PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 36, 6 November 1907, Page 4

PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

NEW MODERATOR'S ELECTION. ; „. JIIS 'INAUGURAL, ADD^ES|r :: '.;'' ■ ; i/ ; A spirit of. great characterised, !••• tlio inaugural l sdfvicovpf'itliQ, present sess^pn. | . .of the General Assembly of tlio [•', Church: of.'rNc.\v, lieahind^ ! ;h^ld'iirSt.. l J,olin's„ ; ' Church last- cveiling,,. :: There-whs .'a ...good ...[attendance,,,-and.. ;i St,, r, John's .'choir/.)\vithi-Mi^ i ;J;'..Maughan ; .Bftrnott r , •; as organist,klcd; tlioienthusiastic s|uging.\in, • tho "Old hundredth and ( .other, •' besides'rondenng TJie-.s'erriion., j; .of t-hav. retiring -..Moderator.-.(the Rpv,?G. R T v ' Munrri) was.'nn -oloqugnt-, plea ifor'...officien'cy, i for giving of the best in the Christian sprr,, vice, aiul-tho-inauguV»l/ pf ; tjiq pgy Moderator, (tho' RcV:?A\ Dpnj'aic.m'yi.stroug- ■ ippeai'for much greatok J,i bffort;in"'the field qfforeign'misd'oni'.'' Mr:JDon , s t ''ri3dV<iss 1 '^d's' - ire- 1 ' V- .;.eoiredisri^h'-ooMideraßl'4'iappla , Ul[?.' ** lIODERATOR^ Tho;'retiring ini.h'y J : as ministiA-3.;.thoy.y!iiust; pot ..qffqr to'the Lordthat which',:Cost' itheiji tticj ■ beginnings map mijst .dedicate,liis'ajlto'the ■ miiiis(Sy«- . intellectual force .flijij- truest, .'ldvjdJ pathy., ,:Jsverything : 'ih(),,Taluecl ii^st' inUst:['bb unreservedly laid-.UBpn,jtlie altar, "and ijothifiE . could j■ If ; they " a staßifyy|J;. living, • they increase? 1 ' -their these..(la.y?,;-of' severd;? strains upon i X {ho •l^ an '--■ iC ~ must. ■; . .his lisg' ' 'Btagest.,?at=ilia... . Hall, MWiill [tiliro'ufeli','lxis ■'lif.oJj' clt-eii^ibiikl^j l^ ' ' -they .raust, : ay.did., ; >allsuperficial,'' 'for;; / • ChristL; ; --' i ..lt.y.waa jih^iiia^ti^6i;.'|MK&n£ , 'cP:' •::* Christ'" to "say, or even''to; "thiiiK; 1 * r thaj lie''; could i-pijtpr. Joa* tnipife. j. : 'preaoV to" X.. ' , for tho[bread 'of'"life,~ from him .that.-, which,.cii^ljiffi,. ' ' fiojne tromelj;,pressing/ J did, . dQcasio.D.fllyj.. : yiiiid'' ..tills'j r ; tion, b.u.ty it';lp6ujd rcfeistd<H*; ,) for. : *;Wi(f!- Ufcit&T 1 . ,'oil, tieyß'osfc.Jtli^y■ i pouU) J 'av ; ciplo of'the'text' co'tild' be'app)ied (l 't6''eVery-| I-' thing.in..cpnpectjori with _th<?ir-office as mjn-'' '' isters.' ri^v Pitt : . ' ofnce-bearersj' mfem : b&s'j I ''aild ■fidfiefer/ts "•'•'of 1 tho .Ch.njtian. i - ~ If such wero the- ; ~ case there. wpul(i''ho''!i' maH'ell6iis' , (!li3if^i''in l 1 '.- ';thestv^Knng;'' dtftf giv'il'if?. !' ■; standard ■■■ 'Tof, |;CHi i 'raisedtuiat > 'ui|,'; W&ldV'^ouM ! ;-|ie !: of the''reality jfrofessidifl^• Efi-' thusiasm ; jn. reprd to God's cause wo^lit, , : ! bo' so :intqnsjfied/tnat''T;eadjf £ntl cdpablS' wbrlcers ' . ■would' ,: 'bfi''-alwaJs fbrt'hcbmiffi, .tiiid^Kßeriilit'y P 1 - for the. extension' of '.kingadm s wbfljd' ,i: bo t '^rViei'i' l tf6iild- 1 he altfi^^Wf^'- i ah^ f attractiv6/ , s . of thd'*sanc£uary.'would'Tc/ceffe -'tlleir'most" I '' • earnestfVand' inteTOg6h't' J attefitibn'/ , '!ihd , tiyfe¥6'!''' : would no difficulty ,in v securing r _gifK6d 3i .; .; helpert; fo^ifhis 5: deb'irfment/' s^ •■" would'/.recpivo' nnfre', tli6'iigh'u''fuK : fiiid revlcr'erit attent < i'6h' r^dlid ;, 'M , tlfej'; 1 ! ■ Churc}r' ; bd I ''carri(!d' ; -but'' ,i,:^:jtfi;': i' Breat^'s^!^lSß5 l ';'iSuso.- of, Hofiio'.'-'-'ahd-" - v: •i'oreigh"; 'iVlissiciHS' • Hvdultll ;: : '.as r ' jieVe j'"' JB boforei" lf '?lt j^otilcTf'lib'l'Gycl'fe''Ciixffftf rfi'ltl * , God: Mi%?thb;;beis6;; ;«-f, »•>•»«•«'• f - 1 ' >• The^.?Wemlily^ ! fdll" was, taken ; as;rea ! d. :: 'y ;; MODEIIiTd-Rv''^ Tho],'' fttirin£; ! ;lfdti^Njt'or the tinio* wKen : : 'he':'jinfi^E'"^'Vacafiy' 7 ! tho chair and' ! 'nßini!uife;'3iii'^''sucSessoP/'lt 0 " -. . .had b^div'a^'clisaji^Hltip^ii'i;'/t^. j'" : •. • ing hj|"j3fW''■ grogatidii/jthd 1 inuiiji .IbcHlf'claiiiis''up'tfii-hiiif,*?- :, .' : ;' .and the, wArk'i'bf'.' :i .. preveii&d Mftuig, .' I "bt^??Pt6li6M(fH'es' i ' „■ than ~ .of work.: r fd]jktfafion L '^tb;fes^^ii'a ! ;'' openiiig;' new, .cllurches;" Th'e ''6ilico, 'of V'j'i'; - 'R±odev_a£6V 15 Vvak. 'lipV .aij l B^.b'ntpv'flic ,ho hoped ,'jiojb'fenr. tlfttank;' x tvhen'thfc.jlLssem'bly ifiSUld'vMieVe 1 s , 'rator<BP , lh'diWd(iV; - him lib^g^S^&ilUSl^ A i}fc-."|SiMi. ::|, worlv. •< ■: (Appl&useJ);Jl? fe'^'-Ito' ! -1 1 :him tti'tiioW thrd't' ,,, b&6!- , i50 ffiowff. T fivl-" r^ • respecfpcl' jllb -i : llev. .'A;'.D"6ir : sh6v.ld'be'/jflieif'i'iiew % tor. ."'He'79lt' : - ; thaVHh'e' l Chui'cH', v '"in : ;li6iiofti'- 1: '5! ; ing;Mi'..;.,Dbi. t holißtited' ; -itself.' ;'ffls 'feijy *4' • long 'Stod faitrafipTrtirlif aM% 'BhiiTdscy t ■ not o'iuf :s iif NoV; 'h ! ZealaMf KIT- 'Moijuout 1 ;' mu 1 'sp'lbiiSrd'' j - organisatibiV :: S'£l cfliihfecHUii'. : Wfth 'ilio~- s , i'aminc , 'liolpji ;t(J r | H^hci' : |u • Churph's; missionai'ids- aSj;uiriifjK' : * !,: ''the' ! ' Chin(^d !, 3ltiigfidg<?^l'nd: :il c^yf , ] , seiTl6& Vliacl:; led th^ f Clnircli"! 'to ■ gtVo f hsnour it c6uld .poSsibly ' : gir6':to- l a''miifistcf.''-' "Ho .'ha(HhcT'ddubfc l " : thafc'' l 'ho : tfdulcl :: -iill i;: rtlid'' 'I . place •'witli l br^dili'To'' , hinii(Mf^"And" jioii'dilf fij' # • the uhurcri:' l ;V';Ho''-'Hatl 'gi',^at'' :/ pl^asurd' u iii''"" moving l that •th*e ;i ßov : .''Alexaijdei , :'Ddii'-'bd i tli : t:' : - - Moderator' 1 for "1907-5"" ?';• ~fi .The-;'mbtibh'', i w'as l ''uria^iMd.ilsly r id6^t'ed.'''' ; S Thevrtfeitiii&'"M(Jd'oVat'or tlierf c'orfveydd'-'t'rt l " 'S Mr. Don tho fact of his election. -Bi!' V; liopfi'd ! '-'1 and prayed that ther-ne.ws-Moderator's term c ! of office might be a blessing to himself and , ; to the Clniith'.'ri'.i'/ii.^'iT w si . ' THE. NEW JIODERATOR'S ADDRESS. J.] .;n;.;(3HEIS'HANS.€^ The. n'divly g: Don;_ 'tnei'i V'.h'iHi,,' ,w.e .give in' a ; foriii, ' !' ;;c ''JL l 'athG.i;s v aii'ct' br'ot'lii'eii,'-'. said 'Si "wlieiii -nominated.-''TprV'.'. "a: thanked you"; ''aiid 11'ow 'ag"4in' 1.-itJiqiikiydu;' !(1 for electing, me'., I, : ieel.Vuinvpi'thy, .cif honour .aria "unjpt fpKthqVoffico'i wrlulgVl :fpol" si ; intense,' pleasu'ro, tji'at 'yoiuvbest..gi'ft has^Keqii.! ',j . presented, to.ono ot your? il? thus l'narkjug .'?,,..sfjnsq,.,qfyt,he ,ni tho work. abroad.!. Thd-ititld .ofV.jnjt. . •' is 'Mission's.: Tho 'Chrcf vliiud*..ol'"tlVo?(3iristiaii. ,111 Church.,', .1. t.ijfer.'iti.,,t I liat, r y,Qii, ;*cpiicecio.?' t,hf>, S &1 truth,,ip.f,thp .title, that: you. believo .piissioris ; !ni ■: are thfj'/chjof, ond-.of' "tlio ; o*i:k •', jV . for which she ( ?is v cpm^is. , iioiied ,by" our .'Lord; '»*' *\y'hatever:;lier I : ..piist', .posjtioii,; -tho pjgfppt .at ; , . : t( titudo . tlie ;( t'resbyiteriaii;:Cluii-cjl thjrp/ighr' -jii out tlio-'world ■Js jiiissionary,, ; ,.lii.,mis!iionc!f-y,.. enterprise, 'proportionally, .tp: pur,, ,-i. . lead all 'tiia-'Oiiurclies.'.'of,/the n. :: tho Moravians^'and perhaps, ,t)ip

