DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1355, 17 November 1877, Page 7

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

The reguiar meeting of the Presbytery of Duneiin W*a aeld in the hall of the First Courch on November 7th. Present : The Key. Mr Blake (Moderator), Dr Stuart, Sutherland. Gow, Mickie, Will. Watt, Grei/, Dr Copland, Kirkland, Finlayson, Johnston, a.id Russe'l. and Messrs Hepburn.Borrie, and Cameron, elders. The Presbytery having been duly constituted, the minutes of the I»st meeting were r^ad and confirmed, after which the following business was transacted : - CHr/BCH EXTENSION. East Taien — The Rev. Dr Stuart reported that the Committee for Church Extension met the offlce-b.arers of Kwt Taieii Church, and found that the Church required no assistance from the funds of the Association. ilorn'ngton.— The Rev. Dr Stuart reported that the Commute* met at Mornlngton, and examined the sites brought under their notice, and had chosen the most convenient and suitable one. The Committee found the office-bearers quite agreeable to take any aufflestionß, and willing to act up to the instructions of ths Church. St. Kilda. -The Rev. Mr Mackie reported that on Sunday last the Church of St. Kilda was formally opened for public worship. Ravensbourne.— A letter from the Rev. Professar Salmond reported, on behalf of the Church. Extension Society, that it had been arranged that the Rev Mr fliveu ehould take charge of the station at K&vensbourne. The friends at Ravensbourne had guaranteed a minimum contribution of £50 per auuum, and the Society £150. This arrangement was to be revised at the end of the first half year. The letter asked the sanction of the Presbytery ti this action, and if neceisary also to give authority to Mr >iven to administer the sacrament, and to perform the functions ot the ministry. The question of the jurisdiction of the Presbytery, and its relationship to tue Church Extension Society, was raised, and after discussion, it was resolved that in the absence of Professor Salmond the consideration of the matter should be postponed. THEOLOGICAL SCHOLARSHIPS. The Rev. Mr Johnston, as joint convener of the Theological Hall Committee, asked ths Presbyt ry to fulfil its promise to give a three years' scholarship of £30 pei year. The request was complied with. FAST DAYS. The following replies were received from the Kirk fession3 within the bounds of the Presbytery, to remit rfcgirdiiig the religious profit ami advantage of the observance of fast days. For the abolition of fast day*— Knox Church, West Taieri Church, and Kaikorai Church (3). For the retention of fast days— Fi»st Church. Caveraham, and Merton churches. Ihe Kirk session at Blueskin recommended that the observance or non-observance of fast days be left to the discretion of of the Kirk Sessions. The following reports were given verbally : The Rev. Mr Watt said that the wwh of the Kirk Session of Oreen Island was to dispense with the Pa^t Day. The Rev. Mr Will said that the Session of East Taiert Church was in favour of leaving the observance of fastdiys to the discretion of the Kirk Sessions. The Rev. Mr Jousstos said he hid not had an opportunity of submitting the question to hu Kirk session, but knew the opinion of the session was that iutowrsit would be well to dispense with the ob-.erv-ance of fast days. The Retr. Dr Copland reported Ihit the Kirk session of North Dunedin Church was equally divided on the question. Personally he was in favour of dispensing with fast days, but as Moderator, if required to vote wo<ildhave to vote against his opinion. The Rev. Mr Sutherland reported that he understood the Mosgiel Kirk cession thought that aa evening service would terve all the purposes of a fist day, and that the observance of the day might be dispensed The Rev. Mr Gkbig said that the Peninsula Kirk Session had not considered the question, and he could not say what their opinion on the subject would be ; but the practico was that part of the charge observed the f*st days aud part did not. D £ Sttjabt thought that under the circumstances the best plan would be for him to give notice of an . overture to the Synod, just to get the matter settled one way or the other. It was cleat that opinioa was divided, and the practice of the Church w»s at variance with whit it was supposed to be. It was evident that within the bounds of the Presbytery congregations did not observe the da3s, and in the gold-fields they could not be observed. Dr Stuart then gave notice that at the next meeting he would move that an overture on the question be made to the Synod. VISIT OF THE BEY. DR SOMRRVIOLE. The Rev. Mr Johnston informed the Prosiiytery that he had received a letter from the Rev. Dr SomeryilK informing him that he was gratified at the action the Presbytery had taken, and that he expected to reach New Zealand in JNovember, but did not know whether Dunedin or Au kland would be the first port at wheh he would arrive. He (Jlr Johnston) was ef opinion that some steps should be taken to prepare for this visit, and suggested the appointment of a committee. The Rev. Mr Hackik said that ho understood that onlsidc mini6tars were somewhat looking to the Presbytery to prepare the minds of tho people for this evangelist, and were willing to co-op'Wto with the Presbytery. He would like to see stcim taken towards holding special meetings boforo baud, in tho shape of periodic or daily prayer meetings. Thero was no noubt that sue -ess in other places wai very much duo to the preparedness of the rcople. He believed great good would result to the community from the visit of this evangel-st ; slid that there was no place more lihely than Dunedin to derive benefit from the visit of such a man as Dr Somerville : for this reason, the people of Dunedin were accu tomod to sound re igious < instruction, ard the visit of a-i enthusiastic pre<uher was very likely to result in the reaping of much fruit. i He moved, and it was agreed, "That the Revs. Di* Stuart and Copland and the mover, be appointed a committee to arrange for the visit of the Roy, Dr SomeryiUo,"

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS. The f*ev. Mr Sl'Ar*, of BUclutha, who was present, was admitted a corresponding member of the Prssbytory. At the request of the Key. Mr W «tt, permission was granted to mortga:e the church property at Green lUand for £1100.

The Ktv. Dr Stuart #*ye notice that at next meeting he would move " That in view of the Education Bill, now before the Parliament, becoming liw, by which Bibe readinpwill beexeluded from the common schools, the Presbytery devise gome method by which the children of the Church may receive instruction in the Word < f God, when practicable, on porno week day, in addition to 'he Sabb >th day lessons "

This concluded the public business, and the Presbytery was then adjourned till Wo Inesday next.