EVENING SEDERUNT.

Press, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5138, 21 February 1882, Page 2

EVENING SEDERUNT.

The Moderator took the chair at seven o'clock.

The Rev. Mr Sherriff brought up the report of the oommittee on statistics, whioh was read and adopted, and a vote of thanks, passed to the oonvener. It was deoided toi request the different congregations to send Lot their returns in future with greater pune-J tuality. j The Bey. Mr Maokie moved, in pursuanoej of notice—"That Messrs Somervilie and! Peacock be appointed auditors of the Ohurehg, and that all payments be made only undag their joint certificate, and that all paymenw from tbe Assembly expense fund be certified by the finance oommittee.'' If The motion waa seoondod by Mr Johjp Lamb, and agreed to. ~|i On the motion of the Bev.O. Fraser, 9 was resolved— " That the thanks of thS Assembly be given to the Rev. John Rosrl ex-Moderator, for the excellent wnnoff preached by him at the opening service." _ The Rev. Mr Treadwell brought up tb. report of the committee on union. The eon. mittee reported that negotiations had resulted in the formal proposal of a basis (of union whioh had been transmitted, as in the view o: the committee of the Southern Ohuroh i workable basis—one which might form tb basis of an actual union, and whioh if spf proved and accepted by the Assembly, mign in all probability result in suoh actual union or incorporation. The basis was in the follow} ing terms:—

Basis of Union proposed by the Committee of the Synod of Otago and Southland:— _ It is proposed that intimation be given to thf committee of the Northern Chnroh that, in ouf jadgment, an incorporating unioa would be practicable if the respective Churches accepted the following principles:—l. Baais of Union! The Churches shall declare their agreement US doctrine, government, worship, and discipline/ by acceptance of the same standards, and of til aame formola. for the ordination and inductiah of office bearers. 11. Arrangements for toe working and cc-jstrtutioa of the United Chore! —1. The designation of the Chnroh shall be tfe FreßbyterianChurch of New Zealand. 2. __» Supreme Court of the Chatoh shall be celled He General Assembly of the Presbyterian C_a_a_ of New Zealand, and ahall be const-sated by _|* presentation of Presbyteries. The legialaticSß shall be regulated by the Barrier Act. 3. Pr* Yinr-al Synods ahall be disc-attuned as u.t_nn# mate Courts of Appeal. 4. Danedin shall b| the seat of the Supreme Court, of tbe Theologf, eal Hall, and of the eSosa of the Church. 5§ The principle of the rasteatation fund stall b# accepted aa njnktiiff -rrangeaents for iiM nuantesanca of the ministry. 6. l__i schemes for Church extension, miss-ons, and Widows?* auL Orphans'. Fund, and far aged and infirafi ministers, shall be amalgamated. 7. The several trust funds available for Churob purposes in thM

e-peofcive Churches ah%U co_tii.ua to beam-- _ or the purposes and within the limits __*___ appointed, and tbe.powers of Synod anaU g BtnotJy limited to the administration oft__ _? spective trust funds. *••

The commit cc reported that in _,«« t view the basis of union which had __•* % transmitted was one whioh might be regarfS * with favor were certain alterations first ma*. I in it. The Rev. Mr TreadweU, after tttfol v. the report, explained that he dissented fa_S * ! the conolu-ion to which the committee ___ 1 arrived, and reserved to himself the right fat take part in the disousaion aa a di.__ n „_«. 1 from tho report. f> Tho Rev. Mr Maokie, aa one of the __ - $ members of the union oommittee who »*» | in favor of the report, moved the following 1 resolution:—"That the report be receive? I and that the thanks of the Aisambly C 1 given to the committee, and especially to the convener, for the diligence and wisdom xrilh * whioh they have carried on during the p_s » year the required negotiations in conneetlot. ' ,with the important duty with whioh the* were entrusted . (2.) that the committee 6» i reappointed, with power, should they see It to add to their number j (3.) believing that ! the baaia of union aa aubmitted by the eoa. mittee of the Synod of Otago is a work, able baaia, recommend that it b» amended in acoordanoe with the alteration, ' stated in the report of the Union committee, and transmitted to the committee of the Synod of Otago and Southland, and that it also, as amended, be sent down to the Prti. byteriee and sessions of this Ohuroh for tht_> consideration, and report at next Assembly • (4) that the committeo be instructed to eon! I tinue to negooiate meanwhile in the manner which may seem most advisable to them, end to report the results to next Assembly." "£jj 4 reverend gentleman apoke at longth in support of the Union. The R<v. Mr Paterson seoonded the ..... lution. If, after the question had boen submitted to the Presbyteries, the Ohuroh of Otssa and Southland came forward and showed that it waa united and sincere in a desire for union it would soon be corned out. The Rev. T. R. Cairns moved, us an amend. ment —"That in the opinion of this As. sembly it is inexpedient to continue negoti.. T tions with the Synod ot Otago on the subjeot of Union." The Church woolbe eating too muoh humble pie if it toida " overtures for a union; particularly ia tbe face of the fact that out ot the thne deputies from Otago, two had expressed themselves aa opposed to union.

