PRESBYTERY OF CLUTHA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22268, 22 May 1934, Page 13

PRESBYTERY OF CLUTHA

CALL TO STIRLING PARISH The Presbytery of Clutha met at Balclutlia on Friday last, there being present the Revs. T. Tweedie (moderator), K. Blair, A. R. Chisholm, A. M'Neur, F. M'Donald, R. N Alley, J. S. Strang, C. MacKenzie, G. H. M'Neur, and H. H. Barton (ministers), Messrs W. T. Clarke, A. B. Stewart, A Ashwin, 0. Grey, J. Holland, W. D. Carson, T. H. Russell, R. Sutherland (elders), and the Revs. A. H. Wheeldon and D. W. Morgan (in charge of Home Mission stations) Commissions were received in favour of I. Dent and R. Sutherland as representative elders of South Clutha aud Waiwera ; Warepa respectively. The moderator welcomed the Rev. G. H. M'Neur, of China, who is a member of the presbytery. The clerk laid on the table a call from the Stirling-lnchclutha congregation in favour of the Rev. J: B. Bickerstaff, of Crookston parish, Presbytery of Mataura, The call was signed by 64 members out of 106 on the roll, and by 11 adherents. Messrs Harvey (Benhar) and A. Anderson (Stirling), commissioners from the congregation, testified to the unanimity of the call. It was agreed to sustain the call, to forward it to the clerk of the Mataura Presbytery, and to ask the Rev. D. M'Neur, of:Mataura, to support it. The Revs. Dr Currie and G. H. M'Neur and Mr W. D. Carson were appointed to represent the presbytery on the occasion of the celebration 6n July 3 of the eightieth anniversary, of the Presbytery of Otago. The Rev. A. R. Chisholm (convener) renorted on the visitation of Beaumont Home Mission. He.expressed appreciation of the faithful services of Mr J. I. Wylie, home missionary, who had now retired from the service, and wished him success in his new work. A suitable finding was adopted by the presbytery, in which a tribute was paid to the services rendered by ministers and office-bearers during the past three years. Arrangements for carrying on the work of the mission in the meantime were left in the hands of the moderator in accordance with proposals agreed to at the meeting with the office-bearers. It w<ir agreed to make application for a long-service diploma for Mr D. Martin, who for 26 years had acted as teacher and superintendent in the Sunday school. The Rev A. M'Neur. convener of the Life and Work Committee, reported on the Assembly Committee's proposals as to evangelism, and on his motion it was agreed to suggest that from among the presbytery's own young ministers a man be appointed for a term of, say, five years, and that the presbytery arrange for men with evangelistic gifts to be set free for short periods as may be required for this work. . The Rev. R. N. Alley, convener, reported for the Public Questions Committee on the proposals of the Bible-in-State-Schools League, and on his motion the presbytery approved the proposed modifications. Application was made for a .grant towards the repairs of Puerua Church, and approved in terms of the regulations. It was agreed to recommend to the Synod's Committee that .a special_ commemorative service lie held at the time of the synod meeting in connection with the centenarv of the birth of the Rev. P. Milne, the first foreium missionary sent from Otago and Southland. Following upon the presbytery meeting a largelv-nttended luncheon and conference were held, at which informative and inspiring addresses were given by the Rev, G. H. M'Neur and Mrs M'Neur. The conference included representatives of the P.A., of the Bible class district committees and of the Sunday School Union. Following upon the principal speeches, a valuable discission took pl-ice. led bv Mrs E. Moore, in reeard to the financial response throughout the presbyterv to the apnea! on behalf of the Assembly enterprises, and in regard to developments in the Chinese Mission field.