DUNSTAN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10760, 26 March 1897, Page 4

DUNSTAN PRESBYTERY.

The usual regular m&eting of this court was | held ,at Alexandra on the 17th inst. There ! were present — The Revs. W. K. Grant I (moderator), Telford, M'Cosh Smith, Lothian (clerk), Cumming, and Gellie (ministers), and Messrs William Thomson and J. Bowie (elders). ■; j The Hey. Mr Telford was elected moderator for the ensuing term. It was agreed to take up the UNION QUESTION las the first business, and the presbytery pro- | ceetled to consider the rsmit of synod on the | basis of union adopted by the synod and sent i down to presbyteries and kirk sessions for con- ; sideration. After a long and careful, delibera- ; tion oa the whsle subject, tha presbytery una- ! nitnously resolved—"To express its general ! disapproval of the basis of union adopted by I lasS synod, and especially of article 3 in the I same." A return from oue session was reI ceived disapproving of the basis of union, and ! ! the presbytary instructed tho other kirk sessions j I to forward thßir returns) to the next ordinary mefcting. The following motion waa also carried unanimously : —" That this presbytery is strongly of opinion that ths Synod of Otigo and S'mthjaiid should rttain its status as an ecclesiastical body, in virtue of which, and as such aione, can it legally hold and administer its property, and that a committee be appointed to watch over the interests of church and synod; and also to communicate and co-j opsrate with metnber3 of other presbyteries aud ! of congregations who are like-minded in this I matter." It was also suggested during the dis- \ cusvion that some menus might bs found to let the members and adherents of the church at large know all the difficulties and circumstances surrounding this question, and also to take a plebiscite of the congregations if necesfary. WAN'AKA CIIUKCK EXTENSION CHARGE. The report of presbytery's commissioners (Key. Messrs Gellie snd Cumming) appointed to visit this charge and intimate the decision of last synod wan given in and read by Mr Gellie. j The report stated that on account of the wet weather at the date of their visit (24-th Jinuary) they had small attendances at the service, but that they visited a large cumber of the people jat their homes. At the close of the ser- | vices they announced the decision of the j synod to continue the • grants iv terms jof the church extension regulations for a j further period of three years, an si explained j matters to the people, referring also to the • liberality of the synod aad encouraging them i to ren;w their efforts en behalf of the church, j j Til* ' commissioners likewise met with the ] j central committee at Pembroke, who stated j ] that work and all industries had been and were j j at pr<=,saut at a very low ebb tnd prospects not i i very bright as yet, but they were hopeful that i things won.d mend shortly. On behalf of the committee Mr M-Dcngall promised that they would get the arrears of the minister's stipend paid up. The cjmmissiouera consider that I their visit did good, and that by the blessing ef God the church at W&nak* -nd Hawea m»y yet grow ar.d increase. — The presbytery adopted fee report, thaolcad the commissioners for their diligence in visiting the district at j cuusiderable inconvenience to themselve?, and I Expressed thankfulness that the people were stiil willing and hopeful, notwithstanding the trying and straightened times through which they have passed, commending them to the grace of the Lord and to the prayers of the church. STJSTENTATION FUND. Tha presbytery then took into consideration the subject of the minims of congregations and their financial position under the new regulations of the austsutatiou fund. Deputations from Bom-i of the ro;;gregations were present, and tb.e financial sJntsrnent of each for the past year and memorials were laid on the table, j asking for small reductions in the minimum j on acsouut of the unprecedented drought and j scarcity of produce throughout the whole I region of the presbytery. Atter minutely going | over all the data and information before them, the presbytery adjusted the minimum for each congregation, in terms of the new regulations, and recommended the same to the favourable consideration of the Sustentafcion Fund Committee, and instructed the clerk to forward extract minutes relating to the whole rn&tter. The presbytery expressed the opinion that the 1 previous minimum of £175 had all along pressed I too heavily on the majority of the goldfields I congregation?. Mr Cumaiing was aDpointed to 1 support the recommendations before the 1 Susteutation Fund Committee. TIiMPEItAJfCE. The Riv. Mr Grant presented a lengthy report on tha temperance question, which was receivad and discussed with much interest. — The Ray. Mr M'Cosh Smith, in a very earnest speech., movel, the following deliverance, which was agreed ta:— " That tli3 presbytery express its satisfaction i at the remarkable prograsa of temperance senti- . ment and work throughout tha colony during : the past year, aud urge the people to do all in '■ their power to promote the causa of true Gospel temperance throughout their own bounds and ■ the whcla land." BELIGION AND MORALS. The Rev. Mr Gellie also gave in an interesting ' report on this suhj^ct, which was fully discussed. Among sther things the report mentioned that the present raga for cycling was not favourable to Sibbath observance or attendance at God's worship ; bat it was not all evil, as it is not uncommon at some of the preaching stal tiors to see several bicycles leaning against the 3 walla outside whilst the riders are worshipping j iusMe. The report concluded with a frieadly hint ta parent? to ba miudful of their duties ' to the children, and more strict in ordering ' their families, not allowing them always to ' do as tbey please, or to remain out at all hours of the evenipg. They do not kuow the injury they do their children by bringing theai up iv ' thi» way, and it wouid be well in all kindness to tnra their attention to this important matter. , "There are not a few things to di3hsarten us all in our work, but let us labour oa trustfully, hopsfully, assured that our labour will not be , in vain' in the Lord. God ripens secretly beneath thick foliaga many a fruit of cur moral tillage, which shall in its turn bear seed and spread over a future age the shelter of the I Tree of Lifo." The report was adopted, and hearty thanks given to the coavener for his diligence. 0 After some routine business the presbytery ~_ adjourned, to meet at Alexandra on WedneE<lay, the 12'h day of May next. c ,v Anniversary services were held in connectiorj i- with the Presbyterian Church at Alexandra anc d Clyde on the 2l«t, wheu the Rev. James Chis '* | holm, of Miltoo, preached able and instructive g discourses, which were greatly appreciated bj y the large congregations which gathered th hear d him. In the morning Mr Chisholm took foi )f his subject " Christian Fellowship," basec on Romans xvi, and in the evening h< J" preached on "The Urgency of the Gospel,' ® l from the concluding verses of lit Cor. v n n.ad his sermons were attentively listened to ,f On Friday, the 19th, the annual tea meetius jf was held, when there was a gcod attendance and a hearty meeting. The choir reudere( :e some fine anthems and pieaes very cffestirely Some excellent solos were beautifully randerec by several ladies and gp.ntlemen, smongs i- which may be mentioned "Thi Star of Bsfchif. [. hem" by Mr Lemon and "Will Ho come" b' ;r Mi3s Guiiiou. AddresFfts were given by tb" }. i Rev. Mr Lothian, who presided, ths Revs ik Mesers Chisholm, Edwards (An^licac), an< ie Foole (Wesleyan missionary), and Mr Cloaa 3r ! Tho whole of the anniversary meetings wer ; i very successful.