DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

Evening Star, Issue 19064, 6 October 1925, Page 6

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

ASSEMBLY PREPARATIONS TO-DAY'S MONTHLY MEETING Preparations for the General Assembly next month formed the main business of to-day’s meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery, over which the new Moderator (the Rev. F. M. Beattie) presided for the first t time. Rev. J. W. M'Kenzio, of Port Chalmers, was welcomed to the meeting. Mr R. T. Dodds was appointed to the charge of Sawyers Bay. Several congregations were reported to be in arrears with their shares of the beneficial fund contributions. ASSEMBLY NOMINEES. For the office of Moderator of the Assembly the Presbytery nominated the Rev. Jas. Aitken, M.A., of Gisborne. Rev. A. C. W. Standage was nominated to the Standing Committee of the Assembly and the Rev. John Pringle to the Committee on Records. Those nominated for seats on the Assembly were:—Revs. D. L. Albert, G. H. Jfipp, Tnlloch Yaffle, W. Trotter, R. L. Walker, J. J. Cairney, G. P. Mitchell, and D. M'Cosh (by rotation); Revs. George Miller, J. Kilpatrick, H. Maclean, Dr Merrington, A. C. W. Standage, J. Pringle, Dr Dickie, Dr Gumming. H. H. Barton, F. H. Wilkinson, W. Scorgie, A. M. Finlayson, R. R. M. Sutherland, and D. Dutton. Elders; Messrs William Williamson and an elder from each of St. Andrew’s, Caversham, St. Stephen’s, Port Chalmers, West Taieri, South Dunedin, Roslyn, and North Taieri kirk sessions (by rotation) ; Messrs W. H. Adams, A. A. Campbell, R. A. Prentice. P. L. Clark, J. Robertson, and W. Henderson. THE YEAR’S STATISTICS. The Rev. D. Campbell supplied a return of the statistics of the Presbytery during the year. He stated that in comparison with last year’s returns there was an increase in almost every column of importance, which was gratifying. Ministerial stipends showed an increase of £353. and upkeep of conveyances £l6. The decreases numerically were:—Public worship, 2; prayer meetings, 49; baptisms, 17; elders, 2; deacons or managers, 4. The debt on property had increased by £2,333, but against that was an_ increase of £4.407 on the amount raised for buildings, property or debt, and an increase of £670 for Assembly schemes and benevolent purposes. In the gross revenue column was an increase of £5,293. The total membership in the Presbytery on June 30 was returned as 7,703 communicants. and the gross revenue from nil sources amounted to £37,584, a fraction over £4 T7s 6d per member per annum. The offerings to Assembly schemes and benevolent purposes worked out at a fraction over £1 Os 3d per, member per annum. “The only dismiioting feature,” concluded the report,_ “ is the falling off in the prayer meeting attendance. This, of course, is in common with the experience of other churches at the present time, and no doubt the Presbytery will note this weakness and deal' with it as in its wisdom it deemed best.” The report was adopted and Mr Campbell thanked for his work. ORDINATION OF MINISTER. For the ordination of_ Mr D. M‘lntyre to the ministry, it was agreed to hold an in hunc olfoctum meeting at North Taieri this month. The Moderator was appointed to induct, ordain, and install the minister, the Rev. Jas. W. M’Kenzie was appointed as preacher of the occasional sermon, and the Rev. Dr Gumming was selected to address the minister and the congregation. CHURCH UNITY. As none of the sister churches hod done anything in the direction of a new creedal system since the_ last General Assembly, Dr Dickie said he had nothing to ropoit as to the business that should ho brought forward. He explained, however that the present year was of vital importance to the question, as it would see the final decision of the question as to whether the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church would unite as one body. PROHIBITION ENDORSED. The following xiiotion, brought forward on the recommendation of the Temperance Committee, was carried: This Presbytery, believing that the liquor traffic is inimical tot ho best interests of church and State, once more affirms its conviction that its total abolition would mean the removal of one of the greatest hindrances to the welfare of the people and to the coming of the realm of God. The Presbytery would urge the need for earnest prayer to God for victory at the coming poll, and strenuous efforts on the part of the members and adherents within its bounds towards the removing of this dire evil. The Presbytery would remind its congregations that-the General Assembly of our church has repeatedly affirmed the principle of the prohibition of the liquor traffic, and in the report adopted at its last meeting emphatically expressed its conviction that there wan only one remedy for this evil—i.e., total Prohibition. The Presbytery would counsel its people to endorse this view and to exert their influence not only at the polling booth, but also in endeavoring to secure the sympathy and support of others in order to free our country

from this insidious enemy. PUBLIC QUESTIONS COMMITTEE.

“ No need for alarm,” was the Rev, W. Trotter’s comment on the question of homo life, which had been referred to the Public Questions Committee as a result of a question raised by the Rev, G. H. Jupp. The question_ was, said Mr Trotter, whether home life in New Zealand was advancing or declining. the implication being that it was declining, in view of tho number of children who were in their orphanages or wards of tho State. Mr Jupp’s figures had been taken from the vital statistics published by the Government. No complete figures had ever been taken concerning these homes, and there was room for considerable doubt. Tho total number of children in homes was decreasing, . Ho admitted that home life was suffering as a result of tho abuses of the drinking customs of the people. The report was referred to the Life and Worlt Committee for further investigation.