PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8006, 10 February 1887, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Wednesday, February 9. The Assembly sat afc 10 a.m. yesterday in Sb John’s schoolroom. Tho Moderator (Kov Mr J. M. Monro) presided. The drat hour waa spent in devotional oxOfoiaos, led by tho Revs Monro [ Moderator), Duncan; MoLean, and MoClregot, minutes. The niimttes Of tho previous sitting were fead dud confirmed; MINISTERIAL CnANdEh The Clerk reported tliat since the last sUmnatily. tjie followin'; pbiingea had taken vjlaco in the various Presbyteries Auckland • Onehiinga had been rendered vacant by the death .of., the Epv .James Brace;. Whangatoi rendered vacant through tha resignation of tho charge by the Rov James MoKollan ; Waipa, vacancy caused. by the resignation of the Hev Alexander McLean, rtawkea Bay : Waipa,wa station rendered vacant by tho resignati.n of tho Rev Si Douglas. Havelock, vacant through the resignation of the Rev W. Niohol. Y S!*ganui.i Tile Rov > James Neill, had been ordained and inducted at Hawera., The ilev James A, Dawson had resigned the charge of New Plymouth, Wellington ; The Rev J. K. Bllibtt resigned his charge of Nevjr. town, and found a new charge iq the city of Wellington, iu Rent-terrace, to which he was inducted) ...

SUNDAY SERVICES. \ The Rev J. Doull moved that tho annual Arrangemonts Committee should make arrangements for Sabbath services. ’ This was seconded by the Rev W. Gillies. Tha Rev 0. S. Ogg moved as an amendment, That tho matter should be left to tbe Bills and Business Committee. _ This amendment was seconded by the Kev J, Paterson, and on being put, was carried. ORDER OF BUSINESS. The Committee on Bills and Business re. ported as to the order of business to be followed by the Assembly. CONTEMPT OF ASSEMBLY. The Rev C. S. Ogg would like to draw the attention of the Assembly to a breach of its decision. The Moderator thought Mr Ogg had better give notice of motion. The Clerk said notice was necessary, Tho rov gentleman then gave notice that he wished to draw the attention of the Assembly to a breach of privilege on the part of one of its members. The Rev Mr Treadwell thought the rev gentleman should name the person in error. The Kov Mr Ogg alluded to the Kev John Boss of Tnrakina, TheßevMr Treadwell said Mr Ross was not present, and was therefore not able to defend himself. . treasurer's report. The Treasurers (Messrs J. M, Clark and D. Sidoy) submitted their annual statement of accounts.

