PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11658, 24 October 1923, Page 6

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY

CIHRISTGHURCH NEXT MONTH. MODERATOR FROM DUNEDIN. A good deal of interest is being taken in Presbyterian Church circles in the coming Assembly meetings, which are to be held in Christchurch early nest month, and there will be the usual exodus of ministers and elders who will take part in the proceedings. It is just 22 years since the union of the northern and southern churches took place. During the 22 years of the union in New Zealand there have been 21 moderators. Nine of these have belonged to Otago, eleven have been chosen from the remaining southern provinces, and only one has been a minister stationed in Auckland—tile late Rev. G. B. Munro, M.A. Other moderators have resided there before the end. of their term was completed after they had been selected from other districts, and the case of the Rev. Isaac Jolly, formerly of St. Stephen’s, may be ,cited as a case in point. An elder who has attended the meetings of the assembly for many years, says that although the Auckland province has made such great strides during recent years, having increased, according to the last census in 1921, by 28 per cent., and he believed to an even greater extent since then, Otago still liked to think that it was the centre of Presbyterianism in the Dominion, and when a moderator was nominated who _ resided within their borders they stuck to him like glue and voted for him to a man, and that was why they had such a long list of moderators. He thought it was time the north showed a more united front, for the church was making, wonderful progress up here, and with a little com-ibin-abiorf Auckland might receive a fe’vv more of the church honours which want round. It was indeed remarkable that a big province like Auckland had only provided one moderator in the long period of 22 years, and this year again an Otago professor in the university was going to be moderator, he being the tenth moderator from Otago.