PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1306, 21 February 1885, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

The meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church was continued on Wednesday, the Very Rev. the Moderator occupying the chair. From the Timaru district the Revs, Gillies and Barclay, and Messrs Steward and Hart were present. Several Committees were appointed. The Auckland Presbytery applied for the reception of the Rev. G. Jones a Congregational Minister from England, and the matter was referred to a Committee. Overtures were read from Timaru and Auckland anent the ministers’ tenure of office, the former from the Presbytery and the latter from Mr Bell. The Rev. Mr Gillies supported the Timaru overture, and moved—“ That the Assembly receive the overtures, recognise the importance of the interests involved in the matter referred to therein, and remind ministers that the ministry exists for the Church, and not the Church for the ministry ; so that it is the duty of the ministry to sacrifice their own interests in the tenure of office to the interests of the congregation, and in cases where the latter are evidently suffering by an insistance by the minister to hold by his tenure of office, the Assembly urged upon ministers to resign rather than have the congregation icattered and lost to the Church, and at the same time enjoin upon Presbyterians a more faithful discharge of their episcopal functions. The Assembly would also appeal to the membership of the Church t® adopt the constitutional method of making known their grievances to the session and Presbytery in order to their being considered and remedied, rather than adopting the on-Christian method of withholding contributions, and ceasing from attendance upon ordinances.” The Eev. Mr Elmslie moved as an amendment the referring of the overtures on ministerial changes to a Committee to report at a future Assembly. Tim Rey. Mr Gillies accepted this as an addition to his. motion, which was then put and carried. Th® Rev. Charles Murray the new missionary for the New Hebrides was then introduced and it was unanimously resolved—“ That the Assembly recognises and approves of the action of the Committee taken through Dr. Inglis, in selecting and sending out the Rev, Chas. Murray, and that the Assembly cordially welcome him as the new missionary of the Church.” An overture was received from the Presbytery of Auckland concerning the resignation of ministers, and their acting in connection with church matters after such resignation.—The Rev. Mr Gillies moved—“ That the overture be received, siid this Assembly declares the law of this Church to be that when a minister resigns his congregation his name be taken from the roll of the Presbytery, unless the Assembly does otherwise direct; and whereas it appears that in the pas) Presbyteries have in several instances accepted resignations and agreed that such ministers be continued as members of the Presbytery, this Assembly declares such procedure to have been irregular, and requires that in all such cases application be made to the next Assembly through the Presbytery unless the right be granted by the Assembly, and all privileges hitherto enjoyed shall cease. In cases of ministers desirous of retiring from the active duties of office, but of continuing to hold the positiou of senior minister of the congregation, the Presbyteries be left free in the meantime according to their wisdom in.granting such a position.” Instead of the usual public meeting taking place, the evening was devoted to the ordination of the Rev. Chas. Murray, M.A. The Assembly resumed its sitting on Thursday. The Rev. W. Gillies’s resolution was carried. The Eev. J. Paterson moved—“ That as the small attendance of elders as members of the Assembly is a source of weakness to the Church, a Committee be appointed to consider by what means a better repiesentation of the eldership in the Assembly may be secured," The motion was agreed to, and the mover was made convener of the Committee. The Rev. R. Somerville read a report of the Widows and Orphans Fund, showa credit balance of £306. The report stated that many ministers were behind in their payments. The speaker said that a gentleman well up in finance had informed him that twenty ministers could be insured for £SOO with a bonus of £ls annually out of the funds. The report was adopted. The Rev. R. Somerville read the report of the Committee on the Aged and Infirm Ministers Fund. The credit balance was £126116s 3d. At Thursday evening's sitting it was agreed that the resolution of the Rev. Mr Gillies should not affect the right of the Rev. Alexander Thompson, of Mongonui, to a seat in the Presbytery of Auckland, or others similarly situated. The Rev. Mr McGregor brought up the rsport of the Temperance Committee. The report was adopted, and the Presbyteries enjoined to more diligently prosecute the instructions of the last Assembly. An overture from the Rev. MrMcCallnm, of Auckland, on the employment of barmaids, was received and read, and after being spoken to by several members the matter was allowed to drop. The Moderator read the report of the Foreign Mission Committee indicating that in future the Church wonld be represented at the New Hebrides by two missionaries. The new missionary, Rev, Pfiarles Murray, was to bo lopated on the island of Ambryformerly occupied by his brother. The f und of the mission was Stated to be satisfaptory at present, but required close and anxious attention and libsralily on the past of the people,