PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8010, 15 February 1887, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Monday, February 14. The Assembly sat at 10 a.m. MOTIONS.

Rev Mr Sidey moved, in accordance with notice, Tnat. the conduct of the Nelsou Presbytery be declared irregular; th»t the mover and Revs Erwin and Ruuciman be appointed a committee to examine tbo eredentials of Mr Adamson, and to report to the Assembly, with the view of having the action of the Nelsou Presbytery homologated if all things are found to be in order. Rev Mr MaGregor seconded the motion. After some discussion, Rev Mr Cairns moved an amendment. That while recognising the irregularity of the action of the Nelson Presbytery in licensing Mr Adamson without having previously asked leave from the Assembly, and being satisfied that he hod attended all the classes required by the Assembly, and had brought a certificate from his presbytery in the Irish Chnfoh in ro.»i lar form, the Assembly now homologates the action of the Nelson Presbytery. Rev Mr Ogg seconded the amendment, which was carried. ’i he following motions, of which notice bad been given, were withdrawn :— By Rev Mr Maxwell—That in cases in which student evangelists have labored with signal success for at least five years, the regulations requiriog the university course prior to admia. sion to the ministry be not insisted upon. By Rev Mr Gillies—That the asaessorshio of Revs J. Paterson and C. S. Ogg to the Nelson Presbytery now pease. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence from further attendance at the Assembly daring the present sitting was' granted to Revs Calms, Elmslie, and Riddel, and Messrs Johnson, Oliver, Ander-. son, and Billings, elders. BILLS AND BUSINESS COMMITTEE. The above Committee reported that the documents in the ease of Nov T. Adams are incomplete, and recommended that the Presbytery of Auckland be authorised to give him employment until next Assembly, on (the understanding that if the report of thp presbytery ie satisfactory in all matters he may be admitted to the Assembly to tho status of a minister eligible for a call. Ou the motion of Rev Mr Treadwell, seconded by Rev Doull, the recommendation was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. The Clerk read a letter from J. McCoah Clark, of' Auckland, intimating that £CG9 15a 7d bad been transmitted to No. 2 account, Napier, agreeably to tho wishes of the Assembly. A Committee was appointed, consisting of the Revs J. Paterson, Gillies, and Clerk, to prepare a minute on the close of Mr Clark's treasurersbip. WIDOW AND ORPHANS’ FOND. The discussion on the above report was resumed. Rev Mr Gillies moved, “ That the Assembly receive the Committee’s report and adopt tbo. suggestions made therein, these to bo sent down to Presbyteries for consideration, with a view to adoption next Assembly, as follows First: That any minister or ministers by whom, or on behalf of whom, the amount of past subscriptions and interest due shall be paid, shall bead, mitted to the membership ot the fond. Second: That it shall be compulsory ou all future ministers of the Church to become contributors to this fund, and that the following questions binding them thereto bo asked at ordination or induction ; Do you agree to become a contributor to the Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund of the Church, and do you consent to tho regulations and arrangements of the Assembly there anent?’(except incases where provision has been otherwise made to tho satisfaction of the Presbytery of the bounds, the minister so excepted making a declaration that ho relieves this Church from relation to his widow and orphans). -Third: That mintstqrs joining the Church whose health is not in a satisfactory state, shall be required to pay snob an additional premium as the Com. mitteo of tho General'Assembly may consider just. Fourth ; That the annual premium payable to this fund is hereby dodared to "bo a first charge on the minister’s stipend, and in order to secure the regular payment of said premium that treasurers of congregations bo directed to deduct said premium by half-yearly instalments from the stipend to bo paid, remit it to the General Treasurer on or before the Slat May and 30th November in each year. Filth: That in case of a vacancy a sum equal to tho half-: yearly premium bo paid out of the regular congregational funds- Sixth: In reference to the proposal to raise a capital sum toward enabling the ministers who have been more than two years in the Church without joining tho fund to do so now, that the Assembly do give it its most hearty approval and warmly recommend it to tho sympathy and support of tho Church. This was seconded by Mr Anderson, and carried. AGED AND INFIRM MINISTERS' FUND.

