DUNSTAND PRESBYTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2286, 23 December 1897, Page 7

DUNSTAND PRESBYTERY.

This presbytery held its quarterly meeting »t Cromwell on the B.h inst. The JBev./W. K. Grant was appointed moderator pro tern Mr James Flamming p:e^ented his ' commission from Cromwell Kirk Session, which was tustained. , SABBATH SCHOOLS AND BIBLE CLASSES. Me Camming read a very interesting and* instructive report as to the Sabbath 'school*, Bible classe?, and Christian Endeavour societies within the preobytery's bounds, showing that there were 24 schools with between 700 and 800 scholars and 84- teachers scattered all over the various districts. There were also 10 Bible cl&fses for young people containipg over 100 members, who wete taught by the ministara and were being trained for membership in the church. There were as yet bu l ; three Endeavour societies, with a membt-rship of 40. More could undoubtedly be done in this work, for it was good solid work for the rising generation. ~ Ou the whole the figures showed improvement, but they likewise indicated that further improvement; was desirable and attainable. Good, earnest, faithful work" had been done by many workers amongst the* yoang, and knowing this they might well tbauk God and take - courage. — The presbytery expressed their thanks to Mr. Gumming, and agreed to allow the report . to lie on the table, till next ordiptiyifeneeting,,. £o that one or tiro who were absent might have an opportunity oF considering i^. REFORM'S JFOR 3I.VBCH MEETING. The presbytery agretd to receive the financial reports of c >ogreg*tioii6, dud also to hold • con- ° fereoca on the state of religion, morals, ' and temperance at next meeting in March ; Mr Gel lie to introduce the subject of religion and morals, and Mr Graufc that of temperance. THE UNION QUESTION. The Clerk stated that he wished respectfully , to draw the. attention of the presbytery, aud if. possible of the, whole membership of the c'aurcb, to the very extraordinary procedure ef the last meeting of synod, in which.the polity, practice, and constitutional principle's of Presj byterianism aud of the church had beeu deliberately overridden and ?et atiJe by a mere casual vote of the sjnctl,' It wrh. & new fchiug in JPresbyteriatiism, he said, that such an idea,; could be entertained and put into practice, and' one full <>f danger to the liberties of the members. Yet it was gaining ground of late &mong pome- prominent; members of the church. So that, by a mere casual majority vote »t any time in the. synod the dectrine, polity, and principles of the church could be so alter* d as to put the* church out of line with the great principles of Prt-bhy-terianism throughout the world. Although almost all the presbyfcories of the obuc*ch in their returns to last oynoi refused to .ac-jept of the ..proposed basis of union simplicity; T yet the synod, in defiance of the laws of their own church and of the Free Church, adopted the basis of union, when its only legal And honourable conree was to re-transmit that basis, with alterations or without, to the stssiona and presbyteries, or else pass from the whole question. Further, the synod did on its own motion and by a mere c'astiAl majority adopt after only a few miuutcV consideration a draft t bill or proposed act of Parliament which Jis to bind the whole membership of the I church for the future ; whereas the standing rules and practice require that; before such action is takeu the sjnod roust transmit' the said bill or proposal to the several presbyteries of the church, and in such an important crisis tie this that should have been done. ' Even as a mittcr of comtes'y it (should have been sent both to sessions and presbyteries. Such high-handed- aud *' lor Jljr " action : w*s nof, and could not bej binding on the church, as was clearly laid down in the practice of the Free Church and-wther branches of the Presbyterian Ohurob, The church's law, practice, and procedure are undoubtedly founded upon the Free Chnrch system as a whole. The constitution was bastd thereon, »nd the church itself had declared that ' ' the - fundamental principles of the Church of Otago in doctrine, polity, and discipline are and shall be those laid down in the standards of the Free Church of Scotland." The.Barrier Act w&a an inherent and integral part <of the Free Church system, and, indeed, of Presbyterianigm, aud it was then fore useless for the anion party to say that the members of the church are not protected by that act, which has ever been justly regarded by all true Presbyterians as "one of the greatest bulwarks of ecclesiastical freedom." After referring to the position of the church property, the Clerk went on to say that it was possible, however, that in the interval the newly-formed Church Defence Society might take some steps to test the legality of the procedure of last synod simply as a question of law as to whether the synod is acving up to the terms and constitution upon which it holds its property by refusing and withholding frona the inferior courts and the members their constitutional rights and privileges. This was not a matter of spiritual jurisdiction at nil, but a question of justice between man and man. MISCELLANEOUS. All members of the presbytery concurred in expressing regret at the sudden demise of the la'e Mr Blsckie in the prime of his days, and who formerly held the charge of Cromwell. After examination of records and other business, the presbytery adjourned — to meet at Alexandra on the 3rd March next. Bronchit's and Pulmonary Complaints. — It is desirable that anyone who is affected with any form of chest _ complaint arising from cold should at once obtain a bottle of Bo.vnikgtos's Carragben Irish Moss, for its effect is most reliable. The public are cautioned against the numerous attempted imitations of this well-known article, none of which, approach jte