Presbytery of Mataura.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 17, Issue 17, 5 October 1894, Page 6

Presbytery of Mataura.

Tuesday, October 2. The Prevsbytery met in the h4l of the Gore Chuvch and was constituted. Sedurunt— Messrs J. A. Asher (actingmoderator), Ramsay, JDavidsoD, Smellie, Millar' and Begg, ministers.; Dr Copland (c.lerk), Messrs John Kirk and Wni. Johnston, eldere. MODERATOR. Ou the motion of tbe Clerk, seconded by Mr DavidaoD, Mr Asher was elected Moderator for the ensuing six months. TRANSLATION OFBEV W. J. COMRIE. A letter was read from the Presbytery of Timaru, stating that Mr Comrie ■was'inducted to the pastoral charge of Mackenze County on September 11. A REMIT PROM SYNOD was next considered. Ifc was to the effect that the ordinance of the Lord's Supper should be celebrated during the session of Synod. The Clerk pointed out that time was pressing during the period usually covered by the Synod, and moved that they dssapreee with the remit;. Tbe seivice w«s a solemn one, and — only expressing his own feeling — he felt bound io take tbe course he had taken. Mr Smellie seconded the motion pro forma Messrs Ramsay and Millar moved in the direction of agreement, and there voted— fror the amendment 5 ; for the motion 3. TO BE CONSIDERED IN COMMITTEE.. It was ordered that a communication from the Southland Presbytery Bhould be considered privately later on. EXAMINATION OP RECORDS. These records — returns from the Sessions' and Deacons' Courts and figures to indicate the state of the communion roll — were not all forward. Some members had brought them ; others complained that the time at which they were called for was not suitable. Mr Ramsay was averse to a call for documents Ha had brought his ; others might be in the same position ; and there should be an examination of such a 9 were in by a committee of the whole of the ministers of the Presbytpry. He moved accordingly, Mr Asher to be convener. Mr Begg seconded the proposal, which was carried. FORTROSE. Application was made for a grant of L3O for repairs, the committee having expended LGO.-^To be forwarded to the proper authorities, with tbe Presbytery* recommendation. WAIEAIA. Mr Davidson, as moderator, submitted a report Over a certain "period of the year the peop'e had raised LB7 16s, and they thought that daring the balance of a year they could collect L 92. He gave the figures in retail so far as they concerned iho various districts, and proceeded to say that the Waikaia and Wendonside people had done remarkably well in being able to assure Prebytery that the income would be L 179 16s. During the time he had been Moderator there, he had had occasion to meet a large number of the people, and his impression of them was a very nice one. They had treated him with the utmost kindness. Part of the probable stipend was of course in promises, and he felt sure these would be implemented. The Moderator expressed gratification at the report, which showed that Waikaia was really ahead of Riversdale and might soon become a self-supporting charge. In what condition was Mr Gray, as regarded health P Mr Davidson said that Mr Gray had been la^d aside by iufluenaa, but he hud now resumei labors, though not fully. People and pastor got on Very we 1 I together, and he thought the former I would agree to call Mr Gray as Boon as they were hi a position to do so. The report was received. PUKERAU. The Moderator in respect of tK& dietriot (Mr Asher) reported that Mr Gardner continued mini.traious with much peceptance, but hopes of a develop rnent into- a Church Extension charge were discounted by removals from Otaria and elsewhere of a number of settlers — that uieaut decreased revenue. The report was received. KELSO. Mr Ramsay reported that he had preached this charge vacant, and on the occasion of bio visits the church was literally vacant. No one was present, owing to a snowstorm. The Clerk : Did you preacb, and if so tq' whom ? Mr Ramsay : Yes, there were fen there altogether — two men, tbe balance boya and girl*. The snow-fall kept people away, Nothing has been done since. My resignation of the moderatorehip io now tendered, on- the ground of inconvenience to fill concerned. The Moderator: The pariah has lein supplied? Mr Ramsay : It has not been without a 'pastor. Mr Panton-Brown has been their. Mr Davidcon moved that; Mr Rarnsay'a resignation bo accepted fcrjd Mr B gg appointed in his stea-ii. gpoonded by Mr Sraellio aad e-greed to. KIVKUSDALtI. Tho report concprnicg this chatge -aa furuiahfd by Mi ■ At-her, who said tlnTO wds nothing special to relate. The interest of tbe people w.ia well sua-laim-d, and Mr Mack-.lltr was working apsiduou-ly. Financially the charge wan strong ami should Boon be {selfsustaining. As moderator of the paribh he bid ncdved every kiodoesß from tbe people.

