THE PRESBYTERY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17164, 10 May 1916, Page 8

THE PRESBYTERY.

YESTERDAY’S MEETING

The Christchurch Presbytery met at St Paul’s schoolroom yesterday and was constituted; sederunt: the Rev Dt Erwin (Moderator), Revs J. Paterson, D. L>. Rodger, J. Wait,. J. W. Hayward, T. Macdonald, J. S. Reid., J. A. Brown, S. E. Hill, J, J. Bates, N. M’Callum, J. H. Thomson, and C. Murray (clerk) ministers : Messrs J. Tenneiit, W. T. Fulton, j. Frame and J. Sutherland, and Dr T. J. Withers, elders; and Messrs F. R. Chaunan, W. T. Murray, D. M’lntyre, J. B. Bickerstaff e and W. Wills, Homo Missionarihe Revs S. E .Hill (convenor) and A. Laishlie, and Mr T. Sagar (elder), were appointed a visitation to St Andrew’s charge. Plans of a small addition to the church buildings at Akaroa were approveci. . , Mr John Steele, student, Christchurch Presbytery district, was granted a transfer to complete his studies iu, Auckland Presbytery district. Mr M’lntyre, homo missionary, Southbrook, wrote suggesting that Presbytery should pass a resolution of sympathy with Presbyterian brethren in Ireland. He said he had spent foulyears in Dublin, as assistant to the Rev W. Procter, and felt strongly on tho matter. Tho Presbyterian Church of Ireland must have lost valuable church buildings in Dublin in the recent fires. The Moderator said Presbytery had no exact data on the matter. Mr M’lntyro gave reasons for his belief that at least one Presbyterian church had been destroyed. A committee was set up to draw up resolutions on the matter, and presented resolutions of sympathy for transmission to Ireland, which were adopted. As the outcome of a discussion on the attendance of chaplains at Territorial camps the Moderator said that Presbyterian chaplains should report regularly to Presbytery upon their work as chaplains. A resolution on the linos suggested by the Moderator was moved. The Rev J. Paterson supported the motion, but said it would be unwise to swamp small camps with chaplains. At a recent small camp the men came to churoh on Sunday, and ho saw no reason to hang about the camp all the time. The soldiers would gst an impression that clergymen had precious little to do. It would be fair neither to the Government, which paid chaplains, or to the chaplains’ own congregations. The motion was carried. On the motion of the Rev J. Paterson, seconded by the Rev J. J. Bates, the following motion was carried: — "That this Presbytery requests the Government to take immediate action to close hotel bars at 6 p.m.. for the period of the war and for six months thereafter, and to prohibit 1 shouting ’; and directs that, this resolution be forwarded to the Prime Minister.”