EVENING SITTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 28

EVENING SITTING.

The synod resumed at 6.30 o'cloik. the Moderator (the Rev. Mr J. M. M'Kerrow) being in the chair. The Rev. Mr Borrie brought up a report on the passages' expenses fund, and stated that a number of congregations had failed to contribute to it. — After a short discussion it was decided to call the attention of clerks of presbyteries to the fact that certain congregations had neglected to forward their contributions. Some, discussion then turned on the sustentation fund, and the Rev. Mr Cumming said that some congregations had not sent in returns, and no dividend had been declared. Mr Sandilands (Balclutha) took exception to the fact that one of the regulations relating to the rate of contribution by churches was ignored. — Dr Bannerman said that the whole of the regulations required looking into, as rame country congregations which could not afford it were contributing more than wealthier ones.— The Rev. J. Oibb objected that the rul?n were under the control of the assembly, and noT of the synod.— After some further dii-eussion the synod pn=sed to the next business. The Rev. Mr Hewitson handed in the following protest : — "We, the undersigned, dissent from the Tefusal of the synod to grant an investigation into the accuracy of Mr Begg's ntatement, on tho followmg grounds : (1) Tho seriousness of the statement : In our opinion, it amounts to a charge of misappropriation of church funds. (2) The parties affected by the statement: Courts of the church, which should be above sus picion. (3) The person making the statement : Mr BegK, for many years convener of the Finance Committee, who vaid he had good authority for his remarks. — [Signed] W. Hewitson, Androw Cameron, Wm. Scorgie. «T U Spence, J. Johnson, Donald Thomson." The Rev. W. Hewitson brought up the following; motion standing to his name: — "That the synod deplores the extent of tho gambling e\ iJ. a» set out in the papor of Mr Fraser, the Crown Prosoeutor, and laigely confirmed by the Otago Daily Timet'ns inornintf. The synod strongly dis apprmes of the continuance of the totalizator. ro'.ife.-«ed by Mr Fraspr to be 'a national popular educator in the art of jriunbliiii*. and jlso of the connection of the Ciovoruincrt with the totahsator a-j a [rambling instrument The synod remits Mi Fra-.ei'< paper to the Social Questions Committee, and instructs them to consider what ii-,o can be made of it for the suppression of gambling.*' — Some 'liscussion ensued on the motion before it was agreed upon by the -vnod -Dr Bannerman emphasised {ho importance of viatinfr. distin< tly that the syuorl fd\ourcd the abolition of tho totahsator We were ••ationallv and individually m\ol\ed m it. as our representatives, the (!o\rrnnionl. sanctioned and derived con Mderuble ro\cmie from it —The Rev Mr (Jihb mentioned that thr- Council of Ciiimhe-. had the matter in hand, and were urrynig on an active < riisade. A petition nn» being sent for signature to c\ery mini-te-r in New Zealand protesting against tl.e totalizator, and calling upon the Government to abolish it —Mr Rose was strongly in favour of endeavouring to make the aboli turn of the totahsator a burning quc-tion .it the forthcoming election ; otherwise there w.is a danger of its falling into the backar.iund, and then little would be accomplished for another three years.— The motion u.i- i arried unanimously. ILe following committees were set up: — • Church Erection and Finance — Revs. R. R. U. Sutherland (convener). A. Cameron, A. \f Dalrymplo. .T. A. Will, G Lindmy. .7. Joluv,l<,n, W Ni<hol, T. Neave, T Tait, .T M Fi->-r r . A Br-crg Mi.=srs W. Coupon, 3Y* feaet SL jitflk &*a^ A* £*

