WEDNESDAY'S SITTING.

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

WEDNESDAY'S SITTING.

The Assembly resumed at 10 a.m. to-day, proceedings being commenced with devotional exercises. RELIGION AND MORALS. An abstract report on the state of religion and morals, which was presented, contained the following clause :— '• Taking a conjunct view of the state of religion and morals as indicated in returns, your Committee request special attention to the following subjects as worthy of serious deliberation :—

" Frist : The consideration of the General Assembly is respectfully directed to the supremely important subject of Sabbath observance. The sanctity of tho Lord's Day is a matter of gravest moment to Church and Sl-ato. The secularisation of the Sabbath would prove a national disaster. The executive of the Melbourne Exhibition wisely prohibited any Sunday work in connection there with, and your Committee hope the Dunedin executive may emulate so excellent an example. This is a question that specially concerns the honest sons of toil, and on the grounds of humanity, as well as on higher grounds, every invasion of the working man's Day of Rest should be stoutly opposed. The Lord's Day is one of tho pillars of national'life, and on patriotic, as well as religious grounds, should be conserved again&t the incursions of a selfish aad pleasure-loving section of thecommunity who seek to convert it into a Continental Sunday. Second : Your Committee ask the seiious attention of the Assembly to the subject of gambling. The hopo was cherished that legislative action would be taken during last session of Parliament. Public opinion has been openly declared against the totalisator in theleading citiesot NewZealand,and thedemandforitscomplote abolition is almost certain to be acceded to by Government. To ensure this happy consummation, we recommend that Government be petitioned on the subject. The exigencies of our day demand more resolute action on the part ot the Church in dealing with urgent questions of social and moral reform. Tho time has come when only men of Chiistian character should be entrusted with the affairs of a Christian Commonwealth like New Zealand. Third : The Chri-tian training of tho young demands the attention of tho House, as a matter of vital importance to our colony. The Committee leave it to the wisdom of the Assembly to determine what action should be taken in dealing with ao urgent and difficult a pioblem."

X NT E M PER ANCfc . The Assembly's Committee on Intemperance reported :— "ln presenting this annual report, your Committee have to deplore that, in bpite of every effort, the terrible evil of intemperance continues here, as elsewhere, to paralyse Chiisbian enterprise. The pi ogress in the Au^tialasian colonies is cheering. The drink bill tor the year ondingMarch 31st, 1888,sho\vsin=lighLdecrea"e, still the amount i& enormous. In New Zealand, notwithstanding the depiession horn which we suflei, men, women, and children expend in btiong diink C 3 5.s per head. In our House ot Representatives a Bill was introduced by Major Steward, to piovirlcfor triennial instead ot annual elections ol Licensing Committees. This measure was considered by the temperance members as operating in favour of the liquor infcerests, as the publicans would sit seciuoly without the annoyance and diead of fiesh committees. The pioposal that females should have a vote killed the Bill. The churches of thib colony ha\e not been idle. When the Wellington Diocesan Synod met a majority of the members was in favour ot establishing a branch oi the Chuich ot England Tempeiance Society. In conclusion, your Committee ventme to make the following recommendations :— 1. That in view of the manifest and manifold evils of intemperance we humble ourselves before Uod, recoid our approval of total ab&tinence tor the good of others as a safe, noble, Christian course, and, as prevention is better than cure, we would give special encouragement to Band of Hope Societies as an excellent method for the training and preservation of the young. 2. That in order to incite the people of our jurisdiction to increased diligence in tomperance work, we consider that the time has como when a Ministeis' Total Abstinence Association should be organised, and that pastors, licentiates, and students should be recommended to enrol themselves, so as to give the cause the weight of their example. 3. That ministers be enjoined to preach frequently on the evils of intemperance, and that a special temperance sermon be preached on the first Sabbath of December, or on such other Lord's Day of that month as may be found convenient. 4. That whilst thankful that we have in this colony a legislative recognition of the principle of local option, yet bearing in mind that during the seven years the Act has been in force, only 25 public-houses out of 1,500 have been suppressed, we hereby express our dissatisfaction with the machinery at present in use, and as we are of opinion that there must be a closer connecting link between the people and the thing to be done, we declare ourselves in favour of a direct vote at the ballot-box for suppression of the liquor traffic, and also in favour of according the privilege of voting to women. 5. That in order to make the work of the Committee more effective, a minister be appointed in each Presbytery, to be designated the Temperance Agent, and that it shall be his duty to see that the recommendations of the Assembly are carried out in his Presbyterial district, and generally to co-operate with the Committee. '

