CLUTHA PRESBYTERY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18543, 2 May 1922, Page 8

CLUTHA PRESBYTERY

Ihe Clutha Presbytery met at Balclutha on Thursday last, when there wore present the Rev. j). Mason '(moderator) a |,( l Messrs Currie. Durward. Morion. M'Uowall. Hume, Clark, Dow (ministers). Walker, M Corkindale, Parker, Ayson, Clarke, Kilgour (elders). King, Darkness, Badcoek, and Lamont (home missionaries!. Apologies for absence were recived from Messrs Bandy, Williams, and Sutherland. The moderator accorded a hearty welcome (o Messrs Badcoek and Lamont. recently appointed to the home mission stations of Clydevale and South Molyneux. The presbytery extended its sympathy with the Rev. H. Williams in his recent illness. The presbytery expressed its great pleasure at hearing (hat the Rev. A. Alexander had returned to his home gr.eatly improver) in health, and that he was able to resume, in part at least, his work. It was agreed to extend the presbytery’s heartiest congratulations to the liev. H. ( lark, of Milton, who had passed successfully the examinations for the M.A. degree. Mr Durward reported on behalf of the Evangelistic Committee, and moved that the presbytery recommends that special evangelistic services be held in the different congregations within the bounds, and asks that congregations desiring a mission, and ministers willing to help, notify the same to the committee; or. if it is preferred, that congregations make their own arrangements. —Seconded by Mr Clark and agreed to. Mr Clark reported on behalf of the committee appointed to examine the balance sheets of the sanctioned charges within the bounds, when, after full consideration, it was agreed to receive the report and to forward the balance sheets to the Sustentation Fund Committee. The presbytery proceeded to consider sustentation business left over from last meeting. Clinton, Waiwera, Warepa, and Owaka reported that they were unable to rise to the equal dividend of the past year, and asked to become aid-receiving, when it was agreed to request a member of the Sus(entation Fund Committee to visit along with a committee of this presbytery these congregations, Messrs Dow and Sutherland to be the committee for Clinton, Messrs Mason and Clarke for Waiwera, Messrs Currie and Geggio for Warepa. _ Messrs Hume and Leslie for Owaka. and, if necessary, Messrs Clark and Russell for Lovells ■flat, and to report to next presbytery. Mr Mason reported on behalf of the committee appointed to inquire into the working of the League of Nations in country districts, and after considerable discussion it was agreed that meetings of the representatives of the different churches in the five centres of Lawrence, Milton, Kaitangata, Balclutha, and Owaka be called to get into line with the dominion branch, and that in the other congregations within the bounds the matter be left to the committees of management to foster, as best they can, the spirit of the movement. The Assembly remit in re non-x’oting members in the Assembly was considered and approved. Messrs Durward (convener), Bandy. Walker, and M‘Corkindnle were appointed a 'Presbytery Committee on Public Questions. The Presbytery arranged for the visitation of the following congregations before the meeting of Assembly,—Messrs Morton, Clark, and Lowery, to visit Milburn; Messrs Durward, Bandy, and M‘Corkindale. to visit Tnapeka West; Messrs Mason, Dow, and Sutherland to visit Warepa; Messrs Hume, Mason, and Ayson to visit Waiwera; and Messrs Hume, Lamont, and Leslie to visit Owaka. Mr Clark reported on behalf of the committee appointed to visit Ratanui and Papatowai, and. after giving, details, moved as follows—“ That the work in the RatanuiPapatowai charge, through the absence of a home missionary, had become much disorganised. But the work among The young in the Sunday school, through all vicissitudes. has been carried on. Mr King, since his arrival some months ago, has made a decided improvement. He seems by his friendliness and pulpit work to bo gettmg a grip of the people. Managing committees are well established in various parts of the district. The distances to oe covered in the work of preaching and visiting l are great, and the. roads are bad, but Mr King is doing all a man can be expected to do to cope with the work. There is a distinct feeling of hopefulness in the district. We are thankful to Almighty God for the faithful services of those who kept the cause alive during the months of vacancy, and commend Mr King and Ids people to the care of Him. who alone can give the power to achieve true progress and good success.” — It was agreed to appoint Mr Hume to bring this ’finding before the people and to dispense the communion in the \ main centres at an early date. It was also agreed to instruct the Owaka Kirk Session to take immediate stops to form a session in the home mission district. It was agreed to grant Mr Lamont, as an ordained home missionary, power to dispense the,sacraments and to celebrate marriages iii the South Molyneux home mission station. Mr Currie resigned the moderatorship of the South Molyneux home mission station, and Mr Hume - was appointed to take his place. . The Clutha Presbytery was appointed by the Assembly to prepare a list of assessments to lay before next Assembly.—lt was agreed to ask Messrs Wilcox and Ohesney to draw up a list and to report to a subsequent meeting of Presbytery. The question of the adoption of the Scottish Church Catechism was remitted to the Youth Committee to consider and report to next Presbytery. The Assembly remit proposing the eligibility of the elder as Moderator of Presbytery was considered. —Mr Hume moved \ that no change be made. —Mr John Clarke moved that the Presbytery approve of the remit.—The motion was carried. The topic for conference for next Presbytery was left to the Youth Committee in charge of the new catechism. , Messrs Mason _ (convener), Dow, and Clarke were appointed a. committee to consider the Assembly remit on home mission regulations arid to report to next PresbyIt was agreed to meet at Balclutha on the second Thursday -of June, at 10.30 a.m.