PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5216, 10 December 1877, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The Assembly met at XI a.m. on Saturday in the Provincial Council Hall, and was duly constituted. The minutes of the former sederunt were read and sustained. The Rev. W. Bruce referred to the presence of the Rev. Mr. Ross, one of the delegates from the Church of Otago and Southland, who was welcomed by the Moderator. On the motion of the Rev. J. Treadwell, seconded by the Rev. R. J. Allsworth, the Assembly resolved, itself into a committee of the whole house for the consideration of the report anent “ Presbyterial visitation.” The various paragraphs having been under consideration, the house resumed, and the report was read as amended. On the motion of the Rev, Mr. Somerville, seconded by the R,ev. Mr. Hill, the report as amended was unanimously adopted, it being understood that the examination of the minister of a congregation should be conducted privately, and that the examination of the session be conducted apart from the board of management or deacon's court. The Assembly then took up the overture from the Presbytery of Wellington anent the resorting to lotteries and in raising money for religious purposes, which, having been read by the clerk, the Assembly proceeded to discuss the subject. The Rev. J. Doull observed that this subject had been before the Presbytery of Wellington for some time. It was well known that in a number of new charges various expedients had been used to raise money to assist* in the building operations of the Presbyterian and other Churches Among these expedients was the bazaar, and it was of the utmost importance that some things connected with the bazaar, such as lotteries, art unions, &c., should be discountenanced. The Rev. J. Rosa seconded the motion of Mr. Doull, maintaining that a bazaar properly conducted was a legitimate way of obtaining funds, but he insisted that those objectionable things which were often connected with them, such as raffling-—or, in plain terms, gambling—ought to have no countenance from their Church. He maintained that to take part in the swindling measures adopted in some quarters iu connection with bazaars was unworthy of the character and dignity of the followers of Christ. No doubt they needed money for those undertakings, and his advice would be to make money if they could, but by all means to make it honestly. The Rev. Mr. Bruce said that lotteries were only resorted to in certain cases, e.g., where there were articles »f value to be disposed of and no purchasers could be got alone to give above their value. With the ladies who prepared such things he could in a great measure sympathise. There was often no other way in which they could obtaiu the money value of the articles produced by them. The Rev. Mr. Mo K ee observed that bazaars ought to be improved, and hoped the Assembly would come to such a finding as would not only deal with the evils referred to in the ov rture, but would likewise deal with the objectionable entertainments which were sometimes got up in aid of Church funds. The Rev. Mr. Sherriff observed that it was of the greatest importance to appeal to men’s higher and nobler feelings in the matter of Christian benificence. In the part of the country from which he came much harm was done to the cause of Christ by the way in which money was gathered for Church purposes, and there were many who shut their pockets against Christ’s cause on account of this very thing. The liev. Mr. Ogg spoke at some length of the difficulty of the question, and went on to show that the difference between the lottery and the sweepstakes lay more in the surroundings of these things than in the things themselves. The Rev. J. Paterson would prefer a deliverance of a more general character. For his own part he had a dislike to bazaars, and he and his congregation refrained from having one, because of the great difficulty of having one without its usual accompaniments. Mr. McArdle and Mr. McLean followed in the same strain, Mr. McLean referring to the auction swindles that were held iu connection with them. The Rev. Mr. Treadwell again handled the logic of Mr. OggV speech severely, showing that according to Mr. Ogg's own exposition of the matter the difference between a sweepstake and a lottery at a bazaar was this, —that the one was carried on by blacklegs, &c., while the other was carried on by respectable people. He would occupy higher ground than the doctrine of chance in this matter, and would say, were they, as a Church, to encourage the receiving of money in a way in which only such as entered into art unions, &c., could have no scruples. The Rev. R. J. Allsworth, of Waverly, testified to the fact of their having there a bazaar without lottery, post office, or other adjuncts, and the delight of his people in having it conducted iu such a way. It was moved by Mr. Doull, seconded by Mr. Ross, —That this General Assembly approve of the spirit of the overture, while recommending all diligence in raising funds for cougregationalpurposes; instruct the committee, if such bo appointed, to prepare a pastoral address, to call the attention of the Church to this subject, and urge on the Presbyteries and congregations the duty of withholding all, countenance from lotteries, art unions, and

other questionable practices not consistent with the Gospel of Christ. The Ilov. J. Patkhbon moved as an amendment the following, which was seconded by the Kev. 0. Guo, —That the Assembly generally approve of the spirit of the overture, and recommend that members and office-bearers of the Church, while using all diligence in the raising of funds for Church purposes, to discourage all questionable methods. On the vote being taken the members were equal, mid the amendment was carried by the casting vote of the Moderator, The liev. Mr, Loull claimed his right, with those who adhered to him, to dissent from the finding of the Assembly. The report of the Committee on Church Property wan then called for. The Jlev, J. Patkuson verbally reported, aud submitted the draft of a model trust deed prepared by the law agent of the Church, and moved the appointment of the following gentlemen, Kevs. Messrs. Paterson (convener), Sheriff, Treadwell, Ogg, Hill, and Messrs. J. McLean, Jas. Stewart, Wingate, and Lamb. IJUBINEBB KOU MONDAY. Treadwell*a motion:—Treasurer’s report, report of trustees fund, manse building report, widows’ and orphans’, and aged and infirm ministers’ report, college committee, See. The Modkuatoii closed the Assembly by pronouncing the benediction.