THE PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10273, 15 February 1894, Page 2

THE PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

ANNUAL SESSION. Wednesday, Feb. 14. AFTERNOON SlfTim The Moderator took tiro chair at 10 a.m,, and the first hour was devoted to devotional exercises. Mr .1. W. Mansfield, who was formerly a minister of the Church, and the Rev J. Ross, of Timaru, were associated with the Assembly, as was the Rev W. Storor, of Biwalra. HAKATERAMSA. Au appeal was received from the Timaru Presbytery with regard to the district o? Hakatoramea, which dealt with the alteration of boundaries, and the matter had bean referred to the Assembly for settlement. ThoßsvA. B. Todd spoke in 'support of the appeal, and a minute was read from the Presbytery of Otago and Southland, 'agreeing to the request being granted. A motion to that effect was pissed. ■ BIBLE-IN-SCHOOL S. An appeal was received from the .Timaru Presbytery in reference to a question of procedure relating to the passing of a motion in favour of, co-operating with the Church of England in securing the adoption of the Loudon School Board code of religious instruction in the State schools. There was also another appeal relating to the question of the confirmation of the minutes of thq Presbytery at which the motion had been passed. The Eev J. Dickson, who was really the appellant, stated his case, and was replied to by the R iv W. Gillies. Alter a very long discussion, on the motion of the Eev G. Webster, seconded by the Eov J. Paterson, the appeal was sustained, and the Presbytery of Timaru was ordered to reinstate the portion of the minutes deleted. • The Eev W. Gillies protested, and dissented from the finding, and the Revs G. Webster and J. H. M'Kenzie were appointed to draw up a reply to the Eov W. Gillies, and to support the finding of the Assembly. ■ Respecting the appeal against the procedure in the Timaru Presbytojy, when the question came up for discussion", there, it was now supported by the Revs J. Dickson and A. B. Todd, and replied to by the Rev W. Gillies. On the motion of the Rev G. Webster, seconded by the Rev J. Paterson, the appeal was dismissed. PETITION. A petition was received from Mr H, Black, of Wanganui, asking that the ssssion of St Paul’s Church, Wanganui, be instructed to grant Mrs Black and himself certificates of church membership. After a lengthy discussion the petition was referred to a committee, to report upon at a future sitting. At 1.40 p.m. the Assembly adjourned until seven o’clock ia the evening. EVENING SITTING. The Assembly resumed its sittings at seven o’clock. ASSOCIATE. The Rev T. R. Cairns, from Ballarat, Victoria, formerly a minister at Sydenham and a Past Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, was rsceived as an associate of the Assembly. 'BAEBATH SCHOOLS. The report of the committee of the Sabbath Schools was read by the Rev J. Doull. It stated that the committee was, as usual, unablo to present a printed table of statistics, as little more than half the number of the schedules had been received by the convener at tho time when the report must be forwarded to the printer. The annual examination of Sabbath schools took place on July 20 in schools connected with the Presbyteries of Auckland, Wanganui, Hawko’s Bay, Timaru, Christchurch and Westland, the largest number being in the Presbytery of Christchurch. There were 517 candidates in all the divisions in scriptural knowledge and in the Shorter Catechism. Of those who were examined 75 a first, 150 a second, and 145' a third-class position. Tho committee had been instructed by the. General Assembly to consider and report upon:—(1) Tho best means of beeping hold of tho Sabbath school scholars, and of bringing them into the fellowship of the Church; (2) tho best means of securing a schema of lessons that would be generally acceptable to the Church; (3) a scheme of preparation for teachers before entering on the work; and it now gave replies, condensed from communications from superintendents. Regarding No, 1, a Bible class for senior scholars was recommended ; tho formation of a young people's Society of Christian Endeavour; the teaching always to be directed towards the conversion of the pupils; making the older pupils auxiliary and assistant teachers; the teachers to give practical examples, by their mode of life, of the teaching they imparted; the parental training to bo likewise; the teachers to take personal interest in the welfare of individual pupils. lu regard to No. 2 it was suggested that a graded scheme could bo demised, or if the Glasgow Sunday School Union could issue advance notes on its scheme in time for use in New Zealand it would be preferable. Superintendents and teachers were almost unanimously in favour of the international scheme. In answer to No. 3 Bible classes, personal consecration and devotion, and good reading were suggested. Were a scheme of examination adopted, if practicable, it would bo au incalculable boon. It should aim as securing these things : (а) That the teacher should give some evidence of his personal faith in Christ; (б) That he had a competent knowledge of the Scripture and of some of the subordinate standards, especially the Shorter Catechism. Teachers should have some knowledge o? the art of teaching. The Committee recommended a scheme o! examination for the present year. The Rev J. Doull also read communications received from tho Presbyteries of Westland, Wellington and Timaru. He strongly recommended that Sunday echoed teachers should pass an examination and receive diplomas, A minute from the Timaru Presbytery, expressing regret that the questions drawn up by the Assembly’s Sunday School Committee should not have been more suitable to the ages of the several divisions, and the hope that the Assembly would take steps to make the system more effective, was received. The Rev J. K. Elliott moved the adoption of the report, and the Rev B. Hutson seconded it. Several members having spoken upon the report it was adopted, with thanks to the committee and tho convener, and the committee was authorised to procure certificates and to prepare a scheme of examination for teachers, to be submitted to the next,General Assembly, and also direct that, copies of that portion of the report containing the abstract of answers from superintendents be printed for circulation amongst teachers, CHURCH EXTENSION. The Rev J. Paterson read the church Extension Report far 1893. It stated that during the your the work had made steady progress. With the limited moans and agency at its disposal the committee could not enter on many new undertakings. Too ground already occupied must bo maintained, and this absorbed most of the resources; still the committee did its best to avail itself of openings into new fields—to supply new districts with ordinance?, and to*extend the evangelistic operations of the Church. In list year’s report a suggestion was made that the Assembly should authorise the committee to give special grants, not exceeding £SO a year, for a limited time to new charges where there wore good prospects of the charges soon becoming self-sup-porting, the special grants to be conditional on the districts themselves giving £l5O for stipend, and the grants to bs gradually reduced after the first two

