DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Evening Star, Issue 4893, 6 November 1878, Page 2

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

The quarterly meeting of the Duncdin rrcshyterv, held in the First. Church this morning, was attended by thr Itsv L. -Mackie (moderator), Drs Stuart and Copland, Messrs Watt, Will, Findlajson, Professor Salmond, Jurklaix-1, and Ban Herman. Elders, Messrs Hepburn and Scouliar. KAIKDKAI. The Rev. Dr Copland reported having held a meeting of the congregation nt Kail.-orai on October 24. and at which a resolution was p.issod requesting the Preshytcry to moderate a call to that church of tnc Rev. James Nivin. The commissioners appointed at the meeting of the Church, Messrs Spears, Lane, and Thomson, having been heard, the Rev. Mr KirkeiAnd nnved, Dr Stuart seconded, and it was agreed, that the call be moderated in the usu il way. RAVEXSr.OUr.SE

A petition from the borowrh of West Harbor was presented by the Rev. Professor Salmond asking for the establishment of a sanctioned charge at that place. The petition showed that there were at Ravensbourne thirty-five members, and the speaker said that on a financial score there would be no difficulty. A meeting was held at Ravensbounie last night with the object of obtaining a Congregational Church, but this was a most unwise proceeding, as there would be no room for two churches, and it would only hamper the Presbyterian body in their action. Messrs Do Lacey and Lindsay, the commissioners appointod to further the petition, having been heard, the Rev. Mr Wim, moved that the case be favorably recommended to the Synod. The motion was seconded by Dr Stvaiit, and agreed to.—The application jwas declined.

Mr Lothian's certificate of license as probationer was received, and it was resolved to transmit the appointment to the Synod to receive him as a probationer.

Dr Copland gave notice that he would at nex' meeting of the Presbytery move as follows:

" Whereas the Education Act now in operation in New Zealand makes no provision for the reading of the Bible within school hours, anil is on this account unsatisfactory to a large bo'.ly of the inhabitants : " Whereas the attempt has been irruc in some quarters to represent and to carrj out the system as absolutely secular, excluding any reference in the public schools to God, or to a future state of existence, and so weakening the sanctions of morality which the youth of the land should be trained to understand as a necessary p.irt of their education ;' " Whereas, in consequence of the godless character thus assigned to the present rational system, the fooling in favor of a denominational system has been gaining strength, 50 that the Kill of Mr Curtis, recently before Parliament, was only lost by the narrow majority of six votes in a full House ; " Whereas, if such a Bill had passed into law, many who would profer a national system in which the Bible was permitted to be read would avail themselves of the provisions of such an Act in order to secure for their children a sufficient opportunity of becoming acquainted with God's Work, end in consequence of the national system would be in danger of being desire, cd ; " Whereas a knowledge of the contents of the Bible is necessary for the right understanding o's. large part of English literature, and of many of the most important passages of history, as well as for the understanding and confirmation of true morality ; " Whereas in Victoria—where the* so-called secular system has been for some time in operation—it has proved unsatisfactory, so that there is a probability of its being soon abandoned ; " Whereas there is no ground for expecting in IJew Zealand any better result from the present system ; " Whereas provision for the reading of the Bible in public schools may be made without "interfering with the just rights of any by a clause being introduced enacting that the Bible shall be read at a lixed ho rr (the right being reserved to parents or guardians fo withdraw their children during such lojsou on giving' notice in writing of their desire to do so) hi all the public schools, excepting those where the Committee having charge shall have passed a resolution (bidding only during their term of office) dispensing with such reading ;

" And whereas such an arrangement would contribute, in the highest degree, to the intelligence and morality uf the "rising geucrr.'ion, would satisfy the desire of the great body of the inhabitants, would remove the strongest ground on which a dcnor.unrtional system is demanded by many, and would thus tend to the consolidation ainl permanency of the national system ; " It is humbly overtured by the Presbytery of Puncdiulo the Synod of Otago, indicted to-ned in January, 1579, to take tho premises into its consideration, with the view of adopting such measures for securing the daily reading of the Bible in the public schools as in its wisdom it may deem expedient."