MiSSiONS: HOME "Now: if; falls to bo stated' --what 'isi-'meaflt'' by 'missions.' So much has recently • fe'h- 1 written about foreign, that the way must bo made plain. There seems an inclinaapiv on/tha.'pai-t; ipfrsqniejto antagonise tliesd' Wo* branches. ' Biifrftf is not a question of home •missions'or foreign missions.: tho questiqn is homo missions and foreign"' ''mission!?;''- Jiotli' nr'o 1 f/aVt.4'' 'of '"'tlio great r comuiission, jiiicl ; shoifld iiuver'bo' against^6iid' : imothei-Y r; 'Jt •h'.Vrf'' been : well' .said' that, : 'Tli£ distinctioii".lJdt\vech hoiiio aiid'fov-' pign missions, 1 though' 'con't'emqiltftif 'tfclmWi'' istratipn/.'has no'spiritual 'UisisV:\yoiir : ciiy, : - your state,. Jieiglili'diu-iiig'''Viat'ioiiy."' tlie'- iitttir-'' most ;pai;t; ;6f th6:'eaytl(, nl) on# ontlarid-Hho field' of • ; iiiissio'nai l y 1 oflteVpfisK'' 1 ' 1 'W-bi'fT-says,'/Air''hhtiqits" bbgin'niiisf ,at Jbrfiialifh ' 1 and that>;-the : ' sequc/idp'yis- iill JiidehV^Stt'rfiarin^_ blip! -'li't'fcrmosfi jjarl-'intliq earth : .'V 1 is"';kich a ;£liin^',i's ..tlß'.' nep' loot of' Jiidea' a^diSfimiij'irf''fttj' ; tfib lil/fel-hi'bst/ part; tliero'is dldo 'sucli'a of the "irt'toVruoSt.'jjartfor'Juclb;^