The recommendations of the Christeharch Presbytery re the above fund were read. The reoort included some 22 recommendations, o£ which the following are the principal ones That Presbyteries are instructed to require of Ministers on their acceptance of a call that they connectlthemselves with the fund ; that in the cose of Ministers entering the Church at of thirty years or under, the annual assessment be L2 2s ; that in the case of those over thirty and under forty, a sum of L2 2s for each year over thirty be appointed as a deposit in addition to the ordinary annual assessment, and must be paid daring the first year after 'induction; alqothat m the case of Ministers entering the Church at over forty years of age» in addition to the amount dxed in the case oi ’thtffie between thirty and forty, a

sum of 1/5 3s for each year over forty bo appointed a deposit, tho annual payment to be reqdired in all ca*.es ; that all ministers of the Church be required to eohrioct th'eaiselveV with the fund at once, and all who aTo over thirty years shall within the current year pay to the Treasurer an entrance foe or deposit of L 5 5s ; that tiO minister be admitted as a’ beneficiary on the fund until he shall have served some charge or charges in connection, with .the Presbyteri nl CTVrch cl New Zealand for at leatt seven years • fhat tbe Geopral Assembly, on being certified by the bdiStiv tt»V, that a minister who has served not lesa thatf ee’vsn years in connection with tho Presbyterian Church ,of New Zealand, is permanently incapacjtatodby age or.disease for the performance of .his ministerial duties, shall assigli him an annuity from the fund of LSO, with L 3 additional for every. ye?r over seyon which he has so. served until Did annuity reaches the maximum amount of IJSO, and that all ministers at present in. connection with this Church, and who have served the Church for a period of seven years, in oomplianaa With the condition of rule 7, Be entitled' to beooma beneficiaries of the fund i?t.,tkq., maximum annuity rate; that the Foreign Miemßn Comlmlttea be required to pay aa annual rat# ft J'J each missionary who is a minister W standing employed by them, and that for | those at present employed by them the Committe shall fulfil the condition of rule 7, and the missionaries shall then have the benefit of the conditions of the former clause; that the Committee shall not be authorised to pay in claims moro than four-fifths of the revenue of the year (as defined in rule 3) till the invested capital has reached a sum of LOOOO. In case the olaims for annuities shall exceed foar-flfths of the year’s revenue that proportion only shall bo distributed in accordance with the Condition of rule 14.

Rev Mr Elmslie moved, “That the. Assembly, recognising the importance of the aged add infirm ministers’ fund; and klsd of tfie recomiileiidatioils made By the Christchurch Presbytery dpOnt that scheme; agrees tp appoint a committee, consisting of Revs Runoiman, Erwin.(convener),. Gillies; Doug; las, Ogg, J. Paterson, the Moderator; pud Messrs Jack and Aitken, elders, to consider the whole matter, and report to a future sederunt.” ; Seconded .by Rev Mr Cairns, and carried. ■ ~ EXAMINATION BOARDS REPORT. The report of the Examination Boardj in reference to tho studies of students during the paatycar, was read. , ..The Board recommended that in cases where students bad failed to pass, that they be required to pass in the three subjects in which they had failed within three months, and that the Presbyteries to which the students belong, be authorised to take them on trial for a license on their receiving the certificate of tho Board. The report stated that Mr Archibald Treadwell was certified

to by the professor of Otago University as having given due attention to his studies, and passed in three classes, and had been paid iiis scholarship. Mr William Gradt proceeded to Scotland to finish his studies there, and was paid his scholarship to enable him to go thither. Mr Ryburn was unable to prosecute his studies, owing to his preparation for a nniversity degree, and had not been paid bis scholarship. On the motion of Rev Mr Calder, so conded by Mr Jack, the report was adopted, and the thanks of the Assembly accorded to the Chairman and convener. PETITION. A petition was read from tho Presbytery of Christchurch, asking that Mr Stewart, of Rakaia, might be allowed to baptise. On the motion of Rav Mr McGregor, seconded by Rev Mr McLennan, the request was granted. REPORT ON TRAINING OP STUDENTS. Reports from the Presbyteries of Timarn, Hawkes Bay, and Wanganui were read in reference to the remit of the Assembly re training of students. Rev Mr Treadwell moved that the Assembly, having heard tho returns from Presbyteries read, and on consideration that it does not appear that there is anything further which tho Church can do, the Assembly meanwhile pass from the subject. Seconded by Rev Mr Elmslie, and oanied, DIFFERENCES. In reference to an alleged difference between the Christchurch Presbytery and the Church Extension Committee, respecting the payment of a grant to Waikari, some discussion ensued. Tho discussion was interrupted by the luncheon adjournment, and it was decided that further consideration of the matter be postponed till next morning. The Assembly then adjourned. Afternoon Sitting. The Assembly sat at 3 p.m,, when farther consideration of the book of rales and forms of procedure was resumed. After clauses from 225 to 346 had been conaiderad, and various alterations had been made in some of them, the consideration of the book was farther postponed till 3 p.m, next day. Evening Sitting. The Assembly convened at 7 p.m. MOTIONS. Rev Mr Ennoiman moved, That henceforward, when applications are made by ministers or licentiates of other obnrehes to be received into the Church, those applications shall be accompanied by a medical certificate.

