DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10171, 4 October 1894, Page 4

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

A meeting of the Presbytery of Dunedin was held ia the hall of First Church yesterday. Sederunt: The Revs. R. R. M. Sutherland (moderator), W. Will, A. M. Finlajson (clerk), Dr Watt, A. Cameron, J. Kirkland, A. Don, J. Qibb, J. M'Kerrow, I. Jolly, A. Greig, D. Dutton, R. J. Porter, and R. Waddeli (ministers) ; Messrs Hutton, Paterson, Thomson, Marshall, Law, Sawell, Scott, and Ash (elders). ■ BAVENSBOURNE. ' The Rev. J. Gibb submitted the report of the committee to which had been referred the application of the Ravensbourne congregation. He said that unless there was a fully-equipped organisation in Ravensbourne, with a strong man in the pulpit, Presbyterianiam would probably go to the board in the neighbourhood. There were quite a number of denominations working there at present, and if the Presbyterian Church was to hold its own the presbytery must do something better for the congregation than appoint a missionary who would not be so thoroughly qualified as was desirable, and who, if a Btudeut, would only bs able to give half his time to the work. Seeing that the people were so united and hearty, and seeing that it was extremely desirable that tho wishes of the congregation should be equipped, the committee unanimously resolved to recommend the presbytery, in the event of the Ravensbourne congregation raising at least £150 per annum for the sustentatibn fund, to guarantee its being placed for three years on the platform of the equal dividend. He moved that the recommendation of the committee bs adopted, and pointed out that the presbytery would only require to raise £85 to give effect to it. 1 The Rev. A. Cambhon, who seconded the motion, thought that the presbytery might, without any difficulty; talcs the responsibility of raising the money requited. The motion was carried, and it was resolved to reappoint the committee to consider how the money required could best be found. lord's supper at the synod. The presbytery proceeded to consider a remit on the observance of the Lord's Supper at the annual meeting of synod. The Key. J. Gibb moved—" That the presbytery approve of the proposal contained in the remit.' The proposal was, he said, brought >y him under the attention of the synod at its last meeting. There were still some Prosbyterian churches in whioh the Sacrament o£ ths Lord's Supper was not observed by the chief courts, but the practice w*s becoming more common, and wherever it wsa observed the unanimous opinion was that the observance of the Lord's Supper at the boginnicg.of the synod was most helpful and profitable, tending to araw the members of the court together, tending to deepen the sense of brotherhood, and in thai; way anaistiag-tho business of. the court. He might allege a good many other reasons in support of the proposal if it would not be unnecessarily occupying the time of the presbytery, and he oould gee no objection to the proposal save this one, which might easily enough' be disposed of, that, as, it was urged, it would not be a becoming thine to engage in this solemn sacrament and proceed forthwith to the wrangling or dhcord which sometimes characterised the meetings of the church courts ; but that was really no argument against the observance of the Lord's Supper by the synod, or if it was an argument,it might be carried to the extent of being an argument in favour of doing away with the reading of the Scriptures and the devotional exercises at the opening of the synod He suggested .that, to make way, for the observance of the Lord's Supper, the address of. the incoming moderator might be deferred until the close of the eessiqn of the synod. The Rev. J. Kirkland seconded the moi ion, and said teat some five or six years ago he brought a motion forward in the Bynod which aimed in the same direction. He did not know now what objections were urged against it, but the main one, he thought, was that it had never been done by tho synod before.—(Laughter.) Hci was strongly of the mind expressed by Mr Gibb—that if the Communion of the Lord's Sapper were observed at the beginning of tho' synod it would tend to alter the tone and character of the whole synod.

The Ssv. J. M. M'Kerkow observed that in the Presbyterian Church of England the Cord's Sapper was always observed, not on the Monday night (the opening night), bub first thing on the Tuesday morning. He would rather favour having the communion on the opening night and inviting church members to join in—-(hear),—postponing the moderator's address till the next morning. The Rev. D. DurroN thought it would add immensely to the interest and value of the occasion if a number of church osembers were present, and he thought also that it would ba a gain to the whole church if they had simply one address at the opening of the synod, instead of two addressss.

The Bey. W. Will very much approved of the proposal, and very sfcrengly concurred in the views of Mr Dutton that it was extremely desirable that a great many office-bearers should: unite with the members of the synod on that remarkable occasion. It would isolate the synod very much if the sacrament were held on the Tuesday morning. He would suggest that the difficulty in connection with finding room for the Lord's Supper might bo overcome by the retiring moderator giving, in place of a' sermon, an address in connection with the observance.

The Rev. J. Gibb thought it would be a monstrous thing if the members of the ay nod were to refuse to other Christian people who might be in the building the right to be present at the sacrament. The motion was agreed to. • MISCELLANEOUS. The report upon the attendance af members of presbjtery during the past year was read and approred. The report upon presbytery expenses was submitted and adopted, the only alterations that were recommended in last year's assessments being that the assessment for Knox Church was increased from £4 10s to £5, th&t for tlie Mosgiel congregation was reduced from £2 10s to £2, and that the Strath-Taieri congregation was assessed for the first time at £1. '

The Rev. J. Christie, of Waikeuaifci, was appointed moderator for the ensuing six months.

It was agreed to apply to the synod for leave to take Messrs W. H. Ash and R. Dickie en trial for license.