PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 38, 8 November 1907, Page 6

PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

' FINANCIAL QUESTIONS.*:'' YOUNG, MAPLE'S RALLY. ''", " Financial matters occupied tho Presbytbriari General Assembly- at the morning session yostorday. ■ The indispensable group photograph was taken in tho afternoon,':which also witnssod the 'annual meeting' of • tho Presby- : torian.' .Women's - Missionary Union, followed ; by a .united, tea. A small .amount of business .was transacted-in the evening, prior, to the j Young Peoplo's ;■" Rally,", and Primitive ; Mothodist greetings ' wero "received. The ,"" rally!' was a Oargbly-atteiided'gathering, which moved tho, Rev. W. Hewitson (Dunedin)'to' declaro at its conclusion,' "I feel that this has been tho most interesting, and, I think, stirring mooting 'of tho General {'Assembly that I havo over attended." Aa 'address ■ given.;,by ;tho Rev.. J.;-;-Mackon:*w (Christchurch) 'drove.home tho opinion previously, expressed by Mr. Hewitson' that the Church 'has' not' been giving sufficient attention'to!its"ybuhg people, and'it, was lesolrcd to bring this ..mattqK' emphatically.,before Sunday , school- teachers,/office-bearers, ;and jongregations." ''" "■';;■'.•"' .••■•■■•

. ~; MORNING SESSION. '' v.'-:.- BIBLE FOR SCHOOLS.- • There was a good attendanco' at tho morning session.>,'.'., -i '".', ..',-, ....... ~, ._ The'PißV., ,R. M. Ryburn, (Wanganui). said that he had'been waited upon on behalf of the Citizens' Bible in Schools Leaguo, who explained that they did not wish-to wait on tho Assembly, but only to make thoir proposals known, which* would'be done by letter. TREASURER'S STATEMENT. ■ The Treasurer's statement, presented by the Rev. W. jj-.rConirie .(Treasurer), ■■ stated that the income'for the year, has again been satisfactory, and all the. funds' close with jroflit balances. The credit balances of the Maori Mission and Maori Girls' School Fund .have both'increased,', arid the transfer from ' the Maori Mission to tho Maori Girls' School Fund authorised by last Assembly has not been required, The Church Extension Fund (South) does: 'not call- for- special remark. fThe Church Extension Fund (North) was considerably overdrawn for a. portion of tho year,, and the balance Js slightly less than at the closo of last year. The Church of 'Scotland Colonial' Committee has intimated, that' its grant "of £50 cannot be continued. The Office-Bearers' Bursary' Fund has been amalgamated -with -the Scholarship Fund.' 'Tho second half.of.several of the scholarships was ; unpaid,at .the .date, of the balance.: The •Residential, College Fund again'shows.a substantial dricreasp, and expenditure has fairly ibegun.. The" new'fund has'been opened for the Residential' College Endowment. The 'Beneficiary Funds i show considerable increased The assessment on congregations in (tho South has been well, met, .and congregations in Jhe North are beginning ,to fall into 3ino, their-contributions.this year being considerably larger than ■in any former year. Several largo payments 'have been made by ministers to-all the funds.' Others, however, are' allowing the. matter to 'drift, -and tho total .of ministers' arrears,'both North and South,,.is larger than last year. The Assembly Expenses.Fund has been sufficient for requirements. The Chaplaincy Fund, from which £40 has been transferred annually for several years, 1 is now almost exhausted. ■ The , following congregations; have not, yet paid their assessment: —St. Stephen's (Auckland), Avondale, Waikato West, Northern, Wairoa,, Lower Hutt, St. Stephen's (Christchurch), Methven, Kurow, Ravensbourhe',' Alexandra,'' Lauder, Edendale South, St. Paul's (Invercar- ; gill);', ptoramika. During - the ■year -£6450 ■ was'received from the, executors of'- the'late Mr. Donald Manson for the Nfollowing objects:—£looo for the Theological Students' College, Dunedin; £2000 for scholarships; £1000' for .Foreign Missions;, £300 for the Aged-and Infirm Ministers'. Fund;,.£3oo. for the • and .• orphans i.of' deceased ministers'; £250'-for' tho Maori Mission Fund; £550; : f0r the back-block' or Homo■ Missions; ' £100' for the .Homo for Neglected .Presbyterian Children; £100 for the British and iForeign Bible Society; £500-for the Palinerstoni North ■ Presbyterian • Church for- improving- the old -church for Sabbath. School and :Bibla Class;: £100 for the Sustentation 'Fund of Palmerston North Church. Fifty ipounds was received from the executors of the lato Mrs. Fyfe, vof.'Wyndham,' for. the Church Extension Fund of tho Presbyterian Church of New: Zealand; and tho Southern Church Extension: Committee received a Jegacy.'of'£67 lSs'J 4d. .from, tho late.Miss Stark.. The latter sum has been placed to the credit.of tho.Southern,Church.Extension Fund.: Of.the imbney received from Mr. D. Manson's estate,,,£loo has-been paid.to tho /British ;and' Foreign [Bible, Society,! and, £600 to , the ; Palmerston;, North Presbyterian 'Church-; £2000, for scholarships has been invested in corporation , debentures, .arid the 'balance,, placed:, on '.deposit.' ~'The. Treasurer asks.-the authority of, the Assembly to pay ••the £1000 for the Theological Students' Col-lege,...Duncdin,J-to tho Residential College 'Fund^y. The,legacies ior.the Beneficiary ,and Church, Extension Funds ;,raiso the question as to .the allotment'of these moneys.. The Assembly is masked to resolve that until-the amalgamation; of, those funds, legacies .shall be devoted to tho; fund, North or South, according; to'tho, residence, o'f.the donor, unless ■there us express direction, to tho contrary. In addition-to the funds shown in the statement; r several amounts have .passed. through \the Treasurer's lands for ..the China Famine 'Fund, Ramabaj's Homes/ Native Teacher in Now ' Orphans'. Home, and P.fS.S.A. Theso have been forwarded to tho proper quarter : .with'out' any deduction for expensos. Tho following is the summarised' balance sheet of, the Presbyterian Church of New i&ealand at August 20, 1907:— •■-'.■■'

