Presbyterian General Assembly.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2904, 21 February 1893, Page 3

Presbyterian General Assembly.

IKB, PRESS ASSOCIATION. Welungton, February 20. The Sunday School report showed 152 schools, 14,000 children, and 1268 teachers. The opinion was expressed that steps should be taken to get a law enacted making it a punishable offence for any newspaper or other publication printing news on betting and wagering. On the motion of the Moderator, it was resolved that any Minister leaving the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and desirous to withdraw from Hs connection with the fund, to entitled to receive back one-half of the rates paid by him, but without interest. Among the grants made to congregations this year were—in the Presbytery of Ohristchurch—Flemington and Tinwald £12, Halkettand Kimberley £20, Malvern £20. The A sembly unanimously offered congratulations to the Rev J. Euncan, of Foxton, on his attaining his 50th year of ministry, and expressed their high appreciation of his long and faithful services. The Rev Mr Gordon, of Marion, was nominated as Moderator of next Assembly. The Assembly expressed sympathy with those buffering by the Queensland floods, and desired to encourage the Presbyterian people to contribute to the fund opened for their relief. It was moved by Dr Elraslie, seconded by the Rev G. Webster, and carried—. " That the Assembly lodge a very emphatic protest against the action of the present Government in bestowing a grant of £400 on the Magdala Asylum, which is a purely denominational institution and is not subject to any public inspection, and that this protest be lodg«d on the ground that it involves a violation of an important principle of religious equality. which should be strictly adhered to in the adminwtrafcion of the public affairs of the colony." On closing the Assembly agreed tc meet at Christchurch next year. The report on statistics read on February 17, showed that 141,446 persons avowed themselves as being of the Presbyterian faith, 74,452 of whom belonged to the New Zealand Church, ana 66,904 to the Chqrch of Qtago. There weie 246 Presbyterian churches, and 124 other places at which Presbyterian services were held, Locked at from the most favorable point of view there were 266,488 persons who were living outside the churches of every name. M*ny attempts had been made to cast the responsibility of this state of things upon the churches. So far as the churches had been guilty of negligence or unfaithfulness in their mission they were responsible, but; nothing more. It could not be ignored that a considerable portion of that 266,488 persons from their mode of thinking and living found nothing in the clmrchep which they cared for, while a considerable number, it was to be feared, were severed from churches by alienation of mind from things with which the churches were entrusted. The churches could not be held responsible for those who wouli not accept their provision. A great many suggestions also wero being made as to the means by which this lamentable state of things might be corrected. Some would institute what was called pleasant Sabbath afternoons, some would substitute social questions for Christian doctrines lor discussion in the pulpit, »nd others suggested other remedies of every hue. As citizens, members of Churches might do much to ameliorate social disorders, bufc the Ohurch itself could do very little directly if she be faithful to her calling. The report concluded by stating that there was very much land to be possessed, and that the Church as a whole required to arise and shine and let her light be felt. This reflection applied to every Church organisation in the country, according to the statements contained in the census, and to the larger denominations in a much greater degree than to the smaller. At the Moderator's breakfast on February 18, among the speakers was Mr Duthie-, M H.R.. who urged on member* the necessity to give more attention to the wants of the large non-church-going population. The Rev Mr Lewis, from the Ministers' Association, touchingon the Bible in schools, assured the meeting that, whiJe lamenting the absence of the Bible in schools* he would be no catspaw to help the churches to acquire grants from the public purse for denominational schools. The report on the Maori Mission called attention to the need for more workers, and specially to appoint a medical missionary. The report states that the Natives suffer much from Native impostors, who often combine the double function of prophet and doctor and whose treatment of patients in many cases prove fatal. The JVTaoris have also much to learn in sanitary laws by which their dwellings and habits of life are affected. The Chinese Mission reports that there are 225H Chinese in the colony north of th» Waitaki. The report pleaded for the New Testament being put into the hands of each of these. In the afternoon the Assembly resumed consideration 4 the repoit pf fclio Committee on the Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund, and resolved to adopt the report and agree with the recommendation of the Committee anent the position of ministers whose congregations may nob have contributed their quotas to the fund, and to enjoin on all congregations to consider their own interests in paying a sum annually, and where they decline the Treasurer be authorised to require a statement of the raasen and again call the attention of ministers to their duty in connecting themselves with this fund. The Widows and Orphan?' Fund Cony miitee repotted thet the year's;' revenue had amounted to £375 0$ 4d, and the expenditure to £175 O.s lOd. The capital now stool afc £5955 19* 9.d. By the death of Rev Mr Adamsi, of Auckland, his widow and family had became annuitants on the fund. The report was adapted. The drafb of an address to be presented to the Governor was adopted.