PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Evening Star, Issue 7355, 29 October 1887, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

MtJRifUJG- SITTINGfoa a{(»h-siqs. At yesterday morning's sitting, tp SynQd, after deposing or the Rtv. J. Whiter appiiaation to be received ns a minister, proceeded to deal with the similar application of the Rev. J. Gibson Smith. The Committee had reported as follows :— •* Application of the Rev. J. 6. Smith —lt was unanimously agreed to repotnmend the Synod to receive Mr Spilth ft was algo Vpaolyed by 0 to § to recommend the Synod to ppt Mr §mjth on tpe u?flal probation," The’ Rev, A- PiunaTgCN rpniatked that Mr Smith would bo an acquisition to the Synod, and moved that he be tcc.ivtd ip terms of the report. After .the motion bad been seconded, the Rev. J. St tiiKsiAND spoke in its support,-and suggested that under the ckcumstiDCesiin-connectirn with North Dunedin pijureh the year’s probation of Mr ftaith should Ui 'dispsnsea with,- Aflio congregation ti-d found Mr Smith to he a man after their owri hearts, and had rallied round him, and he held'that the Synod should have sympathy with the congregation. He wou'd move—“ That the recommendation of the Committee as to the year’s probation fce dispensed 'iii V?' " " ' ’ ' < Professor httwexy seconded this, remarking that though there was a Mile that a year's-probation \tas necessary it was not meant to be a hard and' fast rule. He was glad that the congregation had set their hearts on such a man as Mr Smith 1

Several other members spoke in support of Mr Sutherland’s motion. '' ' The Rev. Ji fI?LBV said that professor SaltnowJ asked the Synod'to violate one of its'rules in the interests of'North'Dunedin Church The! congregation were not'unanlmourln favor of'Mr Smith, tor be knew that soxe of those present at the meeting bad refrained from voting because the Moderatpr tfbo presided qVer the ndeeting wi» the brother-in-lftiy 1 of Mr Smith! n '- ' *

The Rev. Mr Gibb; | ask the protection of the Moderator; f must. : The Moderator asked Mr Ryley if he knew t(at that was the teokon Why the parties referred to hrftl not voted. ’ '' The Rev, Mr Rviej rcpl(ed fnat the pppns tpeß}selves had giveri'him-that as a reason. The Rev. Mr Gibb-: By how many have you been told, si ? :l The discussion, which was conducted in a heated tone, was here mtarrubled by spverql members who suggested that It sin ■aid lie Btopppd by the putting of the ihotion. 1 ' u ' 1 - ' * The Rev J. Rvp?y sajd he would giy no pops op thap pa- t of tp'Sdbiect, bp confine pmself to sayii g that it would b« ftnjust (9 qthp probationers to dispense with Mr Smith’s year of probation, It would do good to both the Ghu oh and Mr Smith tar him to hare a yeai’s intercourse. Alter some little further djscusgion it was resolved by 50 votpsto u tbqt the Rev, <J. Q. Smith be received, and that the year's probation be dispensed with. EVENING SiniNG. The Sjnod resumed at 7 p.tn. TUB NEW HEBRIDES. A communication was received from the Diocesan Synod with reference to the deliberations on the matter of-the occupation of the JT?w Ilebridss by the French,' ' Acknowledging ;the party. po-ope'atiyO evinped in (he m4taf, (htft akalisfactqry solution will be arrived at. ‘ , . ''