J- Receipts: To investments and deposits,' 1301,857,« U5.'10d.; to Jubileo Fund loans, JE4654.35...1id.;..t0 Bank of Now Zealand. i'\VellLngton,£63s 14s. 8d; to Bank of New 'Zealand, Dunedin, £345 15s. 4d.; to National Bank, Dunedin,. £623 7s. 6d; to sundry balances, £7.,95. 3d.;,to,Ministers' arrears, South, £1256 14s. 2d.; to Ministers' arrears, North, £213 12s. 6d.; total, £99,593 17s. 2d. Expenditure: By beneficiary funds, £44,483; by Jubileo Memorial, £9752 55.; by scholarship funds,-£8638 • 9s. 6d:; foreign missions,' £10,219 0s: lid.; by Maori missions, £2897 2s. 7d.;by residential college funds, '311,600 9s. 6d.; by sustcntatioii and church extension; £1746 15s. °2d:; by congregations and presbyteries, £6652 Os: Id.'; assembly oxpenses fund, £1421175. 6d.; sundry funds, 32182 16s. lid.'; total, £99,593 17s. 2d. , Mr'.'Comrio thought that tho state of tho finances' as a'wholo callcd'for congratulation. Some- of-tho funds showed a healthy increase of interest on tho part of tho Church. Hie large balancO to tho credit of the For--eign Mission Fund warranted, he. thought, forward movement —he would not say how far or-how fast." Ho moved the following ■deliverance:.,. ~. ~.,.,: ..-.,..

" Adopt tho statement'-with thanks to all congregational and othor contributors, and to the representatives of parties from whom legacies'have been received, and resolve as follows:— • ..-."•;.' V " (1) (a)' That the £1000 receivedfrom the executors of ■-. the late Mr. Donald Manson ' for the Theological Students' : College at Punedin,'-be placed to tho credit of tho residential college fund, (b) That the £250 for tho Maori mission fund and tlrfc £250 for 'Maori school'near. Turakina' be held as cnpital for tho Maori mission fund and tho Jlanri' girls' ■■■ school fund respectively; tho annual income to bo used as part of tho ordinary revenue of these funds, (c) That the ■ £100 ' in aid of establishing a homo in Now Zealand for neglected Presbyterian children' be placed to tho credit of the Presbyterian Orphan ' Children's Homo Fund, and that, until tho Assembly shall otherwise determine, tho revenue of this fund bo retained by the "treasurer, ind added to tho capital of tho fund, (d) That tho treasurer be directed to return the £3 17s. 2d. sent by the Nelson Congregation with an intimation from tho 'Assembly that the assessment from congre-

