DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19136, 2 April 1924, Page 10

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

The monthly meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery, held yesterday morning at First Church, was presided over hv the Rev Tillloch Yiiillo, the newly-appointed moderator. The Rev. Dr Krwin. of Christchurch, was associated with the Proshvtery. RESIGNATION OF THE REV. G. M'DONALD.

The Rev. G. H. .Kipp presented the following minute with reference to the resignation of tile Rev. G. M’Uonald; “I he Presbytery would place on record its appreciation of the work which ('•'<’ Rev. G. M’Donald has carried on (luring the past 11 years in Ihe Otago Peninsula charge, .1 sphere which is admittedly difficult owing to its topographical features. Mr M’Donnld has sought earnestly to do the full work of a minister, visiting the people, especially (hose in trouble, and endeavouring Id give to nil adequate opportunity to receive gospel ordinances. The Presbytery regrets his resignation, and assures him that he carries with him the respect and good wishes of nil his brethren with their prayer that the Great King and Head of the Church ’"ill direct his steps into such a sphere ns shall give him opportunity for the exercise of his gifts.’’ —The minute was unanimously adopted. COLLECTION AT INDUCTION SERVICES. The Rev. \V. Trotter reported on behalf of the Eceleuisrical Committee, recommending that the motion in favour of taking up a collection at nil induction services stand. This decision, he said, had been reached on the casting vote of the chairman. He stated (hat (lie office-bearers of First Church were largely against the taking of the collection, but it was in harmony with the practice of other presbytery s throughout New Zealand. Mr Trotter went on to defend (he taking of the collection as an act of worsh’- and a means of grace. The Rev. W. Scorgic seconded the motion, and suggested that Mr Trotter deliver his sermon on the subject in First Church. The Rev. A. M. Finlavson. who opposed the motion, said (hat the oncstion was one

of Presbytery expenses, ;irid ho considered that the expenses were best mot bv assessment. Mr W. H. Adams, who also opposed the motion, said teat an ov'T-nding majority of offioo-bosrors in the ohnrohos wore against Ibis collection. He urged ministers to gel more closely in touch with the minds of the oftiee-bearero The Rev, IT. Maclean took exception to bavin"- the ministers lectured as Mr Adams had done. He simnorted the motion. The Rev. AV 'irotl r. in replying, slrongly criticised Mr Adams's speech and altitude. On being put the motion was carried on The voices. APPLICATION’S FOR OR A NTS. Mr W. Oow reported on behalf of ttie Finance Committee, and presented u number ot applications for grants. The committee recommended that grants for church repairs be granted to Oreon Island. Fairfield, St. Leonards, West Tamri, East Taicri, Allnnton, and Itoslyn. With refer once to (he application from West Tnien for £250 for manse repairs, the committee proposed to ask West Taicri to consider disposing of the present manse ami glebe and building a new manse at Outrani. The application for a grant for improvements at Hindon Church was approved. Applications for a renewal of (lie special gram of £IOO for manse repairs at Chalmers Church, for a grant of £IOO for icpuirs and structural alterations at Green Island Church, and for a subsidy of £2 for £1 for manse repairs at Waitati were approved. Applications for several quinquennial grants for manse repairs were approved. An application for leave to purchase a site tor a cottage manse at Gladstone and for a grant nf £BS for this site was improved, subject to the approval of the Finance Committee.

The Rev. A. C W. Standage icportcd that great progress had already been made at Gladstone. The committee’- recommendations were adopted. Applications not so far dealt with wore referred to (ho Finance Committee with preshyterial powers. JOHN M’GLASHAN COLLEGE.

Tho report of Mr C. M. Gilray, principal of John M’Glashan College, for the year 1f)23 was presented.

The college opened on February 6. 15123. with 63 names on the roll, 41 boys lioing in the preparatory department and 19 in tho secondary: 27 of this number were boarders and 36 day boys. At the end of the year there were 64 on the roll, of whom 2.5 were boarders ami 39 were day boys. Tho result of the examinations at the end of 1922 were that four entered for matriculation, two secured full passes, one a partial pass, and one failed ; for public service two entered and two passed; for the intermediate examination three- entered and two passed, one received a free place in the senior national scholarship cxamfßntion. and one a free place in the junior national scholarship examination. During the year tho Primer Class anti .Standards I to HI had been in the very capable hands of Miss M’Ce.Jlum, and Standards IV to VI had been under Air Holme. Mr Robinson, whose work was mainly with the secondary department, had also taken the Standard VI hoys in French. Mr Dunning, science and mat hematics master, had taken .Standard AT in elementary science. The Rev. AY. R. Hutchison, of Kaikorai, acted as chaplain, and took a class in Church History, -leafing particularly with the Reformation. One scholarship had already Im-oti offered on condition that three other benefactors could be found who would provide a simi'ar amount (£160). The Hoard of Governors should make a great effort in the direction of establishing scholarships and bursaries next year. 'lnc football ground was lining top-dressed, and would bo ready for the coming season. The health of the boarders was excellent in the first term, and in tho second term the school suffered somewhat owing to the influenza epidemic. It was not found necessary, however, to close any part of the s-liool with the. exception of Aliss APCallurn’s clu-s-ses for two days. During the third term the boys’ health had again been excellent. Lectures had been delivered on Saturday evenings, and Air J. C. Pcgg hud invited tho senior boys to visit the observatory. Owing to the generosity of friends of tho college it had been possible during tho year to put the library on a good basis.