. t ~\i GRAVJE- JSUiiOR. '

•. "Herb. lqt img. rofei;' tq.'.ii. grave'., Ijiit' ..yexjj, common; orroi;.',-' Iji: f ;ihafiing .comparison?.;-he'-)'' twoeii; liomo 1 "missions .' and - fbrc'igiv«missions'' Jerusalem', is view tliutsr .<s incttiiipleto: 'See how- it' is said) Vis being given',for fwc : «l!- 'lir-hls'/iand li'ow lit'Oo i'bf. fjio.tfiaok:-. block? 1 . ' v Tliq,' 'tbijipfirisojiV'if|.) l'ot bo foreign fields with f>ackbl6cks'," ! 'but; r tho foreign field .with, .New ..^ealsmd—the whole of the homo "field."" This error' is hoary with .age, hut it,,is; an,qccor.,.. It is ~J 19b,.jdifncjiiit;.ito jts; ..qj-ignf,-; A A ry aAn'rljyin- Jiistorjjjrf .t-he * [Christian--C'hnrcli,. j;hi'ougli. i: ;stf.ifeji- wi{-hiij,;.f)incU,.estoK from without, intg-f sei^i^e,aj;Jig i ii/siii, k forgot the maiii item 'on her charter, and missions abroad practically ceased. When

