Presbyterian Assembly.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7073, 20 February 1893, Page 2

Presbyterian Assembly.

(By Tklegeaph.) WELLINGTON, Fsb, 18. The Presbyterian General Assembly were invited to the Moderator’s breakfast this morning. Among the speakers was Mr Duthie, M.H.tt., who urged on members the necessity of more attention to the wants of the large non-church-goiug population. The Sev. Mr Lewis, for the Ministers’ Association, touching on the Bible-iu-Schools question, assured the meeting that while lamenting the absence of the Bible from the schools, they would be no outspaw to help the Churches to acquire grants from the public purse for denominational schools. In the Assembly the report on Maori missions colled attention to the need for more workers, and specially for the appointment of a medical missionary. The report stated that the natives suffer much from native impostors, who often combine the functions of prophet and doctor, and whose treatment of their patients in many instances prove fatal. r lhe Maoris also have much to learn regarding sanitary laws, by which their dwellings and habits of life are affected. The Chinese mission report stated that there are 2259 Chinese in the colony north of the Waitali. The report pleaded for the New Testament being put into the hands of each of the Chinese.

This afternoon the Assembly resumed eon* federation of the report of the committee on the Aged and Infirm Ministers’ fund, and resolved to adopt the report and agree with the recommendation of the committee anent the position of ministers whose congregations may not have contributed their quotas to the fund, and to enj do to oil congregations to consider their own interests in paving a sum annually, and where they decline the treasurer to be authorised to require a statement of reason and again call the attention of ministers to their duty in connecting themselves with this fund ; and that theAssemblv assign to the Rev. Mr Gow an annuity of £4O per annum with such additions as be mav be entitled to under the regulations, ponditional on a satisfactory medical certificate as to incapacity , being received by the committee. The Rev. B. dommorville called attention | tp the legacy of £JOOj left by the lste Mr ‘

John Maine, of Auckland, to tho and infirm ministers’ fund, and the Assembly resolved to accept the legacy with thanks. The widows’ and orphans' fund committee reported that the year’s revenue hod amounted to £375 Ob 4d. and the expenditure to £175 8s lOd. The capital now stood at £5955 19s 9d. By tho death of tho Rev, Mr Adams, of Auckland, his widow and family had become annuitants on the fund. The report was adopted. A petition from the Presbytery of Auckland asking that the Rev. John Gow should recur to tho position of minister emeritus was granted. The draft of tho address to be presented to the Governor was adopted.