DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2565, 13 May 1903, Page 13

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

The presbytery met in First Church Hall cm the sth net., wh?n the Moderator (the Rev. J. U. Spence) presided. The members present were:— Tho Revs. Dr Watt, Dr Gibb. W. Will, J. Chisholm, A. Finlayson, J. M'Kerrow, R. Mackie, D. Dutton, It. Fairmaki, A. Greig, K. C. Te-nnent, R. R. M. Sutherland. W. Soorgie, D. Borrie, A. Cameron, W. Hewitson, John Ohris-tie, W. Nieolson, D. M'Coll, and L. Thompson (minister-.;), and Messrs G. Reid, D. Thomson, A. C. Begg. W. Hut'ton. H. Dick, W. H. Adams, W. Henderson, A. Chisholm, R. Leishman, J. T. Johnston, and Leslie. The R«v. Mr Ritchie <Kaiapoi) and the Rev. G. MiUer (MiLton) were associated with tho presbytery. GENERAL. An application from the St. Andrew's Deacons' Court for £50 for manse repairs was agreed to. The. Clerk (the Roy. A. Finlayfon) drew attention to the omis-i-cn of the Mornington, Anderson's Bay, Caver-sham, Chalmers, North Taaeri, and Ravensbounio Churches to pay their assented .shai'2 of the presby-te-rial expen.-es. — The clerk was authorised to write reminding the churches concerned of the fact. It was drcidnd to discontinue notifying members of presbytery by post-card of presbytery meeting*, and to rei'y on the advertisements in the daily papers and the Christian Outlook to advise them of theni set in g5. The Rsv. Mr Borne gave in a report regarding the boundaries of Roslyn. — It was agreed to receive tho report and refer it to a committee, consisting of the present committee, with the ministers of Kaikorai, Roflyn. and Mornington, with their respective elders. On the motion of Mr Chi-holm the. clerk was instructed to cnll the attention of Knox Church Session to the resolution of the presbytery regarding Maori Hill. TOESBTTERIAL VISITATION. The Rev. R. Maekio submitted a report on presbyteria-1 visitation. The report set out that the following con miltee- was appointed to commence the presbyterial visitation scheme agreed to by the presbytery last year: — Revs. M'Kerrow, G-eig, Dutton, and Mackie. with their presbytery elders. The congregations vi<-itetl by this committee were Xorth-Ka-t "Valiey. Kaikorai, Chalmers, and Mornington. Dealing with the firtt of these, the report .stated that the committee met the ministers, officers, and rongre-gatiion of North-East Valley on October 4, 1902, when there were fivo elder; and eight cleac-onj of the locsl church present. Tho question* appointed wern put l>v the Rev. J. M'Kerrow, and answered with interest and frankness by minister* and officebearers. The proceedings knuressed tt»

