PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2008, 15 February 1890, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Wellington, Feb. 12. At the annual General Assembly of delegates fro.r> various Presbyteries of New Zealand divine service was conducted by the Rev. Beattie, the retiring Moderator. The Rev. H. B. Burnett (Westport) was appointed Moderator fur the ensuing year, and he delivered a long address. Aa far as statistics go, showed that evangelical religion reduced the average of destitution and crime among the young as well as adults, for out of the young committed to industrial : schools on various charges during 1888 there were but 16.8 per cent. Presbyteriane, while other two principal denominations specified in ihe statistics returned, one 42.6 and the other 3474, whila their percentage of the whole population in 1886 was 22.59; the other two in the order he had stated above having a percentage of 40,17 and 13.95 to ihe whole population. In point of number Ihe Presbyterian p.'ople stood second in the colony, 130.643 persons belonging to their Church, or a proportion of the whole population of 22.59. These were the numbers in 1886. With respact to the overage of persons convicted between 1885 and 1888, there were but 15.61 Presbyterians, which he pointed out wa? leas than the average of several oilier tienominations. Referring to the recoct labor disputes, both at Home and in the colony, the rey. gentleman thought there ought to be kindlier ties between the laborer and his employer than the one in which money was the sole element.

A motion was carried approving of the national system of education as atpresont obtaining, and directing thdfc the mind of the Assembly be communicated to the Minister of Education, but regrettiog that do change had yet been made in the national system im favor of Bible-reading in schools.

The Kevs. Hall and Binnerman, deputies from the Synod of Otago and Southland, were cordially received by the Assembly.

Feb. 13. Tho report upon (he aged and infirm ministers' fund was presented. The committee stated that the regulation making connection with the fuod compulsory had biQxi complied with by only 22 ministers, while only 27 congregations had made their annual contributions. The total income for the yeur had been £279 14* 7d and the expenditure £75 17s 7d, leaving a balunce of £204 13s to b« added to the capital, which now stood at £2006. The report upon tho widows' and orphans' fund elated chat only three new contributors had joined the fuod during the year, and there were only 21 contributors in all. The income of the year had been £SS9 10s 6J, and the expenditure £134 Bs, and, after carryiog the difference to capital, the account of the latter stood at £49,794 3s 7d. The report of the Church Extension Committee was brought up. It suggested that endeavors should be made to induce promising young men to educate themselves for the work of the ministry.