PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22353, 29 August 1934, Page 4

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland was held in First Church yesterday. The Rev. A. G. Gardiner, of South Invercargill, was elected moderator. SYNOD ROLL. The roll of synod was as follows: —- Presbytery of Dunedin.—Ministers; Revs. A. Greig, M.A., J. J. Cairney, J. Kilpatrick, J. Dickie, D.D.j R. Scott Allan, W. Trotter, G. H. Jupp, J. Gumming, D.D., J. M. Sidipson, 8.A., A. C. W. Standage, M.A., E. N. Herrington,, Ph.D., G. Miller,. J. Pringle, M.A., A. L. Sutherland, M. 8., Ch. 8.. W. W. MacArthur, A H.- Harvie, M 8.,. Ch.B., R. Ferguson Fish, R. G. M'Dowall, M.A., T, W. Potts, J. Douglas Smith. 8.A., J. G. S. Dunn, T. Miller. M.A., H. J. Ryburn, 8.D., S. 'F. Hunter,. D.D., C. G. Wilcox, D. C, Herron, M.A., W. Allen Stevely, M.A., J. Collie, M.A., A. Watson, H. Graham, D. N. MTvenzie, J. D. Salmond; Ph.D., G. L. Taylor, 8.D., S. C. Francis, 8.A., A. W. Armstrong, o. Bymburn, H. A. Mitchell, 8.A., R. T. Dodds. Elders: Messrs W. H, Adams, J, Aitken, G. F. Booth, A. A. Campbell, J, M. Dick, R. Duncan, J. P. Every, J. Farquharson, A. Grant, J. B. Grant, W. Lee, F. E. Malcolmson, M. Matheson, J. Miller, R. Miller, R, Potts, J. Russell, D. Smith, J. Strang, J. B. Waters. ■ Presbytery of Clutba.—Ministers: Revs. S. W. Currie, D.D., G. H. M‘Neur, A. Morton, D. S. Mason, : A, M-Neur,-R. N. Alley, M.A., T Tweedie, H H Barton, M.A., F. M'Donald, R. Blair, 8.D., A. R. Chisholm, 8.A., J. J. Bates, J. S. Strang, 8.A., C. Mackenzie, 8.A., J. B. Bickerstaff. Elders: Messrs D. Blair,. W. D. Carson, W. I. Clarke, A. S. Clulee, J. Geggie, 0. Grey, J. Holland, A. B. Stewart, R. Sutherland. •,

Presbytery of Southland. —Ministers: Revs. 0. Miclielsen, E, Gardiner, W; J. Robertson, J. Chisholm, J.. H. Thomson, C. J. Tocker, J. Johnstoni W. Tanner, D. M'Coll,. G 1 Renwick. J. Cawley; J. C. Mill, W. H, Howes, 8.A., A. L. Miller, M.A., G. P. Mitchell, T. G. Campbell, A. 6. M. Carter, 8.D., A.' Macfarlane, M.A., A. G. Gardiner, L.Tfa., W. 0. Comber, M.A., T. A. Speer, . 8.A., L. G« B. Whitehead, A. C. Wedderspoon. Elders: Messrs R. E. Blakie, J. Clay, W. J. Cowie, H. Cunningham, J. Ferguson, J. Grant. C. Gray, D. M. Greig, J. Holland, L. Irwin, 1 W. A. M‘Caw, T. M'Kinnel, J. B..'M‘Lean, A. H. Murdoch,. A. Scott, P. Sinclair,. J. Smith, J. A. Stirling, J. Williamson. Presbytery of Oamaru.—-Ministers: Revs. P. C. Rennie, A. Sangster, 8.D., R. H. Blair, W. Maclean, A. H. Nordmeyer, BA., W. W. French, A. B. Kilroy, M.A., J. C. Harkness, H.-T. Blair, H. Hogg. E. E. Andrews, M.A., J. T. V. Steele, M.A., J. Badcock, 8.A., J. Anderson, S. D. Baird. , Elders: Messrs, A. Craig, A. Forbes, R. Jenkins, J. C. Kirkness, A. MMntosh, J. L. M'Phail, J. Milmine, G. T. Simpson, W. S. D. Trotter, J. Wylie. Presbytery of Central Otago.—Ministers: Revs, A. Don, C. M. Sullivan, P. Keene, J. S. Murray, M.A., W. J, Bevis, R. •A. Chisholm, J. SI. Patterson, M.A., D. Heggie, I. G. Borrie, M.A. Elders: Messrs W. Gair, R. J. Gibson, R. Kingan, J. Nicolson. • * . ■ Presbytery of Mataura. —Ministers: Revs. W. V. Milne, W. Hain, R. D. MTEwan, R. Mackie, F. M. Beattie, W. H Norton, .S. Nixon, D. D. MacLachlan, G D. Falconer, D. M‘Neur, I>. K. Fisher, J.‘ ‘Newlands, W. G. Hannah. Elders: Messrs M. Cameron, G. Elder, A. Hall, A. Irvine. A. Mackay, L. Paterson, _J. Pullar, W. Reid, H. Smith, J. Smith, G. D. Wilson, J. Wylie. ' ■ Synod expressed its sympathy with the relatives of the late Rev. E. G. .Evans, with the Rev. P. Keene, of Oturehua, in the death of his wife,, and with the relatives of Mrs Charles Stewart Ross, the “ first lady of a manse in Central Otago, who recently died at Brighton, Melbourne, at the age of 90 years. It was decided to send the Kev, A. Greig a letter of congratulation on his ninety-seventh birthday. A vote of thanks was passed to , the Rev. A'. C. Wedderspoon; the retiring moderator, for his services. " ■ - TREASURER’S REPORT.