The summary oE collection i showed that L 219 Ga 3d, o£ which L 122 17a Id for foreign misaiocs was the principal item, had been collected at ChHstehUrch ; LIST 12s at Auckland, theprimiipalitoma beiilg Assembly expenses, L 53 ss, and foreign missions, Lsl 10* 4d ; LlO3 14s lid it Wellington, L 54 IGs lid being lor foreign missions and £2l Assembly expenses; LSI 13s 2d was collected at Wanganui, L 57 8s 7d for foreign missions; LG9 IGs Bil at Xiniaru ;L559s 3d in Hawkes Bay ; L3J 12s in Westland; and L 26 16s at Nelson j miking ii all a total of 1,787 Os Bd. Of that total L 367 17s was for foreign missions, L 204 10s Od Assembly expenses; L7l 4s 5d Day spring, LO2 17s lid Maori missions, and LBU 10s lOd aged and infirm ministers’ fund. I’he Committee appointed to consider the abbve reported that the balance-sheet showed that a sum of 1,609 15a 7d was at ptesentin the hands of J. MuCosh Clark, Esq-, of Auckland, and about £99 in the hands of the Eev D. Sidoy, which together amounted to £759. Of that sum £4OO mast be remitted immediately to Sydney in payment of missionaries’ salaries, £IOO for Dayspring, £B4 to Mr Draco as arranged at last Assembly, and other liabilities amounting to about £3O, leaving a working balance of about £l5O. Tho Committee recommended that a telegram be sent to Mr Clark, request, ing the transference of the balance in his hands to the Presbyterian Church account, No! 2, Bank of New Zealand at Napier, in order that the now aoting-Treasurer, the Key D. Sidey, might be able to make all necessary arrangements. On the motion of the Rev W. Gillies, seconded by Eov T.. W. Dunn, the report was adopted. OEKKUAI. ALLIANCE. A letter was read from tho Rev W. J. Biaikie, Clerk of tho Presbyterian Alliance, Edinburgh, calling,the attention of the Assembly to the fact that the next meeting of the" General Alliance will be held on the; 24th June, at London, and pointing out that each churoh in tho Council ia entitled to appoint two delegates. !n.m eve-y hundred charges. Tho iter Mr Treadwell did not see how they could tape sending a member Home to re* E resent them at the Alliance. If any mem* er was paying a visit to the Homo Country he could represent them. Mr Gillies moved, seconded by Mr M. Wright, that in tho event of any member or elder proceeding to the Home Country at the time of the Alliance meeting, the, Moderator of the Assembly bo empowered to give him a commission to represent the Church. This was agreed to. RECOUPS. A number of committees were appointed to examine Presbytery records. DEPUTATION, It was arranged that the Assembly should meet a deputation from the Minister’s Association, of Wellington, on Friday morning, at 11 a.m.. v PETITIONS, ETC. A communication was received from the Synod of Otago and Southland, stating that that Synod thought it due to their Churoh that the tee-.iisoniala received by the Synod in favor of the appointment of Professor Dunlop to the Divinity chair of Otago ahould be forwarded to the Aasembly. the testimonials, which were of a very flattering character, were then read. The’ Rev W. Gillies thought it was only due to the Church of Otago that the Aasembly. should acknowledge their courtesy in forwarding, tho testimonials. He would move that the thanks iof the Assembly be conveyed to the Synod' ol Otago and Southland for their courtesy in sending copies of Professor Dunlop’s testimonials, and that the Assembly express the hope that he may long be spared to do good work in the theological training of students in New Zealand. Seconded by Mr W. M. MoCallum and agreed to. . A petition was received from the Auckland Presbytery requesting the Assembly to grant authority to any presbytery of the church to receive the Rev John Dickson, M. A., on the presentation by him of satisfactory credentials. 1 , ■ _ RevMrTroadwell moved, seconded by Rev Mr Runoimah, that Mr Diokeon, being still a member of .the Irish Presbyterian Church, he ia open,to;, receive.a call from a congregation of the Churoh without any formal reception by any presbytery. . Agreed to. An application was received from the Presbytery of Auckland fur tho reception of the Rev O. Worboys, of the United Free Methodist Church, to be received as a memher of tho Churoh. It was decided that the application should he remitted to a committee ef the Aasembly, consisting oE the Revs James Paterson, C. S. Ogg, D. W. Runoiman, J. Elmalie, J. Treadwell, W. Gillies, 'C. R. Cairns, and A. Grant, with Messrs Jack and McLean, elders. A petition was received from Mr J. Millar Smith, -student evangelist, Wpodville, requesting exemption from attending the University, and liberty to pursue his studies with tho Examination Board.. . i It wu decided to remit the petition to the committee appointed in tho Rev C. Worboy'a A petition was received from tho Auckland Presbytery, requesting that Mr Job Banning be admitted to tho position of student evangelist without passing through a university course. i *, ■ : i This was referred to tho same Committee. *• A communication was road from the Auckland Presbytery, recommending that Mr Alexander -Morrison bo. received by the Chuych as a student evangelist, - Rev Mr Treadwell moved that the Assembly express its satisfaction ■ Morrison, the son of .the Rev John Morrison, formerly one of the missionaries of the New Hebrides,' wishes to become a student of the Churoh, and directs him "to apply to the Church Extension . Committee. -The motion was seconded by Mr Duncan, and carried. « • ELECTION 07/ MODERATOR. ‘An overture was received from the Presbyteries of Hawkes Bay, proposing a change in the - present ■ mode of electing the Moderator of the Assembly: After some discussion it was decided to appoint a committee, to consist of the Revs Pttteffeon, Gillies, DouU. Cairns, Ogg, Duncan, Ruuoiman, MoOflUum, Treadwell (convener), and Messrs Aitkon/ Jack, and Cufchbert (elders),' to consider the xnede of appointing the Moderator year by year. 5 * ' visitations.

