SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1941, Page 6

SOCIAL PROBLEMS

NEED OF ORDERLY STUDY URGED AT PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY. CHURCH CONCERNED ONLY WITH PRINCIPLES. At the Presbyterian General Assembly. the Rev. J. T. Macky moved that the Assembly encourage the formation of adult study groups “for the purpose of preparing our people for the great social and political changes of the post- war period.” Seconding the resolution, Dr. J. D. Salmond pointed out that the church did not set out to give the community blue prints of ideal systems. Its job was to proclaim principles and to foster the right spirit in all human relationships. If Christian people of different shades of opinion were to cooperate, their thinking on social problems must be related to the Christian view of God. and man. It was through 'Christian persons functioning in every department of life that a better order would be brought into being.

The Rev. J. D. Smith said,. Christians must be vitally concerned with social matters. Many Christian people were not interested in the social implications of the Gospel. _ Mr A. Kirkwood (Dunedin) urged that Christian people should come together, having got rid of all their fears and inhibitions. While agreeing to differ they must always resolve to love. . , • 1 The resolution urging study of social issues was carried.