DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13250, 5 April 1905, Page 2

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Tho Dunedin Preshyterv met yesterday morning-in tho hall at the rear'of First Church, the ltcv. L. Thompson, moderator, presiding. Tin; Rov. Jlr Borrie referred to the matter of the amalgamation of the funds, north and south, and on his suggestion it was a«ree<l to coiwidcr it at next meeting; <i eommitteo being formed Io look into tho subject. The same committee was empowered to consider the matter of the general treasureshiii.

The Rev. Mr M'lntyre mentioned that at a meeting of Hit* Chahnep> Church congregation on tho 9th inst. it was agreed to ask the Presbytery to moderate in a call, llm minister in vic.v being the Rev. 1). M'Lonnnn. of AVuipu, Auckland. There was now no difficulty in I,ho wav of Mr M'Lcnnau accepting tho call. He mentioned further that the comniiwioners present wore Messrs Fleming and M'Phorson.— Tt, was agreed that tho request of the congregation he granted, and that the moderation take place, on the evening of the 19th inH., the Rev. Mr M'lntyre to preside. '

Mr Wright, organising agent for the llible-in-schools Referendum was present at l.ltp meeting of the Presbytery, am) explained the objects of the league. What he nf-korl of the Pro=bytery was tlififc a resolution bo passed sympathising and endorsing the platform of tho Referendum League. and promises on tho pail of ministers of active assistance. There was a great deal of feeling: in favour of the fiiblo-in-s.chool? movement, but. unfortunately, it was to an extent dormant, ami the ministers eonld wake it up. A few ministers were not with them in the movement, and a resolution from the Presbytery would i.wist greatly. Ho had spoken to several members of Parliament round the district, and all lie had spoken to wore strongly in sympathy with the. taking of a poll upon the subject, though some were, not in favour of the Bible in schools.

On the motion of the Piev. 1 D. Borrie it. was r,wolved—" That the Presbytery heartily endorses 1 the platform of the Referendum League, and promises, to (five all the help in its power to further the movement; further, that Mr Wright bo furnished with the names of the miniver.? prepared to assist." The Rev. Mr \Faokin bromrht before the Presbytery the report dealing with lay preachers. The committee now presented a report that it thought the Presbytery would approve of. The report ivas as follows : — I.With tho object of combining, developing, and utilising the lay-preaching powers of tho Churcbi the Duncdin anil Suburban Officebearers' Association shall keep a, roll of lay preachers, to lie revised annually. 2. Those wishing to be enrolled as fullyaccredited lay preachers shall bo communicants of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand who have received certificates of yerrouat fitness for the work from the sessions of the congregations of which they are members, and must either—(a) pass an examination in Bible knowledge, Christian doctrinc, and English compnsitio-i on a syllabus prepared by a committee to be hereafter described and approved by Presbytery; (b) be elected by that committee b?caMse of approved fitness for the work. 3. A committee comprised of four ministers of the Dunedin Pr-:sbytery (to lie elected by tlie Presb,vt?ry) and four members of the Dunedin and Suburban Oilice-bearors' Association

(lo be elected by (hat body) shall bo set v.p to deal with all applications (or enrolment,' arrange for preparatory classes, classes or confeionces for mutual aid, examinations, and everything pcrtnining lo the preparation and improvement oi lay pre ichors. Two members of each body shall form- a quorum 4. Eoforo being enrolled as fuliy-nccrcditjd lay preachers ths names of nil applicants must be 'submitted to Presbytery and approved, those 30 approved to be entitled to tv certificate signed by Moderator of Presbytery. ; 5, Applications for the services of lay picachcrs should be.made to the convener of committee or to some other person appointed by them. In limiting appointments care should be taken not to interfere with the work of tho Church Extension Committee, nor with the rights o( licensed preachers, students, and other agents of tho Church Extension Committee,

6. X J rcacher.s may read sermons other than their own which have been approved by the committee.

1. All .contributions in return for tho services of lay preachers, above travelling and other necessary expenses, shall go to the funds of the Dunedin and Suburban Office-bearers' Association, to be used in the interests of laypreaching. S. In making appointments care should he taken to discountenance Sunday travelling ns much as possible.

The scheme was adopted, and Dr Nisbei and the Rev. Messrs Button, Borrie, and Maekie wero appointed to represent the Presbytery on tho committee. The accounts in connection with cxnemliture on repairs on the manse at Middlemaroli were approved and passed on to (lie hoard. A letter from the Moderator and the' Clerk of tho * (ieneral Assembly was read by the Clerk, the Rev. A. JI. I'inlayson. It etatcd that tho travelling expenses or members to Auckland would amount to £900, which would be £516 more than had ever' been paid previously, and that the payment of such sum would seriously cripple the funds of the Church for years afterwards. Various measures to meet the case, tliii writers eaid, hud been talked over, lint the only one efficient appeared to he tiiat it motion should ho made in next Assembly asking tho members to agree 1o receivo half the usual payment (or this occasion.

On the motion of the Rev. Mr Chisholm it was- resolved—"That the Ivtten bo received. and that tho Presbytery regrehi that there should even be an appearance to set nr. an imperium in imperio."

The Rev. R. ,f. Porter was nominated Moderator of the Synod of Otago and Southland for the ensuing year.