A CANDID CLERIC

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 45, 17 November 1926, Page 10

A CANDID CLERIC

AUGMENTING CHURCH FUNDS The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church bad under consideration at yesterday’s session the question of inaugurating a scheme to raise a semijubilee fund of £-250,000 for church extension, and to augment the beneficiarv funds. The Rev. L. Hunt (Mount Eden) urged an increase in the superannuation benefits. The weak point in Presbyterians was their humility. (Laughter.) Thev were too backward iu asking. When the Government wanted more votes they removed disabilities from the Civil servants. A policeman could retire on superannuation on £2OO a vear, but a Presbyterian minister had to be content with £IGO. All thev asked was the irreducible minimum to meet the present cost of living —not to buv Rolls-Royce cars—but sufficient to enable them to retire in some degree of comfort The Rev. Mr Hunt further referred to the need for church rooms and schools. In his district a. Baptist Ciitirch had recently been erected. He had attended the opening of that church, and had been hurt at the disparaging remarks made about Presbyterian doctrines. (Laughter.) lie had made a vow that when the new Baptist minister was planted down there he would give him a run for his'moticv. (Renewed laughter) The need for church extension was quite apparent; the money they were appealing'for was in the country, and if thev had anv sense thev would co out after it and'get it. (Hear, hear.) The proposal to raise the fund was agreed to.