LOYAL ADDRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 February 1940, Page 2

LOYAL ADDRESS

PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALLEGIANCE TO THE THRONE. LIBERTY OF RELIGIOUS OPINION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. In a loyal address to the King, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, assembled on the occasion of Ihe celebration of the centenary of the establishment of the church in New Zealand, gave an assurance of loyal allegiance to the Throne and went on to state: “We are well assured of the deep interest felt by your Majesty in the welfare of every portion of your Majesty’s dominions and especially in the spread and maintenance of pure and undefiled religion, and this assurance has strengthened our resolution to address your Majesty on this, to us. most auspicious occasion.

“We regret that this occasion is darkened by the clouds of war and we hasten to assure your Majesty that it will be our unceasing prayer that the protection of Almighty God may be granted to your Majesty’s forces on land, on ihe sea and in the air. We assure your Majesty of our deep sympathy with all who have suffered through this grave conflict and our appreciation of the greater strain and anxiety borne by our brethren in the United Kingdom, that there may be upheld the common ideals of free people. We pray that in the Providence of God there may be found a just and lasting peace and the .way prepared for the full and final establishment of that Kingdom, which is Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost. “In face of the threat to religious liberty in many parts of the world we assure your Majesty that we esteem highly the full liberty of religious opinion and worship enjoyed under your Majesty’s rule. We pray that the loyal attachment of the peoples of the British Commonwealth of Nations to your Majesty and to our much loved Queen Elizabeth may ever increase and that, under the blessing of Almighty God. the united reign of your Majesties may be long and illustrious.” CENTENARY RESOLUTION. A centenary resolution passed by the General Assembly “offers adoration and thanksgiving unto the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, makes humble confession of disobedience and powers laid waste, and, trusting in the everlasting mercy, solemnly rededicates the Church to her divinely appointed task. “The Assembly recalls the faith and fortitude of pioneer ministers, elders and members of this church who left their ancient home, braved the perils of the deep, and settled in a far off primitive country. Men and women of culture, initiative and endurance, with courage they began to build new homes in this beautiful but untamed land, and straightway sought to worship God as their custom was. To them if, is due that the foundations of the New Zealand Church are well and truly laid. “Further, this Assembly remembers all those who, through these hundred years, have served the church with vision and devotion. They ministered in the Gospel to gold seeker and settler in the remotest districts, helped to publish the Gospel to the Maori race, strove to make the life of a new nation more Christian, established schools and colleges, and while still nobly facing great tasks in their own country, sent forth men and women to serve the Word of God in the young native churches of heathen lands. “With pride in this record, yet with contrite acknowledgment that it is stained with human weakness and sin, the members of this Assembly unite in giving all the glory to God. Whose hand has ever led our Church, Who hath borne patiently with our imperfections, and Who of his great mercy hath graciously used us in His service. , Solemnly conscious of our High calling as we enter a new century in our history, we would re-consecrate ourselves and the church we represent to Hun Who is our only King and Head. ,1 “Trusting in his grace we resolve to i witness in an honest and steadfast heart to the faith committed to us by striving to minister diligently to our fellow-countrymen, to bring our national life under the control of Him Who is the Lord of all life, and to help Christian brethren in other countries. In the fellowship of the One Holy Catholic Church we commit ourselves, who first see each new dawn, to our due part in causing the light of the day spring from on high to shine among all nations, affirming boldly in these dark days of war that there is none other Name under heaven whereby men must be saved than the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. "Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, we would run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our Faith, unto Whom, with God the Father and the Holy Ghost we ascribe all honour and glory, world without end.”