PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1199, 22 February 1895, Page 31

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, February 14. At the Presbyterian General Assembly, the Temperance Committee in their report expressed pleasure at the growth of temperance reform throughout the Colony. The, hindrances to the cause were publichouse bars and clubs, the apathy of Christian people, and the neglect of the police. Special sermons on temperance, and Gospel temperance missions, were recommended. The Church Property Trustees reported that the endowment funds were steadily increasing. The Sabbath School Committee recommended that in the examination of Sabbath school teachers diplomas be issued to those who secure 50 per cent. Reference was made to the .misfortunes which had befallen the Ambrym mission, and resolutions of sympathy were passed. Auckland, February 16. At the Presbyterian General Assembly a letter was received from the Rev with reference to the proposed stlßfc mission vessel to run between Australia and the New Hebrides. The Church of Victoria and other five churches expressed practical sympathy wiih the proposal. The vessel is to cost over .£7OOO, and its. annual support about .£2OOO. . A resolution Was passed expressing hearty sympathy with the proposal, and promising l to pay *&!90 towards the scheme. s » The appeal from Mr Bridge, Waverley, against the action of the Wanganui Presbytery in refusing to accept his commission from the Manaia session entitling him to a seat at the Presbytery, was warmly discussed. The Presbytery explained that they refused to accept the commission on the ground that it gave undue influence to one session in the Presbytery. Amotion proposed by the Rev G. Webster to dismiss the appeal was carried by 20 votes to 16.

A conversazione was held in St. James Hall this evening l to welcome the visiting members. Addresses were given by the Moderator, the Rev R. Sutherland (moderator of Otago Synod), Rev Wardell (Otago), Rev Eliott (Wellington) and others. The Rev R. Sutherland, who made an earnest appeal claiming the services of young men for the Church, advised the establishment of bursaries, and secured one of .£25 for three years.

Auckland, February 18, At the Presbyterian General Assembly the report on religion and morals referred to the small proportion of young people coming to church fellowship, the decline of family worship, the lack of aggressive work and the lapsing of children and adults from attendance at religious ordinances. The Church was urged to do all it could to check intemperance and other social evils, and it was recommended that the committee continue the negotiations opened up with sister churches with regard to united action against the presentday evils. The report was adopted with a final clause to the effect that if the new Divorce Bill were reintroduced in the next pession of Parliament, the committee be instructed to petition against' such an alteration in the present divorce law. A number of grants in connection with the church extension movement were authorised by the Assembly. The grants included =£so to Pahiatua, £SO to Hastings (Hawke's Bay), £2O to Danevirke, £3O to Picton, £25 to Hunterville, £25 to Stratford, and various grants to other churches ranging from £2O to £lO. The grants for church extension also include the following:-—Taradale, £2O; Ormond, £2O ; Waipawa, £l2; Wood ville, £2O; Wanganui and New Plymouth, £2O; Manaia, £ls; Halcombe, £2O; Stratford, £25 ; Patea, £2O j Ohingaiti, £2O ; Feilding, £25. The report of the widows' and orphans' fund showed that the income for the year was £4Bl 0s lOd, and the expenditure £316 13s sd. The capital fund is now £5685 17 s lid. t

The aged and infirm ministers' fund is also in a very satisfactory condition. The income for the year was £349 18s lid, and the expenditure £92 13s 3d, and the capital fund is £3357 3s 3d. The report on education stated that no progress had been made in the way of introducing the Irish text book of Scripture lessons into the National schools, and re-

commended that the necessary steps be taken to secure a plebiscite of the parents on the subject, and that other branches of the Church be solicited to join with the Presbyterians in petitioning the Legislature next session on the "subject.

The Assembly closed at, a late hour tonight. , ■} - - _.rv.„...._