j liitsSibh wo/ll irdsiSiied, tin C n jcli —so long solf-cejjtiyfl— niiseon ceivod her own status,'and took'-up mission: as qAito subsidiary., Fleming Stoyonson puti tho fruo rolation thus: 'Tlio mission'is no( an cti'gnii fh/s/.Church i: an organ o'f 'tlie' iiiissioii'diyinelv' lijipoiiitod divirfoly endowed, divirt'eiy "chnlft in.' The Prcsj)yteria(i ,C.|i|Ji'f|i qf Js r p«;',!{loal,-)i,ifl inherit.' 'tfho jerror.'"IlftVwifiT• matlc cloaiv then, that .'missions'r wo;;k and foreign j. Wo'i'li, thp 'iiext 'stop,"'lll' e'xec'|iting tho com- '; Miss oii ii> t'lV of propor■s 'tioii. i-A:'-wisf)- Ohina said,'' The art pi l i lifu ;isi-]thc'::»pt ofiMblcotiop,-!.! Tho, duty ol jt'io Cliii.fch is to„go i)}tq„a]l tho, .world: her .flh/ol; dijt# by,, tho need and tlio opportunicj? Lot U's_ sdo liow . this dntv j' 'is" bping'db^en , c'd I n)y'"'our' ! bwii' Ch'iirch and 'tlio. iJi't'go.'' ; K^rap''Woi^^4loNEY. 1. i^SuiVKprl^,^'jKjiwJpvr Clirist- " ijirisJreally l "fl'p'w'riia'iW'considoi' thrtt;. thd'Cli'hrßli n exist's ;ißdVely'-to -'hold its • dfr-n,' at'-its bH'n'dOorsj'"a'nd;look : upon mission 1, vfti-li—fhdnio-i.aadi'/forijign-tTiafl quito/optional. Howj ■ with a V- .&Li}ulaY>schpol ; .eßicipntly* staffed, ' -a-' good i-1 o'rgaiiy 1, 'Jrfanikti'''antr choir'/' intli'^flburisliing I. jprfiyeri'lliUStillg, 'BlUlo 'eliiSs; ,, 'find 'Endeavour ; .Society oil 'How -1 .rca>y:riiKmy.i arcs-- content -with -' lnijoh.less, and-jasMa .-.spj'.tijof, salvo, to con- ' jfeS ß , tO . th 7 .-colleofcioiks. for jmd -i-orejgn missions! If•. cdllectifcfiis l \v'<3cp'-'lißt' :I talvcii uj', ! !thßy would 1 iipje) - give! a'liythihgVftt all." '' v ' ag(i, :ut:'::a kcofifererico • of- tho . ; Nprth. fAiliei'jcan,-.!i\lissipiiar:y Bpards,-. full lig- : -For CliTistiqii'.s,. for Homo sjV.fosinW.s.'.''£l ;fTO.U(JO; "for 'l^roiKn! ; f!).OQ,000.' i; Sijl , '.f;}iyu'#lt -tlla'" irdtfd Ji ';aijrpad is vvastly- greater,>-'iiild -the -freid .far.iinore ex- • ...tpnsivo,!.- Jerusalom takes 18s. -of tho guinea, ;'J.udda -nfifl iS»j)iarifii nttaramflstj ,Tlijs vl js h .'ljipg(uning at •, js almost'ending tlierOi l!oq. ! ' ' Our I'Vditij'FeiJiair Church of i-No>vi •■Koalft'nd :: ' : 'Bo'es r;: sonie\Vh'ati : '' ! Bettei' tlnn ■.^prtli,"Anioi'itfa.-' Upon';fdrejgn' missions, m!.cluiding:,the! Maori- mission, wor sppiid, £6,003, ,;,jiJ'ft£{oiic-tontli of the £G0,&00 lionre. ',j TH3E W,ORLD THE OTSLB3«sMEN. 'iW'Fiofd is tlio'-AVorid."' mon-iy, is>HJij to 111011'.' For'a- million fpeoj^l#'iii New ,-?ealand thero aro 750 ordainedaindn of all -.•(jiia Churches; whereas, in Central India, acroajjfl|n¥ p td'?S}\ I'riiser piimphlet, tiicire district'i^;oiVe'-*'mtl'i , l > 'tlid size': of pofiiilatibiPbf nearly 4j-.i mifliofi,^a%ff |i l^Jssio'i 1 !'*! workers--art) Jfivci; liiaieK, -'ATSd'Weft' ! is''aYiotlier- clis-itr-ipt', jrd' 1 'tli<!> hre%'dr'tlic North Sslaild^fcbrirai^iii^; 1 ft jdpiilijfldli ''if' li 'mil•ilipjps', jm&lorf; ' Presby--265-' i|ninfstei5 Il ind ! for 204,000. patfi6t'ic''to"''d'hdeavour tp,,secure t.hq lfegular preaching of tho gospel'' ;iij;r,o} r djx ij'jiut what iS l? lSiwg' ? bf? , tH& 'jffitrioHsih of the' •■Kl'ligddiir'df ! i,l^vh^fd'!tlie'il d'!i's neither iGrecjiv'iid'f^iJ'Mv;'lfiiidir'lifii- Bl'itoiiy Chinese' ,no r n ■ I EIWGBAMMEt w i _ t 'lpV'.'me' outiJjiw I wBiV flij. Ghnrch,; -asSa; wrtii'es's -forJGlii'ist "ainon'g ( %he|''heatlien' .«!jt4»d^..arfU.'*at'!'K)nt^—. -"'"'-'T; : " K " tife' -MisWjM staff.2.;.;jllaffitaifl^ihe'_ efTicipncy' of : n tlid work 11. i;-.. I ';'iWH^d^A r cw. E Hcb"rkl^r\iM ! ,anio!iD;' the jW | * pHfl^SplH' 'KeSS'Zp^filaiid".' 1 ' ' j." so clear j 'tLif :, wd ,: c3nhdF'aisrb^'afd4t'. r: « ,- 'mi' 4. - Press .forward in .China'.' ,AVe should >hes ! ' ' besides ;;r.: j "j :M Tlio Indian i "missionaries yffffiiffSSCliat. ono foreign-' ibCf" I foK"2s,ooo"'hoaj' thfinif difficulty'in >-Mij j ;600",'OCK), i-M«i 1 VliiSv ' 'ic.'! l ;Hribs[ l !J!'TJibn'\q|ttr _CSritpn' l: 'district, "at «-:C (J./' metli'ca!l work'. . 7 I jftnias °bcon'' said;'rTjier'd', r M ''iio iiiord 1 "missions : •'*' _ >jigQrouslj , v c(Jiic'atioiia!l j fiiii'i 1 ! ypflt r '.alsq.; & . ttid 7 "w]iole ; <jf,'the 11011- . vi'-" ! 70^ri^^jai 1 "' I ''>H'pi ; td"y 'ili'er , p'.''nfb '25,Q0'6 : f;-"-!. xhfiSidii .ii felfc 'witli ' '"ili I ' I rhu^^i^l'^iii'es'th&'h^^er^f 1 children ' Thus wc lieed preachers and teachers, . Vliltit-q,! = i : ,(lpi:.toi;Si i.-.churches, , jlllo'ols.ij.doUSgesyviandr.boapitals. ,'As -wo adSjjincO|:;pur..;'Suc!(;pgSt i s iwill croatc'".critical. per- . ip'jts] jfhjoh:'VilKjnupt<a;.i.«!l our-».-fait-h and rc.s6ui'cc?(;f;i!!,JVhplo inJndL'),'. wo arc v-WSsßttadjj for. :.!«i UKesii'.ov.P'he ..people , UfiS. jobiaioturiQgjlQp.preachers, . iiiH 'they uiiderstivndifWihy -so few . are ' senti', : i, : 4nswpr.-,sijnilar calls. ' ivlien ,t,he!-itim<?.Artnies.a.i ,i-ibwl.;. , 1 . m" Here;,', at' Mission . jjoai'dyi-witte ai sircTitary^fpr'foreigir,missions, a,iuissidni«i'y- 1 chaii')_in-j.jra'n ,, /Ph'eblojgical Hall, • a' iiieiiio'.i trainiiij?:' iiMtituteyi'van.',",intelligence . ilfipcjrt-nieiit); distinct fromV'btrt f iif'clpso touch : jvjthj ''Boardi'bvrhjch'* will' edit a^(l-jfial)lish' , .'ai'o'oung-ipooplp's, , hoiiio''aiid for- - 1 pign! .missionary fcallcct mission - nia,tter.i 'news. for tho ,soirolat.''i\<)W?pa;pei'S i <)a'nd ,| i ; iteiiris' for the • Press "A'ssodiftiion;':! correspond "j with tho 1111 ost/a'blteh.'libra'i'fdii'-'tri-connection witl< Uf.Wt'MrTJ; people's . in'Bfcit'utJn cInKKPS'-fsi' ■ -jiHseidii study, issue and distribute literature to listed i ohurches and the 1 Church, and so on. • ....Disl/ii ''''"j s'/i: ! . CAN DO IT IF, WE AVILL." ! ■■ may say ' that the outlined pro- j gismnie'is iver-y ibigvcand.Yhold-'thatr it is too l<)g ; tori:bo';icarfiid> out"'by'- tlio" Presbyterian 1 C^unih"! - 'Of^eoii^so,,' if wo •, Jecidd' ~:<; Th¥'•'thiHgl'jsanfl^t.. b'd;;dpno,' 'then '. issuredly r 'it , i-will 'hd6?.' l lsut;';b l ef6i i d ivc"uso \ Eliq I jford ~ '4^r''i;^., ..sure. 'is^.-ii'iipf|§pibld.'. sec it a , suqcess,^ c | ; The faptoiisr a watc)iword. J ,pf Samuel \ J^liltsj/wJkx ifonndedb AhcSiAnioricin- Board of , 1 foreign '.Missions, which_ now employs SGO . E' "db' it,' ift'wd will. 1 ') dn-piifF'-wrdto-'froiii'-flndia th'aj!'"the«ma,xi- ] ini^m".missldjif-.fqf'eiiiifi church j anil do < not !stpb! i jfi?V I |lm't )j 'a ; le'aamgjniqmber of tlie 1 ' £ 'pf-tho report, • 1 : -Is Ithpiiniftui; ii|^. : i ! i,!.l.:!Bjit,-iiqiir,vycars later, ( mat, snitiol;mefliberctotc.:t)ft':rhis:.-cauiiiioiit, and .( burntii/St.'''Kri.Kf <r* ilnrf. aiqv.J ,'J, ;hv ,«#s. "i l ' leoi.l fl? --;. , ; K h C v,; -HOW TO; DO;->IT'." : .i''.q .{ rl'-'Tl^,programme can out 'to '{ tlfe ! le.tjtor, and bo.vojid,.. -if f ,churches < throughout'- the" Dominion, : will,;-oli{y f r adopt a ,1 mothod • advocated by <DuffvKin >.'11839- —each I Jhiirch', or group of churches,"supporting its f J3ihr : iriisfeitmary;"or niissjphkrids:J. i: .,This"'"dwn ■ missioiiary plan ' -lias : been". j:/fed ; fjii .North 1 imririca'":; with. , reinnrlijibli|;:'VresjiTfs. The ' secretary' ; of' tlip,; AmqVipli JdWd'j.'fCongrega- < ; req^ntlj|,v?J?brfpdw tlHt,rloq;', churches • -1 .vhich 1 -. %w J-motjipd : ,|;had,v ; i'ncreased ■ ;heirigiyjiig(i liy.!;filo ) 0OO|-.-jwl>oi'ea^ i (-.othcr 155 ' iimilaclyi-'isjkitecl' cbUMhi!'s,.'ithatU;ejit to the < SIU inethod, had decreased theil 1 livings by fcl'l'ljOO;!"-" ('l'ho' | i''s^'eakeiv :|: 'qticft'ed ."individual 50?eS.) -l((