- Reports of visitations by the Presbyteries to their congregations at Christchurch, Nelson, Hawfces" Bay, Auckland, Timaru, Westland, and Wanganui, -were read. Rev Mr Treadwell moved, seconded by Rot Mr Dunn, that the reports having been read, the Assembly espressos its satisfaction at finding that, the visitations of. con*

gregations is on the whole well carried out, and that it directs the Presbytery of Wellington to attend to the matter daring tho present year, . On being pufc> tho motion was earned, PASTORS’

The Presbytery of Timara reported on the remit sent to them by the last Assembly* in reference to pastors.* cmeritusi . . The report stated that the title df ministers' emeritus had been used in two differ* erit sets of circumstances—(i) Wkdn H minister from ill-health; old age, or other circumstances npt ( affecting hia Ministerial character; Had reaigded his .charge witha retiring allowance* ho was accorded a minister emeritus * and iu that case* having formally resigned his pastoral, charge,, 4 ana though, having been dissolved, he does nob continue, to hold his seat in the .Presbytery unless the right to do so has been formally conferred by the Assembly or other supreme court of .the Church, but he may be associated pro tern, by the, Presbytery at any meeting. (2J a minister, from ola age, infirmity, or other causes not affecting his ministerial character, oapnob continue to perform the labors of his office, and is denr* ous of being relieved, from all the duties thereof without. a formal dissolution of the pastoral tie, with tho consent of the congregation the Preaby ery may agree .to such an arrangement, and the honorable position of ,the minister , bo accorded to t him emeritus. In this case his right to a seat in all Church courts is unchallengeable, but it is not usual for him to claim a seat in the session, the whole control of congregational matters being left with the acting pastor; and as to his exercising his right of official jurisdiction in other courts, that is a matter whioh must be left entirely to himself* The Rev J. Treadwell moved that tho re. port be adopted, with thanks to the Committee, and especially to tho convener (Rev \V. Gillies), aa correctly showing tho meaning and bearing of the terms “pastors’ emeritus." This was agreed to. The Assembly then adjourned till 7 p.m.

EVENING SITTING. The Assembly resumed at 7 p.m, / NOTICE OF MOTION, The Rev J. Treadwell gave notice in connection with, and iu terms of Mr Ogg’a motion, that when the said motion was moved by Mr Ogg, that he would move— That the attention of the Assembly,be drawn to a breach of privilege committed by the Rev 0, S. Ogg, of St Andrew’s, Wellington, and that he had been guilty of contempt of a decision of the Assembly. The Rev Mr Ogg thought there should be no jokes in the Aasembly, The Rev Mr Treadwell said ho was not joking. The Rev Mr Ogg repeated that it should be beneath the dignity of the Assembly to allow practical jokes. The Moderator reminded Mr Ogg that Mr Treadwell had said that ho was nob joking* The matter then dropped* The Rev J. Paterson moved that the As« sembly ‘recognises the position of the Rev John Moir as a minister with a seat in the courts of tho Churdb. Mr Pater, son said he had much pleasure in choving the motion. It was quite ad oversight on the part of the Presbytery of Wellington that the hiatter had hot been brought before the Assembly before. He had no doubt that the Assembly Would recognise Mr Moir’a position and standing in the Church. The Rev Mr Calder seconded the motion, which, on being put, was carried unanimously. f The Rev Mr Moir acknowledged the kindness of the Assembly. The Rev W. Gillies moved, in accordance with notice, that tho Assembly take into consideration the question of Church and manse debts, and the best means of en abling congregations to borrow on the most favorable terms and gradually extinguish their debts. He said he had brought tho motion before the Ascembly because he thought it was a matter of very great importance to the Church. He had seen that Harbor Boards and companies bad gone into tho Home market aud borrowed largo sums of money, and why could not tho Church do the same ? He thought that a Church and Manse Building Society should be formed, with a sufficient capital to enable them to issue debentures in the Home market, and obtain money at a lower rate of interest than could be obtained here, and that such money should be lent to the congregation at a slight increase of interest, and from any profit thus obtained, and a small call of Is per share, a fund could be created out of which substantial aid might be given to congregations toward paying off their debts. By this means a present relief of from 1 or 2 per cent, on interest might be enjoyed, and the whole debt gradually extinguished. \ The Rev Mr McLennan Strongly opposed buoU a scheme as the rev gentleman had propounded* Rev Mr Ogg said that Mr Gillies’ was one. of the most absurd schemes he had ever heard ia his life; it was the most 1 extravagant idea that a man could possibly propound. Building societies had a great difficulty in raising money in the London markets. The only way to work off the debts of the churches was by the contributions of the members. It was a pity that the time of the Assembly should be wasted by discussing such schemes. If Mr Gillies was such a great financier it was a pity he did not give the Colonial Treasurer a little assistance, for he, if anything, needed it far more than the Church did.

