KIRK GOVERNMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 515, 19 November 1928, Page 14

KIRK GOVERNMENT

GENERAL ASSEMBLY IMPORTANT WORK TO BE DONE Probably the biggest meeting to be held during the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church will be the missionary demonstration in the Town Hall on Monday evening. The meeting wall be addressed by the men of outstanding calibre in the church. General Assembly, which is the parliament of the Church in New Zealand, begins in Auckland on Wednesday. The retiring Moderator is the Right Rev. James Aicken. of Gisborne, who is also the editor of the children's newspaper of the church, “The Break of Day.” The Moderator-elect is the Right Rev. Professor William Hewitson, of Knox College, Dunedin.

Professor Hewitson came to New Zealand about 30 years ago from Australia to take charge of Knox Church, which has the largest Presbyterian congregation in the Southern Hemisphere. Twenty years ago he became master of Knox College and this year he retires from the position. Professor James Cumming, who also will attend the Assembly, retires this year from the professorship of Hebrew at the Theological College, Dunedin. Both these vacancies will have to be filled by the Assembly. The election of Moderator for the coming year will take place on Friday morning and the following ministers have been nominated: The Rev. George Budd, of Auckland, the Rev. W. Trotter, of Dunedin, the Rev. A. B. Todd, of Wellington, the Rev. D. D. Scott, of Onehunga, the Rev. D. Mclvor, of Marton, the Rev. Don Collie, of Queenstown, and the Hon. J. B. Gow. of Opotiki.

The reorganisation of the church for more efficient working is one of the big subjects for discussion. The Rev. W J. Comrie, who has been treasurer for many years, is retiring and the suggestion has been made that the Rev G. Budd be made the general secretarv and given an office in Wellington. Assembly will be opened on Wednesday night, when the retiring Moderator will preach at St. David’s and the Moderator will give the inaugural ad-dr-?i The . busines s of the Assembly will be carried on at morning, afternoon and evening sessions.