DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

Evening Star, Issue 20555, 6 August 1930, Page 14

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

t ! MONTHLY MEETING i j The monthly meeting .of the DunI edin Presbytery was held in First j Cliurch yesterday afternoon, the Moderator (the Rev. J. D. Smith) ,presid- ! mg " CORRESPONDENCE, j The Rev. D Campbell (West Taieri) | wrote stating that he hoped to be able to resume bis duties in October.;— Received. The John M'Glashan Board of Governors wrote notifying Presbytery that Mr A. C. Cameron had been approved as a new member of the board.—Agreed to. The Chaplains’ Committee notified that it had recommended to the naval authorities the appointment of the Rer. W. A. Stcvely as chaplain to the port of Dunedin. —Approved. NEW MODERATOR. On coming to the matter of appointing a new moderator, the Clerk (Rev. J. Kilpatrick) said that the conditions had now been changed, and the position was open to the whole membership. He moved that Mr W. H. Adams be appointed Moderator for the ensuing six months. Mr Adams declined, on the ground that ho had no sympathy with the idea, that an elder should hold such an office. The Rev. J. W. M'Kcnzie was then appointed to the position. l CHINESE MISSIONARY. It was decided that the ordination of Dr K. Pih as a missionary of the church in the Canton Villages Mission lake place in St. Andrew’s Church on August 20, at 7.00 p.m., the Rev. Dr Waddell to preach and ordain, the Rev. D. Herron to address Dr Pih, and tile Rev. A. Miller to address the congregation. CALL TO MINISTER. A call to the Rev. G. P. Mitchell, of South Taieri, to Limestone Plains was considered, the clerk stating that the congregation at South Taieri was extremely sorry that Mr Mitchell was likely to leave, and resolutions of regret had been passed at Berwick, Henley, and Momona. A resolution expressing appreciation of Mr Mitchell’s services during the five years be had been at South Taieri, which had been passed by that congregation, was read by Mr Amos. Mr Mitchell intimated that he would accept the call. MINISTERS IN BUSINESS. The Ecclesiastic Committee reported that it had considered an Assembly remit on the question of ministers in business, and that its finding was that when a minister had been engaged in another calling for one year without definitely indicating that lie had withdrawn from the ministry, the Presbytery should refer his case to the Assembly to determine his status. The finding was adopted on the motion of the Rev. J. Pringle, seconded by the Rev. J. D. Smith. MINISTER EMERITUS. Mr Kilpatrick moved the adoption of the following Assembly remit That in future only ministers who have served the church as ordained ministers for twenty years or in a combined service as home missionary and ordained minister for twenty years are eligible for the status of minister emeritus, with a seat in the church courts.” The motion, which was seconded by the Rev. Principal Dickie, was lost by a large majority. ROBERT RAIKES’S ANNIVERSARY. The report of the Youth Committee stated that it was decided to present a pageant to celebrate tho 150th anniversary of Robert Raikes, the founder of Sunday schools. The pageant would be presented in October. Tho Rev. J, D. Smith said it was proposed to hire the Town Hall for the presentation of the pageant. The committee’s action was approved. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. The report of the Public Questions Committee was presented by Dr Herrington, who said that a letter had been received from the Biblc-in-Schools’ League Propaganda Committee urging the introduction of the whole Bible into the schools. Tho Public Questions Committee recommended the Presbytery to stand behind tho league in the matter, and it was agreed to do so. TEMPERANCE MATTERSTho Temperance Committee recommended: —(1) “That the Presbytery appoint the Rev. G. Miller and Mr W. Crawford to represent it at a deputation to tho City Council on August 21 on the subject of licensing cabarets.” The deputation is being arranged by the Council of Christian Congregations. (2) “ Recommending Sunday schools and Bible classes to use the temperance charts and booklets authorised by tho United Temperance Reform Council, and give the Presbytery’s authority to tho United Temperance Reform Council to circularise ministers, superintendents, and Bible class leaders in support of proposal. It also recommends the Temperance Committee to arrange a deputation to the Education Board with a view to stimulating interest in the temperance lessons in schools and the use of the charts and booklets. It further recommends ministers to give temperance talks to their classes in the State schools with the help of these charts and booklets onco a month.” (3) "In view of drinking at weddings, a rccom-iir-rd :uon is that ministers should urge tlie parties to omit alcoholic beverages from wedding breakfasts and socials. (4) “Stress the importance of an education campaign for total abstinence, and ascertain how many bauds of hopo there are in the Presbytery through the Committee of Statistics.” (5) “That copies of these resolutions bo sent to the Assembly’s Temperance Committee.” • The recommendations were agreed to.