PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 273, 17 November 1902, Page 8

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

(By Telegraph.—Exess Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day

At the Presbyterian Assembly today the Eev. Giliies reported that the total of the subscriptions promised ior the New Century jb'und was £8546, besides a few pounds of subscriptions the amounts of which were not stated. During the closing year of the last century and tie nrst oi the present £21,236 was raised for acquiring or clearing church property, and since then at least a similar sum has been raised.

Tue Aueauyteriuu Assembly report regarding tne administration of Va.e new century fund was considered. The convener of the committee controlling the fund (Mr Aitken) mentioned thai ctmounl-s iiad been advanced to congregations far building purposes at i per cent, interest, to be repaid at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum. Loans had been made io congregations in sparsely setued districts where there was not sufficient security to be tendered for loans at public tender. Where sites wer"e purchased the money was given as a grant, not as a loan. These purchases were made out of the interest derived from the fund.

A report cw church insurance was submitted by Mr Bell, of Auckland. It contained a proposal for setting up a special Insurance fund to be contributed to at current rates by churches until the sum in hand his reached £5000. Should a fire take place before any large sum had accrued, the loss would be met by the persons who for the good oi: the scheme would become guarantors ag-ainst such losses. A certain'amount of re-insurance too could be effected. A long discussion took place on the subject of the Bible-ln-Kchools, and the following motion was agreed to without dissent: "The Assembly expresses Its gratification at the great advance which the B-jlo-ln-schools movement nas recently made, and rejoices that the movement is now manifestly a living question throughout the colony, encouraged by the remarkable success which has attended tke plebeselte and canvass wherever it has baen tried. Tha Assembly advises Presbyterians that have not yet moved in this direction to take the necessary steps at the earnest possible moi ment and test the reeling of the people within their bounds. It calls upon the Government without delay to submit the question of the Blble-In-schools to the people for their decision by way of a referendum. It empowers the committee, In conjunction witn similar committees, of co-operating churches to frame and submit a scheme of Bible lessons, Wiiu accompanying comments, of a simple and elementary cho«acter, and commends to their favourable consideration the lessons adopted by the Victorian Royal Commission, and finally Instructs the* committees to leave nothing undone that may help In securing a speedy and successful issue to the long battle for the restoratiou of the Word of God to the public schools of tue colony." Bishop Wallis was present during the discussion, and, at the invitation of the Moderator, briefly addressed the Assembly j on the subject.