PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 41, 12 November 1907, Page 7

PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

■ j IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. f TEMPERANCE REPORT. . J 'BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. ! ■The Presbyterian General Assembly dis- [ <'po&d''.of.Vlarge amount of important busi- * nes3 yostcrday. Tho reports on tho Women's. Training Institution and Publications 1 wero; dealt with m tile morning, and deputa- ! tioris were received from tho Ministers' As- i j sociation and New Zealand Allianco. Tho , subject of the training of homo missionaries furnished matter for an interesting discussion in the afternoon, tho abolition by tho last | Assembly of tho second stage of studies for. < tho missionaries being criticised as an act J which 'closed the door of advancement to ' these workers. A motion was passed ex- \ pressing approval of tho Gambling Bill, as i far .as that measure goes, but asking that it J should , be made to go a good deal further. ! In the oroning, reports on temperance, Uio ' Bible-in-schools, and Maori missions, led to j • interesting discussions, and the ordination of '< a young missionary who is going into tho' I Urewera country was a solemn and impres- ' sive conclusion to the day's business. The ] Presbytery-will sit all day to-day, and should j now have no difficulty in concluding all tho j Work before it by to-morrow. * i — ; ; —; — ( ; . MORNING. SESSION. \ ■. WOMEN'S TRAINING INSTITUTE. ! The report _ oh tho Presbyterian Women's i .Training - Institute, presented in tho morning by the Rov, W. Hewitson (Dunedin), stated i that.tho work of the iustituto had been car- ( ried.on very much as in former years. The • Church is indebted to very many friends for , assistance." During the present session seven j students have been in the institute. A pro-per-'.building is urgently required, and Knox ( Church has given £100 towards this object. 1 >Mr.; Hewitson moved that the report bo* 1 adopted, and the institute commended to the ( support of the whole Church. , Rov., A. Cameron (Anderson's Bay, . Dunedin) seconded the motion, which - was ] adopted. , • PUBLICATIONS. j Tho Publications Committee reported that \ the '"Outlook" had rendered invaluable ser- s vice''to the wholo Church. It was proposed j that the Assembly should olect a Publications ] Committee or Board of Control strictly de- . fined in numbers,, with an equal ropresenta- ] tion of .ministers, elders, and, as far' as pos- . Bible,i of Prosbyteries, one-third to .retire annually, the committee to elect- an executive' J sub-commistee. , .-.The Rev. A. Cameron (Anderson's Bay, : Dunedin), "as convenor of the' committee, j moved the adoption of 1 this clause, with , which, howover, he was not in personal agree- ( . merit, s ,'. : ;-.The Rev. A. M. Finlayson • (Waitati) se- s corided the.motion pro forma. ' ' . Tho Rev. J. Cribb moved that tho affairs ' of the paper be directed by a committeo of , four 'members, working in co-operation witli ( the editor. ' t The /Rov. W. Dalrymplo (Clutha) seconded j the : j . ;A;:long . discussion followed, in which tho , desirableness 1 of, full representation of Pres- , byteries, on, a largo committee was balanced ' against the .practical advantages of a small cpmmittoo. ' ' ; i • v,The amendment was carried by a largo majority.; The Revs. A. Cameron;'Dr. Waddell, : R.iChisholm, land p.AV. H. Adams were ap- j pointed' as the committeo,' which will hold , office for four; years. . ( The report also recommended that the As- j Bombly should at-once seriously face theqque- t tion, of securing'an editor who should devoto J his whole time to tho paper-and Receive adequate remuneration for his work. j The 'rccommondatioii was negatived as impracticable,.; and. an amendment of Dr. Gibb , chat : the present editor, Mr. Grinling, bo re T j appointed, for three years, and thanked for ■ , for the improvement of 1 the,-journal,.'provided fu'ndgsr permit, were adopted. f , . : DEPUTATION.. „ j ' The Rev. J. Sherei (Newtown) introduced i deputation consisting of the' Revs. J. J. • North' and A. .Sewdney .(Baptists), C. E. , Ward arid J. Dawson (Primitive Mothodists), C.'; Porter .(Methodist), and Macdonald Asp- . lanti; (Congregatibnalist)', representing the , Ministers' Association and the New Zealand Alliance.' -The-Rev. C, E V Ward, as representing the Ministers' Association, wished God's blessing to the Assembly. The Primitive Methodist Church had appointed tho Rev. J. Dawson, the Hon. C. M. Luke, and himself to wait on the.'Assembly, but as they understood that time wras precious, the deputation had; not come.