DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 37

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

The Dunedin Presbytery met in the hall o! First Church yesterday morning, when there were present— The Revs. W. .Hewitson (moderator), Will, I. Jolly, D. Borne, R. R. M. Sutherland, J. U. Spence, A. Cameron I. K. M'lntyre, J. M. M'Kerrow, R. Fairmaid, E. 0. Tennent, A. Greig, J. Christie, J. M'Cosh Smith, D. Dutton, A. Don, W. Scorgie, J. Gibb, A. M. Finlayson (ministers), Messrs G. Reid, A. Cameron, A. Chisholm. J. G. Sawell, H. Wise, R. Edmondson, . and T. Stark (elders). BAVENSBOTTSNE. Messrs Wise, Roes, Jansen, and White, dt puted by the Ravensbourne congregation, waited on the presbytery to ask them to moderate in a call to the Rev. Dr Nicolson. The Rev. E. C. Tennent, who had acted as moderator of the congregation, introduced ; tli9 deputation, who stated that the congrega- ' tion were very unanimous on the matter. The history of the last 18 months was sufficient to warrant the presbytery in making the api poinfcment. During that time they had practically had a settled minister, and the church had made steady and marked progress. It was decided that the request be granted, ! and that the induction take place on Wednesday, the 19th inst. ; the RevT W. Hewitson to preside and preach. PRIVATE SITTING. The presbytery then sat for some time to consider a matter in private. HYDE. A letter was received from two elders at Hyde complaining that the Middlemarch section of the charge had reduced the services at Hyde. It was resolved to send the letter to the moderator of the session. LICENSE GRANTED. Mr John G. M'Leod delivered his trial discourses, and was licensed as a preacher of the Gospel. THE COJIirUNION SERVICE. It was reported from First Church and from Knox Church that a vote had, been taken on the' question of the individual cups in the communion service. The Rev. Mr Gibb said some 340 persons voted in First Church — only about lialf of the congregation, — and 300 were in favour of the ■ individual cups and 34- against. Those who • did not vote were indifferent on the question ; in fact, he knew they were pleased the proposal would be given effect to. The Rev. Mr Hewitson said the vote in Knox Church was substantially unanimous. Three questions were submitted — preference for the individual cup, preference for the ; existing system, and objection to the new ' system. For the introduction of the individual cups 400 voted, 30 preferred, the present system, and 4 objected to the change. . Those four would not carry their objections any further, and some who preferred the . existing system would fall in readily enough with the introduction of the individual cups.- - Less than half the congregation voted. The Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland remarked; ■ that the vote was now being taken in the Kai* . korai Presbyterian Church. j

It was. resolved — "The presbytery, understanding there is substantial unanimity in they. congregations of First and Knox Churches on-

the question of the introduction of the individual* cups, authorises the congregations to introduce the same."