PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18229, 13 November 1924, Page 13

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

-! « YESTERDAY'S SESSION.

(stscial to "ths rszss.") PALMERSTOX, N., November 12. At. the Presbyterian General Assembly this morning, several progressive movements in the Presbyterian Church were intimated by the Rev. AValter McLean, convener of the Life and TYork Committee.

The vrork of .the-Rev.. John Bisse.tfc, the church evangelist, was commended, and. regret espiessed that through, iiuancial stringency two evangelists could not be enjployed. The books of Common Order of the Canadian and South African Presbyterian Churches verb commended for consideration by Presbyterians with a view to their ultimate- adoption by the AsS'.'iublv until such time as the Church possessed a manual of its owu.Professor liewitsou, of Dune-din, sup-, ported a recommendation commending New. Zealand to use discretion in moving. in such a matter, 'and indicated llkj importance of preparation for the devotional part of the Church service. . Mr G. Mclndoe (elder), of Invercargill, 6aid he thought the proposal was not commendable. It savoured , of rituaJism ; binding men down to the use of a fornv of words in worship. The convener explained that its use was to be voluntary. A .resolution was passed unanimously that the Church bo recommended to hold a rally in the mouth of March. The Rev. D. J- Shaw (Wellington), in supporting the motion, said th? Press. Post Office, and Church workers should be employed to compel, th© attendance of people at church, where tried, it had" proved- successful, ana found helpful spiritually. A recommendation that the second Sunday in May should bo observed as Mothers' T)ay was supported by the Rev.. Tvo Bertram (Oamaru). ivho said such an appointment should bo favourably received," as the avorage man l'eadilv responded to the associations of homo and mother. , Tlie convener explained that the response tola.questionnaire- to ministers and elders as to praver meetings was not;encouraging, jnd it wa-s decided to ask'.Presbyteries to consider how tho could bo stimulated. The Rer. I. E. Tipipler (Dunedin) denrerated alarm ss, praver meetings, and the Rev. V. H. Howes' (Rangior-i) showed the significance of prayer meeting statistics.

(rEESS ASDOCXATION TEI^GIUM.)

PALMERSTON N.,'November 12. :At the Presbyterian General Assembly to-day, the Life and Work Committee stated that it had furnished the Racing Commission witty the church view 011 Ihe moral aspect of gambling 1 , but 'without favourable result. During the past decade • the number ,of race days and totalisator investments had speedily increased. To-day gambling was our greatest social evil. Judges'and magistrates had expressed themselves in no uncertain- terms ; on., it. The Government Statistician, recently reported that during 1923 a total of 475 cases wero dealt with iii the Magistrate's Court in respect of : offences l relating ■ to gambling, resulting 'in • 362 i summary convictions and four committals -to. the .'Supreme Court, yet there was. a proposal before to increase the facilities for gambling • and- so debauch the national conscience still, further. The Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affair's had " been communicated .with. The Assembly's request ( to the Minister of Education to include articles 'on the evils ,of gambling in. .the _ ''Sch.ool Journal" had 1 been renewed. In protests : and requests, : the Church places herself under a, solemn obligation to keep her'hands clean, and particularly to eliminate all raffles and objectionable, devices from, sales of work, etc. . ■ j TKe Mayor (Mr F. J. Nathan) welcomed the .Assembly, and congratulated the Moderator,' the Rev. G. Miller, upon his election to his ' honourable position. . ' The statistical .report showed a general increase in church attendance and' persons under pastoral care. The year': ■was a record for members received on profession of faith. The average net" increase of members in the last three years was 1341. ; A > big, home mission rally was held in the Opera' House'. Au illuminated address and a photo of himself and his horse "Mick' 1 " was .presented to the' Rev. A. ! MeNair, whose' record of service- in 'the outstations in the South Inland is unique in the annals of home mission work. : For .over, four years on his horseback' itinerary from Wanaka, in Otago,' through Canterbury, Marlborough and Nelson, toTakaka on the eastern side of the ranges, from Takaka down through Westland as far south as Haast Pass,-he ha 3 carefully' explored the rugged courses of many rivers visited station homesteads, shepherds' - huts, = rabbiters' camps, penetrated the distant west to-meet lonely prospectors, folk in remote mining villages, and isolated soldier and civilian settlers.