- He rejoicod in the great work of Presbyteriariism, arid warned them that their Church must not become an entrenched camp. , The Rev. J. J. North said that ho was present,. because, ho loved the Presbyterian Churph and.many. of the meii present, and hoped that the whole power of the Presbyterian Church, woujd express itself in this Dominion. , Deputations hko the present gave valuable. opportunities for raising the ques- ' tion of evangelical union. In moving towards union, however,it would not do to make hurdle rjices over, convictions for the sake of the short cut. He believed that tho union of : ,the Churches .would coriio, but it should come by degrees, according to the growth, of convictions. They had grown much Wiser than their ancestors. The Presbyterians were very bad fellows once in their way, was afraid that his own ancestors wore ; bad follows too, for George Eliot, in one' of her .books said: " These fellows quarrel / like' men that differ on baptism." (Laughter). They all had a great idea of theii owir antiquity, but they were coming to beheve' that orthodoxy had its seat in the . affections moro than in the intellect, and there was no finer orthodoxy than their common faith in Jesus Christ. Mr. North coneluded with a . plea for the abolition of the totalisator. ,The Moderator-elect (tho Rev. J. ciiisholm), moved: That tho Assembly rejoices \ in! the pros'ence of tho deputies from tho Wellington Ministers' Association, thanks them for their .interesting addrosses, and heartily reciprocatos their fraternal greetings and pious wishes for Christian unity." ■■The motion was adopted with applauso. « The Rev. A. Dewdnoy, representing the New, Zealand Alliance, expressed that body's keen; sense- of .its debt to- the ministers and members of tho Presbyterian Church for their support of tho no-licenso cause. Ho thanked the Church, especially, for its careful and valuable reports on the operation of nolicense in districts where it obtained, and suggested _ that ministers who ...were present from- no-liconso districts might bo able in 'address meetings in Wellington on this subject. . . Tho Rev. J. Dawson, also representing tho Alliance, congratulated tho Church on its part in', tho no-license movement. In fivo of tho six . districts now under ■ no-license the Presbyterian Church * had been a powerful factor in bringing in tho reform. If all would work as some were doing, at tho very next election, they would ■ secure tho desired end. ' He besought them to put the very best they possessed into the coming fight. The movement was on tho up-grade; the trade was a dying cause. Only a united, whole-hearted effort was now needed. The Rev. A. Miller moved: "That the Assembly thanks tho representatives of the New Zealand Alliance- for' their presoncc, and for their kind expressions of appreciation of tho work of this Assembly, and prays that the blossing of God may rest upon their strenuous labours in tho interests of. nolicenso." Ho thought that tho Presbyterian Church would show no slackness in the campaign that was coming on next year. l, nn motion was carried with applauso. :The Moderator thanked tho deputation for their presence, and stated that the Presbvterian Church had. more in common with the Ministers of thoir' Churches than tho yorld saw, or they themselves know. AFTERNOON SESSION.; AMALGAMATION OF FUNDS. .The. Committeo's report on tho amalgamation of benoficiary funds recommended ,that| in view of the great difference of opinion on

the part of Prcsbytories, further consideration ' should 1)0 givon to tho whole matter. « Tlio Rev. A. M. Firilayson (Waitati), 111 s presenting tho report, suggested tlmt a com- • mitteo bo appointed to go into tho subject ' and report to tho next Assembly. Tho Rov. R. It. M. Suthorland (Kaikai) ' moved that tho report lie 011 tho table till ' noxt Assembly, aud that a committee of ton i business men bo appointed, fivo from each ; soction of tho Church, and a convener, to ] obtain information and bring up a scheme of ' amalgamation. I Tho motion was adopted. i It was a too agreed tliat a small committco be appointed to collect arrears of payment and deal with other suggestions. Tho Rovs. i A. M, Finlayson, J. ICilpatrick, J. Clark, and i R. R. M. Suthorland wore appointed as tho 1 committee. TRAINING OF HOME MISSIONARIES. The Home Missionaries Committco reported that the following missionaries had boon received :—Mr. T. Turner .