THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2942, 30 November 1916, Page 9

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

♦ ASSEMBLY ENDS FINAL BUSINESS PROCEEDINGS The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Now Zealand was continued on. Tuesday, and concluded yesterday. The Rev. R. il. Ryburn, Moderator, presided. The Protestant Principles Committee, in a lengthy report, stated that: "During the year the work of tho committee had not como very prominently before tho Church. In, the midst of the great struggle for the Empire's existence controversy was to be avoided if at all possible. The work of educating tho young people in Protestant ' principles Jins gone 'quietly forward, however, the Bible classes playing a great part." The Rev. P. C. Durward,moved: "That the Assembly should adopt the report, and recommend that on the last Sunday in October ministers be instructed to preach on principles; that leadors of Bible classes and teachers of senior classes in Sunday schools be advised to take up at the same time Luther's lifo and work; that the committee be instructed to prepare a booklet on Luther (similar to the booklet on Huss) for our young people, and that, in view of tho activity of the Churah of Rome in seeking constant aggrandisement, our own Church, along with the other Pro- j testaht Churches, be vigilant'in guarding our Protestant heritage." The motion was carried. Intercessory Services. On Tuesday evening a war intercessory service was held. There was a large congregation. . Prayers were offered by the Revs. I. Jolly, W. Trotter, A. Cameron, and J. Asher. A short address was delivered by the Rev. S.- P. Hunter. • Address to the King. On tho motion of tho Rev. Dr. Gibb, it was resolved: "The General Assembly anew tenders to His Majesty tho King its tribute of profound loyalty both to his person an<t his throne, and its gratitude for the high example of calm confidence • in God and of selfsacrifice in the best interests of the Empire which, in a time of unparalleled anxiety and distress, .he is setting before his people. Tho Assembly, while deploring before God the continuance of the war, assures His Majesty that it realises that from tho, dread conflict to which tho Empiro is pledged there can be up turning back until the menace of German militarism to tho peace of the world, and the spiritual ideals of mankind, is utterly destroyed, and the way opened for the development of national life and individual freedom in harmony with the principle of the everlasting Gospel and the Kingdom of God. Thi> Assembly, tho supreme court of a Church which has already given thousands of its sons to the cause- of Empire, is pledged in common with every section of the community to uphold the King and his' counsellors in their purpose to peril all m defence of justice, truth, and freedom by their means, their sympathy, and. their prayers that Almighty God may in His abundant mercy vouchsafe victory to Great Britain and her Allies, and, through victory a strong, enduring, and honourable peace." . ' Military Ballots, An overture from Christchurch, proposed that committees should be set up by each Presbytery, consisting of men over military age, to act in conjunction with the chaplains' and home missions' committees in making appeals on behalf. of ■J.nissionaries occupying important charges, who in ballots held under the Military Service I Act. Discussion of the proposal was adjourned till Wednesday, and is reported in .another column. The Assembly concluded last night. The Moderator, the Rev. R. M. Ryburn, presided. ''■■■-.. Beneficiary 1 Fund. The report of the Beneficiary Fund Committee read.:—-"Owing - to the transference of the headquarters of 1 this committee from Dunediu to AVellington, the members have ( been able to meet at frequent intervals and at no expense to the church. In accordance with the resolution of last Assembly, the A. and I.M. Fund and W. and 0. Fund were amalgamated. The amalgamation was effected at tho close of the year, the new arrangement dating from January 1, 1916., At that time the credit balance of the former fund was £43,766' ss. Id., and that of the latter was £42,336 2s. 9d., making a total of £86,102 7s. lOd. The come to the end of the financial year, August 18, has been:—lnterest, £4264 10s. 7d.; entry money, £322; premiums, £2336 10s. 7d.; assessments, £962 ss. -5d.; royalties, £48 ]25." 7d.; donations, £1: total, £7934 19s. 2d. The expenditure for'the same period has been: —Annuities, £3440 14s. Bd.; refunds, £345 12s. 55d.,; Assembly expenses, £352 2sl Bd.; other expenses, £26 16s. 6d.: ' total, £4165 6s. 3d. Leaving £3769 12s. lid. to be added to the capital, which now stands at £88,438 13s. 10d., including a sum of £7 donated towards a special fund for increasing annuities. At September 30 the number of contributors was:—(a) To both funds, 193; (b) to A. and I.M. Fund only, 20; (c) to W. and 0. Fund only, six. The number of annuitants at the same date was: —(a) On A. and I.M. Fund, 24'; (b) on'W. and O. Fund, 29 widows and four children; Ministers' Annuities. The Assembly considered a proposal to''increase the annuities of ministers. At present a minister who comes within, the operation of the fund draws at the rate of £50 per year and £1 per year for every year' of service performed as a minister. The proposal was to increase the £1 allotment to £2. The decision of the Assembly was to refer the matter back to the Presbyteries for further consideration. A Special Appeal. It was resolved that a special appeal should bo made for £600 in order that bonuses might be given to beneficiaries under the aged ministers' fund. Subsequently it was announced that £100 had been promised already. The special distribution will not apply to those receiving over £50. Home Missionaries. It was resolved: "In cases of urgency, whero the circumstances of the uistrict render it necessary for • tho homo missionary to have power to administer the oruinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, and to act as an officiating minister under the Marriage Act, the Hume Mission Committee shall have power to grant exemption from the examinations for a suitable) agent with a view to ordination on tho request of tho presbytery within whose bounds ho is working, and to report such cases to the Assembly." Sunday Coif, etc. It was resolved that the Lifo and Work Committee should bo empowered: (1) To tako action re tho use of municipal reserves on Sunday should the test case before tho Court in Wellington, be decided against the City Council; (2) to approach Parliament to get the line for tho breach of the Sunday trading clauso of the Police Offences Act increased to a maximum of £10 and a minimum of £5; (3) to approach Parliament to get legislation passed regurding the principle of i a six-day week as in the French Act. Tho mover of tho resolution, tho Rev. J. D. Smith, said there was a danger of city reserves being used for golf, etc., on Sundays. Question of Overlapping. On tho motion of tho Rev. J. dimming, a committee was set up to in-

