Presbyterian General Assembly.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4571, 16 February 1893, Page 4

Presbyterian General Assembly.

f Pkb Pbbbb Association/) WELLINGTON, Feb. 15. A bequest of £100 towards the New Hebrides mission was received from the executors under the will of the late Mr Carruth, of Kamo, Auckland, and another of .£IOO from Mrs Lighterwood, of Sydney, wife of a former member of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand. The latter amount is to be invested, and the interest applied to the stipend for a teacher in the New Hebrides mission. It was resolved to grant a petition from TeAroha, Waihi, &c, for the constitution of a separate charge, but no steps shall be taken towards the settlement of a minister until the people are in a position to give JEISO towards his stipend. The Treasurer's report showed that all the funds of the Church were in credit except the Book of Order fund, which had a Bmall debit balance. The funds of the. Church had lost £134 14s in interest through the defalcations of a church officer, and £1160 of the principal had been wrongly paid to some person, and the question of the position of the trustees and mortgagors to these moneys was now before the Supreme Court. Several congregations had not yet paid their assessments for the Assembly expenses fund, and there wa3 an increasing tendency to evade payment to the aged and infirm ministers' fund. The Eev B. Wood moved— "That the Assembly instruct Presbyteries, in view of the next general election, to hold public meetings, in co-operation with other denominations, with -a, view to making Bible-reading in public schools a fast question to put to candidates." The motion was seconded by the Rev W. J. Gow. The Rev G. Webßter moved— " That in present circumstances it is not expedient to reopen the religious question in connection with the Education Act." The amendment was seconded by the Bey J. H. M'Eenzie. It was further moved by the Bey J. Patterson — " That this Assembly deprecates any interference with the Education Act in the direction of donominationalism, and instructs the Committee to watch carefully any such attempt; that we renew our testimony in favour of the Bible in schools, and urge upon ministers and members to take all available means to accomplish this result." This proposal was seconded by the Bey Mr : Thompson (Palmeraton). After -a long debate Mr Wood withdrew his motion in favour of . Mr Patterson's. On a vote 7 being taken 21 votes were given for Mr Webster's motion and 40 for Mr Patterson's. The report of the Church Extension Committee was given in by the Bey J. Patterson, who made an appeal to the young men of the Colouy to come forward for the ministry. The sum collected for this cause in 1892 amounted to £484, as compared with £364 in the former year.