DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

Evening Star, Issue 15308, 7 October 1913, Page 6

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

The ordinary meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery was held to-day and well attended. ‘ The Rev. J. Lymburn presided until 12.30, when the Rev. G. H. Balfour (Moderator) took his seat. As the first business the Presbytery by resolution expressed sympathy with” the Rev. W. Nicol, of Hampden, and his family, in regard to the accidental death of their son at Knox College. The Rev. I. K. MTntyre gave notice of a motion calling the attention of the Presbytery to the nnd<! and unreasonable extent to which' the City police arc deprived of their rest on the Sabbath Day. The Clerk (the Rev. J. Chisholm) submitted minutes in regard to the deaths of two old members. Captain Wm. Thomson was the last survivor on the roll of membership that existed in the Port Chalmers congregation when in 1858 it became a separate charge under the ministry of the Rev. Wm. Johnstone. His life was full of good works and alms deeds. The deadbeats resorted unto him, and the little children were attracted by his gentleness. The other minute was in reference to the late Air John Blair, who was connected with St. Andrew’s congregation at an early stage of its history, became an elder in 1870, and for several years acted as session clerk. His piety was quiet and unobtrusive, but deeplj' rooted and eminently practical.

Both minutes had been drawn up by the committee appointed for the purpose, and the Presbytery approved of them and ordered, that they be incorporated with the records.

The application from Waikouaiti for a vote of £ls for the maintenance of the manse was approved. The Rev. A. M-. Finlayson reported that a site of half an acre for church and manse at Seacliff had been provisionally secured. —The Presbytery approved of the site, and authorised the Church Board of Property to complete the purchase. Plans for the new church at Anderson Bay were submitted and approved. The principal plans were accepted at a previous meeting. These further plans merely related to certain modifications. The Rev. A. Cameron brought up the report of a committee of the Presbyterian Social Service Association as to a "matter which had been remitted to them with reference to hospital visitation. The report was to the effect that the committee had inquired into the whole matter, and had agreed to appoint the Rev. J. U. Spence, of Waihola, to act as chaplain at the Hospital, and, if he was able, at other institutions. The appointment was to he preliminarily for six months. He (Mr Cameron) would suggest that steps be taken to transfer Mr Spence from the Clutha Presbytery to the Dunedin Presbytery during the term of his appointment.— After discussion as to details the report was adopted, and the Presbytery specially thanked the Rev. Mr MTntyro for his hospital work in past years.—The Rev. Mr Spence then addressed the Presbytery on the subject of hospital visitation. . Tlle matter of the call to St. Clair was introduced by the Rev. W. Scorgie as moderator of that congregation. He said that the call to the Rev. John Miller, of Dipton. was unanimously recommended by the Selection Committee, and so cordially accepted by the congregation that, though only one Sunday had gone by, the call wis signed by 64 out of 80 members, also by 26 adherents, and nobody had expressed dissent. No call could be more hearty.— Mr R. Duncan and Mr T. Fleming attended as assessors on behalf of the congregation, and spoke in support of the ca lh Ihe Rev. J. Kilpatrick moved that the call be sustained and sent on to the Southland Presbytery. It must be a pleasure to the Presbytery to know that St. Clair Church had gone on so well as to ho in a position to call a minister.—The Rev. W. Gray Dixon seconded the motion. He knew Mr Miller 20 years ago as a missionary in -Melbourne, and considered that St. Clair was to be congratulated on getting a man of Mr Miller's gifts and experience.—The motion was "carried unanimously, and the clerk was authorised to wire at once to Invercargill, advising that the call had boon sustained, so that the Southland Presbytery could deal with the matter to-day.

The statement as to the youth of the Church and Sabbath schools was presented in two reports. The Rev. G. -Macdonald submitted statistics and the Rev. H. H. Barton presented the report. The general effect was to show a falling off in the attendance at Sunday schools and junior Bible classes, and an increase in the senior Bible classes. The shortage noted might be partly duo to natural fluctuation and partly to the fact that the Chinese Church and Chalmers Church had not sent returns. —The Rev. J. C. Jamieson spoke in advocacy of a Bible-class membership campaign, after which the report v.v adopted. The Rev. E. A. Axelsen suonhitecl the seventh annual report of the Presbyterian Social Service Association. The . most important event of the year had been the opening of the children’s home at Anderson Bay, called, after the donor, “ The Glendining Home,” and, following upon this, the transference of the schoolboys from Clyde street to Grant's Braes. Seventy-one new boys and girls had been dealt with since last report, and the number of their charges at present was 235. The association had been able to asist a number of old people during the year, but they wore waiting, for some generous friends to help thorn to face this great work as it ought, ro be faced. The Rev. A. Cameron reported as to the finances of the P.S.S.A. They started the year with a debit of £157, not including the debt, and they closed with a credi of £ls odd. There were now three homes instead of the one they started with. The congregational contributions came to £576, this rather more than covering the charges for salaries and wages (£574). The sum of £865 had been received for board of the children. The housekeeping expenses came to £1,145. Altogether there was an income of £3.367 for the year. £919 of that came from legacies, and £SOO from Mrs Reid, of Elderslie. Nearly £S OO had been spent on furnishing. The support was very cheering, but the committee did not want it understood that they had all they required. On the contrary, the association needed all the help they could get.—The report was adopted ; thanks were voted to Mr and Mrs Roht. Glendining for their noble gift; the number of the committee was increased to 21; Messrs Cameron, Hewitson, Davies, Gow, A. M. Cameron, and Dr Riley were appointed members of committee, and it was remitted to the •committee to fill up the remaining vacancy. The following representatives wore appointed to go to the meeting of the General Assembly at Christchurch :—The Rev. Messrs Sutherland, Lymburn, Cameron, Fairmaid, Davies, Scorgie, M‘lntyre, Gray, Caimey, AT‘Coll, Dixon, Kinmont. Balfour, Hewitson, Axelsen. Allan, Finlayson. Chisholm, Aitken, Barton, and Kilpatrick ; elders—Messrs Hammond, Gow, Niven, Grinling, Henderson, Sparks, Bailey. Paterson, Leishman, Webb, Fitzgerald, Pryde, Crawley, Ross, and Bett (emergency). Messrs W. Gow, J. A. Thomson, and M. Matheson attended as a deputation from Chalmers Church, introduced by the Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland. The deputation strongly opposed the idea that the work now being carried on at Chalmers Church was merely an experiment. They asked the Presbytery to take steps to put the congregation on a permanent footihg.—lt was resolved, in effect, that with a view to strengthening the work there and making it permanent, Messrs R. Matheson, J. Lunn, M. Mackenzie, sen.,-and M. Mac-