THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15300, 14 November 1911, Page 8

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

. > MORMNG. SESSION.'. iL ' The fifth day's piccoedings of the Genoral Assembly of 'the •Pfc&yteria'n Church of New Zealand opened in Burns Hall yeelordsy morning, tho.Modcrotor (fte Rev. G. Lindsay), piceidinif.r c.'i •. .V. - . o '. GENKBAL. ' ■ ■ .

' Tho Rev. J. Oiishobii, acHogconvtoer f-•"'of ■ t3ie\ Foreign Missions Cemmittco, roported on the ordination of the Rev. Peter Milno in Knux Church tho previous evening, in order that thoso proceedings might bo embodied in the records of the Assembly. - A wply io Ujo Assembly's inritation was wboiTcd from Mr C. S. Lanchu, Chinese Consul, exprcsein? regret that, owing to i the bre'vity of his visit io Duncdin, he ' would be unablo to address tho Assembly. v. A meisage of greeting in reepoi.se to tho Aaembly's greeting was received from K tic llcv. Mr. Will, of Abbotiford. : ' '':■■■■ Leavo'of absence was tho Rev. .; G« Eudd, from 'ruceday evening,' on ac- . count of urgent ministerial busines.

' With regard to' the' romit on tho Sdtur- ■ day half-holiday question, tho dork reported that six Presbyteries had no reoom- •■■':'■ JDCndation to make. It was decided that no'action bo taken in tlw matter. " . SOnCES" OVI MOTION. The Rev. W. Gray Dixon.gave notice of

■.: a knglhy motion doolarinj (ho Church ; Hymnary to bo tho hymn-book officially (recommended for the use of tho Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Tho Rev. Dγ Gibb gavo notice- to move • tho Arrangements Committee to t coneidcr and report how tho thno of the Assembly might bo conserved by tho '.-•'elimination from tho business of uEneccs- • . eary details. Tho Rov. D. Maclcnnangavo notice to move that tbo Aewmbly arrango as early ''; Oβ p-issiblo to hold ite annual jnoctings at ■ Easter -instead of November P.W.U.U. AGENT. Tho Rev. J. Chisholra read a letter from iho jecrotary of tho Presbyterian Women's ■ Missionary Union asking the Assembly to eanction tho appoinlmcnt of an organising travelling secretary. His salary .wculd bo ,' £80 and travellin-a' expenses, and oil of ; this amoant, with the exception of £9, • had already been "uamnlced. The duties ■■--of tho agent would,-bo the visiting of branohes of the P.W.M.U., the establishing of now branohes, and the aiding of Presbyterian association?. Mr Chisholm eaid. that in view of the noblo services ' the6i; iadioe.wene rendering tho Church, ■ '="''•■ they ought at once just to agree to their action and sanction the appointment.—(An- /. plausc) Ho moved:—" Tliat thfl Ajicmbly ■ npprovo of tho action of Uw P.W.M.X7._ in ■ oppointiiie' Miss Rnmsay as travelling I secretary.—Tho motion was carried un enimoudyDBPPTJrtIOK FP.OM THE COCSai OF : .' CHrECIIFS.

A deputation from tho CounciJ of Churches; consisting of ■ tho • Revs. P. W. Fairclouph, G. 4eigJtway, W.. Saundcrs, Staff-captain Nowby, , and Mews Darnee and D. Wricht, waited' on tho 'Assembly, and were introduced' to the Moderator by

iho Rev. J. Chisbelm. • • • , Tho Rot. P. W. Fairolough gavo the •-', Moderator greeting and" welcome-on bohaif ' of the Donodin Council of Chuiehcs. Thoy gavo tho Presbyterian Church credit • for a certain peculiar uniqueness in the religious and spiritual atmosphere of this city. The Scottish nationality and thOjPresby-, ''■■ terwo Church -had been tJio chiet factor* ■ in making Dunedin what it wai in church life. Aftar paying high tributes to tho .work . of' the Presbyterian • Church;- in various / directions, he romarked that it seemed to iim that tho time was at hand when a /. ' course in socialism and economics would , : bo as nerwsftry to tho prcaoliejr as a course : in theology. Hff referred to some pressing present-day problems nnd said that ::V they looked to" tlw Pnabyterian Clmrch to firapplc with them. Tlw Rev. J. Chisholm then submitted tho following motion:—" Thet ; the General. Aβt sembly welcomce the visit of the reprev eentaUves of the Council ■of Churches, ac- . ccpts with' pleasure tho felicitations offered .- by thofn, aid prays that the best Wcssing of God may rest vpon the council nnd urx>n the work o'f all its members." In moving :' it, he remarked tllat Prcsbyteriaiism in .Otaw) perhapo did not receive the credit it - ought to got, simply because those who camo mow recently hardly realised how . ■ tiwy had. endeavoured to sharo their privi- ■ Jecee witli other cliurcKes, and wifli tho wnolo community, as in the tcUingasido of ! : - endowments to maintain chairs at tho UoiTCMsity. He looked forward to the timo v/when they, should all be. moro clowly inited. Tie Rev: Dr Gibb seconded tho metion ' in humorous Tcin. Tho motion was carried by tho members V of tho Assembly standing, and was conveyed , by the Modorator to the members of the '" deputation,' who then withdrew. AFTERNOON SITTING. .

