OTAGO PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 477, 8 April 1909, Page 7

OTAGO PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

DR. DUNLOP'S SUCCESSOR. (BY TEl.EUUAl'll—l'ltES! l -ASSOCIATION.! Dunedln, April 7. At a; meeting of the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland to-day, Rev. W. Wright (Oamaru) was' elected Moderator for next synod. ■ ■ Tho Interim Act—a measure providing regulations for governing grants to churches and manses—camo up for adoption, and, with a few unimportant amendments, was passed. In order to allow the fund for the erection of churches, at present very much in arrear, toroco\'cr itself, it was resolved that no grants for church repairs bo mado for seven years. The most important business beforo the synod was the question of filling the professorship of tho Theological Hall, rendered vacant , , by the recent death of Dr. Dunlop. Tho Theological College Committee reported that it had arranged that the place should be temporarily filled by students under the supervision of tho Rev. Mr. Collie in studying Dr. Fisher's book, on apologetics, and by the Rev. W. Hewitson, the'new Principal of the ~' Theological College, in conducting classes on New Testament exegesis. After a very lengthy discussion and argument, this was agreed to, and' it was decided that a commission, mado up of three representatives each from the Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Southland Presbyteries, and two each from Hawke's Bay, Wanganui, Wellington, Oamaru, Clutha, and Mataura Presbyteries, and one each from Waikato, Taranaki, Westland, Nelson, Timaru, and Dunstan Presbyteries, set about securing a suc.cessor to Dr. Dunlop. The commission has power to invite applications from • suitable men in Australia, the United States, Canada, or Europe, and, after ascertaining the mind of tho General Assembly on tho matter 1 and making all possible inquiries concerning those likely to accept tho position, to call a pro re nata meeting of the synod to hear Hβ report, and make a final selection. All expenses in connection therowith aro to bo defrayed by tho synod.

At,the ovening session a discussion took placo on the "State of Religion," and a committee was appointed to consider the establishment of training classes for junior Sunday school teachers in the larger centres in Otago and Southland, the committee- to renort before the closing of the synod, i