AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4259, 8 July 1875, Page 6

AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

The general meeting of the Auckland Presbytery was held in bt. .Andrew's Church, at 11 o'clock yesterday. The following members wero present:— The Rev. Mr. Wallace (Modeiator), Revs. D. Bruce, R. F. Macnicol, J. Hill, T. Macky, Cathcnrt, P. Mason, Stephenson, and G. Browne (Clerk), and Messrs. Thompson, Peacock, Richardson, and Barclay, elders. The sederunt lia%*ing been coustituted by devotional exercise, the minutes of the last Court were read and continued. Rei-okt.—The Rev. D. Bruce reported that the Commission appointed to carry out the induction of the Rev. .Mr. Xeal to t charge of Cambridge and adjacant dists had discharged that duty, and read the utes of the induction. The Rev. Mr. co also reported for the committee apited to arrange for supplies to Remuera, th Shore, and Coromandel. The best and indeed the only arrangement was to ask tho Rev. Mr. Frazer to go to Coromandel, and tho Rev. Mr. Cathcnrt to take charge of Remuera and the North Shore ; to hold the morning service at Reinuera and the evening service .it the .North Shore. This arrangement, he reported, had been complied with, and at present existed.—The Home Mission report for 187-t was read, and upon the motion of the Rev. Mr. Bruce, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Macnicol, was adopted. Intkoi>rcnoN.—The Rev. Thomas Scott, who had been apjtointed by the Established Church of Scotland to labour in connection with the Presbytery, was introduced by the Rev. D. Bruce, and his credentials having been read and sustained, he was received with the right hand of fellowship. Notice ok Motion.—The Rev. D. Bruee gave notice that at the next meeting he would move, " That the Presbytery take into consideration the minutes Nos. 50 and 5S of the l'resbytery sitting l:ist December." —The Rev. Mr. Bruce explained that minute 50 referred to the establishment of a Theological College, and that minute OS was a matter of some importance, which it might be desirable to instruct the several members of the Court to bring before their Deacon's Court. Remcera.—The Rev. D. Bruce read a minute passed at a meeting of St. Luke's congregation at Remuera, which stated that the committee would undertake to asBist in removing the debt from the building lately used as a Church.—Messrs. T. Macffarlane and Stephenson waited upon the Presbytery, and petitioned that St. Luke's congregation be constituted a district charge, and that an interim session be appointed.— The Rev. D. Bruce moved, "That the request be granted, and that Messrs. Macffarlane, Stephenson, Angus, and the mover (as moderator) be appointed the interim session." —Til is motion was seconded and carried.— The deputation also asked for further supplies.—On the motion of the Rev. D. Bruce, it was agreed that the matter should be remitted to tho Kxecutive of the Home Mission. Ngaruawahia.—The Rev. D. Bruce reported having met the people of Ngaruawahia. The desire on the part of the people seemed to be that as soon as possible a clergyman should be stationed there. A committee had been appointed for the purpose of taking measures for erecting a church on an important site, presented by Mr. Aitkin. The Rev. Mr. Scott had visited the district, and had officiated there with great acceptance to the people. A letter had since been received which stated that a meeting had been held, at which it had been ascertained that about £60 could be collected towards building a church, and possibly .€SO contributed towards the salary of a resident minister. The latter amount would be collected with difficulty and would include the church offerings, but no difficulty would be experienced in raising this amount in subsequent years. Nothing could be done respecting the erection of a manse. The committee were unanimously of opinion that the Rev. Mr. Scott would be a suitable minister for the district, but they thought the district was hardly of sufficient importance for them to ask the Presbytery to appoint Mr. Scott, but if they chose to appoint him they would do their best.—The Rev. Mr. Bruce moved with regard to the letter and supplies generally, " That every encouragement be given to the congregation at Ngaruawahia in their efforts to build a church or manse, and that as soon as possible arrangements shall be made lor the settlement of a resident clergyman in that part of the Waikato, aud that it be remitted to the executive of the Home Mission for the Revs. Cathcart and Scott to officiate at the vacant charges." Carried.—lt was also agreed, upon the motion of the Rev. Mr. Macky, that Alexandra and the Western Waikato shall be among the places to be visited by the probationers. Collections.—The Clerk reported that the collections for the Assembly expenses are to be made on the first Sabbath of August, and that the Auckland Presbytery had been assessed for .I*4o. He moved, "That it be remitted to tho Home Mission Committee to allocate to the various congregations their proportion of the amount due as Assembly expenses."—Mr. Stevenson seconded the motion.—Ail amendment was moved by the Rev. Mr. Macky, but was lost, and the original motion was carried. t

Kepokt on Religion and Morals.—A very lengthy aud carefully-compiled report upon tho Btate of religion and moral? was submitted to the Presbytery by tne liev. Mr. Wallace, on behalf of the committee appointed for that purpose. The report was formed upon the following points : —Those who do not worship God publicly ; the moral conditions of the people in different districts ; what means are in operation to foster and advance moral and religious life ? the spiritual condition of the people during the past year, and the observance of family worship.—Tho adoption of the report was moved seconded, and carried ; as was also a vote of'thanks to the convener for the great care and labour bestowed in drawing up the report.