TIIaStraIBNTATION FOND. The Rev. W. Will brought up the report of the Sustention Fund Committee, which set forth that the dividend for the pgst nine'months effioimted to LIM 3s ud, or a alight Increase on the previous term's figure*. Forty - si* ministers participated in the dividend, as against thirty-eight last year. The Cowmilteertooraraended thit the collections for fche SUitentation fund bo made, aa far as possible, at least every quarter, and thit all the ministers' make ft’a matter of conscience to be present at the meeting of their dercona'courts pr managing oomcptteeo when the reports of the collections ate given' in, and the interests of the fund considered. For the last ni|.s months there were only fourteen congregations that were aid-giving, and of. these only seven gave upwards of LlO above what they received. Toe balance-sheet and a list of contributions (L 8.543) was appended.' - On the motion of the R.v. J, Rvlev, seconded by the Rev. J. 'KiftKLAsp. if vtiwrtsblved ttt adopt the report and lUesfeoommendatione contained therein.- ■ The following overtuffe’waa tec jived from ther Presbytery of Clu.tu :-“Thatr, considering the l unSati4f mtory naftfro of the stijtcotiitioß fpdd-of the Church, os shown by the returns, antT considering that in the distribution of said' hind, as parked out under the present' rcgu’atlons. a Air and equitable participation fa not seethed, it is hereby oyerturctf by the Presbytery of Clutha to the Synod of (Jlogo and Soqthund to fake the subject intft its serious egnsideratiop, and devise such remedies as in its wisdom It shall deem matter was referred to the Committee on Systematic Giving. , . . . A letter was received from the trustees in the estate of the late Mr Thomas Watson, stating that that gentleman had bequeathed a sum of L2OO to the sustentation fund, and suggesting that tjje money be piaqed as a reserve fund. ? On the motion of the Rev. Dr Sidart it vyas resolved that tbs suggestion of tbs trustees be given effect to.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC. It was resolved at this stage of tbs proceedings to depart from the business next on the order paper and take up Mr A. C. Begg’s appeal as to the decision of the Dunedin Presoytery regarding the introduction ol instrumental music into the First Church. ■J'dd that he appeared on behalf of objectors to urge that there was not substantial unanimity in the congregation on the question, inasmuch as thorn was strong opposition to the introduction ol instrumental music. He contended that it was unwarranted by Scripture and was Jberefore unlswfu'. After referring to the Rev, Mr Gibb e arguments at the meeting ol the congregation, the speaker went on to e.y that in churches into which instrumental music had been introduced he often heard a melancholy, miserable kind of humming and drumming before the service began, how, that had never been sanctioned hv the Synod. After the service there was another thing very like a waltz, which they called a voluntary That also had never been authorised by the Synod’ and it was Just the old Popish wonhip over again—a retu n to the sensuous worship that hod in times past proved a stumbling block to the Christian Church, and which had from time to time been reformed off the face of the earth. If they went on in this way they would soon have paid men and women singing solos, as was the case not very far away from them aft the present moment, The Rev. W, Will said the Synod had never recognised the organ as a means of praise, bat only as an bid. He quoted figures to show that of the whole congregation 540 voted, and of that number 459 voted for the organ, and 51 against, which was, in other words, nine to one in favor of it. The Rev. A. Fiklatsos spoke in favor of adhering to the decision of the Presbytery. Ur J. Gillies, one of the appellants, was heard in favor of the appeal. The Rev. Mr Tons (Qimani) moved, and the Rev. J. LoxiuyN seconded—" That the appeal be disallowed, and the decision t f the Presbytery sustained.” Mr J. Fyfs moved, and Mr A. Rbnmb seconded, as an amendment—" That the appeal be allowed.” On the matter being put to the vote, the appeal waa disallowed by an cverwho'ming majority, onlytwq bands being held up in favor of the amendment, NOTICES OF MOTION. The Rev. J. Ferguson gave notice that be would move that the law regarding probation be abolished, and that the Synod relieve the Rpv. ifr Heaves from the remainder of his probatioq. The Rev. J. Rvlev gave notice that be wonid move that the Rev, Mr White be exempted from his year’s probation. COMPLIMENTARY. On the motion of the Rev. Dr Stuart it was re. solved tbit the thanks of the Synod be tendered to the retiring moderator for his services, and to the present moderator tor bis excellent opening address. THE LATE ALIXABPBR TODfi. A resolution was passed pacing on record the Synod's deep sense ol the less sustained by the death of the Rev Alexander Todd, of Hampden, and 8] mpatby with Mrs Todd in her bereavement. The deceased clergyman had been a mis ionarv in Madras, and latterly bad labored for nearly throe years with much sue ess in the Hampden district.