THE AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXX, Issue 5135, 5 February 1874, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

I'' '' 1 ' \ '. t ll(-U JisLiui) lol< lloi II 1L bt. Aiuiiiw's (Jan oil. IJaue weie piuount — -Mmistois : 'Vho Kcv. Tltoma.. Nome (Moierator pro. tcni.), Kev. Tbomas Stewart, Rev. Mr. Tait, llev. David Bruce, Rev. John Macky, llev. Mr. McKcnney, and Kuv. J. Hill. Eldtrs : Mtsfars. II. Som morville, J. Y. Stevenson, 'Ihotuas Peaoocke, Thompson (of Otahuhu), and htcwart. The aederanfc was opened by the Moderator pro tern, readiug the 4th chapter of 2>ul Corinthians, and engaging in prayer. The minutes of the former meeting were then read, but not confirmed, in consequence of the meeting being an adjourned one, and the following husintai was then disposed of : —

THE ltECKNT RESIGNATIONS OP MINISTERIAL CHARGES. The Rev. T. Stewart reported to the Presbytery that he had, according to instructions, pi cached at Coromnndol, and intimated that the pulpit was vacant by the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Tait.— The Rev. Mr. Tait repoited that he hod preached in the pulpits in the Eastern Waikato district, intimating that the charge was vacant by the resignation of the Rev. T. Stewart. In reply to an enquiry by thfl Moderator pro tern, Mr.Stevenson slated thai he had received a letter from the Conference at Coromandol, stating that j the members of that congregation were to j I take no steps in regard to Mr. Tait'a resignation. — Mr. Tait, at the request of the Moderator, stated his reasons for resigning his charge. Ho did not think that auy reasons from him w<re inquired, after what had appeared in th) Ln,uny Star of the previous day. liy that punt he Lained that the Presbyterians of Coiomaudel lad given a, call to another minister, aud t'lat showed it would bo useless to make a Bpeooh under the circumstances. When he went there, , about fourteen months ago, and preached for the first time he felt it was not the proper sphere of Jabour for him, it being too limned. We had gone oa from that time until the present because tho people desired him to remain, but he all along felt it was not the sphere of duty adapted to him. However, he might tay it wus just the place for young and inexjerienced minister, and held that ho could desire no better a place to acquire experience in. He neverintendedtosfcay there unless tho place had prospered. This had not been the case, and ho desired a large sphere in which to discharge bis duty, and believed that he could be more useful in an extended sphere. He saw no reason why he should recall the decision he had arrived at formerly. However, he must say that during the time he had been at Coromuidel a great amount of work had been done ; in fact the work he and his congregation had accomplished was more like the work of four or live years than that of fourteen months. He hoped that the people of Coromandel would not be long before they obtained the services of a settled minister to carry on the woik of tho Church in their midst. In resigning that charge he felt that ib would be necessary for him to go to some other portion of tho Lord's vineyard. He considered that after what had appeared it would be bettor that he should be relieved of his charge at ouce, say on Sabbath first.— The Piov. Mr. Btuce spoke strongly agaiuat Mr. '1 ait's action in accepting a charge at the time ho was convinced it was not suited to him. It did the cause of their Church a great deal of injury, and if other congregatious provided regular ministerial supply, the Presbyterian cause would suffer by a policy of constant chaugo through resignations, and concluded by moving that the resignation of Mr. Tait be accepted, and that tho pastoral tie between him and the people of Coromandel hitherto exiatini*, be henceforth dissolved. " —Mr. Pcaoocke seconded the motion. — The Rev. J. Maeky spoko strongly against the action of Mr. Tait in rcbigning as he had done. — After a few words from Mr. Peacocko, the motion waa put, and carried. — Mr. Tait then applied that the Clerk be authorised to gr«iut him a certilioato from the i reabytery when he asked for one. — After aome diacuaSion the matter waa dofcired.

