DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Evening Star, Issue 14634, 2 August 1911, Page 9

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

The regular meeting of members of the Dunedin Presbytery was held yesterday, the Moderator "(Rev. A. Spence) presiding over a good attendance of members. The following minute of condolence was carried (members standing) : The Presbytery having heard with deep sorrow of the death of Mrs A. M. Finlavson (the wife of the Presbytery clerk)" and of Mrs P. B. Fraser (the wife of the Assembly Home Mission superintendent) desire to express their profound svmpathv with these brethren, and earnestly commend them to the loving care of Him who died and lived again that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. ' The following minute was proposed by ! the Rev. R. Fairmaid, seconded by the I Rev. A. Don, and carried: 1 That the Presbytery learn with deep regret of the lamented death of Mr T. !•'.. Taylor, whose public services benefited the whole Christian Church throughout the Dominion, and desire to ! express theic sympathy with Mrs Taylor and her family in their sore bereavement, and prayerfully commeud them to the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, also their appreciation of the splendid services rendered to the work of temperance reform in this land by the late Mr T. E. Taylor. The Presbytery resolved to recommend the ministers of the city and suburbs to set apart Wednesday evening of each week for the congregational prayer meeting, and earnestly endeavor to keep that evening free for that purpose. A minute recording the Presbytery's appreciation of the labors of the Rev. W. Macdonald at Maori Hill was adopted. Mr Macdonald recently accepted a call to Waipukurau, and is now established in that charge. The report of the Presbytery's committee set up to consider the method of electing representatives to the General Assembly brought forward the following motion (moved by Rev. D. Dutton and seconded by the Rev. W. Scorgie) : That the most satisfactory method of representation is by rotation, one-half of the. members of the Presbytery being appointed each year, so that once in two years each minister and representative shall have the opportunity of attending the Assembly as a voting member. The Rev. A. W. xiinmont moved as an amend ment. and the Rev. A. M. Finlavson seconded: That the Presbytery retain the status quo, and that a committee be appointed to recommend the selection of the number appointed by the Church. The amendment was carried. The members approved of the remit of the Assembly on the election of members to the Assembly. On the motion of the Rer. A. Cameron, the Revs. Davies, Dixon, Fairmaid, Cameron. Dutton, and Lindsay (convener) were appointed a committee to consider the question of the non-attendance of children at public worship, to watch the movements, and to :emedy this evil, and report to the Presbytery. The following minute from the committee set up to inquire into the assessment of Assembly expenses wa's agreed to :—" That the ordinary revenue of the congregation (i.e.. collections at public worship, seat rents, and stipend or sustentation fund) be taken as a basis of assessment, and that the Assembly fix a uniform rate of assessment on that basis."