The treasurer's report was adopted and assessments were made as follows:—-Ec-clesiastical fund £6O, educational fuiio £6O, manse reserve fund £3O. COMMUNION SERVICE. 'A synod communion.service wa ß held at, noon, when the moderator presided. TheRev. J. D. Smith deliv#red a sermon from the,text 1 John 5 and 8, his subject beiu« “The Witness of the Lord’s. Supper to the Paradox of God’s Salvation,' Mr Smith said that Christian institutions as well as individuals witnessed to the reality of Christian truth._ In the Lord s Supper worshippers allied themselves with the Christian generations in the belief that God came among, men and Rave Himself, and demonstrated the paradox of salvation in bringing life put of death, victory out of. defeat, triumph out of tears,, confidence out of ■ the conflict of doubt. ■ , , , Mr Smith developed this theme, showing how the early . Church recognised in Christ not only the great' Teacher, but also the ’ Saviour and travelling Companion. He made the application to the immediate occasion, urging his hearers to preach more of the sayings of the Teacher, and be urgent in nurturing souls in the redemption of the Saviour. ' MODERATOR-DESIGNATE.

The Rev. A. C. W. Standage (Maori Hill) was elected , moderator-designate on the motion of Dr Gumming, seconded by Dr Dickie. Nominations received included the Revs, J. J. Bates, E. Gardiner, A. Watson, and A, C. W. Standage. THEOLOGICAL HALL COMMITTEE. The report • of the Theological Hall Committee was submitted by the- Rev. D. C. Herron, who said that 27 men were now in the hall, 10 of . whom would finish this year. About 57 men were at various stages of their University studies, and there were quite sufficient vacancies to absorb all the men coming out. While men were coming forward freely it would be a mistake to let the impression go abroad that they had more offering than were required. However, care should bo taken by presbyteries to select , carefully. If men were sent to the University, whose intellectual gifts were hot up to the required standard it meant that when they dropped out scholarship money was lost and the 'men themselves were disappointed. On account of reduced interest on investments the committee had handled less revenue than last year, and practically all scholarships had . been reduced. An anonymous donor had instituted an Innis Fhu Arran No. 2 scholarship, and for. this purpose had paid over a capital sum of £IOOO to the general treasurer. A bequest of £IBO was also received from the estate of Albert Edward Hunter, of Mosgiel, The general treasurer had also received £l2O interest on the bequest of James Wilson, of Timaru. During Dr J. D. Salmond’s illness the other members of the Senates had undertaken additional work to make up for the loss of his lectures. He was pleased to be able to report that Dr Salmond was improving. r - Mr Herron moved the adoption of the report and a vote of thanks to donors of scholarship funds, and commended the work of the hall and its students to all congregations. He also made an appeal to those able to provide summer work for the students to do what they could to obtain for them rermmerative employment during the summer vacation. The motion was carried and the following Theological Hall Committee was elected; —the Reve. J. J. Cairney, J. G. S. Dunn. S. C. Francis, G, H. Jupp, J. Kilpatrick, T. Miller, H. A. Mitchell, R. G. M’Dowall. J Pringle, H j. Rybnrn, J. D. Smith. W. Trotter, D. C. Herron, Professor T. D. Adams, Messrs W. Allan. F. Foote. J. Moir, H. P. West, and A. H. Williamson. CHURCH EXTENSION REPORT. The church extension report stated: The whole of the income from the Jubilee Fund has been paid, as in previous years, into the Assembly’s Home Mission Fund. The committee recommends that the income be disposed of in the same way at the close of the present financial year. The sum of £l4 13s 5d was received as interest on the Christina Clarke Legacy Fund. The clerk of synod paid 10s to each of the 26 home missionaries labouring within the bounds, and added a small balance to the account in the Dunedin Savings Bank, increased by the sum of

