BOARD OF MISSIONS

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XX, Issue 10, 1 April 1930, Page 7

BOARD OF MISSIONS

Co-ordination of the Maori Mission. This was advanced one step further at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board m January last, by ,the passing of a resolution asking the Standing Committee of General Synod to appoint a permanent "Maori Finance Committee," which would ihave power to allocate the funds to be collected by the Board among the various dioceses having Maori- work. Negotiations are now proceeding with the Bishops concerned, on this point. Training of Candidates. A Candidates' Committee, consisting of Archdeacon J. It. Dart, Canon H. Watson, Mr R. L. Button and the General Secretary, with power to co-opt others (whether ladies or gentlemen) was appointed at the meeting above. The duties of the committee- are : — ' 'To receive applications, interview, encourage, instruct, train and examine candidates, and to report on them during, and at the conclusion of, their course. This appointment is the revival of an old plan, and meets an increasingly felt want. The committee are at present engaged drawing up a course of instruction for candidates, and necessary sets of questions. The Hurricane at Lambasa, Fiji. A few pounds have come m, m response to Archdeacon Hands' appeal m the "Reaper," and prayer for the needed funds is being made by a few who know and feel the necessity. Archdeacon Hands brings the good news that the. Government of Fiji have promised £1000 towards the rebuilding fund. This is cheering indeed. It leaves only another £1500 or so to be raised by friends m both Australia and New Zealand. No appeal is being made through the parishes, but only through these "Notes" and m the "Reaper." The damage was the flattening out of a school and dispensary," with smaller

damage to other (buildings. The school had never before been so flourishing. The nurses supplies have vanished. A special favour is asked of our readers, namely, that they wDI undergo the trouble of sending contributions direct to the Board of Missions, 49, Ballance St. Wellington. We would ask those who cannot give, to pray Farewells to Miss Grace Bargrove. Two "farewells" were given Miss Bargrove m her home town, Ghristchurch, one being of a social nature by the C.M.S. and the other an official blessing from the Church, m the Cathedral. A further "welcome and farewell" was tendered to her by the ladies of the Women's Auxilliary, m Wellington. Miss Bargrove left for Auckland, en route for Suva, on 20th Feb., m company with Archdeacon and Mrs Hands, who are returning after furlough. Mrs Hands gave a very pleasant address at the farewell meeting, telling- of work m Suva m five languages, English, Fijian, Indian, Chinese and Melanesian. Miss Hargrove, by request, spoke of the work of her sister, Miss Violet Bargrove, amongst the babies of Hangchow, with the result that another meeting is to be called soon to provide garments etc., needed m this work. A collection taken up for Mr Walker's appeal for famine-stricken children m China realised £3 10s. Another Rewuit. It is with, great pleasure we announce thai the Rev. T. W. Edwards, Vicar of Kamo, North Auckland, has volunteered for service m the Melanesian Mission, has been accepted, and is to sail by the "Southern Cross" on Bth April, from Auckland. Mr Edwards is a B.A. and L.Th. of Durham, and was ordained priest m York m 1922. He has been m charge of Kamo since 1924. We heartily welcome him to our ranks, and we congratulate North Auckland on having one of their own men now m Melanesia. Receipts to the end of February were £5201. to meet a Budget of £18,000.

This leaves a large balance to foe made up m the last three months of the financial year, tut the Board is confident that each parish will do its duty and send m the full amount of the quota asked. Indeed something more is hoped for this year. We do not want to fall tjacli on the quota as a minimum. The work of spreading the gospel abroad is recognised by bishops, clergy, and laymen and -women alike as the Church's first and greatest duty. There are, of course, some members of the Church who do not realise this. They think that local Church funds and local charities must take first place. But experience has proved them wrong over and over again. The commandment to go into all the world comes from God, and God blesses those who obey it. The practical outcome of this is that the parishes that do well for missions are invariably better off m local funds than those that give but little to the distant cause. It is a matter of great thankfulness to the Board that this fact is realised by so many parishes now, and also that there are quite a number of parishes who do not regard their quotas as maximums, but rather minimums, and who do m fact give over, and above the quotas. Some will remember that it was the present General-Secretary's constand plea, m all parishes he visited during the last four years, that the congregations would, of themselves, over-subscribe their quotas. He has great hopes now that this plea will not be forgotten, but that m every parish, m the coming three months, strong and enthusiastic efforts will be made to prove that as a Church, we willingly obey our Master's great command. An interesting letter has come from Dr. Sturton, of Hangchow Hospital, China. After mentioning happy Christmas festivities, he continues :— "On the evangelistic side of the work we have had further encouragement, m that two of our maternity nurses were