PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2065, 16 February 1889, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

(FEE PBKBB ASSOCIATION.) Aucklakd, February 15. The Presbyterian General Assembly considered »n overture to-day from the Auckland Presbytery, requeuing that the Westminster Confession of Faith bs taken Into consideration, and measures deviled for Its revision. After considerable dli--onsiion a motion wai otrrled to the effect that the modified forum » already adopted^ by the Ohn*oh m referenoe to the Confession of Faith, and the relation of It* officebearers thereto, secure all that. l* neoesstry or expedient m present elrcum* aUnoes. The Assembly granted a dispensation to the Rev Mr Thompson, of Wellington) m respect of his examination m Hebrew. A Committee was appointed by the Assembly to draw up an addcen of. weloome to Lord Onalow, the newly* appointed Governor fit this oojony. In the dleoußslon apoo the Confession of Faith, the Rev R. Somervllle ipoke it some length m support of the overture, and maintained that the Oonfessipn wm out of keeping with the living faith of the Ohuroh. He knew most excellent men who would not sign it as it was, and. were In consequence lost to the eldership. Whilst believing In future punishment, he* did not think it would be of the nature* of the awful tormentg represented In the* Confession, whloh m other portions of its statement of dootrlne was obsoure, end not according to the enlightened intern** - tatlon of the Word of God. The Rev F . Oalders moved to the effaot that >Jhe Assembly, whilst recognising its lmpr >rtanoe, deolined In the meantime to /lake aotion. Rev Mr Oogg submitted ame >tloa providing for the appointment of a Committee to adjust questions put at. the ordinations, so that they ba in harjttany with the formulae .subscribed to by the ministers and elders. The motion, wnteh wss eventually oarried, was moved by the; Rer 0. Gillies. The discussion last* d two* hours and a half, but the general feeling appeared to be that the Asawmb'iy prtr farted not to interfere serioualy f )Hh the Oonfesslon.