(011 the rccommenda- ' .tion of tho Christchurch Presbytery), Mr. J. C. Evans (Dunedin Presbytery), and Messrs. D. M'Kcnzio and F. C. J. Parfitt (Wanganui Presbytery). It was recom- 1 mended that Mr. D. J. Albert (Wcstland), formorly a Primitive Methodist worker, j should bo regarded as a missionary in full : standing upon passing a spccial examination 1 on'the doctrines and liistory of Presbyterian- , ism. Nineteen missionaries presented for examination had all passed. Altogether j there were 50 missionaries occupying stations. ' Some of them, old workers, had not complied with recent examination regulations, and ! should be exompted therefrom. It was sug- } gested that tho Rovs. Charles Murray, R. Francis, and A. Bogg be added to the com- 1 mittec. The committee had considered the 1 docision of last Assembly by which the ' second stago of studies was abolished, and s was unanimously of opinion that, to shut the 1 door of hope of advancement against mis- 1 sionaries, as that decision had dono, was not j in the best interests of tho Church. j Under the deliverance of tho report, which - was moved by tho Rev. Dr. Erwin (Christ- 1 church) and adopted, these suggestions were 1 approved, and Messrs. G. Hercus, W. Wills, : and J. Richards wore declared missionaries in ' full standing. '' _ I Dr. Erwin also introduced tho following 1 ovorturo from the Christchurch Presbytery: "That whereas tho circumstances in which ; tho Church must carry 011 its work, and especially in the North Island, require the 1 .employment of a large number of home mjs- 1 sionaries in order'to supply the outlying districts with ordinances, and whereas it is of 1 the utmost importance to the present and 1 future well-being of the Church that men as 1 truly converted and as fully qualified as possible should be induced to offer themselves for this work.; and whqreas tho decision of last Assembly,' by which the second stajje. of studies for home missionaries war, abolished has vory much discouraged the missionaries already engaged in tho work of tho Church, and is likely to prevent somo of tho most desirable agents, from offering for tho work; and whoreas as no opportunity was givon to Presbytorios 1 to consider the' effect of tho legislation .of last Assembly before the courso ; docided upon was adopted; and whereas other Churches similarly circumstanced have found it necessary to provide a second stago oh studies for tho missionaries which they omploy, that they, take tho foregoing into thoir consideration and onact that tho regulations respecting tho studies of home missionaries existing previous to tho decision of last Assombly be re-enacted, or do whatover else in their wisdom scorns most suited to keep tho outfiolds occupied with missionaries and oncouraging them to train and devolop thoir gifts so as to perform their work in tho most efficient way.' . . Tho Rev. J. Mackcnzio (Christchurch) supported the overture. ■ . , The Rev. ' R. M. Ryburn (Wanganui) moved:—"That tho desirability of re-enact-ing. the second course of studies for homo missionaries bo referred to tho Theological Committee to suggostl conditions under which homo missionaries should bo entitled to a second courso of study; and report to the next. Assembly." The Rov; v.R.arM!Arnii(Kaikour»).i(Seconded this proposition. ' Tho Rev. A. Whyto (Havolock) moved, ns an rimendmont, that: tho Assembly adhoro to its previous regulation. - Tho Rov. R. L. Walker (Auckland) seconded the amendment. _ The Rev. P. B. Fraser (Lovolljs Flat) moved That tho (|uestion . of a second course for missionaries be remitted to tho Committee on Training of Missionaries; that they reviso the 'past regulations, sond them down to Prcsbytories, and mature a scheme for next Assembly." The Rov. Dr. Gibb seconded. He stated that his mind was in a state of balance on tho question. On tho ono sido was the need for a highly educated ministry,, and 011 tho othor tho crying needs of tho Church, in resncct of back-block settlers. The Revs. A. Cameron (Dunedin') and James Patersnn supported _ Mr. Fraser's amendmont. which , was carried by a very large majority. GAMBLING BILL. The following motion, moved by tho Rov. Dr. Gibb, and seconded by tho Rov. W. M'Ara (Kaikonra), was adopted with applause, and without a speech" Tho Assembly, while thankful for tho anti-gainbling Bill introduced by the Government, and trusting that it may'bocome the law this session, trusts also that it. will bo amended so as to prevent tho publication of