THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3071, 21 December 1872, Page 2

THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

At the sitting of this body, on the 17th inst., the Rev. M. Watt, the delegate from the Synod of Otago and Southland, narrated the progress of the Church’s work in Otago. He is reported to have said that it was matter for regret that the relations of the two Churches were such that delegates were necessary. He hoped this necessity would soon be removed, and a closer union established between the sister Churches. The Church, he represented, had much occasion to thank God for His kindness towards her in the past, and he looked to the future with much hope. The Presbyterians in Otago numbered 31,000, and they had 36 sanctioned charges. Of these, five were vacant, so the number of ministers on their >ynod roll at present was only 31. Financially their Church was in a satisfactory condition They had found the sustentatiou scheme work v r ell It had proved a great blessing, and been the means ol extending and strengthening the cause. The last division of the funds gave L 194 to each minister, but this stun was smaller than it had ever been, and it was to be accounted fur by the fact that they had been planting so many new charges. He hoped soon to see a similar fund in the New Zealand Presbyterian Church. Without such a fund there was nothing to prevent ministers from Laving the Church and acting independently of these courts. With such a fund this was an impossibility, it gave the Church such authority over each minister as could not be disregarded. In the “ Christian Review” he noticed that at almost every Presbytery meeting in Victoria some minister demitted hischarge. in theOtagoChurchtherehadonly been two or three clemi-eiouH since the Church was formed, and this was mainly owing to the bond of cohesion afforded by the Sustentation Fund, In Otago they had three missionary schemes ; one for the Maoris, another f«r the Chinese, and a third for the New Hebrides. For the support of these schemes they raise annually something between 1.400 and LSOO. That sum was raised by lady collectors. The Chinese Mission was very successful, a'd it was not improbable that they might soon have a second missionary to the Chinese. The Maori Mission was suspended for the presenC Mr Blake, who had charge of that mission, has now charge of a flourishing congregation in the neighborhood of Dunedin. The suspension of the Maori Mission was only temporary. Although they had been obliged to cry “ halt ” for some time in extending tlicir evangelistic operations, still they were not idle. Recently they sent to Scotland for two ministers, and they were also adopting other measures for carrying the Gospel into necessitous districts. They bad formed an association with some of the characteristics of the Canterbury Church Extension Association Mr Gow had taken with him from Canterbury the idea of forming such an association. They contemplated employing students of Divinity and pious laymen, who would be examined by the Presbytery as to their fitness for the work, then sent to districts too poor te support a regularly ordained minister. At present there was too little co-operation between the clergy aud the laity. The laity should feel that they had work to do as well as the clergy. The great distinction between the clergy aud the laity was a rag of the Jewish dispensation. Ho was very conservative, and at one time he thought tiie Church here should adhere more closely to the traditions of their fathers. He had voted against union with this Church because of her innovations, and he vowed that if his Church introduced instrumental music he would leave them; but, like Augustine when he came to write his confessions, this would be one of them, that on this matter he had spoken rashly. His opinion was now changed ; he had been led to fee that it was a pity that such a small matter should interfere with their co-operation in the gobd work, when there was so much danger from the enemies of Christianity. Since the days of the Apostles the church never had more perilous times, and it was a pity that any petty or paltry thing should interfere with their Christian co-operation. The leading literature of the day displayed an amount of infidelity in forms which was dangerous. This was to be found iu an under-current; only occasionally it came to the surface ; but it was sufficient to cause them to bestir themselves and to unite in. their endeavours to conquer their common enemy. He had been instructed to ask their co-operation in the matter of education, and iu the establishment of a theological hall. They must raise up men in the colonies for the colonial ministry ; they would be better adapted to enter into the ways of thought and customs of the colony than raea trained at home. In Otago they had three scholarships for the purpose of assisting young men who are aspiring to the work of the ministry. Seven or eight young men who are now attending the Dunedin University, have signified their intention of studying for the ministry. The fund for a theological'professor only gave an annual return of about L 350. This was too small a salary to offer to a good man. Could the two churches not unite in founding a chair of theology ? It would be 'to their mutual advantage, and he hoped they would join in this matter. He had great sympathy and fraternal regard for the Hew Zealand Presbyterian Church, and he hoped it might prosper. Jn the course of the discussion that followed. the Hev C. Fraser said he was clad to learn from Mr Watt that the Church he represented recognised the necessity of a closer bond of union between the two churches, and he hoped they would soon be one, The Rev J. Kirkland endorsed the statements advanced by Mr Watt; he believed ninetentbs of the Otago brethren were now in favor of union. A vote of thanks was awarded to Mr Watt; and he was enjoined by the Moderator to carry back to the Otago Church the Christian sympathy and brotherly regard of the New Zealand Presbyterian t nurch.