MEETING FOR PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7, 22 November 1861, Page 2

MEETING FOR PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE.

A Meeting was held in Ivnox's Church on Wednesday evening, to promote the furtherance of religious knowledge. About 700 persons were present, and the Rev. Dr. Burns having been called Ho the Chair, he opened the proceedings by some able remarks on the present state of religion in the world, and the late revivals.

Rev. Mr. Bruce, of Auckland, followed; giving a sketch of the proceedings of that days conference, and thanking the people of Otago for the very cordial reception he, as well as the other visitors had met with in the this Province.

Mr. A. Clurk, of Auckland, spoke at some length on the subject of foreign missions, and made a most earnest appeal on behalf of the New Hebrides Mission, giving a very interesting account of its progress, and speaking in high terms of the Bishop of New Zealand, and the services he had rendered to the Presbyterian Missionaries in those Islands. He also read a letter from the Bishop on the subject of £he Mission, and concluded by saying that as the Bishop had often helped them, he thought now, that he himself was in trouble, owing to the loss of the " Southern Cross," the Presbyterians should help him to buy a new vessel.

■llev. Mr. Moir, of Wellington, gave an interesting sketch of the Presbyterian Church in that Province, and in a very amusing manner appealed to the people of Otago to contribute the sum of £200 towards the support of two Missionaries for the outlying districts there. # Mr. Forsaith, of Auckland, in a most amusing, speech, sketched fhe progress of the settlement of Auckland, from its foundation to the present time; and spoke at some length on the progress of religion in that province giving some very graphic descriptions of the style of native preachers in the original sonoand with a translation. '

The Rev. .Mr. Will then proposed a vote of thanks to the various speakers, and two verses of a hymn having been sung, the meeting separated, all highly pleased.