PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5217, 11 December 1877, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The Assembly met at 11 a.m. After disposing of some formal business, The Rev. J. Treadwell moved the appointment of a committee, consisting of the Revs. Messrs. Paterson, Ogg, Doull, and the mover, for issuing a pastoral address. In urging the desirableness of this, he pointed out that subjects might be handled in such an address which could not be so easily treated in any other way. The motion was unanimously agreed to. ''The Rev. Mr. Treadwell next moved that a committee, consisting of the Revs, the Moderator, ex-Moderator, Ross, Allsworth, Sber* riffs, 'Doull, Cree, Hill, and Treadwell (convener), be appointed to prepare and submit to next Assembly a short and popular exposition of Presbyterian Church policy. The Rev. Mr. Somerville heartily seconded the motion. He had himself intended to move a similar motion if Mr. Treadwell had not anticipated him. After remarks from the Revs. Messrs. Root, Ogg, and Paterson, the motion was unanimously agreed to. The Rev. Mr. Somerville gave in the treasurer’s report, from which it appeared while there was a falling off in several of the schemes, yet on the whole there was a balance in favor of the Church. After some conversation in reference to the Assembly Expense Fund, in which the Revs. Bruce and Hill took part, it was moved by the Rev. Mr. Somerville, and carried, that per cent, for printing the proceedings of the Assembly be made a charge on the various schemes of the Church.

The report on the Widows and -Orphans Fund was given in by the Rev. J. Paterson. The Rev. Mr. Bruce reported that he had collected £6OO on behalf of this scheme, which, with £6OO previously in hand, raised the fund to £I2OO ; and he would recommend that iu the course of the year clergymen should forward their contributions to this fund.

Some discussion arose on the question whether those who were connected with a similar fund elsewhere should be required to join this scheme, when it was finally carried by a majority, on the motion of the Kev. J. Treadwell, that in reference to those Ministers of this Church who are counected with a similar fund elsewhere, it be optional with them to join this fund. This having concluded the business, to Assembly adjourned to meet again in the evening. The Assembly met at six in the evening, the Very Rev. the Moderator in the chair. After some formal business, the Assembly considered the report of the Maori mission, which was given in by the convener, the Rev. Mr. Ross.

The report spoke in terms of commendation of the labors of the Rev. Mr. Houore, Maori missionary, and of Mr. Milsou, Maori teacher. The missionary has considerable influence for good among the Maoris. The teacher is laboring with great success, has kept up the attendance at his school without any perceptible diminution for eighteen months, and this is quite unprecedented among Maori children. He gives the children a large amount of Bible truth, together with the ordinary branches of an English education. Mr. Honore again has found a respectful hearing from Maoris where others would not succeed, and he is worthy of all the support we can give him. The Rev. J. Doull, in moving the adoption of the report, gave testimony to the diligence and earnestness of Mr. Honore. He had no doubt he was doing a good work among the Maoris, was received everywhere by the Maoris with respect, and in many cases with affection. Mr. Milson was doing was doing an interesting and successful work among the Maori children, and he would earnestly commend the labors of Mr. Honore and Mr. Milson with the sympathy and prayers of the Church. He moved that the Assembly adopt the report, record its thanks to the committee, especially the convener, and recommend that a collection be made in the course of the year on behalf of the mission.

The Rev. Mr. Fraser seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to. The Rev. Mr. Paterson then gave in the Foreign Mission report, referring to the visit of the missionaries to New Zealand during the current year, by which visit a great impetus was given to the interest felt by their Church in that region. Mr. and Mrs. Watt labored in the midst of very great difficulties. Mr. Inglis having gone homo to England, was desirous that Mr. Watt should succeed him ; and it must be gratifying to their Church to know that Mr. Watt should be transferred to the oldest and most important station. The committee were willing to transfer Mr. Watt to any town, but to retain him still as their own missionary. Mr. and Mrs. Watt were desirous of visiting the old country, and then return to their work in the New Hebrides, A second missionary was needed there, and ho thought it desirable that they should be enabled to send out another missionary. There was another matter to which he would call attention, and that was that ho had received a letter from Dr. Steel, of Sydney, intimating that there was a petition to be sent to the British Government to take the New Hebrides under its protection. There was danger of France or some other Power laying claim to these islands, and therefore it was important that their Church should join with the Church of Otago and others, New South Wales, &c., in this retpiisition. Mr. Paterson thou read from Mr. Watt's letter several very interesting extracts bearing on the state of the inhabitants of Anytewn and his mission work there. Mr. Paterson then referred to the gifts sent from Christchurch, and boxes of goods sent from Wellington, stating these had been very useful in enabling them to pay the natives for their labor in putting up the buildings required by the mission. Altogether their mission was in a prosperous condition.

Mr. Lamb observed that the Governor of Fiji was making a cruise of the New Hebrides, to see what could be done in the way of extending British protection to them, and that they ought as a Church to put forth every effort to secure so desirable an end.

