THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 4301, 8 December 1876, Page 4

THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Telegram.] ' • Auckland, December 7. At the meeting of the Presbyterian General Assembly, the Rev. James Paterson, of Wellington, was elected Moderator, and delivered an address. He expressed thanks for the honor done him by his election. The pleasure experienced in these fraternal meetings was to many of them a real holiday, and they might hope that as the difficulty of travel lessened, a greater number of persons would attend the General Assembly of the Church. He pointed out the advantages to the Church of these periodical conferences, and the necessity for ministers of the Gospel being fully equipped for a struggle between materialism and religious truth. It was needful that they should keep their own mind free from prejudice, and their hearts free from bigotry, that they should cultivate a liberal spirit, and that their convictions should be deep, earnest, and true. He then referred to the question of Union with the Presbyterian Church of Otago, which now appeared to be further off than ever. He thought its ascomplishment would be a great moral gain to both. At the same time, the terms submitted by Otago were unsatisfactory, especially the proposal to break up into Synods. The speaker went on to show tbe weak points of the Otago" proposal. He was gratified to report that the Church was making steady progress m extension and consolidation. He then referred to the difficulty to be encountered in new districts. There was a want of organisation for Church extension, and of unity of feeling and unselfish efforts. Their young men should-iome forward as workers in the Church. He then mentioned the establishment of a Theological Hall or Faculty, so as to bring up a ministry within the Church. The rev. gentleman concluded with an earnest appeal in favor of an extended evangelical spirit in the Church.