Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1870. GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 881, 1 December 1870, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1870. GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church was opened in St. Paul’s Church, Napier, on Monday evening, 28th November, at 7 p.m. Present— The Rev. T. Nome, Papakura, Moderator ; the Rev. G. Morice, Napier; the Rev. A. Shepherd, Havelock; the Re/, J. Ross. Wairarapa; and the Rev, Dr. Copland, deputed by the Synod of the Presbyterian Church in Otago and Southland. Divine Service was conducted by the Moderator, who preached an able sermon from 2 Cor., iii, 10. The Rev. A. Shepherd was then appointed interim Clerk to the Assembly. Mr Norrie, in retiring from his office, proposed Mr Morice as his successor, according a high tribute to that gentleman’s personal worth and general litness for the office. Mr Moi ice was unanimously voted to the vacant seat, and delivered an address in whidi he gave an account of the principal matters which would come up for discussion. The ex-Moderator laid on the table Dr. Copland’s commission as delegate from Otago and Southland. Resolved —That Dr Copland be requested to take his scat as corresponding member of the Assembly. Dr Copland took his seat accordingly.

Resolved—That the David Bruce, at present on a visit to Scotland, be appointed to represent the Church in the several Home Churches.

Several committees having been appointed, and some formal business transacted, the Assembly adjourned to the forenoon of the next day. On re-assembling, some reports of committees were read, and the programme of business arranged. The reply of his Excellency the Governor to an address presented to him by the Synod on his accession to office was also read. Petitions from certain ministers in Hokitika and Greymouth, and also from the Presbytery of Canterbury, praying for the disjunction of the Westland district from that of Canterbury, was read, and the prayer was unanimously granted. A petition was read from certain ministers of the Church in Wellington, praying that the Presbytery of that Province, which became defunot in 1868, might be resuscitated.—Granted. The report of the Committee on Foreign Missions was given in and read. It recommended that the salary of Mr Watt, the missionary of the Church in the New Hebrides, should be raised by <£3o. This recommendation was appi*oved and ordered to be carried into effect. A letter was also read from Mr Duncan, the Convener of the Committee, tendering his resignation, which was accepted by the Assembly, and the Rev. J[. Paterson was appointed his successor.

The Assembly adjourned to 2 p.m. On re-assembling, the reports on Church, Extension, Maori Mission, and Church Property, were called for, but. not given, in, the Conveners being absent.

The report, on Finance was read and received,

An overture from the Presbytery of Canterbury, recommending a union with the other Churches. Mr Norrie having taken the chair, Mr Morice made a motion to the effect that the object would be more effectually gained by confining attention at present to union with the Synod of OtagOs and Southland. His motion was agreed to, and a committee appointed to cany it out.

The Assembly adjourned to 7 p.m.

On re assembling, thanks were voted to the Rev. T. Norrie for his excellent sermon at the opening of the Assembly.

Mr Norrie introduced the Rev, Dr. Copland, as representative or the Synod of Otago and Southland, and Dr. Copland addressed the house at considerable length. He said it was necessary to remove a prevailing impression that the Uhurch in Otago was an establishment endowed by the State. The Company which bought the Otago block offered to the Free Church of Scotland, that if they would engage to send ministersj one-eighth of the land should be devoted to their support. It was intended that Otago should be a Free Church settlement, and this arrangement naturally had the effect of attracting Fiee Church settlers. By the deed of trust one-third of the proceeds of the land was to be devoted to educational, and two-thirds to religious purposes. It was originally intended to devote the educational fund to the establishment of primary schools, but so excellent an educational system had been inaugurated by the Provincial Government as to render this quite unnecessary. It was therefore resolved to devote it to higher education, and a portion of it had been applied to the endowment of a Chair of Moral Philosophy and Political Economy in the University which had been established in Dunedin. Possibly when one was needed, the Synod might be in a position to endow a Professor of Theology. From the remaining twO-thirds of the fund a sum of between £2OO and .£3OO was given to each congregation to build a manse for their minister. The support of the clergy was derived entirely from voluntary contributions. These were paid to a general fund, which was equally divided among the congrega tions. Hitherto, it had amounted to about £2OO per annum for each congregation. Many congregations supplemented this from their own resources. He then c.ime to the subject of the spiritual works of the Church, and took occasion to advert to the subject of intemperance, which had been taken up by the clergymen. Total abstinence soeietie* were spreading over the whole Province, and doing a great work. He then described the mission work of the Church in the New Hebrides; among the Maoris; and among the Chinese in Otago. In conclusion he expressed a wish that the Assembly would send a deputy to the sitting of the Synod of Otago and Southland in January, which he trusted would have the effect of hastening the union of these two branches of the Church. Thanks were voted to Dr. Copland for his address, and it was resolved to send a deputation to the Synod of Otago and Southland either in 1871 or 1872, such deputation to consist of the Moderator and Mr J. Anderson. After some formal business the Assembly adjourned to the following day. On Wednesday the business- was chiefly of a- formal nature. At its close thank* were voted to the office-bearers of St. Paul's Church for the use of the building, and to the Rev. A. Shepherd for his services as Clerk. The Moderator then gave his closing address, and the proceedings terminated.