gations •in the northoim scictions of tho .Churcll must, be, paid to tho 'Northern Aged and Infirm Ministers' Frtnd:"2. That until tho aiba&amation of the Church extension funds mm!-of-tho bencfi. ciary funds, all legacies,.cVniaftions, and congregational,.'contributions:'be placed to tho credit of tho fund, North toy- South, according to the locality of tho congregation or placo of rcsidenco of tho do;n or except whoro, in tho caso of donations otf' logacios, thoro is express direction to tho' c« ntrary, and this shall apply to: monoys , receiiyedi during tho past year and reported to.tl'iis Assombly. "3. (a) That, except v/horo otherwise specially provided, all legacies shall be held as capital for tho fund to 'which they havo boon dovi'sed... (b) That this capital of tho undermentioned funds be,fixed as follows: — Somorvillo scholarship, - £U500; Anderson scholarship, £600; New Hebrides bursary, £750; Lang bursary, £150? Ebenezer book bursarv, £300; Dr. Stuart prize fund, £150; and that £350 bo added tolitre-capital of tho Cameron Muir.fnhd. ,"'.'.' . "4. lii'tKo'case of capita!L'rogarding'which there, is no special provision requiring it to bo held in trust, tho conpnftteo in charge of tho fund,may not expend'in any one year a larger .proportion than 20 per cent, with out the express sanction of tho Assembly';" THE DQNAIJD MANSON LEGACY. There was considerable discussion on, Clauso 1 (o)-that-a-sum of:£:"00 bo placed, to tho credit of tho Presbytoriiin-Orphan Children's Homo Fund in Dunedin.. The Rev. G. B. Momioi (Remuera) pointed out that in Auckland i they had a. gift of £7000 for an orphanage, under the Leslio Trust. The project wag ready to be carried out, and'he thought: thiit they in Auckland had as much' right to. this 'money as Dunedin." " "''. ''" '.■'■' \ ■ Tho Rev. W; J. Comrio said that ho was aware of the Leslio Trust; but that tho Auckland orphanage was not yet in existenco, and the motion was'simply that until tho Assembly should otherwise idetermine tho money should go to Dunedin: The Rev. P. B. Frasor (Lovell's Flat) moved as an amendment that tho money bo devoted to the Leslie.' Orphanage. The Dnnedin Orphanage, had : never been brought under cognizance of the Presbyterian, Church or of the Otagb Synod. The : inoney could not belong to • the Duncjdin -Orphanago in any way while- tho Asse/mbly had .trustees appointed forthe Presbyterian Church of Now Zealand: •'" '"•, ' , ._ ~. Tho Rev. Jolly '. (Palmerston North) seconded the asnendmemt. Thelato Mr: Manson, wlv) gave the £100, had l>een one of his congregation, and he ;Dolioyed that ho woujd havo wished tho money to bo. expended in the north. ■• '-. ■,'■ . ■;-•.-. ■ - - Tho Rev: Dr.-Gibb- supported tho amendment. He thought 'that they should havo one cential orphanage, and receiving homes in the other coutres. . The affairs ?f the Dunedin Orphanage should, bo brought before tho Assembly,,and they.shoirld have a report upon it. as on'their other institutions. The' ;f ßev.' R: M: Rybrirn (Wanganui) pointed out that .tlio Leslie: Trust was hot under the Assembly. : They had,an interest in it, and were allowed to appoint trustees, but by handing tliis,money, .to, the Leslie trustees they.woidd'bb-giving it away out of their control more than by giving it to Dunedini The wisest .course wonld bo to instruct .the treasurer to retain, the money in his hands in the meantime. Thero was no orphanage yot in existence in Auckland. Tho' Rev. tr. B. Monro (Remuera) said that tho orphanage, wheri erected would be to al] intents and purposes part '-and parcel of:tht> Church's, property. It would'bo a pity to have more than one substantial Presbyterian orphanage ih.Nsw.Zoal.and, and in Auckland they,had £7000 to begin '. with.'.,'■ The Rev., J. ' Chisholm (Roslyn, Dunedin) approved of' the interest ...money, being given to the existing orphanagb in Dunedin. On tho motion of the Rev. J. Cumming (Myrass Bush) it was unanimously agreed that tho money berretained in the treasurer's hands,, the other proposition having been .withdrawn by consent. ! The treasurer's .statement as a-wholo was then adopted. ' :