«tNpNiMl^ldNA l^^j^plif^|Bs|jSTlAN. '"f 1 It- iiai.' : igi'H-riteii that,. «to early-.out tho jftbgramme, there 11111 st bo a rfrtlicSil cfaango .|Vi'';tho attitude Church Ijicmbers. Tho present attitude has been 'Winted at. on tho jjSftpjbct. John it.' Mott: An active interest iij';tho promotion of' Christ's 'TCingdoni is a .mirk of [Imtio'/idisciplflship.-'-.rrAiid D. S. 'paSrjis: A Ckistipn ,;vJiieh it lias 110 :pn(! j ( l.s ; to' the } elementary victims' of !\sie .Clir.jsUa.Ji.'.'inp^'i/ll'ld'C'ai.' Ac'cpjitliig tya,',.\vo, and >ybere ;ip.* liionitioi'sliip of j-ourptlhurehes? 'We jmay ije|ec'tj. ( tTw'^ian^'glj> jjr«f probably every. merhtylr l v iwjll admit, .'tli'dtj if and ;ftii'.ojjj:u, I ,!!!i>'fe'ioliSUktuV out• of each of our chiniclfps."th.i''maj6>itj£' left; 'is' ),i'urcly a work■'i!S !« kM®!" M(iW, living i;i;\tor^,?};;'11>",W?fJl§ .'M c ?P/ sa , r - v for a jiriiig intprosl 11.1 missions.'. ; 'ls not. the' con''vors'o'true' uTso,"that'll in missions is nccessary„ta-Jl_lhiu&„interest in Christ:-'

jois) £ r gMtSflri? what js ( ,given. This 'test may fail' for the individual ; it is absolute for tho Church. Apply it, then, to ourselves. Last year, with a

communicant membership of 31,257, the sum ot ,£6OGB was given to foreign missions. Divided equally, the sum is barely 3s. 3d. to each communicant for the year—only threepence a month. This calculation presumes that the 36,615 adherents gave nothing, likewise the Sunday schools . (though they gave nearly one-third), the .Bible classcs and the Christian endeavourers. Reckoning these, the communicants gave, on the average loss than one halfpenny a week—one thousandth part of two guineas, the average weekly wage: The measure of the average iiitorcstis oven less than this; for hero are included the givings of seven churches that contributed £1-152, 14 per cent, of the mem-' bprs giving over 28' per cent, of the money.

