The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 126, 5 March 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1879.

During the past week the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand met in St. Andr/ew's Church, Christchurch, and passed many important resolutions, some of which not only affect the Presbyterian body, but may have a deciding influence upon a question that is likely to rouse the latent feelings of the easy-going settler in the colony. We mean the resolutions passed connected with State Education. It was almrst unanimously resolved to support the present secular system in preference to going back to denominationalisin. This in our opinion (which was freely exDressed some time ago in a leading article) will meet with the full sympathy of a large majority of this colony, but we may add it was more than was generally expected by this religious body, especially when it had before it a copy of resolutions passed by a Presbyterian Synod held at Dunedin a short time ago, urging strongly every member of the Presbyterian Church to go in for religious, in other words sectarian, teaching. Much as every true Protestant must desire to see the Bible a text book in our public schools, we feel assured that few will give a willing consent to having this question a permissive one, left iu the hands of Committees. If any amendment is to be introduced into the present Educational Ordinance authorising the reading of the Protestant Bible let there be no permissive clauses, for such a discretionary power would lead to neverending wrangling and dispute in committee. Enough experience has been had of these permissive clauses already in other quarters ; it is to be hoped no more patch-work of this sort will be attempted. Another resolution was passed by the Presbyterian Assembly, which, although it only affects that Church, is a very important one, and calls for comment. It is that three commissioners, chosen out of the congregation, and two commissioners appointed by the Presbytery, are to be authorised to choose for a congregation, in case of a vacancy, a minister which in their opinion is a suitable pastor for sttch congregation. Tf old John Knox were upon the earth and heard such utterances it would make his hair stand on end ! The great religious battles so often fought by the Scotch Church during the past three or four centuries especial 1j t ; all originating in the attempts of the civil power to impose the law of patronage, in other words, the royal reigning power to place any man over a congregation as its pastor the State might choose is distasteful to Presbyterians. Many hard battles were fought to prevent the headship of Christ's Church being claimed by the State, and just at the verv time when patronage is entirely demolished in Scotland an attempt is made to place the same power in the hands of a few in this country. The next step will be to plaoe it in the hands of the Moderator of the Assembly. Against such an innovation every I rue Presbyterian must, from principle set his face. As a first step, a paid agent or travelling clergyman has been

appointed, whose duty it is to visit every congregation and confer with ihe officebearers as to the condition and wants of any particular congregation ; this also true Presbyterians must look upon as an unwarrantable superceding of the powers of the Church Courts, such as Deacon's Court, Congregational Sessions, Presbyteries, and Synods, and will not very likely be receii'ed favorably by the members of Presbyterian Churches in this Island. One good and needful overture was made, which must meet with the favor of all true Christians, that is that some uniform service for the dead be adopted. As matters now stand every officiating clergyman who has to bury a departed brother or sister, uses his own form, or no form at all if he chooses. It would be well that some burial service were adopted, such as all present showing their respect for the departed could sympathise with ; any legislation in this direction will meet with good will through the whole Church. Presbyterians have ever been sticklers for carrying out the rule and order of Church services handed down to them by their fathers, but in a new country like ours, although it is their duty to protect the fundamental doctrines of their Church, they should nevertheless be ready to take and give a little, when no principle is involved. Such as in musical matters, kneeling at prayer, and the burial of the dead.