AGED AND INFIRM MINISTERS. : The report on the Aged and Infirm Ministers ' Fund (north) stated ; that ■ the year's income totalled £919 4s. 9d.,' and outlay £587 3s. 4d. The'capital now .stands at £7258 2s. 4<1., an increase of £332 Is. sd. Sevon ministers and three homo missionaries have joined the fund, and fivo annuitants have died. • The report was adopted, another minister being made a beneficiary. As regards'the southern fund, the income for the year has boon £1323 ss. 4d., and outlay"£967 Is. 7cl. The capital, now stands at £10,398 os.'sd., an increase of £356 3s. 9d. ■-.-.■• "..'■''•'... The report was adopted, two ministers being made' new beneficiaries. / | WIDOWS,ANT) ORiPHANS. The year's income of; the Widows and Orphans' Fund (north).has totalled £1035 Is. 10d., and outlay £191 I'j. ; 3d. ! Tho capital now stands at £11,620'185. 9d„ an increase of £843 12s. 7d. Five mombers arid three homo missionaries have, joined the fund. There have been two new annuitants, and one has died. The income'of the southern fund was £1281 lis. Id.,.and. outlay £880 3s. Id. Tho increase of £401'8s. makes-the' capital now stand at £14,244 18s. '6d. ' Three .beneficiaries have died. ' Both'reports .were'adopted; ■ EVENING SESSION. PRIMITIVE METHODIST .GREETINGS. At the early evening session the following letter was read from the.Rev C. E. Ward, President.of the' Primitive Methodist Conferonce of Now Zealand:— "Rev. A. Don, Moderator Presbyterian General Assembly. Rev\'.-, Sir,—l desire to convey to you the sincere.greetings and congratulations' of the New ; Zoaland Primitive Methodist Church.\ We pray that your great Church may bo increasingly blessed. May the great Head --f the-Church give your Assembly 'wisdom' end 'boldness. • Tho safety of tho Church-liea in progress, the great object being to bring: raon into communion with God. The Gospel is an uplifting.power in a young nation. Wo rejoice to'believe that the Presbyterian Church is so strongly woven into tho broad web of New Zealand life. Brethren of tho General Assembly, wo groet you—Ka whiti to re. Sincoroly, C. E. Ward, President' Primitivo Methodist Conference, Now Zealand."' ' ■• <■•.'■

Tho Moderator and clerk were requested to reply to tho greeting: APPOINTMENTS. ' ' The position of minister emeritus with seat oh the Church courts was granted to tho following:—Tho Revs. P. J. Riddle, J. M. Fraser, J. M'Cosh Smith, and D. A. Anderson. It was agreed that Mr. Miller should continue as home missionary at Motukarara (Canterbury) for another vear. Mr. Rule at Patoa till June 30,1908, and Mr. J. P. Bathgate at Holensvillo. A NEW CHARGE. On _the motion of tho Rev. W. J. Comno, tho district of;Rpseneath, Miramar, and 101birniewas raised into a regular charge. YOUNC PEOPLE'S RALLY. "" • ——-■■ . ] ;. AN: INSPIRING GATHERING. SOME STRIKING SPEECHES. Numbers, speeches/ and'tho singing of the large Young People's Choir, sustained by Dr. Maughan Barnett at the organ, made tho young people's rally in tho evening an inspiring gathering. Solos sung bv'Miss Caldow ("Nearer My God to Thee'') and Mr. F. Popo ("Arm, Arm yo Brave!") were an enjoyablo feature. REV. J. C. JAMIESON'S ADDRESS. Tho Rev. J. C. Jamioson, travelling secretary for ' Biblo Classes and Young People's Societies, _ gave a quietly impressive address on the object and successes of the Bible Class movoment. Various conditions had made the work more difficult during tho last year, ho said, than it had been for twenty years - . Ic was much harder now to carry on successful classes than ft was twelvo years'ago. Yet