MISSIONS SUPREMELY IMPORTANT,

"Fathers anil brethren, wo have hardly begun, as a Church, to realise the importance of the missionary enterprise; wo. have never allowed the matter to grip us properly. So it has often been said that we are only ' playing afi missions '; or, as .Miss Carmichael puts it, making daisy-chains, with our backs to a. sheer precipice, over which multitudes of stone-Blind people* fall shrieking into.infinite space—a horrible .waterfall of souls. Gladstone said : ' The missionary problem is the one great question of the age.' Do. we believe this? If Christendom did, if only pur Christan' membership did, ■ do you think that the Press Association would bo silent about tho splendid Students' .Conferenco at Tokio, ivliile telling all the world about, a. gunpowder explosion at Cantoil, or . the robbery of an unknown missionary? ; Would it absolutely ' ignore the groat Shanghai Missionary Conference, perhaps the greatest missionary conferenco ever held, whilo it cables right round' the world the twice-weekly .doings of a football team, and that a professional one? " I believe that this century, whcli saw the beginning of the modern racial struggle for mastery, will also see it decided. Every • thinking person wonders what will be tlio [issue of forces that-are only now emerging in the Groat East. The issue. depends very largely on Christian missions, and no wellinformed man can ignore their trend." "THY KINGDOM COME": GREAT . . . . "Why arc we so little interested? Because we have not really seized tlio import of .the ' great words, ■•' Thy Kingdom Come.' How many thousands of times wo have said them over, yet what do they moan to us? Read 'Daughters of Darkness in Sunny .'lndia,' or the ' terriblo facts nnd burning 'words' of that soul-scorching book, 'Things .as they are in Southern liidiiL' Then study anew the words, 'Thy Kingdom Come.' s And for that revelation of hatred, cruelty, despair, agony, murdor, substitute ilie grace, gentleness, ■ beauty, hone, and' lovo that tlio : Kihgdom"would bring to India. Look, too, : into tlio Chinese • mind, doubly-shackled by ;cruel superstition! See, oven in the child's ! soul,' gross darkness —fit .medium ' for _ the -hideous notion that God's pure air quivers with myriads of demons, bent on blasting the lives and ruining the prospects of the living. Turn from th'at look into tlio mouth of tho_ bottomless pit, and consider what'it will riiea'n to China when tlie Kingdom comcs, with its-truth and life, and light and liberty and gladness. ■ THE PASTOR, HOLDS THE KEY., ; " Consider .now, how tlio supremo importance of the. enterprise can bo brought home to .tho,individual Church member. How may :tlie interested two become a, score, and tlio. 'twenty a hundred? -Without doubt the right. : answer to : . this .is-, the-, key to the problem'. . i-Tho missionary cause must become a.personal one with the membership.. Missionary, enthusiasts in. a congregation must bo the rule, . .not the exceptionas common as they are /aro. Dr.. Horton says; .'Our missionary work must be part.of our faith, wrought into the texture of our : life, ,as .part as integral as the. conviction-that- wo-aro. pardoned and .'saved-for Christ's, sake.'. The whole membership must como to see . that '..tlio Church is;-.a missionary society;' and ' every .member of the; Church .is a member for'life of . said society,' as formulated by the United States .' .Presbyterian Church'.'' '

" How may; this come about?. The unanimous answer of all authorities is: ; .t.hp Pastor- . The prcsumptidn .'necdssaryijto.-' •'overy member a missionary,' worker,' is |'i<Syery' .pftstor'.a missionary ! pastor.' Joliiv ''R: 1 Mdtt ysayS :"'The' pftstor 'niust 'bo filled- ; ■with ;the' : splrit of missions:''j' DEPUTATIONS AN EVIL? ' " Hero perhaps , -it is pertinents to consider whether,-, foreign missionary deputations -havo not-dono more harm than good. It, is true that a great deal of the interest-taken, • and support given,-is due to such; for example, Dr. Duff's, deputation work raised tho .Foreign Mission incomo .of the Church from 1 £1200 to £7500 in IS3B. ;But I have a strong 1 conviction that the general affect lias been ;bad for minister and for members.' In tho 'members it has fostered the notion that tho : foroign mission movement is special and * spasmodic, not'part of their regular weekly i .business. And the minister, instead of him- 1 self seeking information to . give to his .1

people, has .very, generally., shifted his.•responsibility..upon tlie. Foreign Mission Com.niittce and the.missionaries.. . •

';THE STUDENTS NOT PREPARED. ' , _ f ' This leads a step further back, for, ber hind the minister is tho Theological Hall. Does the Hall s6t. itself Ito fit ipen for tho foreign field as, well as. for. tho homo 0110? Let one of tho Professors of Princeton—the great. American Presbyterian Sominary— answor. 'Theological seminaries-teach young men how to do everything except how to go into all tho world, and preach die Gospel.' That is a sweeping statement,-and, , if true,how conies,it about? Is it not further pi-oof of our pitiful-failure to grasp the importanco of the problem? Throughout the world, for home: Christians there aro 480,000 ordained .ministers, for heathens abroad there aro'6ooo —only one to eighty. New Zealand Prosby.torians have 265 ministers at home, thirteen abroad—ouly one to twenty. " Tlio Churclics arc beginning to recognise tho omission, and now Yale Collego has its I'Chair of the Theory and Praetico of Missions.' 111 course of time, every seminary must have its chair; then, sooner- or later iii his course, each student will have to faco

the question, Homo or Abroad? In tho past, especially before tho rise of ' tho Student Volunteer Missionary movement, only one hero and thero l'ealiy v mado. sure that the divine call was not' to go abroad. There aro to-day hundreds of men at homo who would bo abroad if their Hall had given "them a chance. In view of the- appalling need abroad, why should the student expecting to go bo a marked man? Should not, rather, tho man intending to stfly at home be marked; for, as the Princeton Professor (Dr. Erdmaii) says: 'He must be ablo to give good reasons why 110 is to stay.' Bishop Mott said, seventy years-ago, that ho would rather, the seminary should send out men to tho ends of tho earth than to fill tho milpits of his own land. Those who say, ' What a pity such n good inan is going to tho foreign field!' are at least half a century behind the

jimes. The foreign field demands, and- must [and will) get the very best.

BEHIND ALL, PRAYER.

"But behind member and student and

minister conies prayer—'pray ye therefore' before 'Go ye therefore." "We know that all our organisation and administration collapso miserably unless founded upon tho rock of believing prayer. This is true of our work at homo, in dealing with people akin in speech and thought; it is doubly true of our work' abroad. For more labourers and for moro funds, for the labourers themselves and for tho converts,, for ways of work and for doors of opportunity, our all prevailing niothod is prayer. Against principalities and powers, against the doviccs of Satan and' the rage of man, against strange tongues and distorted hearts, our all-conquer-ing weapon is prayer. May I specially plead for prayer for tho missionary. You' sometimes experience tho heavy driving of 'the .chariot wheels, do you not? So does he often, and you can make it lighter for him! God forbid that we should sin against our missionaries by neglecting to pray for tliem. This is the very best way to, help thani— the most effective kind of reinforcement. DO NOT COUNT THE COST. "There arc those who think that, under extraordinary circumstances, tho question of cost should not turn ought into nought. If a thing ought to bo done, it can bo done. Wo hear: altogether too much talk about 'business methods' in tho Church. How common the advice, 'Look whero you are going,' 'Count the cost.' With all defer-

