PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

Evening Star, Issue 12964, 8 November 1906, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church continued their sittings at First Church yesterday. After holding tho sacrament of the Lord’s Sapper and an appropriate service, the Assembly went on to business at about 11.15. The Rev. G. B. Monro (Mod cm tor) presided. .. It was resolved on Dr Nisbct s motion that conveners in presenting reports, representatives of Prcsbvteries in submitting overtures or stating references, petitions, etc., bo limited to twenty minutes in speaking: that all other speakers be limited to ten minutes, and that all printed reports bo taken as read. An application that the Rev. Robt. Wood be given a scat on tho Dunedin Presbytery and in the superior court of the church was granted. —State of Religion.— The Rev. J. B. Bussell, in the absence nt the Rev. W. Gray Dixon, moved the following deliverance in regard to the- report on the state of religion: —“Adopt the report; thank Sessions and home missionaries for the fulness and suggesliveness of their answers to the questions submitted ; express devout gratitude to Almighty God alike for tho success and for the consciousness of failure afforded to the Church during another year: urge ad the members of the Church to the maintenance of the habit of specific ami l>clieving pray-er tor the quickening _by the Holy Ghost of our manifold agencies, and request Sessions to seriously consider how the mid-week prayer meeting can lie made more effective; rejoice in the deepening and widening interest in missions at homo and abroad, and very earnestly appeal to all our faithful people to remember the urgent needs of the back blocks, especially in the North Island : rejoice also in the Targe number of young men and women attending our church services, and prav that more of them may be brought to clear decision for Christ and into full communion with His Church : entreat all attendees upon public worship to resist every temptation from Hie wicket! or from social laxity to neglect the assembling of themselves together or otherwise forget God’s Sabbaths; appeal to parents and guardians to seek the hallowing of their familv life, that the home may by* its purity and happiness be able to withstand the attractions of questionable pleasures: rejoice in the present widespread agitation against the totalisator and betting and gambling general'v. and in the promise of the Government to introduce legislation on the subject this session, and exhort all our people to fulfil their citizenship in uncompromising fidelitv to the Gospel ot Christ, ever paying supreme regard to the bearing of all civic questions upon that Kingdom which is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. ’ t-peaking to the motion, he said it was a matter for congratulation that the Church found in its various spheres so mmli cause for thankfulness- As against this family life outside the Church was almost destitute of religious basis, and even inside the religious basis of the family seemed to bo becoming weaker. The pleasures of the oeoplo seemed to lie overdone, and they often led to evil. Then the young people showed no tendency- to ;sssume ihc responsibilities of full church membership. Also the mid-week prayer meeting was dwindling almost to a vanishing point, and the interest in missions generally was inadequate. Still he thought that few could rise from consideration of the report without some measure of consolation. It was helpful also to be able to trace through the report lines of hopeful advance. It would sober .and sleadv them to road how rrave were the signs of the times. Mr R. B. Heriot seconded the motion. The Rev. E. C. Tennent said he beicved the dwindling of the prayer meetng was due to the multiplication of other meetings. He did not think they should be distressed by trying to convince themselves that the spiritual life of the Church bad decreased.

Mr Murray complained that these reports. year after year., were characterised l»y continual iteration alone the same lines. They should take a hint from the mission, aries. and try something new. He supthe formation <»t schools ns a means i f reaching the young. The motion was carried. —Temperance.— Tin? Rev. James Clark moved a deliverin regard to the report of the Tcnvpernee Committee, which contained the following, amongst oilier things:—“ Your Comnittco regard the splendid growth of tein■>erance sentiment ia this colony, as indicted in. their published statistics s , as a fact .»f supreme importance in The cause of temperance, and a« deserving an honored place in the jiernianent records of om* Church. Prophecy has once more been fulfilled in our midst, and before our pyr?. ‘The little one has become a thousand, ami the small one a mighty host/ It is enough tor us to put the colonial totals for Continuance and No-license- alongside of eaca other, and let them tell their own talc. These totals since 1832 arc:—lß9s, Con tinuance 41.165. No-license 48.856: 1896, Continuance 159.580, No-hrense -98,512; 18SS, Continuance 145.962, No-licemo 120,542; 1902, Continuance 148,449. Nolicense 151,524; 1905, Continuance 182,884. No-license 198,768.’* The deliverance was as follows; —“Adopt the report, and approve of its recommendations : heartily congratulate all temperance workers in those electorates where No-license and Reduct but wt-re maintained or carried last year ; thank the Great Head of tho Church for the splendid increase in the temperance vote at the recent Local Option poll, and for the redoubted aud rapidly-multiplying evidences M the beneficial effects of No-liccnse, alike ir4 towns and rural districts? humbly yot jovfully rerogni!*e the work of the Divine Spirit in the marked ‘renewing of mind’ that goes forward steadily tho length and breadth of the colony : extend a cordial God-spoed to all .sympathisers and toilers in the temperance cause. ami to those magistrates who have worthily honored the law of the. land by the «tfcctive administration, of it ; ;uid commend the work to the fervent prayers and unwearied diligence of office-bearers and people.’* Mr Clark said that the report showed magnificent results for the year. There, bad been ah Absorbing interest in temperance this ve »r, and there were great public evidences hf growth. He spoke of the steady increase in thei vole. There was a clear majority of 5,000 voters in the • olor.v in favor of No-license as against Reduction. He. stated that No-license in Uiinaru had been a decided success, and that the Committee were of opinion that when No-license took effect iry a town or country district it wij»ed out from 65 to 70 per cent, of crimes of a serious nature. The Rev. Mr Kilpatrick seconded the motion, and emphasised the need of Rands of Hope. They must not forget the children. hut should seek to instil temperance principle in their minds. They could not afford to allow the young to be lost. Evening Sitting. The Assembly met again at 7 p.m. It teas resolved —" That the applications of the Revs. R. Welsh and P. C. Durward, M-A-, for admission to tho Church ; the applications from the home missionaries, Messrs T. B. Rannennan. E. Bishop, A. fltides Crawford, T. E. Lopdcll, and T. Knight; and the application of the Auckland Presbytery for leave to ordain Miss Kntrican a "deaconess be referred to a committee to consider and report." A committee was appointed to prepare memorial minutes upon ministers and elders deceased during the past year. The Anglican Synod sent a letter of greetin'- and goodwill to the Assembly.—The letter was received, and the Moderator was asked to send a fitting reply. —Maori Missions.— The Rev. R. M. Rybum moved the following deliverance in regard to the report, on Maori missions :— "Adopt the report, with t-K.nl.-v to the Committee; express -latitude to God for another year of rich blessing upon our Maori missionaries and -eachers; heartily commend the establishment of’ so many Sunday schools around

