CLUTHA PRESBYTERY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16315, 23 February 1915, Page 2

CLUTHA PRESBYTERY

Tho Presbytery of Clutha met at Milton on Friday; present—the Rev. Messrs Orr (Moderator), and Messrs Currie, Ponder, Williams, Watson, Durward, Morton, Wobstcr, M'Dowall, M'Oully, Mason, and Loan (minister?), and Vlcesrs Blaikie, Dallas, Kilgour, Tait, and Clarke (elders), and iViessrs r'ate and Milne (home missionaries). Mr Durward reported that Mr Crockett (home missionary of Beaumont) ha.a 'ooen seriously unwell, and moved that the Presbytery express its deep sympathy with liim in his long illness, and at the samo time its great pleasure in hearing that ho was on the way to recovery.—Seconded by Mr Watson, and agreed to. The Moderator extended a very hearty welcome to Messrs Mason and Loan, new members of Presbytery.

The Clerk reported that Mcesrs Dalrymple and Spence had been transferred to tho Dunedin Presbytery. On the motion of Mr Morton, seconded by Mr Watson, it was agreed to nominate the Rev. R. M. Ityburn, M.A., of Invorcargill, as the next Moderator of Synod.

Mr Orr, in the name of the Tokomairiro Kirk Session, asked the Presbytery to arrango for the ordination of Miss Agnes M'Millan, of the Training Institute, as deaconess in connection with their church.— The Clerk reported that Miss M'Millan had completed her course, when Mr M'Oully moved that the Presbytery agrees to the appointment, and, in doing so, congratulates the congregation on the forward movement implied therein; and, further, that it agrees to meet in huno effectum at Milton on the 21st inst. for tho ordination of Miss M'Millan, and that the Rev. Professor He'.viteon be associated with the Presbytery and requested to preaoh and ordain. — Seconded by Mr Ponder, and agreed to.

In accordance with the directions ot Assembly, the Presbytery cons.dered the question of sending to the foreign mission field the students who were, voluneenng as missionaries, and on the motion of Mr Ponder, seconded by Mr Olarke, agreed to instruct sessions and deacons' courts to consider the mutter as set down by the Assembly, and report to next Presbytery. The Assembly remit anent the establishing of a branch of the Lord's Day Alliance was considered, and on the motion of Mr Watson, seconded by Mr M'Dowall, it was agreed to carry out the suggestion and to appoint the different kirk sessions to attend to the mutter. It was also agreed, on tho motion of Mr Durward, seconded by Mr Ponder, to arrange for undenominational committees in the larger centres of Lawrence, Milton, Balclutha, and Owaka, the local Presbyterian minister in each centre to call the first meeting. In accordance with the directions of Assembly, it woe agreed, on the motion of Mr Durward, seconded by Mr Watson, to observe in tho different congregations of the Presbytery the quincentenary of John Huss early in July. It was also agreed, on the motion of Mr Morton, seconded by Mr Ponder, to direct the sub-committee, consisting of the Rovs. Durward and Ponder, and Messrs Bdie and M'Caw, to prepare for the children of the Church in New Zealand a bookleU on John Huss, at an f-Atimated cost of ljd each. The question of rearranging the boundaries of Milburn was considered, when Mr Ponder moved—"That the Revs Morton (convener) und Webster and Messrs Edie and Clarke bo appointed a committee to inquire into the condition of Milburn, with a view to strengthening same; that they be instructed to call in to their meetings the Revs. Orr and M'Oully to give evidence, as to how the proposals would affect their respective congregations and that a report thercanent bo submitted to next Presbytery.—Seconded by Mr M'Dowedl, and agreed to. The Wairuna section of the Popot-unoa parish requested the Presbytery to grant Wairuna leave to use the "individual cup" in tho communion service, and the request being practically unanimous, it wae agreed to gl-ant the desired permission. It was iigrix'O, on the motion of Mr Ourrie, seconded by Mr Ponder, to request the different kirk sessions within the bcniuds to prepare a roll of honour of the men who, in their respective congregations, have volunteered for active service at the front. It was agreed to apply for the longservice diploma for Mr M'Arthur, of Table Hill, as a Sunday school teacher for very many ycirs. The Assembly rrmit regarding the dearth of students was considered, when Mr Watson moved, and Mr Williams seconded, and it was agreed to adopt the remit. It was also agreed that, on some convenient date, the ministers within the bounds bring , the matter before their respective congregations.