CLUTHA PRESBYTERY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19200, 17 June 1924, Page 8

CLUTHA PRESBYTERY.

The Clutha Presbytery met at Balclutlia on Friday last, when there were present: The Rev! W. R. Hume (Moderator), and Messrs Cnrrie, M’Dowall, Alexander, Dow, Hogg, Chandler, and Paterson (ministers), Messrs Walker, Aitcheson, Haj-vey, James Clark, Bryce, Barr, Dunn, John Clarke, G. Stewart, and Kilgour (elders), and Mr Badcock (home missionary). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Williams, H. Clark, Durward, M’Corkindale, A. E. Stewart, Fleming, and Simmonds. A hearty welcome was extended by the Moderator to the Rev. J. C. Paterson, M.A , the new minister of Owaka. A conference of an hour on Every Minister his own Evangelist” was introduced by Dr Currie, and Messrs M'Dowall. Chandler, Hogg. Badcock, J. Clarke, Alexander G. Stewart, and Hume took part in the discussion. It was agreed to ask home missionaries to be present at next meeting and to report on their work It waa agreed to appoint Mr A. E. Stewart the Presbytery’s representative on the Dominion Sunday School Council of the Church. The Assembly remit granting moderators of presbyteries and sessions the right of proposing or seconding motions when the total attendance numbered not more than five was, on the motion of Mr Paterson, seconded by Mr M’Dowall, agreed to. Mr Dow reported for the committee appointed to consider the Assembly remit on home mission regulations, and certain alterations w. re agreed to. Messrs Chandler and 11. Clark were appointed a committee to consider beneficiary fund regulations and to report to next meeting. The Presbytery considered the -voriang of the condominium (nr the dual control of the British and French powers in the New Hebrides), when Mr M’Dowall moved, and Mr Chandler seconded, and it was ig.-evd, to adopt the following resolution“ This Presbytery, having learnt of the continuance of conditions in the New Hebrides which are profoundly unsatisfactory to all concerned, a grave menace to the life and well-being of the natives, and a scandal to civilisation, urges upon the Government to take whatever slops are possible to ensure tlie ending of the condominium, and the bringing of the islands under sole British control. The Presbytery also commends to the members of the congregations within tlie bounds, and to the electors generally, (he petition which is now being circulated to this end. and calls upon our people to remember the Now Hebrides in ceaseless praver, and to use every constitutional means of arousing the enthusiasm of the community in support of energetic action by tlm authorities. The members present reported on what was being done in their respective congregations in the way of placing congregational rcords in “strongrooms.” On the motion of Mr Chandler, seconded by Mr Paterson, it was agreed to ask congregations where no strongroom was available to hand over thenold rcords to the clerk of Presbytery for safe keeping. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Paterson, seconded by Mr Dow, that a collection be taken up at ordinations and inductions for Preebytery expenses.