Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1947

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 27passed away February 24, 1947 in his eighty-second year, after anumber of years' service on this Board. He was Synod's precentorfor twenty-seven years.Synod last year elected a Home Mission Secretary for a threeyear term, at a salary of $2,500.00 per year, in addition to necessarytravel expenses, to be paid by this Board. The Board met with Mr.Robb after Synod, agreed to pay his moving expenses, authorizedthe officers to act on his requests for office equipment, directed himto include aU necessary expenses in his expense account, asked himto report aU monies received by him as Secretary, and allowed himto draw on this income for this year at the rate of $500.00 per year.The Board set apart from its Home Mission Funds $2,500 for thiswork. The balance on April 16, 1947 was $588.56.A number of pastors applied for the subsidy authorized forwork done in Vacation Bible Schools or Weekday Religious Educationclasses.Again there have been discouraging retreats. After trying invain to seU the Millers Run property to another church, it was soldto a neighbor for $7,700 cash. In Toronto a corner lot had beenbought for the erection of a church and house. Now both church andlot are likely to be sold. The plan to revive work at Pine Creek hasnot materiaUzed.But our Home Mission Secretary has been traveling through theChurch, and brings us many good reoports. Two elders visited ConnellsviUeand conducted a laymen's service. Two congregations havereduced the supplements requested this year. Eastvale asked $100less, and Stafford did not apply at all. There has been talk, thoughno definite action, about possible work in Washington, D. C; Wichitaand Hutchinson, Kansas; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. TheHome Mission Secretary visited Prince Edward Island and met withRev. J. H. Bishop, pastor of a group of churches of the Church ofScotland on that Island. The Board at his request appointed a committeeto meet with Mr. Bishop and to discuss, and, if possible, toformulate a plan of affiUation with this Church.The Secretary also recommended: "That the Board take the initiativein issuing urgent calls to enter the Covenanter ministry, andin standing behind the men who respond with the assurance of incomereasonable enough to enable them to live moderately and devotetheir full time to the prosecution of their ministry." The Boardlater took action: "1. That each new field be dealt with on its individualmerits, under the direction of the Home Mission Board."(For 2 and 3 see recommendations 5 and 7 below).This spring thirteen congregations made application for aid.These applications, after approval by Presbyteries, were passed bythe Board. In acting on them, the Board established the poUcy thatwhere the askings do not bring the salary up to $1600, the Boardand the congregation give equally to raise the amount to $1600 andhouse. In addition some provision was made for Portland and Lisbon,and the sum of $150 was set aside for the expenses of the summer'swork at Cornwallis.