PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2387, 30 November 1899, Page 14

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Sixth Dat — Tuesday. The Presbyterian Synod commenced its sft>ting at First Church this morning.

BEPOBT ON STATISTICS.

The report on statistios was laid on the table by»Mr A. M. Dalrymple. The report set forth that at the commencement of the year the total membership of the Presbyterian. Church of Otago was 14,139* During, the year 583 members had -been received by examination and -546 by certificate. The removalswere : By certificate 609, death 147, and otherwise 210. The number at the end, of the year* just closed was 14,445, showing an increase ia . the year of 366. .The membership of the city churches was reported as follows: Knox 1163, First 733, St v . Andrew's" 400, NorthDuftedin 278 . " . \ The report waa adopted. On "the motion of the Her. P. -B. Fraser if was resolved that the question, of. obtaining statistics of adherents be held\over till next synod. CHTTHOH HTMNART. The Rev. J. Gibb, convener of the committee set up to consider the Church Hymnary reported that the hymnary was in many re- . spects a marked improvement on the -Church, Praise. It contained many choice new hymns, although some well-known favourites , were unfortunately omitted. The selection wa3, on the whole, distinctly in advance of the other. Tho tunes,- too, were simpler and more suited for congregational singing, while they did not think it desirable to introduce Iho now book, the committee recommended tho synod to grant congregations desiring to do so the necessary permission. — The report was adopted. - ■FINANCIAL. A discussion ensued, and several motions were moved with regard to, fund* at present under the care of tho various committees of . the synod. The Rev. Mr Cameron moved, according to notice, that three trustees be appointed -to hold in trust for the synod the funds at present under the care of the various committees of the synod. This and other propositions, were withdrawn, > and the synod unani-' mously agreed *to ■ the motion of • the ..Rev. Mr Nichol — f 'Tbat a* oommittes.be appointed 'to consider the matter, consult with the 4zc&asur.er'ahd board of property, and bring u]3,a report to next synod." The following were appointed a committee r — Mes3r3 A. C. Begg, John Reid, J. Gibb, and 1 ,, D. Borrie, with Mr Cameron, convener. . The Roy. Mr Cameron moved in accordance with notice — "That in order .to bring the synod into more intimate relations with the Board of Property, the trustees be respectfully aaked to appoint a minister to tho next vacancy on the board." Tho motion was seconded by Mr Clark, and unanimously carried. CHiniOII KHECTION AND FINANCE. The report on church erection and finance waa submitted by Mr A. 0. Begg, convener. It contained, inter alia, the following : — The following applications for grants, which had been sanctioned by the various presbyteries, were recommended to the synod to be p.pproved subject to the regulations :— Dunback, Drummond, Totara, Miller's Flat, Milburn, . Crookston and Pelichet Bay — Grant for new church. Alexandra — Grant for ' addition to church. Dipton, Lumsden, Wallacetown, MilJer's Flat (Queen stown), St. Paul's (Oamaru), Kaitai.gaU-, Dunrobin, and South Dunedin — grant for church repairs. St. Paul's (Oamaru) and Waropa — Grant for new manse. Alexandra and Tapnnui — Application for leave to Bell manse and site, and grant for new insmse. "Waitahunti — Grant for additions to" manse. Balfour ancl Anderson's Bay — Application for renewal of grant for new church. An application for grant of church<repaira afc" Waikiwi was considered. • As a grant for th.l 3 purpose had been made in 1896' ihe application" is not in accordance with tho regulations. The committee decided to refer the matter to the % synod. An application from the Southland Presbytery for the purchase of a house and site at Colac for a cottage manse at a cost of £ISQ waa recommended to the synod, subject to the regulations. 'Mr P. Smith, general treasurer, wrote to the .. committee stating that up to tho present times , he has not taken advantage of the increased salary agreed to in 3897, but that ho intended " to draw the increased amount as from. Ist October. It was further stated in the report that the congregation contributions for the year amounted to £31,107 4s lOd, as against £31.640 8s Id in 1898. The condition of the accounts of the several funds was shown, full particulars as to,, reoeipts and- expenditure being given. The balance in hand to the credit of the Jubilee memorial fund is £3508 Os 9d. — The report was adopted, and » number of grants for new churches' and repairs . to churches and manses, sanctioned by the various presbyteries, were approved. The grants applied for were sanctioned in terms of the report, with the following exceptions :-r-Alexandra: That 'the application for new manse be sanctioned at £300 on condition that the congregation raise £100. Tapanui: That the application for manse be not granted thia year. Anderson's Bay : Application granted, with leave to sell the present manse's site. Waikiwi: The amount of grant made in 1896 was increased to £50. The application from the Southland Presbytery for grant for cottage manse was remitted back for settlement to the Southland Presbytery. , The synod then adjourned till 3 p.m. NORTH DUNEDIN CHURCH. The Rev. Mr Cameron moved, and the Rev. Mr Gibb seconded— " That priority of pay-" moni be made in respect of the special arrant of £600 for the. new church to North Dunedin congregation." • • Tho Rev. P. B. Fraser moved, and the Rev. Mr Tennent seconded, as an amendment — "That priority of payment be granted to North Dunedin over those congregations willing to concede their claims." A vote being taken, the motion was carried.

