THE PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 5295, 28 February 1884, Page 2

THE PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

(per united press association,) , Wellington, Feb 25. The report of the records of Presbyteries were given in* The Auckland records not being sent the Scholarship Cor^mittee were not prepared to do anything this session as the necessary information could not be obtained in time. It was decided that the Committee should have power to allocate the scholarships, The Rev Mr West read a report on Temperance. The report recommended — (Ist) That in congregations where Temperance, Society did not at present exist, or any other general society was at work, they be recommended to organise such. (2nd) That the Presbytery be requested to appoint one or more members to visit the congregations for the purpose of forming such societies, and that they report to their various Presbyteries. (3rd) That, where practicable, Temperance sermons be preached at least once a year to the, various congregations. Mr Douglas hoped that 'some meanswould.be taken for the purpose of interesting children in the work of the Band of Hope. The Rev. Mr Slqann objected to portions of the second recommendation referring to " Where no general societies were at work." He traced the defeat of the .Temperance candidates at Chrißtchur.ch in the recent Licensing elections as being due to these general societies failing to aeree amongst themselves who to appoint. The Rev. Mr Gillies after referring to the large majority in the House of Commons in favor of local option, and the great work now being performed in England, said that Major Atkinson had stated that the cause of poverty in -this country was intemperance, yet he had not the courage to take steps for its suppression, but had proposed a fanciful scheme of -insurance. Let them lay the axe &v the root of the evil, and deal with poverty afterwards. It was decided that the second recommendation be carried out as far as practicable-, and the report was adopted. The committee on the Turner bequest recommended the appointment of trustees, who were accepted by the Assembly. Ai committee was appointed to undertake the compilation of a code of rules and forms of procedue for the Church. This being all the business the Moderator, in a short concluding address, gave the resume of the work of the Assembly. ■ He also gave a few words of counsel to those present, and hoped they would always strengthen one another's hands." The Moderator then closed the Assembly by prayer.