PRESBYTERY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18429, 9 July 1925, Page 16

PRESBYTERY.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting- of tho Christchurch Presbytery was held yesterday, the Rev. N. L. D. Webster, Moderator, presiding. On behalf of the Ordinal Committee, the Moderator recommended that both the ordinals of the South African Church and the Canadian Church be approved for the guidance of ministers. Tko report was adopted.

Permission was granted to the Lincoln Church Property Trustees to sell the site of the present church and to purchase a.aite for a new church in Prebbleton. Tho Kev. F. Robertson explained that it was intended to erect a new church in the Prebbleton township. A call from the Leeslon Church to 42ie Rev. W. F. Nichol, of Lyttelton, was laid on the table by tie Rev. Dr. Erwin, who said that the Church was united in its call. There has been a division in the Church, but both sides had signed the call. The call was supported by representatives »f the Leeston Church.

_On behalf of the Lyttelton congregation, Captain R. Hatchwell objooted strongly to tho call. A congregational had decided to oppose it, and he pointed out that tho Lyttelton Church had passed through a trying time. It was not Mr Nichol's wish to leave Lyttelton, and his work wa« just beginning to show results. He asked the Presbytery .not to sustain the call. Messrs R. T. Clow, -J. Preston, and J. Lester supported Captain Hatchwell's protest.

Mr Nichol said that his services first of all belonged to the Presbyterian Church, and the Church could place him' wherever it thought best. He placed the responsibility for accepting the call on the Presbytery. He had no desire to leave Lyttelton, but ho wished to go aa his duty called, and it might be that his duty lay in Leeston. He placed himself i n the hands of the Presbytery. He had to sink his personal feelings f mv J V n r thc Preabyterv wished. ihe Kev. Dr. Erwin moved that the call be sustained and. placed in thc hands of Mr Nichol.

The motion wa s seconded bv the Rev J. Johnston."

Thirteen members voted for tho motion and thirteen against. A further ballot resulted in tho motion being earned by fifteen to fourteen, and the ° WrT ? Mr Nichol's hands. Mr Nichol said that he could not accept the call with auch a amaU majori ty behind Jh.t fcY T ° tln g as «™l he thought V*Mv y 7¥ in L yttelton. He felt h.ghly honoured by the call and he wa3 wl7 itt r tters had P»«» as they had ? fiv, bee^\ la 'ger majority of four I *£* for the endorsement of a avenue was received from the Kev. J. V. mirs^e n rsto°m W Z B^ rted t- ty *" C ° m " A Prott* tL Sg'l referred The The Little ILver congregation asked permission to jo m UTI »_,•<£,£", *■""=" J?* ufwSh Thfl Rflv v> t> , the Presbytery. Mot"ra &J%s£ -r 4 tinned, and that l£s S -t ilOU - Akaroa, that Tapu, and that m v™*i £5 in Lyttelton. Bay bo included The Kev. A. Tvk- . , , ,-. lswhich, was carried. Bec °nded «» *">&<>*,