PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 1155, 17 January 1874, Page 18

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND.

The annual session of the Presbyterian Synod was commenced on Wednesday in the new First Church. There was a large attendance of members, and also of the general public. The proceedings were opened with an eloquent sermon, preached by the retiring Moderator, the Rev. W. Bannerman, who took for his text St. John, 17th chapter, 6th, 18th, and 22nd verses. The Synod having been constituted with prayer, the Clerk read the BOLL OF MBMBBES ! as follows :— Ministers : Presbytery of Dunedin— Revs. W. Will, East Taieri ; W. Johnston, Port Chalmers ; D. M. Stuart, D.D., Knox Church, Dnnedin ; J. H. M'Naughton, Anderson's Bay ; M. "Watt, Green Island ; W. i Gillies, West Taieri ; A. Greig, N.E. Harbour; J.Copland, M.D., North Dnnedin ; John Gow, St. Andrew's, Dunedin; A. Blake, Kaikorai. Presbytery of Clutha— Revs. W. Bannerman, Clutha j J. M. Allan, Inch Clutha ; J, Waters, Warepa ; R. Telford, Teviot; C. Connor, Popotunoa; J. Chisholm, Tokomairiro; A. Brett, Tapanui ; J. M'Ara, Balclutha; J. H. Cameron, Lawrence. Presbytery of Southland — Revs. A. H. Stobo, Invercargill ; T. Alexander, Long Bush ; A. Stevens, Wallacetown ; R, C. Morrison, Switzers ; D. Rosb, Queenstown ; 0. S. Ross, Riverton -, J. M. Thomson, Winton. Presbytery of Oamaru— Rers, A. B. Todl, Oamaru ; J. Ryley, Otepopo ; J. Christie, Waikouaiti; J. Clark, Palmerston; J. M'Cosh Smith, Naseby ; J. Baird, Palmerston. Elders : Presbytery of Dunedin— Messrs Charles Moore, First Church ; J. Christie, East Taieri; W. Scott, Port Chalmers ; A. Rennie, Knox Church, Dunedin ; J. Samuel, Anderson's Bay ; J. Runciman, Green Island; A. Chisholm, West Taieri; W. Allan, N. E. Harbour; W. Hutton. N. Dunedin ; J. Paterson, St. Andrew's, Dunedin. Presbytery of Clutha — Messrs J. Paterson, Clutha ; J. T. Ritchie, Balclutha ; J.Shaw, Inch Clutha ; D. Dunn, Waitahuna; W. Reid, Tokomairiro ; J. Poison, Warepa ; J. Stenhouse, Lawrence ; J. P. Millar, Popotunoa. Presbytery of Oamaru — Meßsrs D. Malloch, Waikouaiti ; J. Duncan, Otepopo ; E. B. Cargill, Naseby ; J. Falconer, Oamaru ; Captain W. Thomson, Hampden. Presbytery of Southland — James Smith, Invercargill. .ELECTION OF MODERATOR. The Rev. W. Bannkemak said : Fathers and Brethren — In laying down the office which at last meeting of Synod you entrusted to me, I render to you my heartfelt thanks for the hoaour conferred upon me on that occasion, and also for the manner in which you bore with me in the discharge of the duties of that office. I am confident that in the discharge of the duties of that office there were many shortcomings on my part, and I trust that I shall ever carry with me a grateful remembrance of the manner in which you bore with me. According to usual custom, it falls to me to nominate a successor, and I have very great pleasure in nominating one of our ministers — a fellowstudent of mme — who laboured for a considerable time in another part of the Lord's I vineyard, and who has been labouring for ' many years in our own branch of the Chris1 tian Church. I refer to the Rev. James M'Naughton, of Anderson's Bay, who for well nigh twelve years has been discharging pistoral functions in that district. He is well known to you, and has gone in amongst you for so many years that it needs no ; , wordß on my part to recommend him to youi ' notice, and to induce you to adopt the sugi ! gestion I now make in conjunction with the . ! other members of the Synod viho have held i 1 the office now b«ing vacated by myself, that

you call upon our brother the RoV. James M'Naughton to ocoupy the Moderator's Chair during this meeting of Synod. The Rev. Dr Stuart seconded the motion, and the new Moderator took his seat.