PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD OF OTAGO ANTD SOUTHLAND.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 283, 31 January 1879, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD OF OTAGO ANTD SOUTHLAND.

■(Condensed from Dunediu Contemporaries.) Fifth Day (Jan 20.) The Rev. J. Ryley laid on the table answer? ro reasons of -dissent tmui and protest against the motion carried bv the Synod instituting a second professorship in the University of Otago. to be d-'sitrnated The Chair of Moral and Political IScunomy. The case, of the Rev. Ohsrles Connor was then introduced to the notice of the Synod. It having been resolved to nustain the reference of the matter to Idie Synod by the'Clu'ha Presbvterv, the iLev. Mt Chisholm and Rev. Mr Borrie Jpre-- heard in support of it ; after "which the Rev. Mr Connor followed with an exhaustive statement ot the matter from his point of view. A number of documents relative to the -case were also read. It appeared that the Rev. Mr Connor has bean minister •of the Popotunoa charge from the year 1808. Dissatisfaction having been expressed with him, the Clutha Presbytery, on the 2nd January, 1878, gave an opportunity to those who were dissatisfied, ot stating their grievances. The following month several of the •office-bearersof the Presbyterian Church at Clinton petitioned the Presbytery to suggest to Mr Connor the propriety of resigning Lis charge, as they believed ■ that, there was no prospect of there ever being a united congregation in the district under his ministry. At a meeting of the Presbyrery, held on the HOth ot March, it was decided to advise Mr Connor to resign his charge, but this he refused to do, believing, under the circumstances, that he would be sacrificing not only his own interests, but tbe interests of truth and righteousness." Upon this the Presbytery appointed a Commission to visit the districts and collect evidence. The Commissioners presented their report to the Presbyrery on the 18th September. The report was endorsed, and the Presbytery -resolved to recommend Mr Connor to resign his charge. Refusing a second time to resign, the Presbytery decided to refer the case to the Synod. Mr Connor alleged that the Presbytery had acted in a highhanded and tyrannical manner; that they had acted in gross violation of the most elementary principles of the rules of evidence j and that they had pursued a course eminently fitted to heap 'indignity upon a minister of the Church of Christ, and to hurt the cause of religion in the district. The Commission alluded to concluded that the l)£st course Mr Connor could pursue, under the circumstances, was to resign. They wpre confident he would never outlive the dissatisfaction, and that the congregation would never be harmonious and prosperous under his ministry. The cm use of the existing dissatisfaction they did not inquire into minutely, "but it was stated by a few that Mr Connor laboured assiduously — laboured as few men would have done — and so it was not from want of zeal or energy that tbe. dissatisfaction arose" The hour of adjourn men r, having arrived, tbe further consideration of the matter was postponed. In tne evening the Synod held their usual annual public meeting in the First Church. There was a very large •attendance, and the Rev. Dr Coplaud presided. Addresses were delivered by Revs. Paterson, J. W. Inglis (Ballarat). Treadwtll (Wanganui), and Mr B. B •Cargill. Sixth Day. ( Discussion on the Rev. Mr Connor's ; 'Case was resumed. On the motion of the Rev. W. Bannerman, it was resolved — "That a Committee of Synod be appointed to confer with Mr Connor. That the Committee consist of the Revs. W. Will, Dr. Smart, Johnstone, Christie, PatersoD, Chisholm. Clark, and Mackie, ministers; Messrs Runciman. Rennie, Fitzgerald, Bethune, and J. E. Brown, ■elders. Rev. W. Wil], convener." Mr A. Rennie read the report of the Committee of the Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund. It was now five years since the Fund had been originated, and there had been no demand unon it till recently. The Committee recommended that the Rev. James M.Thomson, of Winton, he assisted from the Fund, which now amounted to L1929 6s 4d. Of ovpr forty congregations in the Province, only twenty-four had contributed to \he Fund. On the motion of tbe Rev. J. M. Sutherland, the following deliverance Tras agreed to :— " Adopt the report ; /(.ccord thanks to the Committee, and llajpecially to the Convener ; express regret that several congregations of the Church have not contributed to this | very important scheme during the year, and appoint collections to be made in all congregations for this Fund, and enjoin upon all ministers to see tbat the collection is made: further — regret that the state of Mr Thomson's health necessitates retirement from the ministry, and recommend as an interim arrangement, that Mr Thomson be placed ■upon the Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund, and be dealt with in accordance with the regulations." An application was received from Mr J. H. M'Naughton, through the Rev. Dr. Copland, requesting assistance from the Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund. It ivas agreed that the Treasurer be authorised to -retain) to Mr M'Naugh-

