THE PRESBYTERY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1231, 13 September 1911, Page 6

THE PRESBYTERY.

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS AND NO-LICENSE. Tho monthlv meeting of the Wellington i Presbytery was held ni St. John's Church yesterday morning. The Rev. L. Thompson SI.A., presided and there was a large attendance of members. Tho Rev. A. Morton, of Wanganui, was present, and was associated with the Presbytery. As a result of the recent visitation to Mnrtinborough charge a commission, consisting of tho Revs. 'M'towell, Sl'Caw, and Tennet, and Messrs. P. Feist and W. Allan was appointed to visit the southern portion ot the charge with tho view of erecting it into a home mission station. On tho motion of the Rev. Dr. Gibb, seconded by the Rev. J. K. Elliott, tho following resolution concerning the question of tho introduction of tho Bible into the schools of tho Dominion was carried: "Tho Presbytery, having received and considered the remit ot the Assembly's committee on the question of the suitability for New Zealand of the New South W ales' Bible-in-Scliools system, resolves to approvo generally of tho principle of that system, namely, Biblo instruction by teachers as a part of tho regular school curriculum, and permission for ministers of religion or.other teachers appointed by the churches, to enter the schools at stated intervals for tho purpose of importing religious instruction to the children. The Presbytery is of opinion that it would bo unwise at the present juncture to commit' itself to more than this. Tho Presbytery recommends the Assembly to empower its committee to co-operate with similar committees appointed by tho other churches favourable to the movement, with a view to tho elaboration of details, and the formulation of a programme of effort designed to enlist the sympathies and secure the active support of all who desire the introduction of Biblo teaching in tho State schools of the Dominion." A petition from the congregations of the Presbytery situated in the Wairarapa praying the Assembly to take such steps as are necessary to form the charges of Slartinborough, South Wairarapa, Carterton, Slasterton, and Pahiat.ua, and tho homo mission stations of Eketahuna and Pongaroa into a new Presbytery to be known as the Wairarapa Presbytery, was brought forward. In support of the petition it was pointed out that considerable hardship is experienced by members of the Presbytery residing in tho Wairarapa and adjoining districts in the regular attendance at meetings; that the interests of the two portions indicated are far from identical, tho one being entirely rural, and the ether city' and suburban; and that tho home mission and church extension problems in these parts could he more adequately and efficiently dealt with by a Presbytery more or less local and entirely conversant with tho conditions. Tho Rev. A. S. Thompson moved, and the Rev. E. C. Tennent seconded: "That the petition bo adopted and transmitted to the Assembly with the recommendation that the prayer of the petition bo granted." Tho motion was carried. Satisfactory reports were received from tho home mission stations of Eketahuna, Upper Hutt, lloua Bay, AVadestown, and Seatoun. On the motion of the Rev. A. T. Thompson, of Masterton, the Presbytery resolved to utter its strong protest against the continuance of tho present licensing system, to declare itself emphatically in favour of No-Licen'so and Dominion Prohibition, and to urge its ministers and sessions to do their utmost to secure the whole-hearted and unanimous support of their people in furthering theso undoubted movements of reform. The following wero appointed representatives to the General Assembly, to bo held in Dunedin in November: The Revs. Douglas, A. Thomson, J. Sl'Caw, E. C. Tennent, L. Thompson, A. T. Thompson, J. C. Still, W. : J. Comrie, and Dr. Gibb, and elders from the sessions of Kelburne, Kent Terrace, Khandallah, South Wairarapa, St. "Andrew's, and Slasterton.