THE RELIGIOUS COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2359, 11 May 1899, Page 61

THE RELIGIOUS COLUMN.

The Wyndham Farmer states that the Rev. H. J. Davis, vicar of the Wyndham-Fortrose Anglican parish, is to be transferred to Hampden.

News has been received in Otaki of the death in France, at the age of 87, of the Ruv. Father Comte, who laboured in the district 50 years ago. He was (says the Mail) the fust priest who came to Olaki. and had his first church on the top of the Pukekaraka Hill, with his little whare close to it. Having converted the Ne;atikapu and several other tribes up the roast to Christianity, he succeeded wonderfully in civilising them. He induced them to erect a flour mill and a rope-making concern al Waitohu; to buy a fiiio schooner named Elizabeth, in order to take their produce to Wellington : to cut and sew — up the Otaki River — the timber for the actual church. However, he left Otaki before the church was completed. The deceased clergyman's memory is quite green even now amongst the Natives and also the very few old settlers, who all speak in the highest terms of him. The question of instituting an Evangelical Church Union in D~uuedin was brought before the Dunedin Presbytery at its meeting last week, and a resolution to that effect wa? adopted unanimously. After the main question had been decided, a matter arising oul of it, as to whether it was intended to invite the co-operation of the Anglican Church, was raised and discussed. The mover of the resolution was explicit upon the point that in framing the motion he did not intend the proposed invitation to be extended to the Anglican Church, as indeed was pretty apparent from his remarks in submitting the matter to the presbytery. There was much difference of opinion as to what should be done, and ultimately the intention of the r-iover was reversed by a majority of three

At the close of the sitting "of the Dunedin Presbytery last week, the Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland desired to bring forward the question of the Bible-in-schools. The Rev. Mr Sutherland expressed the opinion that if they were in earnest it was quite time something should be done, and that if others had, as the Rev. Mr Gibb had inti-n-sted he had done, to some extent modified their opinion upon the subject, it was very needful that the exact position in which the matter stood should be known. The opinion of the; members of the presbytery wa.s that it was too late in the sitting to take up the discussion of the subject, and therefore it was resolved to have a special Sitting of the presbytery on the first Tuesday in June.

The First Church was deneely crowded on Sunday night, when the Rev. James Gibb delivered the third and concluding sermon of the course he has been preaching on Sheldon's book "In His Steps." Almost every available spot in the large church was occupied, the aisles and all the space round the pulpit being occupied with worshippers. The gathering reminded tma of the congre-

gations that assembled on Jubilee Sunday and on Anniversary Day last year. Mr Gibb's sermon lasted for one hour and a-quarter, during the whole of which he kept the unflagging attention of his great audience. Despite the crowded state of the building and the temperature, which was unpleasantly high, there was not the slightest appearance of weariness, and at various points in the address, and particularly towards the close, the stillness of the congregation was simply intense. For fully half a minute after the pieacher had ended there was not a movement perceptible in the vast assemblage, and the silence was exceedingly impressive. Tho monthly meeting of the Dunedin Endeavour Union was held on the Ist inst. The officers for the ensuing year were elected by the societies, and the following were elected:— President. Rev. F. "ST. Boroham ; vice-president. Mr J. M'Leod ; corresponding secretary, Mr Bcat'i ; treasurer, Mr Williamson ;" and recording secretary. Miss J. Milburn. A letter vras read from toe Dunedin Prohibition Council concerning the work of spreading prohibition principles. The letter was adopted, and a hearty support was promised to the work of the council. During the ensuing year it is proposed to hold a monster temperance demonstration on the same lines as the very successful missionary demonstration of last year. The annual convention was fixed for June 10. The speakers for the various meetings have been appointed. Due notice concerning the convention will be given later on. A proposal to ascertain from the Railway department as to the possibility of the Dunedin and district Endeavourers obtaining concessions when travelling to meetings, conventions, etc., was endorsed by tlie meeting, and a committee of three wa<= appointed to inquire into it. The Rev. Mr Chandler, of the Caversham Baptist Society, gave a short address to the delegates concerning Endeavour work in London, of which he spoke very highly. The reports fiom the societies visited during the month showed that good work was being done.