t'in/ROFI OF WAIKA.TO EAST. The Moderator stated they would have now to oonsidor the district of Waikato East. As there had been no appeaiancs of anyone from that district to be heard against the resignation of Mr. Stewart, he called upon Mr. Stewart to state his reasons for tendering his resignation, and whether he was still of the same mind. — The Rav. Mr. Stevvait stated that the views he had formerly expressed were unchanged. He bad been compelled to send in his resignation. through ill health, and he felt that were he to put in another winter in the Waikato, he probably would not survive it. With declining strength he was unable to undertake the duties of that extensive district. Be h td mtimated from the pulpit the state of hia hoalth, and the step ib would be necessary for him to take. He did not expect that any steps would be taken by the congregation to oppose bis application in consequence of the well- known state of his health.— The Rev. Mr. Bruce proposed that the Presbytery adopt the same course that was adopted in the former case. That the resignation of Mr. Stewart be aocopted, and that the pastoral tie hitherto exi^tinu between the people of the Eastern Waikato dittrict aud Mr. Stewart be henceforth dis. solved. He regretted that Mr. Stewart's resignation should have come before thorn, but as it was made on the ground of ill health, they could not refuse it. — The Clerk then stated ho had just received a letter from the Session of the Eastern Waikato District, acknowledging having heard the nummons read by the Rev. Mr. Tait that Mr. Sfcewait had sent in his resignation, and complained of beinp so long kept in the dark respecting the state of Mr. Stewart's health and bis intended resignation. — Mr. Stewart explained that the state of his health and the prospect of him leaving the district was talked of up and down the Waikato, and was well known, but he had not fiisb made known hia intention to the Session. — Mr. Bruce considarsd the document rtn'l by the Clerk was scarcely wntten m a respectful manner. — Mr. Soramer-ille seconded the motion for aeoeptiu^ Mr. Mewait's resignation, which was earned unanimously.

riJI. VCIIINO THE CHARGE VACANT. The Kev. D. Bruce proposed " that the Rev. S. Nome proceed to the Waikato congregation to declare the charge of Waikato East vacant at as eaily a date as possible." — Mr. Sommorville seconded the motion, which was agreed to.— The Moderator asked what wou'd be dono in re»ard to the Coromandel charge ; The Rev. D. Bruce replied, with repaid to the other charge, I propose that it ba left open for the preaent until other matters in connection with it come up for consideration. — Seconded by Mr. Peacocke and ngroed to.

1JIE WIIAU CONGREGATION. The modetator eaid tho next business was considering the application for the "Whau cougri^U ion to appoint a minister to meet that congiega'ion to moderate a call to a minister. — Mr. Sommcrvdle a ked if the cl ik had receivod any intelligence from tho liov. Mr, MoCalluui binoe last meeting of preabylery. — fhe clerk lophel he had received tbo following telegram from Mr. MiCallum. " Wanganui, 2nd February. Will settle in Patea district— Get ray release from Pre-^»yfc<My." — Mr. Sommervillo said in tho face of th.it t 'li'griin in behalf of the peopU* of the Whau ho withtlrewthenpplication of tlio Whau cougi cgation for Iht Kev. Mr. MoCdlium. — Mr. Stewart sail the Wlinu people weio thoroughly disgU8t*d, and would ne\or have applied, for Mr. McCailunj unless V\* y had been led to believe ha would s>ttlo amount them — The Rov. Mr. lirucc smlit was owiutjco Mrs McCalluin'a ill h alth t hat hi r liusbaud had gono elseivbwc, and mov^d tint f he M xlerator in tho RosHHiii of tho \\ h,iu bo authorised to act in tbo mo'U'iaUou of a call for th.it oonl,»rega.tio'i a 1 " any 1 me, \\>t!\i>ul reference to the Presbytery. — \'r Sommi'niJlc seconded the proposti', ai.il consuU rf-d it a wise one. — It was agreed to unanimously. Slli. MCCAIXUM'S C'EhTIIICArE. On the motion of tho Kev. Mr. Bruce, seoonded by Mr. Peacocke, it was resolved

tu, *. the L'leik of JVesljitory be authorised ro i'j n -> "• i^t'itii-ato to Mi. NfcC'al'uiii when he appli " fat' lt- -

ml m«.< itAi-^ »u iju'vr < i.KTincixr. The Clerk reported that he had received a medical ceitilio»te for Mr. McCrae. as follows : _" Auckland, 15th January, 1874. I hereby certify that I have examined Mr. W. McCrae. Ho is suffering from debility, Ac, ami in my opinion he needs rpsfc frrnn labour and study.— J. B. Kenderdixe, M.D."

