PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 34, 10 February 1892, Page 8

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

The Presbyterian Assembly meb at St. James's Hall at 10 a.m. to-day. Proceedings were commenced with devotional exercises.

Rarotongan Liquor Traffic. —Communications were received from His Excellency the Governor, stating that a resolution of the General Assembly on the subject of liquor traffic at Rarotonga had been forwarded to the Secretary of State, and received by the Colonial Office. The resolution in question urged upon the Home Government the desirability of restricting the sale of intoxicating liquor at Rarotonga, as recommended by the British Resident, Mr F. J. Moss. Nelson.—An application was made to retain the Rev. P. Calder's name on the roll of the Preebytery as a retired minister. On the motion of the Rev. Air Gillies, seconded by the Rev. Mr McAra, it was resolved, " That the application of the Presbytery of Nelson for permission to retain the name of the Rev. P. Calder on the Presbytery be cordially agreed to." Assembly Meeting.—On the motion of the Rev. Mr McKinney it was resolved "That there be no alteration in time of Assembly meeting."

Applications for Admission. — The Presbytery of Wanganui made application for re-admission of the Rev. Thomas M. McDonald. Mr McDonald went home to Scotland for six months on account of ill health.—Rev. Mr Ogg, while supporting the application, said it was a preposterous state ofthelawthatalicentiateofthecburchshould be called upon to apply for re admission simply because he bad gone to England or to Australia for a few months.—Rev. Mr tSidey thought it was a wise precaution to retain the rule. — The application was granted. The Timaru Presbytery made application to receive the Rev. Joseph Whyte as a minister of the church, to overcome a slight informality in respect of a call to Pleasant Point.—The application was granted. Timaru Presbytery also made application for permission to receive the Rev. Donald Ross during the year, should occasion arise. There was a possibility of Mr Ross receiving a call to Otaia. —The application was granted.

Pan-Phksbyterian Council..—A communication was read requesting the appoint' raent of delegates to the Pan-Presbyterian Council, to be held at Toronto. Some discussion took place as to whether a New Zealand.representativeshould be aentor whether a member of the Canadian Presbytery should be asked to represent the Assembly. On the motion of Rev. Mr. Maxwell, seconded by Rev. Mr Tredwell, a committee wa« appointed "to consider whether it was possible to send the Moderator of Assembly as a delegate to the Pan-Presbyterian Conference."

Sunday Services.—A committee consisting of the ministers of the city of Auckland and suburbs was appointed to arrange for the services of next Sabbath.

Scholarship Committee Report.—The Rev. D. Sidey stated that some years ago Mre Somervill, an Auckland lady, gave to the Assembly £1,000, to aid students for the church. The Scholarship Committoe reported that " the three studonts who hold the Divinity and Litorary Somervill scholarships duly complied with the regulations of tho Assembly, and wero paid their scholarships." Mr Sidey added that one of the scholarships was held by Mr Morrison, of Hastings, Otago, and a more excellent student there had never been in this or any other church. Other two scholarships were held by a eon of the Rev. Mr Doull.who pot an excellent report from the Professor of Otago, and Mr Thompson, also belonging to the Wanganui district, who had also an excellent report. They had, moreover, one or two miuisters who owed their training to this fund. Rev. Mr Sommerville said the lady who had made tnis bequest was etill living in Auckland, and unfortunately she had been in ignorance ot what had been done with the money that she gave. Hβ suggested that the fuilesb information should be euppUed. There waa, he added, a young man in connection with St. Andrew's congregation whom Mrs Somervell was desirous should receive if possible some benefit from the fund. Hβ thought it important to be known that the money at pire'eenb to credit of the Somervell scholarship fund was £1,300, having increased from £1,000. The Rev. Mr Sidey eaid there was at present only £16 available. The next scholarship would be available two years hence. On the motion of Rev. Mr Gillie?, seconded by Rev. Mr Carrick, it was resolved : " That this Assembly regrets that through an oversight full information has not been forwarded to Mrs Somervell regarding the working: of the scholarship founded by her, appoint the convener of the Scholarship Committee and the Rev. Mr Sommerville to wait on Mrs Somervell and eupply full information, with an assurance of the Assembly's deep gratitude for her gift."—lt was further agreed, "That the scholarship report be adopted, and that the Scholarship Committee be requested to report at an early sitting as to what use should be made of the unexpended balance." Statistical Report.—The reporb furnished by the Committee on Statistics expressed regret that the results of the late census as bearing on religion and education were nob available. — The report was adopted, with thanks to the convener for the interest he takes in the subject.