Sabbath-school Work.—The Rev. Mr. Macnicol read the report of the committee npon Sabbath-schools. The report shewed that the number of schools in connection with the Presbytery during the year 1874 •was 27, being one school more than on the previous year. Ono school had been established in Papakura Valley, anil two in the charge of the Rev. Mr. McKinney. Two schools had ceased to exist, viz., or.e at Pukekoho East, and one at the North Shore. The total number of scholars connected with the schools was 1373 ; the average attendance, 11 OS; total number of teachers, 150. The ministers, officers, and members of the several Presbyterian churches were requested to give their most serious attention to this part of the Church work, so that the schools might be made efficient seminaries of Christian knowledge and faith. The report also suggested that an annual examination of scholars wishing to compete should be held, and that prizes or illuminated certilicates should be givin to successful competitors. The remainder of the report referred to matters of detail and statistics.—Upon the motion of the Ilev. Mr. Hill, the report was .adopted, and the thanks of the Presbytery were given to the Rev. Mr. Macnicol, and the report was remitted to the Committee to carry out the suggestions with reference to the proposed annual examinations. Revival Committee.—'The Rev. P. Mason read a report of the proceedings of the committee appointed to take steps in reference to efforts made for a revival of God's work in Aucklaud. The following is ths report of committee appointed by the Presbytery at its sederunt ill April last, at its conference regarding the great religious awakening in the home country, for the purpose of carrying out any of the suggestions then made for the promoting of a deeper interest in .spiritual religion among our people. The committee met, and recommended as follows :—l. That a city missionary should be employed to

labour in tho City of Auckland, provided i that a suitable agent can be obtained, and that the subject should be brought under the consideration of the city congregations and their office-bearers. 2. That the different congregations of our Church should subscribe for, and circulate their members, some leading publication which deals chielly with the present great awakening in the British Isles. 1 hose congregations to be communicated with by the convener of the committee. 3. That a small sum should be raised for the purchase of religious tracts for gratuitous circulation. 4. That meetings should be held in Auckland and vicinity, for promoting God s work.""' 5. That our people should be invited to devote a short time on .Saturday evenings, between the hours of nine and ten o'clock, to prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit; for a blessing on the Sabbath services; and in the means used to revive God's work. The matter with respect to the city missionary was understood to pass out of the hands of the committee, and to rest with the city churches, the ministers of which will be able to report what steps have been taken by them and their congregations with respect to carrying out the recommendation of the committee. The country congregations of our Church have been communicated with by the convener, with respect to procuring a leading periodical from home, devoted to the cause of the great revival in the mother country, but tho result has been discouraging, only two replies having been received. Possibly, however, the brethren mean personally to day to commission a considerable number of such a periodical to be procured for their congregations. The circulation of such literature has effected much good at home. Mr. Dale informs us, in his celebrated letter published in the C/trhtian, that thirty thousand copies of a publication giving an account of tile work of Messrs. Moody and Sankey in Manchester, was circulated in Birmingham previous to the evangelists commencing their labours there, and lie assigns this as one of the causes of their success there. No attempt has yet been made to raise a fund for the purchase of tracts, in consequence of the previous matter being as yet in an unsatisfactory state. Meetings have been held at St. James's, Otahuhu, the W'hau, Onehunga, and tho Lake, with very gratifying results. The weather on several occasions was unfortunately very unfavourable, but the attendance was always equal, if not superior to expectations, under the circumstances, and there was a manifold iutcrest shewn by our people in the meetings, and an appreciation of the special effort made for their spiritual welfare. It will be for the Presbytery to-day to determine whether or not the committee shall be discharged or continued, and whether or not their meetings should be continued, and other means used for tho reviving of God's work, if the committee is still to be maintained. —in submitting it, tho Ilev. P. Mason stated that there were tokens of encouragement, and that if the work was persevered in, great results might be seen (lowing from it.—The Kev. Mr. Mackj' proposed, seconded by the Kev. Mr. Hill, "That the report be adopted, the thanks of the Presbytery be given to the committee, and that they be requested to continue their exertions." Leave ok Absence. —The Rev. Mr. McKae, of Waipu, applied by letter for leave of absence for three months, in consequence of failing health. A medical certificate was read, to the effect that the leave of absence asked for was requisite to the restoration of the applicant's health. ! —Upon the motion of the Kev. Mr. i Macnicol, the application was granted, and , the sympathy of the Presbytery expressed • towards the Kev. Mr. McKae. j Tuakau. —Correspondence with reference ! to the building a church at Tuakau was I read to the Presbytery. Mr. T. Corbett, of London, it appears, has offered a donation of ■ £100 towards building a church at Tuakau, on condition that the residents contribute £50 and the Home Mission Society contribute another £50, so as to open the building free of debt.—This matter was referred to a committee, consisting of the Kevs. Bruce (convener), Macnicol, and Messrs. Sommerville and Stephenson.—A letter from the Rev. Mr. G alia way, asking to be relieved from the charge of Tuakau, was referred to the same committee. Moderator. —The clerk stated that Mr. lu Macnicol would be the next moderator, and it was agreed that the Kev. Mr. Macnicol be requested to prepare an address, to be delivered by him upon taking the ollice of moderator. Eld' us' Commissions. —The clerk stated that all commissions of elders would expire before the next meeting, and would reijuire to be renewed. Address.—lt was agreed that the present moderator's address should be read at the next meeting of the Presbytery. Mit. I'i.-V-MA\. -Mi. Penman, the Church's Catechist at To Arai, was warmly received, and his services to the cause of religion were eulugistically spoken of by the Very Kev. Mr. McKinuey, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and a desire was expressed that Mr. Penman's services should be noticed in the report of the proceedings of the Presbytery, although its formal busiuess had been previously concluded. The benediction having been pronounced, tho Court adjourned.