CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11887, 10 May 1899, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY.

The Presbytery met at St Paul’s Schoolroom yesterday morning and was duly constituted. Sederunt: Revs E. S. Allan (Moderator), Dr Elmslie, I'. Stubbs, J. M. Simpson, D. D. Rodger, W. J. Gow, A. M. Wright, J. Mackie, G. B. Ingiis, W.' R. Campbell, W. A. Anderson, W. Grant, B. J. Westbrooke, A. H. Treadwell (Clerk), Dr Erwin, J. Maxwell, D. Jamieson, and Messrs J. B. Chisholm, W. Gavin, W. B. Bowie, G". Robertson, and W. Burgess Elders,

The Clerk thanked the Presbytery for his long holiday. The following commissions were received andsustained: —St Peter’s, Mr W. Burgess; Lincoln and Prebbleton, Mr J. Watson; Cust, Mr Hunter; Malvern, Mr J. Robertson ; Southbridge, Dr Withers. _ ; The Commission appointed to visit Springburn reported that through the illness of the convener, the Rev G. B. Ingiis, no visit had been made, and suggested that the Commission should bo adjourned until spring. This course was adopted. The Rev A. Doull (convener), and Messrs Anderson and Hunter, were appointed a commission to visit Waikari. The Rev B. J. Westbrooke submitted alternative plans for a proposed church at Methven, to cost from .£4OO to ,£SOO, and to seat two hundred people. Apian was approved of, not more than <£loo of debt to be incurred. .

The Rev J. Hain submitted plans for a.proposed church at Mayfield, the estimated cost of which was .£2OO, the church to seat one hundred and twenty people. One hundred and sixty pounds had been already subscribed, aud it was intended to erect the church free of debt. On the motion of Dr Elmslie, the plans were approved, and it was decided to congratulate the people of Mayfield on the success which had. attended their efforts.

On the representation of the Rev W. E. Campbell, Mr Waugh was appointed to the Cheviot charge for six months. The Rev J. Hain was authorised by the Presbytery to baptise in the Mayfield district.

The Rev G. 8., Ingiis thought the Presbytery should do something in the way of religious education for the young. The people of Otago had taken a great interest in the matter, and it would be well to have a united platform thereon. With that object in view, he read a circular which he had prepared, and laid it before the Presbytery for consideration. He had no hope of getting the Bible—the whole book —into schools, but suggested the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostles’ Creed and Bible extracts. They would, in fact, have to make a book themselves, and if all the Churches agreed with this, it would not be Lard to get it embodied in the school course.

Rev Dr Elmslie said the subject was one of the utmost importance to the children of the colony. If they could agree on the preparation of a text-book, with the aid of the other Churches, they could prepare a much better one than the Irish text-book. Few subjects of more transcending ‘interest, as regarded the future, could have been brought before the Presbytery. The Rev W. Grant said that even from a secular point of view, children who had not read the English Bible bad missed acquaintance with , the . greatest English classic writings. The Rev P. Stubbs was strongly in favour of the circular, and thought it would be well, if a favourable report of it was brought down from the Assembly. ■ The Rev Dr Erwin commended the circular as a general statement, but did not consider it would do any practical good. He thought a conference of tho representatives of the different churches would be of greater benefit. , . The Rev J. Maxwell said that he was of opinion that' the churches would have to take up the task of religious education themselves. . He did not think religion w.ould ever be properly taught , in the public schools. After considerable discussion it was resolved —“ That having taken into consideration the question of the Bible in our public schools, the Revs Drs Elmslie and Erwin, Revs Ingiis and Grant and Elders Gavin and Bowie he appointed a committee to confer with other Churches on the subject.” The proposed circular was as follows : Dear, Sir,—l beg to call your attention to the resolutions and declarations of the General Assembly relating to the reintroduction of the Bible into tho public schools of the colony. The reform we desire can be attained only after earnest effort, and not until we have reached the conscience of the people. The duty of pressing this question is one that lies in our way, and the present is the most suitable time to deal with it. It is a dishonour to God, a grievous injury to our children, a source of peril-to the State, and an educational blunder to exclude the Holy Scriptures from our public schools. Those who believe this are probably a majority in the country. But the gravity of the situation is not sufficiently realised, and people need to be aroused from apathy or won from hostility, to join their forces with ours, and help.us to carry this reform. Will you be good enough to deal with the question in your congregation and district, and in cooperation’with others in our own and sister Churches give public addresses on the subject and seek, so to persuade and influence the community that at no distant date they will demand from Parliament, through their representatives, that alteration in the Education Act which is so desirable. Our church is committed to no particular scheme of religious education, nor to any particular test-book, and it must be determined by conference and mutual agreement with other sections of the Christian Church what precisely we shall propose to the Legislature to enact. Some are in favour of . Bible-reading simply; some of having selections printed in a separate text-book, a sort of abridged Bible; and some would be satisfied if the children were taught to commit to memory the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostle’s Preed, select reading, and the great outstanding Gospel-texts, in both Old and New Testaments. The committee .suggest that, if possible, meetings be held in every part of your electorate where members of Parliament are iu tho habit of addressing the people. Please cominunicate with me bn the subject be; fore the close of this year, so that I may have something definite to report to next General Assembly. The Presbytery then adjourned until July 11. COMPLIMENTARY LUNCHEON. A . complimentary luncheon to the Rev Gordon Webster, who is about to leave on a visit to the Old -Country, was held at Freeman’s rooms in the afternoon, when

