THE PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Evening Star, Issue 3713, 16 January 1875, Page 3

THE PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Saturday, January 16. MOTIONS. Dr Copland moved ihat this Synod express its desire and the hope that the Assemblies of the Established Church of Scotland, the Free Church of Scotland, and the Synod of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland may send deputies to visit the Presbyterian Churches of New Zealand and the other Australasian Colonies ; and that an extract minute of this resolution he forwarded to the clerks of those courts." —Carried. Dr Stuart moved —“That the Synod cor dially approve of the proposal submitted to the Churches by President M'Cosh, of the college of New Jersey, and of the committee of which he is chairman, to form a general council of the Presbyterian Churches in various lands, as fitted to exhibit before the world their substantial unity, and thus to raise a powerful testimony on behalf of the Gospel of the Kingdom, to demonstrate to the Christian world such facts as these That the Presbyterian system, by its reasonable polity, consists with every form of civil government; that by the simplicity of its usages it is adapted to all the varying conditions of the Church upon the earth ; and that, by its equal distance from license and arrogance, it is best prepared to recognis -- the kinship of all between, to manifest the proportions and powers of the Presbyterian Churches, and further to bring the members of the Churches into fellowship with the Saviour, into deeper affection for the brethren, and into more entire conservation of themselves to the noble end of our divine religion ; and that the Moderator be authorised to transmit an extract minute of the resolution to President Al'Cosh.” —Carried. TEACHER OF MUSIC. The Rev Mr Waters moved that a teacher „ of music be appointed to go through the various districts instructing the different congregations, with a view to improving the psalmody of the Church. — The Rev Mr Todd seconded the motion. —The Rev Mr Gillies was of opinion that the psalmody of the Church could only be improved by the use of resident trained musical teachers in each district, and not through the services of an itinerant teacher.— The Rev. Mr Go* spoke to the same effect.— The Bev. M‘C. Smith supported the appointment of a teacher. —The Rev. Mr Maokie thought everything depended on the man who might be appointed. He believed the idea was an excellent one, and that the anticipated periodical visits of a teacher would be looked forward to and highly valued —Dr .'Tuakt said no once could oppose the motion of the Rev. Mr Wate, So far as regarded the appintment of a committee of inquiry, but he could not see the benefit to be derived from the appointment of a music master. TTp-country people could not attend his classes in the spring time, because they would be busy sowing, or in the autumn, because of harvesting, while in Dunedin the winter was the only time at which the classes would be attended.—The Rev. Mr Mackie thought there would be no harm in trying the exporiment.—The following were appointed a committee to inquire fully i ito the subject:— Clergy: Ihe Moderator, Messrs Blake, Mickie, By ley, Stobo, Todd, and Waters. Elders: Messrs King, Cl rke, and Captain Thomson. REPOST Of theological college. Dr. Stuart read and moved the adoption o this report, which stated that Dr. Cairns and Professor Rainy had undertaken to select a Theological Professor. Also that three competitors offered themselves for the scholarships, and that Messrs VV ill and Hill were awarded the Tokomairiro and Invercargill scholarships (L 25 each). The repo, t also recommended three scholarships be offered for competition this .year.—Mr King thought, and moved as an amendment, that “instead of obtaining a professor from Home, one should be chosen from their own clergy.—The Moderator pointed out that the matter had been fully discussed last year, and therefore it was a question if the amendment could be now received, as it would be going over the old ground again. It was for the Synod to decide if it should be re-opened.— The Rev. Mr Mackie thought eventually a second professor would be required, and that he might be chosen from their own ranks, but that the first should be taken from outside. The report was adopted. TEM ERANGE REPORT. v The Rev. Mr Clark read and moved the report of the Committee on Temperance, which stated that the Committee’s attitude during the year had been that of watching the effects of the Licensing Acts. They regretted that licei lß ® B were granted every quarter, instead of •only t' ,nce a year. Discv’ssion on the report was adjourned till Monday, the Synod adjourning at one o’clock.