THE NEW MODERATOR.

The Moderator reported that the committee of ex-moderators recommended that the Rev. J?cob Urwin Spence, of Clinton, be the moderator of next.synod. The nomination was .unanimously, adontod/

PUTTJBF- APPOINTMENTS OF MODE3ATOJI.

The. Rev. Mr Cummjng,. on. behalf of the Rev. J. £.. "Will, 'moved, and it was carried — "That presbyteries be required. to nominate ior the office of moderator any minister of the church at their last ordinary meeting before the meeting of synod, and the names of. those thuf<rfominated be laid before the synod and, if necessary, a ballot / be taken at the forenoon sederunt on the Wednesday after the opening of the synod."

DEPUTIES TO THE GENEHAL ASSEMBLY.

The Moderator, with the Revs. G. Lindsay and I. Jolly., and Mr T. M. Macdonald, were appointed deputies to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.

GENERAL.

The following dates were fixed for the usual collections: — Missions, November, 1899; church extension, February, 1900; aged and infirm ministers, May, 1900; Ministers' passages, August, 1900. The Moderator, as convener of Committee on Public Questions, reported that the committee had petitioned Parliament against allowing marriage with deceased husband's brother and against the new causes for <livoroe, as being unsanctioned by Scriptures. On the motion of the Rev. W. A. Kyd, it was resolved — " That inasmuch as at the synod there. is not generally much time for considering the report on the State of Religion and Morals, it -be remitted to the Committee on the State,of Religion to arrange for a conference on religious life andwoi'k."

On the motion of the Rev. R. J. Porter, it was resolved — " That the Thursday evening of the synod week be set apart for :i Sunday school rally, and that the Sunday School .Committee be instructed to make the necessary arrangements."

On the motion of the Rev. Mr Cameron, seconded by the Rev. Mr Currie, it was agreed — "That the regulations re grants from tbe ecclesiastical manse reserve funds be sent down to presbyteries for their consideration ; suggested amendments to be reported to the Committee on Church Erection."

THE TRANSVAAL WAR. The Rev. Mr Hewitson moved, according to notice, the following m6tion: — "The synod records its satisfaction in the present manifestation of . the unity of our Empire, and the steadfast loyalty of the nation to the throne of her Gracious Majesty the Queen. The synod expresses sincere delight in the patriotism of our colonists, and especially of our soldiers-who have proceeded to the Transvaal. The synod trusts that He who makes the wrath df man to praise Him will so overrule the present war that the cause of righteousness and the well-being of the nations may be ultimately advanced. The eynod expresses the hope that the day may soon dawn when nations will find some way of settling humane, and Christian than shedding eaoh other's blood."

The Rev. Mr White seconded the mot'un, which was carried unanimously. The synod then adjourned till .he otcturjr.

Evejjikg Sitting. The synod met- at 7 o'clock. SUSTENTATION FUND.

The report of the" Susteutation Fund Committee was given in by Dr Dunlop. It was as follows: —

Your committee have tp report that Hhe "total ' contributions for the year' amount to £12,727 14s 5d as against £12,772 3s 2d for last year, being a decrease of £44 8s 9d.

The equal dividend for the half-year ending 31st March, 1539, was £38 10s 7d, and for halfyear ending 30* th September, 1839, £101 7s sd, giving for the year a dividend of £199 18s, being, as compared with last year's dividend, a decrease of 10s.

