DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20451, 4 July 1928, Page 13

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly nicotine of the Dunedin Presbytery was held yesterday morning. The moderator (the Rev. Dr Merrington) occupied the chair. PROHIBITION CAMPAIGN. The Temperance Committee of the Presbyterian General Assembly wrote with reference to the coming prohibition campaign. The presbytery was asked to approve of the idea of setting aside certain ministers for a. period of six weeks before the next election to assist in the rampaign. The men suggested to be set free by the Dunedin presbytery were the Revs Dr Herrington, G. Miller, J. W. M’Kenzie, and T. W. Potts. The main object in releasing ministers was to enable them to bo special missionaries of inspiration and information primarily among t!- ir own members and adherents and at ihe same time make a special contribution to the general campaign in co-operation with the New Zealand Alliance. The question of supply •would be considered in relation to the whole scheme, and the expenses involved would be a charge upon the campaign funds of the New Zealand Alliance. A proposal was made that the matter be referred to the Temperance Committee for a report. The Moderator stated that there was not a groat deal of time available, and it might be a good thing to give the committee power to take action. He had not yet made up his mind, but he certainly could not give up six weeks to the work proposed. Mr Gow said be thought that such an important matter should come before the presbytery and not be dealt with by a committee. On the motion of Mr W. Crawford it was decided to give the committee power ° “ a ” CHURCH EXTENSION. The Rev. G. Bndd, superintendent of home missions, wrote stating that the Home Mission Committee had carefully considered the proposals regarding Opoho. It. had agreed to consent to the erection of Opoho into a homo mission station or church extension charge, whichever the presbytery finally determined, but it was not prepared to send a permanent home missionary there or to agree to the appointment of a minister until a manse was built. In view cf the sparsity of population, the narrow confines of the district, and the comparatively small membership, the committee had very grave doubts whether it -would be possible to maintain a minister there. However, when a manse was erected the way should be clearer. The letter was referred to the Church Extension Committee. GENERAL. A commission from Gladstone in favour of Mr A. Spoor was sustained. An intimation was received from the Wanganui Presbytery to the effect that the Rev. T. Miller had accepted a call to St. Stephen’s Church, North Dunedin. The Rev. H. H. Barton, secretary of the Foreign Missions Committee, wrote ibanking the presbytery for the very kind minute adopted by it with respect to the assistance which ho was able to render the Foreign Missions Committee in its special campaign. He would like to express his hearty appreciation of the thorough and, lie trusted, effective fashion in which the presbytery and its committee had undertaken the task of explaining Hie financial needs of the assembly enterprises to the various congregational authorities. He was sure this work would prove of real value. — The letter was recei% T ed. The Rev. C. A. Kennedy was appointed a member of the Visitation Committee to North Taieri in place of the Rev. Professor Davies. The following committee was set up to nominate-jthe voting members of the presbytery to the General Assembly:—Revs. A. M. Finlayson (comener), J. Kilpatrick. J. D. Smith. R. G. M’Dowell, J. G. S. Dunn, R. F. Fish, Messrs .L Dick, W. Anderson. A. A. Campbell, J. N. Stewart, and W. H. Adams. On the motion of the Rev. W. Trotter it was decided to ask the Evangelistic Committee to furnish a report to a special meeting to be held on the day of the next ordinary meeting of the presbytery concerning the recent mission. It was explained that the convener of the committee (the Rev. G. H. Jupp) was at present away from Dunedin.