Rev Mr McKee seconded the motion, which was carried.

Maori mission. The Committee’s report on the above mission was read. It stated that the Church missionary reported hopefully of. his work, and that be bad been received cordially by the Maoris, who listened with much attention to his addresses. The adoption of the total abstinence principles was making satisfactory progress amongst the Natives. The Committee, recognising the long and faithful services of the]missionary (Abraham Honors), begged leave to ask the Assembly to make a supplemental payment to him of not less than L2O per annum. The Committee also reported that the junior missionary, Mr Nelson, had done good work. Rev Mr Calder moved,. seconded by Mr AUsworth, that the report be adopted, with thanks to the Committee, and that tha mission be commended to the prayers and liberal snpport of the members of the Church ; and that the Committee be authorised to carry out the suggestions contained in the report. On being pat, the motion was carried. MISSION FOR THE CHINESE.

An overture from the Presbytery of Westland was read, in which it was pointed out that no provision had been made for the spiritual welfare of the. large number of Chinese on the West Coast of the Middle Island, The Presbytery pointed out that with the expenditure of a very small sum of money an agent could be found to work among the Chinese, and recommended that a Chinese mission should bo established as part of the Church’s home mission work, the mission to be sustained out of the Home Mission Fund, or by a separate and distinct fund raised throughout the Church by means of . an annual general collection, or that the Assembly do otherwise for this object os they in their wisdom may best think fib. Rev Mr Ranoimaa moved tbataCommitfcoo be appointed to take sueh practical steps us may be expedient to give effect to the object aimed at in tiie report. Rev Mr McGregor seconded the amend* ment, which on being put was carried. CHURCH EXTENSION. Rev Mr J. Paterson read the report of the Committee on Church Extension. The Committee regretted that they wore not able to report such progress as they did last year, Neither the state of funds nor the available agency had justified them in undertaking any new enterprise ; they had to ba content with holding good their possessions and con. solidating the work that had been begun. The additions and withdrawals bad left the staff very much as it was, the following additions being noted:—Mr W. F. Findlay, student in divinity, from the Free Church of Scotland, conducts services at Meauee and the Spi t; MrJ no. Come, M. A., student in divinity from the Free Church, supplying Newtown (Wellington); Mr Millar Smith, student evangelist Presbyterian Church of Victoria, stationed at Woodville ; Rev Henry Adamson, 8.A., from the Irish Presbyterian Church, in temporary charge at Renwiok and Awatere; Rev W. Arohibald, M.A., Licentiate of the Free Church, in temporary charge at Pefcone; Mr Marshall, student evangelist, stationed at Ngarawawhio (Auckland). Mr Isaac Jolly, student evangelist, stationed in Dime* din.- Three agents—Revs T. Smail and J. Johnstone, and Mr William Grant—had gone to have a year at the Hall in Edinburgh. The Committee pointed out the great need of agents, and that many districts were now. wholly unprovided. They got generous help, bat not all they needed, from the Home Churches, and they must do more for themselves. Something might bo done by raising a fund to set apart as passage money—at any rate something must he done. Encouragement, too, might be given to young men of talent and piety in their own Church by tho establishment of scholarships. Five new charges were began last year, via., St Peter's (Auckland)* Woodville, Opunnke, Pctone, and Branherton. Referring to these stations, it was remarked that Woodville had made very marked progress. A good site had been obtained, and a subscription list opened with a view of erecting a church. Other stations were touched upon, with reference to their r conditions ; and wonts. Under the heading * Supplemental Fund ” it

