PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1598, 10 November 1905, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

(Per Press Association.)

Auckland, last night. The Presbyterian General Assembly opened last night with service at St. Andrew’s, when the retiring moderator, Rov. R. Erwin, of Christohurcb, preached a sermon, and the moderaior elect, Dev* D. Borrie, of Dunedin, was installed. At the Presbyterian Assembly meeting to-day the National Anthem was sung before commencing business. Tbe treasurer's statement was adopted, showing the varionß funds of the Church* all in credit. Investments cf the Church amount to £77,993. The gross revenue last year was £100,733, of which ordinary collections furnished £6135, and seat rents £1023. General statistics show .that Presbyterian communicants 31,000. The average attendance at the services was 48,800, and the number of ohurches 366, with 494 other preaching plaoes. Tbe'Rightßev. David Barrie, Moderator of tho Presbyterian General Assembly, delivered his address to-m'ght, his subject being “ Some Points in our Business.” He spoke at length on the responsibility of elders of Presbyters. He also referred to the relation of the Church to the young. He was pleased to see awakened interest in this direction, but maoh still remained to be done. Children must bp trained to habits of ehuroh attendance, and Sabbath school must not be allowed to become the children’s church. There was a great work before the Church in the twentieth oentury, for they had begun where the last nineteen centuries had left off. For this work they needed fresh baptisms of the Holy Ghost.