once I say: Do NOT-' count tlio cost. Wo liavo a command and a promise. Of old, Abraham received a call and a promise, ami lie wont out, not knowing whither ho went.' Kolcrring to Paul's iirst missionary journey, Spoor writes: 'The money problem is lift mentioned—God and man, man and God, that is all. That is always all. .Money and machinery are secondary to-day as ever. Wo are guilty of distortion, and distrust, and nthoism when wo put tliom first.' He further says: 'I would rather have tho endowment of tho memory of one martyr than an endowment of much money.' Fathers and brethren: God in His grace is opening up a glorious way before our little Church ; and if we distrust Him by counting the gold hoforo we tako a stop, •we deserve that Ho shall cut off our foot so that wo cannot take it. Ten years ago, tho Australasian Methodist General Conference directed its Mission; Board to consider tlio question of establishing missions in continental Asia or Japan, atid gave power to establish such, subject to tho approval of the annual Conference, 'on the understanding that the necessary funds be provided beforehand.' Were tho funds provided 'i Of course not. But, at the recent General Conference in Sydney, it was first decided to open in India, and then the money was asked for. The result 'was tho greatest missionary collection over taken up. in Australasia, extending over two evenings, and totalling £4200. OUR, UNKNOWN RESOURCES; "Does anyone suggest that the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand is unable* financially,'to undertake the work outlined?, Even if_ she. wore, remember tho brave words of Bishop Selwyn: 'However inadequate u Church may be to its own internal, wants, it must on no account suspend its missionary duties; this is in fact the circulation of■ its life-blood, which would lose its vital power if it never flowed forth to the extremities, but curdled at the heart.' What keeps the burning-bush of our Church always afire is the oil of sacrifice sprinkled upon Ks leaves; and, tho more sacrifico involved, the brighter is her witness. But thore is no suggestion of poverty. The resources of tho Presbyterian Church of ' New Zealand have hardly, boon touched. As treasurer of 'The Outlook' famine relief fund recently,

1 got- ample proof of this. Just one appeal in 'The Outlook' and then the money poured in week after week, to the amount ,of £2050. John Wannamakor, at the United States Genoral Assembly of 1902, said: 'I have wished a hundred times that I had;known twenty-five years ago what I heard l half a year ago,' in regard'to .giving-to'missions: I believo that there are hundreds, it may bo thousands, in our Church like John Wannamaker (perhaps not quite - so rich) ready to loarn the samo lesson. There 'ire springs of generosity in Now Zealand that, if only tapped in the right way, will'make the treasury overflow. '

"Think what possibilities lie beforo a Laymen's Missionary Movement. In the United States, a little country mission charge, that used to give Bs. a . year, raised its gift 'to £40; whilo another' church that gave £58 now gives £310. The General Assembly of the l'rosbyterian Church of 'the United States has just ondorsed the Laymen's Movement, which is to increase tho number of missionaries five-fold. Wichita is a town of 25,000 inhabitants—one-third the sifcO of Wellington. Tho pastor of tho first Presbyterian church t-lioro used to say to his peoplo: 'Talk' about ono millions dollars a year being a largo amount for -tho Presbyterian Church of the United 'States! Why, tho first church of Wichita could give a million dollars a year to missions if it would only place itself in the right relation to Jesus Christ, so that Ho could give through tho Church".' ' — A GLORIOUS VISION.' "Missionary enthusiasts are sometiinos called visionaries. Then tho prophet Isa'iiih was a visionary, and the Lord Jesus. was a visionary. What is our vision? It'is tho vision of a ransomed world. Take yourstand- on n hill overlooking several hi'arket-

towns in China', or bazaars in India. See tlib streams of lifo pouring hither and'-thitller,-and let tho-word multitude gain a nWmoili-: ! ing for you.' Wo read (Matthow, -9, 36)' th"at when our 'Lord saw tho multitudes';he- wns moved with compassion. Those grea't masses iin India and China are as slieojS without, a shepherd. ' Our vision is' of-- the 'day when tlioso who follow us 'will"'stand" on those .heights, iand see.a .glorious-transformation— tho towers. and-:spires: of a umitejl Church rising from- every 'town, with..bell .calling to ■ boll, the* multitudes again (alas! not the :samo) thronging the paths, on their way to worship. What a transformation for the bo-

holder; what'a transformation for the people I You have heard of. the little-Manclvnriun girl,' •speaking of tho flower-planted ■ gravo of her baby brother, 'The gravo has. become a new plnno to us since Jesus Christ came to our villa.ee.' For tho baby's grave in China is a nameless hole anywhere until Christ comes. A WELCOME REACTION. "And will all that transformation -abroad, think you, have 110 effect upon 11s at home? It is part of our vision that, consequent upon fuller obedience to tin Groat Commission, new life will come to the Homo Church, ancl the blessed transformation Ml be not eonfined to India and China. Mr. Mott says: 'Without a shadow of a doubt tho vitality of a Church depends-011 its-being missionary.' 'To preserve the spiritual life, tho pure faith, and tho conquering spirit of the Homo Church, a much larger number of her choicest- young, men , and women must go abroad.' 'The Church' will not havo tho

power she ought to have, in order to'deal successfully.with the problems 011 tho Home field, unless : sho does far more for the foreign field.', And Dr.. Horton suys: ~ •Tho Church i 3 only powerful and -, creative for hor work ■ closo at hand when her eyes are lifted up to bring in tho nations to her Lord.' In childhood ivo gazed rapturously upon- brilliant sunset transformations, or' upon strange chemical colour changes-; now, in adulthood, wo wonder at the little grey i seed becoming a gorgeous bloom, at the crawling brown caterpillar turning into a resplendent buttorlly. In our Church life we havo lost this sense of wonder. Yet, is not tho transformation of a human soul greatest of all? And, as our children, read and hear of the wonders and achievements of our missions in India, in South China, and in Central China, can-wo doubt that thoir hearts will bo stirred, their spirits enthused, thoir souls quickened, ,and that the life-giving Spirit of Jesus Christ will bo specially manifested? So our Church in tho ■Homeland will share with her far-lhing sisters in tho joy of the harvest. "And what a harvest! Behold some of the sheaves! During the Boxer trouble in North China, one station of 100 Christians was offered absolute immunity if it would renounce tho faith. Ninety-nine stood firm, had their bouses looted, their crops destroyed, their farm implements, stoler their cattle driven olf—they lost all but their lives, for Jesus' sake. Another little church of 200 member-

