ONEHUNGA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11870, 23 January 1902, Page 6

ONEHUNGA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

,- — ■ UNANIMOUS CALL TO THE REV. A. C. WEDDERSPOON. A MJJETiNG of members and adherents of the • Onehuuga Presbyterian Church was held last night. The Rev. W. Gray Dixon, M.A., presided. After devotional exercises the Chairman stated that the present was the annual meeting of the church, and that therefore the official reports would bo given first. The , meeting would also bo called upon to consider the question of providing a successor to the Rev. R. Wylie, whose resignation as pastor of the church had been ' accepted. The rev. gentleman then in a few brief sentences explained -. the Scriptural foundation of the church. He said Christ was the Head of tho Church, but that the Church was built Upon personalities ; that is, the Church consists of people who believe and confess the divinity of Jesus Christ. Recently a new Unitarian Church had been erected in Auckland, but the members of that denomination could not be recognised as spiritual stones in the Christian Church, seeing they deny the divinity of Christ. The session report was then read by Mr. S. Barr. It stated that the attendance at the • church services had fallen off considerably during the past year. The Rev. R. Wylie, who had resigned the pastorato ■of the church, would remain as senior minister without charge. The Sabbath-school report was very good. The Onehunga Presbyterian Sunday-school had carried off tho greatest number of honours at the recent examinations open to all the Presbyterian Sundayschools in the colony. Miss Muriel Adams had gained 100 per cent, in three subjects and therefore stood first on the list ,- of prize-winners in New Zealand. Feeling reference was made to the great loss sustained by the church through the death of Mr. James Park. ; The following ' were elected a board of managers for the ensuing year:—Messrs. H. Prime, Walter Watts, C. J. Byles, R. Gaven, T. Oilman; auditors, Messrs. H. Primo and J. W. Whyte. Mr. Baxter moved, "That the thanks of tins congregation be tendered to the Rev. Robert : Wylie- for his services to the Presbyterian Church of Onohunga: that the congregation hopes that his health may be speedily restored, and that he and Mrs. Wylie may enjoy success and every blessing in the future." Tho motion was adopted. Mr. C. J. Byles read the financial statement, as follows:—General.fund account: Expenditure— £200; church officer, £16; organist, £15 interest. £12 19s 3d; insurances, £10; lighting, £7 18s; printing and advertising, £5 163; repairs, etc., £3 15s 4d; assembly * expenses, £2 ■5s ; church extension fund, £1 ss; Maori mission fund, £1 18s 9d; Auckland City Mission fund, £2 6s 6d; Sabbath School examination prize fund, £1 12s 6d: total, £281 6s 4d. Receipts— dinary collections, £186 5s 2d; special collections, £7 12s 9d; seat rents. £60 13s 6d; donations, 7s 6d; salo of almanacs, etc., 13s; balance (deficit). £25 14s sd: total, £2816s Id. In addition to the above, the treasurer has also received a donation of £35 from tho Ladies' Dorcas Society, which sum has been paid off ..ho church debt, reducing it to £245. The only liability is one of £40 10s to the Rev. Wylie, against which there are a few seat rents duo, but which will not materially affect the balance. There is i> balance of £11 19s 9d to the credit of the manse new roof fund. . A vote oi thanks was passed to tho church officials, choir, and Sunday-school teachors for their services. ■

Mr. Colin McLeod moved, '" That this meeting of the Onehunga Presbyterian Church apply to the Presbytery of Auckland, asking it to moderate in a call to the Rev A. C. Weddorspoon, late oi Abcrlady, Scotland." Mr. R. Wallis seconded the resolution.

Mr. A. Whyk, stated that the Rov. A. C. Wedderspoon had recently arrived in tho colony. Ho had occupied the pulpit at Onehunga tor the last two Sundays with much acceptance. Very flattering reports had boon received of the good work done by the Rev. A. C. Weddorspoon in Abcrlady. The Moderator, In accepting Mr. Wcdderspoon's resignation of his charge in Scotland, is reported to havo said that whilo they parted with Mr. Wedderspoon in deep regret, and rejoiced in the work he had done so well in Abcrlady, at the same time they were confident ho was following a path which in Providence had been marked out fo.. him, and that lie had a very useful, successful, and honourable future beforo him. He left with the best wishes and prayers of the, presbytery, and ho (the Moderator) had no doubt they would insert in their rooords, and embody in tho preabyterial certificate, deep appreciation of Mi. Wcdderspoon's faithfulness and diligence in a difficult sphere of labour. The motion was carried unanimously. Messrs. Baxter, Prime, and MoLcod were appointed commissioners to appear before the presbytery in support of the call.