AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5395, 3 March 1879, Page 6

AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.

The first bi-monthly sederunt of tho year 1579 was held on Feb. oth, iu St. Andrew's Church. Present : Rev. T. J. NeilJ, Moderator (in the chair), Kcv. G Brown (clerk), Revs. D. Bruce, J. Macky, T. Norrie, W. D. Runciman, W. McCrae, R. Somerville, J. Frazer, R. F. Macnicol, P. Mason, W. McCallum, G. B. Munro. Election ok Moderator.— I Tha Clerk of the Robert Somerville.—Tho Rev. Mr. Somerville was elected Moderator.—The thanks of Sustextation Fund. — The Rev. Mr. Bruce brought up his report from the several congregations, from which it appeared that Papakura and Otahuliu had each undertaken to contribute £250 to the fund ; Pukekohe, £200, on condition of receiving the services of a theological student for the western division ; Waikato (East), £200 ; Whangarei, £200; Waipu, £200; Whau, £200 ; Coromandel, £150 (but requested to be admitted to the benefits of the Sustentation Fund) ; Thames, equal dividend ; Opotiki and Katikati were Dot visited, owing to their specially exceptional circumstances ; Plymouth, £125; Onehnnga, £200 ; West Waikato would contribute equal dividend when the district became settled; Mahurangi had not been visitod.—The Rev. R. F. Macnicol asked the grounds upon which New Plymouth claimed thebeuelit of exemption, contributing only £125 a-year. The New Plymouth congregation had a grant of £50 from home.— The Rov. Mr. Bruce said that would cease upon their becomiug connected with the Susteutation Fuud. —After some discussion, Ltcekce.—lfc was agreed that application should be made to the Assembly to license Messrs. Bruce, jun., aud "Wright. WAiru. — I Tho Clerk of tho Presbytery read abetter of resiguation from the Rev. \V. Mcßae. The writer stated that his resigna ion was caused by the " treatment" he had received from the people during his absence. The people had undertaken to pay the full stipend and res nit ifc to him by a certain agreed time. There had-been some mismanagement, as he afterwards learned. He had obtained a commission froui the Colonial Comuiitee of the Free Church of Scotland, to proviuce of Otogo, aud it was his inteutiou to have pro* ceedtid there, but he had comc before the Presbytery, so that he might incur no charge of being * l disorderly." By doing this lie had forfeited his passage-money. The Moderator said there was a member of he Waiph congregation present who would probably have something to say in the matter.—Mr. Mclveuzie said that he was deputed by the committee of Waipu to come before tho Presbytery. He asked, on their behalf, that Mr. Mcßae might be allowed to go back.—Rev. Mr. Bruce: Under these circumstances, the best thiug we can do is to allow the letter containing the resignation to lie on the table. I will move to that eiFect.—Motion put accordingly and carried. Alleged Irregularity.—The Rev. Mr. Munro said the Presbytery ought to be informed how it occurred that the Colonial Committee of the Free Church at home should give Mr. Mcliae a commission to Otago, at the same time that Mr. Mcßae was in charge of a congregation under the Auckland Pre3l»ytery. Had the committee done this of their own motiou, or did Mr. Mcßae ask them to do it?— Mr. Mcßae said that there was a former letter in wlrieh there was a commission offered to him. At that time there was no irregularity in mat- > ter. He had not asked them in the way sug- . gested.—The Rev. Mr. Runciman : I cannot s but think that what has happened ia a mat--5 ter which, in respect to itself, this Presby- [ tery is bound to notice. If the fact is as • alleged, the Presbytery ought to be fully inl formed on the subject.—The Rev. Mr. Mac- . nicol : I think that we must take notice of . the circumstance; for, if the Colonial I Committee gave a commission to Otago > district to a minister who they knew was in , charge of a congregation under the Aucki land Presbytery, a greater insult could scarcely be offered to it as a Presbytery. If that were the real state of the case, the Colonial Committee would have been highly censurable, and I would be prepared to move that the Clerk of Presbytery communicate 9 with the Secretary of the Colonial Commit--1 tee of the Free Church as to the "irregularity" that has taken place.—The Rev. D. . Bruce : It is necessary to take care lest 3 we put ourselves in a false position b> e acting upon imperfect information. There may have been no " irregularity" whatever, and we have not yet rec*ived to the full al] } the information on the subject.—The Rev. • Mr. Mcßae said that he had gone to Mr. t Brown, the clerk, that morning, for the pur pose of withdrawing his resignation.—The Rev. Mr. Brown : 1 could not withdraw th< Q letter from the Presbytery: it was theii ® property.—The Rev. Mr. Runciman : Ol e course not; but if Mr. Mcßao chose, he migb c now withdraw his resignation.—The Rev -s Mr. Munro : Still, the other question woulc il remain, whether either the Colonial Com i- mittee or Mr. Mcßae had not done some J » thing "illegal."—The Rev. Mr. Runciman iS The Secretary of the Colonial Committe< e might be perfectly free from blame D and Mr. Mcßae have acted "il | legally" in accepting the commission.— The Moderator said the question was settlei e as to the asking for tho commission, for ii e the letter of resignation it said : " I askec and obtained a commission" from thi g Colonial Committee of the Free Church, &c n Ifc was resolved, •* That the Clerl £ of Presbytery be instructed to com municate with tho Colonial Committe • 3 of the Free Church of Scotland as to th fact of Mr. Mcßae having obtained a com 0 mission from the Colonial Committee."—Thi y motion was put and carried unanimously.