AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5632, 4 December 1879, Page 6

AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

The quarterly sederunt was held yesterday in St. Andrew's Church, —the Rev R. Somerville (inod-rator), iu the char. Pre-sent:-The Revs. Macky, Norrie, Neal, McXicol, Kuneiman, Monro, Mason, and Carrijk. The minutes of the last sederunt were read and confirmed. Geskuai. Assembly Expense Fund.— The ministers present made their reports of collections for this fund. Iu some pastorates the collection had been deferred.—Mr. Norrie reported that a student evangelist had refuse 1 to make the collection in consequence of the weakness of his o mgregation, and the fact that notification had not been made by the General Assembly. — 1 he Rev. Mr. Monro fctated that the sum uli:ch had reached the hands of the.treasurer was L'll 3s 9d. Tiie provinciil district "--as asse-fc 1 at £40. That amount must be had by the 31st of Decrinhcr. —Mr. Norrie wi-hel to have the Eense of the l'rc-bytery as to the refusil of the student evangelists t-> comply with the or vie: 3 of tin Presbytery. It was au invidious position to have to argue a matter of this kind with these young men, who might justify their conduct by all sorts of reason. The mat < r ought to be settled wliethvr the Presbytery had authority to g.v-. th in directions —'l.lie R-.v. Mr. Runcimau thought it would he undesirable to take act oil in the mattT. It might answer all the purpose if the IV sbytery should confirm the view of Mr. Noriie that th i collect oo should he made. Of course, if r-iiother cise or ea-'os shou'd arise that student evangelists would disobey the orders of the Cliu-ch, then tome decisive action should be taken. Put.suvTEiiY Exi'iivsia.—The Rev. Mr. Monro said that .several parishes had not contributed anything to the additional a-tscssment authorised by the Presbytery—the Mauku, St. David's, Tinmen, Noith Shore, and Taranahi. He thought,.ministers should make themselves responsible each for so much of this money as his congregation was assessed, at the least so much as would cover the clerk's fees, to t .e Presbytery was indebted £20. He moved that tiie ministers be responsible. — Kev. Mr. Macky said the min : sters were actually responsible. He thought the fault was not in the people. If the ministers did their duty there would be no difficulty. — I'ev. Mr. Carrick would contribute his share with other ministers, but he demurred to being boutul to contribute a deficiency out of his pocket.—The Uev. Mr. Monro said there was about £10, which he wanted cleared off. Mangere.—The Rev. Mr. Brown asked the Presbytery to relieve him of the Mangere charge. His determination to resign was absolute. — Rev. Mr. Macky expressed a hope that Mr. Brown would have allowed his rtsiguation to be ou the table a short time longer. He hoped Mr. Brown would defer giving effect to his resolution until tho next meeting of the Presbytery.—Rev. Mr. Brown : I cannot possibly do it.—Rev. Mr. Carrick : I do it with reluctance, but from what I know of Mr. Brown's mind, in the matter, I cannot hesitate to move that Mr. Brown's resignation be accepted.—lt was some time before a seconder of the motion could be obtained. Mr. Neal seconded themotion.—Question put: "That Mr. Brown's resignation of the charge of Mangere be accepted with regret." Carried. Clerk of Presbytery.— The Rev. Mr. Brown tendered his resignation of the clerkship and begged that the Presbytery would appoint his successor. Ho also asked the Presbytery to provide for service at Mangere and it would also have to make provision for future supply.—Moderator : You will continue to the end of the year. —Rev. Mr. Brown : No. You have accepted my resignation. —Rev. Mr. Rinciman regarded Mr. Browu's resignation as a calamity. Mr. Brown had persisted in a course which he considered scarcely justifiable by the circumatances. As Mr. Brown had resigned, he must resign his position as moderator of Mangere Session.—On the motion of Mr. Macky, seconded by Mr. Norrie, Mr. Runciman was appointed to preach at Mangere on Sabbath first, when he was to intimate the fact of Mr. Brown's resignation.—Rev. Mr. Norrie hoped that Mr. Brown would defer his resignation of the clerkship.—Kev. Mr. Brown: No. My mind is absolutely made up. — The Rev. Mr. Macky expressed regret for tho circumstances which had led to Mr. Brown's resignation. He moved, to the effect, "That Mr. Brown's resignation of the office of clerk be accopted, and that tho Presbytery, while receiving his resignation, unanimously thank him for the great care aud attention bestowed by him in the discharge of all the duties pertaining to the office."