DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7917, 7 July 1887, Page 4

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

■ ♦ A meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery was held in the Firßt Church hall yesterday. Present : Revs. A. Cameron (moderator), W. Will, J. Kirkland, R. R. M. Sutherland, J. M. Sutherland, J. Frazer-Hurst, A. M. Finlayson, W. Campbell, D. Borne, J. Gibb, M. Watt, R. J. Porter, A. Greigi elder3—Messrs J. C. Fraser, J. Pater sou, and Captain Thomson. Election of moderator. The moderator's term sf office having expired, the Rev. J. M. M'Kerrow was elected moderator for the next six months. He being present, took the chair. CHURCH EXTBNSION. The Rev. Mr Bobhih submitted the report of the Church Extension Committee, and moved— " That the First Church Extension Committee be discharged, and that a standing Home Mission Committee be appointed with a view to encourage home missions in the city and suburbs, and building more mission halls in suitable localities were necessary; the committee to be constituted as follows: —Revs. Dr Stuart, J. Gibb, R. Waddell, R. R. M. Sutherland, A. Cameron, W. Campbell, D. Borrie (convener), and Messrs A. Rennie, J. A. Torrance, K. Ramsay, C. Moore, W. Gow, J. Paterson, Fitzgerald." The motion was carried. THB REV. A. C. GILLIES. The Rev. Mr Finlayson drew attention ■ to the fact that services were being held by the Rev. A. C. Gillies in Albany street Hall. He thought the presbytery should take some notice of this, both for their own and Mr Gillies' sake. These services were being conducted without the knowledge and sanction of the presbytery. He moved—"The presbytery having had its attention directed to services conducted by the Rev. A. C. Gillies in Albany street, Dunedin, instruct the clerk to communicate with Mr Gillies and request him to inform the presbytery as to the nature and purpose of such services." Tho Rev. ,Mr Camekon proposed that the presbytery should pass on from this matter. Mr Gillies held a certificate to preach from the presbytery. The motion was not seconded. Mr Fraser asked if Mr Gillies was under the presbytery's jurisdiction. The Rev. Mr Finlayson: Oh, yes. The Rev. Mr Win seconded Mr Finlayson's motion. Here was a man who got a certificate from the presbytery, virtually on tho understanding that he was to leave the country and present the certificate to another church to get employment. The Rev. Mr Finlayson: He gave the presbytery to understand ho was going to leave directly. The Rev. Mr Will said that Mr Gillies got the certificate on the understanding that he was to go away, and he opened a church outside of the control and jurisdiction of the church altogether. They had a right to inquire about that congregation. They should summon Mr Gillies to the bar of the presbytery and ask him for a personal explanation of what he meant. Mr Gillies was within the jurisdiction of the presbytery even though he had got his certificate. It was a disgrace to the presbytery. It looked as if the presbytery was afraid to do its duty in the matter.—(" No, no.") The Rev. Mr Kirkland said the wiser course would be to ask Mr Gillies when he intended leaving the country, seeing that the certificate was given on the distinct understanding that he was to leave, and that if be was not going away very soon he should be asked to give an explanation to the presbytery. He did not think they should ask what he was doing now. The Rev. Mr Pobter thought it would be a great mistake if they took any notice of Mr Gillies at all. The last thing the presbytery should do was to take the least notice of Mr 1 Gillies. He moved—" That the presbytery pass from this subject." The Rev. J. M. Sutherland said the presbytery had thrust the certificate on Mr Gillies. The Rev. Mr Gibb quite agreed with the sentiments which Mr Will gave expression to in relation to the irregularity of the proceedings and defiance of the presbytery on the part of Mr Gillies. He did not think it worth while bothering Mr Gillies,; the game was not worth the candle. The Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland would not vote one way or the other. He thought the presbytery was not doing its duty in allowing:Mr Gillies to go on in that irregular and defiant way. He simply wanted to wash his hands!of the whole business, and give