CHURCH MATTERS

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13893, 19 October 1918, Page 7

CHURCH MATTERS

AFTER-THE-WAR PROBLEMS.

, 'ho annual Home .Mission meeting in connection with St. Paul's .Methodist Church, Hamilton, was held on Wednesday evening. Rev. E. O manures presided. The chairman announced that a Home -Missionary secretary, Mr ('. !•'. Lindsay, htfd been appointed, and this augured well tor the future of the cause. The Home .Mission Fund was devoted largely to throe objects—to help Home .Mission stations, to assist weak circuits, and to carry on the -Maori missions. Last year South Auckland contributed £34* l 13s od, oi which Hamilton had given to 7 7s Hd. ile hoped the local contribution would reach at least {.MOO this year. Rev. S. Lawry, of Christchurch, connexional secretary, in the course o. an interesting address, referred to th< aftor-the-war problems which woulu lace th 0 church. He stated that after-the-war problems had their roots ii: war-time, and there would not lie s< many problems as people imagined. 1 he. present problems, however, would be creat-.'d. He was noi concerned about the theological problems, which some people feared; these would largely settle themselves. Some peoph thought that after the war there could be need for a great reconstruction of church machinery, but he did not think so. The church was not bourn' by tradition, and they held themselves tree to adopt methods to the conditions in which their work lav. .Many peoph professed to be concerned regarding how to reach the nun-ehurchgoinp masses after the wai. : ;;;t this was no' a new problem. The churches had learnt something in the iv.iv of reaching people by their work in even branch of war endeavour, and would liable to apply that knowledge with good effect. The church was not so oblivious to after-the-war problems as sonic people thought, and would do it utmost to grapple with them. Financial problems would have to lnfaccd by the church after the war. Tiles present position lie was particularly interested in finance. -At last conference the Home Mission Executive, o which he was a member found itsel in the unique position of having £IOOO to its credit. This was really a misfortune, for it meant that owing to the shortage of men there were Severn' vacant stations, and con seep: en tlv less expenditure. 'Hie committee decided to nut the £IOOO aside as a reserve foi after-the-war needs, realising tint these would be insistent. If the war stopped to-day married men's stations would have to be provided for 23 men. now engaged in war work, and £IOO would not go verv far in this connection. They should have £2OOO or £3OOO ir reserve, in order that they might 1»< ready for the men when they returned, and allow them to get married and take up stations. It was agreed that a developmental scheme should be inaugurated by which each circuit should give 2o per cent more thin formerly It was suggested that the lowest stipends should be lifted to a living wage, with a minimum of £225 pel year. The Home Mission Fund would give a subsidy of £ for £ in certaie cases if the circuits did their share. T was hoped that the circuits would ch their part, and, if possible, find th< whole of the money without the hel of the fund. The financial problen would be a great one. Another point was that there was :

good deal of unoccupied territory, am' they needed experienced men if the church was to be built up. This wool'' require a subsidy from the Home Mission Fund, thereby laying a foundation for strong circuits in cominp years. Tt would be a good investment and should' give good returns. Thyl there were the cases where a promise had been made to build parsonages after the war for stations, which wen changing from single to m cried men The Loan Fund Committee was keeping in reserve a certain amount foi thrs work. The money would lie expended when the end of the war was a sight, and the men were returning. "Another point was the Supcrnuman Fund, in which a new situation had arisen, involving a new liability Every man engaged in war work was a member and beneficiary of that Hind Wounded chaplains and soldiers an' 1 widows of wounded soldiers must b< provided for out of the fund, creatine new risks which had not been anticipated in normal times, and for which provision had not been made. TM did not know what the total liability in this connection would l>e. but th church was trying to meet it. ilv Conference undertook to keen th< position on the Supornumary Fund o< even - married soldier good. In repa''« to the singly m<m. Conference woe!'' pay what the circuit would nay if thman was at home. The Conference decided to let n attc-rs go on until the war ended, and pledged itself to ra'sc a special fund to meet any liability, s, that no one would be anv the «orsr off. . Thus it would be seen that the church was trving to face after-thc-iv >r problems and to mak.< provision .or them. He felt sure that it was n< r going down before any increased financial burdens, which .night be la i 1. lion it. The church people would hack INcommittee up, and provide, by any extra demands, which were madp upo" it The committee was prapplimj with the difficulties, and endeavouring to solve the problems as they arose. Tbev did not know exactly what these problems would be, and must he prepared for them. He was sure the congregation would not let the men who were fighting their battles como back and find that thev were just "muddlina through." Thev would nil do their utmost in the solving of the problems A collection wis taken un on behalf of the Home Mission Funds, and the meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker.