AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY Auckland, Dec. 4.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 323, 8 December 1888, Page 3

AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY Auckland, Dec. 4.

Tin'- oidinary meeting of the Auckland Presbctciy was held at S 1 ". Andrew's Church this morning. There were present : Revs. Sfceelo (Moderator), blacky, Cai rick, Monro, Norrie, .Sommerville, McLean, Hutson, McCalluru, Macnicol, We&r, Worboys, and several lay members. i'roceedingt. weie opened by devotional exercise*, after which the Rev. Mr Monio introduced the Rev. Robert McLean, minister of Waipawa.

Comjolknok. — The Kev. Mr Maoky referred in feeling terms to the bereavement sustained by the Rev. Mr Nome and his afflicted family in the removal of his dear wife and their mother. It was, he .said, a cause ot devout thankfulness that their sister was prepared for her call. All who were acquainted with the late Mrs Norrie admired her kindness, ot heart and devotedncss to her husband. They could therefore express their devout sympathy with their bereaved brother, and he moved, " that the Presbytery record and express their sympathy with the Kev. Thomas Nome and his family in the bereavement they have sus tained." The Kev. Mr Carrick seconded the motion. He felt sure that the sympathy now ex pressed was one in which members were fully unanimous. The motion was put and cariied unanimously, and the Kev. Mr Nome expressed his sincere acknowledgments for the kindness and sympathy expressed.

Sabbath School Cummittkj;.— On the motion of the Rev. R. F. Macnicol, a Sabbath .School Committee was appointed as follows : — Rev 5 ?. Macnicol, Worboys, West, and the Moderator to be the convener, with the supeiintendents of Sunday schools. YVaiuku. —Mr Finlay reported that at a meeting held recently it was resolved, " That Mr Comrey be appointed to supply Waiuku till the end of July," and thereport was adopted.' — Mr Somraerville stated that this lefb Mr Meiklojohn out of employment, and it was resolved to appoint Katikati the head-quarters of that preacher.

Katikati. — The Cleric read a letter from Kafcikati requesting that a grant of £20 to the wkio>v of the late Rev. John Marks should be recommended to the Church Extension Committee. It was resolved, "That the Presbytery represent to the General Assembly/ the desirability of making a donation from some fund to the widow of the late Mr Marks."

Nguakawaiiia. — The Clerk read a letter from the church Committee stating that the Kev. J. A. McKinney and his tamily had become very popular, but that unfortunately they would huvo to disyenso with his services at the end of the year it* some assistance -was not forthcoming. Kev. Mr Monro thought it whe to let this matter &tand over bill after the meeting of Assembly, as he fearei the report of the Extension Commi'-Mon would be a very tad one. It was resolved that the Moderator and Clerk be a committeo to inquire with reference to this matter and repoittoHio next meeting of L'resbytery, prepaiatoiy to laying the matter before the Church Extension Committee.

Maiiriaok Acr. — The Clerk read correspondence on the removal of the name of the Rev. Mr McKinney fiom the li&t of officiating clergymen under the Marriage Act. He moved, " Whereas the Preabyteiy, finding thai the name of John A. McKinney was removed h'om the lisb ot officiating ministers under the .Marriage Act without any recorded authority, asked the Clerk of Assembly to reinstate the zame ; and whereas the Clerk of Assembly refused to do 30, and stated " that it was the irregularity connected with this and some other cases, that led the Assembly to change tho provision order, and' to lay the responsibility of seeing to the registration on me ;" and whereas the Presbytery feels that if it has been guilty of an irregularity an opportunity should hayo been afforded it, according to constitutional usage, of explaining and defending' its action before the superior Court, resolves to refer the whole .matter to the General Assembly for explanation, and appoint the clerk to state the case." — Kev. Mr Macniccol beconded the motion, which was agreed to.