£3 6s received on surrendering the old debentures • and taking new debentures issued by the Dunedin Drainage and Sewerage Board. The decrease in the interest on these debentures will lower the annual income of the Legacy Fund hereafter. Work has been carried on in camps for the unemployed within the bounds. The sum of £57 3s 6d, contributed by nine congregations in the Presbytery of Dunedin, was added to the balance of £23 14s 4d carried forward a year ago; and grants were made to eight ministers and to a student-assistant _to enable them to provide services in outlying camps. The total expenditure amounted to £6l, leaving a diminished balance of £2l 17s lOd in hand. The committee recommends that work be continued along the Hues pursued this year, and that the scheme be set before our congregations for sympathetic consideration. The -report and its recommendations was adopted, and the following committee was appointed;—The Revs. _ J. Kilpatrick, R. G. M'Dowall (joint conveners), W. Trotter. D- C. Herron, G. L. Taylor, Messrs W. H. Adams, G. .F. Booth, A. A. Campbell, J. M. Dick, J. Russell.; corresponding members to be appointed by the respective presbyteries. RELIEF CAMPS FUND. Mr Dick reported on relief camp funds follows: At last synod I reported a balance at the bank of £25 14s 4d. To this - has been added £57 3s Cd received from congregations during this last year. As in the previous year, the whole of the money has come from within the Dunedin Presbytery, although none of it has been spent in that area. The committee, after hearing the reports of the students who had worked in the camps in the previous year, decided that it_ would be wiser to grant assistance to resident ministers, thus enabling them to give greater services to tamps within their own areas. Allowances for extra expense of transport, etc., have therefore been made to eight ministers, while £ls his been paid on behalf of one student assistant. ■ That this help is greatly appreciated is indicated by letters received from ministers. The committee feels that more information regarding work done in the camps generally should be sent to it from, time to time, so that the funds at its disposal -may be used where the ’ need is greatest. It is-noted that two important camps are being established, one on the Eglmton Valley road and the .other on the Kingston-Queenstowu road, and the committee hopes it will bo possible to assist in giving services to these.- . If* assistance is to- be given so far afield, the committee feels that other presbyteries should co-operate in the matter of supplying funds, and ,not leave it to the dozen or so congregations in and around Dunedin to supply the necessary funds. The committee thanks those congregations whose contributions have made it' possible to give £6l in much needed aid To ministers whose transport allowances, are inadequate for ordinary parish work, to say nothing of extra travelling. Some discussion ensued on the subject of the administration and supervision of the work in relief camps, more than one Southland member stating that each presbytery should look after the -work- in the camp within its bounds. • Such a policy was objected to on the grounds that camps were not evenly distributed throughout , presbyteries. ~ One or two would have to- carry • the whole burden while others would have no responsibility whatever, '

It was decided, after further discussion, that funds for puch work should be centralised in a synod fund which could be disbursed through presbytery committees. . JUDICIAL COMMITTEE. '

Dr Gumming said it'was satisfactory to be able to report that no' matters had come before the Judicial Committee during, the period since last meeting, so that no report was necessary. . , FOREIGN MISSIONS COMMITTEE. The Rev. H. H. Barton moved the adoption of the Foreign Mission Committee’s* report. He said, a good deal of consideration had been given during the year to the’holding of a missionary campaign in: some or all of The presbyteries of Otago and : Southland. The Assembly Foreign .’Mission Committee asked the Synod Committee to undertake the principal task of organisation • in connection with the campaign. The compaign, however, had been deferred till next year and it was now proposed to plan for a period of from four to six weeks following Easter, and it was hoped that the Assembly Coommitt'ee would see its way to fall in with the suuggestion that the whole of Otago and Southland should be covered by the campaign. He recommended. the appointment of the 'following committee;—The Revs.- J. D. Smith, G. L. Taylor, H. H. Barton, Messrs J. M. Dick, D. S. Beath, and J. Farquharsou, and representatives, from the Y.M.C.A., Y.W.G.A., and Sunday School Union. The report was adopted and the committee elected. CLOSER RELATIONS.

