DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Evening Star, Issue 14687, 3 October 1911, Page 6

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

The Moderator (Rev- W. Spence) pra. sided over the Bunedin Presbytery'a monthly meeting in First Church Hall today. About 30 members were present. —St. Margaret's College.— Mr W. Fitzgerald, as convener of tb* committee in charge of St. Margaret's College, called the Presbytery's attention to an important matter connected with the institution. The matter should have been brought before them earlier, bat a press of business had compelled the committee io withhold it until to-day. He recalled the circumstances under which the institution had been opened. They had been rather peculiar. There had been much searching for a- site, and at last the site of the old theological college had been chosen as tho best to be had. Results had proved the wisdom of the selection. An enterprising boarding-house keeper had tried to obtain a lease of the site from the Church Board cf Property, and the committee were compelled to take measures at once. The committee had not been furnished with funds to go on with the -work. but with strong faith m the purpose of the Church, or at any rat* the purpose of the Presbytery, to establish this institution, the committee went forward, and opened tho. institution. In doing so the commitI tee had incurred considerable liability—j £6OO, to be precise—for buildings and fur- ! nishings. They had been given to under- | stand that their liability would be met by j contributions from congregations throughj out tho Church; Contributions had been. I received, but there remained a liability of i £SOO to tradesmen and others. The committer- had asked him to put the matter before the Presbytery to-day. He went 1 on to speak of the purposes of the inatituI tion, and the. success that had been. i achieved since its opening. It was not a imerc boarding-house. It was a comfortable home for the young women attending the University. lie mentioned that 184 University students were members of the Christian Union—(applause;—and that 131 of these were engaged in weekly study of the Word of Cod. He concluded by emphasising that, apart from the cost of the i buildings an J furnishings, the institution j was self-supporting. (Applause.) If they | gave, the committee the buildings, everyl thing else would be right. He also men- | tior.ed that several contributions had been promised. Tho Rev. J. Chisholm said the Church j was very fortunate in securing the services ! of Mr Fitzgerald, whose heart was in tho j work. He thought that the Presbytery I should pass a motion heartily thanking Mr j Fitzgerald for his statement, and commend ; the. institution and its good work to the I svmpathy and liberality of the people of the Church; and that the matter would again he put before the Synod in a way likely to enlist the sympathy of all the members. It was necessary to realise that the matter was more than a presbyterial matter. He moved accordingly. 'the Rev. D. Dutton seconded the motion. The Rev. A. Cameron agreed with all thai had teen said, but he considered thai. I a good deal could'be done to wipe off tbe ! whoio of th» £SOO before the Synod's raeeti ing if ministers would, for instance, get Mr ! Fitzgerald to meet with office-bearers of I the churches. The building would need j to be considerably enlarged, and he would I like to see that brought before the Synod. ! It. was very satisfactory to find that, tho j college was self-supporting at this early etage. If they tock action at once they j would bo able to bring a. larger schema i before the Synod. ! Tha motion was carried. I —Book of Praise.— ; Tiie Clerk announced that be had received from several sessions returns in con- ; nertion with the subject of the "book of praise. - ' These showed a division: of opinion, some preferring the new Church Praise and some 1 the Hymnary. The Rev. W. Gray Dixcni moved th<» adoption cf the following overture-. " Wheieas the Church Hyranary ie the bock of praise complied by a committee very fully representative of tho Mother Church in fiord land, with a view to its adoption its the■Pwibvterian hymn book cf the Empire; v.liM-005 it has boeri adopted by the Church cf Sea;laud, the United Free Church of Scotland, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, 1h" Presbyterian Church of Australia, and the.' Presbyterian Church of South Africa, and has been used extensively in the Presbyterian Church of New Z<-p.J and ; whereas, in keeping with its origin it. oo:>erve« iho best traditions of <:nr Ciiureh in maintaining the metrical Realms intact .(in! according tiieni tho unique pla-'e which u'i tbeis due. and in Likewise main-f.-abiins the Paraphrases: and whereas ib bar, bosn more fully adapted to the taste, of. a-.-custorcd" io tho old Church Praise: by the addition "cf the supplement compilf-d* by ;i committee of the Prcshy-teri.-i-!. Church d Australia : this Presbytery humbly rr-qti-s.-t the venerable the General Assembly to declare the ' Church Hymnary ' t:> 1 :■!■'. th'o authorised book of the Presby-icrb'-ii Chinch of New Zealand."' Mr !tii-o;i ftjioko. at length in support of his Trillion. To his mind the new Church Praise had a. fatal flaw, which would make him oppose its adoption as an alternative. That flaw w;u- that the hymns and Psalm's ne;e numbered consecutivciy. He could not, :;.ee< pi. tint. The- Rev. R. F.iirmaid seconded tho niaiUr;. Tho Rev. D. II tit ton said fh.it his sc«u'on were in favor of the Hymtiary. It was a ti;istr.kc. he r-pid. to lay i-.tich tremendous emphasis nn the Scottish aspect of PrcVhytcrianism. He did not think that the tendency in England w.-us towards Puritani.'ju. Tho Rev. J. A it. ken moved that the A.ssrmblv be to adopt both tho. Church Hymriary and the new Chnrch Praise. It was absolute nonser.se in a young country like tin'.-, to lay too much <-.tTes.s on Scottish .sentiment, ;l i.d Se/ttish prejudice. The IV-v. -Mr Frwiu said he wished to :-tai:d by the principle adopted by the Pr cbvl-Vv teal two book* sliould be before tho Church still, and a choice- allowerl. Hi" was for the By mart rv. but lie iiad n---t strong reasons against the ;.:vv Church Praieo. To allow n^ choice '.-.••■,tibJ. he believc-l. bt befit for the Church. '! iii.-< k!-:m cf absolute, unity was a mere iicrn: ->•■:. Ife fi.'fi.nded th« amendment. I. 1 :- Nienbwi ;rovr-d ar. a further aincr.dr.icnt i ■-(.-1. .Mr Rixon's motion be accepted, •■■ iib 'he a-iditi'/i! of a. clause civing hbeiiv to im tie- old or the new Church Prcee. Alter further disri:«i<m Mr A;ikc«n'.-,-;ni"pd\nee- wa.s e.irried. Mr Dixon asked that his diriwnt he- r<-A>rded. Formal roj.'Tts o:; the Ai-ecmbly's queries as to tiie state <if rrdigion atnl Sabbath oblv :j'v;.inc «ere ftibnii'ted liy the clerk and tie- Rev. Mr \Vhyto respectively and .vdnpfey. 'J"'lie ilev. -I. in pv.rsuanc* of notice L'ivo.i:, moved tliat the General Assembly be 'jv'ituitii to take into consideration „v,d to devise fuc!) meawi ;us shall by the Westing of God help to piwmote aiiiongs; clrprch mernhei-.-; a more scriptural tvpo of family religion and home training. - Carried unanimously. The I!c\s. J. Chishclm and W. Sponcs were ap]iointe.j in place of the Revs. H. B. Gray and Dr Waddoll to represent tho Pres'iytcry .in voting members of tha General Assembly, Jt was rtasoivorl to nominate the Rev. A. Crvmerrm its Moderator of the Genjerai Amenably in 1912.