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PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.
ANNUAL MEETINGS CONTINUED.
The annual sittings of the Presbyterian
Church General Assembly were continued in
St. Andrew's Church on Wednesday. The
moderator (the Rev. Daniel Ross) presided.
Vacant Congregations.
On the motion of the Rev. Alex Crow,
the Assembly went into committee to con
sider ways and means of supplying reli
gious services to vacant congregations. It
was stated that there was an unduly large
number of such congregations at the pre
sent time. After discussion it was de
cided that the Assembly should approach
all congregations and ask them to set
their ministers free for four Sundays in
the twelve months, and approach the minis
tars asking them to place their services at
the disposal of the Home Mission Commit
tee for these four weeks.
Council of Churches Deputation.
A deputation from the Council of
Churches, consisting of the president (Mr.
J. H. Prowse) and the Rev. F. E. Harry,
waited on the assembly to convey good
wishes and fraternal greetings. In wel
coming these gentlemen the Moderator
said that though they were called to
work in another sphere to their own, they
were really felow-raourers in the same
cause.
Mr. Prowse expressed great appreciation
of the Moderator's sermon delivered on
Tuesday night and remarked that Mr.
Ross was himself a militant saint. People
had come to think, that saints had to be
dead many years, before they qualified
(Laughter.) The Council of Churches es
sentially needed fighting saints. Mr.
Prowse also eulogised the sermon of the
retiring Moderator (the Rev. Huey Steele)
on the subject of "God and the War," and
declared that it had assisted many people
who had been asking questions.
The Rev. F. E. Harry congratulated Mr.
Ross on his elevation to the office of Mode
rator. It was a worthy honour to a man
who had done such signal service in the
city. Mr. Harry also spoke in admiration
of the Moderator's eloquent call to mili
tant saintship. According to one Church,
he said, saints were cannonaded once and
canonised now. (Laughter.) Mr. Ross
had very greatly heartened them all in
the work they had to do in the city. A
little burning indignation would be a good
thing in Perth. He was afraid they took
things too apathetically and let the other
side have its own way. He was glad the
Presbyterian Church had such a militant
voice in the person of its Moderator, and
he hoped Mr. Rose would be backed up
by the united voice of the brethren. Mr.
Ross was a brother beloved in all the de
nominations, and he was sure he would do
excellent service in the office of Modera
tor. Concluding, Mr. Harry conveyed the
greetings of his denomination, as well as
those of the Council of Churches.
W.C.T.U.
The Woman's Christian Temperance
Union wrote extending to the Assembly
greetings and wishes for the success of
their gatherings.
Luncheon.
Members of the Assembly were provided
with an excellent luncheon by the ladies
of St. Andrew's Church, in St. Andrew's
Hall.
Afternoon Sitting.
On the resumption of business in the
afternoon the Rev. Huey Steele, a repre
sentative of the Church on the Council of
Churches, presented a verbal report of the
work that body had recently undertaken
and what had been accomplished. The
same gentleman also brought forward the
report of the Public Questions Committee,
which set out that the committee had
been chiefly engaged in the campaign
against gambling in general and book
makers is particular. The committee re
gretted that the main object of the cam
paign had not been achieved, and urged
the necessity for redoubled efforts
to educate public opinion on the
gambling evil, so that the Govern
ment might be enabled to administer the
laws for its restriction. The committee
had also been active in the matter of liquor
law reform, and urged the need for seeking
to give effect to the declared policy of the
Church-"No Licence"--on this question. It
was further mentioned that the committee
had agreed, in conjunction with other
churches, to support a movement for the
appointment of women police. A letter had
been written to the Colonial Secretary
asking for stricter censorship over moving
pictures, especially in the interests of chil
dren: and it was pleasing to note that the
Federal Government had taken action in
this matter.
The Assembly carried a resolution--"That
the Assembly declare that 'No Licence," by
means of complete local option, is their at
titude on the liquor question."
Mr. Pitchford moved-"That the churches
should be asked not to use fermented wine
at their Conmmunion services." It was a
shocking thing. said Mr. Pitchford, to
think that a young man might come to
Communion at a church, and be tempted
by drinking fermented wine.
Mr. Moorehouse seconded the motion.
