GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 43, 14 November 1940, Page 10

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Presbyterian Church Affairs

REPORTS ON PAST YEAR

Dominion Special Service.

PALMERSTON N., November 13.

The General Assembly of tlie Presbyterian Church, now sitting in Palmerston North, is the second to be held in this centre. The first was in 1924, when tlie Very Rev. G. Miller, of Palmerston North, and now living in retirement in Christchurch, was installed as moderator. The roll of the present assembly is 124 ministers, .103 elders and 25 associate members. More than 100 delegates are attending the conference of the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union.

The Communion service this morning was conducted by the moderator, Rt. Rev. G. 11. Jupp. The preacher was the Rev. A. McLean, M.A., of St. Paul’s, Wanganui. Reference was made to the deaths ot ministers of tlie Church during the year, these including the Revs. I. EBertram. C. Connor, W. Kearney, W. Marshall, D. McCool, A. Stevenson, J. E. Ward, J. G. Wheatley, W. Grundy and P. B. Fraser.

The assembly had placed liefore it the report of the life and work committee by the Rev. J. M Bates, Raugiora. In this report an outline was given of tlie conversations with the Methodist Church, to which Hie Congregational Church was also invited, relating to church union. On tlie motion of Mr. Bates, (lie report, on the proceedings to date was taken in private, Mr. Bates stating that the discussion of tlie recommendations of Hie committee would be taken at a later stage. Sunday Schools.

"The figures returned this year show further decreases in ' tlie number of Sunday schools in tlie Church and in the number of teachers, but tin increase in the total roll number." stated the annual report of the Dominion Council of Sunday School Teachers. • I here ate at present 711 (722 in 1939> Sunday schools and 4030 teachers (4040 in 1939) and 33,082 scholars (32.701 in 1939). The practice of holding schools iu Hie morning seems to be increasing still: 5!) per cent, of Sunday schools are teported as meeting in the morning this year. Only one parish is reported this year as having no Sunday school within tlie bounds. Workers who have been awarded liplomas in recognition of their many years of service are: Mr. A. Allan (Invercargill i. Mr. A. C. Buist ( Feildingt. Mr. W. H. Carson I'Kaitangaia), Mr. "’. ■ • Clarke (Ciinton), Miss M. Crawford (Kelso). Miss Dickie (Mataura). Miss E. Glendinning I Dunedin), Mrs. T. W. Hay ( Invercargill), Miss Kerse i Invercargill K Mrs. Preece (Maukti) and Mrs. J. A. Robertson (Turan).

The clerk of the assembly is the Rev. R, F. Robertson. Waipawa. ami the treasurer the Rev. A. M. Ellille. Wellington. The statistics report lo) the General Assembly records Hint -i66 communicant members and 1207 adherent members of the Presbyterian Church arc on active service witli Hie first two echelons.