Taupo ; agree to the recommendation to appoint Miss Spence as deaconess in Maori mission work at Taupo, at a salary of £80; express satisfaction at the improvements to the manses of the missionaries and the erection of a church building at Taumartmui; authorise the transfer of £2OO ftoin the Maori mission to the school fund ; rejoice in the measure of success that has crowned tbo year's efforts of our missionaries and teachers, and commend them anew to the p ravers of our congregations.” Tho report included separate reports from the Rev. IT. J. Fletcher (Taupo), ,T. Kgerton Ward (Taumaranui), A. CT. Hamilton (Turakina. Maori Girls’ School), and John Porteou-s (assistant inspector of native schools). Mr Fletcher, after chronicling the doings of the year in his district, said : “ Permit me to commend to tho prayerful sympathy of all Christians our Maori brethren, young and old. They are a people who have lost all (heir old safeguards. We are asking them to cross tho gulf between barbarism and Christianity in the span of a single lifetime. Behind us are centuries of training all tending to our uplifting ; behind them, centurirti of darkness, error, and superstition. Can wo wonder that progress is slow and work so disappointing? Can wc wonder that the old man is strong? Ihe measure of success obtained is an earnest of what might he, and could be if our ■ample would help us with their prayers.” In Mr Ward’s report it was stated, inter alia, that the Maoris were fairly sober throughout tho Upper King Country, as no liquor was allowed to bo brought to them. Steps were being taken to prevent visitors and others who were Maoris from bcav* supplied with liquor to carry away with them from the licensed houses m the Waikato. A great deal “a* l to be done in protecting the Maoris from the worst types of the evils of civilisation. The natives wc.ro over eager in their pursuit of sport, and all football matches in the Upper King Country- were plaved bv Europeans on Sunday. Maoris were inordinately fond of billiard playing, and there might be seven or eight billiard saloons or tables in sight or to begin m Taumaranui. Maoris were very fond of horse racing and its attendant evils, and racing club had just been started at Taumaranui. Mr I’ortcous, speaking of the Turakina Girls' School, said: “It gives in,- pleasure to say that 1 was highly pleased with what I saw and board during mv visit to this school. 1_ noticed nothing to - which exception could be taken. The girls arc very clean, apparently very happy, and are the pictures of health. I was pleased with tho manner in which they go about their various duties. They arc receiving a very good practical and valuable training hi all the duties appertaining to tho home, and are at the same time acquiring good habits. I consider that this school, in the training of these girls, is doing an excellent work and exercising a mol healthy influence on them. I should be surprised if the decidedly practical training which the girls receive dr.es not produce most beneticial results. The excellent condition of the school and tho good work that ;s being done redounds to the credit of tlie teacher. Mr Hamilton, who evidently has the welfare id his pupils very much at heart. He is ably seconded by .Mrs Hamilton." The Committee recommended that Mas Spence be appointed deaconess in Maori work, to assist Mr Fletcher, at a salary of £BO. There had not been a demand for admission to the Turakina Girls' School sufficient to warrant its enlargement. Tile Committee had decided to place £SOO of the £bl2 at interest ill a more permanent- investment, and use the remainder for necessary additions to the buildings. The maintenance had this year cost Moll ; of the income. £55 10s was pad in fees by the Maoris, and £lB7 16s 9d was received from the Government. As was anticipated at the beginning of the school, £2OO would require to be transferred from the Maori Mission to the school fund. The Commit Ice recommended this transfer of £2OO. Tho funds will then i,e practically as they were at the beginning of last financial .year. The maintenance next year should not cost £6OO. The' Bev. G. Lindsay seconded the motion, which was carried. —Church Extension.— The Rev. J. K. EUmlt moved the following deliverance in regard to tho report of the Northern section of the Church Jixtcnsion Committee':—"Adopt the report; express gratitude to I I,mi tor llie measure of success that has been accomplished; also our thankfulness to the Southern Committce. and especially to the convener, the Rev. David Borne, to tho Church of Scotland ami the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, and to the other donors and subscribers wiio have generously contributed to our fund ; note with satisfaction that the Rev. James Paterson has visited additional presbyteries and congregations, and was afforded opportunities of pleading on behalf of Home .Missions, and request him to continue his good work, and presbyteries and congregations not yet visited to arrange for his doing so; assure- our ministers and agi-ntr. ot our sympathy- with them in the loneliness and difficulties of their lor; rejoiie that many of our elders and Christian laymen give their valuable aid in conducting Sabbath services in distant outfields-: re-

