DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17874, 3 March 1920, Page 7

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

The monthly meeting of the Dimedin Presbytery was held yesterday, the Moderator (Rev. J. 0. Jamieson) presiding. The following commissions ' were sustained : Anderson's Bay (Mr R. S. Cox), Knox Church (Messrs D. Wright and F. G. Gumming), South Dujiedin (Mr John Robertson), Port Chalmers (Mr John Fail)," Maori Hill (Mr P. S. Bctt), St. Clair'(Mr R. D. Kenny), Soacliff-Warrington) (Mr Ej Miller), Waikouaiti (Mr J. S. Hunter), St. Stephen's (Mr Goo. Tilbury). NORTH TAIERT CHAEGE. After some discussion regarding tho statu* of tho North Taieri charge, it waa agreed tcv sanction tho appointment of a student 01} missionary, and to leave tho parish on a iull-chargo basis, •: 1 CALL TO POET CHALMERS. ; Messrs Tait, Mawson, and, 1 Fraser appeared in support of tho oall to the Rev.i J. M. Simpson, of Gore, to the charge of J Port Chalmers.' Tho call was sustained, and ' the induction fixed for th© 29th inst. INDUCTION OP PEOFESSORS. ' In connection with the induction of tho Rev. Professors Jas. Cumming, M.A., 8.D., and R. E. Davies, M.A., as professors of Hebrew and Greek respectively; at Knox College, the convener of the committee appointed to make the necessary reported it was proposed that the Moderator of tho Dunedin Presbytery shouid preside and induct, the convener of the Theological Committee preach tho sermon, the Roy. Dr Irwiu, oi Christchuroh, address tho professors, and tho Moderator of the Synod ; take part in the devotional exercises.—Tha induction is to be held in First Church, on March 9. —The report was adopted. BESIG NATION. The Rev. D. Dutton (Caversham) wrote*, resigning from the charge as from the lastoj Sunday in April. Ho stated that, owing tor, the extension, of the parish, he felt that ho was no longer able to do justice to its requirements. Ho was 71 years of age, an<s lor 48 years had endeavoured to_ discharge; tho duties of an ordained minister. Hf was deeply thankful to Godi that 110 ha& been enablad to continue in the, work .of the ministry during such a long period,' and! v hoped he would still toe able to serve tha Church in other ways for somo' tirno-. to'' come. He also made application'-to b*J made a beneficiary under the Agtetl and" In* l firm Ministers' Fund. • 1

'The Rev. J. Kilpatrick said theywere sorry to receive any jninister's resignation, ana very sorry to receivo Mr Duttan's. He moVed that the Rev. R. Fairmaid .be. appointed' to summon a congregational meeting and report to the next meeting of the Presbytery ._ The motion was carried. UNCONSTITUTIONAL PROCEDURE.

The Rev. J. Kilpatrick entered, a protest ;; against the action of the General .Assembly' in making radical changes in the? govern- * ment of the Church in an unconstitutional manner. He referred specifically' to alterations in the book of procedure'.regarding the appointment of representatives, to the Presbftery, whioh, he said, should not have been made operative without being eenti down under the Barrier Act. There wcro changes in the book of procedure of which, quite probably, none of the members present were aware. How many knew that' the three-fifths majority neccssary to sign : a call had been reduced to a bare majority ?; He moved: 'That the Dunedin Presbytery, while obeying the resolution of the General Assembly in re altering the principle of representation of sessions in the ; Presbytery, desires to protest against the resolution becoming operative without first being submitted to ' presbyteries under the Barrier' !Act." ' , Several members spoke in support of the protest being- entered. One said there'were a cerUin Pope and a number of Cardinals in the Church doing far too many things, and it was time their power was curtailed. Mr Finlayson thought the question raised should bo referred to a committee to in.' vestigato and report. Ho moved accordingly, nominating Professor Dickie, Revs.' H. H. Barton, R; R. M. Sutherland, W. R. Hutchison. Messrs Oaldcr, Tait, Bennetts, and tho mover Rev. J. Kilpatrick withdrew his_ motion in favour of tho amendment, which was carried. Mr Finlayson was appointed convener of the committee. GENKEAI* A number of committees were set up fon?< tho year. A now one, the Oommitteo, was appointed to "deal witai matters extraordinary"—in; the clerk's • words. . , The report of the. annual meeting of tha Board 1 ot Governors of Columba Collega; (already published) was adopted, on tho motion ot the Itev. Professor Davics, who. 6aid that tho examination record was ono which any. college might be proud of. Ho was glad to report that Columbi College!,, was more than full of boarders. —The Presbytery appointed tho Rev. W. R. Hutchison ? and Mr Robert Ewinif to tho Board o£> Governors. It was resolved that a loyal address should bo drawn up and presented to li-R-H. tha Prince of Wales when he a/rt-ies in Dun-v ediu. .... Tho Presbytery spent some tirao debatsnf in private whether or not it should deal with a letter objecting to tho proposed 1 erection of a church at Outram.. As ■ tha - lettor had not been brought before the; Presbytery in th© official way, it was finallydecided that there was no more business r before tho meeting.