Rev Mr Eltnslie seconded Mr Gillies* motion, and thought that, if given effect to, they would be able in a few years to pay off some of their church debts. Rev T. Cairus thought a committee ahould be appointed to thoroughly consider such an important question as that before tho Assembly*. He would move that a committee* consisting of the Revs Gillies (convener), J. Patersou, Cairns* Rancimau, J. G. Patterson (Napier), Messrs Jack, Smith, Bell, McLean, Aitken, and MuKerrow be appointed to deal with the matter. The Rev Mr Calder and Mr Erwin favored the idea of committee. Rev Mr Gillies stated that he bad sub« mitted his scheme to a meeting of elders in Christchurch, all of whom were in favor of it, and had urged on him to put it before the Assembly that it might reach the ears of the Church. He, was in favor of a committee being appointed to consider the matter, and expressed a wish that business men wbo were not members, of the Churoh should be asked to join the committee. On being pat, the motion was carried. , SABBATH SCHOOL REPORT. The annual report of tho above Committee was read as follows :—“ln presenting their annual report on Sabbath Schools your Committee regret that they have again, as usual for many years past, to deplore the small number of returns seat.in in reply to their qoeries from which to draw up a report. Oat of 90 circulars bent out only 44 have been returned to the .convener. From such scanty materials no reliable statistics can be fumished-aa to the actual condition of .our Sabbath Schools, nor is it possible t) institute any comparison between this year’s and last year’s returns, so as to be able to state whether our schools are flourishing or dedining. So far as your Committee can make out from the returns receive J, and comparing them with last year’s returns, oar fcaools, as to the number of teachers and scholars,, the moneys raised by the children fer missions and Sabbath School purposes, &c., appear to be much as they were last year. There seems to bo an increase in the number of scholars by 234, and a decrease’' in the number of teachers by 100. It is cheering to be able to state that there is a considerable increase in the number of ■Bible Classes, and in the number of young men and:women attending • them, and also that a growing number of ministers are devoting some portion of the ordinary Sabbath morning service to the children are present in the Church. Your Committee are thankful that these suggestions embodied in their last year’s report have not been without good results, and they hope that there will soon be a Bible Class formed in every congregation, and a few words specially addressed to the children ia the house of God by every s minister throughout the Church. Your Committee would, conclude 'this necessarily brief and imperfect report by urging the vast importance in these days of this branch of the Church’s work, and appeal to-all our ministers to show practical sympathy with the teachers and scholars in their Sabbath schools.” ■ After some discussion a motion, moved by the Rev Mr Cairns, and seconded by Mr Jack, was carried. That the report should bo adopted, and the thanks of the Assembly be given to the Committee, and especially to the Convener, for the care and attention bestowed by him; and that the Assembly expresses regret that such a small number of returns have been sent in, and remit it to a committee, consisting of tho Revs GU ies, Douglas, J. G. Paterson, Erwin, Monro, : Fulton, and Treadwell, to consider whether some general scheme of examination cannot now be initiated resembling that in other churches, to give a new impulse to Sabbath school worK.

■. ' PASTOR EMERITUS. An application from the Wanganui Presbytery, to give Mr Stewart, late of Marton, a seat in the church courts as minister emeritus, on the ground of the services he is giving to the Church, was considered. On the motion of the Rev Mr Gordon, seconded by Mr Allaworth, it was decided that the position of minister’s emeritus be accorded to Mr Stewart.