The Rev. A. Crow said this had been a
very vexed question in Great Britain,
where a split in the Church had been
threatened. He considered that if the sub
ject were brought up, it should be by no
tice of motion so that members of the As
sembly would know what was coming.
The Moderator held that the matter
could not be brought forward at that
stage.
Finance.
The report of the law and finance com
mittee was presented by Mr. E. A. Black,
the general treasurer. It was set out that
the Assembly's general account opened at
the beginning the financial year with a
debit balance of £102 19s. 6d., and closed
with a credit balance of £39 19s. 10d.,
showing an increase of receipts over pay
ments of £142 19s. 4d. The home mis
sions' account showed a deficit of £98 9s.
6d., as against a deficit last year of £152
19s. 5d. This improvement wars due prin
cipally to an increase in revenue under
the budget scheme, and a decrease of ex
penditure under the heading "miscellane
ous." The Foreign and Aborigines' Mis
sion account showed an increase in re
ceipts of £38 17s. over last year, and a
decrease in the disbursements of £79 14s.
10d. The whole operations of the fore
going accounts; together with the Welfare
of Youth account, showed a net excess of
revenue over disbursements of £73 0s. 9d.
In connection with the general budget
scheme there had been a satisfactory in
crease in the contributions of 1916-17 of
nearly £100 over 1915-16. The figures were
£604 5s. and £507 10s. 10d., the assess
ments being £775 and £783.
Home Mission Work.
The home mission committee reported:
"With the ever deepening shadows of the
world war across everything, there would
have been little cause for surprise had it
been necessary seriously to curtail the work.
But with the exception of two places, the
work has been continuously and vigorously
carried on, and our hearts are glad that
we have been enabled to do so much. In
one of the two places the work has been
resumed, and the stations are now all
manned except one. The financial position
as disclosed by the balance-sheet, though
better than last year, is still far from sat
isfactory. We have again failed to make
our income meet our expenditure, and the
debit balance has been increased. The
grants from the Home Churches have
reached the usual total of £400, and our
sincerest gratitude is due to these churches,
in, that amidst the severe financial strain
of these abnormal tines they have not
abated their liberality. Miss Grace Doug
las Young has again collected and sent
£30, being the fourteenth year in succes
sion in which she has helped us in this
way. Our income from the budget was
much larger than during the previous year.
We feel that in the conscientious work
ing of this scheme our salvation lies.
Grants to ministerial charges totalled £279,
being £131 more than last year. This was
occasioned by the settlement of ministers
in charges which for many years were
worked as missions, and must be regarded
as money well spent. The grants to mis
sion stations have shown a corresponding
decrease of £133. It will be necessary
for the Assembly to find means of increas
ing the revenue considerably, or direct the
committee to curtail operations in certain
directions. The Churches in the North
West, though under the control of the
Australian Inland Mission, are near to our
heart, being within the borders of one
of our own Presbyteries. There has been
no break in the work either at Broome
or Port Hedland. The hospital at Port
Hedland has its praises sung far beyond
the bounds of our own Church. At the
Victorian Assembly last year a very sym
pathetic report was presented showing the
labours and needs of the Church in West
ern Australia in its Home Mission prob
lems. A resolution was passed:"That the
General Assembly of Australia be informed
that with the ending of the war condi
tions the Victorian Assembly is prepared
(a) to grant £300 for new Home Mission
extension work in Western Australia; and
(b) to assist with home missionaries and
licentiates; that in the administration of
funds so provided, and in the appointment
and removal of Victorian missionaries and
licentiates, there shall be mutual confer
ence between the home mission committees
of the Western Australian Assembly and
of the Victorian Assembly."
The Rev. A. Crow said that in spite of
the stress of war, grants from the Churches
in Great Britain had not been diminished
by one penny. Miss Young wrote last year
that some of the contributor to the funds
collected by her had died, or had been
killed at the front, but those who re
mained had increased their contributions,
so that the aggregate amount should not
be less than formerly, and they had done
this in token of appreciation of the part
played by Australia in the war. Refer
ring to the Churches in the State, Mr.
Crow said the committee had had the
unique experience of congregation after
congregation coming forward and asking to
receive less financial help than previously.
