PRESBYTERIN GENERAL ASSEMBLY. SESSION AT ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 343, 16 February 1889, Page 6

PRESBYTERI N GENERAL ASSEMBLY. SESSION AT ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

Auckland, Jan. 12. The Presbyterian General Assembly of New Zealand was opened ab St. Andrew's Church, Symonds-street, at 7.30 last evening. There were present : — The Very Rev. J. Duncan (retiring Moderator) and the folio wins members of Assembly : Auckland — Revs. D. Bruce, A. Carrick, R. F. Macnicol, G. B. Monro, D. W. Runciman, R. S. West, R. Sommerville, C. Worboys, W. Evans, R. McKinney, T. Adams, J. Macky, D. J. Steele, J. Gow, T. Norrie, W. F. Findlay, S. J. Neill, A. McLennan, Griffith Jones, B. Hutson, P. Mason, and G. Brown, Messrs D. McNab, T. Smart, A. Stewart, J. K. Field, J. Angus, D. Garrioek, A. Whyte, H. Pilkington, James Bell, T. Brownlee, and J. M. Lennox. Hawke'sßay : Revs. R. Fraser, J. G. Patterson, and D. Sidey, Mr A. Jones. Wellington : Revs. C. S. Ogg, D. Fulton, and J. Paterson, Messrs A. D. Gordon, J. Doull, J. Treadwell, and A. Veitch and Sloan. Wanganui : Revs. J. Duncan, Thomson, Messrs J. Mcßeth and P. Bell. Nelson : Rev. P. Calder and Mr J. M. Rutchins. Christchurch : Revs. A. M. Beattie, R. Erwin, P. R. Munro, D. McLennan, D. Rodger, and W. West, Messrs Gavin, Martin, and Marshall. Timaru — Revs. W. Gillies and J. McKee. Westland — Revs. B. J. Westbrooke and P. Ramsay, and Mr D. Andiews. The following are deputies from the Synod of Otago and Southland : — Revs. J. Baird and J. Skinner, and Mi' J. Adams* - The retiring Moderator, Rev. J. Duncan, presided, and there was a good attendance ot the public. Proceedings were commenced with the ordinary service, in the course of which the Rev. Mr Duncan pieached a sermon based on the text: Psalm 45, verse 1, "I speak this touching the King." He spoke of Christ's divine right to the kingdom, His qualifications as King, the nature of His kingdom, the character of Christ's kingly laws, and government, the extent of His mediatorial authority and of His kingdom upon earth, the perpetuity of HLj reign, and His claims upon our allegiance and service. In the course of his remarks the reverend gentleman said that tuonarchs, cabinets, senates, and parliaments were accountable to Christ, who is above all, and that although they may not recognise His authority in their deliberations and decisions, He doubtless directsand controls their actions, and overrules their proceedingsforHisown beneficent pui'poses. There might, Mr Duncan said, be some doubt as to the right of one nation to annex another, or to annex the islands in the ocean, but there could be no doubt as to Christ's right to annex every portion of His earthly kingdom. The sacrament was then dispensed by the Rev. Mr Duncan, the congregation singing Hymn 368, " Saviour, Thy Dying Love Thou Gayest Me." The Assembly was then formally conptituted by prayer as the Supreme Court of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and the names of commissioners were read by the Rev. D. Side)'.

MODERATOR. The Rev. J. Duncan, retiring Moderator, said bhafc the time had come for him to resign the office of Moderator, and to nominate his successor. He nominated the Rev. Alex. Beattie, M.A., of Ashburton, as his successor. He said that his personal knowledge of Mr Beattie was not very great, but from the estimation in which he was held by those acquainted with his character he had great confidence in recommending him for election, believing that he would faithfully discharge his duties in the interests of the Church. Mr J. M. Lennox seconded the nomination, which was unanimously agreed to. -

moderator's address. The Rev. Mr Beattie delivered his opening address. He said : The fact that you, fathers and brethren, have unanimously chosen to place me in the Moderator's chair, calls forth the deepest gratitude on my part, being keenly sensible to the great responsibility attached to this high and honourable position. It was with considerable misgiving that I consented to act, and it will now be my constant prayer that its duties may not suffer in my hands. Trusting to your hearty co-operation, I would say, let us all agree together as brethren to deal with these subjects that come before us with the greatest reverence and in prayerfulness and humility to that One who is oar Master in heaven, and, at the same time,always with us here in this world. By way of an opening address, we 3hall venture to say a few words on what we believe to be some of the principal requisites of a colonial church. A great deal depends upon her clergymen. They must be very able, energetic, hardworking, and courageous, as well as decidedly pious. The people who have emigrated to this new land are, as a general rule, among the most active, enterprising, and intelligent classes, and therefore ministers of the Gospel cannot afford to be triflers. They must be workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. From them, above all, as from the Thessalonians of old, must be sounded forth the word of the Lord. Surely the most effectual of all ways for driving darkness speedily away is to hold up a strong and clear light. The glorious banner of the everlasting Gospel must be held up with unfaltering hands ; and then, if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? Ministers and office-bearers of the church especially need to be fully persuaded in their own minds regarding all those eternal verities so clearly laid down in the Bible. All the more should they be well grounded and settled, when many around us are esteeming themselves so very wise in this " nineteenth century," as they are fond of expressing it, that they cannot see their own foolishness. Unfortunately, they are so full of their own conceits that they never take time to consider that an inspired apostle could say to some even in the first century, "Ye have an unclion from the Holy One, and ye know all things." Despising or neglecting such unction, those alluded to become vain in their own imaginations, and hence are uncertain whether the Bible is God's word or not. They cannot tell whether God has consecrated and blessed one whole day of each week, and consequently never take pains to find out the true reason for such consecration and blessing. They cannot tell whether there are such persons as clergymen, and whether places of worship have any Divine sanction. Indeed, one could hardly credit the amount of spiritual ignorance that actually exists among many in all circles of society in this so-called far advanced nineteenth century, and in none more than those calling themselves literary and scientific. Anyone who has the spotlessly holy name of our blessed Saviour at heart, cannot fail to beshockedand grieved at the language regarding the Bible, purporting to come from the lips of some of our own legislators in their places in Parliament, jis. reported in the public. papers of this yjoiftfg and sunshiny laml. -Suvely the Church of Christ cannot afford sit still without lifting up her voice like' a trumpet,