Eleven congregations report increases for the year, amounting m all to £136 11s 7d — viz., Anderson's Bay, £4; Green Island, £13 14s; Balclutha, £4 lls 6d; Waikaka Valley, £10 10s; Invercargill (First), £2 17s; Queenstown, £6; Oamaru (St. Paul's), £5; Oamaru (Columba), 10s; Otepopo, Kakanui, and Maheno, £15 16s; Dunedin (St. Andrew's), £25; Strath-Taieri, £48 13s Id. v Seventeen congregations report decreases for ,the*year amounting in all to £132 4s— viz., Dunedin (Knox), £14 17s; Dunedin (First), £8 14s; Dunedin {South), Is; Kaikovai, £5; N.E. Harbour and Portobello, £8 12s 6d; Taieri (East) and Allanton, £11 12s; Taieri (West), £20 3s 8d; Kaitangata, £5 lls 6d; Popotunoa, £4 ; Tokomairiro, £4 7s ; Waihola, £30 2s ; Teviot, £1 ss; Gore, £2 10s; Knapdale, £1 8s 4d; Invercargill (St. Paul's), £2 10s; Wallacetown, £9 ; Papakaio, £2 10s.

Of the 67 on the fund for the present year, 22 are aid-giving, 16 are self-sustaining, and 29 are aid-receiving.-Your committee have fixed the minimum contributions in the case of aid-receiving congregations as follows: — Southland Presbytery: Lumsden, £175 ; Bluff, £160 ; Otautau, £165 (for one year) ; Orepuki. £165 (for one year) ; Limestone Plains, £175; Dipton, £175; "Waikiwi, £175; Woodlands, £175; Riverton (to be selfBustaining); Fortrose, £170; Forest Hill, £165 (for one year). Preshytery of'Dunstan: Roxburgh, £175 ; Alexandra, £175 (for one year) ; Cromwell, £175 (for one year);. Lauder, £160; Presbytery of Dunedin : Waitati, £165 ; Ravensbourne, £165; N.E. Harbour, £185; StrathTaieri, £175 (for one year) ; South Taieri, £170. Presbytery of Mataura : Waikaka, £185 ; Kelso, £175; Knapdate, £1SO; Mataura, £175; RiveTSdale, £170. Presbytery of Oamaru: Hampden, £J6O; Duntroon, £170;'Papakaio, £175; Kurow, £175. Presbytery of Clutha: Clutha, £165; Owaka, £175; Waihola, £170; Lovell's Flat, £165 (for one year).

On the recommendation of the Presbytery of Clutha, Lovell's Flat has been placed on the equal-dividend platform, with a minimum contribution to the sustentation fund of £165 for the first year; and, on the recommendation of the Presbytery of Southland, Forest Hill and Hokonui have been erected into a fully sanctioned charge*, and placed on the equal-dividend platform, with a minimum contribution for the first year of £165.

The Mataura Presbytery recommend that, fn view of the proposed alteration of the boundaries of the Waikaka charge, \he minimum be fixed at £185. The committee agree to this recommendation, provided that the arrangement in question be carried out.

The committee remind all aid-receiving congregations of the fact that they ought to forward their annual balance sheet to tho convener of the Sustentation Fund Committee.

Your committee wish to call special atten- • tion to the fact that, if the equal dividend is to be maintained, even at its present level, ' which is none too high, there is an urgent call ior increased liberality. New charges are, year by year, being placed on the equal-dividend - platform, and the effect of this, if the total contributions to the sustentation fund remain stationary, will be to lower the salaries of all but a few ministers whose stipends are made up by their congregations to a fixed sum. Under these conditions, church extension practically means the gradual extinction of the sustentation fund and the reduction of the salaries of the ministers of the poorer and weaker charges to a figure littlo in excess of the minimum contributed (by their congregations. The resignation of the Rev. J. Chisholm and the translation of the Rev. J. A. Asher create two vacancies in the committee, and your compiittee fliigaest that the Rev. A. Bc-fig and the

Rev. P. B. Fiaser be appointed to fill these vacancies.

Dr Dunlop moved the following deliverance: — '"Adopt the report; authorise the general treasurer to pay the equal dividend to those entitled to it ; give effect to the recommendations embodied in the report anent the-^ministeriai charges of Lovell's Flat, Forest Hill, and Waikaka; sanction the dividend proposed by the committee ; express the earnest hope that the increase of the total contributions to the fund for the coming year may correspond to the growing demands made on it by the erection of new charges ; and authorise the treasurer to pay Messrs Jamieson and Lymburn the amounts due to them for the periods that they have been settled in their respective charges." Mr T. K. Sidey seconded the deliverance.

The Rev. Mr Cameron moved, aud the Rev. Mr Finlayson seconded,- as an addition to the deliverance — " That the convener be asked to visit as many of the congregations as possible throughout the summer" in the interest of this fund."— Agreed to. The Rev. Mr Currie moved as an amendment to the deliverance, and the Rev. Mr Kilpatrick seconded — " That the minimum for Lovell's Flat be £160 for the first year, £165 for the second, and £170 for the third." — The amendment was adopted.

