DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2539, 12 November 1902, Page 15

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

! The" ordinary meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery, held in First Church Hall on "Wednesday, 4-th, was attended by the Revs. R. Fair-maid (Moderator), W. Will, D. Borrie, J. Chisholm, J. U. Spence, R. R. M. Sutherland, A. Greig, J. M. M'Kerrow, I. K. M'lntyre, W. Scorgie, A. Don, A. Cameron, A. M. Finlayson (clerk), J. Christie, R. Mackie, J. J. Cairney, Dr Watt, Dr Dunlop (ministers), Messrs T. Somerville, G. Reid, D. Thomson, H. Wise, W. Hutton, A. C. Begg, T. H. Dick, AY. Henderson, A. Chisholm, F. Marshall, J. E. Hunter, R. Lcishman, and J. T. Johnson (elders). THE LATE MB JAMES WATJGH. The following minute wa» adopted: — "The presbytery place on record ito sense of the loss .sustained by the Church, and especially by the congregation of North-Ea.«t Harbour, by the death of Mr James Waugh, who at the time of his death was a member of this court. The presbytery endorses with satisfaction the testimony of his pastor as to the late Mr Waugh's great zeal and diligence in Christian work, the excellence of his character, and his carefulness as a member and elder of the Church, and express its sympathy with the session and congregation of North-East Harbour, aud with the relations of the late* Mr Waugh." COMBINED SUNDAY SCHOOL EXAVUTATIOXS. The committee appointed to report on ascheme for the combined -Sunday School examination by the New Zealand Presbyterian Assembly and the Otago Sunday School Union submitted the following recommendations : — Ages of Competitors: First Grade, 16 years and over; Second Grade, 14 and 15 years last birthday; Third Grade, 12 and 13 years last birthday; Fourth Grade, 10 and 11 years last birthday. The assembly to be requested to adopt these divisions throughout the Church, (gl Subject* fo£ Examination: £ai ScriKtuje,-—

The third quarter of International Lessons-; ' (b) Shorter Catechism— As . directed Ayr tife ~. 'assembly, the papers to be of .the" standard -set, for the rest >f the Church (if practicable, the same papers). (3) Examiners: "Three (A, B, C) to be appointed by the assembly, with three (D, E, F)' appointed by the Otago Sunday School "Union; (a) The Scripture papers to be set and examined by the six thus — A and D, the First Giade ; B and E, the Second Grade ; C aid F, the Third and Fourth Grades; (b) The Catechism papers to be set and examined by the assembly's examiners. (4) Prizes: The < Otago Sunday School Union to provide prizes (in affiliated schools) for Scripture; the assembly to provide prizes for Catechism. (5) Essays : Optional, or to be arranged. The recommendations were adopted, and it was decided to forward them to the General Assembly. BEY. 6. HORKIZO. -The Rev^ G. Hormizo, of Persia, appearedbefore the -presbytery, and asked their assistance in connection with Christian work in • Persia. , A committee appointed to examine the tßev. Mr Hormizo's credentials reported favourably, and recommended ministers to arrange for his addressing congregations. — j The recommendation was adopted. TEEHITOBIAL BOTJNDABIES. On the motion of the Rev. Mr Chisholm, it was resolved — " That the -territorial boundaries of the congregations that have agreed to the committee's suggestions be recorded in the minutes of the • presbytery, .that each of these congregations be furnished with a , copy of the minute referring ,to itself for , insertion in the records of its session and i deacons' court, and that the corhxnittee be instructed to confer with the remaining congregations whose boundaries have'ono't yet been definitely fixed, and report to a future ' meeting of presbytery." OFFICE-BEABEBS' ASSOCIATIONS . Ifc was- unanimously agreed: — "That in view of the general * approval wGich the proposal to form an Office-bearers' Association has received from ahriost all the city and suburban churches, the clerk of presbytery be instructed to call a meeting of officebearers on December 2, at 7.30 p.m.. for the purpose of forming such an -association, and that the convener of the Presbytery's Committee- (Rev. Mr Chisholm) be appointed ho bring the matter before the meeting." THE LOCAL OPTION POLL. On the motion of the Rpv. R. R. M. Sutherland it was resolved — " That the presbytery recommend ministers to preach appropriate sermons on the Sunday prior 4 to the local option poll, and, further, that the presbytery strongly urges upon the people of the Church to strike out the top line only." An amendment by the Rev. D. Borrie leaving it to ministers to urge on congregations to vote in the direction indicated was lost, only four supporting it. GENEEAL. An application for a grant of £50 for repairs to Knox Church Manse wa6 approved. It was resolved to a.efe the Assembly for leave to take Mr R. H. Catherwood on trial for license. It was aleo decided, in the event of the Assemr^ giving leave, to take the following students on trial for license on Tuesday. Deoember 2: — John Chisholm. Donald M'lvor. H. T. Blair, D. M'Coll, W. Mawson, and L. Thompson.