commend Presbyteries to endeavor to have oxco.-sivoly largo jw.rbdies subdivided; author!*'- the Commit toe to make special grants to Taumarauui. Waitouira, and other necessitous localities; again approve of the establishment of collecting agencies in each congregation, and in tins counection respectfully solicit the co-operation of the. Presbyterian Women’s -Missionary L’nion ; ami, finally, pray that the Divine hltcsing may rest abundantly on the clFons jiui forth to expend the oorders of our beloved Church.” The report, which was long and detailed, dealt with the work of church extension in Auckland, Hawke's Ha\', Taranaki. Wanganui, Wellington, Nfi-t-on. Westland, Christchurch, amt Timaru. Mr Klliot-t. though lie made an earnest appeal lor vigorous forward work, kept his Hearers in a. simmer of laughter throughout a characteristically humorous speech. The Rev. R. -M. Rybuni sot.-ended the motion. He expressed the opinion that they had not. the grasp that they ought to have of Church extension work. They ought to have a thorough revision of the regulations. and. finally, their great need was men and not money. He hoped that this need would lie made known. After further discussion, in which much was said of the trials and isolation of settlers in the way-hack parts of the Korth Island, the motion was carried. The Rev. 1). Borric moved that the report of the Southern Church Extension Committee lie adopted. The report staled that though there were not many changes to record, there were signs in not a few quarters of steady work being done and of awakening interest and progress. As to finance, there wits a slight increase in congregational contributions and a legacy of £550 from the late Miss Mary Marion, of Oanraru, in connection with which the Committee expressed their deep sense of obligation to their benefactress, and their sympathy with her sorrowing friends. The income for Church extension proper was : —Congregational collections, £451 16s 9d ; donations from individuals, £7l ; donations from Sabbath schools, etc., £l4 7s lOd; interest of Jubilee Fund, £375 13s 8d ; refund Tauranga, £2O Is ; net collections from Rev. J. Paterson's meetings, £7 19s 6d : making in all, £920 18s 9d. Tlie legacy of £oso had to bo invested and the interest only used for Church extension pumoses. The Sabbath schools which had assisted were those of Knox Church, Momington, Maori Hill, St. Leonards, Mosgiel. and the Mosgiel Christian Band. Mosgiel congregation had shown a growing interest for years, and this year had contributed £l4 7s lOd. The Committee were also pleased to learn that the .Sabbath Schools’ Conference held in Dunedin recommended that home missions should be one of the schemes supported bv their schools, and, at the request of the Conference, the Committee would art along with the Foreign Mission Committee in supplying information to the Sabbath schools and the Church generally about home and foreign mission needs and work. The Rev. Mr Kiloatrick seconded the motion, which was carried. —Other Business.— On the motion of the Rev. P. B. Fraser, it. was resolved—“ That it be referred to the Committee on Commissions and Records to report whether, in thoiropinion, the Wellington and Christchurch Presbyteries

acted according to tho law of tie Church, the former in receiving and the latter in inducting a minister having a commission trom another church, said minister not having previously been received by the General Assembly, as required by tho Book of Oidor.” An overture was . tccivcd from the Presbytery of Wanganui nraying {.hat the P.W.M.U. be allowed to undertake collecting for the Church Extension Funds, and to alter, their constitution accordingly : or that Assembly determine otherwise as should seem best.- —It was decided in adopt, the overture, and request tho P.W.M.U. to alter their constitution so as to bring the home mission work of the Church within the scope of their operations, and collect funds for this work as they- now do for the foreign mission work of the Church. , Assembly adjourned at 10.30 p.m.