tote odds, in accordanco with tho Premier's own defmtely, expressed intentions, and tho elimination of the clause which proposes to give racing clubs power, to license bookmakers. Tho Assembly further expresses its ineradicable conviction that in tho interests of tho moral and social wellbeing of the community the totalisators should be absolutely abolishod. Tho Assembly instructs the clerk to send a copy of this resolution to the Premier." . EVENING SESSION. TEMPERANCE REPORT. Tho- Teniperanco Committco reported that over 90 per cent, of ministers preached on temperance during tho yoaf, while nearly the same percentage are openly identified with some form of temperance work. Nearly four-fifths of tho ministers liavo no now methods to suggest. Tho gonoral suggestions aro for luller and more thorough use of present methods of campaign, attending more carefully to sparsely-settled districts, organising and carrying out tho polling-day work with more thoroughness, instructing tho voters more generally how to voto. Quite a number lay stress upon tho groat need of spreading the principles of total abstinence both among old and young. Ministers and office-bearers should secure that such children as tho Band of Hope can reach shall 1 liavo access to tho whole modern truth concerning alcohol. Sunday Schools also should . have a pledgo book, and ouco a quarter a united etfort should bo made by all Sunday , School teachers to induce tho children to | 1 sign tho pledge with the consent of tho . parents. Tho replies of thoso living in nolicense districts aro unanimous and onthu- 1 , siastic as to tho great and lasting benefits . of no-license. The homes of tho people are : improvod, the moral tono of tho civimunity , has received a lift, Church attendanco has | increased, and the people seem gcnorally I satisfied with the chanjjo. Tho lesson of ■ theso whole-hearted replies is repeated in a> lesser degree by; those elections where ro-1 ductiou was carried. Tho committee urged tho following subjects for immediate legisla- " tion:—(1) The urgent need for hygienic and 1 scientific temperance instruction as a class subject in at least four subjects of tho public schools.. ('2) The presence of beer-depots , on tho. confines of no-liconso areas. This ; is nothing loss than an attempt to forco 1 tho liquor traffic on a community against ! its will. (3) Tho existence of tho locker 3 system, which permits tho practical procurr ing of drink in illegal hours and placcs. (4) " The existence of tho packet license, and of I grocers' licenses. Gloomy reports come to " liand of increased drinking among young New Zcalanders. The traffic is still as ever destructive of tho highor elements in the r community, and there is a growing feeling " that tho Church should bestir herself even ' more than in past days to kill this opon - onomy. of .hers. This committee purposes to foster as much as in it lies a . united feeling, a voice, and action on this question 011 t.lTe part of all tho churches of Now Zealand. It requests leavo to issue a circular for free, distribution among tho churches before next local option poll, in tho name of the whole Church; aud in this or other matters connected with the tomperII ance movement, in the name of tho wholo

Church, to take such concerted or united action with other Churches as appears possiblo, in the circumstances, advantageous to the movement and wise 111 tho judgment of tho Temperance Committco. Tho. Roy. A. Miller (Auckland), in presenting the report, snid that tho latest figures showed a slight incroase in drunkenness throughout the' Dominion, which should, perhaps, bo attributed to increased prosperity. Ho moved the following dolivorance: " Adopt the report, oxpress profound gratification that so many in our Church are devoting much of their strength to combating tho liquor traffic, urge upon ministers, officebearers, and Sunday School teachers tho necessity of moro educational preventive work among the young, and record tho Assembly's conviction that the .only cure for tho liquor traflio' is 110 liquor traffic. Grant' tho Committee leave to issue a circular in the name of tho Churfch before next local optjon poll, and approve of their design to unite with other Churches in this holy war. Direct that Temperance Sunday be observed 011 some suitable date in Novomber noxt, and, instruct the Committee to petition tho House of Representatives, in tho name of the Assembly, respectfully urging the passage of tho following Tcmperance measures: —1. That liygieno and scientific tempernncc instruction bo mado a class subject in at least Standards 111 to VI in all public primary schools. 