MAORI MISSION. The Maori Mission report stated : Your missionaries, Messrs Honorb and Milson, continue to occupy the same spheres oi labour as in former years, and are abundant in labours, doing their important work quietly, but not the less surely, with good results. At the annual horse race held at Rangitikei at the New Year, and still attended in considerable numbers by the Maoris, it was remarked that nob one of them was seen in a state of intoxication. Our villages froquented by the Maoris are no longer the scenes ot the noisy brawls well known not many years ago." Habits of industry and sobriety displayed by the natives are bearing their own gratifying testimony that your missionaries' woik is not in vain. The Committee have received the annual grant of £50 to this mission from the Synod of Otago and Southland, and Iho Treasurer reports a balance in hand of £86 3s 3d to tho credit of this fund.

CHINESE MISSION. The Chinese Mission report stated that as soon as possible after last Assembly steps were taken to get Mr Kern Vee, the catechisb, over to New Zealand, but to the great disappointment of the Committee, a letter was received from the Rev. Mr Cosh, soon after, to say that the friends in Newcastle, where Mr Kern Vee had been labouringf would not consent to his removal, and made a special effort to raise money enough to retain his services ; that accordingly he would nob come. The Committee, in these circumstances, resolved bo take no further action, but to wait the instructions of the Assembly, to meet in Auckland in February.

SABUATH SCHOOLS. The report of the Committee on Sabbath Schools stated : Your Committee regret to have to report that, while 86 schedules of querios were issued to the ministers of the Church, only 39 have been received by the convener with the desired information. These 39 congregations have 91 Sabbath schools, with 669 teachers, a roll number of 5,820, and an average attendance of 4,517. The

libraries of these schools contains 11,115 volumes, and 860 volumes were added to them during the past year. The amount raised for mission purposes was £104 6s 6d, and for library and other purposes £539 16s Bd. Your Committee, at last Assembly, was specially instructed to prepare and submit to the present General Assembly a scheme for examining the youth ol our Church in religious knowledge, The Committee would recommend the adoption, tor the present year, of a scheme similar to that of the Christchurch Presbytery, with the addition of an essay on Joshua. It is also recommended that a scheme of lessons tor this church be drawn out, that notes for the lessons be prepared and published monthly in the " Presbyterian," and that the awards consist of books and certificates, the expense incurred to be provided for by special contributions to this scheme throughout the Chuich.

FOUKEGN MISSION The Foieign Mis&ion leport &tatecl : A new departure has been made during the yeor in connection with the mission agents employed, by the bending of Mr McDonald, an unmarried man, to Malekula. The most important event of the past twelve months was the decision come to by the British and French Governments, that a joint Naval Com mis&ion should be charged with the maintenance ot order in these islands. For the time, this has rolled back the dark cloud which threatened the missions ot the Protestant Churches theie. Your Committee, however, -wish to point out that they areiartrom considering that the danger has been completely removed. The exigencies of the French penal settlements in the Southern Seas aie .such that the near proximity of the Hebrides to New Caledon a, will always make the possession ot these islands seem to French politicians an easy solution of this, to them, vexed question. We are, therefore, of opinion that the Assembly should, in conjunction with other churches interested in the Mission, be on the outlook lor a favourable opportunity to urge upon the British Government the desirability of establishing a British Protectoiate over these islands. The question ot Mr Mimay's successor is btill unsolved, and your Committee haa failed to find any suitable agent in Now Zealand. Everything that we haveto leport this year in connection with Tanna is of the most pleasing and hopeful kind. The missionary and his wife have enjoyed good health, and they ha\e been even moic than usually energetic and unweaiied in then elloits for the e\angelisation of Tynna. At the present time there are close upon 400 people who are being directly influenced by the missionary and his native helpers, and most of whom aie in legular attendance upon worship. The translation of the New Testament has been completed, and the missionary is now busily employed revising it. Thi-a levision has aheady been can ied as fat as the Gospel according to Luke. The Committee resolved unanimously to recommend the Assembly to giant Mr Watt two } ear & and a quarter's lea\e of absence from his station, on full salary ; and that his own and his wife's tra\elhng expenses to and from the Old Country be paid by the Church, on the understanding that the last three months, at least, of this time be spent in New Zealand, and beem ployed in visiting the congregations. The Assembly should, at the same time, make it apparent that this is not to be regarded as a precedent, special concessions being si an ted to Mr Watt on account of his proceeding home to supervise the print ing of the New Testament in Tanne»e. The revenue tor the past yeai has amounted to £551 9s 7d, which is tar short ot what might be expected from our Church, it the congregations were better inioimed on the subject, and were thus enabled to take a moie intelligent interest in the cause.

