PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2063, 14 February 1889, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

(PEB PRSBB ASSOCIATION.) Avoklaxd, February 13. Tho Preibyterlan General Assembly re* named its sittings to-day. Permission was given to Mr Millas Smith, student, and J. Lymburn, fiawke's Bay, to baptise and marry. The Rev A. McOallum, who bad resigned hli oharge at the North Shore, was granted a teat In the Assembly, An overt ore from the Auckland Presbytery on the subject of overlapping of eaoleilasttaal interests m districts whloh could not support several denomluatio is led to an animated dlsoueeloo. Th« Rev J. Steele moved to recommend Presbyteries to confer with other demouiiutiont, and if. possible arrange for come course of action m suoh oasts. Eventually, however, on the motion of the Rev J. Doall, the matter was left for the consideration of the various Presbyteries. It was again vasoived to petition Parliament on the I lbjdot of gambling. A 1 "- the evening sitting the report of the widows and orphans' fund was read, showing that the capital now stood at £4569. The Assembly decided to petition Government to remit payment of the property tax upsa this fund, and also the aged and infirm ministers' fond. The deputies from Otago, Rev J. Balrd.and Mr Adams, were welcomed. The report on the stste of religion and morals set out that m the northern part of the colony there waa cause for encouragement, but to Canterbury neither the state of religion nor morals could be regarded as satisfactory, Reference was made to the worldllnces, Sabbath desecration, gambling, and intemparanoej wbioh had hindered the work of the Ohurob. It was recommended that sermons should be preached upon Sabbath deieoration and gambling, and the Assembly urged all ministers to care mote for the training of the young. The deba'o on this subject had not concluded at the adjournment hour.