committee with the fact that. >the work of the church was being carried on with patient diligence. There was a frank admission by both ministers and office-bearers t-ha+. ths state of religion, was not what it ought to '. be-, and that the general tone was not so .good as a few years back. The office-bearers did not think there were any special causes to which the decline of spiritual tone could ba attributed. The committee noted with pleasure that baptism was as a rule publicly administered; the congregation contributed liberally to the schemes of the church and to missions ; that there had been a decrease in the membership during the last three years ; and that there was no debt on the church or manse although £600 was "owing on the new Sunday School Hall. At Kaikorai the committee found that tho minister and office-bearers, were pursuing their work with diligence and a considerable amount of success. In answer to a question aa to whether there was any matter the congregation desired to bring under the notice- of the presbytery, the office-bearers stated that the work in their district was frequently discouraging, owing to its close proximity to Dunedin, with " its endlessly varied Sabbath attractions." t They believed the presbytery oculd do much towards stopping the tram traffic in Dune<lin and suburbs on Sundays. Tho report concerning the work clon-e by the Chalmers Church was of a similar nature, and the only matter the congregation desired to bring under the notice of the presbytery wa« "the decidedly harmful influence to true religion engendered by public bandplaying on the Sabbath." The report on Mornington was also of a very favourable naiure. Dr Gibb moved — " That the presbytery thank the committee, for their work, and request them to prepare a deliverance on the report, to bo presented at next meeting." The Rev. Mr Chisholm seconded the motion, which was agreed to ; and it was decided that tho committee — consisting of the Revs. Borrie, Sutherland, Spence. and Scorgie, — with their respective ciders, should visit the Caversham, South Dunedin. Anderson's Bay, and North-East Harbour churches. THE GREEN ISLAND CHURCH. The Clerk read the minutes remitted from the synod directing the presbytery to deal with the vacancy at Green Island caused by the appointm-ent of Dr Watt to the Theological College. Mei=sr3 Loudon and Blair, representing the Green Island congregation, waited on the presbytery. The Rev. Mr Dutton said he had presided at a meeting of the congregation en. Wednesday last, when he laid the whole position before the congregation, and certain resolutions were submitted. He was sure the presbytery would understand what it meant to that congregation and Dr Watt to sever a pastoral tie that had not only continued so long, but which had been in every way so happy. The congregation had a feeling; of deep affection for Dr Watt, and the severance of Dr Watt from them was a very painful thing. Although they would like to keep Dr. Watt, they realised that the claims of the larger Church were paramount, and were prepared to yield their claims. Mr Loudon said that the members of the congregation who had been present at the meeting were very much indebted to Mr Dutton for the way he had put tho matter before them, and also for the kindly way he had spoken of Dr Watt, both as a man and a minister. As Mr Dutton had indicated, Dr Watt occupied no common place m the hearts of tho Green Island people. At the meeting referred to the following resolutions were carried: — (1) "That this meeting, in accordance with the wishes of the 6ynod, agrees to relieve Dr Watt of the pastoral charge of Green Island, believing it to be in the interests of the Church ss a whole, and also in the interests of Dr Watt himself, who has so long and faithfully filled the office of pastor to this congregation." (2) " That the meeting desires to place on record its high appreciation of the services of Dr Watt, who for a period of nearly 40 years ha\ filled the office of pastor of this congregation, the ability with whicii he has discharged his pastoral duties has only been equalled by his bearing as a Christian gentleman ; and, while tleep'y regretting the severance of the tie between pastor and people, rejoices that his services are still to be retained in training the future ministers of the Church. That (iod may bless him, his family, and his labours is the sincere wish of this congregation." He would not say any more, but simply hand the resolutions to the clerk.— (Applause.) Mr Blair al.so spoke, and endorsed what had been said by Mr Dutton and Mr Luudon. On the motion of the Rev. Mr Borrie, it was decided to accept Dr Watts's resignation and to appoint the Revs. Dr Gibb, Borrie. and Chisholm to draft a suitaMe resolution to be submitted to the next meeting of presbytery. The Roy. D. Dutton was appointed to moderate in the vacancy at Green Island, and was instructed to intimate tte vacancy on the 24th inst. THE DKACONESSES' INSTITUTE. The Rev. W. Hewitson ma<]p a statement regarding the Deaconesses' Institute, and after some di.-ousoion it was res-olvod, on tho motion of Dr Gihb— "That tha presbytery express its uratifiL-.it ion that the I Missions Committee and the-ir assessors have taken over the institute for the training of deaconesses and women missionaries, and their warm appreciation of the devotion shown by Mr and Mrs Driver in the institute, which they now yield to tho Presbyterian Church Foli-ly becausa of Mrs. Driver'^ inability to continue the work: enjoin the memhers of presbytery to call the attention of their congregations to the new departure and the need of a deepened interest and increased contributions to the missionary work of the Church."' The motion was sef-ondetl by the Rev. Mr C'hisholm and rarrie-d unanimously. The next meeting of the presbytery was fixed for Tuesday. June 2. When asked by a member of the Waimakariri Harbour Board, at its mfc-ting on Monday, how the .stakes in the river disappeared, the .signalman replied that " when anyone was repairing a fowlhouse he deliberately removed the stakes for the purpose." Hoarseness in a Child thnt is subject to croup is a sure indication of the approach of the disease. If Chamberlain's Cough Remedy if given as soon as tho child bocomes hoarse, or even afteT the croupy ccugh hag appeared, it will prevent tho attack. It always cure-, aud cures ciuickly. All de-alcris sell it