In conclusion, the principal expressed his appreciation of the manner in which the teaching staff had attended to its duties, and of tho loyal support every member of it had given him throughout the year. To the matron, her assistant, and staff he was greatly indebted for the cleanliness of the buildings, the excellence of the college cuisine, anti the care of the juniors upstairs. Aliss K. Glendinmng had been of the greatest service to him throughout the year, and hail been most unselfishly devoted to tho institution. With such assistants and also many friends as the college had he was hopeful that it would not be long before the institution gained t.lie public confidence and entered on a period of prosperity and creator usefulness. Tile Rev. J. Kilpatrick, who presented tho report, rend the excellent report made on tho school by Mr T. R. Fleming, senior inspector. He referred to the very -atisfaetory examination results, and said that (tie staff was an exceedingly good one. Mi Dunning was the Auckland candidate lor the Rhodes Scholarship. Excellent work hud been done by the chaplains, the Rev. W. R. Hutchison, and the Rev. A. ('. AV. Standage. He moved that they receive the report and balance sheet and reappoint to the board the Revs. Professor Davies, J. J. (’airncy, J. Kilpatrick, Dr Riley, Air D. Tnnnock, and add the Rev. Dr Alerrington.

The Rev. A. C. W. Standage secomieu the report, and referred to some grounds for encouragement. Tie spoke of the iuiio and spirit of the college, and bore testimony to a marked increase in the esprit drcorps and keenness of the lioys, who wenall doing their utmost to build up the name of the college. He had ever}- confidence that in the next year and in future vears there would lx*, an improvement, and he asked members to use their influence to increase the attendance. Tin- report was adopted.

On the motion of the Rev, .7, Kilpatrick, seconded by the Rev. W. Trotter, a committee, consisting of the Revs. Finlayson, Maclean, Trotter. Standage, Kilpatrick (convener), ami Messrs Clow, Adams, and Dick, was appointed to consider how best to give effect to the Freshytcry’s resolutions to help iDGlaslian College. SUPPLY AND APPOINTMENTS.

The Supply and Appointments Committee of the General Assembly wrote expressing its view that aid receiving charges are now settled by the Supply anti Appointments Commit toy after consultation with the presbytery ccncomed. and that in such places the congregations no longer have the right of call. However, the situation in Otago and Southland was so different from that in the remainder of New Zealand that the committee was not nrenared to make a pronouncement as to what are aid receiving charges in Otago and Southland. It asked the Preshvtery to state what it considered to he aid receiving' charges within the’ scope of reference of the Supply and Appointments Committee. In the meantime the committee .suggested mat the Presbytery should authorise interim moderators to proceed by call as heretofore. The

position was quite clear north of the Waitnki. hut it was not elear io the area of the Synod of Otago and Southland. On the motion of the clerk, the Rev. J. Kilpatrick, who said the letter was a highly reasonable ori" it was received and passed on to the Ecclesiastical Committee. GENERAL. The Rev. Professor Davies reported on the commission appointed to visit the Waitali amt Seaclilf charges. They had found the office-bearers‘Unanimously against tlie union of the two charges. Some of the Waitati office-hearers were optimistic enough to believe that in a few years they would be self-sustaining. riemliff desired in the meantime to have a borne missionary. M aitati desired to call a minister. The Rev. \V. Scurgie said that Send ill’ desired to go on for a time simply witn supply. llic recommendation of the committee that steps lie taken to reduce the SeaditfWarringion charge to the stains ot a home mission station was approved. The resignation of Mr Scorgie as moderator ol the ,'daciitf AVarrington charge was accepted, and he was thanked for ttie great services he had rendered the charge. The Rev. J. J. Cairncy, of YVaixouaiti, was appointed moderator in Mr Scorgie’s place. The Rev. I). Campbell was appointed moderator of Waipon. The Rev. J. Kilpatrick reported on behait of the commission that visited the North Taieri congregation. The report was adopted, and it was subsequently decid'd not to sustain the call to Mr D. M'lntyre. The Presbytery decided to grant to Mr MTntyre the |iower to dispense the sacraments and to conduct marriages. In compliance with the Assembly's resolution appointing the Dunedin Presbytery a committee to find out what is being done by other chinches in relation to a brief statement of faith amt the relation of the statement to the subordinate standards of the church the following committee was set up. the Rev. Dr Gumming (convener), the Revs. Dr Dickie. If. Maclean, and \V. Trotter, and Messrs W. Gow and J. 1,. S.a Imotui.