a committee was appointed to prepare and arrange for publication of a service book for the Presbyterian Church and to report to the next Assembly. The beneficiary fund reports were adopted after discussion. A suggestion was received from the Women's Missionary Union, now sitting in Dunedin, that the women’s fund should be applied to deaconesses and to women home mission workers in New Zealand. This matter was referred to the Beneficiary Fund Committee to report to the next Assembly. In the evening a missionary demonstration, was held in the Town Hall.—(P.A.)