—The Rev. Mr. MacNicol secouded the motion, which he did with much reluctance. He paid a high eompliment to the ability of Mr. Brown as clerk of the Presbytery.—The motion was agreed to.—Tho Rev. Mr. Runciman also testified to the efficiency with which the duties of clerk were performed. — The Moderator : Wo will not get auother clerk so well up in Church law. We have accepted his resignation. I think wo could not do better than reappoint him. (Laughter.) —Tho Rev. Mr. Brown thanked the Pres bytery for the kindness shown to him.—The Rev. JR. Somerville, at the request of the Presbytery, consented to act as clerk until the next meeting of Presbytery.—The Rev. Mr. Brown next tendered his resignation of his position as theological tutor, which was accepted, and thanks given to him on behalf of the Preshytery for the fefficient manner in which he discharged the duty of the office, especially as teacher of Hebrew and Scaiptural exigesis.—Mr. Macky moved, "That the Rev. Mr. Monro be appointed Mr. Brown's successor, especially for his thorough proficiency in Hebrew and .Scriptural exegisis, but especially for his uniform attention to all the duties he undertook."— Mr. Carrick seconded the motion, and it was agreed to. —Mr. Monro formally accepted the office.

Ordination Induction Examination.— The following overtures from the Preßbytery of Auckland to the Genoral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, which stood in the name of the Rev. D. Bruce, were laid before the Presbytery, and discussion postponed till next meeting ; — " No I.—Whereas it is expedient that the Act of Assembly, 1876 giving power to Presbyteries to confer, under special circumstances, ordination to student evangelists, and also the Amendment Act of said Act, of 1879, should be cither rescinded or otherwise effectually altered; and whereas it is expedient, prior to the repeal or alteration of aforesaid Acts, that the cases in which ordination may havo been conferred under the provisions thereof should be fully recognised and finally disposed of : It is hereby humbly oveitured by the Kev. the Presbytery of Auckland unto the Venerable the General Assembly of New Zealand, appointed to meet in Auckland in March, ISBO, to take the premises into consideration, and enact as follows or otherwise, as in its wisdom the Assembly may direct, namely, that Presbyteries be authorised to proceed, immediately on the rising of the Assembly, to the induction of any such persons as may have received ordination under the aforesaid Acts, either to the charges they may now be ministering to on the people petitioning the Presbytery of the bounds for their permanent settlement among them, or to any other charge to which they may in the usual form be o*ll ed." " No. ll.—Whereas it is expedient that the Act of Assembly, 187l>, empowering Presbyteries, under special circumstances, to confer

ordinations on student evangelists ; and a'so the Amendment Act of said Act, 1870, re' quiring Preabyteries, before confering sucli ordination, to submit each case to the Assembly for sanction, should both be rescinded. It is hereby overtured, respectively, by the Rev. the Presbytery of Auckland unto the Veil, the General Assembly, appointed to meet at Auckland in March, 1880, to take the premises into consideration, and rescind the aforesaid Act, and substitute in lieu thereof an Act containing tha following provisions or otherwise a*, in its wisdom, the Assembly may decide, viz. 1. That Presbyteries be empowered to confer, by ordination, the status of elders or any persons labouring within their bouuds as missionaries or students evangelists ; aud to substitute auy person, so ordained, a inombsr of session, if a session there be, in the congregation to which it may be ministering. 2. That Presbyteries ba further empowered, iu special circumstances, to grant to any sucli persous as may be so ordained, authority to administer baptism and perform marri:igt?s ; such authority to be stUedly renewed by the Presbytery or Presbyteries within who3e bounds such agents may, for the time being, be labouring, and shall terminate when such ag-nts ceise to do religious duty under the sane'.ion of the Ghu rch." •'No lll.