CLUTHA PRESBYTERY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19250, 14 August 1924, Page 13

CLUTHA PRESBYTERY.

The Clutha Presbytery met at Balclutha on Friday last, when the Rev. VV. K. Hume (Moderator) presided. The Key. H Clark was elected moderator for the ensuing six months. In liis absence Mr Hume continued to preside. On tho motion of Mr Williams, seconded by Mr Chandler, it was agreed to extend to l)r Currie and family the Presbytery's very sincere sympathy in tUo death of Mrs Currie. Reports from the home missionaries within the bounds—from Beaumont, Tuapeka West, Clydevale, Waihola, Milburn, South Molyneux and Gatlins —were received and considered, and in each case the Presbytery expressed its groat satisfaction with the work that is being done. On the motion of Mr Paterson, seconded by Mr Chandler, it was agreed strongly to advise the Home. Missions Committee of the Church to amalgamate tho Ratanui and Papatowai home mission stations, and to give to the whole district the name of the Gatlins home mission station. Mr Hume resigned his position as Moderator of Cathns homo mission station, and Mr Paterson was appointed in his place. It was agreed to thank Mr Hume for his faithful services to the district. It was agreed to ask the Horae Mission Committee for leave to ordain Mr Badcock as a fully ordained home missionary of the Church. Papers dealing with the budge,, schemes of the Church were laid on the table and considered. The amount expected from the Presbytery was £l6lb, but for years, the clerk stated, the Presbvterv had considerably exceeded the amount expected. It was finally agreed, on the motion of Mr Chandler, seconded by Mr Kilgour, to ask the congregations to continue the previous high standard of liberality as shown by the Presbytery as a whole. . It was agreed to appoint representatives to the General Assembly as fol-ium-.—Ministers; Hr Currie ~nd Messrs Mason, How, Hnmc, Paterson, Alexander and Chandler; elders; The Kirx Sessions of Lawrence, Lovells Flat, Stirling, Warepn, Waiwera and Popotunoa each to appoint an elder. The Rev. William Malcolm, formerly a minister of the Church in New Zealand, but for many years a missionary in China, applied for re-admission to the ministry of the Cnurch, when it was jigreed, in the most, cordial manner, on the motion of Dr Currie, seconded by Mr M’Dowall, to recommend the Assembly very strongly to grant the application anci without any terms of probation. Several Assembly remits were considered. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Chandlei, seconded by Mr MTlowall, to disapprove of the remit regarding ministers emeriti. . It was agreed to appoint the Rev. H. Clark to represent the Presbytery at Tie approaching diamond jubilee of tbe Lawrence congregation, and Dr Currie at the Wnitahuna jubilee. It was agreed to ask the Rev. H. Clark, as Moderator of the Presbytery, to represent the Presbytery at the farewell to Nurse Elliott, of Lovell’s Flat, or, (ailing that, to forward a cordial and grateful message from the Presbytery. ° Mr M’Dowall reported for the committee appointed to visit Lovells Flat and. after giving answers to the prescribed questions, moved as follows: “The charge under the new minister is rapidly recovering from the lengthy vacancy, and good work is being done bv the minister and a band of faithful and willing workers. Tbe state of the congregation calls for very little criticism from the Presbytery. Tho Presbytery requires that a baptismal register bo provided and kept. The spiritual and materia] welfare of the congregation is being well maintained, and the minister is to be commended for his successful effort to reach the scattered members of tbe flock. A motor car has been provided, and £25 per annum for its upkeep. The attention of the congregation is called to the Assembly’s injunction in this respect—that tho entire cost of upkeep should be met by the congregation. The matter of the yearly holiday and the cost of pulpit supply should not be left lo tho minister to arrange. The Presbytery congratulates the minister and people on the progress of the Lord’s work in the parish, commends them to the care and blessing of the Head of the Church, to Whom all thanks and praise are due for the Divine goodness and blessing in the past.”—Seconded by Mr Alexander and agreed to.—lt was agreed that Mr Alexander exchange with Mr Chandler on a convenient Sabbath and bring this finding before tho Lovells Flat congregation.