ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8283, 16 June 1890, Page 11

ECCLESIASTICAL.

s"he annual meeting of the Auckland Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society was he'd on May 21 at the Bercs-ford-street Congregational Church. There was only a moderate attendance. Mr. C. E. Button occupied the chair. The Secretary (Rev. H. La wry) read the annual report. Mr. I'lime read the treasurer's report, which showed that the total receipts for the year, including a balance of £12 from last \v:<\\ was £308 13s sd, and the present balance in hand was £17 Is Id. On the motion of Mr. Prime, the report and balance-sheet were adopted. Interesting addresses were given by the Chairman, Kev. -Mr. Bobjohns, and others. On the 3rd Juno Pastor Birch entertained the members of the Ministers' Association and their wives at a social" in the Tabernacle rooms. In addition to the ministerial members of the Association several other ministers were invited. Some 30 guests sat down to tea, Mrs. Birch and Mrs. Salter presiding at the table. After tea the party adjourned to tho large social room. Alter devotional exercises by various clergymen—the President, Revs. Macnicol, Ice, Chew, and West, the Secretary, Rev. Mr. Salter, introduced Mrs. Schnackenberg and Mrs. Holloway as a deputation from the Women's Christian Temperance Union, who desired the Ministers' Association to aid in preventing intoxicating drink being introduced into Rarotong-u, The request was acceded to. Apologies were received from the Rev. A. Reitl, T. Harrier, R. Sommerville, A. .3. Smith, A. Carriole, and G. R. Monro. The president stated he hoped Eiich meetings would bo held quarterly. The committee which conducted so successfully the late mission of Mr. Varley here, have held a final meeting, when the accounts and balance-sheet, audited .by Messrs. J. Barber and J. E. Baker, were presented and passed. Out of a total income from all source? of £33- 4s Bcl, a balance of £70 remained after payment of nil expenses, and this'has been handed over to Mr. Varley. Mr. H. J. Ross has the balance-sheet for tho inspection of anyone desirous of seeing P. At the meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery Mr. A. C. Beirg made a complaint against the Kev. J. Gibl", to the effect that on Sabbath, the 2.Vli May, at the morning service, Mr. Gib'-, in the course of his ser-li-.on, made use of language to the effect that he did iv. t agree with the statement of the doctripa of election as set forth in the Standards of the Church ; that the words were an emphatic declaration from the pulpit of the falsity of one of the cardinal doctrines of Scripture, and of the Presbyterian Church : and that such a statement in such circumstances was calculated to unsettle the minds of the members im-i adherents of the congregation, and generally throw doubt upon the doctrines <.;' the Church. After a long discussion, the- proceedings were adjourned. The anniversary cf St. John's Wesleyan f hureh was celebrated on the 4th June lv a soiree and public meeting. The soiree, which was held in the school-room, was largely attended, and the following ladies presided at the tables :—Mesdames 810m-r...-li, Banbury, Cooke, Gittos,' Good acre, Jovnt, Russell, Swales, Simmonds, Horsley, Harris, and Miss Constable. A public rr.eeting was afterwards held in the church, Mr. T. Peacock, M.11.R., presiding. Mr. Russell read tho financial statement, which showed the expenditure for the year eliding the 31st April last to be £-263 P2s ;• ; , whilst the indebtedness to the bank, ridded to this, made a total of £51*2 '2s. The receipts were £423 18s 101, but of this ttita £212 lis lOd was cash received for special purposes. Mr. Russell complained i: the number of defaced and mutilated coins received in the' collection.