quire into the subject of overlapping in Church work. A report is to bo made to next year's Assembly. Finance. It was reported: "Tho committee considered the overture from the Christchurch Presbytery on financial methods, which was referre dto it by last Assembly, but was unable to- frame definite proposals oalong to lines of the overture. The committee recommends that ttio conveners of the Beneficiary Fund, Church Extension, Foreign Missions, Maori Mission, Theological and Youth of tho Church Committees bo appointed members f te Finance Committee, and that the Assembly direct that appeals for special funds which have not received te sanction of tho Assembly shall not bo issued during the interval between the meotin gof Assembly without being first submitted to the Finance Committee for its approval. Tho_ Assembly Expenses Fund is in a satifactory condition. Notwithstanding the reduction in the rate of certain assessments agreed to by last Assembly,, the income, from the assessment of funds was £1389 12s. The total expenditure for the year was £2725 15s. 3d., leaving a- credit balance of £1618 13s. 7d. The expenditure for the current year is estimated at £2450. To meet this your committee recommends that the income of funds be assessed. at the same rate as last year, and that the assessment on congrgations be as appended hereto. These assessments, together with the present balance and sundry items of income, are estimated to produce £4050, leaving a. credit balance of £1600, about sufficient to meet the expenditure for the first half of tho year." The recommendations were adopted. Fire Insurance, The following report by the Fire Insurance Committed was adopted:—"On August 18, 1916, insurances were in force amounting to £252,510 10s. These were distributed over 268 churches, and their contents, 141 manses and--out-buildings, and 63 schoolrooms, halls,, and contents, the property of. 214 congregations. Levies .unpaid at that date amounted to £65 18s. • lOd. Two fire losses have been paid during the year: Waitahuna £40, and Mahurangi 55.; £10 was recovered, leaving a net loss of £30 ss. Tho amount t otho credit of the fund is £1803 125.. an increase for the ear of £536 13s. lid." Thanks to the Moderator. Mr. W. Allan moved that tho thanks of the assembly should be given to the Moderator for his opening address. The Rev. Dr. Gibb,.-first Moderator of the United Cliurmch, seconded, and complimented tho Moderator on the courtesy, urbanity, and tact with which he had conducted the proceedings. The motion was. carried. . Next Assembly. It was decided that the next Assembly should be held in Dunedin, commencing on November 20, 1917.