NORTH DUNEDIN CHURCH.

Evening Star, Issue 6477, 19 December 1883, Page 2

NORTH DUNEDIN CHURCH.

The following is the document referred in oar report of the above yesterday, and which the Dunedin Presbytery (wised to hear • To the Reverend the Presbytery of Dunedin, 1. We, the undersigned eiders and deaoons of

the congregation of North Dunedin, respectfully protest against the action of the Presbytery in instituting a Presbyterlal visitation in connection with, and apparently as the result of, a petition of a single individual, the decision of the Presbytery on which is under appeal to the Synod—bringing as it seems to us, tho appeal under review, and thus anticipating the action of Synod. 2. We cannot , and do not allow .the Presbytery’s tight tq inquire, in the face of said appeal, into any part or consequence of the Session’s action in the matter under appeal, which appeal entitles the Synod alone now to interfere with the action in any oI its parts or consequences.

8. We are wiilicjj to meet the Presbytery In I any mattqj acting the congregation not in* j volvod in the action of the Session under appeal ■to the h'yaod. At the same time we deem it our duty to state to the Presbytery that in our opinion a Preshyterial visitation on the back of such an appeal*: and especially in view of its subject-matter, is ill-judged on tho part of the Presbytery, as fitted to awaken suspicion os to the motives and objects of the Presbytery, and tq mar tho progress in peace and prosperity on which the congregation has entered since the Presbytery dissolved the former Session and secured tho election of r\ sew Session and. Deacons’ Court, which have the confidence of the membership, of the congregation in regular attendance on the means of grace.’ " 4. Nine or ton months ago certain members iof this Church petitioned the Presbytery, asking to be formed Mo a separate charge. Without consulting this congregation in tho : matter, which is contrary to Presbyterian usage, the Prefatory granted the prayer of said petition; recognised them, together with some others, as a separate charge; appointed one of its number as a quasi moderator or chairman, who preached for them during three or four months; advertised them Saturday after Saturday in the public Press as “The Presbyterian Church of the North-east Valley,” , Alter that the Presbytery Itself supplied them with ordinances, each ministerial member giving a Sabbath; then appointed a regular minister to labor among And yet in the face of all that, the Presbytery insist tbat we retain on our communion-roll the names of those parties M members in good and regular standing,

5. The attempt has befeh made by certain parties to produce the impression |bat oar pastor has been overriding both the 6<^dan and the Deacons* Court. In reply, we can only say that we do not wish a mere agreeable pastor to work with than with Mr Oulies.. ■. . 6, We call the Presbytia attentton to the fact that car Session WenlAUfioie of membership to every ptnitti respectfully asked for it in proper season? * f. la vtew of the tljit In years never gelrjjMKsea# with the partfw who’-{to our _ have recently left this *6 deprecate is the retention of them as members in our congregation; for that means? as we know from bitter experience, the revival of all the troubles of the past, and our congregation, since they left us, has bad peace. Moreover, It is well known to the Presoy tery that similar dissensions have already, and from the, very beginning, sprang up, and 3 are now dividing tte Kortheast Valley congregation. —[Advt. j