PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8089, 9 February 1887, Page 5

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

ANNUAL MEETING. [Peb Press Association.] WELLINGTON. Feb. 8. The annual meeting of the Presbyterian General Assembly was held to-night. There were present between forty and fifty ministers and elders from different parts of the Colony. The Eev T. E. Cairns, the retiring Moderator, preached the opening sermon, after which the Eev G. B. Monro, of Eemuera, was elected Moderator. A deputation from the Otago and Southland Synod, consisting of the Eevs M'C. Smith and Pergosaon, were present, and were welcomed by the Assembly. The Eev Moderator returned thanks for the honour conferred on him, and asked them to extend to him their indulgence and sympathy. In the course of an eloquent address, he said that he felt with all their reasons for congratulation and thanksgiving, there is urgent need for increased consecration and energy on the part of ministers and people. The present age has been characterised as a restless, lawless, and presumptive one. Whether this is an accurate description or not, the age is marked by a wonderful advancement in science, art, literature and philosophy, marvellous variety and cheapness of books, expansion and diffusion of knowledge among all classes through the national system of education. The recognised influence of newspapers on political, social and religious w orks naturally compels the Church to give increased attention to the culture and scholarship of the Ministry. He did not sympathise with the great attention sometimes given to professed infidelity. He believed the lees notice taken of it the better —not that the truth fears investigation, for it courts the fullest enquiry. Too much attention could not be given to the thorough training of student! l , but care must be taken lest in our anxiety after scholarships we sacrifice personal realisation. He often felt surprised at the unpardonable ignorance of many as to what Presbyterianism really is, as it is considered by some a rigid, narrow and limited system, which is confined specially to Scotland and the north of Ireland, whereas it is one of the most extensive churches in the world, and very far from being cramped and limited. It is one of the most elastic and Scriptural church organisations that exist, but however great our past progress has been, we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that our numerical progress has not been so rapid as it might have been, and he thought that the reason was to be found in what some may consider trifles. In the first place, he thought we ought to give more attention to the character of our regular church services. The increased attention given to. music on the part of the rising generation made it imperative that we give more attention to church psalmody, and make it as cordial, unanimous, and excellent as possible. He was inclined to think that the Church had not yet sought to realise its duty in this matter. We are still somewhat too conservative. Eegular Sabbath services ought to be made as attractive as possible. We cannot blame the Puritans and Covenanters for objecting to anything like special attention to the externals of worship, but this age is one of advancement. In the second place, more attention should be given to the development of the gifts of the laity, to which considerable attention has lately been given at Home and in America, and judging from the sentiments expressed it is likely to become one of the most vital questions generally discussed in the Church Courts. Some of the elders _ in our churches are admirably qualified for teaching, yet by some unexplainable conservatism they are not thus privately encouraged, and consequently their excellent talents are comparatively loot to the Church. He regretted there existed a prejudice on the part of the people against the preaching of elders, and there could be no question but that this remarkable prejudice had done much to weaken the Church, and more especially in sparsely populated districts. In the next place, greater attention should be given to evangelistic Wokk amongst the aim-

church-going people on the part of Presbyteriana. It is appalling to find that in Auckland city and suburbs we have over 500 lapsed Presbyterian families, and if the same proportion exists elsewhere, we have more outside than inside the Church, and it is evident that we cannot reach this class by regular Church machinery. He was of opinion that such can only be undertaken by Home mission and evangelistic work on a larger scale than has yet been tried. In conclusion, he expressed an earnest hope that the deliberations of the Assembly would be of great benefit to the Church.