THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 4302, 9 December 1876, Page 1

THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

At yesterday’s sederunt, The Clerk read an overture from the Pres, y ery of Auckland regarding the subject ° f with the Synod of oU 2 S t moved—“ That the^ssemthereof.” 6 overfcure and resolve in terms s -T h ® ev - Mr' Colder said he was heartily smk of these labors for union, which hade? oVera of sixteen years, and superlr; penned! SlS V ?" ate m the n »tural order of therefore, any action on the part of the Assembly that would tend to widen the breach or create any unHe^nnS 116 WeeU tlle two Churches. tnr« k If^ de( i h j/ m . ovin g— * That the overadopted, with the exception of the part that relates to the operations within SS t fw°+{ oc ° u P ied b y the Otago Church, and that the Assembly record their deep regret that the negotiations of this Church? extended over so many years, have not been successful and find that in the meantime it is not expedient to continue renewed nego- | tiations on the subject.” ° m 56 E J t . Rosa seconded the amendment, and in aomg so said the great body of the Church of . Otago was as anxious for uidon as they were themselvesl • • , tn 6 EeV ’ /* counselled adhesion to the project, which would inevitably take place sooner or later. It would grieve him exceedingly were that Assembly to resolve m accordance with either, motion or amendment. It would be a mere exemplary action on their part, and one more likely to have rS,v v. W * lt n 4 .° bjectuig ministers of the Chmch of Otago, were they to pursue the course which he would propose- only to seek a umon which would be iu accordance with principles of Presbyteiian Church government. He moved-'- Ist. That the Assembly acknowledge the desirability which was urged on the Synod of Otago of not proPrpt w to - th ® ?. om P L letlon of union'with the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand in the face of such a large minority of its members, and cordially approves of the wisdom of its decision. 2nd. That the Assembly would recognise the good provideuceof Godin this matter, inasmuch as union on the contemplated basis would not have been m accordance with the distinctive prinip es of 1 resbyterian Church government, and would not have been such a complete incorporation of union as the Church has all along been aiming at, and still earnestly desires. 3rd. That with a hope of seeing this desire ere long consummated, the Committee on Union be continued, and that they |be instructs by this Assembly to direct their best efforts to the removal of any misconceptions or other opposing obstacles which may exist, and keep steadily in view negotiating union on a basis as nearly as possible identicalwith that originally agreed upon by the two Churches in the Conferences of 1861 and 1862. 4th. That a deputation be appointed to attend the meeting °"“ e ut ago synod ih January next.” - ' The amendment was carried;