PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13268, 27 April 1905, Page 10

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

: Tlio annual meeting of the Presbyterian. Synod was continued yesterday in First Church Hall, when there was a good attend- ■ an'co of ministers and. elders. ■Tho Moderator (the Rev. A. M. Dalryniplo) presided. ■ ' - I SUSTENTATION FUND. I The Rev. 1!. R- M. Sutherland submitted the report, of tho committee appointed to consider tho proposal to appoint an organising agent for the fund. . Tho committeewi9 unable to recommend anyone, but asked the Synod to continue the committee, with power to negotiate with, likely men, and if it found one whom it : considered suitable to have power to appoint bihi at what it considers suitable remuneration, but that this bo not done till the committee had a guarantee to cover expenses for one year. He moved the adoption of the report. Mr Pryor seconded the motion. . .'.'Aiier a lengthy discussion it was resolved on the motion of the Rev. UBorrie—" That the committee . be ' empowered to communicate "with the Rev. J.' Paterson, of Wellington, and on satisfactory arrangements being made to appoint . hiiji, but, failing satisfactory arrangements, that tho committee look for another suitable mail and appoint him." '' . CHORCII PROPERTY. The Rev A. M Finlayson (clerk) read a letter from the factor (Mr Fred. Smith), enclosing Messrs Stewart and Payne's opinion that the Otago Presbyterian Church Board of Property cannot make a grant in respect of property vested in the Presbyterian Church Property Trustees, and suggesting that the necessary amendments ibo made. It was resolved to make two amendments in tho regulations, to pass the regulations in an amended form into an Interim Act, and send it to ministers and sessions before twing disposed of at next meeting of 'Synod. The Rev. W. Will called attention to a j»ssible danger. It seemed to him that, in view of the difficulties which the Free Church had experienced at Home, the model trust deeds should be looked into and revised. The Rev. D.' Borate said there' was a large legal question involved, as to whether the Church Board of Property, being, as it were, outside the Church, could hold the property of the Church of New Zealand, ,0n tho motion of tho Rev. A. W. Kinmont, seconded by the Rev. W. Scorgie, it.was resolved—"That a committee be appointed to consider the manner in which tho Church property is held and tho relation between the Otaeo Board of Property, the Church Property Trustees, and deacons' courts, and report to next meeting of Synod." TOST FUNDS. The Kev. Dr Nisbet mored—"That a representative committee bo appointed to investigate and report to next meeting of Synod on tbc feasibility of utilising tho trust funds at present devoted to assisting congregations, and purchase sites and build nrid repair churches and manses throughout Otago and Southland in the interests of Presbyterianism throughout New Zealand. In the event of a decision being come to, to report favourably on this proposal, authorise tho committee to devise a scheme l>y which existing obligations may be honourably discharged." The Rev. A. W. Kinmont seconded the motion. Tho Rev. W. Will said that the proposed (step was one of great difficulty, and should be fully considered before being even entertained. The Rev. P. B. Fraser thought that, in tho interests of the proposal itself, the subiect should be approached not so suddenly. The motion was ultimately carried by 28 votes to 19. GRANTS. Applications for grants for new churches \rcro granted in respect to Macraes, Maori . Hill, Ratanui, Pembroke, Miller's Flat, arid Ranfurly. Grants for church repairs were authorised in' .favour of Waipahi, the Chinese Church, Duntroon, Coluraba. Arrowtown, Mokoreta, Piikerau, Green Island, and Wyndham. Tho grants for manses, extensions, etc., anproved of were in favour of Edendale, Waiwera, Roxburgh, Waikaia (conditional), and Patearoa. The application from 'Bluff led to a discussion and the sotting up ol a commiftoe to inquire and report. COMMITTEES. At the evening sitting, 'which commenced at 7 o'clock in tho hall, the Synod dealt first with tho appoiutment of committees. Church Extension and Finance.—Tho Rev. Mr Sutherland, in moving the appointment of this committee, said it was desirable to have a largo committee, so as to nave members in different parts of tho territory. Ho proposed the following names:—The Revs. R. E. M. Sutherland (convener). A. Cameron. A.. M. Dalrymple, G. Lindsay, W. Nichol, and T. Neave, J. M'Cosh Smith, D. Rorric, and A. Begg, and as elders Messrs W. Couston. D. Scott, W. B. Rose, and A. 0. Begg.—Tho motion was agreed to. Synod Business, Expenses, and Accommodation.