and without simultaneously crying shame, whenever that which is dearer to her than life is deliberately and persistently assaulted. If we that are in the Ministry and other office-bearers especially, are to remain silent in such circumstances, where is the outward testimony of the truth to come from ? It is quite true that God Himself can vindicate His own reputation ; and sure enough he will do this before an assembled universe, when the day which He has already fixed, has come, whether we now stand up for the defence of His name or not. But this does not relieve us from responsibility, or form any excuse for unfaithfulness. If we remain dumb, He will doubtless raise up deliverance from some other quarter, in His own time and way. The great question in these days is not so much about whether there shall be thirtythree chapters of Confession of Faith in the Presbyterian Church, or thirty-nine Articles in the Episcopalian Church, more or fewer, but how to get the hi o from Heaven to come down and burn far more brightly than ever has been witnessed, especially in the hearts of ministers of the Gospel. Only let such fire burn up into a flame in the hearts of ail the people also, both old and young, and then we would not be troubled with so many murmurings and disputings. Possessing more of the mind of Christ, men would not be found so often cavilling at the word of God, more especially the Old Testament. Our Saviour, when on earth, never found fault with the Old Testament Scriptures, but repeatedly gave His divine sanction to all its canonical books, as we have them now from Genesis to Malachi. Surely, if He was pleased with them, many of our so. called higher or even highest critics of this boastful 19th century ought to be thankfully satisfied, instead of persistently keeping up the proud objection, "Yea hath God said," originally coming from the great enemy of the human race. Simple considerations like this will go much further in convincing people who are in perfect sympathy with the Divine Head of the Church than any number of volumes ot human argument, however closely, logically, or rhetorically maintained and carried out. It will leadily be granted that no man who knows anything about what he says, can ever accuse our Presbyterian Church of disregarding or overlooking the importance of the freest and fullest investigation, but still she must listen and tremble at the voice which comes from on high, saying, " Bewaie lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.'" So far as true sympathy with Christ is concerned, in the first century there were giants in those days, and even in the sixteenth century there were giant* in those days, who unflinchingly refused to have anything but Christ ; and at the same time, were in nothing more distinguished than in their glorious defence of every jot and tittle of the Word of God, as the only ultimate and infallible authority. We need many more of such giants in this boastful nineteenth century, who will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the Word. In these days certainly there is no end of speculation or argumentation, and we aio continually deluged with books and pamphlets of various kinds, but what is the result of it all upon men and things ? Is it not a fact that by far too large a proportion of our men and lads in New Zealand stand aloof from our communion tables? Let the communion rolls of the various denominations answer. Hence they can have no real stability. Their heads are quite unsettled, and, what is far worse, their hearts ax - e not fixed, but continually roving about seeking rest and finding none. Hence also their constant ci*y is, not, who will show us the only good? but who will show us any good ? and so they are ever ready to be carried about with every wind of doctrine, however far wrong it may be. All our mighty men, all our wise men, all our wealthy men — yes, all our men of every class and station, require nothing more than to have their hearts established with the grace of God, as well as all the women and children. What the Church, especially in these new colonies, requires moat of all is a fresh and copious outpouring of the Holy Spirit. " Not jby might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." There is great cause for thankfulness that some of our men and lads, as well as many devoted women, have already come to the help of the Lord against the mighty, realising that their great strength lies in the Holy Spirit. They are therefore ready for any work in the vineyard of the Lord ; true as steel, and thoroughly reliable at all times. But supposing all the others who have hitherto stood aloof were now persuaded and enabled to join the Church in a right spirit, what a change for the better would instantly appear in all departments of her work! What cheering reports would then be given by our various committees ! It would not then be possible to see, what some of us have been compelled painfully to witness — the tears running down the cheeks of paren s in remote districts of this new land, because they were cut off from the means of grace for themselves and their children, especially on the Lord's Day. No, but they would be joyously coming out in whole families to worship God in public, in a suitable church erected by themselves, and having a pastor of their own settled among them. "The wilderness and the solitary place," says the Lord, "shall be made glad for them : and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose." Those who have never heard the Gospel of. Christ, and are now sitting in total darkness, would not need to cry out to us in vain, saying " Come over and help us." Plenty of suitable missionaries and abundant means for supporting them in the foreign field would not be wanting. The divine fire burning more brightly, especially in the hearts of all our ministers, could not fail to have a beneficial effect upon all the active workers in the vineyard of the Lord. Mortgages on manses, and even on churches, which is far worse, and all other dreadful hindrances would soon melt away, and for ever disappear like ice when the heat of the sun approaches. This result also would tell for good upon each individual household ; for when cthe hurch and manfe are models of anything that is praiseworthy, all the various households have something to look up to and copy. Doubtless the reflex influence of the former and latter is most important, and far greater than many recognise. Especially in a new country, everything connected with the Church, whether material or spiritual, ought to be pre-eminently exemplary. "The King's daughter is all glorious within," but she is not destitute of external adornments, for her " clothing is of wrought gold." All the men, as well as women and children, on perceiving this, would be attracted so as to ; join the visible Church, saying, "We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." Let our visible Church make no feeble allusions merely, but tell out in the clearest manner what she is, and what she is determined to have, before all men. Let her hear the voice of the Lord saying, "Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion, put on thy beautiful garments, 0 Jerusalem, the holy city ;" and then also would hold good those hearty words, " How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that pub lisheth peace,' that bringeth good tidings of

