WELLINGTON PRESBY TERY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 274, 12 August 1908, Page 4

WELLINGTON PRESBY TERY.

CRISIS AT KELBURNE. WORK OF CHURCH INTENSION:* "" •' The Wellingon Presbytery met yesterday. There 'were present:—The Revs. •Jj GibsonSmith (Moderator), A. T. Thompson, R. Inglis,' J. M'Caw, J. Kennedy ' Paterson, P. C. Rennie, W.. 3. Comrie, A". Thomson, "'W. Douglas, W. Shirer}" Messrs." - ' Pollock; Ralf, Allen, J. G. W. Aitken, M.P., Feist, M'Lcod, and Reith. .. n The Moderator said that affairs .ai burne seemed to hare . reached something" like a crisis. He did not-think that they, would get a really good man-to tako up tile" work at the salary of £175 a year, without' manse, which was offered. Several had declined to come for such a stipend, and indeed he did not ?e& how they it, especially those'who Bad others dependent on them. Tho Rev. 'W. 'J.- Comrie's term of three months had expired, and ho thought that. Ahe: Kelburne,. people.; m.ust either.;• oner a larger stipend or accept a student for the work.- He-.thought tho • Kelburne people should''be told how" matters' stood .' V. - : ; 'i The; Rev. 'Ji'Kennedy 'Ellibtt thpught'that; felburne was /doing; well in offering to find; 175. -He had no "doubt that the' Church Extension Cdiumitteo .'would: make .a'grant; in aid. He was surprised, .howevor, that no v young man could bo founcl to take up ivork in a district"with such"great"potentialities'."' Ho hoped that for the, honour.,of ,the, Church, something would soon -bo 'done, I 'before tliey' lost more people. ?•--? •• An- inquiry' with-'regard jto -the chargo was handed .'at this:stago to tho'.Moderator,:who said that it was the first that had come to him. _ '' w v Ji. Mr, .Elliott .said he wished he was young to st?rt iii sticTi a district. If .the position were jjcnerally known, ho .was Confident. that thero.would.be sufficient .applicants. • Tlie Rev..tßii.lnglis hoped .that, tion would be taken. Tho . stipend was a small one in all conscience';-*- - - 11 '" 1 Tho. Moderator.iKi3 asked, to communicate withJ.the .possibler,'applicant' who ,had,',como to light, and see what else,could be. ;done. Tho Rev. J. M'Caw reported that no settlement of,tho South TVairarapa chargo had yet been reached. Five candidates' had offered,. bntJhe...congregation_<M._iiot_seem prepared to accept any of them. Regular services had, however, been held, and the Rev. 'j.'-! 1 Paterson 'had offered: to' ."a'etu as' ply,"" and assist in finding a'new minister! Ho moved that this offer be' accepted, and that Mr. Paterson be appointed moderator of tho charge. VX Tho Rev. J. Kennedy Elliott seconded the motion, which was carried. Tho Rev. W. Shirer stated that the number of competitors in the recent Sunday School though' •considerable, was not so'largo a3~"might have lieori expected. Plans for additions to tho-.church, at Masterton were approved, tho Presbytery expressing its gratification' at the liberality, of the congregation, .found £1200 for this purpose and" for the purchase of a new organ. The organ has .been-cabled for. Tho Rev. W. J; .Coiprio, garo. notico of motion that a standing committee bo appointed to consider 'plans -for all buildings proposed to be erected. Permission was given to borrow up to £600 for the'erection of tho'new church', at Kilbirnie, which will bo commenced aa soon as funds aro forthcoming. The Rev. A. T. Thompson said it was de-" Bircd that Eketahuna be removed to the chargo of the Masterton session,: and Pohangina to that of Pahiatua. A.motion to this effect was carried! An application ; was received- from Muritai for permission to borrow £300 for tho erection of a cottage manses " The Rev. A. Thompson (Petone), Rev. W. J. Comrie, Mr. J. G.W. Aitken, M.E.,' and Mr. Reith were appointed, a sub-committee to . confer with the 'Muritai committee, witt power to .act and a'dd'to their" number. Tho Rov: A: jT.-Thompson^,jpada an.r.esr,. planation in regard t-o..the. assessment of the Pahiatua Church. He said that the congregation- at a' former meeting had> been condemned unheard for non-payment of this levy, inasmuch as the assessment wa3 now laid before' the congregation dicThbt lcndw' that it was owing. As soon, however, as the church was acquainted of the amount owing it was readily discharged..,.. The' Rev; J." K. Elliott- said' that some. of ; ' tho'congregations did riot'; recognise "suffi-" ciently the authority of the but' were lapsing into Congregationalism. He would like to see a spirit of more .loyalty evoked.,:'.!; ,''• • V! l! ' : ' The Rev. R. Inglis'asked that "he, should be relieved of,.the office : ;of treasurer;* bj virtue of which'-'he'had- to' : collect theiPresbytery "'.''He" did ndf being carped at when he only did The Re v.rJ •'Sf-'Caw• said lie felt confident that th.b Paliiatua'ccingregation Had' not 'Sri* dcrstobij thej_ position properly., .There had been some .misunderstanding, and; the matter sbnnld now Bo'dropped.'" * Mr. Inglis said that there were now only two congregations which had:not paid'theij contributions: : ~ » The Rev.''!\Vl-Shirer brought up the m'ati tor of shepherding; Pcesbyterian!'immigrants*. This was, he ..said,a . very important and . very difficult matter.'' ! ' .',"« Tho Rov.'W. J.VComrie thmight'that s'qriio ono should .be " appointed to .go on aboard ships when they arrived, as was done by the Mrtlhodists." '- • ■ j The Rev. A. T. Thompson suggested tha£ the question of appointing a city missionary should ,bo "' considered.' ' ! The Rev. W. Shirer: We have considered that time after time. . . « Mr. Shirer:- said that he would try .to make arrangements for.the visiting of' ships.' Revised regulations, for tho > employment and training- of homo missionaries, whiclf had been, before the Presbytery before we're' considered and,for the most part approved!; 'A few clauses were referred to a sub-comijiit-r' tee, with power to act. *