the Bible Class membership of tho Presbyterian Church had gone up 200 por cent, m tho last fivo years. Thoro wore 7500 members in tho Bible Classes outside of tho Sunday Schools, and 1500 in tho Bible Classes inside tho Sunday Schools. Unfortunately, that progress was not'general over tho wholo Dominion. TRoro was ono Presbytery whoso Biblo Class membership was 20 per cent, it was five years ago. On tho other hand, there wero Prcsbytories in which tho membership had increased by 300 por cent. As showing tho success that had been met with, ho instanced a small place whero formerly it was difficult to get a dozen young men in the Biblo Class. Now, that place had four Biblo Classes, with a total membership-of Another class of thirty had been subdivided into four, of which the principal men's class now had over 30 members, and tho young women's class ovor 60. In many other cases this method of sub-division had been followed by liko success, and lie was confident that if it had been adopted in all'cases, the result would havo been a general increase of 30Q per cent. Quito a largo numbor of Biblo Class members had becomo teachers in tho Sunday School, and others wero successful homo missionaries. This success had been attained in face of the most clever attacks oil the Christian faith that had been mado for a long timo, if thero had ever been attacks so clover before. Moreover, the movement had created a Church feeling which had not previously existed among tho young people of New Zealand. It had given a new idea of the unity, tho grandeur of the Church. Just now the Dunedin young women were inviting a North Island men's Biblo-Class to be their guests for an evening on. their way to the Summer School at Invcrcargill. That was a straw that indicated how tho current ran. Tho strength of the Biblo Class movement lay in the fact that it was a combination of the attractive and aggressivo. It had also the attraction of a,national movement, and this gavo it a prestige which could not attach to a mcro congregational movement. With all their success, however; thoy had only touched tho fringe He behoved that this last year had been tho best that thoy had ever had. There had been moro work, better work, and ;uoro real progress. He believed that for *ery many years to como 'future travelling secretaries would be ablo to say the same. The day should come when their Sunday School membership would number not 28,00(1, but from' 40,000 i to 50,000, and tho membership of their. Biblo Classes not 7000, but 20,000 or 30,000. (Applause.) REV. DR. GIBB.

A very eloquent and impassioned address was given by the Rev. Dr. Gibb. Ho stated that it was a source of gratification to all to learn that there had been a largo increase of- Bible Classes, and of the number of young men and women enrolled'in theso institutions. It was also gratifying to learn that tho classes had raised no less than £3284 for all purposes. Thoy knew hotter than to make money a solo criterion of valuo in the Church. But it was, nevertheless, a satisfactory sign of tho numbor and interest of tho classes, that so largo a sum of money had been contributed by them 'to the schomes of the Church. Ho had novcr imagined that the Bible Class movement was tho last' word of God for tho evangelisation of the youth of New Zealand, nor that the methods now omployed might not bo improved upon in various particulars. But the Bible Classes'were a great source of strength to the Church in making their youth good Presbyterians and good Christians. Ho, for ono, very ardently desired to seo tho Presbyterian Church morged in the lifo of that larger united Church, which was surely coming, but while tho Presbyterian Churcu continued to exist as such, thoy must do their very utmost to maintain it in the highest possible stato of oliiciency. Thoy wero proud of' their Presbyterianism, and not without good reason. They wanted to make their youth good I'resbyterians. They desired very much more earnestly to make them good Christians. And tho Biblo Classes wero helping to realiso this desire. Ho wished he coulu say that they had accomplished more in this direction. Both tiie classes and the pulpit failed to bring mora than a relatively small number of tneir youth to make an open confession of Christ. And Jailing there meant failure in' the thing which assuredly tliey havo most deeply at heart. They must win their young men and women for Christ for their own sakes. They must win them for the -Church's sako, else presently their faith would bo numbered with the lost causes of human history. Ho proposed to ask their attention to the consideration of two questions. First, what could the Church do to strengthen tho work of God among tho young men and women f First, he placed tho faithful, intelligent, earnest preaching 'of their ministers. Tho minister who' would reach tho nimds and carry conviction to tho hearts of their youth must bo a student, ho must read with his pulpit always in his mind's eye. Above all, he must have a passion for ■Christ,'land preach Christ. Ho was not recommending cheap evangelism, that cost no intellectual eifott, but an evangelism that sprang out of thoughts, and study, and prayer. Secondly, tho Church must teach its young'peoplo all the truths of' Holy Scripture. Tho process of education must begin much before* the stage of 'tho Biblo Class was reached. Was it past praying for that tho day might, come when the whole membership of the Church might be enrolled in guilds, associations, for the purpose of Biblo stutly Ho appealed to educated men among their memborship to come to their assistance Tho Churcn alight also extend its facilities for tho cultivation of the social instincts of-thoir youth. All the work of the Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A. should havo been directly undertaken by the Church. In tho case of St. John's, they were thinking now of building a hostel lor their young men, whoro they would pay their way, but where all legitimate comforts would be secured to them, and healthful influences brought' to bear. He. exhorted the young peoplo prespnt to bo out-and-out Christians— better to be out-and-out worldlings than have a loot in either camp.

