CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15896, 9 May 1917, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY.

MONTHLY MEETLNG. The Christchurch Presbytery met yesterday, tho Rev. F. Rule presiding. There were present: Rev. J.h\ luoir, Rev. A. T. Thompson, Re.v. J. Pater£on. Rev. J. Johnston. Rev. D. D. Rodger, Rev. W. 11. Howes, Rev- A. D. Kirkland, Rev. ,5. Dickson, Her. N. MeCallum, Rev. C. Murray (clerk) ; Elders: Messrs J. MeLood, J• naut, R. Clow, J. Sutherland; Home missionary, Mr J. Lang. The Rev. A. D. Kirkland reported on a visitation to Haumer. The state of tho church was satisfactory, but there was a very poor a t,tendance oi children. Tho financial assistance ■<-- corded to the church itself was laii'lv good, but the. support given .to other enterprises iu connexion wit;i church work was very poor indeed. 'Tho church in manv ways did not seem to bo on a well-organised footing, though the average attendance was wet! maintained. It was recommended that Mr Murray, the missionary in charge at Hanmer, bo licensed to baptise, marrv, and administer the sa.cramen:.. The fact that lie tvas not so licensed at present handicapped his work. The report was adopted, and the Prosbytory expressed ils approval of the suggestion that Mr -Murray shoutd bo ordained, subject to the aproval of tho Home Missionary Committee.

The clerk reported on a sug.scsf.ion from the "VYanganui Presbytery regarding the proposed establishment of a. Presbyterian Men's League. According to the report the 'Wanganui Pro-:-bytery bad ipproaeked the Christchurch Presbytery in an irregular manner, and it was decided to reply that any proposal to establish a new organisation in the c-hurch should be first brought before the General Assembly. Tho Dnnedin. Presbytery forwarded a reply received from Sir -Tames Allen in connexion will: a resolution passed ljy tho Presbytery. The matter nroso out, of the status of homo missionaries before the Military Service Board. Sir James Alleu wrote:—"l fannot understand why there should he any doubt about tho equality of treatment of ail clergy. It. has been made clear to the heads of all churches that a certificate would bo sent to the Military Sen-ire Board if the heads of the churches took the responsibility to say that a clergyman drawn in tlic ballot could'not bo spared. There has boon no departure from this, and. tho certificate lias been Tospectod in every instance, except in tho ease of two students of tho Roman Catholic Church, who had taken their vows. Tho Board doomed that they should serve in some noncombatant branch of the Army." The letter was received.' It was_ decided to hold the Presbytery meetings on the second "Wednesday in. each month until the train {services become normal again. A ■motion of condolence was passed to tho Rev. J. Paterson on' tho death of liis brother, killed in action.