DUNEDIIS PRESBYTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 23

DUNEDIIS PRESBYTERY.

The Danedin Presbytery met in the hall of First Church yesterday, when there were present — The Revs. J. Kirkland (moderator), W. Will, Rutherford Waddell, A. Cameron, J. M. M'Kerrow, R. J. Porter, R. R. M Sutherland, A. Qreig, A. M. Fiulayson, J. Gibson Smith, D. Dutton, J. Gibb, J. S. Reid, Dr Watt, and Dr Stuart (ministers) ; Messrs W. Hutton, D. Thomson, F. Marshall, J. Sawcll, T. Seotfc, W. H. Ash, J. Piterson, W. Martin, and E. B. Cargill (elders). THE MINUTES. The moderator was authorised to sign the minute 3of April 2 and September 13 in room of the late J. M. Sutherland. EVANGELISTIC WORK. Mr Duncan Wright wrote stating that, after two years of active work in Melbourne and the colony of Victoria generally, he had returned to resume his evangelistic efforts in this colony, and asking that the fact be mentioned at the meeting of presbytery. THE SOUTH DUNEDIN CAL&. The Rev. A. Cameron brought up a call from South Dunedin signed by 85 members and 48 adherents. He stated that at a meeting of the congregation no dissent to the call was given in, and he thought the figures he mentioned were a very fair representation of the roll of membership. Almost as many had signed the call as had signed the first time. If the presbytery saw its way to sustain the call, or to forward it to its proper destination, they would do that which would tend greatly to further the cause of religion at South Dunedin. He was quite persuaded that to delay the matter in the slightest would be only to injure the congregation. He had great pleasure in laying the call on the table of the presbytery, and trusted that it would be heartily sustained,

The Rev. Mr Finlayson stated what steps had been taken in the matter of the call.

A letter was then read from Mr A. G. Rutherford in regard to the matter. Ho said that he fully intended on the night of the 31st to have laid before the presbytery for consideration a few statements in the way of showing the extraordinary manner in which the majority had acted in order that they might push forward the call to Mr Jolly, but on looking round at the people assembled in the church at the time the call was being signed, he could Bee that the same method was being adopted, as on the first occasion, of swelling the names to the call. He therefore retired in disgust from the meeting. If the call were sustained a number of members would leave the church, and several who had been connected with it since its first plank was laid had already left. The Rev. W. Will expressed the opinion that the letter should not be published, as its publication was calculated to do harm. He thought the presbytery should just receive it. The Rev. A. Cameron did not think that Mr Rutherford's action had helped in the slightest degree to the peace or to the prosperity of the congregation's interest in any true sense. He was sorry to say that that was the impression that had been borne into his mind all along, and a great deal had been said unjustly of Mr Jolly and of Mr Jolly's friends. The Rev. Mr Will again urged that the letter should be minuted as received. To go into the merits of it, he thought, would be very unwise.

The Rev. Dr Watt was of opinion that the letter should not be received. He fancied if they received letters like Mr Rutherford's they would be flooded with all sorts of calumnious statements.

The Rev. K. R. M. Sutherland suggested that the letter should be consigned to the waste paper basket.

It was agreed to receive the letter, the presbytery concurring in the opinion expressed by Mr Will that it should not be published. The Rev. Dr Watt moved—" That the call be sustained and transmitted to the Presbytery of Clutha for presentation to Mr Jolly." He ! was sorry that some members of tho congregation were determined to break off their connection with the church; but he thought extraordinary harm would be done to them aa a presbytery if, because a few were going to j break off, they did not sustain the call. The Rev. J. Gibb had great pleasure in seconding the motion. When the call was last before the presbytery he moved or seconded a motion "that the call be not sustained," and it was perhaps fitting that he should now second the motion before them. In doing so he would just like to say that his action on the previous occasion was taken not because he thought that the number who had signed the call was insufficient, but he felt that any just cause of offence to the minority should be taken out of the way. Their protest against the proposal to sustain the call was not that it had been insufficiently signed, but that they had not had sufficient opportunities of hearing candidates, only having had an opportunity of hearing one maa. That objection had been removed, and during the last few months tho congregation had had ample opportunity of reconsidering their position, and that opportunity had only led them to emphasise and endorsetheir previous action. It therefore seemed to him that the presbytery ought to pay no heed whatever to this second protest, but ought unanimously and heartily to sustain the call. The motion was unanimously agreed to. INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC AT EAST TAIERI. An application was received from the kirk session of East Taieri for permission to introduce instrumental music in the church, together with a statement that 120 members and 61 adherents had voted for its introduction, and 20 members and six adherents against the proposal. Mr Robert Dickie and Mr W. Blackie, who along with others appeared to oppose the I application, addressed the presbytery, and after some discussion it was resolved on the motion of the Rev. J. Gibb, seconded by the Key. Dr Watt—" That the presbytery is satisfied that the congregation is substantially unanimous, and agree to sustain the use of instrumental music in- the East Taieri congregation." «ENERA,L. I An application from Mornington for a grant of £50 for repairs to the manse was sanctioned. The Revs. Bannerman and Allan, members of the Clutha Presbytery, being present, were associated with the presbytery. | The Rev. D. Borrie wrote with reference to the employment of a missionary at Leith Valley, Pine Hill, and Mount Cargill. — A committee was appointed to visit tho districts interested and report to the presbytery. The Presbytery attached Whare Flat to the | North Taieri district ; and a deputation, consisting of the Rev. Messrs Will and Gibb was appointed to visit the district.— ln speaking about the Whare Flab district, the Rsv. Mr Sutherland referred to the valuable services rendered in the past to the church in that locality by Mr Chisholm and his friends. Applications from the Rev. T. C. Guy and the Rev. W. W. Lowe for admission were referred to the following committee to report to next meeting of presbytery : —The Revs. Dr Watt, Gibson Smith, R. Waddell, J. Gibb, and A. M. Finlayson. THE NEW CITY BY-LAW. The Rev. R. Waddell moved— "That the question of the proposed by-law of the City Council be referred to the Committee of Synod on Public Morals, &c, with a request that the committee consider it and report to the Presbytery within a fortnight." He was not prepared to express any opinion about the by-law, but he thought it should be considered because the principles of right and wrong in it might be very serious. In answer to a member, the Clerk said the committee referred to were the Revs. Dr Stuart, Gibb, Bannerman, Waddell, and Sutherland (ministers) ; Messrs John Roberts, A. C. Begg, and Keith Ramsay (elders), with the Revs. J. Fergußon (Invercargill) and Dr Macgregor (Oamaru) as corresponding members. The Rev. A. Cameron secorded the motion.

The Rev. Mr Sutherland thought there Bhould be a public meeting to protest against the encroachment of public liberty Bhown in the by-law. The motion was carried. AGGRESSIVE WORK.

The Rev. A. Cameron moved—" That the presbytery appoint a conference on the subject of aggressive work, and that the presbytery meet for this purpose and for ordinary business this day fortnight." It seemed to him there was a great deal of work to be done in the way of street preaching, and possibly in following the crowd down to St. Clair, and so on. A system of preaching might be organised, and ministers and laymen from the different congregations could preach to crowds wherever crowds were assembled any afternoon or evening. The motion was carried, and the presbytery adjourned at 1 30 p.m.

The South Canterbury Education Board have decided to request the Minister for Education to- appoint Government inspectors for all endowed secondary schools.