PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIII, Issue 1165, 30 October 1896, Page 5

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD

• I The annual meeting of the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland was held in First Church, Dunedin, on Monday night, j The Rev. James Chisholm, in the place of the Rev. D. Borrie, retiring moderator, conducted the ordinary opening service (which included the observance of the Lord's Supper), and gave a discourse based on John xvn. The roll was then read, after which the Rev Mr Lothian was elected moderator for the ensuing year and the usual committees were appointed. The Synod again met on Tuesday evening when the moderator delivered his opening address, the subject being a century's progress in religion and progress. ! The Rev It. R. M. Sutherland reported that the dividend for the half-year under the sustentation fund was LIOO 15s sd, the total dividend for the year being L 199 6s Bd. The dividend. for last year was L 199 7s, or 4d m,ore than this year. I It was agreed that the Rev George Hall ■ should have the status of senior minister for , Waihola, without responsibility and emolu= ' ment and that he have a seat in the Presbytery and Synod. Dr Copland introduced the following overture from the Presbytery of Mataura : — j " Whereas marriage with a deceased wife's | sister is contrary tq the Confession of Faith j professedly held by the church, and wherea.3 j the Synod at its last meeting by a small majority — viz., 51 to 48^deeided to grant j liberty to ministers and members to deter- i mine what course they shall pursue in celebrating or entering upon such marriages, as they have to give account to God : it is hereby overtured by the Presbytery of Mataura to the venerable the Synod of Otago and Southland, indicted to meet in October next, to take the premises into its consideration, with the view of rescinding such resolution and declaring its continued adherence to the doctrine of the Confession of Faith as it may see fit." The overture led to a long debate. The Rev Mr Will moved—" That the Synod §ons.ider that no sufficient reason has beai produced to s.ho.w why j;he decision of last year should be reconsidered, resolves to adhere to that decision, and to pass from the overture." This was subsequently altered to read that " the Synod pass from the motion " which was carried by 68 to 38. Messrs Bannerrnann, Sutherland, and others gave in written protests against the decision. The synod resumed business at 10 a.m. on Wednesday when the Rev. James Chisholm brought up the report on the state of religion and moved the fo}}p,wing dgl}veranfle which was parried '■ — " Adopt the report } agree to the recommendations of the commit? tee, order the circulation of the report in a separate form among the officebearers and members of the church, and instruct sessions to direct the attention of their congregations at suitable times during the year to the urgent need for the revival of religion and the ordinance or worship in the family." An overture was received from the Clutha Presbytery urging upon the synod to take into consideration the question of insuring their own buildings. — Mr J. Agnew spoke in sup-: port of the gyertjjre, antf rngvgd-^' That a committee be' appointed tp collect' information from all available sources. ans report to the next meeting pf. synod pn, tfte question of insuring pjiu'rgfe busings."— After $> debate the motion was agregd tg @n £he ypjaeg, The Rev A, M.'Finlayson movgd a motion with reference to the recent. .manifestations o f r he claims of the Romish Papacy to rule the ■ Christian church,— The Moderator said it.

seemed 1 to him thai the motion was unnecessary, because the motion - had been passed by the church 200 years ago, and had never been, repealed.— An; amendment that -the synocl pass- from the' motion was ultimately carried by 39 to 26. . :. ■„ ........ The Dunedin. Presbytery recommend; that' the Rev f John Griffiths be admitted to the. church, and that a- year's probation, be^djs;; pensed with. The recommendation ., was. adopted. „ ./." The evening sitting was .occupied with, a; debate on the report on church extension. ;