PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7484, 25 February 1885, Page 6

PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The General Assembly resumed yesterday morning at 11 o'clock, and was duly constituted. .- . .THANKS. The Assembly' unanimously passed a vote of thanks tothe Rev W. Douglas for his services as Convener of the Statistics Committee. ; CORRECTION.

The Rev K. ETVviir explained that he had been wrongly' repp.rtjed' rebuking the "little man for getting'up"and insulting people." •. ;'",'" st Andrew's.

The Rev J. Paterson had very great pleasure in giving in the following report* of the Conference on the reference from the Presbytery of Christchurch, and the petition of the congregation of St Andrew's. " The Conference appointed to meet with the representatives of the Christchurch Presbytery and representatives of St Andrew's session have to report, that the following settlement of the difficulties which have arisen was arrived at,- viz. —ln regard to the position of matters between the Presbytery of Christchurch and the Session of St Andrew's, they find that there has been no misunderstanding as to the right of a Presbytery in relation to the summoning of a minister to attend any Committee to give evidence and produce the records of his session, but only a misunderstanding as to the mode of procedure in this particular instance, so that all parties are agreed on these points. First, the right of any congregation to commit the management of its temporal affairs to a Deacons' Court in lieu of a Committee of Management; second, that a Presbytery has the right to summon any of its ministers to give evidence and produce the records of the Courts of which he "is Moderator. The Conference have therefore to propose to the Assembly, that with the consent of all parties the petition from bt Andrew's Session, and the Reference from the Presbytery of Christchurch be now fallen from.'.' The Convener moved the adoption of the report. The Rev W. Gillies seconded the motion, expressing the pleasure that all had experienced at witnessing the good spirit shown by all concerned. The motion was carried by acclamation.

The Eev W. Dinwiddie " fell from " the motion of which he had given notice, and expressed his gladness, and that of the session of St Andrew's, that the cloud that had been overhanging them had been dispelled. The Eev J. Hill, for the Presbytery, very heartily acquiesced in the result of the Conference, and expressed satisfaction that the obstacle to the progress of the Church had been so happily removed. • LEESTON. The Eev J. Hill informed the Assembly that by arrangement with the parties concerned the appeal from Leeston had been fallen from. The Eev J. Oree was very glad to be able to confirm what Mr Hill had said. ENTERTAINMENTS. The Eev G. Blake moved—" That the Assembly be afforded, an opportunity of expressing its mind with regard to the practice of raising funds by means of entertainments, even a portion of which are worldly and secular in their character." The matter to which he particularly referred was dancing parties. He moved—- " That this Assembly expresses its dis-' approval of funds being raised for Church purposes by, dancing parties and other questionable methods, and recommend all members of the Church to discountenance the same." The Eev J. S. Ogg thought the motion an insult to the Church. Such entertainments did not exist in connection with the Church. The Eev E. M'Gregor seconded the motion, and assured the last speaker that such entertainments were by no means unheard of. . ' The Eev J. Macky suggested that the resolution l should be prefaced with the following preamble:—" That although the thing is not at all common in this Church!" The Eev H. B. Burnett supported the motion/but explained that dancing parties and secular entertainments were given at the close of the Church entertainments. A great deal of injury was being done by the example set by a sister Church. After further discussion the motion was agreed to in the following words:—"The attention of the Assembly having been directed to some exceptional instances in which public dances were held in connection with entertainments for raising funds for Church purposes, this Assembly express its disapproval of connecting entertainments for the raising of funds for Church purposes with public dances and other questionable amusements, and recommend all members of the Church to discountenance same." STANDING COMMITTEES. The various Standing Committees were appointed in most instances, but few changes being made in them. THE NEXT ASSEMBLY. It was decided that the next general Assembly should be held in Auckland, commencing its sittings on the second Tuesday in February, 1886, the convener being the Eev E. Sommerville. PRINTING. The Eevs E. Sommerville and D. W. Eunciman were appointed a Committee to take charge of the printing of the Assembly's proceedings. THANKS. Votes of thanks were unanimously carried to the members of the Church and other friends resident in Christchurch, who have extended their generous hospitality to the members of the Assembly during the present sittings 5 to the Minister of Lands and other Government officials, for

the kindness they have showni in granting the use of the Provincial Hall during the sitting of the Assembly; and to the proprietors and reporters of the newspapers for the correct and full reports of the Assembly's proceedings. The Moderator addressed the Assembly, which brought its session to a close in the usual way.