—Whereas it is expedient that uniformity should be observed iu rospccfc of the examinations of all students under training for the Chiistiau miuistiy, according to their respective grades - It is hereby humbly overtured by tho Rev. the Presbytery of Auckland, with the Venerable the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealaud, appointed to meet at Auckland in March, ISSO, to take the premises into consideration, and pass an Act containing the following or other provisions as its wisdom may directl. That an Examining Board be appointed annually by the Assembly, who-e duty shall be to conduct the examinations of all students desirous of being admitted to the study of theology, as also the examinations of suid students before entering in each successive year of their theological course. 2. That all examinations shall be conducted in writing, the papers on the prescribed subjects being propared and printed by the Examining Board or under their auspices. 3. That the subjects of each examination shall be published at least — months piior to the date at which the examinations is to be held ; but that the papers containing the questions on such subjects shall be placed in the hand 3 of the candidates only at the hour appointed for the answering of the same. 4. That each examination shall be conducted in the several parts of the colony on the same day, and at the same hours, and under the same conditions as there may be determined by the Examining Board. 5. That at those places where the members of the board cannot themselves, or any of them, perform the duty of examiners, a trustworthy perßon shall be appointed by the board to super* intend the examinations, and to see that these are proceeded with in all respects according to the board's direction. 6. That the persons so appointed shall have power to determine, equally with the board, the building or room in which the examinations are to be conducted, and shall forward to the secretary or convener of the board the papers of the several candidates, sealed, and in separate covers, and marked outside with the motto which the candidates may have affixed to their papers. 7- That the affixing of the value to the papers of the several candidates shall rest entirely with the Board of Examiners, who, as soon as possible, shall report results to the candidates, and annually report the same to the General Assembly." Sr. DavidV.—A deputation, with a petition from the congregation of St. David's church was decided to be informal, not having come through the kirk session, it was declared to have no locus standi, but an informal conversation took place on the subject to which the petition related. It appears that Mr,. Duun, a student evangelist, is very popular with the congregation, but he has not put in his three years theological curriculum. It was said that other students had been licensed without having done so. The Clerk of Presbytery said that there were three cases where the students by dint of hard work and study had completed the three years' course in two years. But one of these was a Master of Arts before he commenced his theological curriculum ; another had been eight or niue years engaged in connection with the work of the ministry at home, and the other had passed a successful examination in the subjects set down for each of the three years. But the Presbytery laid it down that these cases should not be regarded as a precedent. Several members said that Mr. Dunn had not yet passed some of the subjects of the first year, and none of the second year, but the Presbytery would be willing to help his progress in every possible way. PastorCiiiniquv.—The Rev. Mr. Carriek said, the Presbytery had resolved to welcome Pastor Chiniquy. He had invited the co-operation of oth« r Christian Ministers, who met, and it was decided to act, each one according to discretion.—The Moderator : The Presbytery desired to welcome him, because it was understood that he came here with credentials from the Church in Cauada. He was, therefore, to be welcomed as a Presbyterian Minister. —The Rev. Mr. Carrick: The other Ministers having reBolved to act, each for himself, the committee still remained to carry out its own object.—The Rev. Mr. Macky : I should be opposed to any demonstration. He be welcomed in the usual way.—The Moderator Raid the Presbytery would meet him at the steamer, simply as a Presbyterian clergyman. College Kep^rt.—The Rev. Mr. Macky brought up this report, and a sermon prepared by Mr. Forbes, student evangelist, was delivered before the Presbytery. This concluded the business.