PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 40, 15 February 1894, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Cheistchurch, this day. At the Presbyterian General Assembly yesterday the Sabbath-school Committee in their report complained that as usual little more than half of the returns of statistics had been sent in. At the annual examination of Sabbath-schools on July 20, held in the schools connected with the Presbyteries of Auckland, Wanganui, Hawke's Bay, Timaru, Christchurch, and Westland, there were 517 candidates in all divisions of Scripture knowledge and Shorter Catechism. Of these 75 took first, 159 second, and 145 third-class marks. A certificate of merit has been procured, and another was recommended, for first and second classes.

The Rev. J. Patterson's report on Church Extension stated that during the year the work had made steady progress. With the limited means and agency at their disposal, the Committee could nob enter on many new undertakings, but the ground already occupied roust be maintained, and that absorbed most of the resources. Still, they did their besb to avail themselves of openings in new fields, to eupply new districts with the ordinances, and to extend evangelistic operations of the Church. Under the new regulation of the Assembly, grants nob exceeding £50 had been made for a limited time to new chargos where there were good prospects of such charges soon becoming self-support-ing, the special grants to be conditional on the districts themselves giving £150 for stipend, and grants to be gradually reduced after two years. Reference was made to the opening of several new stations in the North Island, and to the raising of Pahiatua and Hunterville to full charges daring the year. Students had been employed in preaching stations during college and hall recess, and the Church had gooa reason to be highly satisfied with the young men who had under her training recently entered the Church. Gifts of land as sites for churches were referred to with satisfaction, and the report concluded with an appeal for increased contributions to the fund. Some congregations at present were not assisting. The report was adopted, and an Advisory Committee appointed re the distribution of grant.