Tokomairiro Presbuterian

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3030, 24 January 1899, Page 4

Tokomairiro Presbuterian

A largely attended meeting of this \m>dgregjatioh was 'held In the- Churoh last evening ' to consider 'the recommendation of ilieSelfeoHon Committee in the matter of the fitting the vaoan'oy caused by the resignation of the Rev. James Chißholm. , . jßeyi P. B. Eraser (Lovelli Flat) presided, ,and, after .conducting devotional exeroises, be said that, as they were aware, the congregation had been •■ called together that night to have ' plaoed before them the resolution Intending that Mr Spmerville should be called to be minister of the congregation. He would not anticipate anything , that waul d probably come from the members of- that oommittee. The proper course for him to take was to' ask the secretary of that committee to read the minutes of their meetings so that those present might be made familiar with the coarse that had been pursued. " Mr J. W. Petrie accordingly read the •minntea of the meetings held on December 14 and January 9, the resolutions of which have been already published. ,At a farther meeting held yesterday evening at 7 p.m. the following resolution was carried unanimously : — Aeßttred now on good authority that Mr Somerville will not aooept a call to the Vaoant pastorate, not only because he is unwilling to leave Waihila at the present time, but because be , fears whether his strength would be equal to the increased responsibilities of a large congregation, it is moved that Mr Somerville's name be not Bnbmitted to the congregation. Mr James Adam 'said that be was' very very sorry that the committee oould not come before them with a * more hopeful tale of success than they were able to bring- The congregation had appointed the committee to select a minister if possible without the objectionable process of* oandi dating." The oommittee were .unanimous in their ohoioe. Shortly after they first met Mr Somerville and one of his office-bearers came down to his (Mr Adam's) house to endeavor to dissuade him from going any further In the matter; However, they still believed they onght ; to, insist 1 on Mr Somerville'a i, coming. He went down to Mr Botnervllle's manse one day, aDd found that, he was away, and the Rev J Gibb, the Rev W Will and another minister in possession. They began a disoussion on the vacancy, and in the course of it Mr Will said that they could carry the matter to the Presbytery, and ; even to the Synod- Mr Will mentioned an instance where the Free Church of Sootland had oroed mtn against his will to leave aia onuroh and go to Belfast. He (Mr Adam) bad got Mr Gibb to promise to use all means in his power to induce Mr Somerville to come to them. On Saturday morning last he went down and aaw Mr Gibb, who said that he had fulfilled his promise, but when It oame to the' matter of Mr Somerville'a health he found it was no use to go further. He (Mr Adam) waa not^.y' at liberty to go into details, but he was satisfied in his own mind and he would be no party to foroing Mr SomervHle any further. He proposed that tbe congregation fail from going any further in the matter, and that the committee look Bomewhere elee for a minister. This was no easy task. There were no lesß than thirteen!! vacancies now existing in the Church of Otago, and there were only about ha If -a dozen students capable of filling these vacancies. They would have to get' a man from acme other church. It was quite true that their office-bearers would object, as had been done in the oase of Waihola But what were they to do ? They must have a minister. A congregation such as theirs O ould not ba without one. He had oonSdecce in the oommittee and trußted that tbey wonld act wisely. He moved that the action of the Selection Committee be approved, and that they continue their labors n selecting a paßtor. Mr J. .Reid seconded the motion, and spoke at length on the labors of the Selection Committee. The motion on being put was carried unanimously. The Cnair/n&n said that there was practically nothing further to be done. He wonld like to make reference to the loyalty whioh Mr Somerville bad displayed towards his present charge right through thiß matter — (loud applause). Tbe meeting terminated with* the benediotion. *