ACiED AND INFIRM MLNIVrJiRS. The Aged and Infirm Ministers Committee reported that some ministers have paid the entrance fee and first premium, while their congregations have not contiibuted; and there are other cases known to your Committee where ministers would join the lund if they could induce their congregations to do so. It is also true that other congregations, whose names are not mentioned, have sent in their quota to the fund to enable their ministers to connect themselves with it, while they have not done so. Through misappiehension, two ministers failed to forward the entrance iee. According to Rule VIII. all these cases fall to be dealt with by this Assembly. Your Committee are aware that considerable dissatisfaction exists with regard to the regulations as they stand, and it is probable that a full discussion of these may take place at the ensuing meeting of Assembly. It seems unjust that insolvency should debar a minister from the receipt of his annuity, as that might aiise from circumstances over which he had no control. Some of the younger ministers consider that their interests have been prejudiced, and the terms on which the annuities are to be granted are somewhat vague. church property. The chinch property trustees leported : — It has become painfully manifest to the trustees that many pieces of land, given originally in good faith by friends as sites and endowments for churches, are lost to these purposes through want of proper legal conveyances at the time of bestowal. The investment of the funds ot the permanent endowments of the Church are in a fairly satisfactory state, the interest on loans, with a few exceptions, being well paid up. From the amount in hands of the Treasurer to the credit of the Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund, and the Widows and Orphans, it will be possible, after discharging all liabilities, to add very materially to the capital stock of these important funds. It is a strange anomaly that, while the funds ot Friendly Societies are exempt from property tax, these two, which are essentially of the same nature, should, by a decision of the authorities, be compelled to pay tax. Several representations have been made to the Government on the subject, not only by our church, but also by the Otago church, with no result so far, except an admission that tho Legislature never intended that assurance funds should be taxed, and that it was unfortunato that the statute should bear the interpretation put upon it by the Property Tax Commissioner.

PROPERTY REGISTER. A property register laid on the table contains returns from sixty-seven charges, u hich, in many cases, report two and more churches belonging to each. The values oi the properties, consisting of churches, manses, schools, and lands, in the various presbyteries, are as follows :—: — H i i ««• ■«-» i i go-* 3 f-l ea o™ Presbyteries. <» & q So ox* nfl pi fn mo (SO CO O Q" Auckland .. £.35,325 £17,000 £4,189 £555 Hawke'sßay 10.735 8.175 450 570 Wangaimi .. 10,915 6,250 800 606 Wellington.. 16,230 8.970 4,327 Nelson .. 6.115 1.900 100 615 Christohurch 30.380 16,b20 11,96b 262 Timaru 10,500 7,150 3,300 120 Wcstland .. 2,525 1,620 80 — •Totals „ 122/725 67,585 25,211 2,723

Five charges in Auckland, three in Wellington, two in Wanganui, eight in (Jhristchurch, two in Timaru, and three in Westland have sent in no returns.

APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS. The Rev. Mr Sommerville dtew attention to a matter arising out of the minutes, in which it was stated that commis&ioners were appointed by sessions and Presbyteries, and said that according to the standing orders it was required that elders should be appointed by sessions, wheieas some Presbyteries had appointed elders as well as ministers. Unless each elder produced a commission fiom a session, unfortunately, he had no seat at the As&embly. Rev. Mr Sidey said that this gave rise to another question, and all those who weie to receive Assembly expenses must produce commissions irom Presbyteiies. The clergy were unanimous in a desire to have the whole ot the appointments legalised. Mr Adam (elder) objected to elders being appointed by Presbyteries, and thought that the standing orders should be adhered to. It was proposed, " That all elders' commissions, whether i-eceived from Presbyteries ov Kirk sessions, be sustained," bub it was pointed out that the question before tho Assembly was the correctness of the minutes. — It was eventually decided to amend the minutes by deleting the words stating how elders were appointed.

ASSOCIATED. On the motion of Itev Mr Sommerville, the Rev. John llendry, of Hamilton, was associated with the Assembly.

RAILWAY FAIIES. Rev. Mr Sidey read a letter from Mr Maxwell, the Chief Railway Commissioner, stating that the Department would be piepared to issue Saturday return tickets, on the New Zealand railways to delegates attending the Assembly at Auckland. The concession was acknowledged with thanks.

