AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.— SPECIAL MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6288, 12 January 1882, Page 6

AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.— SPECIAL MEETING.

A special meeting of the AuckUnd Presbytery wu held yesterday at St. Andrew'* Church. Preseat:—Bev. T. Nome (Moderator), Rev. Messrs. Micky, Thompson, Macnicol, Monro, MoCallum, Carrick, Somerville, James Bruce, T. McKenzie Fraser, R. Someiville (clerk), and P. Mason, and Messrs. Thompson and Mslntosh (elders). The minutes of last meeting were read, but although confirmed as correct, were not signed until the regular meeting in February. EMISSIONS FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE BaRBISR ACT.—The first matter remitted by the Assembly wtis the proposal re the Barrier Act, proposed in the last meeting of the Assembly. This had been remitted to Presbyteries only, not to Kirk leseions. The olerk read the Act, which whs for the purpose of preventing hasty legislation, and required that before any Act became law, it be first proposed as an overture to the Assembly, and then referred to the Church for consideration. - The Auokland Presbytery, at its last meeting, had expressed approval, but it waa remitted to this meeting for confirmation. It was now agreed to recommend that the Barrier Act should be passed; and, on the motion of Mr. Macnicol, it was agreed to add to the recommendation the expression of a hope that the Assembly should decide the matter at its first meeting. What he feared was that they might again defer it for another year. Proposed Empowering of Student Evangelists.— Tha next question remitted by the Assembly to the Presbytery and Kirk sessions waa the legislation re the rescinding of the Evangelists Act, and the Evangelists Amendment Act, and the authorising of students to administer baptism and celebrate marriages.' Only two reports from Kirk sessions—that of Ota huh a and Papakura—on this subject were received. Both opposed the granting of authority to students to celebrate marriages or to baptise.—Mr."AlcOalluin quoted from the ■ minutes of the Assembly to show that it was intended, when a student was removed from his scene of labour, kis functions should cease, and he moved that that resolution be the mind of the Presbytery ; in other words, that the power remain with students to baptise and celebrate ' marriages.—Mr. Monro said he had to apologise for having forgotten to brine; this matter before the Kirk session. Hβ could not approve of Mr. McOallum's proposal. Although the districts were wide, there waa none where an ordained minister could not be obtained periodically to perform those ceremonies. He weuld object to giving etudents the power to celebrate marriages, but if the right was conceded to them to administer the sacraments, there would be ne difference between students and ordained ministers.—Mr. Fraier seconded Ur. Monro's motion, and said