2. The abolition of beer depots 011 the confines of No-license areas. 3. The abolition of the ' looker'' system. 4. The abolition of packet liconses. *6. That the Coinmitteo make representation with a view to restraining the salcj of liquors in tho Now Hebrides." The roport and deliverance, Mr. Miller said, were based 011 returns gathered all over tho Dominion. Tho number of replies to' questions received this year was 1-10, constituting a record. Tho Coinmitteo had had abundant ovidenco of the success of 110liconse wherever it had been carried, and this, from their point of view, was the most interesting result ' of the investigations. Briefly summed up, the results of 110 license were, firstly, an immediate and substantial decrease in drunkenness. A few sly grog shops might spring up, but it had been stated that twenty sly grog shops wore not e(]iial to one open bar. Secondly, no licenso means loss crime; there was 110 doubt of that; and thirdly, tho result was greater prosperity. lii Tnvcrcargill some of tho old hotels wero bringing in' larger returns as temperance houses. The greatest result of all was that there, was growing up a generation which kiie\v not liquor. In tho coming campaign he hoped that they would bo able to. carry no-liconso iij a considerable number of' districts in tho North Island, and in an increased number of districts in the South Island. Already they had a majority for no-license in 42 out of the 7G electorates of the Dominion. The teaching of hygiene and tempera nco was carried 011 at present in Now . Soiltli Wales, Canada, and other countries. Tho Rev. D. D. Scott (Onclitinga) seconded jtho doliveranco. Mr. J. Loudon (Mat-aura) said that he was mayor of the Mataura borough for two years after no-license was carried, and had no hesitation in saying that it had boon a groat success financially and morally. Ho would bo a very bbld man indeed in Mataura who would say that it had not boon a success. Tho Rev. G. Stringor (Oamaru) said that the North Otago district was as woll served in the matter of travellers' accommodation as it had over been, despite tho prophecies that wero mnde beforo no-licenso was passed. Moreover, he had never seen Oamaru moro prosperous .than it was now, notwithstanding an uiius|ia]!y dry season. Crimo had gono down to a minimum, and n drunken man was a rarity. Tho only drawback was tho locker system. If a vote wero taken tomorrow tho clcctorato would not go back to tho old condition. The Rov. R. Ferguson (Invercargill), as President of tho Reform Council of liivorcargill when 110. licenso was carried, said that undoubtedly tho now system had been a groat succoss, and lie did not think that there was) any olmnco of tho town going back to tho old regimo. Out of ton thousand convictions for drunkonnoss in twelve months in Now Zealand, only ono man was convicted in Invercargill who had got tho liquor within tho no-liconso area, though formerly tho towA had boon a bad one for drinking by young men. Though now/young, fellows would occasionally get a kog .of liquor and drink it in a paddock, that .evil was nothing to tho open bars of tho .old days. Again, Invercargill was being sought as a haven of safety by peoplo who afraid that they would drink if they lived in a liconso area. The town's prosperity had increased, and tho rates had been reduced by l-3d. The hotels were drawing bigger revonues ,than they liad dono under license, and somo of thorn wore onlarging their accommodation in view of increasing. business. The beer depots wero tho only blot on tho prosperity of tho electorate. • The Rev. P. B. I'raser, speaking for Clutha, said that- tho Otago Education Board had just a, resolution in favour, of the introduction of school lossons in temperancc' and hygiene. Mr,. J. M'Gibbon (Goro) said that when 110 liconso was, carried in Mataura, Goro had threo banks.' Now it' had five, which was sufficient ovidcnce of increased prosperity. Tho strongest opponent's of no-licbnso did not assert that it had injured business. - Tho deliverance was adopted. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. Tho Rov. R. J. Portor (Oamaru) presented tho report of tho Bible-in-Schools Committee, which stated as follow:—"Your Committco have again to report that tho Bible is still donied its rightful placo in tho public schools of our Dominion. Nearly twenty-nino years ago it wad oxpellcd by tho Parliament then in ' existence, and although year after year most of our Protestant Churches' have agitated and petitioned again. and again in favour of its ; restoration, lip to tho present our legislators have turned a deaf ear to our appeals, and the day for /which we liavo longed and prayed seoms as far off as over. Is it not strange that tho most living of all books, tho Book that as . a rero classic has no equals, the Book that undorlios our great political institutions, that contains our purest code of- morals, and inspires and shapes 0111 othical ideas, should bo withhold from oui children as a part of their school education P Give us tho Biblo, tho wholo Biblo, and nothing but tho Biblo;.or givo us tho Bible witli note and commont; or give us a suitable text-book —wo care little which, so long as we have some recognition of God and His "Word in our system of education. This must continuo to be our domand. "Your Conimitteo, romombering tho failure of all past attempts to have tho Educatior Act so altored as to allow of tho Biblo being road in school within school hours, irosolve! this year in accordance with the recommonda tior. of last Assembly to urge upon minister! the importance of taking advantage of tin facilities within their reach 'for conducting classes for Bible-roading and study in even school into which access can be obtaincc under conditions that afford some hope of j profitable result.' Accordingly, through th< columns of tho ' Outlook,' the attention 0 ministers was directed to what is now goner ally known as tho ' Nelson system, am brethren wero urged to mako an earnest ef fort to supply, at least in part, what is lack ing in our systom of education. Tho convene; of your Committee has also been in closi I communication with many ministers who wen anxious to givo the Nelson method of Bible touching a fair trial. < It has been pointei out again and again that the time for socula instruction required by the Act, is two.hour; in the forenoon and two in tho afterhoon that the Committee and headmaster aro em powered to fix the legal school hours; am that the Committee have power to give tin use of school buildings outside) tho legal snhoo hours. Now, in tho majority of schools fivi hours teaching arc givon, and so in this cast the Committee can resolve, that 011 ono morn ing in t.lio week tho regular school work shal begin half an hour later than usual, 'and th< 1 uso of tho building for the said half-hour eai ; bo givon to those wishing to give religious in ■ r.tructiou.' Anxious to ascertain to what ox ! tent ministers and others were taking advnn ; tage of tho liberty thus enjoyed under th i present Act, your Commit-too issued a list o 1 queries, tho replies to which have been gene 1 rous and onconraging. From the 119 return received it appears that there are 110 classe i for religious instruction being carried on out side school hours, and 1.7 additional in cours - of formation. Fifty-tlirco of these classe • have been formed during the year; 22 hav > been in existence between two and tlire • years, and the romainder for periods rangiuj - from three to ten years. The aggregate at i tendance is about 0500. It ought to b

stated that the majority of theso classes aro ; conducted on tho ' Nelson system,' and that < according to the returns received theso seem | to givo by far tho most satisfactory results ; to their teachers. Several ministers, owing ; to tho extent ot their parishes, aro unable ; to undertako any additional work; others | liavo boon denied access to the schools; while, as usual, a number have soiit iio replies. However, it is very gratifying; to your . committeo, as it must be to the whole Church, ■ to learn that in tho majority of cases school committees aud headmasters arc perfectly willing to fall in with our soheme, and give ovory facility for carrying on the good work. Wo would very earnestly urge all ministers to lay this whole question soriously to hoart, and endeavour during tho next twelve months to double the number of classes now in existence. • In large parishes and citios where tho ministers single-handed arc unable to overtake tho work tho sympathy and co-operation of duly qualified Christian workers might bo enlisted; and wo believe it will bo found that oven among our hardworking public school teachers many aro quite willing to come to our assistance. Let us employ to the full extout of our power the facilities already accorded by the Act for tho religious instruction of our children, and tho results of our efforts may so