Presbyterian General Assembly.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4574, 20 February 1893, Page 4

Presbyterian General Assembly.

[PjBB P.UBSS ASSOCIATION. I WELLINGTON, Feb. 18. The Presbyterian General Assembly invited the Moderators to breakfast this morning. Among the speakers were the following:— Mr Duthfe, M.H.8., who urged on the members the necessity for more attention being paid to the wants of the large non-church-going population. The Rev Lewis, from the Ministers' Association, touching oa the Bible-in-schbola question, assured the meeting thb,t, while lamenting the absence of the Bible from schools, be would be no cat'B-paw to help churches to acquire grants from the public purse for denominational schools. In the Assembly the report of the Maori mission called attention to the need for more workers, and specially for the appointment of a medical missionary. The report states that, the Natives suffer much front Native impostors, who often combine the double function, prophet and doctor, and whosie treatment of patients in many instances proves fatal. The Maoris have much to learn of the sanitary laws by which dwellings and habits of life are affected. The Chinese mission reports that there are 2259 Chinese in the Colony north of the Waitaki. Tbe report pleaded for a New Testament being put into the hands of eaoh of these. ' This afternoon the Assembly resumed consideration of the report of the Committee on the aged and infirm ministers* fund, and resolved to adopt the report and agree with tbe recommendation of the Committee anent the position of 'ministers whose congregations may not have contributed their quota to the fund, and to enjoin all congregations to consider their own interest in paying a. sum annually, and where they decline the Treasurer to be authorised to require a statement.of the reason, and again call the attention of ministers to their duty in connecting themselvea with this fund. The Assembly resolved to assign to tbe Rev J. Gow an annuity of wfilO per annum, with such additions as he may bo entitled to under the regulations, conditional on a satisfactory medical certificate as to incapacity being received by the Committee. The Eev E. tiommerville called attention to a legacy of £100 Jef t by the late Mr John Mains, of Auckland, to the aged and infirm ministers' fund, and the Assembly resolved to accept the legaoy with thanks. The Widow and Orphans' Fund Committee reported that the year's revenue had amounted to .£375 Os 4d, and the expenditure to £175 Oa lOd. The capital now stood at £5955 19s 9d. By the death oE the^ Eev Mr Adams, of Auckland, his widow and family had become annuitants on the fund, j The report was adopted/ A petition from the Presbytery of Auckland, aßkin^ that the 'Rev John Gow Bhould receive the position of minister emeritus, wag granted. The draft of an address to be presented to the Governor was adopted.