RKGISTIIAB-GENIiRAIi. A letter from the Registrar - General stated thab he must have all names of ministers to be placed on the marriage list certified by the Model ator. The clerk stated that this course had been pursued during the past year, and the recommendation wa& adopted.

I'RLSBYTERTAL VISITATION*. Reports on Presbytorial visitation were presented from various dihtiicts, and it was resolved, on the motion of the B,ev. MiGavin, "That the Assembly legaids with batibtaetion that the Presbyteries have been diligent m the matter ot \ imitation, and trusts that they will continue tho good work,"

HAW KE S BAY. Rev. Mr Sidey reported on difficulties that had arisen in regard to supply at Hawke's Bay, and stated that pending the meeting of the Assembly, Mr 3. M. Smith had been doing the work well. He also presented a memorial from the congregation of the distiict, praying that Mr Smith should be retained. Rev. Mr Steele moved that the prayer of the petition be granted, and this was agreed to. An application was made by the Presbyocry oi fH^w^e's Bay that the light to bapti.-o and marry should be conferred on Mr G. Limburnc. Rev. Mr Fraser spoke in support of the application, and it was granted.

S VTITSATII <\RR \NGJGWENI\S. On the motion of Re> . Mr Sidey the minisbers of the city of Auckland were appointed a Committee to make arrangements for Sunday services, Rev. B. Somerville to be convener.

KL\ . MR MCUALLUM. Application was received from the Auckland I'iesbytery that the Rev. Alexander McCallum bhould be granted a seat at the Assembly. Revs. Mom o and Carrick spoke in support of the application. Rev. Mr (Jillieo said he had no desire to oppose the application, but desired to point out that unfairness might ari.se in giving ministers who had resigned their congregations leave to retain their seats in the Assembly. The effect of such a system was to increase the clerical members, giving a preponderance in the Presbytery to a laige body of ministers who did no work and who yet could sway the counsels of the church by their votes. Rev. Mr Monro moved that the application be granted, and this was agreed to.

OVERLAPPING OF DIbTRICTb. An overture from the Aucklaud Presbytery on this subject was read, and spoken to by the Rev. Mr Steele, who said that almost from the time that he entered on the work of the Church in New Zealand his attention had been directed to this question. He saw before he was very long here that theie was a great deal of friction between the vaiious denominations. This state of affairs was very prejudicial to the interests, not only of the Presbyterian Church, but to ail other religious denominations oi New Zealand. There was, he feared, too much sectarian zeal amongst the different denominations, and some ministers to whom he had spoken were of opinion that something like sheepstealing was practised. He thought that instead of striving to occupy a large number of diilerent districts, where there were few people, some mutual arrangement should be made between . denominations to enable the churches to converse their means and energy to greater eflect. He moved "That the Assembly having considered the overtuie from the Auckland Presbytery re the overlapping of ecclesiastical distiicts, recommend Presbyterians to confer with other denominations within their bounds and if possible to ariango for some course ot action by mutual concession and othewise, as wisdom and Chiistian charity may suggest, to minimise friction, and secure results moie commensurate with the expenditure to the means and energy used in the prosecution ot the good work." (Applause.) Rev. Mr Fraser seconded the motion. He believed the principle was right, but doubted whether the resolution could be adopted. Rev. Mr Sidey was of opinion that the only church that would suiier from such a resolution was the Presbyterian Church. He objected to any such resolution being placed on the books. Rev. Mr McKinney spoke in favour of the resolution. Rev. Mr Doull moved as an amendment " That the matter be left for the consideration of the various Presbyteries" — Mr J. M. Lennox seconded the motion. Rev. Mr Macky said he had been told by Wesleyan ministers and laymen that the Presbyterians themselves had trangressed in this matter. They should not leb the public think that they were unwilling to take a 3tep ia this direction and exj ress their views on the subject without fear, in a spirit of brotherly kindness and charity. Rev. Mr Neill spoke in similar terms. Rev. P. Munro also spoke in support of the resolution. He believed much good would come of it in small villages, from the passing of the rosolution immediately. It was a pity that a word had been said about other denominations, for he knew just as bitter sectarians amongst thomtaelves as there were in any other denominations. At all events the j

