PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Evening Star, Issue 12164, 7 April 1904, Page 8

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

..—. — n i The Synod sat at First-Church Hall at 6.30 last evening, the Rev. A. Cameron presiding. —Sustentation Fund.— In the course of a discussion on tie susttntation fund, in connection with which certain re:ommendations from the Officebearers' Association had been made, the Rev. Mr Borrie advised Synod to pass a resolution requesting the Assembly to appoint someone who was fitted for the purpose to go about and distribute literature in brief form on the subject of the fund, and get him to preach, not omitting the Sabbath Day. He should meet with the Deacons' Court or Committee of Management and find out what the subscriptions to the fund were from different persons. They should pass a resolution and go direct to the Assembly and get a man to visit Otago and Southland, and see that the fund was put on a better footing. The Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland moved that the Officebearers' Association be thanked for the interest they bad shown in the fund, and be asked to co-operate with the Sustentation l'und Committee in giving effect to the recommendations brought forward by the Association.—The Rey. Mr Borrie suggested that there should be added to the motion that the Synod request tho Assembly to take the sustentation fund into consideration, and grant the Synod power to r,ppoint an agent, to visit the congregations °l , g ? and Southlan <i as an advocate for the fund.—The suggestion was accepted bv the Rev. Mr Sutherland.—The Rev Mr Scorgie thought it would be a good thing if the Association and office-bearers considered the envelope system.—Mr R. Chisholm pointed out that Knox Church contributed at the rate of about a penny a week per member towards the sustentation fund, and First Church at the rate of about 2d a week, and asked if that was a creditable state of affairs.—The motion was carried. —Home and Foreign Missions. In First Church an address was delivered

uy me ivev.ii. come on tne subject of 'Home and TBoreign Missions.' The Moderator (the Rev. Mr Will) presided. Mr Bowie said that if they were to have a home missionary with a family and a horse to keep, and a district wider than many ministerial charges, £2 10s a week •was. an. inadequate satorv. They would, have been on the rocks long ago but foe the interest brought by the Jubilee fund; The ' Income the Church provided was pot adequate to do her work. The Church was not doing her duty to settlers in isolated and distant places. Finally, he said that there was apathy, and the Church would be more blessed if she attended better to her home missions. The Rev. J. Chisholm called attention to the aspect of home mission work in our cities. The state of large cities was vexing the mind of the Church at Home. They had an opportunity here of preventing a great many evils that existed in large cities by preventing a state of what was practically godles*ness. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Borrie at the close of Mr Chisholm's remarks for services rendered during his trip North, and for his address. —Grants.— The following applications for grants were sanctioned:— Manses.—Balclutha: Leave to sell old manse site, and purchase new one and build new manse. Oteramika: For enlargement, of manse, ' estimated cost £l2O. Strath Taieri: For enlargement of manse. It was agreed to authorise the Board of Property to sell sections 11 and 12, block 35, Canon street, Invercargill. Churches.—Mataura: Church enlargement and repairing up to £l5O. Ofcama: Addition to church. Otautau: Church repairs.

Pim Bush: Church) repairs, £lO. Fortrose: Church repairs. Limestone Plains: Church repairs. Knox Church, Invercari gil: Removal and enlargement <rf church . North Invercargill: Renewal of grant fOl i new church. Orepuki: Church repairs. : Brighton: Church repairs. Middlemarch: L Last year's £Tant to stand. East Taieri: ) Church repairs. Allanton: Removal of church and ne-vv site. LovelTs Flat: That i grant previously made for new church bt » paid under new regulations.