THE PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10275, 17 February 1894, Page 3

THE PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

. THE ANJUAL SESSION. Frihy, Feb. 16. MORNie SEDERUNT. The Moderator ook the chair at 10 a.m. ' CHURCH BOPERTT BOARD. The Church loperty Board reported that, in the mater of the Endowment Funds of the Chrcfc, much attention had been given to thequestion of investments.' Through the depeciation in the value of some'of the oldo securities, still hold, very great care hd to bo exercised in dealing with them, sovs to eeoura, if possible, : full repayment i the principal sums advanced. From ta experience I so gained the trustees hadoeea induced to the conclusion that it ws better to lend on undoubted public scurities at a low rate,of interest, rather thn on private proper fcy~at a higher interest. They had, accordingly, during the year, iveatod in the Wellington Sanitation Loam sum of J 53500 afc4| per cent interest per annum. The debentures had a forty yeas’ currency secured ou a special rata of he City of Wellington. While preferring.uch public securities, the trustees would m refuse private securities where the msgin was deemed very ample, but it was only in such a case that they would lend on private security, as in te event of depreciation, or inability to py, it would be unseemly for the church reenforce foreclosure. Regarding the loses at Auckland, referred to in last year’s sport, which the trustees were advised wee still payable by the borrowers, on a tab case being argued in the Supreme Covt the verdict was against the trustees reovering. Although the trustees were sti! further advised that the Appeal Court nght reverse the decision, they thought it 'eat to proceed no further, and rely on th Assembly approving of that course. Tie treasurer’s statement would show in dcail the loss and expense in connection ith the very lamentable business, whichamounted in all to JSIBI3 7s. During tb year a friend of the Church, who die not wish his name announced, preaenid the title deeds of half an acre in the twnehip of Shannon, as a site for a churh. This kind gift was suitably acknowadged. It would .be well if in other newhstfctled districts suitable sites for churchind manse were selected, while there wasipportunity to do so at a comparatively mall cost. The. trustees commended thiito friends of the Church, and hoped to live the pleasure in future of aoknowledgin other and similar gifts. The Rev W. Gillies moved :— te That the report be adpted with the thanks of the Assembly tcbhe Board, and especially the chairman; regret the losses mentioned in the reprt; and approve of the recommendatiorthat no appeal be made against the deieion of the Supreme Court.”

The Eev Goron Webster seconded the motion, which ws carried. The resigaafcin of Mr W. M, Hannay as a member ofthe Board was accepted with regret, am a hearty vote of thanks was passed to hn for his services. It was resolvd to grant an honorarium of £2O to the Rv E. Sommerville for services rendered t the Assembly during the past year. EBLIGON AND MOBAtS. The Committe on the State of Religion and Morals reorted that in response to about one bunded lists of questions, fifty returns, had ben made by the ministers and; missionary students of the Church. It regretted 'the Wanganui, Napier, Blenheim, Christohrch and Auckland had not responded as tey might have done. An increase in cbcch, attendance was noted, and the and ' vigour* of the Church were wll maintained. The Sabbath was lately desecrated by the religiously earless, although fairly well observed by thee in church membership. Exclusive of itemperance, some of the special evils oi the age existed to a considerable exten. Such evils as lack of moral principle dancing, parental neglect and idle habis existed, due in some measure to . number of secularists spreading imroral literature, especially among the youig, in respect to which, and the keeping of disorderly houses, wholesome maasureswere laid down in the new criminal code, wherein it was provided, that everyone who published obscene matter was lable to two years’ imprisonment wih hard labour. A similar penalty was iicutred by everyone who kept a disordely house, which term included ' a conmon betting-house or a common gamiig-house, or house of illfame. This At would come into force on March 3, and he committee urged ministers to awakenpublic feeling, with a view to having the law strictly enforced. It would be a sap in the right direction if the age of consent were raised from fourteen to at least sixteen years. Betting and ganbling were universal, and newspapers wire in a great measure to. blame. The ares suggested were in the lines of supposing the totalisator, police supervision ofbars, hotels, barbers’ shops and billiard-rams, and the making of the publication of betting matter in the newspapers a punahable offence. The cures indicated for tie large amount of practical infidelity reprted were earnest Gospel teaching, a baitism of the Holy Ghost, the circulation of Christian literature, and the use of apologetcs in preaching. The report concluded-witi the following suggestions for the approval of the Assembly ;—(1) Enjoin' minisors to urge on heads of families the lecessity and importance of family religioi and training of the young. (2) That Prisbyteries be requested to arrange for ejecial mission services; and further, to coifer on the state of religion and morals, aid report to the committee. (8) That minsters, superintendents and Sunday school teachers be directed to use every effort totrain the children in churchgoing habits, with a view to church membership. (4) That sessions and members be enjoimd to take special cognisance of those living without religious ordinances in their midst* and to endeavour, by house to house visitation, the circulation of religious liteiature, or other methods, to win them to the Church and to Christ. (5) That Presbyteries and Kirk sessions be enjoined to me their endeavours in such ways as may be deemed best to get the