was attacked. ■ One recanted, and half the members wcro slain. How well tlioy had learnt the eleventh chapter of Hebrews! AN OLD MOTIVE ENOUGH. "Are thcro any that say a new motive is needed for missions? Hero it is, but it ia an old one: 'All tho ends of thp world shall romomber, and turn unto the Lord.' "When tho eight hundred millions of India, China, and .lapan romembcr. what will happen? Who knows 'what lias been lying dormant- in tho hearts of those, millions' all these ages? Will the pupils in tho East- in turn become (anchors of tho West, their subtler spiritual preoptions grasping Christian truths that wo have failed to understand; their bolder faith daring to put into practice what has made us afiaid? It is loft for the East to exhibit the full content of Christianity, and so silence for good the question of its failure? What a home-coming there v ill he when the ransomed millions shall return singing songs of deliverance, ivhcn tho veil spread over tho nations shall bo destroyed, and the tears wiped from off all faces! WHY IS THE WORLD DARK? "And now let me just touch upon the other sido—the result of disobedience, tho penalty of baiting faith. 111 the beginning, God said 'Let there bo light'; yet, of every three souls in the world to-day, two are in darkness. Did tho Lord Jesus die that after nineteen centuries tlioro should be 11 thousand million. l ! ignorant of Him? The Lord said to Ezokicl that he 'who neglects to warn the wicked would be responsible for their blood. Does the Lord require the blood of heathendom at tho hands of Christendom ? Is this tho reason why Christendom iteself is in such 1111 appalling condition?'. Docs this help to oxplain why, year after year, the reports on the state of religion iu the churches show

that they have a name to live, but are (lead? How far is the spirit,i.ul barrenness of the Christian Church to-d>iv due to lier neglect to send the Gospel to the ends of tlio earth ? It is a terrible tiling ti 'limit the Holy One of Israel.' Has not the. Church - doing this for 1800 .years, and lias she not, in consequence, been wandering, in a wilderness all that time? Is it true that 'indifference to missions is the worst kind of treason?' •

THE VAST. PARISH ABROAD., . "These arc only questions,' fathers and brethren, but questions tliat it will not. do to ignore. Hoy,- often jn the Soutli, in past years, it has been said that the Sust'entation Fund is the central fund of the Church. It is the central fund of 'the- homo secti in, which, if the world is to bo evangelised, is only one-tenth the size of the foreign section. 'Every man is worth just as much «s the things about, which he busies liimscil. .. And this is true, of tlic Church* If she is fearful, of losing the one talent, then assuredly she will not gain ton,, and' will probably lose the one' after all. The pastor of Wichita church holds- tliat "she cannot plead poverty. And I)r. Brandt holds that every Presbyterian Church member ,is responsible for the preaching of the Goispcl to IcO heathen. . . "SEND VERY MANY QUICKLY." "On tlio street of W inland Chinese town a missionary. was preaching. Among the hearers was an old man of nearly eighty years. As the missionary told of tlirs' Saviour healing the sick, curing the : blind and leprous, and finally dying that all might jive, tlio old man came closer and closor. Tell me that again,' lie said, 'I never before hoard such good news; it cheers my sad and lonely heart.' After the missionary had explained to him the way of salvation, ho said: 'If Jesus saves me, when I roach heaven the first thing I 'shall' do will be to fall down before Him', and thank Him with all my heart and soul for having died for me; and then "I shall-thank Him for having put it into your heart to come and tell mo tlie good news.' After further expressions of joy and gratitude, he asked the missionary: 'Hoiv long is it since Jesus came into tho world'to save'men?' • 'More than eighteen hundred years,' was ; tho reply. 'What? You surely do not mean that? : Can it' bo that people have heard of this precious Saviour' all 'those centuries, and "I never heard of Him until now; in: extreme: old ace, with my feet oil tho edgc: of the grave? Why did you not come soonor? Why did you not como before my father and mother and brothers and sisters died? They never heard of Jesus and of salvation through faith: in His name; what can.be;done for them?'

My last, word ■ is • tho last- message of a Chinese Christian, when tho M'Nours were leaving Canton in May: 'Tell tin's peoplo of New Zealand to send very many missionnines quickly, for . the darkness is .still. groat in China.' Lot .those, words ..sink . deenlv. into all our., hearts: '-VERY- MANY QUICKLY.",' ~ ' ' OTHER BUSINESS. ' . ! Standing orders were -adopted,- including a provision for the limitation of tho length of speeches, and- the taking of all printed reports as- read. Tho Clerk of tho Assembly (the Rev. D. Borrio) read a list of'ministerial changes that havo taken place since, the last: session. An -apology was read from tho senior clerk, tho Rev. Dr. Sidoy, of Napier, who is absent from the Assembly by direction of .his medical advisor, and-it-was-decided to write granting Dr. Sidev loavo of absence, and i sending him a cordial messago of sympathy, with hopes for his speedy, restoration to full .health. . - .<

■. The programme for to-day's session is as follows:—10 asm. —The- Lord's Sunpcr dis-pensed.-and .devotional exercises. 11 a.m.; — .Ovcrturo .on 'representation-, report of Busi..noss Committee.- and Commitee on Commissions, report on state of religion'- and tempnranco. . 7 p.m.—Maori missions,- Homo .Missions,- and- Training of Homo Missionary ; overtures, ancnt .homo ; .-missionaries .and session's for..-homo mission '.stations. .