Tho Assembly resumed at 3 o'clock. PUBLICATION COMMITTEE'S BEPOST.

' Tho Publication Committee's report dealt almost entirely with the position of the Outlook, and tho committee recommended that tho salary of the editor bo £150 a jeer as from the beginning of this quarter; also, that tho Assembly defray tho cost of telephone and exchanges as hitherto. • Tho Rev. James Aitkcn, in speaking to tiie report, explained toe position of mattors with regard to the Outlook, and said tney vera much pleased to find that ite ejroulation had not dropped in consequence .of tho increased price of tlio paper to tlio extent thoy had anticipated. He emphasised the value of. the work tho editor did, and cxprosed' appreciation of tho services rendered by contributors, and, in conclusion, moved tbo adoption of tho report and tho recommendations. The Rov. Dr Gibb seconded tho motion. Tho Rev. P. B. Fraser said ho did not think tho "church recognised tiio , instrument the Outlook should bo in carrying on tho work of the church. They siiouid have long ago established tho paper on a more substantial basis, and ho expressed the opnion that tho Foreign and Home Missions Committees might contribute towards the expenses of tile paper. As far sa people in the back blocks were concerned, he thought they should introduuo the Outlook into their homes. The motion was carried, and it was further resolved that it bo remitted to tho Publications and Church Extension Committee to arrange-, if possible, for placing & monthly number of tho. Outlook in every liomo contributing towards tho funds of tho ohurch.

BAPTISM. . The committeo appointed. as tho result of ovortures from tho presbyteries of Dunedin and Timaru on tho subject of baptism recommended—(l) That be;oro administering tiio ordinance ministers should require on the part of at least one parent a profession of faith in Christ and obedt. enco to Him. (2) That, as far as possible, administration of tho ordinance should bo in public, at an ordinary diet of worship on tho Lord's Day. (3) That when this i» not practicable, and the ordinance is adininistcrcd. in private, intimation of tho time and place be made from tho pulpit, so that members of the church may attend and a religious sarvico held; and"that, if possiWc, an elder accompany tho minister. (4) That a certificate of ixiptiem be given to the parents. Tho Rev. A. B. Todd very briefly moved the adoption of the report and the approval of tho recommendations.

Tho Rev. A. Cameron asked' if members thought they weto in a position to cany out these, recommendations* So far as ho was concerned ho couM not carry them out, And so far as the church wjs concerned' tlicy could i»t bo carried out, though ho agreed with e-very ono of tl>cm. The Rev. Dr Gibb asked if it was not an attempt to baptise children whoso parents were practically in a state of paganism! Mo had found that ncitJior parent had any idea of what baptism meant. It was a farce. They mrjht as well eprinkle waterupon the face of a iog.— {"Xo, no.") Tho study of the theology of tlraV church showed what baptism meant. • If parents had no sapso of what they wore doing, or a responsibility of what was being done, it wee an nbourd performance. They should pausa wll and consider before they accepted the first recommendation. Mr Lano (Aebburton) referred io the raluablo opportunity a minister had wlio was nekod tobaptiso a child to influence that child. If a father and mother pot children baptised they put tJic opportunity into tho hands of tho minister to make Christians of thorn. Ho hoped tho Assembly would stand firm and give instructions that a minister should require from one parent a profession of faith, _ and if they would not make that profession let thorn ro.

The Rot. I'. B. Frasor pointed out that baptism brought infant life under the influenoo of the Christian Church, and if thefc people wwo prepred to sond their children to Sabbath tohoo!' and' havo them brought up in the Christian fajth ho submitted that they were not pagans. If thov refused baptism tho man ran off to another denomination and got his children baptised there. Ho lrnjcd that they should do noSiin? that would lose tho children for Cbrieiian influence.

The Her. Tv\ Scorjrio osked whet was th*> relation of the infant to tho saernm&rit of baptism? , Hsd not .a littlo child an indopewlarit claim on the sacrament! Was it not two that tho Kingdom of Heaven belonged to tho innocent and penitent? A littlo child; who .had nover sinned was entitled to'baptism. No matter what iho parent was tie child had its olnim and its place. If they wero Rojnfc to narrow down baptism β-hat wro. they goinc to do with the children? They woro telling them they woro aliens and outcasts and that there was no door by which they could entar tho church.

Tho first and second recommendations were then approved of. and, on tlrc motion of the Itev. I. Jolly, tho third recommendation was deleted. Tho fourth recommendation was approved. As to the form of oortincat© of baptism, tho Rev. P. B. Frafer moved that the words "tho Shorter Catechism and" bo struck out.

The Rev. W. Gray Dixon _ moved— " That instead of ' Shorter Catechism' and the Lord's Prayer , there bo inserted 'repeat - the.' Ten Commandment*, tho Lord's Prayer and tho Apostles Creed.'" • Both Mr Eraser's and Mr Dixon's motions woro carried, and it was rreolvod that the preparation and issuo of the certificate be remitted to tho Publications Committee

A discussion then tokk place as to ■whether what had been passed was law or recommendation, andDr Erwini said it was a question whether it would not be wjso to'son dtho cortificato down to presbyteries for consideration. Ho moyed in Hiat directioh, tho motion boing carried.