PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Evening Star, Issue 10149, 30 October 1896, Page 1

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

At last night's session the business was I consideration of the question of UNION WITH THE NORTHERN CHURCH. In the first place the Synod were addressed by the Rev. J. P.tkrson, of the Northern Church. He said that when the subject of union was broached in IS9I many of the Northern members felt reluctant to consider the matter, not because they were averse to union, but because they had been so often led to think of the subject and made progress ending in disappointment. It was only after hearing the delegates from Otago, and seeing that they were in earnest, that the Northern Cburch was led to entertain tho subject at all. Those deputies might have thought that the Northern Church had grown cold, but such was not the case, and the Bpeaker did not know of a single minister or elder in the North who saw any formidable difficulty in the way. At the outset of the overtures for union there were differences in regard to two points of doctrine or principle. The Otago Church had adopted the Declaratory Act. The Northern Church had not done so, and the Otago deputies thought that the Northern Church should come toOtago'sposition. The Northern Synod at once approved of it and sent it to presbyteries aud sessions for consideration and report to the Assembly, which would meet in February next. The Wellington Presbytery unanimously approved of it, and no doubt others would do the same. The other point of difference in doctrine was in regard to the question of marriage with a deceased wife's sister. Some years ago, after it had becomo the law of the land that such marriages could be made, the matter was brought before the Northern Assembly, and it was found that the large majority of members of the. Assembly had no very decided convictions against it; they therefore resolved that their ministers and people should have liberty upon the question, to act in this respect as they thought fit. Having done this, the Northern Church said that the Ocago Church must come to their position. The Otago Church had now taken up the same attitude in regard to this question. Therefore there was no further difference between them on points of doctrine. The other matters that called for settlement were brought before the conference of delegates at Christchurch in May last, and they arrived at decisions with perfect unanimity, drawing up what he (Mr Paterson) regarded as a reasonable basis of union. The speaker concluded by stating what the headings of that basis were.

Tho Rev. A. Cameron moved—"That the Synod put on record its pleasure at the presence of the Rev. W. Watt (moderator of the General Assembly), the Rev. J. Paterson (of Wellington), and Mr M'G.ivin (elder) as deputies from the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. It rejoices to receive the greetings they have brought to us from our sister church, and thanks them for the kind aud wise words in which they have addressed us. The Synod has pleasure in knowing how vigorously the work of our common Lord is being carried on by the church they represent, and prays that the day may soon come when as one church we miy join hand in hand to carry forward the work entrusted to us for the good of men and the glory of God." The Rev. J. Gibb seconded the motion. The Rev. W. Bannerman moved to cut out the latter part of the motion, after the word " represent," arguing that to pass the motion as proposed would be practically committing the Synod to approval of union while that question had yet to be discussed. Oa a vote being taken the Rev. A. Cameron's motion was adopted in its entirety by a large majority. The Rev. W. Bannerman said that he desired to read the following protestation : Before taking part in considering the report on union with the Northern Church, the undersigned renew the protestation laid on the table of the Synod at its meeting of January 16, 18S3, and signed by the following present members of Synod—viz., Wm. Will, Wm. Bannerman, John M. Allan, James Kirklaud, James Clark, Michael Watt, J. M. Davidson, Robert Telford, Jas. A. Will, It. R. M. Sutherland, J. U. Spence, J. M'Cosh Smith, A. Greig (ministers), A. C. Begg, John Johnstone (elders), the protestation being as follows:

The Rev. J. Gnsr, raised a point of order whether it was competent for the Rev. Mr Bannerman to interrupt the business with this protest just then. The Rev. W. Bannerman: This is the same step taken as was taken last time. The Moderator : It is out of order at the present time. The Rev. W. Bannerman : Then I must appeal to the Synod against the moderator's ruling. The Rev. W. Wrr.L : Before you do that I protest against Mr Bannerman bringing forward my name in that way. This was several years ago. The Moderator : Mr Bannerman is out of order.

The Rev. Mr Bannerman : It is not a protest. It is a protestation. The Rev. J. Gum : It i 3 simply a policy of obstruction.

