GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1932, Page 6

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

OF PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 24. The Presbyterian General Assembly for 1932 was opened at St. Paul’s last evening, the big church being filled with clergy, elders .6f the Church, and interested members - of tile general congregation. Proceedings began with a short service, during which the combined choirs sang the anthems “The Heavens are Telling” (Hayden) and Handel’s ‘‘Hallelujah Chorus”

The retiring Moderator, the Right. Rev. Professor J. Guliio, M.A., conducted the service.

At tile conclusion of the service, the retiring moderator moved, in accordance with the nomination of the last Assembly, that the new moderator should be the Rev. Adam Begg. Mr Begg was elected moderator unanimously, and thenceforward presided over the Assembly. The retiring moderator thanked all members of the Assembly for loyal support during the year. He referred to the deaths of the Rev. A. V. G. Chandler, the Rev. I). Campbell (.Ministers), Mr J. Williamson (home missions), the Rev. R. Wood, R. R. M. Sutherland. I>. Dutton (cliaplin in the South. African war and the Croat War) and Dr R. Erwin, all retired ministers.

The new moderator, in his address, commented on the problem raised for the Church by the difficult times through which the country was passing. and emphasised the spiritual side of the question.

■‘lt is interesting to note in this connection what happened recently in Scotland,” said Rev. Begg. “In October last, the first congress summoned by the Church of Scotland was held in Glasgow. As a result of the union of the two Scottish Churches in 1929, it had been felt that the time was opportune for a great forward movement. Twelve commissions were set up to study the various services of the Church, her committments, responsibilities, opportunities and resources; and the findings were embodied in a little volume entitled ‘The Call to the Church/ which was placed in the hands of all delegates to the congress. It was an attempt to bring home to the whole Church the situation as it exists in .Scotland and the mission fields, and to (onsider what steps should be taken ‘to meet and satisfy the needs of a distracted world.’ That is our problem, too. That is tlip problem of every Church upon earth.” The roll was adopted, the numbers being 112 ministers (the same as last year) an ( | 102 eiders (two fewer than last year), ' CHRISTCHURCH, February 25. A proposal to limit Ministers’ appointments to charges for a lived term of live years, provoked a lengthy discussion at (he morning session of |he Presbyterian General .Assembly. The discussion arose as the result of a rein it, from llawkes Bay, advocating a llixed term of live years, with a provision that a congregation may extend the term for a further two yearn. j Mr ('. Dull’ (llauki's Ray) said if I the overture were put into ell'ecl there would be no unemployment among--1 Ministers and equal opportunities would lie provided for all. It was decided to I'.de.r the question to Presbyteries and , I Sessions for consideration. U