good, that publisheth salvation ; that saith unto Zion, thy God reigneth. Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice : with the voice together shall they sing ; for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion." Those who are just now cold or, what is worse, lukewarm, would be convinced that the Chi istian religion was never intended to make any true pleasure less ; and that if sinful pleasures muse be completely and for over abandoned, there are other sources of enjoyment oponed up that will be infinitely more satisfactory, constant, and complete. It is indispensably necessary that not a few only, but that all our people, both old and young, must be made to understand and recognise that man's chief end is not to glorify and enjoy himself. Things will never be as they ought to be until all come to acknowledge that they must delight themselves in the Lord Jesus Christ, and »et Him above their chief joy. This is the ono thing needful, and y6t how many have failed to find it. Some, indeed, in this new colony, have secured wealth, some have acquired human learning, while some havo climbed up into positions of honour among men ; but see how many of them at this moment are resting in such things, though the voice from on high still holds good, " Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, • neither let the mighty man glory in his might ; let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that gloiieth glory in this, that he undei'standeth and knoweth me," says the Lord. Have we all these truths set forth irom time to time in our pulpitt> and Sabbath schools already ? Very well, we can never have the Word of God too plainly or too frequently held forth to old and young. But the great concern with us is how to get it all actually applied to the hearts and consciences of all the people. It is evident that this can only be accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit. He alone can take of the things of Christ and show them unto us ; and certainly it is the things of Christ that we all need to look at and understand much more than over we have done in times past. Acain, it is to bo feared that family worship is not universally prevalent amongst us in New Zealand ; and when this is the case how can it be expected that personal and vital godliness will be cultivated as it ought to be ? Many seem to think there is nothing very far wrong in all this, else they would not tolerate it as they do ; and yet it is clear that the Chinch cannot prosper whilst theso things are so, for we know who has said, " Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not upon thy name.'" A family altar must be set up in every house, and then the blessing of the Lord will come down f i om day to day and fiom night bo night in answer to family prayer. This again will very soon tell for good upon each member of every household, and also ultimately upon the Church as a whole. There would then be fewer complaints about cold and thinly-attended week-night meetings. It is invariably found that those who are truly earnest in their seciot and family devotions, are also most regular and hearty in attending at the sweet hour of public prayer. Again, the continued and increasing prosperity of a colonial church will depend not a little upon the religious training, and consequently the religious habits formed among the rising generation. Without attempting to discuss this very intei'esting and important question, it seems absolutely necessary to advert to it even in a cursory sketch like our present address. It is true that a certain system of morality may be taught and practised in all the public training institutibns, from the lowest to the highest, but no unprejudiced person who believes in the Bible as the word of God can be fully satisfied with this. The question immediately arises regarding the authority on which such morality is founded. The answer to this question may either be that the sanction is merely human or that it is divine. If the former, the conclusion arrived at by all those whom it is intended to influence will be that it may be recognised or not according to circumstances ; but if the latter, they will natuially require the actual production of the Word of God, and, without question, bow with .reference to its authority. Though some make a great fuss about what they call difficulties, it is quite possible, without offending in the least degree the most tender conscience ot anyone, to havo suitable portions of the Word of God read, or even expounded, in a perfectly unsectarian way in all the public schools and colleges of New Zealand This, followed or preceded by a short prayer at the commencement of every day's woi'k, could not fail to exercise the very best influence upon the whole subsequent work of the day. Some of us still have the pleasantest recollections of this actually taking place, even in the arts classes of the University in the old country. Indeed, many of the people of this country, including some of our statesmen, have already come to see what all must eventually find out, that the best religious [is the best secular education after all. So far as our own beloved Zion is concerned, we cannot close this rapid glance at what we regard as some of the chief i % equisites of a colonial church, without expressing our growing conviction, after an experience of very nearly ten years in her service, that she would occupy a far more advantageous position in every way were she united with the sister church, still remaining isolated in the province of Otago. Some of us still cherish the hope of seeing this union effected, and pray that the Lord may hasten it in His time. " Behold, how good an'd how pleasant; ib is for brethren to dwell together in unity . . . for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.'' (Applause.)

STANDING ORDERS. On the motion of Rev. Mr Sidey, the standing orders used at the i)revious sitting of the Assembly were adopted.

COMMITTEES. Business committees were appointed as follows : — Bills and business : Revs. R. Sommerville, D. J. Steele, R. McKinney, R. Fraser, D. Fulton, C. S. Ogg, J. Doull (convener), J. Tread well, J. Hill, R. Erwin, D. McLsnnan, W. Gillies, and P. Calder, Messrs D. McNab, J. M. Lennox, Martin, A. Veitch, and W. Gavin. Commission sj and records : Revs. R. F. Macnicol (convener), G. B. Monro, R. S. Wesb, W. Evans, T.Norrie, A. McLennan, A Thomas, J. Paterson, Messrs J. Mcßeth, Sloan, J. M. Hutchins, A. Whyfce, and Marshall. Another {committee was as follows : — Revs. W. Gillies (convener), R. Erwin, 3). Fulton, D. Sidey, J. Doull, D. W. Runciman, A. Carrick, B. J. Westbrooke, Messrs J. M. Hutchins, J. K. Field, and T. Smaro. The Assembly then adjourned till 10 a.m. to-day (Wednesday).