PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHGENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7562, 15 February 1886, Page 5

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHGENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The Assembly resumed Bitting at ten o'clock on Saturday morning. The proceedings were opened with devotional exercises, after which the minutes of the previous day's sittings were confirmed. RELIGION AND MORALITY. The debate on the report of the committee on this subject was resumed from the pre* vious evening by the Rev. Mr. Treadwell, who had seconded the motion, and he spoke at some length as to the Church organisation in Wanganui. Other speakers followed the same course in regard to their respective districts and urged that evangelistic services should be established. Several speakers testified to the satisfactory results of these services, After a very lengthy discussion, the Rev. R. F. acnicol, on the invitation of the Moderator, led in prayer to God for His blessing on the evangelical and pastoral work of the Church. • The Rev. W. Gillies, as representing the convener, replied to the remarks of some of the speakers, especially criticism by the Rev. Mr. Killen. Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Thompson, the Rev. Mr. Noerib ?Iso spoke, and the Rev, Mr. Wkstbrook, and the Rev. Mr. West waving his right of reply, the motion was pat and carried. REPORT ON INTEMPERANCE. * The Rev. Mr. Erwin, on behalf of the convener, who was absent, read the report of this committee. The plan of congregational societies was not generally adopted, on the ground that so many organised societies already existed, but the committee thought that as a Church they were not relieved from their responsibility, and they urged on ministers to do their utmost to give the plan adopted by the Assembly a fair trial.' They recommended that one evening of the evangelistic services should be given to the temperance quest lion, as adopted by the Auckland Presbytery. The Rev. Mr. Nichol moved, "That the report be adopted, and the thanks of the Assembly , accorded to the committee, itnd especially to the convener; that the Assembly express their gratitude to God for the ma.nafest advance of the cause of temperance throughout the colony, and the promotion thereby of the material, moral, and spiritual welfare of the people, and that the Assembly earnestly .recommend—(l) The institution with renewed zeal of Temperance Societies and Bands *of Hope where these do not at present exist; (2) the holding of a temperance evening under the supervision of the Presbytery in connection with evangeKstis services, when deputies from the Presbytery may give addresses suitable to the occasion; (3) the preaching of a temperance sermon daring the year." ' He spoke' in support of the motion, pointing oat the growing interest of the CharQ.h in the progress of the cause of temperance. There was a lessening in the drinking customs of the people, and he believed if tthe Church did its duty there would be a very rapid diminution of the drinking habits of the colony. He referred to the rapid growth of the temperance movement daring the hist sixty years, and said it was particularly gratifying to see this taken, up by toe Church as a Church, and it was cause for congratulation that multitudse of their ministers and office-bearers were total abstainers. Ho then at some length referred to the drink traffic and the fearful results arising from it, and urged that they should more earnestly seek to put it down. He argued that the Church should speak oat with no uncertain sound on this great subjeot. He then proceeded to deal with the clauses of the resolution. In conclusion, he announced that Mr. Matthew Barnett was about' to visit New Zealand, and he hoped that his service in the temperance cause should be availed of. The Rev. Mr. MoCallum seconded the motion. Mr. Thompson referred in the highest terms of ealogism to Father Matthew's work in Ireland. After some further remarks the motion was carried. The Assembly then adjourned until tea o'clock on Monday morning. • r — ■