resolution was a step in the right direction. Rev. Mr Gordon inquired as to thepractical eflect of fche resolution. He did not see what change ib was intended to effect. Rev. Mr Hutson did not know which way he would vote, bub thought that wherever there were Presbyteries the clergy should look after this-. Key. Mr Norrie thought that whatever was to be the effect of the resolution they were nob to lower their colouia in any way, and pointed out that even scatteied members of the Presbyterian Church should be looked after. He had been doing work of this kind himself, and he thought ib would be very wrong if he or others similarly engaged were compelled to withdraw. Rev. Mr Barclay felt inclined to support the resolution, but wanted to know what would be its effect. He mentioned a district having 600 or 700 people, with four or five ministers, and where there was much waste of energy and means, but he did not see how the resolution could be made to apply, because the parties woula not unite. The speaker caused much amusement by illustrating an attempt to mix the heterogeneous elements of the different sects. He agreed with the spirit of the motion, but believed ib was impracticable. (Applause. Key. Mr Norrie mentioned an instance in which he had conducted prayer meetings in conjunction with an Anglican minister. Key. Mr Monro (Remuera) spoke of the feeling between Anglican and Presbyterian clergymen and mentioned a deputation of Presbyterian clergymen which waited upon the Bishops of Auckland to see whether any Presbyterian Minister could read a burial service in a Church of England cemetery. The Bishop, he said, replied that a Presbyterian minister or any other person duly appointed could read any service in an Anglican cemetery. Rev. Mr Sidey thought that the cemetery must have been unconsecrated, but Mr Munro replied that this was not the case. Rev. Mr Sidley said that he was so firmly couvinced that this resolution would be used to the prejudice of the Presbyterian Church and nothing else that he would be prepared to move " That the overture be dismissed." Rev. Mr Barclay said he would move in that direction, and Rev. Mr Sidey seconded the motion. Rev. Mr }\'. Gillies thought it be an unfortunate thing if the Assembly were forced into voting others resolutions. They were present to deal with what was practical and not what was theoretical. He believed that the resolution would not bear good fruit and that by passing ie they \\ould be cutting a stick to break their own heads. He theieiore urged that those who brought tho matter up should bo content with the expression of opinion that had been given, and that they should withdraw the resolution without pressing it to the vote. He maintained one instance in Avhich he was burying a body in the Jewish Cemetery and was asked to preach the service in the road. He declined to adopt the suggestion and preached the service over the grave, telling the person who interfered that he would be guilty of a breach of the peace if he persisted his objection. Rev. Mr Prazer said he had buried in a Roman Catholic cemetery, and nobody interfered with him. Mr Adarnb said that it had been asked what would be the practical effect of the lesolution, and it was this: Li you have the smallest number of adherents in any district you shut up shops in that district. (No.) He insisted that this was so, and urged that care should be exercised in setting up Presbyterian Churches in any place until they knew whether they or some other body was to have control of the church. Rev. Mr McKinney thought that the resolution now having been brought forwaid, it would be unwise not to pass it, because ib would be interpreted by the public as a hostile action. Regarding the Anglicans he had worked with them better than with any other religious body, and he was sorry to hear them spoken of as had been done. Rev. Mr Steele said he considered it unwise to withdraw the resolution. While he valued Presbyterianism much, he valued Christianity and the Church of Christ more. It was admitted that there was friction, that there was waste of energy, but, he asked, how many lapsed Presbyterians were theie in the city of Auckland? Why should their energy not be used in this direction and not frittered in contesting with other sects in outlying districts ? If the Presbytery passed the resolution they would exhibit a true spirit of their charity, and he thought that it was wrong to suggest that the Presbyterians weie to give all and get nothing in return. The question was then put and a show of hands taken as follow : — Rev. Steele's motion, 17 ; Rev. Doull's motion, 20 ; Rev. Barclay's motion, 4. The latter motion was dropped, and voting taking on the two former with the result : Rev. Mr Steele's motion, 17; Rev. Mr Doull's motion, 26. Mr Doull's motion was declared carried, leaving the matter in question to be dealt with by Presbyteries, as they thought desirable.

GAMBLING. It was resolved, " That the thanks of the Assembly be accorded to Messrs T. Peacock, M.H.8., and the Hon. R. Hart, M.L.C., for their care of the petition re the suppression of gambling; that the Assembly express 1 egret that the Legislature took no action in the direction indicated, and instruct the present Moderator to again forward a memorial in the name of the Assembly to the approaching meeting of the Legislature.

THANKS. On the motion of the Rev. Mr Macky, the thanks of the Assembly were given to the ex-Moderator for the excellent sermon preached at the opening of the sederunt. Several notices of motion were handed in, and the Assembly adjourned at 2 p.m. till 7 p.m.