The Rev. W. Bannerman : I object to that. Mr Gibb does not know his own position.

The Rev. J. Ciiisiioem : Before we enter upon this debate I would suggest that while the moderator is speaking members be required to keep their teats.—(Hear, hear.) The Moderator : I will take a vote as to whether the ruling of the chair, that Mr Baunerman's protestation is out of order, be sustained.

The vote being taken, a large number voted "aye," and only two on the other side.

The Rev. W. Bannerman then said: I enter my protest against the tyranny exercised, and the violation of the practice of this church.

The Rev. J. Clark : I also protest. The Rev. A. M. Finlayson : I am quite satisfied that Mr Bannerman's protestation is out of place, but I should The Moderator : The matter is settled. We will pass on to the report. The Rev. J. Gibb then read the report of the Union Committee, which contained the following clauses : Tbe followius are the resolutions adopted by the Conference, and together constituting the proposed basis of union: - . 1 That the United Church shall include and consist of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, as existing previously to the union and of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland, as existing previously to the union, and that the name of the United Church shall be the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. 2 That the doctrinal basis of the said Presbyterian Church of New Zealand shall be the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the supreme standard and the only rule of faith and practice, and the Westminster Confession of Faith, as interpreted by the Declaratory Act, as subordinate standard, with liberty of opinion in regard to marriage with a deceased wife's sister. 3. That the united church shall be constituted and governed by sessions, presbyteries, and a general assembly consisting of all ministers in charges, with an elder from each session, and such other ministers as may have seats in their respective presbyteries, which shall be designated the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. But inasmuch as the Synod of Otago and Southland owns and administers trust properties and funds, it shall continue in full possession of all the rights pertaining to it in this respect, with power to meet from time to time for the due administration of.its trusts.

4. That the first meeting of the Assembly shall be held in Dunedin, and the Assembly shall itself determine and fix its next place of meeting from year to year, but ordinarily the Assembly shall meet alternately at Wellington and Dunedin. 5. That, in order to secure a satisfactory attendance at the General Assembly, each prts'ytery of the united church shall appoint one-half of the number of their ministeis and as many elders, whose travelling expenses to and from the General Assembly shall be paid from the Assembly ex. penses fund. 6. That the principle of the sustentation fundnamely, that every ordained minister in a charge is the servant of the church, and entitled to an adequate maintenance from the collective church —shall be recognised as determining all arrangements for the support of the ministry. 7. That, considering the diihculticsattendant on an immediate unification of the financial methods hitherto in use. the General Assembly shall at first recognise : (1) The sustentation fund scheme and church extension fund as at present in operation in the Church of Otago and Southland. (2) The church extension scheme (which is for the double purpose of sustentation and extension) of the Northern Church, as now administered ; it being understood that the General Assembly shall address itself without delay to gradually effect a uniform scheme for the support of the ministry and church extension. And (3) meanwhile these funds shall be administered separately by committees of the General Assembly cf the united church in terms of their respective regulations. 8. That the missionary funds of the two churches shall be amalgamated and devoted to the support of the missions which are now being carried on by the respective churches. 11. That while aiming at an amalgamation of the widows and orphans' funds and of the aged and infirm ministers' funds at aseaily a date as possible, yet having respect to the duty of administering these funds on sound financial principles, it is agreed: (1) That the respective funds in each church shall be kept distinct; widows, orphans, aud ministers having claims only on the fund wherewith they were connected at the date of the union. (2) That after the union, and until further arrangements are made, ministers shall connect themselves with the fund to which tlwy bulong territorially, and the funds shall be administered separately by a committee of the united church, in terms of present regulations.

10. That Dunedin shall be the seat of the Theological Jlall. 11. That while the appointment and removal of theological professors must remain with the Synod of Otago anil Southland in terms of the Act of lStt!, yet, inasmuch as such appointments and removals are of the highest importance to the whole church, it is neccssaiy that the Assembly and Synod should act harmoniously in this matter, and that, therefore, prior to any appointment or removal being made fcy the Synod, the mind of the General Assembly shall be ascertained.

