DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

Evening Star, Issue 15538, 7 July 1914, Page 6

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

The monthly meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery was held in First Church, Hail this morning, the Rev. B. Scott Allan (Moderator) presiding over a fair attend' ance o' members.

On the moti*-n of Mr W. ft Fitzgerald the Presbytery instructed the Moderator to sign a paragraph sh«» ing that they agreed to a monga* in connection with St. Margaret’s College. The officer in charge of the divisional headquarters of the Salvation Army wrote expressing appreciation of the resolution of the Dimcam Presbytery expressing their sympathy with the loss sustained by tha Army in the tragic wreck of the Empress of Ireland. —Dr Watt s Jubilee.—

The following minute in connection with the jubilee of Dr Watt was presented : On the occasion of the jubilee of tha Rev. Michael Watt, D.D., a loved and revered minister of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and an esteemed member of the Dunedin Presbytery from the lime of his settlement in Green Island until now, the Presbytery desire to express their hearty appreciation of the sterling qualities of mind and heart which he has consistently manifested anti the valuable services which he has continuously rendered amid the many changes of a young and rapidly-growing community. Along with his pastoral work, which was always characterised by thoroughness and efficiency, ho was appointed at an early stage of his career as a theological tutor of candidates for the ministry. For several years after the honorary title of professor had been conferred upon him he continued to discharge the duties pertaining to both pastorate and professorship, ’.the burden so cheerfully borne had, however, in course of time to be lightened, and his whole time since then has been devoted to the teaching of students, especially in Hebrew and Church history. The extent and accuracy of his scholarship in these branches of sacred learning, and his evident desire to be helpful in every possible way to the classes under his care, along with his guileless humility, his open-mindedness, and reverence tor truth, his practice of holiness and brotherly love, have won for him the lifelong affection" and gratitude of his students, and the admiration and esteem of all his brethren. Tim Presbytery congratulate him on his long aiTfl Mr, Tul career, and commend him to God, In Ihe Word of His grace, which is able to build him up and! to give him the inheritance among all them that ai«

sanctified. The Rev. Dr Watt wrote thanking tiePresbytery for Tnvir words of kindly appreciation. Tie would have been satisfied to be allowed to continue his work as long as God spared him; and when ids call came, to depart i[Uietfy. without giving trouble, to anybody. However, when lb-' brethren took dm irm~ie to record ;hose .sentiments in n> lavor. he was natural;;, grateful to them, lie rial fell honored to he so long assoi iar.-d with them, and would like to thank Them lor liner o ' - sidcration for him. Hi- prav.-r to Col was l hat He might • ounnue io ides the corner o* the gmat ciuevard yvi-r wiiiefi the brethren exercise spiritual juri--dleiion, and that the Pivshyterv might he a faclm for righteousness in our community more and more in the eoniin.: yeais. The Diamond Juhhee.

The Clerk reported that the proceedingin connection with the diamond jubilee of the Prc-hytery of Otago had pae-ed oil' very successfully. Ministers, on the appointed Sunday, directed the attention of their congregations to the planting ot tinPresbytery in this new laud on the 2ith June. 1834. The social function in Burns Hall and the music and addresses in Fir-t Church on the evening on the following Wednesday drew together a great crowd of people. He moved that, the Presbytery agree to place on record their hearty thanks to all who had a mind to work in this matter, especially to the ladies of tha various congregations within the hounds of the Presbytery for their liberal catering and assistance, to Mr Timson for his organ recital, and to the brethren nf the Presbytery for their addresses. The" Rev. 1). I\. Fisher seconded the motion.

The Rev. A. Don said he had enjoyed the whole thing, hut a very important part of the Church's work had been absolutely ignored. There had been nc mention made of foreign mission enter* prises. There were two foreign missionaries present at the time—Dr Bowie and the pioneer missions in the East, Rev. G. H. M‘Neur —neither of whom was invited to a. seat on the platform. It was possible—and he was speaking in all seri-ousness—-that there was a feeling of shams in the hearts of the speakers that so liltB: had been done for foreign missions. Bui even if they had had to admit that so little had been done, it. would have hern a good thing. The motion was carried.

—Protestant Principles. The Rev. P. C. Dnrward. convener of the Genera! Assembly's Committee on Pro test ant Principles, wrote to the clerk asking him to bring before the Pre-hyieiv the subject of Protestant, principle--, and the necessity of presbyteries and kirk sessions taking whatever steps they might think wise to instruct their people in the doctrines of the Protestant Church. The committee were of opinion that the work could bast he done, in the form of Sunday evening lectures on Protestantism and tlm heroes of the Protestant Church, and by presbyteries or kirk sessions appointing such "subjects for essays in the junior and senior Bible classes as John Hu?.-. John Calvin. John Knox, the Covenanters, the. Huguenots, etc. They should proceed mainly on positive lines and by way of instructing their people in the principle--and history and work of their evangelical churches.

A committee consisting of rhe Rev*. Fairmaid, MTntyre, Fisher, Gray Dixon, Finiayson, Messrs Henderson and ■ appointed to report to next meeting of the Presbytery.

—Foreign Missions. — The Clerk presented the minutes of'the Foreign Missions Commit toe, stating, in the course of a shun that Dr health continued to in.prove steadily, hut that it would probably !.e a ye,..' before he could return to the U lauds, and that in the meantime he should not undertake the strain of deputation work. The mini itlee were exceeding; y hi; -.icus M give the utmost publicity to their find copies of their inmates v. ere ooing jwhitec and circulated thtrmgh id- presbyteries. It. was r?goivßcv.-ie, or ; my other visiting missioni-vv belonging to the Church, should be invuM to a sear, on the Presbytery.