publicatibn of 'matter that incites to gambling made a punishable offence* and that the use oE the totalisator be made illegal; that they labour also for the enforcement of Sections 143 and 144 of the Criminal Code, 1893, against houses of illfame, and that the aid of other Churches be solicited in fighting these social plagues.” ■ The Eav W. Shiter moved-—" That the Assembly adopt the report, ■with thanks to the committee, and especially to the convener ; approve of the recommendations of the committee to ministers, sessions, and presbyteries j recognise with gratitude the many hopeful signs in the work of the Church; recognise also the need for earnest endeavours in view of many evils in the land, and express the earnest hope that ministers and eiders may find cause for greater interest in the instructive and helpful work carried on by this committee.” The Bev J. Doull seconded the motion.

A discussion, in which the Eeva P. E. Monro, W. Thomson, J. Hall, D. Sidey, B. J. Westbrooks, R. M. Eeyburn, J. K. Elliott, A. Thomson, B. Hutson, G. B. Monro, Messrs G. S. Bridge, M’Phereon, Bruce, M’Lean, S. L. Osborn, and S. Stewart took part, followed. The Eev J. H. Mackenzie suggested that the following should be added to the motion " And that the committee directs ministers to take special care that, when persons connected with their congregations leave for another district, the minister of said district be informed of the change; farther that the convener of this committee be requested to bring this matter before the Otago Synod by letter." The motion, as amended, was carried. V ;■ THE BEV JOHN M’NBIM,. ■. .. V The Eev J. R. Elliott moved, the Bev J. Paterson seconded,- and it was agreed—- “ That, in the event of the Bev .John M’Neill, of London, coming to this colony, the ministers of the Church give him a cordi&T welcome, and assist him in his mission.” VOTES OF THANKS. On the motion of the Eev j. Doull, seconded by the Bev Dr Elmalie, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the exModerator, the Eev W, Gillies, for his sermon at the opening of the Assembly, The Assembly adjourned at 1.40 p.m. till 'lO.-a.jn. nest day. „ \ >■, * , 1 * PUBLIC MEETING. A public meeting was held in the evening in Bt Paul’s Church, and was largely attended: The Moderator, the Eev D. Gordon, presided. After devotional exercises, the Moderator called on the Bev Dr Dunlop to address the meeting. Dr Dunlop, referring to the subject of the union of the northern and southern Churches, said that religious sympathy was the cementing principle of union all the world over. It was said that religion was played out, and the Christian Church need not now be looked upon as of any importance. But looking to the other side, it was seen that secularism had become very general in Prance, and the result was that pessimism was growing apace there; in fact, to be like a secularist was worse than never to have been at all. Appealing to the broad facts of history, he could say that fcho Church of God exercised the moist beneficent influence in the world. (Applause). The Eev T. F. Robertson, of Auckland, said that the members of the Auckland Presbytery would appear to be dreadful persecutors, but he could assure them that it was not so. Thera was a genuine brotherly feeling among tha members. He pointed out that they had fallen in heartily with the Bible in schools movement. Referring to the subject of the union, he said that if Christians would write the commandment “Love ye one another, as I have loved you,” union would not he only a hope but would become an accomplished fact. (Applause.) Tha Eev J. K. Elliott, of Wellington, spoke on the necessity of Christians having more love toward one another. The Eev J. Gibb, of Dunedin, spoke next. He said that the present meeting was one of the largest that he had ever seen in the colonies in connection with a synod or assembly. He had come here prepared to see a strong and vigorous Church, but its excellence had surprised him. This was all the more gratifying the influences they had had to contend against. He referred to the strong predominance of the Anglican Church here. He felt Sroud of the Presbyterian Church, and oped that the day was far distant, when a man bad to become apologetic in confessing that he belonged to that grand organisation. Another thing abont their Church was its harmony with the democratic tendency of the present day. Hehad a kindly feeling towards other denominations, but he hoped that before long the Church of New‘Zealand would be the one to which they belonged. They ought to t»kw care, however, that the minister’s place in the future was not that of a director of ceremonies, chiefly musical. They should aim at a higher Christian life. If they were only men and women of prayer, they would do successfully the work of the Lord; but they must go from their knees to the discharge of their duties in tha church. (Applause.) The Eev H. Kelly, Waimate, having addressed the meeting, the Eev W. Sccrgie, St Peter’s, spoke of the question of union. He said that all warriors had tried to unify the world by war, but they had all failed. Science, church government and doctrine, and socialism had failed, and.what was to succeed? Sin meant separation, and the only way to get rid of it was by the Christian religion. (Applause). During the evening l a number of anthems were sung by a large choir, conducted by Mr A. Corrick.- The meeting was brought to a close by .the Moderator pronouncing the Benediction.