OAMARU PRESBYTERY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12259, 9 June 1914, Page 5

OAMARU PRESBYTERY.

-.-' The Oamaru Presbytery held its ouarterlv meeting this morning, the sent —Ministers: Revs. \\. A™ l (CleVk) R J- Porter, W. Wright, ' fc PaieLin, J..D. T Neave. \ Clark, J Davie, .and P. C. Kennie, ildei: H. Allen 1 Dodd, W Curne, V Craig, W. Macandrew, J. Don, i Chapman, A. Elder and C -™'y, ■„ The Moderator welcomed Rev. Davie, newly installed in the Palmerston charge, whose counsel and assistance would be most valuable to the Presbytßßev Davie expressed his pleasure at • ■ hein.r'associated with the Presbytery, -and "said his best endeavors to do his duty would be made. The following minute from the Westland Presbytery dissolving the pastoral tie between Rev Davie ant Holi-+n.-n -K-iK reatTl: — It is; with sin.SS «gret the Presbytery . parts with Mr Davie. Since his -nSor to Hokitika Church he has given ample proof of his success as a minister, and his value as a Presbyter. He. has alwavs taken an active and intelligent interest in the work of the Presbvterv and his translation ft i leaVe a olank it will be very difficuU to fill. He is highly esteemed by all the members of the Presbytery, who join earnestly in praying that tire Great Kin" and Head of the Church 'may make him still more successful in advancing the temporal and spiritual interests of the Church m his new office."—The minute was received ana . entered in the minutes. Resignations from the convener and secretary of the Evangelistic Committee, Revs, R. J. Porter and J. C. Paterson, were then considered. Attn discussion it was decided to let the matter stand over until a notice of motion by Rev. J. C. Paterson had been dealt with. , , •.- _ Rev Paterson then moved a motion of which he had given notice, which proposed to rescind a motion previously adopted, dissolving the Evangelistic Committee and constituting the whole Presbvtery a committee with a view of acain 'setting up a small committee o'f three ministers and two elders. The first nart of the motion rescindine the existing resolution was taken first. Rev. Paterson said the whole , Presbyterv was too unwieldy a committee and a smaller bodv was needed to deal with matters arising between - Presbytery meetings. ' T The motion was seconded by .Kev. 0. D. "Wilson. . The Rev. Win. Nichol thought the difficulty could he met by the Presbytery as" a committee of the whole setting; iTO a small executive. He was v most averse to rescinding a deliberate resolution of the Presbytery which was ■a" serious matter, and should be snpported.bv the strongest reasons. Animated discussion followed, as the result of which Rev. Paterson withdrew hV, notice of motion, and moved -that an executive of the committee be 'annotated, to consist of a. convener, secretary, and three members (a minister and' two elders). „.., - On the motion of Rev. \Vm. Wright, seconded bv Rev. T. Nea-ve the resignations of the convener and secretary were accepted. An executive of the Evangelistic Committee was then appointed, consisting of Revs. Paterson (convener) Wilson (secretary and treasurer) and Messrs Renuie, Macandrew, and ±l. ' Rev P C. Rennie said that a call was made from the congregation to Rev. H. T. Blaii. members out--of 42 and So adherents of the charge had signed the oall which* though not unanimous was ■fully representative, and everyone was willing that he should come The oth •of. August would be a suitable day for tL induction. He moved that the call be sustained and transmitted to the Hawke's Bay Presbytery, with the necessary documents, Mr Grant, or olsborne, to be appointed to support the call. Rer- Blair was at present at M Rev! he Wright. seconded the motion, which was carried. _,.-,, A letter from Rev. Jas Chisholm, Clerk of the Dunedin Presbytery, wrote pointing out that the Presbytery of Otago was formed on 2,th .Tune, 1854 aid its diamond jubilee fell duo on that date this year. The Synod when apnroached had appointed .the clerks of "presbyteries within its boundaries to co-oporate in the matter. the Dunedin Presbytery suggested to the Oamaru Presbytery; that Sunday, June ZLst, be set. apart for special services in all the congregations and that a social function be held on the following Friday or such other date as might he convenient. . . It- was decided to recommend ministers and sessions to arrange for special • -services on 21st inst. as suggested. On the motion of Rev. J. D. Wilson, seconded bv Rev. W. Wright, it was derided that the Clerk should write to the Rev. R. J. Porter., conveying the sympathy of the Presbytery with him in his present indisposition and. that of members of hi= family. ' Rev Wm. Wright moved— ThePresbvterv resolve to express -their SS* svmoathy with Mr Near* and familv in the sad bereavement from which' thev have recently suffered in the'death'of Mrs Neave and assures them of its prayers ''or.their snppoit and comfort in their trial." Tlie resolution was carried by the Presbytery standing. Rev. Neave thanked the Presbvterv. . _ . The Presbvterv went into Committee to discuss matters in connection with the Evangelistic Committee and decided to retain the services of Mr Curoming until the end of the present W Wright moved—"This meetmo- pledges itself to supnort the platform of the Bible-in-State Schools League agreed upon by the governing courts of four denominations representing 7o per cent, of the population, and also endorsed by a veonest in writing rfghed bv upwards of 140,000 individual electors, the Government is amply instified in acceding to the wishes of such a large proportion of the neople. As the remiest is not ashin." the Government to decide the merits of the "League's nropn-al. but is to allow tiie npoole of the Dominion to come to a decision themselves on the matter, t'ns meeting would regret any action on the Dart of the Government which by leaving the matter standing ivcr would snrdv constitute it a disturbing factor nt the next election." Mr A. Elder seconded the motion, which was carried, and it was decided to forward a co™v of +he>"Solntion to the Premier

■Rpv. TV. "WriaTit -ils« pirp intirmtini «f intpftion to remit In's rim me nt, next qiin'rterlv mee-tinr " f the Pre«bvtnry. JJevs. Porter. '\V!l>r.p. nnrl verc nmj-iintcd a committee to consider the matter.