Question of Divorce. —The Rev. Mr Maxwell has given notice of motion as follows :— " That in the event of the Divorce Extention Amendment Bill of last session, or any similar measure, being introduced to Parliament this year, this Assembly resolves to petition both Houses of the Legislature against such a measure, on the following grounds: (1) That any enactment purporting to allow dissolution of tho marriage tie on any other ground than that of adultery is directly contrary to the word of Christ." (2) That" facilities for obtaining divorce cond to the diminution of tho sense of sanctity of marriage, and so to the dissolution of the social bond, and to the encouragement of hasty marriages. (3) That it is better, in tho interests of humanity, that the hardships of a few shouid be unrelieved than that a vital impurity should be inflicted upon tho whole community. (4) That the Moderator and Clerk bo empowered to present such petition on behalf of the Assembly." Temperance Comiuittee.— Tho report of the Assembly's Temperance Committee was characterised as of a very cheering character, and facts with which thu Committee have become cognisant warrant them in the sanguine expectation that prohibition is fast coming within Iherangoof practical politics. Thoy mourned an increase in the drink bill, but-were £)a<l to say this was in beer and light wines, and not in ardent spirits: There wore stated to be in tho colony 3,000 licensed houses, with a drink bill averaging £3 <Js 6d per head of the population, against L 6 Oβ 4d last year. It was also regarded as satisfactory that of the present Parliament of seventy members returned, thirty were pledged to the principle of prohibition. Reforenco was made to Parliamentary movements in connection with the liquor que&tion, and it was regarded with satisfaction that the New Zealand press was becoming a powerful ally in tho causo of prohibition. It was urged that agitation should not be allowed to coase until the people obtain solo and complete power at the ballot box. The Ministers' Total Abstinence Society was stated to consist of 44 members. Tiie Committee recommend :—l. That regarding the drink trafiio na a sad hindrance to the progress of Christianity, wi&gftrnesUy urge upon all the members of'the Church the duty of furthering the cause of temperunco by personal example. 2. That this Assembly renews our now oft-repeated testimony in favour of local option by direct vote

of the people ab the ballot-box. 3. That this Assembly urges all ministers to address all their congregations frequently on the great sin of intemperance and its accompanying evils, and thab on the first Sabbath of December or on such other Lord's Day of that month as may be convenient a special sermon on this subject b& preached in all congregations. 4. That whilst rejoicing in the existence of many external temperance organisations, and grateful for their valuable assistance, and believing that they are well fitted for combined political action, this Assembly recognises that to the Church belongs the supreme obligation to take the lead in this great warfare, and accordingly kirk sessions are instructed to watchcarefullyoverthereclaimedanderring. 5. That we continue the excellent system of the Presbyterial temperance agents, and urge all the brethren to co-operate with us in our efforts for the promotion of temperance. Report on Sabbath Schools. — The Committee reported that the first annual examination took place in April, when nine schools took part in it. These were Timaru, and Pleasant Point, Presbytery of Timaru ; Waipukurau, Preabytery of Hawke's Bay ; Patea, Bulls, and Feilding, Presbytery of Wanganui; and St. Andrew's, St. David's, and Onehunga, Presbytery of Auckland. The examination furnished gratifying evidence of the good and thorough work done by our Sabbath school teachers, a very large proportion of those examined having taken an honourable position. The examination for this year embraces the lessons for the second quarter of the year, and will take place in July. Maori Mission.—The Committee reported that the Presbyterian missionaries had been able to carry out their work without hindrance from ill-health or otherwise. They recommended that Mr Fletcher's salary be increased to £80 per annum. Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund. —An application from the Rev. J. W. Cree, late of Leeston, for a refund of whatever moneys were due to him from this fund, on his leaving the Church, was received ; but ac no provision is mado for a refund under the rules in such a case, the Committee could do nothing, and now simply report the matter to the Assembly. The revenue for the year has been £288 15s 2d, and the expenditure £75 3s 9d. The capital fund now amounts to £2,355.

Chinese Mission Report.—lb was stated that the mission work among the Chinese has, during the past year, consisted mainly of Testament and tract distribution. On the West Coast of the Middle Island considerable quantities of these have been circulated, also in Wellington. While, no doubt, this is better than doing nothing, the Committee long to see an agenb appointed. , FOREIGN' MISSION REPORT. The Foreign Mission Committee state thab " while they could not poinb to any startling development of any ingatheriug on a large scale, there had yet been throughout the year a steady progress and solid gain to the cause of Christ through the whole of the New Hebrides Group." In support of this statement the following deliverance of the Mission Synod was quoted : " During the past year the progress of the work over the wnole field has been steady, and in several cases marked and encouraging. Special mention may be made of Futuna, where the membership of the infant church has increased, Futunese teachers sent out for the first time, and the firsb Christian marriages celebrated. On Tongoa and the Shepherd Isles there are now no professed heathens, and a large number have been added to the Church membership. A church has been formed on Malo, fourteen more have renounced heathenism and come to live on the mission premises. Nine natives have come to live with the missionary on Jangoa, Santo, professing to be desirous of Christian instruction, notwithstanding the opposition of triends. Tho Synod is also highly gratified to welcome back to the field Mr and Mj;s Watt from their furlough in Scotland, where thoy have carried through tho press the complete New Testament in one of the languages of Tanna—the third complete translation of the New Teetamenb in the Group ; also a book of Old Testament History." Regret was expressed because of the ill-health of the Rev. Mr Fairlie, bub a hope was expressed that hie health might improve, and that he will then decide to go to Ambryn. While the Committee held out the hope of the Church receiving £750. viz., £600 from a London friend, and £150 from Dr. Paton, they have actually in cash received, and by definite promise, received £900. The Committee had, in accordance with the decision of last Assembly, appointed Dr. Lamb as a third missionary of the Church to the New Hebrides.

The Assembly adjourned at 1.30 p.m,