THE OWAKA PRESBTTERIAN CHURCH. DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2358, 4 May 1899, Page 34

THE OWAKA PRESBTTERIAN CHURCH.

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

The Presbytery of Clutha met at Balclulha on Friday to investigate the charges made by the Rev. Mr Gray of " relentless opposition " on the part of Mr Young, the treasurer at Owaka, causing him to resign his charge there. The Rev. 0. A. Somerville presided. We learn from the local papers that after the different parties had been heard it was resolved, by eight votes to two — " That the presbytery having met in hunc effectum to consider petition of Mr S. Young, praying it to pass judgment on Mr Gray's charge against him of 'relentless opposition,' causing him to demit his charge at Owaka, and having heard parties and witnesses, find that Mr Gray has not produced a tittle of evidence on which to ground any such charge, and express regret that Mr Gray should have made a grave charge against an elder of his congregation without being able to substantiate it in any way." The Rev. Mr Gray entered notice of appeal to the synod.

The Presbytery then proceeded to consider a petition from Mr S. Young in which he directed the attention of the Presbytery to some personal references in the ilev. Mr Gray's farewell sermon on Sabbath, 16th April. After hearing evidence the Rev. Mr Fraser moved, and the Rev. Mr Baimerman seconded — "That the Presbytery, having taken up consideration of Mr Young's complaint regarding the sermon preached at Owak-a on Sabbath, 16th April, and haying heard parties and witnesses, are of opinion that both the text and the sermon were most unautiable for such an occasion, and were capable of giving, and did give, great offence to members of his congregation, and the Presbytery regret that the Rev. Mr Gray acted in the manner he. did." This was carried on tho casting vote of the moderator oro tata*

The monthly meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery was held in First Church Hall on the 2nd inst., commencing at 10 o'clock, when there were present: — Ministers: Revs. I. Jolly (moderator), J. Gibb, D. Borrie, Dr Watt, R. R. M. Sutherland, J. M. Fraser, I. K. M'lntyre, E. C. Tennent, A. Cameron,' W. Hewitson, A. Greig, and A. M. Finlayson (clerk). Elders : Messrs D. Thomson, W. Couston, G. Reid, W. Scott, W. Thomson, R.'Edmunston, W. Hutton, A. Chisholm, J. W. Laing, and T. Somerville. The Revs. W. Will, Somerville, J. Chisholm, and J. Blair being present were associated with the presbytery.

THE REV. W. TOl.

A letter was received from the Rev. YV. Will cordially thanking the presbytery for their minute with reference to his resignation. He need not assure them that it was very encouraging and gratifying to receive such an expression of brotherly feeling and appreciation. His interest in the presbytery and their work would continue to be as hearty and earnest as it had ever been. — Received, and ordered to be inserted in tho minutes

THE NORTH DTJNEniN CHUnOH

Two of the petitioners from North Dunedin — the Rev. R. C. Morrison and Mr D. Bethune — being present, the resolution of the presbytery was read to them, and they notified their acquiescence.

CHTTRCH EXTENSION. Mr Hutton, in terms ornotice of motion, moved — " That in the opinion of this presbytery there is urgent 'need for church extension in and around Dunedin, and that a committee be appointed to inquire into the whole matter, and to report at an early date." — The Rev. Mr Cameron seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

The following committee was appointed : — The Revs. J. Gibb (convener), Hewitson, Cameron, Jolly, Sutherland, and Messrs G. Reid, Couston, J. Reid, and Hutton.

SABBATH OBSERVANCE,

The Rev. R,l R. M. Sutherland reported in» connection with the deputation appointed to confer with the directors of the Tramway Companies in regard to Sunday tram traffic. Three members had been appointed, by the Ministers' Conference to join with tlie representatives of the ' presbytery, and they had met the directors and officials of the tram companies. The deputation was listened to patiently and attentively, and tßey were vh'i/ually given to understand that two of the companies would not run the trains on Sabbath days were it not for the clamour of the church-going people to have it done; that that was the reason why it was begun, and very much why it was continued. Tho chairman of the City Tramway Company, Mr Fenwick, did not put it quite so strongly, but gave the deputation to understand that a very large part of their Sunday traffic was caused by people who were going to or from church. It was mentioned that 700 travelled on the trams on Sundays in that way. He (the Rev. Mr Sutherlancl) felt that it was somewhat out of place going to the directors 'to ask that the traffic should be stopped- if the reply could be, " Why, it is your own people who insist upon the traffic." Tfc seemed to him they were going to the wrong quarter — in fact, they had been virtually told that they had gone to the wrong people to try to get it stopped. That was very much what had 'transpired. He had no doubt those controlling the trams would take the matter into serious consideration. What would come out of it he could not say, though lie thought they coiild not expect much to come out of il if they did nothing beyond what had already been done. What was required was a strong public opinion, and until that, was aroused they need not expect companies or the Government, or anyone who had control of the public matters, to pay very much attention to them. There was, he believed, a strong public opinion upon this matter, but it was to a very large extent latent, and they required to take some action to bring it into prominence and activity. The council which the Rev. Mr Gibb was byand - bye going to propose would probably- make this one of the principal things to which "it would direct attention. He was sure members of the presbytery must be pleased to see that the resolution that had been passed in connection with the running of the railways on Sunday had had such an effect. Some people seemed to think that the judgment of the presbytery went for nothing, but it seemed to have fallen heavily upon a tender spot in a good many people in the community, and he believed it would do good if the presbytery were from time to time, whenever a suitable occasion arose, express its mind without any hesitation or mincing on matters in the same direction. To do so would go a long way towards creating and keeping alive the consciences of a good many people in connection .with these things. He also thought the presbytery was indebted to the Rev. Mr Jolly for the way he had stood by the judgment of the presbytery, and had defended its action against the anonymous people who did not at all like it for reasons best known to themselves. He might mention that the deputation had been very cordially received, and that some of the directors had expressed sympathy with it.

The Rev. Mr Gibb said his impression was that if the train companies had to look to the church-goers alone for their Sunday traffic they would not long want to run tramcars on Sundays. To the best of his belief the statement, if it was stated, that the churchgoers were responsible for the running of trams on Sundays was quite incorrect. How many people went to church by tram, compared with the multitudes that went on Sundays to St. Clair? It was handfuls against hundreds, and it was because it paid the tramways to take people from church that they were kept running on Sundays, not because it paid them to bring people to church, and he tiiought it was only right that this should be said, and said with emphasis.

The Rev. Mr Chisholm said he happened to be living alongside the tram lines, and could say that his family were perfectly amazed at the constant stream of traffic from Dunedin to St. Clair on Sunday, not merely in tramcars, but in drags and buggies and vehicles of every conceivable kind. This traffic was not so heavy during church hours, but at other times it was continuous.

The fact that the Rev. Mr Sutherland had reported upon the question was minuted by the presbytery.

SOUTH TAIEBI.

The Rev. Mr M'Kerrow wrote asking advice regarding the supply at South Taieri. — It was resolved to reply that the presbytery wore persuaded that it was contrary to the mind of the synod, and therefore inadvisable, to appoint anyone to supply a vacant charge who is nob eligible to be called.

Robert Young's resignation of his commiss.ion as lieutenant of the Dunedin Cycle Corps is gazetted.