nearly all tile members of the Presbytery and several ladies were present; Hie Moderator, the Rev R. S. -Allan,' rvas in the chair, and ,Dr Eimslie in tne vicechair. 1 r t • ■ Apologies for absence were received from the Revs A. Doull, P. J. Riddle, W. Telford and Dr Withers. After a substantial luncheon had been partaken of. The Chairman said they had met together to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs Webster, to wish them a pleasant voyage, and to express the hops that Mr Webster might return strengthened by his holiday. The Rev Dr Elmslie said that Mr Webster’s departure was an object of interest to the whole Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, in which lie had ever been a leading factor. The speaker alluded to the early difficulties met by ministers' in getting about the' country in the primitive days. In crossing rivers swimming was the order of the day, and he had considerable expeilenoe of this between New Plymouth and the Wairarapa. He mentioned this to show that the younger brethren had silver spoons in their mouths for which they should be thankful. In the old days there were only eight charges in the .Wellington district, and now there were twenty-one charges and ten preaching stations. So with the Christchurch Presbytery—in May, 1876, there were ten charges, and .how 'there were twenty-one charges dud two preaching stations. ‘ It was well to put thin on record, and to' give thanks to the Great Head of the Church for the mercies vouchsafed to them. ’ He was sorey to see the circumstances which had led to the departure of the Rev Gordon Webster, but was glad that the latter had "'-w health enough to enjoy his voyage. He had been closely associated with the Rev Gordon Webster for the last thirty years, and would extend a cordial welcome to him on his return. ‘ (Applause.) The Rev Dr Erwin, in giving the sentiment “ Our Guests,” wished Mr and Mis' Webster a happy and safe voyage. Mi 1 Webster came to them almost unknown, and now left them as perhaps the most influential minister of the Church in New Zealand. His open and genial nature attracted many friends, and it was due to his powers of organisation as well as to the liberality of his congregation that St Andrew’s Church was now so well off. But Mr Webster perhaps .shone more at the ecclesiastical meetings, at which he had always been appointed to loading positions. The acumen and levelmindedness of Mr Webster had been strongly shown in connection with education and other matters. But at home he had to take second place to Mrs Webster, who had made St Andrew’s manse a synonym for hospitality throughout New Zealand. He wished Mr and Mrs Webster a happy' holiday and a return to accustomed health and vigour. (Applause.)

The Rev- Gordon - Webster said that, after making all allowances for friendly exaggeration, he was deeply gratified at the .present meeting, .which was a record one of its kind. On first coming here, he liad expressed his intention of associating himself with the Preshyterian. Church of New Zealand and ail its fortunes, though, his friends were at that time doubtful whether in .middle ago he could successfully transplant himself to another country'and another church. This had, however, been a success. He had been treated most generously by the church here, as he had been at Home. When at Home he never thought it possible that he could ever feel so at home as he did in the Presbytery of Ayr, but re-transplantation would now bb a matter of difficulty. Ha had' got on equally well with the •'Christchurch - community, and was pleased on leaving to find that he had warn friends in many’churches, and also amongst many who unfortunately did not belong to any churchi ' But he Had ever*put .the Universal Church above creed, and the larger interests of his own church above those of his oven congregation. Mrs Webster had not only been the means of bringing him to New Zealand, but would probably be the means of keeping him here, for Mrs Webster was leaving in. New Zealand two very substantial hostages, in the shape of her two sons. He thanked them ail deeply, and hoped tliat by the blessing of God he should live to shake hands with them again. (Applause.) ' The Rev W. Grant gave the sentiment of St Andrew’s Church. Scotclunen, with their usual acquisitiveness, had. settled themselves in the heart of a Church of England settlement, viz.,. Canterbury, and had founded the Church of St Andrew’s, which had ever been a leading factor in the, social and political! questions of the city. . The marriage register of the Church would show that the minister had married three generations, and though the first of these - had passed full of years and honours, to the grave, they were still strongly represented by their successors. The various ministers of St Andrew’s h;jd, from the first, been capable and far-seeing men, and had exercised the. greatest influence in the matter of Church extension. As a matter of fact, he had lately dropped on an olid Presbyterian pamphlet, .which showed that the first minister, like the present one, was a Solon in their assemblies. . He asked them to honour the sentiment, and hoped that St Andrew’s Church would continue to exert a widening influence, not only on the Church, but. on the city. They all hoped that Mr Webster would return improved in mind and body.’ (Applause.) Mr J. Deans, as the oldest member of St Andrew’s, in which church he had been baptised, responded to the sentiment. They were all sorry that Mr : Webster was leaving them, but they hoped, his trip would do him good, and that they would soon see him again.- (Applause.)' Mi’ D. fe. Bowie, one of the elders of the Church, said that Mr Webster had not onlly followed' in the footprints of his predecessors, but had gone further, and had made the name of St Andrew’s stand out prominently among the Churches. They had doctors from the north, west and south, and still lacked one from the east, and he hoped Mrs Webster would come back with a handle to her name. (Applause.). The Rev A. H, Treadwell) testified to the many high qualities possessed by Mr Gordon Webster, and gave the sentiment of “ The Press,” to which institution the Church was greatly indebted for the manner in which its meetings had been reported, and he gave the Christchurch papers special credit in this respect. The procedings terminated with the singing of “ Auld Lang Syne ” alnd hearty cheers for Mr and Mrs Gordon Webster. •