THE UNION OF NEW ZEALAND PRESBYTERIANISM.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11101, 21 October 1901, Page 2

THE UNION OF NEW ZEALAND PRESBYTERIANISM.

-~4»(SPECIAL TO "THI- RMJSS.") DUNEDIN, October 19. Preparations for the celebration of the Union of Now Zealand Presbyt-rianism, to take place on the Jaet day of this month, are no\y w«U on the way to completion. Meetings of the Synod and General Assembly will be held in tbe First and, Knox Churches respectively. In the evening the two CBuroh Courts are to meet in the Agricultural Hall. The Synod will be constituted with prayer by the Bey. J. Gibb, who will occupy the position of 2soderatGr of the Synod. The Northern Assembly will be constituted by its Moderator (Rev, J. K. Elliot). The Uniting Act, which Will be taken as read, will be proposed by the" Rev. Mr Elliot, who will finally declare that the union has been accomplished, when the choir will rise and sing the "Hallelujah Chorus."-"' The Rev, Mr Elliot then prooced to constitute ihe new Assembly with prayer. T/herenfter the Rev. J. Peterson (Wellington) will move that the Moderator -of the Assembly be the Rev. J. Gibb.- The Moderator, accompanied by tho. Fathers and represents tivo men of the church, will enter $ud. talse the chair, and deliver his address. At the close of the resplutiDnrthaßtcsgiving will be p>roposed by the Rev. Dr. Krwin (Christ church)." An anthem will be sung by the choir, and this wi|l tejgiinafce the proceedings. The second day's proceedings will be opened by a, celebration of the sacrament ot the Lord's supper in. First Church. The Moderator will preside, and m address will be given by the Rev. Dr. Elm&lic. The first-.business thereafter-will be the adoptipn o| aa address to the King, which will.benioved by Mr S. G..W, Aitken (the M.ayor of Wellington).' The rest'of the forenoon will be devoted to the transaction of ordinary business. • In the afternoon the Moderator wijl hold o> reception in the grounds of First Church. In the evening the Assembly will meet in Knpx Church, when the delegates' from other churches will be wejeomed.. . ( ' 'As far as is definitely known at present the delegates will be the Rev.- Bruce and the Rev. John Ferguson (New South Wales), representatives of ths, Methodist., and Baptist Conferences, and of the Coh-

gregational Union, and probably Dr. Marshall (Melbourne). The Assembly will probably, hold a sitting on Monday afternoon for the transaction of business, and in the evening v conversazione will take place in the Agricultural Hall. Tuesday will be devoted to business, and a "- young people's rally, and on Wednesday „ Home and Foreign Mission will be held. s ; This will be the closing meeting of the 7"' Assembly. With reference to the subject of Sabbath desecration by th* Railway Department in -S. running train* on Sundays, aad b.% public companies and other .employers of labour, '-•* tha Mataura Presbytery has decided to overture the %nod to take the whole subject into its serious consideration, and arrange -* -• to bring the matter before, the Assembly of . H the' united church. .- • "7