tou -he amount contributed by him towards ihe Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund, and such sum over and above the jinnual payments made by him towards the Widow and Orphans Fund." The iiev. W. W;*l read the followingreport on ihe sanctioning* of charges: — "The uuly application for sanction this y<-«r coir.-js from the Presbytery of Dunodiu, on behalf of Ravens bourne. The Oommittpe having considered the application with relative documents unanimously agreed to recommend that the application be granted, and that Ravensbourne be declared a sanctioned charge." On the motion of the Rev. J. M. Sutherland, the following- deliverance was adopted : — " Adopt tbe report, record thanks to the Committee, and especially to the convener, and agree that the application of Ravensbourne to be erected into a separate charge be granted " The Rev. Mr Christie laid on the table a number ot publications on total abstinence. <■ Mr N. Y. A. Wales submitted the following report ol the Finance Committee : — The General Statement furnished by the Treasurer shows total contributions 1 from forty-six congregations amounting to L28,342 14s Id, being an increase of L3835 193 lid over the gross receipts of last year. Of this amount a large increase is shown in the Building Fund, viz., L6201 10s lid, as against L4268 10s 4d contributed in 1877. The difference is mainly accounted for by the amount received from Knox Church. Taking this amount into consideration, the Building Fund shows a falling off from last year, but the amounts contributed by the congregations of Otepopo, Waiareka, and Waikouaiti show receipts of L1437 17s 6d, as against nil of the preceding year, thus showing considerable progress in these districts. On ordinary collections there is an increase of L650 10s 3d over those of 1877, but on special collections there is a falling off of L292 5s sd. On the other hand, the seat rents have increased by L577 Is sd, chiefly in the centres of population. The General Mission Fund is a trifle less than the previous year, but the new Mission Scholarship Fund, initiated by the Rev. J. Copeland, shows for the first year — contributions and donations, L4OO 5s 2d. This may possibly account for the partial falling off in the receipts for missions. The Dayspring Fund shows a considerable increase, viz., L432 14s sd, as against L2OO 8s 3d for the year 1877, The contributions from two congregations include those of 1877. The Church Extension Fund also shows a slight increase. Hitherto it has been a matter of considerable difficulty to ascertain the exact amount of liabilities of the fund at the termination of the Synodical year. Your Committee, however, believe that the present year's accounts will sbow the actual position of the fund at this date. Referring to the Sustentation Fund, there is an increase of L367 4s 6d, but taking into consideration the new charges, it is doubtful whether tlie increase corre sponds with the increased work to be clone. The amount of dividend paid this year was L222 12s 2d, as against L216 15s 4d in 1877. Your Committee, however, believe that, taking into consideration the disastrous floods that, during the last winter, extended over the length and breadth of the land, and the consequent privations attending the same, the contributions, on the whole, have been satisfactory. The Presbyterian Scholarship Fund is in debt to the extent of Lls 3s. This would not haye occurred had the various congregations remitted the sums at which they were assessed, and your Committee earnestly request that all outstanding accounts be at once paid to the General Treasurer, and this fund placed on a more satisfactory basis. The Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund l shows a decrease of Lll 15s, which is much to be regretted. Several congregaj tions have made no return this year. It is, however, satisfactory to notice the steady increase of the fund. It is within the knowledge of your Committee that, in consequence of ill health, one of the ministers of the Church has been compelled to retire, and will probably claim on the fund ; it is therefore hoped that this fund may continue to receive the hearty support of the members of the Church. There is an increase of seat rents of L577 Is sd, and for ordinary collections, L650 2s sd. The Missionary Legacy Fund stands as it did last year, having at its credit LSOO. The Prize Fund has not been operated upon beyond an addition of L6 — amount of interest received on investment. The sum at credit of this fund is now Lll7 7s Id. The contributions to Mr Copeland's Mission Scholarship amount to L4OO 5s 2d. After deduction of L37 19s 6d — amount of Mr Copeland's travelling and other expenses — a balance is left of L362 5s Bd. Committee acknowledge with thanks the repeated donations from Miss Mure to the two leading funds of the Church, and to those friends who have contributed to the Scholarships and other funds. Insurance. — Owing to the present unsettled state of fire insurance business in this Province, the Treasurer has, with the concurrence of the Finance Committee, applied to some of the principal local offices for tenders for the insurance during the current year of the various Church buildings. Offers were made by the several offices applied to, the most favourable being that of the Standard. Your Committee have recommended the Treasurer to accept the latter offer, and it will be found that by so doing a very considerable saving has been effected. On the motion of Mr Paterson, seconded by the Rev. Dr. Stuart, the re- . port was adopted, the General Treasurer (Mr Smith) and the Convener of the Committee (Mt Wales) being .especially thanked for their services. Discussion on the report of the Sustentation Fund Committee was resumed, aad the deliverance previously proposed

,and published was adopted. A Committee was appointed to consider and if practicable, carry out the amalgamation of the Missionary Record with the Evangelist. The Committee annoiutcd to consider and report upon applications for grants, recommended that the following should be granted:— Queenstown, L3OO, for second manse; Waikouaiti, North Taieri, West Taieri, Taieri Beach, Anderson's Bay, and Invercargill (St. Paul's). An immediate payment of Ll5O was granted in aid of the Building Fund at Alexandra.— The report was adopted.