DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 10

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

I A special meeting- of (he Dunedin Presbytery was held on the 13th inst., and attended ! by the Revc 1. K. M'lntyre (moderator). A. j M. ITialayson (clerk), W. Scorgie, A. Greig, 1 R. -R. M. Sutherland, A. Cameron, J. M. M'Kerrow, E. C. Tennent, J. M. Fra=>t-r, W. Will, and D. Borne (ministers), and Messrs "\V. Couston. D. Thomson, and J. Wau°h I (elders). THE REV. J. Jt. FRASEI'.'s RESIGNATION. The Rev. J. M. Frascr's* resignation of the charge of Chalmers Church, consideration oi which was deferred froir last meeting, was the first business brought before the presbytery. The Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland reported that he had presided over o congregational meeting ot Chalmers Church, and the congregation were unanimous in affirming their pievious resolution, offering no opposition to Mr Frafer's resignation. j Mes-a-j Fleming and A. Matheson, representing tiie congregation, confirmed Mr Sutherland's statement. The Moderator having asked Mr Eraser if he had anything to cay, : The Rev. J. M. Frpsor said that his original j letter contained all he wanted to say. He would, however, like to refer to a paragraph in the Outlook which might be — in fact, had been — wrongly interpreted. That paragraph might be read to suggest that lie l - ad some intention of abandoning the ministry and ' going into some other walk of life. Pie could j assure the brethren that there was no truth | in such a rumour. As long as God gave him strength he intended to labour in the ministry. He wished there to be no mistake as to his intention*. He was still willing to take work wherever he could get it for the Master. The Rev. A. Cameron supposed that the only thing possible for the presbytery to do . was to accept Mr Fraser'p resignation. They all sympathised with both the congregation j and .Mr Fra&er, and knew what a difficult task it was for the iormei to carry on. Tho j congregation were passing through a time of j trial, and he hoped that they -would soon I be able to go on with their work with renewed vigour. They all deeply sympathised with Mr Fra&er, who had always put his : whole heart into his work. On every occasion Mr Frasev had sought to act up to a I strict ser.=e of duty, and had been a loyal servant to the church. He moved — "That i the resignation be accepted with regret, and ! the presbytery express its prayer to God that 1 a new sphere of duty be speedily found for Mr Eraser, and that Chalmers Church soon obtain a new pastor." The Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland seconded the motion. Iv so doing he said he felt that the presbytery had no other course open to them, and he very iruch regretted Mr Fraser felt it his duty to resign. But the . presbytery, if they remembered the circumI stances under which this charge was originally founded, and the platform on which it was based, must admit th<2, troubles more or less were bound to nvife. The old people were dying off, and the young people did not take to the old customs of the church, and were not inclined to stand loyally by them. If the chinch hereafter was reconstructed, he saw no reason why Mr Frpser should not return to that pulpit : but this was a matter j for future consideration. \fr Fraser had boon j I a useful and active member of the presbytery, ' I and, considering his narifh extended in "Ulicu-o ] j Flat, Ea^l Taieii, Port Chalmers— (Mr Fraser : "Waimale.) — it was a wonder to the speaker ' that he Lad done iii'h excellent work, and i carried on so long. He was pleased that Mr Fraser was not lea\in&' their bounds. ■ 'die Rev. J. M. M'Kerrow agreed with the remarks of llio previous speakers, and after ho had offered up ju-ayer the resolution was put and cairied. The Rev. Mr Fra&er returned thank « to the presbytery, and as he had preached his farewell sermon, asked that the resignation should a I once lake effect. This course was agreed to, and the Rev. J. K. M'lntyro was appointed moderator to the vacant charge, and asked to preach next Sunday and declare tho charge vacant. CONTINGENT 3IIS&TONAHY COMMITTEE. There was no formal report from this committee, the Rev. W. Scorgie stating that up to the present they had received no word from the Premiei as to the acceptance or otherwise of Mr Tennent's offer to go as chaplain or Scripture reader. The Rev. Mr Cameron said that the committee were heartily in favour of Mr Tennent's oiler being accepted by the presbytery. The j commit te- had suggested thai a Testament ! should be presented Lo every member of the New Zealand contingents — those in active service, those on their way, and those going. The idea had been heartily taken up, and he thought that they would have 900 for this purpose, the remainder to be sold for the benefit of the missionary fund. Upon Mr Tennent's suggestion, they also intended sending copies ' of " The Soldier's Text Book," compiled by the Rev. Mr Mi'cDuff. I" was intended to elawD tiiem iv tiie sAms w a y tLal the Testa-

l^erts were being stamped. The Bible and j Tract Depot and- Messrs Sawell and Derbyshire had agreed to give what Testaments werr required; Mr Bailey, of Burnside, had promised to provide the leather; and the emSo°/ Ces ° f the Bible ancl Tracl De P ot to give ±.25 to the missionary fund. Mr Hamilton, ot tne firm of -Uesws Hamilton and M'Kerrow, had promised a cheque for £10. The whole of the committee's ideas had been heartily taken -up raid liberally supported. i Tue l\o\ . M_ fceorgie exhibited a copy o£ i the khaki leslament (a description of which has already been published), and said that the committee had 1345 Testaments at their dis- ]"!?' al - - vlr -Bailey had met him in the mosfc liberal manner, pnd offered to dye the leather as near khaki colour as possible. Mr Sawell intended buying his 150 from the committee at retail price, and would then present them himself to the Ota^o contingent. He thought that when tho Testaments were presented, there should be some religious service in camp, and that they should no' be handed to the men like so many plugs of tobacco. I Tho Rev. Mr Cameron suggested holding a religious service in the camp every Sunday afternoon, and the clerk suggested a service ' in Port Chalmers Church on the clay of the , contingent's departure. , After tome discussion, the committee's action was approved ,the Rev. D. Borrie's name added to the committee, ancl Ihe latter authorised to make arrangements for such religious services as they saw fit. The Rev. Mr Scorgie said that Colonel Mor-i-is had informed him that a Scriptural reader who could mix up with the men would be more valuable than a chaplain holding parade serviced. Such a man as Mr Tennent could mix up with the men, and his influence would b3b 3 felt. Tho presbytery then went into committee.