THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8178, 13 February 1890, Page 5

THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Wodnesduy. At the annual General Assembly of delegates, from the various presbyteries of New Zoaland, divine service was conducted by tho Rev. Mr. Beattie, tho retiring Moderator. The Rev. H. B. Burnett (Wostport) was appointed Moderator for tho ensuing year, and he delivered a long address. He thought, if be might interpret the mind of the Church, that their most intelligent people would like to see effect given to Gospel teaching in the training and upbringing of the young, that they should early be indoctrinated with Gospel principles. That was the wish of the majority amongst them, and if there was any difference of opinion on the question it turned on the point how we are to do it. This would be the solution of the question of lnrrikinigm. Besides that, this principle which the Presbyterian Church advocates, was confirmed by the statistics of the colony. So far as those statistics go, they showed that evangelical religion reduced the average of destitution and crime among the young as well a adults, for out of the youne committed to the industrial schools on various charges during 1888 there were but 16*85 Presbyterians, while other two principal denominations specified in the statistics returned one 42*63, and the other 34*74. While their percentage of the whole population in 1886 was 22"59, the- other two, in tho order he had stated above, hod a percentage of 40*17 and 13-95 to the whole population. In point of number the Presbyterian people stood second in tho colony, as 130,643 persons belonged to their church, or a proportion of the whole population of 22.59. These were the numbers in 1886. With respect to the average of the persons convicted between 1885 and 1888 there were but 15-81 Presbyterians, which he pointed out was less than the average of several other denominations, so they could claim that evangelical religion tended to minimise crime. Referring to the recont labour disputes both at home and in the colony, the rev. gentleman said they thought there ought to be kindred ties between tho labourer and his employer, rather than one in which money is the sole clemont. The employer should kaep conscience toward his poorer brothers, remembering that he should not grind the faces of the poor; and the other side, that employed should render to his employer just service. The Rev. Mr. Sommerville (Auckland), convenor of committee on education, directed attention to the tendency towards denominationalism as indicated by the votes in Parliament last session. A long discussion ensued, and a motion was carried approving of the national system of education as at present obtaining, and directing that the mind of the Assembly be communicated to the Minister of Education, and regretting that no change has yet been made in favour of Bible reading in schools. Tho Assembly was largely attended tonight. A report was read from the Rev. R. Sommorville (Auckland), with referetr to tho proposal to start a Church newspape Several members spoke of the urgent need for a Presbyterian organ, and maintained that if a paper were started it would receive plenty of support. It was arranged that the existing committee should endeavour to find an editor, on the understanding that the Presbytery of the district in which tho gentleman selected resides, should then become responsible for all arrangements in connection with the starting of a paper. The Revs. Hall and Bannerman, deputies from the Synod of Otago and Southland, were cordially received by the Assembly. A long discussion took place on the proposed union of the two branches of the Church, and several of the speakers remarked that there were signs that it would be brought about; for some of those who had formerly opposo/i it in Obago, now acknowledge' that it must come sooner or later. A motion was passed thanking the deputies for their addresses, and expressing satisfaction at tho continued prosperity of the Southern churches.