Resolutions expressive of the Assembly's
gratitude to the Churches in Scotland and
Ireland, to Miss Young, and to the Vic
torian Church, were passed. It was de
cided to instruct ministers to bring before
their congregations the need of consecrated
young men for home mission work.
The Presbyterian Women's Missionary
Union.
The Presbyterian Women's Missionary
Union reported another year of growth,
notwithstanding the fact that many of the
women of the churches had been taking a
prominent part in the care of soldiers. The
missionary spirit had been well sustained.
There were 13 branches and incomplete
membership returns showed 190. The in
come for the year amounted to £81 2s.
1d. The report traversed the activities of
the union in the direction of forwarding
consignments of various goods to mission
stations, hospital visiting, sewing for the
Red Cross Society by the "Welcome to the
West" Club (having for its object the pro
moting of the welfare of girls arriving in
the State from the old country and the
Estern States) and the supply by the club
of cigarettes and cakes to soldiers.
Welfare of Youth.
The Welfare of Youth Committee report
ed:- There are 45 Sabbath schools in the
State and 16 of them sent up candidates
for the various examinations held during
the year. The total number of entries for
the examinations in Sunday school lessons
was 200. Of these only 96 actually sat,
74 of whom succeeded in securing over 50
per cent. of the possible marks, while 29 of
these secured over 80 per cent. There were
120 entries for the examination in shorter
catechism and booklet, of whom 43 actually sat. Only one candidate failed to se
cure 50 per cent. of the possible marks,
22 secured 80 per cent. and over, while two
of these obtained full marks. Of four candi
dates sent up by the School for the Blind,
at Maylands, three secured 100 per cent.,
97 per cent, and 93 per cent. respectively.
Detailed results have already been publish
ed in '"The Presbyterian." There were no
entries for the higher Christian education
examinations. Two demonstrations accom
panied by exhibitions of manual work, were
held in Fremantle and Ports respectively.
They were well attended and awakened very
considerable interest.
The Rev. F. E. Oxer, one of the conveners
of the committee, spoke of the high merit
of the examination papers sent in. Some of
the senior scholars' papers, he said, were
almost on a par with the work of a stu
dent for the ministry.
It was decided that two representatives
from the Church in this State should at
tend a conference, to be held in Melbourne
in September next, at which consideration
will be given to the provisions of a uni
form course of Sunday school lessons for
the Church throughout the Commonwealth.
"The Presbyterian."
Consideration was given to the denomi
national paper, "The Presbyterian." The
publisher was heard upon the high cost of
paper, freight, etc., and the difficulty of
obtaining, in the future, the "inset" lite
rary matter from Great Britain. It was de
cided to discontinue the "inset," owing to
its cost, and the difficulty of obtaining it
and members possessed of literary talent
were appealed to to step into the breach.
It was stated that the circulation of the
paper compared more than favourably with
that of the organ of the Presbyterian
Church in Victoria. A motion approving of
the adoption of "a more definite policy"
for the paper was carried, the details be
ing left to the publications committee.
YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS.
The Assembly dealt with further business
yesterday morning and afternoon.
Committees.
Several committees, councils, etc., were
appointed, including the following:
Scotch College Council: The Moderator,
the Revs. W. H. Steele, B. F. Cameron,
G. N. Dods,. R. Hanlin, C. D. P. Taylor,
Principal F. E. Oxer, W. F. Turton, and
Messrs. J. F. Allen, E. A. Black, J. B.
Grieve, J. T. Murray, F. M. Syme, R. Mc
Donald, P. Hope (representatives of the
Old Boys' Association), F. A. Moseley, G.
P. Morrison, G. F. Pitchford, J. Stewart,
and Dr. S. Macaulay. Life members:
Messrs. W. L. Alexander, J. M. Fer-
guson, and M. Moorhouse; chairman, the
Rev. Principal Oxer.
Presbyterian Ladies' College Council:
The Moderator, the Revs. W. H. Steele,
A. Crow, G. R. Dods, Principal F. E.
Oxer, Messrs. Principal P. C. Anderson, D.
J. Carmichael, J. M. Ferguson, J. A.
Klein, J. Stewart, Neil McNeil, J. Sharpe,
Professor A. D. Ross, and Dr. Paton, Con
vener: The Rev. G. N. Dods.