On the motion of the Rev. Mr Muller, il was resolved to further amend the deliveranc-.t by making Waikaka and Merino Downs a sanctioned charge at a minimum of £185. On the motion of -the Rev. Mr Currie, it wa3 resolved — " In order to assist presbyteries in their oversight of congregations and to further the interests of the sustentation fund, congregations bo required to submit their balance sheet to their respective presbyteries from year to year at the first meeting of presbytery following the synod." The Rev. Mr Cameron, convener, read the following report on the memorial fund : —

The Jubilee Memorial Fund. — In prosecuting the work entrusted to it, your cornmittoe sought the help of some of our ministers to visit the congregations not overtaken, last year, by Mr Borrie. Mr Fairmaid visited the Oamaru Presbytery, Mr Camming the Dunstan, and Messrs Will and Kilpatrick took the Mataura and Southland congregations, vrhile the convener visited the Clutha. The thanks of the comraittee and synod are due to these ministers and their, congregations for the work they have done. While zaoit of the congregations have now been visited, much remains to be done by the office-bearers in all our congregations, and some congregations are yet untouched. We hope to see what remains to be done taken in hand with great vigour during the coining year. Only those who have worked in the outlying districts know how. grelt is the need for a large fund. So far the amount promised is £8464 10s 6d, of which £3722 14s 5d has been paid in cash. The expenses amount" te £216 13s Bd. "Your commttee desires to impress on all the neceseity for a generous and whole-hearted endeavour to make our offering one worthy of our advantages and adequate to the work given us by the Master. The following deliverance was agreed to: — " Adopt the report ; commend the fund to the generous support of, the people throughout the church during the coming year; thank Messrs Borrie, Fairmaid, Cumming, ' Kilpatrick, Will, and especially Mr Cameron (convener) for their great services to the synod in this respect." PUBLICATIONS AND PBINTING REPORT. The "report of the Publications and Printing Committee was read as follows: — The committee, agreeably to the instructions of last synod, entered into a contract with the Times and Witness Company for the publication of the Outlook in tho form it has had for the last nine months. The / contract was for one year from Ist February, li>9B, with the option to the Times Company of a renewal for a period of four years. It is with much satisfaction that the committee is able to announce that the publishers are willing to undertake the work for at least another year. The paper has not yet been brought up to the paying point, but the increase of the circulation and the consequent probability of obtaining additional advertisements have encouraged the publishers to give the Outlook another trial. The thanks of the synod are certainly due to the Times Company, and especially to the managing director, Mr George Fenwick, for his faith in the future of the weekly, and the very practical pr»of he has given of this faith. Still more is the synod under an obligation to Dr Waddell for his admirable and laborious service of the church as editor of the Outlook. Apart altogether from his pereonal contributions to its columns, the enlargement of the paper has involved him in a vast amount of work. The increased circulation is almost entirely due to his efforts, the various schemes, prizes, etc., by which additional subscribers have been secured having been devised and '3[q-BUOffB9J G.IOIU OOUO qtJ SQOUOJOjjtp .IIGIJI wrought out by him. The circulation is now close on 5000 per week, being a very large increase on the figures reported last year. That a paper of such excellence, from a religious and literary point of view, should be finding its way into so many homos cannot be regarded as other than most gratifying. And yet the circulation could easily be larger— would be, if only the duty of subscribing to it v/ere pressed by ministers and office-bearers on the attention of the people of the church.

The Outlook is not yet a paying concern, and it will not be until a much larger number of advertisements has been secured-. It is very disappointing to learn how reluctant even Presbyterian men of business are to help on the paper in this way. With the present circulation advertisers get full value for their money ; but it surely is not too much to expect that for the sake of the Outlook and the church behind it, Presbyterians should be willing to stretch a point. The committee hope that the ensuing year will see a marked improvement in this respect. . It is a source of gratification that the Congregational Union has adopted the Outlook as their denominational paper. This has helped to increase the circulation, and also given a greater variety to the items in the columns of ecclesiastical news.

It may be remembered that in the offer of the Times Company, as presented to' last synod, liberal provision was made for the payment of the editor's salary in the event of there being a satisfactory profit on the year's working. There have, however, as already stated, been no profits, and all that Dr Waddell has received by way of remuneration for his services and to defray the very considerable expense to which hi is put in the discharge of his editorial duties, is only the £50 granted by last synod. It will be well if the synod can see its way to increase this by at least £10.