HKPOIW ON* BKHGION AND MORALS. Tim C-mimittee on tha State of Religion and Morals reported that solid progress had been made in tile spiritual Work of the OhUfch during tho past year, Und that there Were considerable aCdaasions to the membership of the Church throughout the 'Pho entire tenor Of replied on the state of religion Was most refreshing, the state of religion being idiidli filofd heedful thsd ladfc year. Meantime, however, the OorilmittSe reported that they Were confronted with the unpleasant fact that fch'erb were many potent influences Which niilitated agalirist religion; especially gambling, lack: of lid mid religions training, and Sabbatli desecration. The spirit of gambling was unhappily widespread and manifestly on the increase. With it was bound up tile pernicious influence of the racecourse! . Gambling was. ffdvfhere, more rampant than there. The besetting sin of our rising generation was unquestionably the, vice of gambling; It oftentimes had its origin at the billiard-table, fro ( m which i,t gravitated naturally to the turf, where it assumed a more exciting fo m. It was truly appalling to contemplate the immense sums of- money squandered iu. this manner, . Moreover, it was to bp deplored that men occupying tho highest positions ,in the State patronised this- fruitful source of moral degradation. Nor were some Churches free from censure in this, matter. The principle of lotteries at bazaars was the same, and therefore merited greater oondemnafcion when practised under- the sacred sane* tiou of religion. The Committee earnestly desired te draw the attention of the Assembly to this colossal evil, that its voice might be raised against so fruitful a source of peril to religion and morals. Another element of moral danger was the lack of home religious training. A distinguished judge had expressed astonishment at the prevalence of juvenile criminality, notwithstanding educational advantages. The seat of the disease, however, was deeper than the intellect, and could only be .eradicated by spiritual means, The Church, therefore, had a very solemn duty imposed upon it; bat with regard to the moral and spiritual life of the rising generation, the Committee draw attention to the urgent and important necessity of pressing upon parents tho absolute need :_o£ special religious training in their families. Only in that way was it possible to raise the moral tone bf the young, and produce that healthy spirit of reverence which was so essential in a young colony. Another influence which militated against spiritual religion aud morals was Sabbath desecration, A large number of people iu towns and cities made tho Lord’s Day a time of pleasure, regardless of its claims and sanctities. Volunteers parading tended to secularise tho Sabbath. In bringing their report to a close, the Committee made a few suggestions as to the best o eans of promoting spiritual life in the Church. Briefly summarised, the important points of interest were 11 greater faithfulness in the ministry,” “more thorough consecration of ministers and office-beare-s,” “more decided separation of the Church from the world,” “some means of utilising the latent talent in their Churches, aud the appointment, if possible, of special agents for holding mission services in the *‘acontinuance of special services once a year* a conference of Christians,” and several other suggestions of a like Character. In Concluding their report the Committee recotnriierided the Assembly to adopt the following suggestions as both practicable and important:—(l) That a conference on Christian life and Work be held by each Presbytery at an early date, which would be open to tho general public j (2) that in every Presbytery there should be an Evangelistic Committee; (3) that sermons be preached on the necessity of Christian training in families, also on the evils of gambling and Sabbath desecration; (4) that the Very Rev Moderator issue a pastoral letter after the rising of the Assembly on the necessity of a revival of religion, and appointing a day for special prayer in all the congregations of the Church, to be followed by a Week of evangelistic services, Tho rfcev Mr Treadwell moved, owing to the lateness of the hour, that the discussion on the report bo adjourned till this evening. Agreed to. ■ . . ' . , The Rev Mr McCallum wished td give notice of a motion that the Assembly resolve to petition the Legislative Assembly that the use of tho totalisator be made illegal. Tho Rev Mr Treadwell remarking that he had a more comprehensive motion to bring up on the report, Mr McCallum withdrew his notice. ■

NOTICE OF MOTION, The Rev Mr Gillies gave notice that he would move that a committee be appointed to prepare the minute in reference to the death of the late Rev James Bruce, of Onehunga. -A recommendation from the Auckland Presbytery that the scholarship hold by R. M, Ryburn should be continued to him, notwithstanding that he was unable to present himself for examination in November, owing to examination for his degree, was agreed to. ORDER OP BUSINESS. The report on rules and forma of pro* cedure will be considered at this morning’s sittings, and in the evening the reports on foreign missions, temperance, and religion and morals will be considered.

The Assembly adjourned at 10 p.m. till 10 a.m. next day.