PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14208, 3 November 1909, Page 5

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

NELSON SYSTEM FAVOURED.

[BV TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.]

- Chuistchurch, Tuesday. The ' sitting of the General Assembly was continued to-day, the Moderator (the Rev. I. Jolly, M.A.) presiding. The Rev. W. A. Comrie announced that the committee of the Standing Committee had decided to recommend the Assembly to meet, in Auckland on Wednesday, November 9, 1910.

The debate on the report of-the Bible-in-Schools Committee..was continued. The Rev. White (Waihi) and Mr. G. J. Garland (Auckland) supported the Nelson system, and criticised the attitude of the Auckland Education Board and school inspectors towards the movement.

-I he Rev*. P. B. Eraser (Clutha) said that men like Mr. Garland, who were doing good work, were not supported as they should be by members of the Church, Ihe Church should also take more interest in teachers, who were as honourable, religious, moral, and Christian - body . people as any in the Dominion. Their influence on the children was incalculable.

vi ,^ ev *. W. Jackson (Southbridge) that it was a matter of extreme difficulty to get elders to go to an election of school committees. The ministers were all right, but the elders were all wrong. Presbyterians could, if they chose, elect every . board and committee in the district. The Rev. A. White (Havelock) eloquently pleaded • for the daily instruction of the children in his district. Ministers went to schools daily and had the daily help of teachers. - :i • -

' Ihe report, which commended the Nelson system to the people, was adopted. .. The _ report of ilie Beneficiary Funds Committee-stated that- the combined capital of the aged and infirm ministers' fund had been increased by £9427 6s 6d during the year. The balance now stood at £29,304 4s, an increase of £7918 '8s 2d. The sum of £2920 lis 3d had been added to the combined capital of the widows and orphans' fund, and the balance now stood at £30,376. The Rev. W. J. Comrie, convener of the Standing Committee, drew attention to the fact that the expanses of the Assembly meetings were mounting up very seriously. This year the Assembly: had paid the travelling expenses of 194 members of the Assembly, compared with only 131 last year. In regard to local expenses the committee wished him to say that the brethren in Auckland (where the Assembly would meet next year) would not be expected to provide for the entertainment of the Assembly in the way ..of banquets, luncheons, and in other directions, »in which a large amount of money was expended. Expenses must be kept down, unless the Assembly w&s to become a serious burden on the places where the meetings were held. "