PRESBYTERY OF DUNEDIST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4870, 26 September 1877, Page 6

PRESBYTERY OF DUNEDIST.

The Presbytery of Dunedin met in the Hall of the First Church at 11 o'clock on the sth mst. . There were present—The Revs. Gow (Moderator), Will, Sutherland, Blake, Mackie, Watt, Russell, Ross, Greig, Findlayson, Johnston (Clerk), Drs. Stuart, Copland, Professor Salmond, Messrs Adam 3, Torrance, Lawson: Wales (Elders). •. \ •<• The minutes of ■- the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

ELECTION OF MODERATOR.

'. The ..$e v Mr Blake, being the next on the list, v^as appointed Moderator for the ensuing six months. "■ . : .-••;.-•-

THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS,

Professor Salmond gave notice of his intention to move the following at the next meeting:—"That, whereas it ia of the highest importance that the Church should raise up a ministry from within itself, and cease to be dependent on foreign sources; whereas great difficulty ia experienced in. procuring a sufficient number of students for the ministry;, and whereas our existing arrangements, for theological education are capable of being improved, ahd, such as they are, are imperfectly utilised, it is humbly overtured by the Presbytery of Dunedin to the venerable the Synod indicted to meet in the month of January ensuing, that they should take the whole subject into their serious consideration, and devise . such measures, thereanent as may tend to promote the glory of God and tie good of the Church."

THE EDUCATION BILL. Dr Stuart moved—"The Presbytery, having had their attention drawn to the Education Bill now before the Legislature, record their gratification with its leading provisions, including the religious clause, and strongly express the hope that our representatives who "have voted for its second reading will watch over it in Committee, and prevent its vitiation by the introduction of the principle of denominationalism in any form. That these views be embodied in a memorial to the House of Representatives, and that Mr Macandrew, member for Dunedin, be requested to present it to Parliament." The rev. speaker said that, asr.the Education Bill was now before Parliament, he thought the Presbytery should express their satisfaction at the measure. The provisions contained in the Bill were, on the whole, liberal, and such as might fully command their support. He was glad to say the Bill contained provision for the compulsory attendance of children. If these claims were enforced, they would reduce ignorance, and cause to be instructed great numbers of children, more especially those growing up in cities. The Bill introduced by Mr Bowen required the at tendance of children at school for six month?. During the other six months they weuld be useful to their parents at home. He was glad Ihat religion had' not been entirely ignored in connection with the proposed measure ; bufc although he was gratified that, religion had been recognised, he did not approve of religious instruction in our public sehfols. The Bill commended itself to him on the score thafc it gave no countenance to denominationalism. In the newspapers he had read that some of the Otago members in the House had stated that they would support Mr Curtis's amendment, which was simply denominationalism in another form. He (Dr Stuart) thought that the Presbytery, as representing a large body of the people, should pray the Parliament to carry, the Bill into law free "from denominationalism, which multiplied inferior schools, to the grievous injury of education. He would rather see the religious clauses eliminated hi toto than see denominationalism introduced into this Colony. Professor Salmond haddrawn up the following memorial :—

To the Hon. the Houso of Representatives. The memorial ofthe Presbytery of Dunedin, huinb'y showeth: — I. That the Presbytery express tlieir gratification that a Bill is now before Parliament to make provision for the education of the young throughout the Colony.; 11. That they consider that the so called re hgious clause should be retained, because («) They believe it is in acecrdanee with the strong religious convictions of the great body of the inhabitants, (&) The objection urged against it by Roman Catholics would be still more strongly urged against any system of education if it were purely secular, (c) The conscience clause affords the fullest protection to all against^anything like injustice or intolerance. 111. That they highly.approve of the compulsory clause, believing that it is necessary, and will prove both practicable and beneficial. IV. That they believe that the introduction of a denominational system of education in any form would lie destructive of the real purposes of a national system of education. "V. Th.xt the Plresbytery express their approval of the general provisions of the Bill, and earnestly pray that the Bill, without material alteration, be passed into law, And your memoralists will ever pray. In namo aud by authority of the Presbytery of Duuedin.

Alexander Blake, Moderator. William Johnstone, Clerk of Presbytery. The Rev. Mr Will had £reat pleasure in seconding the motion. He thought the religious clause went as far as they could expect the State to go at the present time. The Revs. Mr Watt and Dr Copland and MrIUNDLAYSON also spoko in favour of the Bui. •

The motion was agreed to. FAST DATS. ! Dr Stuart nvoved—" That as considerable culierenee of opinion exists an.ong our people respecting the religious profit of sacramental fast days m cuv circumstances,:this Presbytery remits the matter of such fast days to the Kirk oessions, with instruction to report their views on the same to the text ordinary meeting." Ihe motion wa3 agreed to.