that if they looked at the history of their Ohnroh, they would find that even in its darkest times such power was never granted to administer either of the sacraments to either student* or probationers. Hβ thought the Church, instead of proceeding to a greater degree of laxity, should rather proceed to a greater degree of stringency in their relations with their students. —The .Clerk asked Mr. Fraser whether such permission had been granted by the Ohuroh ia Victoria.—Mr. Fraser replied it never had ; bat & epecial class of missionaries had been ordained with those "powers. — Mr. Macky referred to the proceedings of the Assembly in regard to this legislation and the Students Evangelists yicts, and *aid he thought it better chat they should return to the Studenn Evangelists Acts, than to give power to students to administer one sacrament, and not the other, thus making an invidious distinction between the sacredness of the two.—Mr. Fraser, in reply to a question as to the ordained missionaries he had referred to, said the arrangement was foand to be so f&r unworkable, that by wholesale legislation the ordained missionaries were incorporated with the ministry. There were still missionaries, but they were not authorised either to marry or baptise. —Mr. tfacnicol said this confirmed the opinion which he previously held, and which he expressed in the Assembly. What he would suggest was that they should recommend the Assembly to abolish the whole legislation on this subject, giving, however, power to students in remote districts to celebrate marriages. This could be conceded without infringing on the fundamental principles of the Church.—Mr. Bruce entirely coincided with the remarks made by Mr. Mdcoicol, which fully expressed hie views. —Mr. Thompson also said that these were the views which he had always held. The Presbytery should aet their faces against any innovation, and he was glad that such a sound had been given forth to-day.—Mr. Somerville said he had held the same opinions always, had had been called to thet bar of the Assembly for giving expression to tbem. He had no sympathy with those ministers who said they could not ride a few miles to administer baptism. He had himself ridden the best part of 100 miles to baptize one child. He thought it better that the whole thing should be swept away.—After the Moderator had tt-ddrossed the Court in support of the same views, Mr. M»cky said he thought that, in the exigencies of a young colony like this, the Assembly shotzld not be too strictly bound, or prevented from granting ordination, such as that indicated to men who were thoroughly qualified, but who were not quite up to passing the rigid educational course of examination prescribed by the Church. That, he thought, was what Mr. McCallum intended by his proposal, and be now moved "That the Presbytery recommend the Assembly to reconsider the rescinding of the Students Evan gelista Amendment Act, with a view to its re-adoption, or the adoption of a modification of it." He had no objection to students having permission to celebrate marriage, but he did not appreve of authority being given them to baptize.—The Moderator pointed out that the Church had always the power indicated by Mr. Wacky in special cases, without the Students Evangelists Act. —Mr. Monro then moved, " That the power granted to students to administer baptism be disallowed, but that they be allowed to celebrate marriage in certain circumstances, but that the Presbytery approve of the rescinding of the Evangelists' Act and the Evangelists Amendment Aet." — Mr. Somerville eeconded the motion, and Mr. McOallum seconded the proposal of Mr. Macky, and in doing so, spoke strongly against the introduction of sacerdotalism, or erecting the ministers into a separate order.—After some farther duoussion, Mr. Macky's amendment was put and lost, and Mr. Monro's motion was carried by 7 to 2. St. James's Hall Dispute.— The report of the committee appointed to meet with the office-bearers of St. James's, was brought up by the clerk. It was resolved at that conference— "1. That the committee of Presbytery recommend to all parties interested that the proceedings in this case be fallen from, and that the meeting proceed to consider the footing on which the hall shall be dealt with in the future, the rights of all parties being reserved." Resolved by the office-bearers, " That the recommendation of the committee be acted upon." —In reply to enquiries of the committee, Mr. Thomas Maoky stated that the hall belonged to the congregation, that it was vested in four trustees, who held it for the songregation, and in no way interfered with its management, and that its management was entirely in the hands of the Committee of Management. The Committee of Presbytery then resolved to recommend to the office-bearers of St. James', " That they elect annuallj three of their number who shall have the management of the hall." This resolution was adopted by the office-bearers by a majority of 13 to 1 —The report was adopted. Sunday School Examination.—The usual permission was granted to Mr. Monro to have the questions printed for the examination to take place in February, and Superintendents of Sunday schools send word to Mr. Monro the number of copies they require.

Location op Assembly.—The next minute remitted from the Assembly was anent locating the Assembly at Wellington, and the appointment of a " general Church treasurer and secretary." This was the overture from the Presbytery of Wellington, which was now remitted to the Presbyteries for consideration. —Mr. alcKenzie moved that the old system bo adhered to, and that the overtare be disapproved of re the locale of the Assembly.—Mr. Monro seconded the motion.—Mr. McCallum as an amendment, moved that the whole overture be not agreed to. He denied the whole premises set out in the overture, and it wa3 contrary to the principles of Presbyterianism to entrust the conduct of all general business to one man. —Mr. Thompson (elder) seconded the amendment, which was put and carried without dissent.

Profkssor of Theology.— The next remit was the offer of Professor Salmond to teach theological classes.—Mr. Monro said they could not accept the offer, generous as it was, for they had no money to pay the expenses. Professor Salmond was professor of theology in Otngo.— Mr. Fraser also thought it would.be very inconvenient to bring Professor Salmond from Otago. He could Dot leave during the session in Otago. He (Mr. Fraser) would willingly devote eix weeks or two months to lecture to the students in session.—The finding of the Presbytery was, that while recognising the generous offer of Professor Salmond, the Presbytery regrets that they cannot accept it. Deceased Wifb's Sister Bill.—Mr. MeCallum, according to notice, moved to the effect that now that the Legislature had adopted the Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Act, the Assembly be asked to legislate on the matter.—lt was agreed to transmit the overture to the Assembly.

University ik Auckland.—Mr. McCallum moved bis resolution, " That a petition be sent to the Legislature to establish and endow a university, with a proper faculty of art, in Auckland." 'He pointed out th»t it was necessary in order that they might have an educated ministry.—air. filcKenzie seconded the motion, and spoke strongly in favour of the desirability of it.—lt waa agreed to forward the petition signed by the Moderator.

Ohinemuri.—The Moderator read a letter from adherents and members of the Ohinemuri Church, asking for ad'ice as to what steps they should take in consequence of the refusal of the former secretary te give up the books. —Mr. MoKonzio pointed out that this was a question which might occupy a long time, and it might well be postponed.—TheClerk said the matter was informally before the Presbytery, and they had nothing to do with it.