Aged and Infikm Mini&thr-j 1 Fund.— ( Tho • Clerk read some correspondence forwarded ,by the Kew Mr Runciman, convener of the Committeeappointed under this heading.' He expressed his intention of resigning' his position of convener ab the netffr'Assembly.' — Some discussion took place, during which the aged and infirm ministers' scheme was referred to as most unsatisfactory, and 'inoperative! Rev. Mr M onro moved', ' ' Thafca Qommifcteecon&isting of the' city and suburban ministers be appointed to prepare a report for the General Assembly, with regard to this fund," Thi? was agreed 1 to; <r

AssuaiBLY JSxpKNSKS Fund. — It was further resolved thai same committee consider fche f 'qi|esli6ir6f' the Assembly Expense© .Fund, with'* the view of bringing up some reconiniendation to the General 'Assembly for alteration of the oppressive assessments in force at 'present* ■ m '•• *. ' " >\

' < Pbesbytjsrial YiSltatiox. -- ,Re\\ Morii'6 moved the follovving', overture to tihe General Assembly., " Whereas section /3 of the Act of Assembly r^.l^resbytenal VisiI % iabion,*"veconimeuds tbafc J the "Presbytery [irfeel first in private' with the-ihiinistersr 5 elders, g and deacons or managers, and

K i I - , after deliberation, read, their resolution io the congregation, and whereas this pro-cedure-has been found ta defeat the end of, aVch visitation, 'it 'is humbly overfcured by the Presbytery of Auckland tq the , Very Reverend the Assembly .pf the Presbyterian' OhurelV of New Zealand, indicted to meet 4t < 'AuclilVnd on tlie ' , day of February, 18B9,' thajb ,they ''would, adopt; the form of procedure , recommended by the General Assembly _ of " 1877, viz., that the Presbytery meet .first with the minister in privato, if he so desires, and then with the elclera.jind managers in'the presence of the congregation,, 'and that , aftorwards the' 1 Presbytei'y shall meet in private to con- ' feider the answers given, record their judgment in the minutes of Presbytery, furnish a copy to the session to be inserted in thoir record, and appoint one of their number to preach and read the founding of the I J i os by lory to the congregation." Rev. Mr, Norrie seconded the resolution, which was earriod. CoiSJ i,!>wos oi-' b\viTU. — Rev. Mr Somracr\ille moved his overture lo the Genet al Assembly on the subject asfollowe: " Whereas thero is in the church great diversity ot opinion in regard to the teaching of homo parts of the Westminster Confection of Faith ; whereas the conscience, of many ministers and elders is offended when they are asked to sign the confession in its present form ; and whereas it would tend to promote greater unity and prosperity if the churches' statement of belief were in harmony with the most enlightened interpretation of the Word of God ; it is therefore h'ereby humbly overtured by the Reverend the Presbytery of Auckland to the Venerable the General Assembly of the Presbyterian I Church ot New Zealand indicted to meet at Auckland in the month of February ensuing, that they would tako the whole ! .subject into their serious consideration, and devise such measures as may tend to promoto the glory of God and the good of tho Church. 1 ' He said that he must not be taken for a great heretic for moving in this matter, for there were many matters in the confession of faith to which ministers had experienced a difficulty in subscribing. Me\. Mr West thought it unwise for New Zealand to deal with this matter, when it had already beeu threshed out by the Assemblie&at Home and in America, Rev. Mr Hutson seconded the motion, and Rev. Mon'ro supported the motion. He thought the church that drew up the confession could alter the confession. There were points in the confession with which he did not Hold, notably the salvation of infant". He was of opinion that thero was salvation for old infants. There were divisions of opinion as to the salvation of the heathen, as to the marriage with deceased wife's sister, and so on, and he thought that the Presbytery should have some concise and clear confession to which all could subscribe. Mr P. Mackie was of opinion that every word of the confession could be proved from the word of God. Ho did not object to the overture, but he did object to tearing the confession to pieces. Aftei- further discussion if was agieed that the overture should be forwarded. Ecclesiastical lNTKRESTS-TheModerator moved the following: "That this Presbytery humbly overture the General Assembly to "take into consideration the ecclesiastical interests, with a view to pro vide a remedy." — This was agreed to, after which the Piesbytery went into committee to diecuss private business.