GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4395, 14 December 1875, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

On Tuesday, December 7, the Clerk laid on the table a letter which ho had received relative to the proposal of a Pan Presbyterian Council, together with a copy of the minutes of a conference held in London in July last. After some discussion the following resolution was adopted : —" That the Assembly record its satisfaction at the meeting of the proposed Pan Presbyterian Council, to be held in Edinburgh i.u July, IS7G, and trusts that it may lead to greater union and sympathy, and to some means of co-operation in promoting the general interest of the Redeemer's Kingdom. Also, that a committee be appointed consisting of the Rev. J. Hill, R. McKinney, and D. Bruce (convener), and instructs the Clerk to forward a copy of this minute to the President of the Council, and also to the Synod of Otago." The Assembly having called for the Treasurer's report, the same was read by the Clerk. On the motion of the Clerk, seconded by the Rev. C. Fraaer, it was unanimously agreed: —-"Thatthe report be adopted, and that the cordial thanks of the House be given to the Treasurer (Mr. McCosh Clark) for the care he bestows on the funds of tho Church." Mr. Sherriff (convener) read the report of the committee on statistics and finance. The Eev. J. Paterson moved, "That the report be adopted, and the thanks of the Assembly be given to the committee, and specially to the convener, for the diligence with which he devotes himself to the statistics of the Church, ami also instructs the committee to carry out the recommendation of the minute of the Presbytery of Auckland respecting the general distribution among the congregations of the statistical information compiled by the Committee. The report on Church property was read by the Eev. J. Paterson. The report set forth the fact that the Legislature, during its last session, had passed an Act recognising the Church under its distinctive title, "Presbyterian Church of New Zealand." —It was resolved, "That the report be adopted, and that the thanks of the f louse be given to the joint conveners, with instructions to the Committee to continue their labours, carry out fhe recommendations of the report, and submit to next Assembly the best mode of perfecting the titles of the Church properties." I'ho Rev. J. Paterson moved, and the Rev. J. McKee seconded, "That the overture from the Canterbury Synod, anent union between the said Synod and the Synod of Otago, be the matter first considered at this Sederunt."—The deputies from the Synod of Otngo (the Revs. J. Allan and W. Wills) addressed the House, and subsequently the following resolution, moved by the Rev. J. Hill, and seconded by the Rev. 11. McKinney, was adopted :—" That the thanks of the House be conveyed to tho deputies by the Moderator for their very able and interesting addresses, and that they be requested to take back to the Church they represent the cordial congratulations of the Assembly, and its earnest desire that the blessin" of God may abundantly attend all her undertakings."—The consideration of the report on union with Otago was then resumed, when, on the motion of the Rev. C. Fraser, seconded by the Rev. W. Gillies, it was resolved, " That the report of the Committee on Union be adopted, and that deputies be appointed to the Synod of Otago, about to meet in January next, with power as commissioners from this Assembly to aonplete the union negotiations on the terms already accepted, and to arrange preliminaries for the confirmation of the union. — Tho following committee was appointed to arrange the Standing Committees, and fix the dates for the public collections next year, viz., Revs. J. Paterson, W Gillies, A.Sheppard, J. Wallace, J. Ross, W. Sherriff and G. Barclay, Messrs. Smith, M'Gregor, Bell, and Cameron ; Mr. Barclay conrener. On Wednesday, December 8, the Convener of the Committee on Bills and Overtures reported that a memorial from the Canterbury Sunday Observance League had been forwarded to the Assembly, and passed by the committee. The memorial having been read, it was intimated that Mr. Twentyman, the President of the League, was present, when he was welcomed by the Moderator, and, with the permission of the House, addressed the Assembly.—On the motion of the Rev. J. Elmslie, seconded by Mr. Sherriff, it was resolved : That the Assembly express their fullest sympathy with the object of the Association, and resolve to exert their influence as lar as practicable in furthering the ends it seeks to accomplish; also, further, that the Assembly direct the attention of the several Presbyteries to the proper observance of the Day of Best, with an instruction that they enjoin the clergymen within their repective bounds to preach on the subject on some appointed day." — The attention of the Assembly having been

called by several members to the state of religious life in the colony, the Assembly desired to record their thankfulness to God for any evidence of a deepened interest in spirit tual matters, and their hope that all the congregations of the Church may be visited with an increased measure of the Divine blessing.—The report of the committee en public education •vraa given in by Air. Hill, convener. It Was resolved that the report be adopted, and be remitted to the committee, and recommended to the ministers and members of the Church, to see that all due means are taken to watch over the interests of both elementary and superior education, and to promote the establishment of a national and undenominational system.