THE CHURCHES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 196, 13 May 1908, Page 3

THE CHURCHES.

WELLINGTON PRESBYTERY. SUBURBAN WORK. MINISTERS' MEAGRE SALARIES. Tho Wellington Presbytery met yesterday, tho Moderator (the Rev. J. Gibson Smith) presiding. Tho. Moderator reported that tho Anglican Church room at Kolburne would be available for Presbyterian sorvioes at certain times. The Rev. ,W. J. Gomrie, who has agreed to take the servioes for some weeks to come, gave a favourable indication of tho prospects at Kelburne. \ », , The Rov. J. Kennedy Elliott moved that tho Presbytery, while rejoicing that religious services were being held at Kelburne, was of opinion that no real or. substantial progress 1 could bo expected until a man was stationed in tho district , who could devote his whole time to tho work, alid therefore earnestly recommended the Church Extension Committee to appoint an agent, as was recently done in Roseiieath and the adjoining suburbs, this agent to bo under thp supervision of St. John's Kirk Session. . After some ' discussion tho motion' was adopted. The Rev. W. Shjrer reported in satisfactory terms on the work tbat, bad been done among immigrants on their first arrival in the city. t Tho date of tho Petone 1 ' visitation was fixed for Juno 2. ' "SCANDALOUS"'STIPENDS. The Rev., W. Marshall. (Hutt) reported that the office-bearers of his church had been increased, ar.d the congregation had mado a successful effort to augment his salary from £175 to £200. The stipend had previously been in arrears, but was now paid up., The motion to increase- its amount had been opposed, at the last, by only five persons, but when the proposal was first made some members of -the congregation' had compared the r £175 which ho received, together with a free manse, with the stipend of £150 paid to the Anglican minister, who was . not provided; with a, dwelling house. "It is only, right) ,to say," he added, "that about Christmas time wo were a.ll .very tisht." ■ .' Amidst' the laughter of the Presbytery the minister explained that ho meant'tight financially. As a matter of fact, they were all Prohibitionists, The Rov. J. Kennedy Elliott saw no reason to smile. . It-seomed to him scandalous that college-bred mon who give up their lives to the Church should be expected to work for miserable pittances of .from £110 to £125 a year. ..He contrasted-the liberality of a for-, nier.. generation with 'the 'meanness of' some 1 present member? of the' Church who were in'much, better; circumstanoes' than' had "been 1 their parents. ' . ■ A lay menibbr of the, Hutt' congregation said"that it had been, suffering .from .very 'restricted moans. The... Government' valuations in tho district wero so high, that everybody felt, the -pressure., They had purchased anew- organ, and paid "most of tho <x>st, ; 'and; as.' regards the stipend,/ the'., congregation: ha/J. really,' dono.its-,best, under ..the circume,stances. ' s 1 V",

On tho motion of tho Rev. W. Shiror, seconded''by tho Rev> J: Kennedy Elliott, the Presbyter/'expressed its great gratification that the number of, office-bearers'' had been increased,, 'and that the minister's stipend had been'augmented.. , - ,-' • .. COUNTRY CHARGES. -./ On the application of the Rev. J. Gibson Smitfc the Presbytery, decided to approve the sale of a farm of 256 acres at Turakina, belonging to St. Andrew's 'Church, to Mr. Rvder, for £2570. . •. - - V Tho Rov. A. ,T. Thompson, of .Masterton, said that Mr. Ralfe,, tonie .missionary, . had ;decided';toj.romain. another .year.;. St. Ekota■huna; As'tlie.speaker's.,charge .was a very, large oiie, '-he . that , Mr.'. Ralfe'should bo authorised to'perform "baptisms, and, if -possjblo, , ~;'Som6.di,scu§sjonit6ok:place -,as.-to.\whetheT/ the Presbytery had power o give authority in respect of marriages.' , '•■/ . 'Tho* Rev.J.. Kennedy., Elliott;. suggested that; if a new'- minister was appointed soon'at Pahiatua, as . was e&pected; 'ho ' would lift the' burden from. Mr,, Thompson.' ~ Mr.' Thompson, said it was . expected-: that .when ,fhe :: new,minister-was appointed, Pongaroa would be'joined to Pahiatua, and Eke.tahuna would , remain Tunder ; tho Masterton -charge. ■ • • Authority was given' ,to Mr. Ralfe .to perform 1 baptisms. '•-"Mr. Thompson stated that Mr. C.; J. Tcc-. Iter had agreed to act as- an agent at' Ponga,roa. 1 v ,' '■ '•■ ' - ■ NEW KILBIRNIE CHURCH. : The. Roy.' W. Douglas laid before;' Presby- !• tery the 'jllins of the' proposed new church at Kiibirnie.;.' This-'will' be\-a wooden' building/ with iron- roof,- capable-of ; seating • 210 -persons, including 22 in the choir,"and 10 seals on the rostrum. The estimated cost.is £650, of which £250 is in hand. A schoolroom at the b'ack is provided for, which will measure 30ft. 'by 12ft., making:the total length of tho building 73ft., with a breadth of . 30ft., The plans were; approved. .v. . ' REMITS AND; SABBATH OBSERVANCE.. Cohsiderable 'time was given,. to' consideration of remits from the 'General jAsseihbly. The-full list-of .remits/was hot disposed of, : biit several 'repohiihendatious' were passed, including one'that divinity students sh'ould ; :bo prohibited from preaching' as' candidates in- vacant congregations, without a license from, tho Presbytery: The Presbytery -met afterwards as a commi'tteo of tho General Assembly, on the. subject of Sabbath observance. ' The Moderator, aud the Revs. W. J. Comrie and J. Kennedy .Elliott were appointed a sub-committoe, .who met 'in'tho'aftonoOn aiid drew up a series of questions which will bo submitted to Presbyterian ministers, throughout the Dominion; with the objects of ascertaining how.far Sabbath'desecration prevails, and what is being dono to cope with the evil.: ■ • '