The Rev. Mr Ogg seconded tha amendment. Binoe hearing the speeches of thg deputies on the subject he had come to tha conclusion that it would be inconsiitsnt with tbe dignity of the Ohuroh to continue nego* oiating any longer. Ho believed there waa an under-current of opposition to the union in the Synod of Otago, whioh would effeot-illj prevent its being carried out. He would bava been glad to enter into tbe subject of union if Otago had approached the matter in an __» selfish manner. Tho geographical diffionlSv waa a pretext and not a reason. The Rev. Mr Tread well expressed hiauU as in favor of union between tbe twoG_nfe_«L whose dootrines were similar, but waaoppoud to the following oondition in the proposal baaia of union :—" Dunedin shall botha wit of the Supremo Court, of the Theological Halt, and of the offinea of tbe Church." '£__. ahowed an utter disregard of tbe olaim. «f tbe Northern Churob, and waa exclusive and one-sided. The aame exoluaivenoss of regard had characterised the correspondence of the Southern Ohuroh throughout the negotiating. He moved the following motion:—" That, inasmuch as, since the transmission of it by tho oommittee, the basis has net bees approved by the Synod of Otago and Southland, though laid before that By* nod, but haa ■ been aent down for ■ examination to Presbyteries, &c.; inssmnsh as, further, the mind of the Southern Church with respeot to the basis is still a matter io dulic, the Assembly do not pronounce any opinion either of acceptance or rejection on the transmitted baeis, and that because it ii expedient to delay all expression of opinion until the mind of the Southern Ohuroh hai been atoeitained and reported to usj tbii ; decision to be transmitted to that Church, und the oommittee to be continued to watch over, the interests of onr own Ohuroh."

The Bey. Dr. Salmond wished to that the resolution just moved was b_avvF_a a total misconception of the position. Th* reason why the Synod of Otago had been unable to finally adopt the basis of unioa,' was, beoause, owing to the committee of tba Northern Chnroh not having met, the basis had not been returned to them with tha recommendation of the committee that in their opinion it was a workable one. The Rev. Mr Hill seconded tha motion of the Rev. Mr TreadwelL There was a great irregularity in the proposed soheme, and if the union were carried out on that basis it would be more like an absorption than a union.

She Rev. 0, Fraser moved " That the re* port be approved, and tbat the basis of union aa modified by the oommittee of Assembly be forwarded to the committee ot the Synod of Otago and Southland." Let them leave it to the Synod of Otago and Southland to reject or adopt their owa basis of union. Tho Rev. Mr Bidey seoonded the awtisß, The Bey. Mr Cairns would be wi_Sff» withdraw his motion in favor of that Bond by the Rev. Mr Eraser. The Rev. Mr Shirriffs hoped Mr Ottos . would not withdraw his motion, but thai it would be earned.- If a union were to taw {dace it would be : impossible to carry it ont ■ n praotioal detail, at any rate for soma rsar. to come. After some remarks from tbe Rev. Mc , Elmslie, the Rev. Mr Ross supported the . motion of the Rev. Mr Fraser. The Rev. Mr Gillies supported the motion of the Rev. Mr TreadwelL The other motions committed the Assembly to tba proposed basis, whioh might be rejected by the . Otago ChGroh. Tbe Rev. Mr Maokie replied on the wfcok debate. The question was then put, with the followlog result:—For Mr Tread trail's 10; for Mr Cairns' amendment, 3 1 for Mr Fraser's amendment, 14j- fcr the orijtlnal motion, 21. The original motion of tho Bar. Mr M-okie was consequently oarried. The Rev. Dr. Salmond expressed the gratifioation whioh he felt at the result which bad been arrived at, and explained tbe actios that ' the Synod of Otago would probably take. The Assembly th-n adjourned until tan o'clock this morning.