Th.3 report was received, and thereafter followed an application by Mr Mackellar for admission as a minister, in full statup, of the Otago and Southland Presbyterian Cburch. He enclosed a Presbyterial certificate from Christcburch and other documents. The Clerk moved that the application ba sent on to Synod with a recommendation that Mr Mackellar bo admitted. Questions had been raised regarding his health, but these had been practically answered, and when finances were involved on that score Synod ,was alone concerned—- in such matters, for instance, as the Aged aod Infirm Ministers' Fund and the Widow and Orphans' Fund. Mr Davidson seconded the motioD, and he did so for reasons that would bear criticism. Last year he waa averse to the admission, because he thought Mr Mackellar was in feeble health, but it seemed he was able to cover tbe country, to overtake all ordinary pastoral work, and to be in touch with his people; hence he should be' received in full status. Mr Ramsay had no objection to the motion if its reference to recommendation were excised, because, full inquuy into the whole matter was likely to be made by authorities of the church. By all means send the proposition along, bufc without the recommendation. Th?re should be consistency : tbey should remember tbab the Presbytery had ret fused to employ Mr Mackellar and tha on several occasions. The Clerk : There is no record in the minutes of refusal. Mr Ramsay asserted that at the first the Pfetb/tery refused with one consent to appoint. The Clerk said that when it was propoaf d to appoint he moved in a certain direction, and an amendment wis carried to refer the- matter to the Church Extension Committee. There was only df climuure on the part of the Presbytery to take responsibility. The Church Extension Coromifee appointed Mr Mackdlar for three months, and afterwards till the meeting of Synod. Mr Ramsay asserted that he had beea Bent to Riversdale through his (Mr Ramsay's) attitude towards the charge. The P«esbytery never appointed, and Mr Asher had taken upon himself to arrarge a supp ! y for Riversdale. The Clerk read minutes showing authorization. Mo Ramsay said tha matter was one which he did not wish to discuss further. Ifc was an unpleasant thing. But he had been placed in a false position, because at the Presbytery meeting in this year he bad asked that Mr Mackelhr be appointed. There was a refusal, and he was naturally thunder, struck to hear a few days after that this same man had been sent to Riversdale. He had no wish to use hard words, and was now oontent to let the matter drop. The motion was then put and carried. synod's standing oeders. Messrs Millar and Begg were appointed to act on these. A PROPOSED CONFERENCE. The Clerk said there had been a proposition for a conference with the Southland Presbytery on some matters. The Moderator explained the position, stating that the Rev. W. A. Kyd had written to him to the effect that Sabbath School work and temperance reform were the main questions for discussion. Thpse were well in band at present, and the conference might as well drop. On a recent visit to Invercarglll he saw the Rev. A. H. Stobo, who agreed that there was no strong feeling and that the conference would have no practical result. The report was approved, and it was understood no further steps would be taken. HOUB OF MEETING, Tun Clerk moved, pro forma, tha' this should ba 11.15 a.m. all the ye^r round. Originally there was an alteration in winter time. There was a long discussion rrg*rd ing tbe convenience of individual raemb?ra of Presbytery (fSpecMly Mr John. stoD, Fortros(), and eventually the moiion wts carried. THE WAIKAKA. PARISH. Mr Millar stated tha* there was a division of opinion regarding a manse site. Two were susgested — one at Waikaka Valley, tha other at North Chattoo. Ib wts explained there was urgency in tho matte' 1 , and it waß desirrd to puli the tiaaber for the house on the ground, selected without delay. §ome member's uig«d an adjournment of th<» qu^tion,. but Mr Kirk said that under the cii'— cum3tatice3 that would be intolerable In his opinion the lowor site — that on Mr James Aitken's jjropprty — was most convenient and he adduced numerous reasons in support of his contention, one being centrality and , another the amounts contributed by the various divisions of the parish. He moved in the direction indicated. Mr Davidson seconded. The motion was carried. , COLLECTIONS for the various funds in connection with the Church were reported upoo, and satisfaction expressed regarding i them. MANSE GRANT, MATAURA, , An application for this was ordered to bo sent on to the Factor of the Church, Dunedin. The due date for a grant had not quite arrived, but Mr Davidson said it was " drawing nigh," and it was as well to take time by the forelock. THE LOWER REGIONS. Mr Smellie wen!ed the Bftme of his parish changed to " Wyndham " in phce of ''Lower Mataura," and adduced reasons therefor, the prinoipal one being that communications for M*iaun» and Lower Mataura frequently get mixed up. Members agreed that a change of name would be desirable, and it was resolved to forward Mr Smeljie'i rp,

quHRt to Synod with a favorable re- , commendation. j The Presbytery then went into I committee.