AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9714, 9 January 1895, Page 6

AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

A meeting of the Auckland Presbytery was held in St. Andrew's Church last evening. Present: — The Rev. T. F. Robertson (Moderator), the Rev. R. Sommerville (clerk), the Revs. R. F. Macnicol, T. Norrie, D. J. Steele, and W. F. Finlay, and a large number of elders.

Report ox Temperance—The Rev. Mr. Finlay, on behalf of a sub - committee brought up the report of the Presbytery as a temperance committee, to be submitted to the General Assembly. He regretted that it was still an unfinished sketch. The report referred to the prominence given to the subject of temperance, and to its recognition and discussion in the public press, although not in a friendly spirit. It referred to the result of the local option poll, and pointed out the duty of the Church in regard to the suppression of the liquor traffic. He quoted from Lord Rosebery's speech in which he referred to the danger of the liquor traffic to the State, saying that if the State did not control the liquor traffic, the liquor traffic would soon control the State. The report embodied a clause referring to the work of the Bands of Hope, and certain recommendations in furtherance of the temperance cause, and pointed out that the drink bill of last year showed an increase of £29,169. Mr. Macnicol objected to the unhappy remark in the commencement of the report as to the attitude of the press. So far as he could see, the press of New Zealand was in favour of temperance, although the writers may not see eye to eye with them or approve of all the methods adopted by temperance advocates, but they should not place themselves even in the attitude of antagonism to the press, which he considered was entitled to their confidence. Mr. Steele, a member of the subcommittee, coincided with Mr. Macnicol's remarks, and it was agreed to expunge the sentence. After some discussion the report was adopted, a motion for the insertion of & clause recommending all ministers to join the Ministers' Total Abstinence Society being negatived.

Education.The Rev. Mr. Sommerville read the report of the committee on education, which is to be submitted to the General Assembly. It stated that no progress had been made in the way of introducing the Irish text books of lessons into the national schools. The interest and activity previously shown in the community on the subject of religious instruction as part of national education, had not been continued by much public agitation. The necessity for securing for their children scriptural instruction in public schools, having been repeatedly affirmed by the Assembly, the committee felt that a forward movement was necessary as speedily as possible. They recommended that a plebiscite of parents oe taken on the question of whether or not the scriptures be read in the public schools, and that other branches of the Church be asked to join in petitioning the Legislature to obtain such expression of opinion. The report was adopted on the motion of Mr. McNab, seconded by the Rev. T. Norrie.

Whangarei.— call was received by the Rev. J. Mackay of Whangarei, from the congregation at Southbridge. Canterbury. The citation, the clerk informed the Presbytery, had been duly sefved on hacgarei, and he had that clay received a telegram from Mr. Killen, representing the congregation, stating that they would place no obstacle in the way. Mr. Mackay also telegraphed accepting the call. Mr. Somraerville moved, "Thab the Presbytery having considered the ciil and the telegrams received agree to the translation of the Rev. Mr. Mackay, and dissolve the pastoral tie with Wbanearei, and request Mr. Mackay to place himself at the disposal of the Cbristchurch Presbytery." lhe Rev. Mr. Norrie seconded the motion, and it was carried. Some discussion took place as to Mr. Mackay's conduct in regard to the call, and it was agreed to inform him that the Presbytery regretted be did not follow the usual procedure and meet the Presbytery to confer with them regarding the call. The Moderator was appointed to preach the charge of Whangarei vacant, and the Rev. Mr. Macnicol was appointed Moderator daring the vacancy.

Next Meeting.—On the motion of the Rev. Mr. Sommerville, it was agreed that the next meeting of Presbytery be held at Otahuhn, on Tuesday, sth February, at seven p.m.