The Rev. Mr Gibb, in presenting the report, congratulated the synod on the great increase in the circulation, which was now close on 5000. It ought, however, to be said plainly that no increase in the circulation will bring the paper up to the paying point. Indirectly, of course, increased circulation would help to make the Outlook a profitable concern, for the greater tho issue of the paper the more likely would they be to get advertisements. It was advertisements that paid. It was a great pity that Presbyterian business men did not advertise more freely in the Outlook. There were, he understood, some honourable exceptions; but there was no doubt that much improvement was desired in this respect- He boped that tho imnroveraaat would be m*m-

fest immediately. Evidently the publishers believed that it would, for they had agreed to renew the contract for another year. Tho Daily Time? Company did not run the paper as a philanthropic concern. But all the same, tho synod owed a deep debt of gratitude to tho Times and Witness Company, and especially to Mr George Fenwick, the managing director of tn'e company. — (Applause.) As- for Dr Waddell, it 'was impossible to exaggerate the value of tho services he had rendered to the church as editor of the Outlook. — (Applause.) He (the speaker) would call the synod's attention to the laborious nature of Dr Waddell's work. It was heavy before the Outlook was enlarged ; it had been enormously heavy during the last nine months. — (Applause.) No man who had not been in close contact with Dr Waddell could realise how heavy was the burden the editor was bearing. And "not only was the work done by the editor onerous ; it was also of first-rate quality. — (Appjause.) And in the matter of quality, nothing' was more valuable than the independence of Dr Waddell's contributions to the columns of the paper. He (the speaker) trusted that the synod would never dream of pestering the editor in this respect.—(Applause.) His position would be simply intolerable it they did. No doubt Dr Waddell would, as a loyal son of the church, fall into line with any matter on which the synod had come to a definite decision. But how could he voice the mind of the church on- subjects on which the church had not definitely expressed itself? They ought most jealously to guard the editor's liberty. And they, would.— (Applause.) The last point he would refer to was the value of the Outlook in the defence and furtherance of religion in their congregations and homes. Who could estimate the importance of the service the paper was ren-> dering through the entrance it found into so many of their homes. It was simply an invaluable aid to the cause of the church and religion. He hoped that by the end of another year the profits on the paper would be such as to make the publishers a good return and Dr Waddell the salary he so richly deserved. — (Applause.) Dr Waddell said he absolutely refused to receive anything in addition to the sum originally'voted for his work — namely, £50 a year. Therefore, he suggested that the part with regard to the additional £10 be deleted, or, if the synod had more money than it knew what to do with, he would suggest that it might devote that amount to the prize fund. He had inaugurated a prize fund as a method of increasing the circulation, and he was pleased to say that it had been attended with success. A number of gentlemen, to whom he was exceedingly grateful, had given upwards of £30 for this object.— (Applause.) He would bo perfectly satisfied if the additional amount mentioned in the report should be given to the prize fund. Dr Waddell spoke of the value of a religious journal like the Outlook, and stated that the Methodist Church had decided to give £1000 out of its jubilee ' fund in aid of its denominational pap fir. The Rev. P. B. Fraser moved, and Mr W. H. Adams seconded the following deliverance: — "Adopt the report, and instruct the committee to give effect to -its recommendations; thank the Daily Times Company for the service they have rendered to the church ; thank the Revs. A. Don and A. B. Todd for their attention to the young people in the Outlook; also thank the Rev. Dr Waddell for his arduous and highly successful labours as editor."

lovell's flat,

A petition was received from the Presbytery of Clutha, and it was resolved that the Rev. P. B. Eraser be continued as the minister of Lovell's Flat, without the necessity of the formal call of the congregation.

GENERAL,

Votes of thanks to the ex-moderator and the moderator for their addresses, for those who extended hospitality to members of synod, and the press were carried.

It was agreed that the next S3 m od should commence on Monday, October 31, 1900.

The Moderator, in his closing address, again thanked the members of synod for the honour conferred on him in electing him a3 moderator. He expressed his pleasure at the satisfactory reports which had been submitted, but would like to have seen some reference in the report on the state of religion as to Sabbath desecration. Complaints were frequently made as to band-playing and cycling on the Sabbath. He noticed that cyclists just btartod about the time people were going to church. He was sorry to find the sustentation fund had shown a decrease, and trusted that the mattex would receive attention, as tho fund was instituted early in the history of the church in Otago as a means of grace.

Tho synod was closed with the timehonoured 122 nd psalm and the benediction.