The further consideration of the Foreign Missions report was suspended till the deputies from Otago should be heard. Tho Assembly was then addressed by tho Rev. Mr. Ross. He conveyed to the Assembly the warm fraternal regards of tho Church of Otago, and he expressed the hope they had of a much closer alliance between the two Churches at no distant date, and continued:— We fee! as you do the lack of ministerial supply. We have made some provision for sending forth a native ministry, but the success docs not seem equal to what we had expected. From thellomeChurchfor the last two yearswa

have not received one laborer. lam happy to see you are taking steps for raising a native ministry. Our territory, as compared with yours, is a small one, but we have more of a homogeneous population than you have. About two-thirds of our population are Presbyterian. X anticipate that the day is not far distant when we shall occupy the floor ot a General Assembly of a united Church and a single Church for the whole colony. X have been interested in all your discussions to which I have listened, and especially to that on Foreign missions. WehavemissionstotheMaoris, audalsoto the Chinese, but those have not been successful. As regards the elements of separation between your Church and ours, I am convinced that these are fast dissolving. On the hymn-book and the organ we are now as one, and on other points wo are continually coming closer together. The Rev. Mr. Waters, like his fellowdeputy, gave expression to the fraternal regards he conveyed from the Church of Otago. Xle felt honored by being present at the Assembly, and his admiration has increased the more he saw of this Assembly. Xle earnestly wished we had co-operation in mission-work, and ho could not see why we have not entered into this. We might cooperate in Maori missions. Mr. Waters further said ; I know Mr. Houore your missionary very well. I have a high opinion of him. I believe we could help you in this mission, and do not see why we should not do this even before union is accomplished. As regards the last basis of union, it was wholly suggested by the pro-union party in our Church, and it was felt by the other party to be so paltry that we did not wish to see it accomplished. I must say that since I have seen you, my views of your Church have beeu somewhat modified. Instead of regarding you now as lax, I consider that you are in some respects a straighter sect than we are. (Laughter.) I do not see that hitherto we could have helped you much, even if we were united. In Church extension we have room among ourselves for all we can do. I believe the Church iu ©tago hears the warmest interest in your Church and in its operations. The Rev. Mr. Hill moved a vote ot thanks to the deputies, and said: I have listened to the addresses with much interest, and especially to the kindly spirit manifested. I feel that we are all from the same Churches at Home, and I do not think there is anything in the North Island to injure my civilisation, nor anything iu the South Island to increase Mr. Ross’ civilisation. This is the first deputation since our union was departed from, and it is on this account the more interesting. These negotiations had been carried on for fourteen years, but its terms never were satisfactory, and we were not very sorry that they had a termination. I am sure we are all specially pleased to see Mr. Waters here, from the position he is known to have taken up on the union question, and we are all delighted to hear the expressions of regard from the Synod of Otago and Southland. He concluded by moving,— That having heard the deputies, the Assembly expresses its high appreciation of the spirit evinced in their appointment, and its satisfaction with the able and interesting addresses they have delivered, and requests them to convey its fraternal regards to their Church, and its earnest desire that the abundant blessing of God may accompany all her efforts, and cordially agrees to reciprocate the kindly feeling of their Church by appointing the Revs. Messrs. Barclay, Ogg, and Mr. Gavin (elder), as deputies to the Synod, which is to be held in Dunedin in January next. The Rev. Mr. Paterson would make an overture at once. Let us meet iu perfect equality; let us meet at once without discussing bases. It was substantially the same as two individual Presbyteries meeting. This Church was not to be led away by negotiations merely as to terms. As it was, they were delighted to hear the deputies. He had visited the South, and carried away favorable recollections of his visit to Otago.

Mr. Bruce said he was glad both sides were represented from Otago. Let both sides agree, and then come to that Church. The difficulty with the Church here was to know what terms would suit both parties in Otago. The Moderator and the Rev. Mr. Ogg were appointed deputies. The Rev. Mr. Ogb thought they might cooperate with this Church in a Maori mission. Their mission in the North was languishing for lack of money. The Moderator thanked the deputies for their presence and addresses. He believed that the union which had lately been proposed was not a uniou in reality. He hoped they would convey to their Church in Otago the impressions they had gathered concerning this Church, and very especially convey to their Church the fraternal regards of this Church, and best wishes for their highest welfare. The report of Foreign Missions was again taken up, when it was proposed by the Rev. Mr. Bruce, —1. Adopt the report, with thanks to the committee, especially the convener, and record their thanksgiving to God for His merciful preservation of their missionaries in the midst of danger, and for the growing measure of success attending their labors. 2. Defer' the decision on proposed transference of the Rev. Mr. Watt from this Church to the Free Church of Scotland till the views of the Foreign Missions Committee of the Free Church are made known to the Foreign Missions Committee of this Church. 3, Grant permission to Mr. and Mrs. Watt to make a visit to the Home country, as requested, as soon as arrangements can be made for carrying on the work during their absence, and provided arrangements can be made for meeting the necessary expense, i. Instruct the committee to use their influence, by petition or otherwise, to induce the British Government to undertake the protectorate of the New Hebrides Islands.

The -Rev. Mr. Somerville moved, as an amendment, —That it is inexpedient a t present to grant our missionary a furlough to Scotland. The Rev. Mr. Ooc seconded this amendment, and was further of opinion that we ought not to be in haste in petitioning for the annexation of the New Hebrides by the British Government.

Mr. Lamb spoke also in reference to the annexation of the islands. He did not see his way to sanction this step. After a discussion, in which Messrs. McLean, Ross, Shcrrilfs, Crce, McArdle, and Allswurth took part, the amendment was withdrawn, and the motions were unanimously agreed to. The Assembly thou adjourned.