impress our legislators that they shall bo led to recognise the responsibilities of tho Stato in regard to this work, and to legislate accordingly." The following doliveranco was moved; — "Adopt the roport; express t regret that the Bible is still excluded from our public schools during school hours; record our appreciation of tho efforts of thoso ministers of various denominations who aro trying to supply, at least in part, what is lacking in our educational system; express regret that .certain school committees refuse to grant tho use of school buildings at reasonable hours for tho formation of classes for Biblo instruction; and urge upon all ministers of the Assembly to take this wholo matter into 'their sorious consideration, and, where possible, establish classes for Bible-reading on the lines suggested in the roport. Also, instruct tho committeo to issue a circular on the subject, tho came to he considered in Presbyteries and Kirk sessions at an early date." The Rov. W. Scorgie (Mornington, Dunedin) seconded tho deliverance. Ho described tho excellent effects of religious teaching given iu the Mornington Stato School by himself and tho Anglican minister, taking different classes. . _ Tho Rov. Dr. Gibb said that though ho rejoiced at tho success which had boon achieved in this direction, he 'regarded tho system as utterly inadequato as a solution of tho problem, it was only 0110 day a week, apparently, that they could reach tho children by this method. Only 9,500 children in 110 classes wero being reached in Now Zealand by tho system, and there wore 15,000 children in the AVellingtoirdistrict. Nothing would solvo this urgent problom hut daily religious instruction in school hours. It had been stated that tho schools wero not godless, and that the teachers wero a strong forco for morality, but oven admitting that thoro ,was a kind of vague spirituality in the schools, and that tho teachers woro in,tho main not only men of probity and excollont character, but oven Christian men, tho present "system so tied them up that they could not exercise their influonco aright. Was it not a fact that tho young peoplo of this country wore ,not spiritually inclined, though they might ho ethically better than wero the children in days gone by ? Ho know that half tho difficulties with which ministers liad to contend wero due to the exclusion of tho Biblo from tho public schools of tho country. They must attempt some hotter solution of tho problem than had been so far provided. -Why should thoy not liavo tho Biblo put into 'tho schools and taught by tho teachers of tho country ? In almost every English-speaking country of tho world tho 'Word of God was read, and in a great! number, of them it was taught. How could it bo said then, that the introduction of tho Biblo into schools would destroy our education systom and involvo all sorts of trouble? Tho assertion was nothing short of monstrous. Surely tho schools should take tho same interest in tjio Word of God as they took 111 tho entrails of a frog and kindred subjects, Tho Church should bo satisfied' with nothing less, than tho restoration of tho Biblo to thq publio schools. . Tho Rov. D. Steolo- (Rangiora) narrated his successful experience of teaching before school hours. Mr. Stoven (Oamaru) thought that in tho prosont stato of public opinion this was tho proper system to develop. Tho Rev. J. Paterson believed that it was a hopoless thing to obtain tho introduction of tho Biblo into schools from tho present Parliamont. That being so, thoy should do tho best thoy could themselves by means of tho Nelson system. Mr. W. H. Roso (Oamaru) said that the Nelson system had so favourably impressed parents that, if before tho nftxt olection thoy revived the agitation for the introduction of the Bible into schools iu connoction with the forward movoment in thoir Sunday School work, they would receivo very largo support. Tho deliverance was unanimously adopted. A letter was read from the Citizens' Bible-in-Statc-Schools League conveying tho following resolution That tho attention of the General Assembly ot the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand bo directed to tho urgent necessity of introducing the Biblo as part of tho curriculum of the Stato schools, under tho following conditions—(X) That tho Biblo be read as a classic; (2) no comments allowed, except geographical,, grammatical, and historical; (3) tho State sbliool teachcr only to supervise the Jliblo reading; (4) any teacher or scholar having conscientious objections may bo excused from tho Bible, lessons. And that tho Gonoral Assembly bo asked to promoto tho objcctn of tho League, by urging all members -of the Presbyterian Assembly to give their individual support to tho movoment." Tho League submitted that this was not only, a practical basis, but oiic on which all interested could unite, and also ono which would command a very largo measure of public support,' thereby hastening tho accomplishment of their common object. '.