OTAGO PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7194, 2 November 1888, Page 5

OTAGO PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TKLEGRAIC] DUNEDIN, November I. A deputation from the Grand' Lodge of Good Templars waited on the Presbyterian Synod to-day to oak co-operation with the Alliance in putting down the liquor trafilo by setting apart one Sunday in the year on which ministers should preach specially on temperance questions. A vote of was passed to the deputation, and cordial sympathy expressed with their object. The temperance report waa then considered, and a motion carried fixing the last Sunday in November as the day on which to preach temperance sermons. The Synod to-day and this evening re* earned the debate on an overture from the Dunedin ireebytery— "To declare the view which the Synod takes of the. teaching of the Holy Scriptures in regard to some difficult and disputed pasaages in the Confession, and to define the sense in which individual ministers and other office-bearers may be permitted to regard such passages in consistency with their ordination vowe, or otherwise to determine as the Synod snail think beat for the glory of God and the good of the ohurch." After an animated discussion. Dr. Duulop, Professor of Divinity, waa challenged to speak on the point, and did so at length, pointing out that there had been several cases of libel founded on points in dispute, the interpretation of which was claimed to be indisputable. He emphasised the point thai the Church was not the Church of the creed but the creed was the creed of the Church. The resolution put was that the overture be adopted, and a Committee appointed to consider the question and report to next meeting. The motion was carried by 66 to 60, the division showing that 30 ministers and 20 elders voted for it and 19 ministers and 31 elders against. A protest was entered, on the ground that the resolution involved an abandonment of the constitution of the Church. Fraternal greetings were ' received and exchanged with the Anglican Church. ... ■