PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NEW ZEALAND.

Marlborough Press, Volume XIV, Issue 835, 15 January 1873, Page 4

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NEW ZEALAND.

The General Assembly of the Supreme Court of this Church met in St. Andrew’s Church, Christchurch, on the llth of December. In the absence of the Rev George Morice, the retiring Moderator, the opening sermon was preached by the Rev David Bruce, after which the Rev John Elmslie (Wanganui) was unanimously elected Moderator. On taking the chair, Mr Eimslie delivered an able and suitable address. On Thursday the Assembly resumed business at 11 a.m. The resignation of the Rev George Brown as clerk of the Assembly yas accepted, and the Rev David Bruce-was elected to the office* A committee was appointed to prepare an address to His Excellency the Governor. The Presbytery of Canterbury was formed into a Synod, and power was given to the other Presbyteries to make-arrangements for forming Synods. The Foreign Missions report was given in, which contained an encouraging account of the labors of the missionary in the New Hebrides, and an earnest appeal for a more hearty support to this scheme from all the congregations of the church. Mr Elmslie of Wanganui was appointed Convener of the Maori Mission Committee, in the room of Mr Calder, resigned. On Friday a minute was agreed upon with reference to the death of Mr D. Crawford, Auckland, the late Procurator of the Church. The thanks of the Assembly were given to Mr Bruce for his sermon preached at the opening of the Assembly. The afternoon was taken up with a conference on the state of religion in the several parts of the church. In the evening the Assembly was addressed by the Rev J. M. Watt, as representing the sister Church of Otago and Southland. He gave a most interesting account of the work carried on by that church, and expressed the belief that the time was not far distant when there might be an incorporative union between the Church of Otago and its northern sister. On Saturday the Assembly was engaged with the subject of the preparation of a model trust deed, and the obtaining of statistics, and committees were appointed for the purpose of carrying out these objects. On the 16th the report of the Church Extension Committee was given in, and Mr Bruce was re-appointed as Convener. Collections were appointed for the several schemes of the church; and a committee was appointed to examine the Record of the Presbytery of Nelson. On the 17th a committee was appointed to draw up forms of procedure. The question of a geueral Sustentation Fund for the whole church was remitted to Presbyteries for discussion. The Record of the Presbytery of Nelson was found in a very satisfactory condition, and ordered to be attested. Mr Stevenson (Auckland) was appointed General Treasurer of the Church. The Assembly then agreed to meet again next year in Auckland; after which the Moderator delivered his closing address.