THE PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1570, 1 March 1879, Page 4

THE PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

PUBLIC MEETING. A public meeting in connection with the Presbyterian Assembly now holding its session in Christcburch, was held at half-past seven o'clock last evening, at the OddMlowa' Hall. There was a very good attendance, and the chair was occupied by the Moderator, the Kev. D. Sidey, of Napier. The proceedings were commenced by singing the 100th Psalm, after which tho Rov. E. P. McNicol, of Auckland, engaged in prayer.

The Chairman then addressed the meeting. When he first visited Ohristchurch some five years ago,he had a most favorable impression of that city, which waa more than confirmed on the occasion of his present visit. The city was the large and throbbing heart of a very magnificent back country. He had visited it several times, and he now saw a vast progress, the firstjthing striking the eye being the many fine and stable buildings with which it was etudded. Then he saw large schools, well equipped with good teachers, and colleges for boys and girls; the latter quito as important aa the former. And the scholastic buildings of various kinds promised well for their future educational attainments. He must also speak in very high terms of the churches. There was indeed a marked success in every way. The progress of the city was wonderful indeed since tho time of his first visit. The speaker then referred to the importance of a widely-diffused intelligence among the people, for the Church could scarcely exist or have any iniluence without intellect and culture. There was a vast sphere lying in this thought, and he could not conceive any good in the Church if they severed it from living vital intelligence. To got anything like worship there must be clear and thorough going perceptions. This could bo exemplified in the same way in overy sphere of life. He had no sympathy with that common sentiment existing a few years ago, comparatively speaking, where a few cultivated people were surrounded by crowds of ignorant serfs. The broader the culture the better for the progress of the Church. It would be a good thing if every man, woman, and child had some of that culture to which he referred. The next great thing was widely diffused liberty. The time had been when some men had tried to seriously interfere with the liberty of others. The larger the possession of their liberties the greater and better would be the work on which they would bo called upon to enter. Their liberties had been gained by their forofathers by the sword, and in other ways, and it was a heritage they should prize, retain, and extend. That formed one of the secrets of the success of the Church which, iii the pa&t, had been one of the principal instruments in achieving it; and if they took the Church away from them now he did not think that it would very long remain among them. A third thing to which ho would refer would be that there should be a large diffusion of property. If they turned to Kuesia and Prussia they would find that Socialism and Nihilism were threatening both countries, an effect caused by the brooding of men without }>roperty who took for their ground something ike the old saying, " Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity." Let all men act their part well in social life and try and widely diffuse the good things of this life among their fellovYbeings. Finally, he referred to widely diffused conscienoiousness, which was a quality on which the Church rested—on which the Church lived. If all were to act upon it in Christian life then they would have a far higher state of things pervading society than that which at present existed. The quality which they called " smartness" was about the most dangerous thing they could have in the social circle, Christian or not. Their principle should be to say, " "We have rosolved to do right, and no power shall tempt us to do wrong." They must take all the principles together, just the same as they took the four fingers of the hand together. They must be bound together to carry out the high and holy cause of God's Church in the world. If all these principles were adopted, then in the next five years they would see far greater progress than in the last five years that had gone by. [Loud applause.] The Eev. C. Eraser made several apologies for absent friends, among them being the Kev.W. Inglis, Dr. Copland, and the Eev. Mr Clark.

The Eev. D. Bruce, the agont for the Church, then read hia report on Church extension, giving a short sketch of the work in which the Church was engaged in various parts of the colony, and from which it apgeared that the progress of the Presbyterian ihurch during the last year had been of a very satisfactory character. Mr Bruce said that no doubt the meeting had heard a great deal about foreign missions, and he would not say u word except in favour of them, but they must remember that they could not do too much in the work that was now lying at their own doors. They had an opportunity in connection with this Church mission of having abundance of work for their Christian spirit and their liberality, and he wished them to understand that when ho came among them he should be prepared to say to them, " That which is thine is mine ; not for myself nor yourself, but for your Cod and my Cod." [Applause.] The Eev. W. H. Boot, of Greymouth, next addressed the meeting, and after a humorous introduction, spoke of the work of Church extension at some length, in the course of which he said he should like the words " home missions " and "foreign missions " done away with, as they all belonged to one great widespread mission, and that was to get in the fold, black and white, dark and yellow, heathens and Christians. The remarks of this gentleman throughout were of bo pertinent and interesting a character that on sitting down he was enthusiastically applauded. The meeting was next addressed by the Kev. R. Eraser, of Waipukerau, who, in the course of his remarks, spoke a few words on what he considered to be the essential of a successful congregation and Church. This was sympathy between the minister and his officebearers j sympathy between the minister and his congregation; and, indeed, general sympathy all round. Pastors had a very trying life, and sympathy was very necessary for their successful bearing up against the many difficulties with which they were too often surrounded. A minister ought to have a constitution of iron, nerves of steel, the skin of an alligator, and the patience and stolidity of Balaam's ass to meet the difficulties with which they were Eomo times brought face to face. Among other things to which he objected, was the over respectability that was inclined to creep into their churches. All the members of a Church should feel bound to work equally in the cause of their Master. [Applause.] At this period a collection was made to pay for the expenses of the meeting. The Eev. E. J. Allsworth pronounced the benediction, which brought the meeting to a close.

During the evening the choir of St. Andrew's Bang several anthems very nicely, the acoompaniesfc being Mr J. O. Sheppard.