Representatives to the Council of
Churches: The Moderator, the Revs. F. E.
Oxer, and J. Enright, and Messrs. R. A.
Gamble, Dr. S. Macaulay. The Moderator
to be convener, and the Assembly's repre-
sentative on the executive.
Naval and Military Affairs Committee:
The Moderator, all naval and military
chaplains of the Church, and Mr. P. C.
Anderson. Convener: The Rev. R. Hanlin.
Public Questions Committee:--The Mode
derator, the Revs. R. Hanlin, J. Enright,
C. D. P. Taylor, E. F. Cameron, W. F.
Turton, A. Crow, Principal F. E. Oxer, and
Messrs. R. A. Gamble, J. Livingston, C.
M. Wilson, W. Christie, G. F. Pitehford, and
W. Currie. Convener: The Moderator.
Deputation from the W.A. Alliance.
The Revs. F. E. Harry and B. G. Ed
wards, and Mr. J. Mather, representing the
W.A. Alliance, waited upon the assembly,
requesting that it should send representa
tives to the Alliance and actively co-operate
with it in the fight against the liquor trade.
Mr. Harry explained that the alliance
wanted complete local option for all liquor
licenses in this State, on a majority basis.
The Moderator said the assembly had
passed a resolution expressing its agree
ment with that principle.
Mr. Harry said the deputation desired
that the assembly should combine with the
alliance and appoint three delegates to re
present them on that central body. The
only attitude towards the liquor traffic pos
sible to an earnest Christian was uncom
promising hostility. When they marked the
progress of reform in the United States of
America and Europe, it was amazing how
little had been done in Western Australia.
Here the law was being thwarted, and the
public was being "bamboozled" by the poli
ticians, and they should all unite heart and
soul in combating this great evil. He ap
pealed to the Presbyterian Church to stand
shoulder to shoulder with them and give
them not only their sympathetic interest,
but their active support.
Mr. Mather followed with a vigorous
speech upon the need for concerted action
by all the churches. It was humiliating,
he said, to know that in Great Britain,
where a shortage of food had to be faced,
since the war was started four and a half
million tons of food had been wasted in
the making of liquor. It was hard to under
stand how men with such high conceptions
in the old country could be so completely
paralysed by the power of the liquor traf
fic. The position was as bad here. Never in
the history of the world were the young
people so valuable as now, and they had
to be protected against the menace of the
liquor traffic. The latter dominated politics,
stopped religious progress, and was a
menace to every home. It menaced the
future men and women of the country,
upon whom we had to rely for the con
tinuity of the race, and it was a patriotic
duty to cripple the traffic. No evil could
stand against the united churches. The
liquor traffic in America had been "settled"
by the united churches, and it could be
so settled here. The alliance was seeking
to weld all the forces opposed to the traffic
into one united whole, to bring pressure
to bear upon politicians and parliaments, so
as to get the traffic placed absolutely in
the hands of the people.
The Moderator assured the deputation
that the Presbyterian Church was in com
plete accord with the democratic proposals
of the alliance.
Subsequently the Rev. Huey Steele moved
that representatives to the alliance from
the assembly should be appointed.
The Rev. G. N. Dods said that the
Church was represented on the Council of
Churches, a body composed of churches
only, which dealt with such questions as li
quor reform. He was anxious that the Pres
byterian Church should take its part in
liquor reform, but he thought it could very
well take its place in the firing line through
the Council of Churches. His sentiments
towards the alliance were friendly, but he
did not think the Church should identify
itself officially with so many outside bodies.
The Rev. A. Crow was of a similar opin
ion. He pointed out that, whereas they
had been largely instrumental in framing
the present constitution of the Council of
Churches, they "did not know what they
were going in for," as far as the alliance
was concerned.
The Rev. E. F. Cameron said that a good
many things they had read about the pro
ceedings of the alliance were not of a
character to excite respect. The Presby
terian Church stood solid on the question
of temperance, and they should, he
thought, exercise their influence through
the body with which they were already as
sociated, namely, the Council of Churches.
The resolution was lost on the voices.
The Missionary Spirit.
The Rev. F. E. Cameron moved-"That it
be a recommendation from the General As
sembly to congregations to set apart four
Sundays in the year, to be known as Home
Mission, Foreign Mission, Aborigines, and
Young People's Sunday, respectively, with
a view to stimulating interest in and plac
ing the objects of the budget scheme be
fore our people."
