PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

New Zealander, Volume XXI, Issue 2223, 14 September 1864, Page 4

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The subjoined extract from the Colonial Committee of the Free Church of Scotland, which was adopted by the Assembly at its meeting; in Edinburgh, in May last, will be gratifying to many of our readers. Wo need icarcely say that ir principally refers to the action whi hj the Presbytery of Otago was pleased to take, some time ago, in the matter of the union of the Presbyterian Churches of this colony ; “ The fair prosj ect held out, at the period of last year’s Report, of a consummated union of the presbyteries and congregations in New Zealand, has been rudely disturbed. Soon after the Auckland Conference detailed in last Kepart, the Presbytery of Otago took exceptions, subsequently to the proceedings of that Conference and of their own Commissioners, as to certain altera'ions of the basis in regard to the subordinate Standards of the United Church, and some other matters. They further protested against being held as consenting parties to the Union ; and instead of sending a remonstrance of New Zealand, they strangely addressed their protest to th« Conference at Auckland —a body of men convened for a specific purpose, and whose corporate existence terminated when their work was done. At the recent meeting of the Assembly of the United Church at Wellington in November last, the whole matter was taken up in a brotherly spirit, and commissioners were appointed to meet with the Otago Presbytery for mutual explanations. That Presbytery, however, wiihout waiting for the presence of the comraissoncrs, has seen fit tocometo a final decision by a majority of six t •• three, repudiating the Union o» the Auckland basis. This result is very painful to contemplate, whatever ground the Otauo Presbytery had for disagreement wrh the conclusions of tbs Auckland Conference, and with the conduct of their own commissioners in framing the modified basis, their subsequent want of courtesy and brotherly spirit is deeply to be lamented, more especially as they did not adopt the plain com is open to them of going to the Assembly at Wellington with a remonstrance, and encJt avo .ring to get the matters thus rectified. However, a.-, the matters of dispute are so trivial and nonessential. it is to be hoped that mutual dealings and explanations may yet remove the obstacles, and permit the e churches to form a strong and united body. The Rev. W. Will, of Taieri, deputed by the New Zealand Churches to procure and send out additional ministers, has been proseca'ing his wurt actively in this country during the past year, and has succeeded in procuring the services of six ministers for.Otago, for whose passage and outfit the means have been placed in Mr. Will’s hands by the Otago Presbytery. “ Mr. Will has also addressed the students at our various colleges, aud held meetings in various; towns, with the view of diffusing information about New Zealand, and stirring up an increase of interest at home, in the matter of the spiritual necessities of the colonies. Mr. Will’s statements and addresses have been cordially received, and good fruit is expected to result from these efforts. —Otago Witness,