[ THE REV. MR. TAITS CERTIFICATE. I The lU-v. AJr. .Stewart stated that he had been rtrjueated by Mr. Taifc, before he left the Prc-b} * er y> to apply for his certificate. He understood it was Mr. Tait's intention to go beyond the bounds of the Presbytery. Mr. Soinmerville moved that the < lerk be authorized to grant a certificate to Mr. Tait when he applied for it — Tho llev. Mr. McNiccol secouded. Two Aoted for the motion and three against it. It wa3 therefore lost.

CALL TO THE BEV. T. STEWART. The CJerk read a letter from Mr. John GiJmonr, secretary to the Presbyterian Committee at Coromandel, forwardiug a formal c»H to the Rev. Thomas Stewart from the Coromandel Presbyterian Congregation. They offered him £200 per annum and a manse. The call was signed by 27 persons, 9 members and 17 adherents. — Mr. Stevenson considered it would be informal to consider the call at present, seeing that the church had not been preached vacant. — The Hev. Mr. Bruce explained that ecclesiastically, when the Presbytery resolved that the pastoral tie between a minister and bis congregation shall be dissolved, from that tiuieavacanoy existed, and the clergyman was free, and the matter of supplying the pulpit until another one was appointed, was merely a matter of arrangement with the Presbytery. —Mr, Gilmore, a depnty from the Caromandel congregation, was heard in respect to the call. He stated the call represented the general feeling of the congregation, and that the reason why it waa so burrieflly got up was that the people were afraid if auy delay took p'ace Mr. Stewart might go away t, o some other district. A meeting, at which the call was prepared and signed, was summoned on a Sunday, and the object of the meeting stated. — On the motion of Mr. Peacocke, the Uoromandel charge was formally declared to be vacant. —On tbe motion of Mr. Stevenson, seconded by Mr. Bruce, it was resolved, "That th« call is a proper call, and that it be sustained as regular." — On the motion of M«". Stewart, seconded by Mr. Peacocko, it was resolved to place the call in Mr. Stewart's hanris.— The Moderator then placed tho call in Mr Stewart's hands, and asked him for his views upon ifc. — Mr. Stewart replied that his present charge in the Waikato was a large district, an I hehad not strength enough to discharge the dutieat of it. Ho felt that another winter in the Waikato district would seriously impair his constitution. He had much pleasure in accepting the call from the people of Coromandel. — On the motion of Mr. Peacocke, seconded by Mr. Stpwarr, it was resolved, "That the Rev. David Bruce be appointed to carry on the iuduction of Mr. Stewart at as early a date as possible, and that tbat the edict be served in the common form."

THE QUEMION' 01 Pl'LPIT SI PPLY. It was shown that provision would have to be made for the pulpits at Coromandel, Waikato, Whau, and tho North Shore.— After a good deal of discussion it was resolved thab tho Rev. T. Nome should inform the Waikato congregation that the best arguments possible would be made for the supply of Church ministrations m that district ; that the Rf*v. Peter Mason wonld supply the pulpit at the Xorth hhore, and Mr. Sommerville that at the Whau. — The Rev. Mr. Brpce read a. letter from the Presbyterians in the Waikato West district, asking what sleps had been taken to supply tho place of the Rov. Mr. McCilIuin.— It was agreed that nothrog could be done at present for want of men.

RETURN OF THi: OI^t.0 Dri'C'lir.S. At this stage the llev. Messrs. Hill and Kenney, who had been appointed deputies from tlie <lene-al Assembly to visit Ofcago to try and bring about a union with the Presbyterian Church, in Otago, entered the church, and w«rs welcomed by the Moderator. — They declined to report upon the business in which they had been engaged, having been appointed by the Assembly and not by the Presbytery. The public business then closed, and the members proceeded to the exaininatijn of Mr. McKey in private.