BOARD OF MISSIONS' NOTES.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 25, Issue 8, 1 August 1935, Page 2

BOARD OF MISSIONS' NOTES.

BUDGET, £16,500; RAISED, £14,493 7s.

An Item From Ethiopia (Abyssinia). — Our deaconess-nurses treated during last year over 2000 cases, thus striving to follow the exhortation of our heavenly Master: Go and do likewise! Have noT many old people,, sick, and widows, been cared for? Have not our evangelists looked . up and visited localities near and far m order to preach the Gospel to Abyssinian Christians, to Falashas, Moslems and others? Where, then, are the signs of new life? Coming down from the hill I chose a little path leading through the village, which has come into existence through the building lip of Kobela. Suddenly there came to my ear the clear sounds o£ one of our native hymns, sung by a little girl: "Ambatschen Amlakatschen nou!" i.e., "A strong refuge our God is now!" Is this child's singing an answer to the questions that preoccupied me? If so, then it is our task to profit by every possible occasion until many learn to trust and confess that our God has become for them a strong fuge. — (From "Jewish Missionary Intelligence.")

Lord Bledisloe On Maoriland.— "The great family of the Empire contains no nation more loyal to the Crown or more deeply attached to the Motherland than New Zealand. This applies to Europeans and natives alike. Indeed, throughout the whole British Empire no more lovable and no more loyal coloured people are to be found than the Maori race. To what, it may be asked, is this twofold attachment due? The answer surely is that Great Britain, under a succession of Christian monarchs, has brought to New Zealand, as well as to the other Dominions, peace and ordered progress based from the outset emphatically and indisputably upon the fact that they have been Christians m deed as well as m name, and that they have ruled over a Motherland whose greatness has been built up- upon the sure foundations of our Christian faith. In New Zealand recently, there occui'red three events which did far more to strengthen a loyal devotion to King and Empire' than the whole of my efforts as His -Majesty's representative for the last five years. One of them was the sound of the King's own voice, transmitted m person by radio, his beautiful Christmas message of peace and goodwill to what he called so happily and familiarly his Empire family thirteen thousand miles away. Another was a similar experience, when several hundred thousand New Zealanders heard by wireless telegraphy Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, pledge their troth each to each other m Westminster Abbey, m the simple dignity of our Anglican marriage service, as clearly and distinctly as any of the great congregation which, on tfiat occasion, filled England's most historic fame. The third was the fact that prior .to one of the merriest Christmases that His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester ever spent, he knelt with us at the altar m the Cathedral at Auckland as a participant m our Christmas Communion. We Britons are tremendously reluctant to wear our religion on our sleeves, but is there not a danger lest m our outward concealment of it, m our daily lives and avocations, we gradually divest ourselves al-

together of the garment of righteousness, or at least of the power at any time of need to throw it over those who are shivering In the chilly environment of godlessness, apathy or ignorance of the true faith?" Miss Florence Smith's Great Work In South Africa — "During a five-years' drought, from 1917 to 1922, the destitution m the Deccan was so appalling that Miss Florence Smith felt impelled to inaugurate some kind of industry, by means of which she could bring relief to the many starving Christian women of her mission station. Lacemaking was chosen, and after infinite pains, saleable lace was produced. Miss Smith set before her workers the ideal of making a piece of lace good enough to be sent to H.M. Queen Mary, and this was accomplished m 1924. A gracious letter m acknowledgement of this gift was received by Miss Smith. Some of the best pieces of lace have been sent from time to time, as samples, to Her Majesty Queen Mary, and also to some of their Majesties' representatives out here m India. These pieces of lace have been very graciously accepted, and we have rceived sympathetic letters m return, which we greatly appreciate , and which have thrilled our women. It seems very wonderful to think that Her Majesty Queen Mary should be interested m the work of her humble subjects here m India. The lace workers of Khammamett recently sent greetings and salaams to Their Majesties on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee." Miss Florence Smith is now living m a well-earned retirement m Nelson. China — Under General Chiang Kai Shek. — Mr. Carter, the secretary of the Institute of Pacific Relations, m his recent tour of New Zealand, referred to the remarkable progress of China under the Generalissimo, Chiang Kai Shek. He stated that until three years ago, "hard-bitten business men m Shanghai," who knew the Chinese well — while recognising their power and charm as individuals, were yet convinced that they were incapable of building upli stable Government; but that now, m amazement, they r see that very thing "is somehow being done." Why "somehow"? The Generalissimo and his wife make no

secret of the fact that the new power has come since, through the Oxford Group, they were led to complete surrender to Christ: and this fact has been proclaimed through our missionaries from China for some time. Finance. — The Board has received £14,493 7s. as its "Budget" amount for the year. We "thank God and take courage."' Last year the amount was £14,424, so there is an increase of £69, which is a very pleasing feature. The full Budget was £16,500, and we have failed to reach it by just over £2000. It may be hoped that the amounts the Board is able to give its co-ordinated Missions will be sufficient to enable them to avoid further reductions — for they are reduced now to the lowest ebb m the way of staffs and equipment — and to carry on with their present workers m the hope of some encouragement, possibly some increase, m the coming year. This last month was a busy one m the board's office. At the end of May only £7834 had been received. During June £6659 came to hand, it was a wonderful recovery, and the board is grateful to all who worked by prayers and offerings to bring it about. Diocesan contributions are ' as under, last year's being given m parenthesis. Quotas are also given.

It will be seen that Nelson Diocese was the only one to reach its. full quota. All honour to Nelson. Auckland and Christchurch came very close to theirs. P. C. LONG, General Secretary.

1934-35. 1933-34. Quota. Auckland .. 2845 (2617) 2970 Christchurch 3539 (3714) 3630 Dunedin . . 1340 (1315) 1569 Nelson .. 1328 (1307) 1320 Waiapu .. 1959 (2033) 255$ Waikato . . 387 (471) 990 Wellington .. 3065 (2907) 3465 Extra - Diocesan . . 27 — — ;