—Tho Revs. D. Dutton (convener), W. Scorgie. I. K. M'lntyre, .T. Chisholm, and A. M. Finlayson: elders Messrs W. H. Adams. W. T. Todd, G. Rcid, R. Bagrie, and W. Pryor. State of Religion. Tho Presbytery of Mataura, with tho liiv. A. Begg (convenor). Tllp ASSEMBLY'S nejt jieetixg. ■Tho Rev. Mr Sutherland said he would like to get tho mind of the Synod as to the placo of tho Assembly's next meeting. It had been resolved to meet in Auckland, and there should be some understanding as to the number of members going, and as to Ihe amount of expenses they would receive. His opinion was that there should bo no departure from tho provisions laid down in the Basis of Union, or somo future Assembly might resolve to ■ meet in Timbuctoo, or somewhere whore only two or three membere could appear. 'The Rev. D. Borrio thought it was a pity to rake the question. The matter had been remited to Presbyteries, which were the bodies to deal with it. Tho Rev. Mr Scorgio was against interlering with the work of tlio Assembly, and l thought it was a most damaging blow to ihe Church to state in the Outlook that £900 was to bo spent on what appeared to some to bo just an ecclesiastical picnic. The disoussion was adjourned until the conclusion of the public meeting. the sestkntation fdnd. At the public- meeting in the church, .when there wa?. a fair attendance, addresses "were given by two elders and a minister on the position of the Sustentation Fund. Mr-Walter Gov, a member of tho Duncdin Office-bearers' Association, spoke of'the necessity of tho churches contributing liberally to tho Sustentation Fund and increasing tho salary paid to ministers so as to oncourago youug men to enter the Church. It-was necessary for a candidate for the ministry to go through a course of six years' training. He believed that many of their ministers, if tfioy had devoted their talents to a secular calling, would havo done much better financially than 'they were doing in the ministry. Twenty years ago the equal dividend was £22+, but it Jiacf now fallen to £197 10s, which, ho held, was not sufficient for their ministers. Ho Submitted to their people these propositions:—!. That it is the primary duty of tho United Church to the utmost of its power to extend its influence and to provide ordinances for all its adherents in every district within its bounds. 2. That in order to smuts an efficient ministry, especially in Hoarsely-populated distriots, it is desirablo that the stipends of ministers should be provided by tho United l Church. 3. That it is impossible to attain these objects unless by the adoption of the Christian principle that tho strong shall help tho weak—in other words, that the larger communities and greater churches shall assist those who are less able to provido for themselves. Taking all things into consideration, he said, it was obvious that the success of their ministers depended to a large extent on their freedom from care, and it ought to bo. the duty of the congregations to freo them from tho cares of ordinary life. Ho did not think that the people were to Maine, or, that the heart of the Church was unsound. - Tho . people were honestly desirous, of doing what was right, l but their duly had not been mado clear to them, and when that dutv was pointed out lf« believed they would' rise and do with s will what they ought to do in the matter. Tho Northern Church had a membership of 15,568 members, whose gross contributions for church' purposes amounted to £57,492, which represented an average of £4 <s 2d per member nor 'annum. The south was more economical. There were 15.206 members in the south, who contributes for all piirnoses '£(1,441, >or; ail, average of £2. 14s 7d' per '• member per aunnm. The speaker went on to refer to the contributions of different Centres to tho Sustentation Fund, and urged . that'moTo interest should be taken in the . matter br tho Chnrch to maintain a stronpf fund. " Mr W. Pryor. another, member of the Dunedin Office-bearers' Association; also referred to tho necessity of strengthening the sustentation furid. : " While they ' were, their ministers-£224sin-' 1883,', they / were practically paying them only a little ".over, half .that amount last year.- because' money liad only about .two-thirds of.: the : - purchasing power now $iafc : it» had 20 years v ago, It uwtaubtedly a rfpwwfc to