With a view to securing a closer community of interest between the synod and the Church Board of Property in all matters relating to the selection, appointment or removal of professors of university chairs, so that the synod’s concurrence might be given with full knowledge, a special committee submitted suggested lines of procedure for the appointments by synod of representatives the board and act w'ith it. The report and the suggestions were adopted. ; . Mr Herron complained of a lack of co-operation and contact between the synod and the Church Board of Property, and emphasised the need. for a readjustment of the relationships which existed. He thought, for instance, that the factor of the board should’ attend synod meetings and that the synod should be acquainted with changes in the personnel of the board as they occurred. At present there was no point of contact between the two bodies, and the Church Board, being a self-appointed organisation, did not regard it as necessary to consult synod in any way. Personally, he thought it was time that the Church Board of Property was elected by the synod.— (Applause.) CENTENARY OF PIONEER FOREIGN MISSIONARY A service of commemoration in, connection wuth the centenary of the *.ev. Peter Milne, the first foreign missionary sent out by the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland, w r as held in F.rst Church yesterday evening. The moderator of the synod presided. ; After devotional exercises,, during which Dr V. E. Galway presided at the organ, .the Rev. H. H. Barton, M.A., delivered an, address on the life and work of Mr Milne. •He stated that Peter Milne was l orn in the parish of 1 Stains, in the North of Scotland, 1 .on May 17, 1834. Like many a Scotsman who had risen to eminence, his early life was one of poverty and hardship, and he was in his thirty-fifth year before he had completed the long and arduous course of study required for Presbyterian ministers. The occupations and tasks which had engaged him, in the interval served to .fit him for the very varied duties which, fall to the lot of a missionary on an isolated island. When the call reached Scotland for a missionary to serve the then Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland in the New Hebrides Milne immediately responded. He was ordained by the Free Church Presbytery of Edinburgh bn November 26, 1908, the Rev. Sir Henry Wellwood Moncrieff officiating. On his arrival in Dunedin a missionary meeting was held in Knox Church, at which Mime stated, in characteristic fashion, that, whatever might happen, he did not think he would turn back. By the grace of God he never did.

Milne, was settled on Nguna, one of the smaller islands of the New Hebrides Group, on July 19, 1870. For, years his task was most discouraging. The natives seemed unwilling to attend the services held by the missionary, and even when the first little church was opened, only two natives—and both of them from the missionary compound—attended.. So far from- listening in fascinated wonder to the glorious Gospel, those whom he. succeeded, in reaching at all would greet his message with mocking laughter. It was March, 1880, before the first converts were baptised on Nguna itself. Thereafter the tide turned, and by the end of 1889 |.hc missionary had baptised 1095 converts'. The former fierce intertribal fighting, frequent cannibalistic orgies, wild “sing-songs,” burial alive of the aged and infirm, and other horrible concomitants of heathenism gave place to a peaceful and law-abiding Christian civilisation. From Nguna, as the years passed, many native teachers went forth to other islands, and a warm interest was cultivated amongst them in the spread of the Gospel. Peter Milne was singularly fortunate in having ag his life companion a wife who devoted herself to the work of the Gospel with a zeal equal to his own. In many respects be was worthy to be ranked among the greatest of South Sea

Island missionaries. His dauntless courage, his passion for - thoroughness, his amazing tenacity of purpose, and his wonderful devotion to the Ngunese, were outstanding characteristics. His was the faith that removes mountains and laughs at impossibilities. Upon the memorial tablet which was erected by the natives in the church at Nguna, after his death on November 26, 1924,'are inscribed the words: “When he came to Nguna, July, 1870, there were no Christians; when he died there were no heathen.” To this child race of the New Hebrides we owed ; a from which we might not turn. Too often in the past the natives had been exploited and ill-used, enslaved and debauched for base gafit. The sacred memories of the past, the blood of the martyrs, and the record of such a life as that of Peter Milne should be a challenge to the church to carry on the task. . Y The Rev. Alexander Don also gave an address, in which he spoke in glowing terms of the devoted and unremitting labours of Mr Milue in the field of missionary enterprise. At the close of the proceedings Mr W. M'Caw moved a comprehensive vote of thanks, with special reference to the moderator, the speakers for the evening, and the press.