Friday Evening, Dec. 13.

North Otago Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 793, 24 December 1872, Page 4

Friday Evening, Dec. 13.

This Reverend Court resumed its sittings this evening at half-past seven o'clock. The Moderator t constituted the meeting with devotional services. Mr Hart, elder from Timaru, was introduced by Mr Eraser,' and his name was idded to the Assembly roll.

DEPUTY FBOM OTAGO. The Rev D. Bruce, acting for the previous Moderator, introduced the Rev.' M. Watt, the' deputy from the Otago Church. Mr Watt was welcomed by the Moderator, and asked to address the Assembly. He said he regretted that the Rev. Mr Sutherland, and Mr -Adam,' elder, were not with him on that occasion as delegates from the church he represented. He would, however, fulfil the instructions he had received, and tell the Assembly of the progress of the church's work in Otago. It was matter for regret that the relations of the two churches were such that delegates were necessary. He hoped this necessity would soon be reremoved, and a closer union established between the sister churches. The church, he represented, had much occasion to thank God for his kindness towards her in the past, and he looked to the future with much hope. The Presttyterians in Otago numbered 31,000, and they had 36 sanctioned charges- Of these, five were vacant, so the number of ministers on the Synod roll at present was only 31. Financially their church was in a satisfactory condition. They had found the sustentation scheme work well. It had proved a great blessing, and been the means of extending and strengthening the cause. The last division of the funds gave L194 to each minister, but this sum was smaller than it had ever been,- and it was to be accounted for by the fact that they had been planting so many new charges. He hoped soon to see a' similar fund in the New Zealand Presbyterian Church. Without such a fund there was nothing to prevent ministers from leav ing the church and acting independently of these courts. With such a fund this was an impossibility, it gave the church such authority over each minister as could not be disregarded. In the "Christian Review" he noticed that at almost every Presbyterian meeting in Victoria some njinister demitted his charge. In the Otago Church there had only been two or three demissions since the church was formed, and this was mainly owing to the bond of cohesion afforded • by the Sustentation Fund. In Otago they had three missionary schemes ; one for the .Maoris, another for the Chinese, and a third for the new Hebrides. For the support of these schemes they ' raise annually something between L400 and L500. That sum was raised by lady collectors. The Chinese i Mission was very successful, and it was not improbable that they would soon have a j second missionary to the Chinese. The Maori Mission was suspended for the present. Mr Blake, who had charge of that mission, has now charge of a flourishing congregation in the neighborhood of Dunedin. The suspension of the Maori Mission was only temporary. Although they had been obliged to cry halt for some time in extending their evangelistic operations,' still they were not idle. Kecently they sent to Scotland for two ministers, and they were also adopting other measures for carrying the Gospel into necessitous districts. They had formed an Association, with some of the characteristics of the Canterbury Church Extension Association. Mr Gow had taken with him from Canterbury the idea of forming such an association. They con- . templatcd employing' students of Divinity and pious laymen, who would be examined by the Presbytery a9 to their fitness for the work, then sent to districts too poor to support a regularly ordained minister. At present there was too little co-operation between the clergy and the laity. The laity should feel that they had work to do as well as the clergy. The great distinction between the clergy and the laity was a rag of the Jewish dispensation. He was very conservative, and at one time he thought the Church here should adhere more closely to the traditions of their fathers. He had voted against unions with this church ' because of her innovations, and he vowed that if his church introduced instrumental music he would leave them, but like Augustine, when he came to write his confessions', this would be one of them, that on this matter he had spoken rashly. His opinion was now changed ; he had been led to see that it was a pity that such a small matter should interfere with their co-operation in the good work, when there was so much danger from the enemies of Christianity. Since the days of the Apostles, the Church never had more perilous times, and it was a pity that any such petty or palty thing should interfere with their Christian co-operation. The leading literature of the day displayed an amount of infidelity in various forms which was dangerous. This was to be found in an undercurrent, only occasionally it came to the surface ; but it ' was sufficient to cause them to bestir themselves and to unite in their endeavors to conquer their common enemy. He had been' instructed to ask their co-operation in the matter of education, and in the establishment of a Theological Hall. They must raise up I men in the colonies for the colonial ministry; they would be better' adapted 1 to' enter into the ways of thought and customs of the colony, than ' men trained at home. In Otago they had three scholarships for the purpose of assisting 3'oung men who are aspiring to the work of the Ministry. Seven or eight young men'>who are now attending the Dunedin University, have signified their intention of studying for the ministry. The fund for a theological professor- only- gave an annual return of about L35O. This was too small a salary to offer to a good man. Could the two hurch.es not unite in founding a chair of theology; is^ would be to their mutual' jadvantage, and he hoped they would join' 0 in this matter.' He had great sympathy and fraternal regard for the New Zealand Presbyterian Church, and he hoped it might prosper. A deputation from the Canterbury. Church Association was then introduced, when Messrs Anderson, Duncan, and Craig, addressed the Assembly. The Rev. C. Fraser said he was glad to learn from Mr Watt that the Church-he-represented recognised the necessity of a closer bond of- union- between they two churches, and he hoped they would soon be one. . * o» * "" . . '* t t ,, '.The' Rev. J. Kirkland .endorsed the. statements advanceo* by Mr Watt; he believed nine-tenths of the Otago brethren* were now in favor of the union. The Rev. J. Mabky m'oved r — " That-the-thanks of the Assembly be given to the Rev. Mr Watt, the deputy from Otago, for the able and interesting address he had just delivered.*' ' ' > i This having been unanimously agreed tof, - ' The Moderator suitably' addressed Mr