CHURCH MATTERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7048, 9 February 1910, Page 6

CHURCH MATTERS

MEETING OF WELLINGTON PRESBYTERY. • Tho Wellington Presbytery met yesterday morning, the moderator (Rev. W., J. Comrie) presiding. Tho presbytery considered an application from Mr J. Rattray, of Pougaroa, a homo missionary there, that h© be empowered to administer the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper and also perform tho marriage ceremony. Applicant intimated that he had been ordained as a home missionary at a Gisborne session. —lt was decided to obtain from tho Hawke’s Bay Presbytery particulars of the standing of the applicant. A MASTERTON MATTER. The committee appointed to consider the matter of supply for the Masterton Church recommended;—“That Mr J. B. McDonald be empowered by the presbytery to administer -baptism while acting as supply for tho Rev. A. T. Thompson, of Masterton, and that the clerk be instructed to send his name to the clerk of the Assembly for insertion in the list of officiating ministers under the Marriage. Act,” A motion by the Rev. J. Kennedy Elliott that the recommendation be considered in committee was lost. The R-ev. A. T. Thompson said that

was bandied about and got in the public press— 1 — ‘ , The Rev. Mr Elliott: It was not bandied about by me. , _/ The moderator: On that point, Mr E% liott, you are not entitled to make the statement that Mr Thompson refused to accept full responsibility. . Mr Elliott: tl l thought that was the whole difficulty that has , arisen." He contended that reasons have been given for the recommendation, and suggested that ''the powers asked for be given and the case reported to th General Assembly/' ... • * This addition to the original motion was agreed to. The Rev. Gibson Smith suggested that steps should be taken in the assembly to secure that in future all new legislation, should. be # related to whatever previous legislation dealt with the same subject. . , • The Rev. L. Thompson deprecated the habit of the presbytery speaking of absent members in a way that might be taken as deprecatory, such as had been done at the former meeting. .He was perfectly willing to undertake the duties. t . The recommendation was carried. OTHER BUSINESS, The evangelistic committee was reappointed, being constituted the same as it was last year. A number of satisfactory reports from home mission stations were received; •,