jtlio.' Church when iho ma It orwas .looked at ill tint way. The .Church in (lie south | fell far 6hort of the Church in the-north :;in.;tha;jpatter of giving. -The Church iu :tho north gave Is. 6j[<r ijer member jier :vcok for all purposes,but the Cimrch .in th-y south guv^e. only. Is-per' member:per .."\reek.: ys\iy was,this? He bad approached liia minister (the: lie,v.. D. .Borrio), ''whoso I reply was that it was owing to tiler curse I of the enctowments, He-- felt'suro tho people would agree with him that it. was time there W{U a revolution of some sort and ■ that tho people gave as they ought to give. It liad been desired to make tho equal dividend £250 per annum, but instead of getting nearer to. that, point, in late years the aiiiount. was getting away from' it. It seemed to him th& only remedy was to educate the people, and as Church members to recognise the sustentation fund as the, first, and 'paramount fund in the Church. He: asked-tho meeting to take these three, facts- ho'me with them:— (1) The inadequate salaries'.* paid to their ministers; (2) the paucity of general- giving for religions purposes; and (3) that the sustentation fund should he placed in its rightful position .as the paramount fund of the Church. 1 ' The Rev.Dr Nisbet said that if they took away from the meeting: that night the ministers' wives and 'tho staunch old elders .they had not « meeting that was equal to a third'-rate prayer meeting. It was an I ovidenee- of the utterly mistaken way in I which many of the people regarded financial .questions. There were those who ' looked oii finance'as a very secular matter. It was a folieh fallacy that was. gaining •; ground in these days, and a particular type ! of Christians would not talk of financial .''matters at all. He thought it was a misj take. Christ did not hesitate, to sit over againet the treasury, not only to scan the gifts but to read the hearts of tho givers. As to the sustentation fund, he might say that his church had decided to increase ite .contribution to it in the comintr year by £75, It had already b«jn mentioned that the: equal dividend 24 years ago was £224; and as the rate </f living had increased by ' 25 per cent, and prosperity had been general, the equal dividend to-day should reaJly .he £280. Since coming lo tho colony he had kept his .eyes and ears open iri going through' some cf the country parishes, and in one place he found that the income was ' £374-, and the congregation was paying only 1 the minimum sum to the fund. Cases cf i that sort ought to be looked into, and they 1 no doubir would be looked' into whet' tho agent for the fund was appointed. The 1 speaker, went on to urge that certain steps should hei taken to strengthen the fund. On the motion of tho Rev. Mr Suther--1 land tho speakers were thanked for their ■ addresses. ; Tns assembly's xext meeting. [ The adjourned discussion on this matter 1 -was then resumed in the hall. The l'ev. Mr Sutherland's motion was read, as follows: —"That the Synod expresses 1 its opinion as to the previsions of the Basis ' of Union for representation and expenses ' of representatives to tho next meeting of 1 Assembly being interfered with." ; Tho Rev. Mr Borrie's amendment was, at ' his request, withdrawn. ' The Rev. Mr Sutherland replied, and the ' motion, on'being .put, was earned. __ • ' The Rev. Mr Borrio recorded his dissent 1 from tho.Synod taking un this question. < Tlio Rev. Mr Sutherland then moved— 3 " That tho Synod is of opinion that the 3 provisions of the Basis of Union for representation and expenses of representatives ! be not interfered with." Mr G. "Dawson seconded the motion. The Rev, S. W .Curric moved as an ' amendment-" That this Synod, while reerig- ' nising that the Basis of Union cannot be interfered \yith. is of opinion that the difli--1 cnlty of meeting the expenses of next 3 Assembly might, be largely met by the ' Assembly unanimously agreeing to pay expenses onlv over 30s or £2." ' The Rev. Mr Cuming seconded the amendment. On being put, the amendment was car--5 ried by 18 votes -to 15 1 GENERAL, ■ On the motion of the Rev. Dr Nisbet, seconded by Mr G. Eeid. it was unani- ' mrasly resolved—"That tlw 'Synod meet 1 next year on the Tuesday before Easter— ■ Tuesday, April 10." . The Rev. Mr Scorgic moved. Mr G-. Rmu > seconded, and. it was agreed—"That the ' Synod enjoins every minister within the • bounds of Otago and Southland 1 to preach a lecture on tho quarter centenary of .Tohu f Knox on Sunday, May 21, and recommends that a public meeting be held in the centre of each Presbytery during unloss ' other arrangements are made." The reports of tho Church Records and Synod Expenses Committees were adopted. A memorial minute respecting the death 4 of l!he Rev. J. A. Will, of Lawrence, was 5 unanimously agreed to. 3 The Patients and 1 Prisoners Aid Society ' was recommended to the sympathy and sup--3 port of the Church. Votes of thanks were passed to the press ' for its reports and to the friends who had 1 provided accommodation for members of s the Synod. ; A voto of 'thanks to the Moderator closed ' the business of tho Synod.