DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12448, 3 September 1902, Page 3

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Tlie presbytery met, for ordinary business at First Church yesterday morning; present—the Moderator (Rev. J. 13. Hall), Revs. D. Borric, J. Chisholm, I. K. M'lntyre, A. M. Finlayson, W. Scorgie, W. Will, R. Fairmaid. W. Hewitson, J. J. Cairn'ey, J. IT. Spence, A. Cameron, A. Don, «T. C. Jamieson, , I). Button, Dr Nicclson, A. Greig, R. R. M. Sutherland, J. Christie, E. C. Tennent, R. Mackie, Br Watt, J. Gibb, and' Messrs D. Thomson, T. Somerville, R. lidmiston, 6. Reid, J. Waugh, J. F. Loie, J. Waddell, A. Chisholm, and H. Wise. t ( The Mr Gumming was associated with the presbytery for the meeting. i A hearty welcome back to the presbytery was extended to the Rev. Mr Button, by the moderator. Mr Dutton. replied suitably. MIDDLEMAIiCH CHURCH. A report on the' state of the Middlemaich. Church buildings .'was presented by Mr J. Annand, who' stated that the trouble was caused by the sinking of the foundations, into which a quantity of water had found its way. The mortar was inferior, and was falling out of the crevices. Mr Annand cstimated that it would cost £130 to repair the churoh.—On the motion of the Rw. D. Borne it was decided that a sub-committee, consisting of the Rev. Messrs Sutherland and Scorgie, Messrs Itoicl and: Bennet and the mover, be appointed to report on the state' of the church and the application which the congregation was making for assistance. THE Sr.N'OD. It was reported by the Rev. D. Borne that the .majority, of the presbyteries were in favour of holding the synod meeting next year at the usual time (Easter). —It was resolved that the Dunodin Presbytery should fall in with the. proposal. THE FILLING ' OP VACANCIES. The Rev. W. Hewitson presented the report of the committee set up to inquire into the methods of filling vacancies in charges. .The committee rccomjnended that exhortation and instruction should be given to congregations ai3 to their, duties and the methods of procedure for filling vacancies; that, where it is necessary to set up a Committee of Selection, tlie presbytery should be represented in the proportion of one to three; that greater car© should be exercised in -the selection of a leet, and' when'a man had been adversely voted upon by a congregation his nam-© should not be allowed to reappear upon the leet during the vacancy.-!— The details of the report were discussed and adopted seriatim, and it was resolved to send the report to tho assembly with a- request, that-it be sijiit on |tp, the presbyteries and .sessions. In considering' the report it was decided that tho presbytery should olect its own representatives, and that representatives should be elected for each vacancy. It was also decidcd that in connection with a call a majority of those on the church roll should be sufficient, if there were no opposition, but when there was opposition the presbytery ishould demand a two-th*ds majority., THE I!EV. D. DUTTON. The Rev. D. Dutton, who had previously been welcomed by 'the presbytery, made some remarks upon his experiences in South Africa with the Ninth Contingent. He said that he went out to do his duty, but found that there were qualifications neoessary for the work which he did not possess. He found also that there were qualifications required that would tax the abilities of any man. He, however, had been enabled to do a good deal of work. His experiences had been often pleasant, sometimes otherwise, and on tho whole-'he looked! back with pleasure to his life in South Africa. He had felt it no little honour to represent the New Zealand Presbyterian Church at the war, and with such a regiment as had been sent out. He said that the prestigo of the New Zealanders in South Africa was very great. The South Island Contingent of the Ninth had been most favourably commented upon by General Clinton, commanding in Natal. Mr Dutton mentioned that he had met other Presbyterian ehaplaius at the front, among them Major Murray (who wap with General White in Ladysrnith) and the Rev. Mr M'Farlane, chaplain for the Newcastle Regiment, and also several Anglican chaplains, including Major MTherson (who was also with General White in Ladysrnith). He was pleased to find them all zealous and godly men, not of the perfunctory style generally rwpposed to characterise the army clergy. Mr Dutton returned thanks for tho effioient conduct of his charge by the Revs. R. Mackie and D. West, and stated that he proposed to resume his duties forthwith.— (Applause.) The Rev. J. Gibb said that the opinion of the melt on the (Went, as to Mr Dutton's services was quite different from Mr Dutton's own. The men had a very great admiration for him, and when the ship was at Port Chalimers they made him a presentation by way of showing their appreciation.— (Applause.) SUNDAT. SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS. A report of a committee on the above subject was presented by the Rev. It. Mackie. The committee recommended that all the congregations within the bounds of the presbytery bo requested to make a contribution towards the prize fund; that the presbytery be recommended to appoint a committee to meet a committee of S.S. Union to draw up a scheme for a combined examination with S.S. ; Union ; that the presbytery make arrangements to supervise the training of teachers preparatory to S.S. teachers' examination, and that classes be arranged for in connection with groups of schools; that the presbytery be recommended to' take etepa to form a Lay Preachers' Association; that the Rev. Mr Dutton's name be added to the committee.— It was resolved that the Sabbath schools be strongly recommended to carry out the General Assembly's scheme of examinations, and those schools, connected with the Sabbath Schools' Union to carry out the scheme of the union also. The matter of a Lay Association was deferred, and the remainder of the report adopted. It was further /resolved that the committee a i) pointed should consist of the Revs. Mackie, Scorgie, Chisholm, Cameron, and Don, there to confer with the Sabbath school superintendents and tho committee of the union, to report to the presbytery. It was resolved, cm the motion of the Rev. Mr Scorgie—That statistics showing the attendance at Sunday schools be prepared and presented to tho presbytery as soon as possible." SADDLE HILL MISSION. Dr Wat-fc applied to be relieved of tho work at tli-8 Saddle Hill Mission, which ho found growing too arduous.—lt was resolved that the Rev. Mr Hall be appointed to take Dr Watt's place at Saddle Hill, and that the presbytery place on. rocord the valuable services rendered by Dr Watt to the district. HOME MISSIONS. Mr A. G. Crawford wrote applying to the presbytery for appointment as a homo missionary, and on the motion of the Rev-

D. Borne, it was decided to recommend Mm to the Church Extension Committee for tho work on condition that his testimonials axe fully satisfactory. A report on the home missions scheme was presented by the Rev. D. Borrie, m which it was recommended that homo missionaries be empowered to dispense the sacrament and perform tho marriage ceroinony only during the time they were in work under the presbytery.—This alteration was agreed to,' and it wa9 decided to submit the whole nclieme as amended to the General Assembly for its consideration.