PRESBYTERIAN CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6827, 4 October 1883, Page 5

PRESBYTERIAN CONFERENCE.

A conference in connection with the Auckland Presbytery was held last night in St. James's Hall. The following ministers were present:—The Rev. J. Bruce (Moderatsr), Rev. R. Sommsrville (clerk), and the Revs. Messrs. McKinney, Macnicol, Mouro, M.icky, Runciman, Neill, Some, Kiilan, Dunn, and J. S. Boyd. There was a moderate attendance of ladiea and gentleman.

.After the preliminary proceedings, the Moderator introduced the Rev. Mr. MoKinnej-, who read a highly interesting and instructive paper on the subject of " Genesis and Science." In this he dealt at length with the arguments adduced in favour of the great antiquity of man adduced by scientists and geologists, the result of finding certain depO3its in strata which are suppjsed to be of great age. These he sxplained on various theories, and quoted evidence and authorities in support. He concluded by saying that it was clearly shown that the great antiquity of man was not proven, and he believed that after all the Biblical account was the correct one. But they did not know, and do not fully understand what the Bible teaches of man's antiquity. The commonly accepted belief was that man was created about 4000 years before Cliri3t, and this was taken from the Hebrew Seriptutes, but they differ from Josephu3, aud the Samaritan Pentateuch, and Lho Septuagint, which dat 8 the Creation 8000 yeirs, not 6000 yeare ago, as now accepted. He not see why this account should not be correct, and when Biblical chronology wa3 fully understood, it might fix the date further back still, and thus account for many of the evidences now adduced as to man's great autiqui!,y, and fiod the Bible harmouise with, the most advanced sciecce when science was based on fact. A dogmatic spirit on this subjuct was not good, and they as clergy should avoid it. They kuew that some of the grea est and best men luoked on the chapters of Genesis as like our Lord's parables, invested with fahle to teach spiritual truth. It was righ'; that they should persuade othera that their opinions were correct, but they should be careful not to denounce aa infidel or unchristian good men who differed from them. The regiou was dark, and they could only grope their way. They should cultivate a spirit ot liberality towards others whose opinions differed from theirs. Christianity was compatible with variety of opinion on tiiis and kindred subjects, and on the Old Testament generally, and even on the subject of Divine inspira-.ion itself. He had commenced his paper with a quotation from Mr. F.-eude, and would conclude with another. Mr. Froude, addressing his pupils, recommended a wisa reticence, as after all they might possibly be wrong. Slightly altering Mr. Froude, he would advise a wise liberality, aa they might after all be poasibly wrong. Several members and cithers commented on the paper, after which the meeting closed with the Benediction.