PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1419, 1 February 1879, Page 17

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

EIGHTH DAY— Thursday, 23rd January. The Synod resumed at 11 a.m. CHURCH BOARD OF PROPERTY. The Clerk of the Synod was instructed to inform the Board of Church Property that the regulations passed on the 16th inst. had been rescinded. CHURCH GLEBE. The Rev. Mr Ryley, on behalf of the Committee appointed to arrange anent First Church glebe between the trustees and Deacons' Court of the First Church, reported that the Committee had proposed to both parties that the Deacons' Court should be paid the sum of LSOO in lieu of all claim, and that the Committee had failed to effect an arrangement on those terms. A deliverance was agreed to, adopting the report, approving of the diligence of the Committee, recording thanks to Committee, and especially to Convener, regretting that the Committee had failed to effect an arrangement, and discharging the Committee. EXAMINATION OF RECORDS. % The report in regard to the examination of records was adopted, and the Moderator was authorised to certify the records as examined. THE NEW INTERIM ACT. The Rev. Mr Bannerman moved—" That the Synod meet for the final adoption of the Interim Act on the second Tuesday in May." Mr A. C. Begg seconded. The Rev. Mr Finlayson moved as an amendment — " That the Interin Act be taken into consideration for final adoption on Thursday, 15th January, 1880." The Rev. Mr Will seconded. The amendment was carried by 16 votes to 11. THE MODEEATORSHIP. The Rev. Mr Ryley, who was nominated as the Moderator for next Synod, withdrew in favour of Mr Watt. THE THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE. The Theological Committee reported :— Your Committee have to report that at the bursary examination held in May last, for students about to enter on their undergraduate course, one candidate, namely, Mr Bruce Todd, offered hinuelf.to whom, on the recommendation of the examiners, 'a bursary valued at £30 was awarded. Your Committee, in terms of the deliverance adopted at last meeting ot Synod, communicated with the Presbyteries of Southland and Clutlia, asking them to take steps to provide bursaries for undergraduate students. Your Committee has much pleasure in reporting that tho Presbytery of Southland agreed to provide a burnary of the annual value of £30. The Presbytery placed this bursary at the disposal of yeur Committee for one year, but retained the right to dispose of it afterwards. As the bursary has been allocated to a student, your Committee ttusts that the Presbytery of Southland will leave it in the hands of the present bursar for ihe period during which he is entitled to hold a bursary. Your Committee feeling the urgent need of much more liberal encouragement to students, in the shape of bursaries, would respectfully suggest that the Synod take this whole Bubject into its earnest consideration. . Your Committee would suggest that the Synod authorise the Committee to draw up regulations with reference to the tenure of bursaries. Your Committee have to report that Professor Salmond and Mr Watt carried on tlieir classes during the usual winter session. As in previous years, Professor balmond delivered a course of public lectures, the subject being " The Doctrine of the Person of Christ." These lectures wore well attended, and much appreciated. , . „ "William Johnston, Joint-Convener. On the motion of the Rev. Mr Chisholh, the following deliverance was agreed to : — "Adopt report ; thank the Committee, espe- 1 cially the Convener ; express gratification that the Committee was able to award the bursary provided by the Southland Presbytery to such a promising student as Mr Bruce Todd ; express the hope that greater interest will be taken throughout the Church in inducing students to give themselves to the ministry, by providing bursaries, and express gratitude to Professor Salmond for the course of public lectures delivered by him during the year ; authorise the Committee to take whatever steps may be deemed effec tive for bringing the matter of bursaries before the Church, and also to draw up regulations with reference to the tenure of bursaries." DEPUTIES TO CHRISTCHUROH. The Moderator (Dr Copland) and the Clerk (Rev. Mr Bannerman) were appointed deputies to the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, meeting in Christchurch next month. Evening Sitting.] The Synod resumed at 6.30 p.m. SYNODICAL EXPENSES. A report was given in regarding Synodical expenses. The report was read and adopted. THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE. Dr Copland having proposed the motion of which he had given notice regarding the endowing and erecting a theological college, it was agreed that tbe motion be remitted to the Theological College Committee, patients' and prisoners' aid society. On the motion of the Rev, Mr Sutherland, seconded by the Rev. Dr Stuart, it was unanimously resolved that the above Society be commended to the hearty support of the Church, and that in his advocacy of the Association Mr Torrance, the agent, be welcomed by the congregations he may be able to visit during the year. COMMEMORATION. The following Committee was appointed to arrange for the commemoration of the 25fch anniversary of the constitution of the Church, and the arrival of the Revs. Bannerman and Will. :— The Moderator, Dr Stuart, Revs. Mackie, Chisholm, Kirkland, Todd, and Johnstone : and Messra Thomson, Fitzgerald, Rennie, Reid, H. Clark, J. Hill, A. C. Begg, E. B. Cargill, R. A. Lawson, James Adam (Tokomairiro), Hepburn, W. Smith (Clutha), W. Somerville, Adam Johnston (Kaihiku), W. 11. Reynolds, and Watson (Invercargill),

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. The Committee appointed to frame a resolution re this question reported as follows :— " The Synod having its attention drawn to the subject of national education, resolve to avail itself of all constitutional means for moving Parliament to sanction the use of the Lord s Prayer and the reading of the Scriptures,, under a time-table and conscience clause, in the schools; and resolve that this Synod regret the present tendency in certain quarters to destroy the national system of education now happily established (by the introduction of denominational education), which the adoption of the alterations proposed by the Synod would conserve ; and appoint a committee to carry out this resolution." The Rev. Dr Stuart moved the adoption of the report. The Rev. Mr Mackie, in seconding, mentioned that an association had already been formed in Dunedin who were taking steps to enrol a large and influential membership to support the introduction of the Bible in schools. One of the aims of this association would be to spread amongst the community all the available information on the subject, so as to provoke an interest on the part of the people at large. He was quite sure that the Committee would be found to act in harmony with the association, and that both bodies would be helpful to each other. The motion was carried. THE INTERIM ACT. The following clause was added to the Interim Act passed the previous day :—": — " In the case of a congregation having a manse requiring, on account of special circumstances, to build a new manse on a new site, the cost of said site shall be met in terms of regulation 3, provided that the cost of the original manae site, so far as met by grant of Synod, shall be deducted from the amount of LIOO for a country site, aud L2OO for a town site." VOTES OF THANKS. On the motion of the Rev. Dr Stuart, a vote of thanks was accorded to the Press of Dunedin for having published reports of the Synod's proceedings, A similar vote was accorded to those families who had extended their hospitality to members of the Synod. NEXT MEETING OF SYNOD. The second Tuesday in January, 1880, was fixed for the opening of the next Synod. moderator's concluding address. The Moderator then thanked the members of the Synod for their attendance, and, In the course of a short address, said it was a matter of regret that Professor Salmond and the Rev. Mr Stobo (of Inveroargill) had been unable to attend the Synod's meetings on account of ill health.— (Applause.) The sitting was brought to a close at 10 p. m,