12. That ths principle of the Barrier Act shall apply to all proposals for fresh legislation. These proposals were in due course submitted to a largely-attended meeting of the Committee, and by them unanimously adopted. The Committee now request the Synod to send them down to piesbyteries and sessions.

The Rev. J. Uibb moved that the report be received and considered in committee. In doing so he narrated the history of the negotiations for union, and went on to say that the Synod could not now draw back without dishonor. They had pledged themselves up to the hilfc. Were the resolutions they had carried with reference to union mere empty breath? Were these pledgeß mere words ? Were the prayers addressed to God mere mockeries ? He refused to believe it, and he was sure the Synod would refuse to believe it. Moreover, if the Synod withdrew and refused to carry forward the negotiations for union they would not only dishonor themselves, but do dishonor to their brethren beyond the Waitaki. How would the Northern Church—their brothers in Christ—regard them if after having travelled so far they now drew back, and said they would travel no further in this matter. It was not as if the Northern Church had taken the initiative, and the Synod had reluctantly, and only by great persuasion, followed them in regard to it. It was the Otago Synod that did the wooing and besought them to form a union: and although some.of the Northern brethren were not unnaturally a little suspicious of their sincerity they threw their suspicions to the winds, and, like loyal and good men, had joined with the members of the Otago Church to formulate a practical basis of union. Now, if the Ougo Church drew back their friends in the North would say and with justice that they had trifled with them, that they had slighted them, and that they had dishonored them. He had made this subject a matter of serious and prolonged reflection, and had sounded many of the minds in the North, and he could tell the Synod that if they broke off these negotiations for union they would practically break off friendly relations with their brethren of the Northern Church, and create a feeling of irritation which would not die down in the lifetime of the youngest member of either the Assembly or the Synod. Was the Synod of Otago prepared to face the responsibility of this ? He refused to believe it from his heart, and he prayed God to forbid it —(Applause.) The speaker concluded by formulating the advantages of union. They were—that such an act would comply with the command of the Great King and Head of the Church ; that union would produce strength by bringing to them the visitors from all parts of the Home Land; that the material reasons were strong even from a bread-and-butter point of view ; that the Otago Church's endowments were not to be surrendered ; that union would cause Prcsbyterianism to bulk more largely in the eye 3 of the community; that there would be a saving of machinery and money from the amalgamation of missions ; that more professors could be secured for the education cf theological students ; and that the difficulties of ministerial settlement would bo lessened.

The Rev. J. Claiik asked if the opinion of the solicitor who ordinarily acted for the church had been received, and whether that opinion set forth that a. union could not take place which depiiwd ihe Synod of its ecclesiastical standing. The Rev. J. Gn;i;: The legal adviser cf the Synod has been consulted, and has given an opinion which the Synod will receive at the proper time. The Rev. Mr Baxxi;rmax thought the question should be answered. The Rev. Ginn said that he had given all the answer he intended to give. The Moderator thought Mr Clark was entitled to ask the question which he had asked, because he said it would have a bearing with regard to his vote, and perhaps others were in the siine position, The Rev. R. R. M. Si'tiieiu.and : Can we ask if the opinion of the solicitor was that without an Act of the General Assembly the church could not go into union? Will Mr Gibb answer that question ? The Rev. Mr Gibu again said he would put the Synod in possession of information, regarding the solicitor's opinion at the proper time. Mr J. Adam had great pleasure in seconding the motion. The Rev. J. Ginis said he had not the slightest intention of withholding from the Synod any document in his possession. The opinion of the solicitor, however, in his judgment, should be read in connection with the third point in the basis of union. The Rev. W. Kassermax moved—" That the report be sent back to the Committee for a fuller statement of matters affecting the union, and especially including the opinion that they received." The Rev. J. Clark seconded the amendment.

. The motion for the reception of the report was carried by a large majority, only eighteen voting for the amendment. The Synod then went into committee to consider the report, and on resuming it was reported that the first two articles of the basis of anion had been adopted. It was then resolved to resume consideration of the report the first thing in the morning, and Synod adjourned at 10.30 p.m.