was pointed out that many ministers settledii fall charge were not receiving what tn Church bad declared again and again shouli be the minimum stipend— L 250 perannnn and a manse. The balance, after paymen to church extension fund and changes, ary a'ter working balance hid been reserved was di'rtributed in supplements to thosi whbeoSpends were below the amount named The’Comnntfco regretted) that last year a re. duotiun of these skppleifrpnts was neoeasi. tated, and feared it would be the ease again this year. There Was rather an increase m the contributions front their own Charon, but there was’a considerable' falling-oil in tbs grants from' the Home Churches, for Church extdnsioh purposes,-the Established Church of Scotland bbing- the only 'one that had' sent any grant thm year. This had necessitated drawing mote pn tlsmr own funds for Church extension'. The Commlttee earnestly appealed to the congregations to increase their contributions toward ) this ifisW-tahli fund. In conclusion,' the Committee asked for instruction as to the . appointment of agents and the administration of funds, and aa to the terms or conditions on which ministers were received from the Home Churches. . Rev Mr J. Paterson moved the adoption

. of the report. Rev Mr Ogg seconded the motion, in ' doing ao. he said that the finances o! the I a lower state than they had iuad were * -v«ars, He would not been for the past five j - that thU conceal from the Assembly the iv- '•n most important fund did not receive tho ministers the support it ought to. There were only two Churches —St. John’s and St. Andrew's—that did their duty to the fund. Ho would draw attention to the facts that the Auckland presbytery had contributed LOO 7s 6J to the fund and had received L 154 from the fund; the Hawkes Bay presbytery had contributed L2B and received L 42 ; Nelson had contributed Ll 9 and received L 43, Rgv Mi* Hnnn said that although the AiicklEud contributions to the fund had been Serial], they had done chore in the Work of chiiroh extension in building new churches than most churches; . . Kev Mr Runciman thought that the kind of work the. Auckland presbytery Had doitfe in the interest of Church' extension? Work should be brought before the Assembly in some more, prominent planner. He v/ould suggest to the Assembly that endeavors should be made for one of their,., (pest preachers to pay a visit to Te Arpha,' wjiioh,' if carried into effect would, he. thought, prove., of great benefit to their Church, ,_ v s Rev Mr Gillies moved that the Assembly adopt the report, with thanks to .the Committee. Id regard to receiving members trora the Home Churches, this Church cannot come under any guarantee as to what shall be paid them from date of land-

ing, but every effort will be made to give them regular employment and secure them a suitable settlement as early as possible; that this Assembly remit the pre. paration of rules for the administration of the fund to the Oommittee, itself to be sent down by it fd tha Presbytery during the \ ear, with a view to adoption at next Assembly, and commend the scheme to the heartiest sympathy and liberal support of all the congregations of the Church ; and that copies of the resolution be sent to the Colonial Committees of the Home Churches. This was seconded by Rev Mr Erwin, and carried. CHURCH PROPERTY. Mr James MolCerrow, chairman of the Church Property Board, read the. first annual report of the trustees appointed under the Church Property Act. The report stated that the returns of ohnroh property kept coming in, but a considerable number have yet to be received before it will be possible to complete a statement of the value and conditions of the properties held by the congregations of the Church. Investments on freehold securities amounting to LG3SO had been made in respect of the widow and orphans’ fund, L 332 0; aged and infirm ministers, LIO6O ; Somerville scholarships, LIOOO ; foreign mission, L7OO. In addition to these investments the Auckland sub-Committee reported having arranged for a further investment of L2OOO, to be completed in March next, from funds accrued and to accrue by that date. In conclusion, the Board request the assistance of the members of the Assembly in gathering information relating to the property of the Church, as it has become evident that the titles in some cases are imperfect and unsatisfactory, being held in the names of individuals, without express bonds; and further, that as it is believed that there is landed property so held, that unless it is seen to and transfers obtained, it may be lost sight of altogether, and pass away from the Church on the death of the individuals in whose names it now stands.

Rev Mr Gillies moved that the report be adopted, and urge upon all tho ministers of the Chnrob to send to the Board the particulars of all Church property in their districts, and to expedite the labor of the Board as muoh as possible by prompt replies to all its communications. Seconded by Rev Mr Calder and carried. NOTICES OP MOTIONS. The following notices of motions were given:—By Bev Mr Treadwell—That the Assembly place the missionaries, Messrs Watt and Murray, employed by the Church, under the jurisdiction of the Presbytery of Wanganui. By Rev W. Blake —That this Assembly devote some time to considering the subject of the reading of the Bible in schools. The Assembly adjourned at 10 p.m. till 10 a.m, next day.