PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 836, 26 August 1864, Page 5

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,

Ths subjoined extract from the Colonial Committee of the Free Church of Scotland, which was adopted by the Assembly at'its meeting in Edinburgh, in May last, wi!l be-gratifying, .to many of our readers. We need scarcely say that it principally refers to the action which the Presbytery of Otago was please! to tike, some time ago, in the matter of the union of the Presbyterian -Charcbes'of this colony :—

" The fair prospect held out, at the period of last year's Report, of a consummated union of the presbvterie=! and congregations in New Zealand, has been rudely disturbed. Foon after the Auckland Conference detaila.i in last Report, the Presbytery of Otag-o took exC2ptions, subsequently to the proceedings of that. Conference and of their own Commissioners, as to certain alterations of the basis in regard to the subordinate Standards of the United Ohurch. and some.other matters. They further protested against being: held as consenting parties to the Union; and instead of tending a remonstrance to the General Assem bly of New Zealand, they strangely addressed their protest to the Conference at Auckland—a body of men convened tor a specific purpose, and whose corporate existence terminated when their work was done. At the recent meetiug of the Assembly of the United Ohurch at Wellington in November last the whole iratter was taken \«p in a brotherly spirit, anil commissioners were appointed to meet with the Ofas;o Pre«bytery for mutual explanations Tint Prnshjtery, however, without waiting even fir the presence". of the commissioners, has seen fit to corns to a final decision by &■ m:;}o;ity of sis to thre?, rppudiatina; the Union on the Auckland basis. This result is very painful to contemplate, whatever ground the Otago Presbytery had for disagreement with tbe conclusions of the Auckland Conference, and with the conduct of their own commissioners iv framing the modified basis, their sub* "sequent" want of courtesy and brotherly-spirit is deeply to be lamented, more especially as they . did not adopt toe plain course open to them of goingl to the Assembly at Wellington with a remonstrant;?!, and endeavouring to g«t the matters thus rectified. However, as the matters of dispute are so trivial and nonfi«sential, it is to be hoped that mutual dealings and explanations may yet remove the obstacles, and p'rniit these churches to form a strong and united body. The Rev. -W. Will, of Taieri, deputed by the' New Zealand Churches to procure and send out additional ministers, has been prosecuting his work actively in this country during the past year, and ha^s succeeded ia procuring the services of six ministers for Orag-J, for whose passage and outfit the m°ans have been placed in Mr Will's hands by the Otago Presbytery.

Mr Will has also addressed the students at our various colleges, and held meetings in various towns, with the view of diffusing information about New Zealand, and stirring up an increase of interest at home in the matter ot the spiritual necessities of the colonies. Mr 'Will's statements and addresses have been cordially received, and good fruit is expected to result from these efforts."