Mr. Cameron said the budget scheme was
an excellent business proposition, but it re
quired something less abstract to act as a
lever in arousing the interest of the con
gregations. Many congregations were apt
to be content with paying their own way,
and they overlooked the wide work of the
whole Church, throughout the State.
Preachers could not well excite themselves
to enthusiasm in speaking on the budget
scheme, but they could be eloquent on the
topic of Home and Foreign missions or the
welfare of youth.
The Rev. F. E. Oxer thought that the
step proposed in Mr. Cameron's motion
would be a retrograde one. He (Mr. Oxer)
considered that at every service some mat
ter of missionary activity should be placed
before the congregations. Thus a mis
sionary spirit would be fostered and the
budget would be held before the congre
gations an their practical expression of
missionary interest. It would be a glori
ous day when the congregations were so
interested in the Kingdom of God that
their own petty concerns were a mere
trifle.
After further discussion the following
amendment was carried:--"That it be a
recommendation from the General Assembly
to ministers and office-bearers to keep con
tinually before their people the obligation
which rests on all Christian people to sup
port missions, with the suggestion that
regular missionary information would be
helpful to that end."
Aborigjnes Mission.
The Rev. W. F. Turton presented the
report of the Foreign and Aborigines' Com
mittee, which set out:--"When your com
mittee presented its last report work was
being carried on at two centres-Port
George IV. and Kunmainya, a site about
five miles further inland. During the
year the former site has been abandoned,
and the chief source of employment has
been the demolition of the buildings there
and the removal of the material to the lat
ter, where new and more commodious quar
ters are being erected for the mission
staff. As far back as December of last
year the buildings were sufficiently ad
vanced to permit of the missionaries tak
ing up their abode, and should by this time
be near completion. Permanent develop
ment is going on at Kunmainya. In this
connection your committee is instituting in
quiries concerning the adaptability of the
agave plant to the soil of the misson area,
with the object of establishing the produc
tion of fibre as an industry. The stock
is gradually increasing. In a letter dated
July 8. 1916, Mr. Wilson informed the can
mittee that further repairing of the W.S.
Park had been declared by experts unwise,
and an opportunity of obtaining a compara
tively new lugger, the Dampier, for £150,
presenting itself he had purchased it. The
Dampier, re-named the Rolland, is a boat
of 13 tons net register, being three tons
bigger than the Park, and was built in
Fremantle in 1912 by Walker and Co. at
cost of £150. Already Mr. Wilson has
taken several trips in her, and found her
a good sea boat and a fast sailer. Dur
ing the year the boats have done more
work than in previous years; and, being
manned largely by our own boys instead
of Malays as formerly, are getting gradu
ally nearer to the point of self-supporting
propositions. The insufficiency of the Gov
ernment's native ration supply is causing
grave anxiety; the present supply being
little more than sufficient to feed the sick,
and the old folks, and the children. Great
numbers of the able-bodied men and
women have to be turned into the bush
to forage for themselves; developments be
ing in this way retarded, and the mission
aries hindered in their efforts to teach the
people to work and fit them for the task
of supplying themselves and their de
pendants. Repeated efforts have been
made to get the ration grant increased,
and at the present time joint action is
being taken by the board of missions and
your committee. The educational work is
being carried on with better results than
previously.
Mr. Turton said that the grant of £150
made by the Government formerly had
been reduced to £100, and each year there
was dangled over their heads the prospect
of losing the grant altogether. That morn
ing he, with other members of the As
sembly, had waited on the Colonial Secre
tary in connection with the matter; and
they had every reason to believe that they
would obtain a capitation grant. If this
grant was, as they hoped, on a basis of 10d.
per head per day, they would receive a
sum of over £500 a year. Mr. Turton, re
ferring to a conversation with the Protec
tor of Aborigines, said the latter had ex
pressed very great surprise that the Pres
byterian missionaries had obtained so great
a hold upon the natives in so short a time.
There were over 300 natives at Kunmainya,
and but for the fact that they had to be
sent into the bush to forage, owing to
shortage of food, they would be living at
the mission. The missionary had gradu
ally won their confidence.
