PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19164, 22 November 1927, Page 6

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY. , i SESSION NEARLY ENDED. j , The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church continued its sitting in St. Paul's Church yesterday, when a fairly large agenda paper was dealt with. "The lU. Hev. James AitUcn. of Gisborne, presided. .Mr W. H. Adams .spoke on ilie publishing of the Church journal, the "Outlook," his remarks being taken m committee. At the conclusion he expressed thanks for assistance in the past, and said that it would give him great pleasure to continue publishing the journal. The report of the Publications Com- j mittee stated that the year had been an uneventful one ni so tar as the "Outlook" was concerned Interest in the several features had been well maintained, and a useful and instructive exclinuce of opinions on matters prominent!v before the Church nad been noteworthy. The Church was much indebted to the writers 01 articles. One lesson taught by the missionary campaign was the rgciu necessity for strengthening the lines of communication, ot which the 'Uutlook" was the chief. A "follow-up campaign was contemplated, a mam j feature of which would be the circulation of Presbyterian literature. It was hoped that it would result in increased circulation of the journal. The report was adopted on the motion of the Rev. G. H. Jupp (convener), and a comprehensive vote ol thanks to the lion, publisher, the editor (Mr A. H. Grinling), and contributors, was passed. An addendum to the deliverance was made bv the Rev. Mr Jupp, who moved that consideration be given *o the publication of a booklet dealing with Church membership ana autws for distribution among members. The Rev. R. M. Ryburn moved-. "Tha+ the matter of printing the minutes of Assembly during its meeting be remitted to the Assembly's finance committee to arrange for next n-cet-incr in consultation with the lion, publisher (Mr AY. H. Adams), and the Assembly Clerk (Mr J. H. Mackenzie)." Petition Not Heard. The Rev. B. Hutson (Auckland) petitioned for consideration of charges made against him in the "Outlook by an anonymous Tne references were in respect of Mr Hutson's book, "De N0v0,." which dealt with infant baptism. The Bills and Business Committee recommended that the petition be nut heard on the ground that tho petition was not of sufficient importance to be considered bv the Assembly. The recommendation was adopted after Mr Hutson had spoken. He claimed that he had been slandered and libelled by the article in question, but he did not consider that lie or the publisher should go to a civil Court Beneficiary Fund. The Rev. W. J. Ccmrie presented the report of the Beneficiary Fund Committee. He stated that the income for the past year was £18,02? 19s Bd, including bequests amounting to £225. Expenditure totalled £11.931 17s sd, and the sum of £6097 2s 3d had been added to capital, which now stood at £155,330 lis Id. Legacies amounting to £9OO had been received. At September 30th the number of contributors was: Combined fund 274, aged and infirm ministers' fund, 3widows' and orphans' fund, 3. The number of annuitants at that date was: Aged and infirm ministers, 54; widows, 57; children 17. The report dealt fully with other work of the fund, and the report, slightly altered, was adopted. The Presbytery of Taranaki made :.n overture for a decreased assessment <;t congregations to the Beneficiary Fund on the ground of hardship to a number of the smaller congregations, due to the current financial stringency. The Taranaki Presbytery recommended that the assessment be halved. The Rev. J. A. Ryburn and Mr T. A. Bridge spoke in support of ihe overture, and opposition was expressed by Mr Comrie, who said that with a growing membership the fund must increase its capital, or move towards bankruptcy. Tho motion from Taranaki was rejected bv a. considerable majority. The Rev. J. A. Asher, on behalf of the Academic Committee, moved: "The Assembly inform the Synods of Otago and Southland that, in its opinion the retirement of Dr. Cummins should take place as from February 28th, 1929. Theological College. The Theological College Committee made the following recommendation regarding the Theological Hall staff in consequence of the' retirement of the Rev. Professor W. Hewitson: That the Professorial staff be three full-time Professors and a lecturer; that the designations of the chairs shall be: Chair of Systematic Theology and Church History; Chair of Oldl Testament Studies; Chair of New Testament Studies; lectureship on Practical Training. The committee explained that the scheme makes a provision for the English Bible to be part of the duty of tho professors of the Old Testament and New Testament respectively. At present the professor of the New Testament delivered lectures on the English New Testament. The change involved the separation of church history from the Chair of the Old Testament, and added it to the chair of systematic theology. In place of church history the professor of the Old Testament would dteliver lectures on the English Bible Old Testament. The setting up of a lectureship in practical training added no extra financial burden to the Church. The Synod grant of £4OO per annum would be applied to this lectureship. It was proposed that the lectureship in practical training be for a term of three years. Professor Hewitson, who ■ now holds the position of Professor of Practical Training, spoke-, in opposition to the proposal to drop the chair. His opinion was that a retrograde step would be made in the Church. Dr. J. Dickie objected to the linking up of the two subjects of systematic theologv and! church history in the one chair. The idea of the Theological Hall was that practical training should be divided among members of the Senatus and that there be a lectureship of church history. The Rev. E. J. Tipler, convener ot tho Theological College Committee, stated that one of the chairs was being dropped as a salary of only £4OO was available. The Rev. W. J. Comrie moved that the question be deferred until the next session of the Assembly, and that the question be referred back to the Theological College Committee The Rev. G. Miller seconded the motion. .. The amendment, as moved by -Mr Comrie, was carried. Fraternal Greetings. During the session of the Presbyterian General Assembly yesterday two deputations were received at which greetings were conveyed live first was from the Canterbury Methodist Svnod and the second from the Christchurch Ministers' Association. Mr J. A. Flesher. vice-president ot the Methodist Conference, said that he wished to convey the greetings ot **-i Methodists of New Zealand and to

congratulate the Rt. Rev. James Aitken on his Modleratorial address. With regard to Professor Hewitson, Methodists felt an especial interest in him, as tho speaker believed that in the Moderator-elect's early days he was a Methodist. Perhaps his early training had laid the foundation of his great career. Mr Flesher went on to speak of the work done in the Churches among the young people. There were many ways, in his opinion, in which the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches could co-operate, and particularly so in the training of ministers. The Presbyterians had their college in Dunedin, and there was one for Methodists in Auckland, and both could co-operate. "In ottering the greetings of the Methodists," said Mr Flesher, "we rejoice in co-operating with you on common grounds, and 1 am glad to tender you greetings on behalf of the Methodist Church."

The Rev. J. Robertson, president of the Christchurch Ministers' Association, conveyed greetings from the Baptist Union of New Zealand, over which he had the honour to preside. He wanted also to express the goodwill of the Christchurch Ministers' Association. "We are all here to stand for the high ideals of the Church." said Mr Hobertson, "and though the voices of slander ami calumny might be heard, truth will prevail while God is God, for God is right. So I hope that you will prosper in your own Church." The Rev. Gardner Miller, on behalf of the Congregationalists, asked that a blessing rest on the Assembly and the Presbyterian Church. In reply Dr. Cuming returned thanks for the greetings and good wishes, which, he said, were fully appreciated by the Assembly.