THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 57, 10 March 1881, Page 3

THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

» SECOND DAT. Proceedings were resumed yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock, the Moderator presiding. Devotional exercises occupied the first hour, in whioh the Revs. Messrs. Duncan, Dank, Maokay, and Clark took part. Beports of the committees on bills and questions and general business were laid on the table, after which the F«v. Mr. Sheriffs read tha report of the committee on the widows' and orphans' fund, when, on the motion of the Bey. J. Paterson, it was resolved to appoint a subcommittee to take this subject into consideration, and to report at a future sitt'ng. It was proposed by Mr. C. Turn, and carried, that the general trustees' report be submitted to the same sub-committee. The report of the trustees of the M'Rae endowment, which was read by Mr. Turn, stated that the funds of this endowment had been invested ; it' was carried. A petition was next presented by the Eev. C. S. Ogg, who complained of injustice done to him by the Presbytery of Wellington at their meeting on the Bth instant, when Jit was moved by Mr. Sheriffs, second by; Mr. Sidey, and oarried, " That the petition be received, and i that intimation be given to the Presbytery of Wellington to appear in this case before the Assembly to-morrow afternoon." The Assembly next considered an appeal by Mr. Ogg against a finding of the Presbytery on the same rfiato. Mr. Ogg appeared at the bar of the Assembly in support of hia appeal, and Messrs. Paterson and Doull appeared in support of the finding of the Presbytery. On the motion of Mr. Sheriffs, it was resolved, "That the Assembly see no reason for altering the decision of the Presbytery, and therefore dismiss the appeal." At spm., the Assembly adjourned till 7 o'clock, and on resuming, entered into a debate on the Barrier Act. Mr. C. Fraser moved the passing of the Act, which proposed to give power to a majority of Presbyteries to arrest proposed legislation— a power which he held it was very desirable to provide for. The motion was aeoonded by the Bey. Mr. Maokay, and supported by Messra. Bruce and Macnicol. It waa opposed by Messra. Sheriffs, Sidey, Treadwell, Doull, and Boot. After an animated debate, an amendment waa carried, deferring legislation in regard to this matter for a year, the Presbytorieß to be instructed to forward their views on the subject for the guidance of next year's Assembly. Deputations, representing the Synod of Otago and Southland were next introduced by the ex-Moderator ; and a proposition, relative to a union between tho two churches to be of real benefit to both, was discussed at some length. The address of the Eev. Mr. Christie, the Moderator of the Synod, dealt with the following questions : — " Why are we separated ? " " How can a harmonious union be accomplished P" and " Howooald ; the two churches work if united?" The Eev. Mr. Clarke then addressed the Assembly, and alluded to the fact that the Synod - had appointed a committee to act in unison with a committee of the Assembly, with a \ view of ascertaining if any union could be , consummated that would be of real benefit to < both ohurches. Votes of thanks were aocorded to these rev. gentlemen for their 1 addresses, after whioh tho report of the ] commissioners who attended the Presbyterian Conference at Melbourne was handed in, and the Assembly awarded a special vote of thanks to the Bey. Mr. Bruce, for hia ■ervioeß at that conference. The Assembly then adjourned till to-day, at 2 p.m.