PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11122, 9 November 1907, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

'*• (Per Press Association.) "'. ■ WELLINGTON, this day. At the Presbyterian Assembly the Com. njittee on amalgamation of church extension and stipend funds reported haying re-issued an -amalgamation scheme with reasons attached. The answers were divided, and the Committee recommended that the proposals be abandoned fpr the present, and the Committee discharged. ■ This was adopted with the addition that a committee be appointed to report to the next Assembly on a scheme as. to the stipends of ministers. in weak charges. The Church committee's report showed the number of BibJe classes was 621 against 302 last year, the number of Sabbath schools 504, against 522 last year, but many parishes failed to make more returns. The total contributions in connection with Sabbath schools was £4523. ' The Assembly agreed to release Mr J.C. Jamieson from the position of travelling secretory. The report of the Foreign Mission Commitee expressed satisfaction at the progress made in various directions' by foreign, missions. The Committee recommended that the services of eight persons who had volunteered for foreign mission fields be accept*^!, and„that Dr Porteous should •Visit India to select a suitable sphere of work. After consideration at length the Committee's recommendation regarding volunteers for foreign service was adopt. .ed. The remainder of the report was deferred. The representative of the Residential College Committee recorded that a contract had been let at £18,607 for the first part of the College, providing for thirty, theological students. The subscriptions during the year totalled £6571, making tbe total fund £16,062 less £1122 already expended. In addition it is expected the College will benefit to the extent of. about £7000 under the will of the late Mr S. Wilsoir, of Papakaio. The endowment fund for manning and equipping the College stands at £723, including £500 promised by Mr G. F. Bullen Of, Kaikoura. The Assembly resolved to aim at raising a College endowment fund of £15,000. It was resolved that the committees of the aged and infirm ministers' funds (North and South) prepare a scheme to provide for women workers nt home and abroad, missionaries and deaconesses, on the occasion of (heir retirement from the service.