Tho address was greeted with much applause. , . OTHER SPEAKERS. The Rev. J. Mackenzie (Christchurch) sail that tho statistics of thoir Sunday school momborship left much to bo desired/ If the north but did as well as tho south in this respect tho total of membership would !>« increased by 3000 children, and tho total of schools by 223. The Church required a hold, aggressivo policy in respect of Sunday Schools. 'Tho Assembly should appoint committees and associations to inquire jnto this matter. It was thoir duty to increase their' Sunday Schools by at least 2oJ, and. to gathor into the membership of their schools and Bible Classes and Society no less than 20,000 more young people. Organising officers should be appointed to effect this object. Another question was tho spiritual activity of their schools and its results. Not sufficiont of their scholars ontered into iull membership with tho Church. Mr. _ William Gray referred to tho directions in which religious training could be brought to bear. Ho rogarded tho influence and work of the home as fundamental. Then there was the influence of the school. Our schools wore not. ungodly or irreligious, as was.somctimcs said. A very large clement was contributed to the religious upbringing of the children by those so-called secular institutions. There was no greator force working lines that made for tho truo, tho. abiding, and tho spiritual development of tile young people than tho teachers of the Dominion. Ho wished that tho mind of tho community wore sufficiently at one to allow of prayers being held each morning in tho schools, and portions of tho Scripture read. Ho believed that in the past the Church had given too much attention to adults as compared with tho young. It should ho possible to dovote money every year to the publication of a certain amount of literature to assist parents in their duties, giving them a courso of religious teaching for their chil dren at every age. Tho Sunday School cr|iii|mont from the .lowest class to tho Bihlo Cla.<; should bo brought under ouo view. Abo/p. the superintendent and minister there should ho for ovory city at least one man with general oversight of tho youth of the Church, and t'jorc should also bo Sunday School mis sionaries. It was the Church's duty to bring forward somo definite scheme for strengthening religious influence in the directions lie had indicated. (Applause.) INSTRUCTION TO MINISTERS. On the motion of tho Rev. W. Hewitson, it was resolved to havo tho speeches of tho

Rev. J. Mackenzie and Mr. Gray printed, and that it bo an instruction to ministers to enforce this matter of tho junior work upon offico bearers and congregations. "Wo ought to bo silent befoTo God for somo timo, in view of Mr. Mackenzie's figures," was Mr. Hewitson's opinion. MEDALS PRESENTED. Medals wore presented by tho Rov. J. J. Ccarney (Waikouaiti) as follows as the result of tho recent examinations: — Gold Medal.—May Whyte, Havelock North, Middle Division. Silver Medals.—S. ll—Jessie M'Lcod, Russell Street, Dunedin; S. I—Ethel M. Duff, Pctono; Junior—Wm. M. Ryburn, Khandallah, Wellington; Primary—Viria Barron, Knox Church, Dunedin. For the Banner competition 13 schools entered. Tho result was:—Maraekakaho (Havelock North, Hawko's Bay), 84.45, 1; Tinwald (Flemington, Christchurch), 81.1, 2; Hautapu (Cambridge), 77.DG, 3. The banner was presented to the Rov. A. Wliyto, for his Maraekakaho School.