CLUTHA PRESBYTERY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20432, 12 June 1928, Page 7

CLUTHA PRESBYTERY.

The regular meeting of the Clutha Presbytery was held in Balclutha on Friday last, the Rev. T. Tweedie (moderator) presiding over a very full attendance. The Rev. W. R. Hume gave an address on “ The Bible in the Light of Modern Knowledge,” which gave rise to an interesting discussion. It was suggested that the topic be resumed at a later meeting and that if possible the subject be opened by someone who , occupied a ..different standpoint. Finally it was agreed that the Rev. J. W. Thomson should give a short paper. The Clerk laid on the table a call to the Rev. A. J. H. Dow, of Lawrence, from Trinity Church, Timaru, signed by 295 members and 95 adherents. The Rev. A. M’Neur spoke on behalf of Trinity Church in support of the call, which was unanimous and very hearty.—Mr Finlayson, elder, on behalf of the Lawrence congregation, testified to the high appreciation of Mr Dow’s services there and to the regard in which he was held by the people, but intimated that they would place no obstacle in the way of his removal.—lt was accordingly agreed to place the call in Mr Dow’s hands. —Mr Dow, while expressing sincere regret on leaving Lawrence, intimated his willingness to accept the call, which was accordingly sustained by the presbytery. The Rev. E. E. Andrews, of Waitahuna, was appointed interim moderator of Lawrence charge. The Rev. W. R. Hume, as convener of the commission appointed to consider the plan for the _ amalgamation of the home mission stations of Clydevale and Tuapeka West into a sanctioned charge, gave in his report. The people unani-

mously desired that the presbytery should proceed with the matter and declare the formation of a fully sanctioned charge from September 1 of this year, to be called Clutha Valley charge. On the motion of the Rev. A. V. G. Chandler, seconded by the Clerk, this was cordially agreed to, did good wishes were expressed for the future of the new charge.—lt was agreed that in the meantime the Rev. W. R. Hume should be appointed moderator of Clydevale and Tuapeka West and that the elders at Tuapeka Mouth should be assessors with the elder at Clydevale to form a session there. The Rev. R. Alley, convener of the Public Questions Commitee, gave in a report on the peace manifesto remitted by the General Assembly for consideration by presbyteries. This excited some discussion, and it was decided to refer the matter back to the committee, to which was added the Revs. A. V. G. Chandler and W. R. Hume and Mr John Ayson, the committee to report to next presbytery. A protest was received from the session of Lovell’s Flat against the action of the assembly’s Committee on Public Questions in referring the matter of the Auckland conscientious objectors to military training to the Minister of Justice and requesting the Clutha Presbytery to forward this protest to the assembly.—it was agreed to remit this to the presbytery’s committee to consider and report. Sunday school examiners were appointed as follows; —A and B, the Rev. W. J. Bevis; C and D (junior), the Rev. 1. Tweedie; C, D, and E, the Rev. A. M'Neur; F and G, the Rev. W. R. Hume. A motion of sympathy with the relatives of Mr M. M'Lean, of Beaumont, and also with those of Mr J. Edie, of Lawrence, was passed, the members or presbytery standing. . It was decided by a large majority to disapprove of the assembly’s remit on the junior communicants’ roll. The presbytery committees were rearranged as follows: _ Youth Committee. —The Rev. R. Alley convener, with the Rev. W. J. Bevis and Mr J. W. Dunn. „ _. „ Finance Commitee. —The Rev. W. RHume convener, with the Rev. J. M. Thomson and Mr J. Ayson. The Rev. A. V. G. Chandler was elected convener of Public Questions Committee. The Clerk reported that he had received a letter from the general treasurer stating that the budget allocation for Clutha Presbytery for 1928-29 for £I7OO- - was unanimously agreed that for this year presbytery should make no special allocation to congregations. The Rev. A. M'Neur reported arrangements for the visit of the Rev. J. Bissett, the assembly evangelist, to the presbytery.