GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1933, 16 December 1913, Page 5

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

« ''SABBATH' DESECRATION. ' ' NORTH ISLAND 1 ELSEWHERE. (By TeietfraDh,—PrSßa Association.)' Cliristeiiurcn, December 10. • SVi'lis,General Assembly ot too Prosbyteriau Udurcji oiyjNew Zealand resumed at be. paw's Church ibis lmirmnjs, unuer tim' iiguwatursuip .■ ol tao l>«v. ,U. -vl'Cara.' Tins' Key.- Jas. M'Caiv (Lower Hntt) {for tlio lie v. A. C. \Y. SlanunJiiß, aeung as convener) submitted tlio report oi ilin babbath UDservaneo' Lioiuluu jje. (lJ stated that there had boon a gradual dritf, in all pans, especially m tnu iNorth Island. ■ in tlio newer settlements iu tlio north tvhero Divine servica is liclci only at long intervals, practical pagaaism prevailed. In other parts fishing, shooting, golf, tennis, and raototinu were becoming general, and the habit of "week-ending'-' was rapidly increasing. On tlio West Coast ot the South island picture entertainments hail become quite commoJj. I'Jle committee's recommendations were: (1) Appoint August 2, 191 i as Sabbath Observance D«y, when the sacred character and obj ligations ot the day shall be emphasised in ■ the _ pulpits, Sabbath schools, ansi Bible classes. (2) Uecominciul minister;, and sessions to do their utmost to form branches of the Lord's Day Alliance iu their congregations, or in co-operation with other Chuiehes, and, ut any other way possible, to stem tho tido of Sabbath desecration. (3) llocommend all presbyteries to appoint Sabbath Observance Committees, and corresponding members of Assembly Committees, and to exefciso constant vigilaitco on the whole question in their own districts. In moving the adoption of the report and recommendations, the He v. Mr. M'Caw referred to the _ largo number of ministers who had omitted to send replies to the committee to certain questions. As the result of representations made ai Lower Hutt, golfers had undertaken not to cngaga as caddies hoys who ought to be at Sunday school. Ho referred to the protest made by tlio Lord's Day Alliance in Auckland against Sunday nicotines and processions in connection with the strike, and said that it had done really good work. The Rev, A. Miller (Auckland) seconded tile motion, He said that a strong executive "had been formed iu Auckland which was thoroughly ropreseuta,live of tlio Protestant Churches, and they had a promise from the llomaii Catholic Church that, in any matters in i which the exc-cutivo is acting, it would be jjlad to- co-operate. Tlio Rev. 1), M'Lennan (Edendale) moved as an addition to the committee's recommendation: "That tlio Assembly take steps to petition Parliament for legislation on the lines of tho Canadian law to secure for this Dominion the same protection to the Lord's Day from unnecessary desecration which Canada enjoyed/' "What is the Canadian law?" several asked. "1 could not tell you what it is in a word or two," Mr. M'l-ennan replied, "but it's just the sort of law We want!" (Laughter.) It was decided, to refer the proposed addition to tho committee. to submit a report to the nest Assembly. The report and recommendations wcro then adopted, The Maori Missions report, _ dealing with the general work, and, in addition, the work of tho Maori Girls' School at Tttrakina, and tho Bays' Farm at Marunui, was adopted. Tlio report Gf the Tlicolnnjcal Hall Committee was presented. Twenty-five students lmd been taking the studies, and six of tho® had completed course during the past year. Social Servica and Ottisr Business, Tho annual reports of tho Social Service Association oi' Wellington, Christchurcli, and Duncdin showed that there wero 381 young people in the chic of the , association, 173 being in home:-;. One • hundred and seventy-seven have been taken from the Juvenile Courts and placed under the care of agents. the total amount received during the year was £0721. Tho associations will benefit to tho extent of £1200 each as the result of a homiest, Tho Sabbath Schools' Examination Committee reported that there had been ; a considerable increase in the number of entrants for examinations, awl that tho ! number of essays sent in was double that of the previous year. Tho presentation of banners, and medals took place, tho banner in the first division going to St. David's School, Auckland, and that in tho second division going to Totara ' Valley School, Timaru. Nuree Rogers, who has been appointed second nurse to 'the Arnbrim Hospital, Now Hebrides,- was introduced to the Assembly by. Professor Heivitson, ' and cordiallv received. 1 The Youth of the Church Committee reported that work among the young lmd been vigorously prosecuted, and »{ almost ail sections distinct progress had , been made. It was annotnieed with regret that tlio ' Rev. G. B. Hupp was retiring from tho 1 position' of travailing secretary at the ond of tlio year. _ 5 Tho Hev. H. Davis-and i &urse Milne " aro maintained by tlio Bible Classes hi > tho Canton Village Mission. The sum , of £1012 liad "been raised by tlio Bibto [ Classes for foreign missions, and over £1300 for other objocts.