Mr. Pitchford pointed out that whereas
they were receiving only £100, the mission
on Sunday Island had a grant of £400
yearly, though the natives there numbered
only about 100.
Loyal Resolution.
The following loyal resolution was
moved by the Rev. Huey Steele, and car
ried, members standing:--"May it please
your Majesty :-We, the General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church in Western
Australia, representing the Presbyterian
community of this State, beg to tender
to your Majesty the assurance of our de
votion to your throne and person. In this,
the third year of the great war, notwith
standing the sufferings which it has en
tailed upon the whole Empire, we rejoice
that your Majesty, in August, 1914, led
your people in the path of national hon
our, and engaged the forces of your domin
ions in the great struggle to secure jus
tice and freedom for the weaker nations
of the world. We give humble thanks to
Almighty God for the indomitable valour
which Your forces of all services and, ranks
have shown, and for the success with
which He has blessed them. We give
thanks also that the men of our own
communion have been led to serve with
your Majesty's colours to such an extent
that scarcely one single and fit man is left
in any of our congregations. We pray
that, with the rest of your mighty forces,
their efforts may be blessed in the com
plete and enduring triumph of your
Majesty's cause. We, though we live far
from the centre of the Empire, have been
throughout these years constantly touched
and strengthened by the noble example of
self-denial that your Majesty, your graci
ous consort, and all the members of your
royal house have shown to your people.
In every effort that makes for the conser
vation of the Empire's resources, and the
elevation of the people's life, it has
been an inspiration to us that
our King has led the way,
add it is from hearts filled with deepest
loyalty that now and always our prayers
arise to God that He would sustain you
in the labours of these days of trial, and
that He would grant your Majesty long
years of peace in which to reign over a
free, united, and happy people."
The passing of the resolution was fol
lowed by the singing of the National An
them.
The Presbytery of Albany.
It was decided to change the name of
the Southern Presbytery to the Presby
tery of Albany.
Home Mission Festival.
In the evening the Assembly Mission
Festival was held, the Moderator pre
siding. Addresses were delivered by the
Moderator, and the Revs. W. F. Turton,
E. G. Petherick, and T. Gray.
Mr. Ross said that all who had been
looking at the world with unbiased minds,
and from the Christian point of view, had
seen during the last few years, an un
rivalled opportunity to honour the Lord
by spreading the doctrines He came to
teach as the universal Saviour and Friend
of all men. In heathen countries-in In
dia, China, and Japan-there had been the
spirit of unrest and revolution. The war
had forced Christianity to turn aside from
the open doors of opportunity, and a
great deal of the force of the Christian
Church had been turned to the great task,
which was equally its task. The mission
cause had suffered the loss of valuable
lives, monetary loss, and the loss repre
sented by dislocation in mission territories,
in some of which fighting was now taking
place. But they rejoiced in the great
fact that, whilst the forces of evil had un
doubtedly been quickened by the events
they had been passing through, the forces
of good had been quickened as never be
fore in the history of the nations of the
earth. The Church had gained consider
ably in the unity and strength of a com
mon purpose. The war had broken bar
riers which nothing else, perhaps, would
have broken. They had gained something
of the meaning and power of sacrifice.
The world before the war was playing with
great things. To-day it had gripped the
realities. Mr. Ross went on to state that,
in spite of the magnificent gifts by the
people to war causes, the Church in this
State had given nearly £100 more to mis
sion funds last year than the previous
year, and the largest sum since the Church
was inaugurated in Western Australia.
The war had taught the people how to
give.
The Rev. E. G. Petherick, who is leav
ing for the front shortly in the capacity
of chaplain, was presented by the Modera
tor, on behalf of the Assembly, with an
attache case and a fountain pen. The Rev.
G. N. Dods, who paid a tribute to Mr.
Petherick's labours at Boulder, remarked
that he (Mr. Dods) had had the unique
experience of having to repress the sub
scriptions that poured in for this presen
tation.
Anthems were sung by the Subiaco Choir
and solos by Miss Ivy Turton and Mr. A.
McLeod.
The Assembly proceedings will terminate
to-night. Remaining business will be dealt
with at a sitting commencing about 7.30
p.m., After which a service of intercession
will be held.
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