PRESBYTERIANISM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8213, 10 August 1915, Page 4

PRESBYTERIANISM.

MEETING OF ASHBURTON PRESBYTERY.

The'■■bi-monthly meeting of the Ash--burton Presbytery was held in St.,-.' Andrew's Presbyterian Church to-day. Present: The Rev. Messrs G. Miller: (Moderator), W. T.. Todd. (clerk), P., Wilson, W. C. Blair, and G. K. Aitken, Messrs J. Lanc-i J. D,oak, R. Gilmouiy and W. Croy (elders), and. Mr Bishop (Home Missionary). ■_.. , A report" was was received from the Committee set up to go into the matter of the-boundaries of the various , charges.—After a slight discussion, it, was resolved that the Committee should '-■). be asked to furnish a full report on the matter at the next meeting of Presbytery. . ■ : . . , .■ 'ihe Committee's report on the Beneficiaries' I l'and was received and adopt- ; e<i: : ■ ■ , ;';■■■ ■..' •■'■..,.•."■■■■ : '

The Committee's ' proposals •■ on the Women Workers' Fund was discussed,; ad seriating and-many recommendations were adopted. The Her. Mr Wilson presented a re--port on the visitation to the Springburn charge. Tlie commission, consisted of tho Her. Messrs Wilson, Aifckeny"^ and Blair, and the report detailed the number of services that were held each. ■ Sabbath, ■■the" number of Sunday Schools- conducted, the baptisms carried out, and numerous other items connected with the charge.—The finding o*n the commission's report stated that the 'Presbytery found that the eon- ! gregation comprising the Springburn' charge was in a very fair financial -position, that the _ church _ attendances showed distinct sighs of improvement, and that the immediate outlook, i'oi-: the congregation was very hopeful!. As the erection of a now church at Mount* Somer.s would greatly help in the fur-, the'rance,--6.l'.church, work there thePresbytery urged the, congregation' toy take immediate steps in that direction. The Prosbyu-ry also called the attention of the congregation to the neod of the utmost liberality on the part of all towards Church Mission schemes, especially', home and foreign missions.— It was decided to grant a deliverance to the Spvingburn charge, and that ■tho Rev. P. Wilson exchange pulpits on one Sunday so as to. read the deliverance in all the preaching centres. The following were appointed thePresbytery's representatives at the Assembly to Ik> hold on Auckland: —Tbe Rev. "Messrs G. Miller, W. T. Todd-. arid G. K. Aitkon. In regard to the appointment of elders as representatives on the Assembly, it was decided to request the Sessions of Wakanni. Flemington, and Mayfield to appoint a delegate oneh.

The .Rev. Mr Todd introduced tbcovangelistir service's, and asked -if it" would not ho a good tiling for the congregations in.-'tho Presbytery's district to agree upon one man to stay some months' in the district to conduct such services.—Mr Wilson was of opin- -.. ion that the ministers of the Ashburton Presbytery should exchange for a wook or two nt. different times. . The evangelising work should be' done hy the Presbytery's own ministers.— '*■ Messrs; Blair' anil Mill agreed)- with Mr' Wilson. Tho former said he thought . the present time of stress and strife would be a good time in which *to j arouse more interest in Christian work. He stated that he was not opposed ,tp tho professional-' evangelist.—Other members spoke in favour of a series of o-vnngelistic services, and Mr Aitken ondorsed the view of Mr Todd that a ; n evangelist .who had made a speciality of that kind of work should bo. secured.—The Moderator strongly supported the latter opinion, and said that a stranger would be able \to accomplish more than the local ministers. A motion in favour of asking, the Rev. J. ,Cnmming, who is on a. visit to the Dominion from Scotland, to conduct a mission in the Ashburton district was passed. ' '".'-.'