Begg, and Dr Copland : Synod Business, Accommodation and Expenses — Revs. D. Borne (convener), R. R. M. Sutherland, A. M. Finlayson, J. Clarke, G. Miller, Messrs W. H. Adamp. T. Somerville, G. Reid, and A. Chisholm; Welfare of Youth— Rev c . G. Lindsay (convener), J. Gibson Smith, W. White, J. Cummins;. Mes«iVs J. E. Vernon, W. A. M'Caw, W. H. Cotterill, W. T. Todd, H. Borrie, J. Rc-ul, and W. Gilchrist; Social Questions— Rev*. W. Scorgie (convener), J. Chipholm, J. Kilpatrick, R. Mackie, J. Clark, J. M/Co<.h Smith. J. Aitken, Messrs W. H. Ropo, A. Murdoch, and J. S. Ba-Uer: Evangelistic and State of Religion — Rev-. J. Chi-liohn (convener), W. Hewitson, .T. T>. Spencp, S. W. Currie. D. Borrie, R. Mackie, J. C. Jamicson, R. Fairmaid, J. S. Reid. W. Wright, A. Gray, J. T. Burrows, J. Mackie. Messrs J. Wright, J. Kirk. D. Thomson. W. Ayson, P. Clark, A. Cowie. The Rev. A. Cameron laid en the table a statement of tho Jubilee Fund. He said at last synod the amount in hand was £&993. It was now £9093. Expenses up to the present time had amounted to £329, or about 3 per cent. Interc-t had yielded £176, and the actual ca.=h received was now £9246. The total amount promised was £9744, so there were still some promises to be fulfilled. He would move--"' That the committee be thanked and di c chargcd." This was duly seconded and agreed to. — On the motion of thf> Rev. Mr Chisholm, a. special vote of thanks was passed to Mr Cameron for lm laboms. The Rev. Mr Cameron .-.aid therd were two matters which the Theological Committee had referred to the synod. It was proposed to increase the lessons in elocution from 11 to 15, and to extend the course of elocution and voice production from two sessions to three, the first to be solely devoted to voice production. — It was decided to agree to the alteration* a- 1 suggested. THUBCH PROPER TT \ND KOI ELS. Mr Murdocli said he desired to know if there was any truth in the "natctnent that church property had been let for purposes in connection with the liquor traffic, or that negotiations for the same were pioceeding. He would ask if it wa-> the intention of the synod to let this property as a hotel again — (Hear, hear.) The Rev. Mr Cameron thought it w ould be wise for the synod to pppoint a j-necial committee to meet the Church Pioperty Board and ascertain the state of affairs. The Rev. Mr Chis=ho!m saul that some years ago the same question had cropped up, and it was understood that on the expiry of the lease it would not be renewed. Mr Murdoch paid in the face of current reports it was likely that it would be re-let for such purposes, and the svnorl ot'Kht to decide whether thr-v were eoiog to allow it or not. He did not see why thp responsibility ehould bo transferred to a committee. The Rev. Mr Cameron pointed out that the synod had no powpr whatever to interfere. The only thing they could do was t<i confer with tho hoard. If the board liked to let all the chujch property in Dunedin for hotehs they could do so. The board hatl already leased a portion of the college reserve for a club, and he did not know that a club was much better +han a hotel. The board had done this in Mute of the protest of the synod. Dr Bannermau asked if any of the trustees were members of the s3'iiod. The Rev. W. Scorgie thought that at least they should speak on the matter with no uncertain voice, ■-() that the public might ki'Ow that they had no sympathy whatever with the proposal. — (Applause.) The following committee was set up to confer with the Church Board: — The Revs, the Moderator, W. Hewitson, J Gibb, and A. Chisholm. Mr W. H. Rose moved— " That the- committee be instructed that the synod strongly disapproves of the lease in question being granted for anything in connection with the liquor traffic." Mr Mutdoch seconded the motion. Tho Rev. Mr Hewitson sugge-ted that the moderator .'hould a=k Mr Rogg, who wa-t present, if he could f;i\e the synod any inforiration on the subject. Tho Ha\. Mr Gibb .