PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 November 1938, Page 7

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

EXTENSION OF WORK. DIFFICULTY IN MEETING CALLS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) • DUNEDIN, November 7. The sessions of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church continued today. The Moderator, the Rt. Rev. T. E. Riddle, presided. In presenting the report of the committee, the convenor, the Rev; D. M. Cattanach, said that reports from the field this year were neither unduly pessimistic nor unduly optimistic. In New Zealand the Government’s housing scheme and the promise of accelerated land developments, together with the establishment of public works camps, had resulted in larger calls for an extension of work and for properties and buildings. Both the presbyteries and the committee were finding difficulty in meeting those calls, the resources of the Church were not yet organised in such a way that it could apply the right strategy in meeting the needs of those communities that were springing up almost over-night. There was a lack both of finance and of ministers.

“Among the Maoris there is a prospect of comparative prosperity through the efforts of the Government, but those efforts will be of lasting value only if people have the right spirit and will-power,” Mr Cattenach said.

In the foreign field, Mr Cattanach said, the younger churches of Asia and Africa were in the very front line today as they faced the anti-Christian forces of .the world. In some of the missions magnificent efforts were being made toward self-support and a fine spirit of evangelism was abroad.

Reference to the retirement from the position of superintendent of missions of the Very Rev. George Budd was made in the report of the missions committee, which stated that it contemplated his retirement with very deep regret. He had been called by of 1920 to become superintendent of home missions at a time of great need in home mission work. He had justified all the confidence the assembly had at the time it called him to office. A comprehensive resolution of gratitude and praise for Mr Budd’s work and the assistance he had received from Mrs Budd was adopted. The report of the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union stated that the membership now stood at 9489, an increase of 284 for the year. The amount contributed showed an increase of £895 0s sd, the total being £11,513 4s Bd. The report of the Knox College council stated that in spite of the increased fees which the council had been compelled to charge, the college had been well filled. The old trouble still persisted, however, that the theological students for whose benefit the college was to a large degree founded, were often, through lack of means, unable to partake of the benefits such an institution afforded.

The Rev. H. J. Ryburn, Professor T. D. Adams, Professor R. Lawson, and Mr A. M. Cameron, retiring members, were reappointed to the council.