FOURTH DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 118, 14 November 1902, Page 4

FOURTH DAY.

- The Assembly resumed its sitting at ltf a.m. to-day. The Clerk, after reading the minutes of the afternoon sitting of the previous dayy drew attention to the fact that the pro tesb entered by the Rev. W. Gillies wad so worded us to place on record a cir« cumstance which required answering, tha language implying that the Moderator had been guilty of tyranny. Such a protest must of necessity be replied to,' and he suggested that the protest not having been read to the House on the previoud day, should be now read, and a committee set up to~ reply to the reasons set out in Mr. Gillies's protest. Dr. Sidey then read the Rev. W. Qillies's protest, which he had handed in on the previous evening, os follows: — "I beg to protest against the ruling of the Moderator on the ground that the Assembly, having received the petition of Chalmers congregation and heard repfesentatives, the mem« bers of Assembly have a right to speak to that petition; and the refusal of the Moderator to allow me to speak is am act of injustice and tyranny." The Moderator explained tnafc the protest made it appear that his ruling was challenged, whereas his ruling had been, supported by a unanimous vote of the Assembly. The Rev. Dr. Sidey said he did nofc see any objection to the language used in the protest, which was commonly employed in. Parliament. After considerable discussion and several motions and amendments had been made, the protest was referred to a Bmall committee to reply to Mr. Gillies's reasons for protest, the committee to consul! of Revs. J. Gibson, Smith, and S. A-i Currie, and Dr. Dunlop and Mr Begg. Speaking of the business before the Assembly, the Rev. J. Gibb asked when: the question of Bible-in-schools would ba undertaken. The convener on business, Rev. J: Camming, said it was hoped that it would be discussed that evening. Mr. Gibb v then moved, and it wa« agreed, that the Bible-in-schools discus* sionbe taken at- 8 o'clock this evening, and that the order of the day be publicly advertised. It was decided that the Assembly should adjourn at 155,45 p.m. till 7 p.m. to-day, and resume its session at 10 a.m.. to-morrow till 12.45 p.m., resuming oa Monday at 10 a.m. Leave of , absence was granted to a number of minister^ who were compelled, to leave for Sabbath duty in several dia^ tricts. NEW CENTURY FUND. The Rev. W. Gillies, who had been spa* cially engaged in visiting the northern sec* tion of the church as agent of the New Century Fund, submitted extracts from his own statement. He acknowledged the, great personal kindness extended to. him everywhere, but regretted that the general liberality to the fund, specially on tha part of the wealthier members of tha church, had not been such as the objecb deserved. The total now promised was £8546 15s 4£d, besides a few promises of subscriptions, amounts not being stated. Two hundred pounds had been given for the purchase of a site at Brooklyn, and £5 towards a'church at ifelburne. There was also a prospect of obtaining sites ab Kelburne and Roseneath. A Valuable site had been given by Mrs. Somerville, of Auckland, for church purposes nt Greenlands, Auckland. It might be well to note that during the closing year of the last century and the " first of the present there was reported as raised locally for acquiring or improving of 'property, or clearing of debt the sum of £21,236. Though the exact statistics are not yet) available, it is probable that during the further two years of the century over which collecting for the New Century Fund has been going on, at least an equal sum has been raised for these purposes. We may therefore safely say. than since this fund was started, and inclusive of this fund, our church — i.e., the old Northern Church, has, raised for property objects over £45J000. Besides attending to the interests of the fund, Mr. Gillies reported that he had done what he could towards getting the titles of the church properties looked up and sent to the chairman of the Property Board. It might be said that before Mr. Gillies took up the work, of collecting for th» New Century Fund, the Presbytery of Wanganui had instituted a, fund of its own, and had collected a considerable sum. This had somewhat interfered with, his canvas within their bounds. As the objects were the same, the tavo might be amalgamated. The committee stated that as Mr. Gillies's work was completed, and the committee had still the task of obtaining the payment of the balance of subscriptions remaining unpaid, they would bespeak the hearty cooperation of all ministers and ciders ia this important work. Mr. W. Allen moved that the thanka of the Assembly be conveyed to the Rev. W. Gillies for his great services in raising the fund, and that the Wanganui Presbytery be asked to hand over to this committee the money in their hand* for church sites and buildings. This was seconded and unanimously agreed to. Mr.. Aitken then submitted the report of the committee set up to administrate the New Century Fund, which showed that they had granted loans amounting to £3315 to sixteen churches. They also reported having purchased sections at Inglewdod, Levin, Karori, Torere, Mangamahu, Makuri, Pongaroa, and Henderson's. They hoped that the grant* made* would enable them to establish regular services in the majority of thes% ! places at an early date.,

The report was adopted, a very cotdial vote of thanks was accorded to the convener, Mr. Aitken, and the Assembly decided that the committee bo continued. FIRE INSURANCE. 'Mr. A. Bell (Auckland) submitted the report of the committee on fire insurance. This was practically a draft Bcheme by which it was propo&ed to raise a capital of £5000 by 250 guarantors of £2 each, and then undertaking the ineurance of all the church property in the colony, any large amounts required, as in the case of St. John's Church, to be Jmianaged by reinsurance. Mr. Bell's idea was that in a few years the fund •would so accumulate that it would be not only self-supporting, but that there would be a surplus, which he proposed should be applied towards the bursary funds. He moved that the scfieme be approved, -and that it be sent down to presbyteries for them to consider and be prepared to vote upon. Dr. Sidey asked if the scheme was to le printed and circulated throughout the colony, or did' they print the whole of the report and appendices in the proceedings? The Rev. Dr. Erwin said this matter was continually before the Assembly, fend members did not pay any attention to it. Therefor© the Assembly should say at once whether the scheme were to be gone on with or dropped, and the committee discharged. Ultimately, it was decided that the Bcheme be submitted to presbyteries. 1 The Assembly adjourned at 12.55 p.m. till 7 p.m.