--aid he had tnt-d to gam Home inioiinatioii, but had licen unsuccessful, lie did not widi r-t.md whether a fresh building was to ho put on the property leased, or whether a fresh lease was gi\en to the present holders. The Moderator asked Mr Kegg if he could give the desirocl information. Or Be<jg : I am not here as a member of the Church Board of Proncrty. I am here as an elder T am not authorised by the Church Board to say anything to the synod on nny of their buMiiP-*. The Church Board <an he approached by the synod. I am not authorised by them to give any information The Moderator : Then you must leave the matter to be prosecuted by the committee Mr Rome's motion was then carried amidst applause. A YOUNG PEOPI.K's GITHEBIXC. At 7.30 p.m. the Moderator announced that the time had arrived for Mie public meeting which had l>een announced. It was, however, nearly a quarter of an hour later before tli» opening hymn was announced, and by this lime the attendance of the publichad slightly mci eased. Tho Rev. R. J. Porier addressed the gathering on the question of " Amuselneiita." H<- airreod that a more important subject might have been chosen, but he thought it one worthy of senoue considers tion. Th» large crowds that followed cricket and football matches, the extensive .space given by the press to athletic news, and the numben. of people who flocked to rnce meetings showed what a hold amusements had on tho people. The quPhtion wa?, What amusements were lawful to tho=e who desired to live the Christian life? and this frequently perplexing to our young people He thought young people should be a-ked Jo prayerfully think the matter out for thein^elves F:r=t of nil, the Christian must avoid ail ainnsvmenU that were, positively 'infill, oi with m-cparable from sin. " Doubtful " amusements ought also tr> be avoided The principle laid down by 8r Paid should 1k» adopted: " Whatsoever is not of faith ib oin " Amu-ements that consumed the hour-i that ought to be devoted to rest and sleep, and to tended to unfit one for their ordinary work in life, ought not to be indulged in. Such amusement was not recreative : it was destructive, and not life-giving. He would ask how dancing would stand this test? Without condemning the practice unreservedly, he would ask how anyone could repeatedly participate in dancing till 3 o'clock in the morning and not be more or less unfitted for his duty. Another wife test of amusements was to ask how far they interfered with the religious Fide of life. He believed in mo3t outdoor games, but -when they occupied every spare moment it was time to cry "Halt!" One could not drink his ft -I .tlf PlClamU Mil fftiittoil ft b^ frojuier

of Jesus Christ. Let them seek the amusements tho Lord would have them seek, and! devote only the time to them that the Saviour they professed to love would have them devote Addresses were also given by the Rev. J. A. Will, the Rc\. R. Fairmaid. and Mr D. Beaih (pre-ident of the Christian Endeavour Union). All were attentively listened to. During the seixicc Mr J. L. Salmoucl gave a solo. The speaker^, the choirmaster, and Mr Salmoml were thanked for the part they had taken in the service. The synod then resumed its deliberations. REPORT OF DELEGATES TO THE FREE CHURCH. The Rev. Mr Kyd and Mr A. C. Begg, commissioners to the United Free Church Assembly, gave interesting reports of their experiences at the assembly meetings in, Edinburgh, and were closely listened to by those present. VX EXPRESSION OF SYMPATHY. A resolution of condolence- was passed and directed to be forwarded to the Rev. K. C. Tcnnent in respect to the untimely end of his son. a promi»mg student. CONCLUSION. The Rev. Mr Cumming brought up a synopsis of synod expenses, when some discussion tinned on the item of £68 for printing the synod reports, several membersobjecting that it was excessive. Votes of thanks were passed to the friends who had received members of the synod into their homes and the recovers for their full reports of meetings of *ke synod. * The Moderator, in hia closing remarks, paid he thought they had got through a. great deal of important business and had taken part in valuable conferences. He thought it inadvisable for the synod to meet in a holiday week, as so many people were away from their homes. After tho singing of Psalm 122, the Moderator pronounced the benediction, and the session was brought to a olose.