PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 273, 17 November 1910, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

BUSINESS SESSIONS. The business sessions of the Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zea- ; land were continued yesterday nnder t9ie presidency of Rev. J. EL Mackenzie, ' Moderator. MAORI MISSIONS. Recommendations of the Maori Misj sion Committee were adopted as M- ' lowo:—That, £"300 be. transferred from the Maori Mission general fund to the I Boys' Farm account; that £200 be/ transferred, if necessary, from the Maori Mission general fund to the Turakina Girls' aooount: that the Assembly earnestly and heartily recommend the Boys' Farm scheme, and authorise the Committee to take the neceeeary ' steps to raise a fund of at least £2,000 for buildings, implements, stock, etc. WOMEN'S TRAIMNU INSTITUTE. The report of the Trainmg Institute Committee mentioned that nine students | ( had been iv the Institute during the I. year. Four of the number were first year etudenU. -.md one was a volunteer for foreign work in America, one for Canton, and the other two volunteers for home service. During the year ] it was agreed to approve a scheme for amalgamation of the Institute witi a , proposed residential college for university women students, but progress was ', being blocked by the difficulty of getting \ a euita-ble site or 'building. Receipts for the year were stated to be £365 16/1, absorbed by expenditure, and the building fund account showed a credit of £466 5/10. The report was adopted on the motion of Professor Hewitson, who invited the practical sympathy of ell congregations in the. training institute. SOCIAL SERVICE. The fourth annual report of the Dunedin Presbyterian Social Service Association stated that the liberal support given by the Church to fahe movement indicated an awakenuig to a sense o{ responsibility, while a. report upon the working of juvenile courts, lately submitted to Parliament, contained the opinion of the magistrates at Christchurch and Dunedin that much of the success attained was due to the work of the Association. Referring to the orphanage work, the report stated that botih institutions were full, and more accommodaI tion was needed to carry on the work to the best advantage. The necessity was nrged to raise the required amount for the new orphanage to be built at Anderson's Bay (Dunedin) as soon ac possible. The year was closed with 42 children α-t Grant' 3 Braes, and 22 in and five more had been received since the close of the year, the total number under the control of the Association at present being 138 young people. Satisfactory results from the training received were reported, also from the work arising ont o-f tie juvenile court and in relief work. The Ghristchnrch and Wellington Associations also reported that favourable work had been accomplished. In Christohurch receipts totalled £332 18A. and there was a credit balance of £13 17/4. The income of tine Wellington Orphanage for the year amounted to £700, and a credit of £114 remained. The report was adopted on the motion of Rev. A. Cameron. YOUTH OF THE CHTOCII. The Youth of the Church Committee, reporting upon the year's operations, stated that the appointment of a second agent was still under consideration, and it was proposed to act very shortly when the necessary funds were guaranteed. J The Bible classes and Young People's I Societies were holding thedr own, though a larger increase was looked forward to. The membership of the mixed classes was 3,245, men's classes 2,084, women's classes 2,906, and Christian Endeavour Societies 2,056. The number of young people who had joined Uie membership of the Church in full communion from Bible classes and Christian Endeavour Societies was 744, as against 572 last year. Outside of these organisations the number who had joined the Church by examination was given as 343, against 3X: last year. The total addition of yomg fork to t!he membership was 1,237, as against 905 last year. The number of members in full communion wfth the Church -was returned as 2,754, as against 2,392 last year. A comnroniou roll of only one in three was nor. too satisfactory, and there was evidently a large work awaiting minisJ fcers and class leaders in this connecj tion. The total contributions of the I classes bad gone up from £1,706 to £2,225, and no less a sum than £309 of this increase of £519 had been de▼oted to foreign missions. The total missionary contribution this year was £&!% ac against £663 last year. The only regrettable feature in the financial situation was the marked shrinkage in Ohe coabribotions to tine Youth fund. In 1907 it amounted to £219, in 1908 to £ HS, in 1909 to £ 133, and this year only to £98. The Sabbath schools had a totsl number of scholars of 34,290, en advance of 2,062 on Hie previous year; and teachers ntmrbered 3,347, as against 3,209. The enrolment on the junior Bible classes bad faflen from 2288 to 2,281. Contributions amounted to £&£77, a slight decrease on last year. A series of recommendations, with a view to co-ordinating and stimulating interest in tie work, was submitted, and all, together with the report, were adopted. The comnrittee was empowered to employ a second agent at wnat it deems the right time. EVANGELICAL WORK. The Ev-angf*s(ac Committee submitted a report that they had unanimously selected tie Rev. J. Pattison, of Waipoknxan, for tie position of the ac- | credited evangelist of the New Zealand J Presbyterian Church, and that he had aeeepted the appointment without any I guarantee as to a fixed salary. I OBITUARY. Obituary motions were passed in connection with the deaths since last AseemWy of Rev. Dr. Nisbet (Dunedin), Rev. J. G. McLeod (Otago), Messrs. J. RonaJdaon (North Canterbury), and J. li win (Taramaki). and to send copies of the resohjfcion to the surviving relatives. RECIPROCITY. Aα overture from the Auckland Presbytery suggested an addition to rule : 239 of the Book of Order, giving Presbyteries power to admh at once minra'ters or probationers, with proper credentials, from the Church of Scotland, Irish Presbyterian Church, Free Church of Scotland, and EngHsh Church. The present la-w requires a minister from the Old Country to wait till Assembly for hU case to be dealt with, and this is not regarded as the righx spirit of reciprocity. Rev. P. B. J Fraaer moved an amendment to the i;

effect that a Standing Oxmnittee be set up to consider applications from Home churches, and 1 or. being approved the minister to be admitted at once. Rev. I. Jolly, who moved adoption of the overture, accepted the amendment. It ■was argued that eepecialfy as there was a demand for ministers, a man coming 1 out from a Horn(» church should be re- < ceivfid wiithout delay. The amendment, 1 to be sent down to Presbyteries, was c carried. 1 TRANSLATION LAW. The Auckland Presbytery overtared j for an alteration of the law covering c I the translation from cnargee, declaring . lichat a minister shall be released from , the charge he is leaving only on the g day he is inducted into the charge to ; which he is going. A motion" to send to g Preebj'teTies a suggestion that a minieIter ceases in one charge on the date he accepts a call to another charge was negatived. LEAKAGE IN MEMBERSHIP. , , By way of an overture, the Welling- s ton Presbytery submitted a remedy for < the loss of members and adherents to the ' Ciurch in not transferring membership 1 when removing from orae district to 1 anobheT. It was recommended that } Presbyteries be instructed to assign J boundaries to all charges and mission ] stations, and each -minister be responsible for the oversight of all residents iri his parish; also that certificates of Church membership be prepared to keep ministers and sessions informed of the movements of members of the Church. The matter was sent down to Presbyteries. NEXT ASSEMBLY. ] 1 The committee set up for the pur- '. pose recommended that next Assembly be held at Dunedin, and to open on , November Bth, 19il. j MINISTERIAL TENURE. Aα amendment of the present pro- ; cedure in a vacancy wag recommended : by the Committee on Ministerial Tenlire to facilitate changes of pastorates without departing from the system oi call and life tenure, two suggestions being to abolish candidating by restricting j congregations to the consideration of ' one name at a time, and requiring ministers, except for reasons approved by their Presbyteries, to stay at least five years in one charge. Regulations covering these points were referred to ( Presbyteries for consideration.