expression to his feeling that the presbytery were not doing their duty. A member of the Presbytery of London did very much the same thing as Mr Gillies, and his certificate was taken away. The presbytery now admitted that they had made a mistake in regard to Mr Gillies. They thought he was going to clear out, but he had not, and they found that they had been cheated by him. The Rev. Mr Cameron said the presbytery had the interest of the whole church to consider as well as certain rules, and he thought the best plan to adopt was to ignore Mr Gillies altogether, whether it be presbyterial or not. Mr Gillies would soon find it necessary to move if he was left alone, but if the mud was stirred up the result would be different. The Rev. Mr Ryley did not think it was fair of Mr Sutherland to speak of the presbytery doing wrong. The Rev. Mr Sutherland : I do not mean moral wrong. I mean to say you are not carrying out the rules; you are not acting constitutionally. The Rev. Mr Ryley said that Mr Sutherland's . view of what was constitutional and right was different from his. He thoroughly agreed with the amendment of Mr Porter, It was sometimes ! wise even to violate the letter of the law and conserve the spirit of the Church, and he held \ that it would be for the interests of the Church if Mr Gillies were allowed to subside and sink into oblivion.—(Laughter.) At the same time he was bound to say that if he had known Mr Gillies would have acted as he had, he (Mr Ryley) would not have advocated the giving of i his certificate. Of course they did not know ; what Mr Gillies was going to do. He (Mr Ryley) , thought Mr Gillies would be glad to get out of i Dunedin, and would take the very first opporI tunity of leaving; but he saw now that it was a deep-laid scheme on his part. He ;had got a ! number of the North Dunedin congregation to i lift their certificates and to leave the church at I the same time as he did himself, so that they • could go to a hall to have independent services. > He (Mr Ryley) was convinced that the whole f thing was a deep-laid scheme. As matters stood s now he did not see what good would result from ) bringing Mr Gillies before the bar of the presbyi tery and asking an explanation from him. Mr ' Gillies would not give up his certificate. Sup- , posing he laid the certificate on the table, he (Mr • Ryley) ventured to predict that the presbytery , would not employ him. A hue and cry would I then be raised that the presbytery acted deceit- ■ fully; that they took Gillies' certificate and then , would not give him employment. ; The Rev. Mr Will :Oh yes we will. The Rev. Mr Rylky : I doubt it. We hope he is preaching the Gospel—hope he is doing good. 1 If he is, let him go on. Let us thus consult our . own dignity and that of the church. The Rev. Mr Will pointed out that Mr Gillies i would have 'got employment if he had not received his certificate. After further discussion it was resolved, on tho motion of the Rev. Mr Bobrie, seconded by the Rev. Mr Kirkland—" That the consideration of this matter be adjourned until next meeting of presbytery." GENERAL. A letter was received from Mr A. Hunter, of North Dunedin, requesting a copy of the

petition presented by the Ladies' Association of North Dunedin.—lt was agreed to accede to the request. The Rev. R. R. M. Suthkhland requested per- j mission to peruso all tho documents and minutes j in relation to tho resignation of the Rev. A. C. j Gillies.—The request was agreed to. An application was received from the Rev. G. H. Hunter to be accepted as a probationer of , the church.—A committee was appointed to report on the application. . The Rev. Mr Cameron reported that £5110s , had been promised towards the Presbyterian ' scholarships for three years. The Rev. Messrs j Cameron (convener), Gibb, and J. M. Suther- ■ land were appointed a committee to prescribe j the subjects for examination and frame regulations. The- Rev. Mr Cameron gave notice of an overture regarding a collection for the scholarship fund. It was resolved that tha remits from the Synod re deacons signing a formula' and regula- , tions of the aged and infirm ministers' fund be . taken into consideration at next meeting of presbytery. The Rev. Mr BOnflf c submitted plans of a pro- ' posed new church at St. Leonards, which were : adopted with a slight alteration. :