- ! . The Rov. P. H. Fraser (Lovell's Mat) moved that the letter be referred to tho Bible-in-Schools Committee to report upon to the General Assembly noxt year. Tho Biblo was not excluded from the. schools as a classic at tho present time. Tho Assembly would not put tho Biblo 011 the lovol of jiigan ,' authorities by asking for its introduction as . a classic, and'not as a, religious work. Tho suggestion was either a'subterfugo to deceive . Parliament, or a subtorfugo to deceive tlie Christian peoplo of New Zoaland. , Tho ltev. R. M. Ryburn (Wanganui) seconded tho motion. Tho Assombly could ! not have two policies on this question. : Tho Rev. Dr. Gibb moved as an ameiid- [ ment that tho secretary of tho committee bo ! instructed to send tho League a copy of its platform on tho subject. ! Tho Rov. R. J. Portor (Oamaru) seconded ; the amendment. I Mr. Fraser withdrew his motion, and that ' of Dr. Gibb was carried. ! MAORI MISSIONS. . ' The Maori Mission Committoo reported [ with great gratitudo to God tho continued . success of the Maori Mission, tho opportuni- . ties offered for extending tho work, and tho - means provided by tho Church for prosccuti ing vigorously tlie evangelisation of tho ) Maori race. From detailed reports wo cull - tho following facts:— I Work has been carried 011 as vigorously :' as possible in tho piis about Taupo. Sun- ' day .schools' have been carried 011 at Oruanui, ; Taupo, and, irregularly, at Mokai. Sowing - classes for Maori girls and women liavo ' prospered exceedingly. At Tnumarunui : thcro is a marked improvement in tho ' spiritual, moral and temporal welfare of tho 1 natives. -Many are trying to individiialiso 1 thoir business margins, with a view to ] separate administration of their own parti- ' cular -personal property along the lines of progressive settlement. In this praiseworthy effort they aro greatly hindered, ~ owing to complex legal restrictions. Gifts ~ of clothing and good literature arc needed. n Tho Tnrakina Maori Girls' School lias a roll f number of 23. Receipts for tho year wero £581 2s. Bd., and expenditure £533 7s. 7d., s leaving £47 15s. Id. cash in hand. The s Maori Mission Birthday League contains from 40 to 45 branches. In 2G of .theso 5 there is a total membership of 2677. s Tho Committee recommended: —l. That o Messrs. Fletcher's and Ward's salaries be. 0 increased to £225 and £200 respectively. % 2. That Mr. J. I. Monfries bo employed as - a Maori missionary at a salary of £200. 3. 0 That tho Committee bo authorised to appoint

a lay assistant to Mr. Monfrios at n salary of £101 per annum. ' 4. That if neccssnry tlio sum of £200 bo transferred from the Maori Mission to tlio School Fund. 5. That' Mrs. Emaro Pornuninti bo omployed to assist Mr. Fletcher at Tokaiinu at £80 per annum. 6. That Mr. Menrs be appointed to assist Mr. Ward, and that ho receive £G0 from tlio Maori Mission Fund. 7. That £250 received from tlio- Manson bequest for each of tlio Maori Mission and tho School Funds ho retained as an endowment in each case. The Rev. R. M. Ryburn (Wanganui), presented the report,, with a deliverance expressing appreciation of workers' efforts, and urging upon congregations tho formation of branches of tho Maori Mission Birthday League. Tho ltev. ■J. C. Jamieson seconded the deliverance. He specially praised the work of tho Turakina Maori 1 Girls' School. The Rev. J. Gibson-Smith endorsed this 'praise. , Tho Rev. H. Fletcher (Taupo) suggested the inclusion of tho Maoris in the juveliilo forward movement. Tho doliverance was adopted. ORDINATION.. Mr. J. I. Monfrios was ordained- to the Ministry by tho Moderator, tho Rov. J. Patorson leading tho Ordination prayer. Mr. Monfrios will bo employed in Maori mission worlt. ' ■ • The Moderator, in addressing the new minister, said that he had long thought that not enough was done in tho way of mission work among tho Maoris, and ho hoped that Mr. Monfries, who was s;oiiin: to tho TJrowora comitry, (would bo tho forerunner of other missionaries. Tlio hymn, "Let Thore Bo Light" was then sung by tho Assembly.