years, tho congregation making up the difference, bo that a minimum of £2OO might bo secured to the ministry. The Assembly approved of the suggestion, and gave to the committee authority to act upon it. Under this, new regulation Pahiatus, in. tho Presbytery of Wellington, had been raised to a full charge, and had obtained a settled ministry. The Hutt and Huaterville had also been so raised. At Ohingaiti, north of Huntsrville, on the North Central Hue of railway, new ground bad beeu occupied. After referring to the arrangements made for the supply of the charge at Poxton, the rejiort went on to speak upon the employment of students of the Church in preaching stations during the college and hall recess. Those of the students who had combined the training thus given with their academic study had proved good and efficient men, and the Church had reason to bo proud of those who had, under her training, recently entered the ministry. Danevirko after a period of dullness had. now rallied. Mr W. C. Smith, late M.H.R. of the district, had given the Church sis acres of land, and tho congregation had purchased three more. Another generous donor had recently handed over to tho Church Property Trustees the title deeds of a half-acre section in Shannon as a site for a church. The New Zealand and Australian Laud Company had given two acres and half of land in tho Timaru district, and Mr Campbell had purchased a section on the Cheviot Estate, It was gratifying to find many congregations increasing their contributions and manifesting deeper interest in the work of church extension. This, however, could not bo said of all congregations. Every branch of-the Church should endeavour strenuously to keep up to the highest part and not lag behind. Wero the ministers to take a livelier interest in collections and organise better systems of gathering in subscriptions, the people would respond with largely increased contributions to the Extension Fuad. The congregational funds would not suffer from this increased liberality to the church fund. The report mentioned all the changes that had taken place in the various charges. The report of the Treasurer of the Fund, Rav. 0. S. o.?g, showed a total expenditure of £619 19 s 2d and a balance carried forward of £349 18a lid. In April about £l3O would have to be paid. In the Presbytery of Wanganui £27 8s 3d had been collected and .£153 15s spent; Wellington, £149 18s 4i collected and £B4 13s 4d spent; Auckland, £sl 4s lid collected aud £94 spent; Hawke’s Bsy, £lO3 153 9d collected and £lO3 19s lid spent; Nelson, £l9 2s collected and £45 spent; Christchurch, £BS 9s 2d collected and £G7 spent; Timaru, £23 7s collected and £2O spent; Westland, £l4 16 s' 6d collected and £25 spent. The Rsv W. Gillies moved the adoption of the report of the committee and the appointment of an advisory committee to recommend what grants should be made, the committee to consist of two ministers and one elder from each Presbytery. The motion was seconded by the Rev R. Sommerviile and agreed to, IN HEHOBIATiI. A committee was appointed to draw up a minute with respect to the deaths of the Revs Hugh Irwin-of Christchurch and H. Douglas of Hawke’s Bay,

The Assembly then adjourned till the following morning.