DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 14

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

The regular meeting of the Dunedin .cVesbrxfry «a=i held in rhe hall at the rear ::>.' First Church on the 7th inst , and was -A-eli a.t-nded. The Rev. X Thompson .[Morleraior) presided. The Rev. Mr Goyen jof Victor a) was a?sociated with the Presb-y-.tcry. LAY I"KEACHEES' ASSOCIATION. " h>• Rc^. Mr llackie brought forward a .5 <>ir<? for in? formation of a Lay 'P-e>chers' Association. The speaker -said •rh^t it \va^ jusi a question, with the -iiUx-bar of organisation they had in the j'.urch at present, whether it was advisable to bring into existence another organisa:kn. On account ot the Office-bearers' Association being in existence, he did not -■«■. ant to call into existence another organi--sr.Hoo. when the Ofncp-rt>svers' AsFoeiation " could do the work. Therefore he bad modi-(s^-J the scheme, and the following were -p-v.v thf recommendations of the executive of ch-p OfnY-e-bearers' Assoc'ation : — 1 Vhat. with the object of combining, dore o..?a:g. und utilising 'be ls>y preaching ■ powers of the Church, t.he Dunedin Officefa Association keep a rcl! of lay preachers, ,-to be revised annually. 2. Those enrolled as :ully accredited -j.ieaehers '•hall be comn.u Y Jioants of the Presbyterian Church of Xew Zeeland, who have received certificates of personal fitness from ■the sss-pions of me congregations of which they - arc- ijs°mbars, and must pass an examination jn Bib'e knowledge, Christian doctrine, and Kng!;=!i composition on a bvllabus prepared by a committee of the Office-bearers' Association, cr be elected by the association because nf ap'ircvad fitness for the work. 3. A OL-nimittee of the Office-bearers' AssoA^ion shall be set up, with which shall ' b=> a°3ocia>3d three ministerial members of the presbytery. to deal with all applications of . enrolment, arrange for preparatory classes, classes or conferences for mutual aid, examinations, and everything pertaining to the preparation and improvement of lay preachers. 4. Abdications for supply shall be made io the convener of the association. In making -awpointmeats care should be taken not to interfere with the work of tbe Church Exter.eion Committee, nor with the rights of licensed preachers and other agents of the Church Jsxtension Committee. By-laws. — (1) Preachers may read sermons approved by the commitwre. (2) While no fees shall be paid to preachers, all contributions above travelling and other necessary expenses shall gc to the funds of the association, to oe Tisad in the interests of the lay. preacbiug department. (3) In making appointments, care shall be tUken to discountenance Sunday travelling as much as possible. The Rev. Mr Mackie then moved— " That this Presbytery affirms lh*» desirability of combining, developing, and utilising the lay-preaching power of t! <• Church ; that -o" this end the Dunedin Pi -"-liy>ry OfTi^e.baarers" Assot-iauon be .u\ivcd to unckrtdke

the management of the matter, and that the Revs. Dr Nisbet, W. Scorgie, and the mover be appointed to associate with them in promoting the work." Mr Pryor seconded the motion. After discussion the Rev. Mr Borrie moved &3 an amendment — " That the report be referred back to the committee, the committee to be enlarged and to mature the scheme, and report to the 'next meeting of the Presbytery." The Rev. Mr Tennent seconded the amendment. The Rev. Mr Mackie withdraw his motion, and the Rev. Mr Borrie'a proposal was carried. It was further resolved, on the motion of Mr Borrie, that the Revs. Chisholm, Kinmont, Scorgie, Dr Nisbet, the mover, and Mr Pryor be added to the committee. ORDINATION OF MR W. MILNE. The Rev. Mr Ohisholm introduced the subject of Mr Wm. Milne's ordination, and it was resolved that, the Presbytery having heard Mr Milne was about to proceed to the New Hebrides, he be ordained as missionary prior to his departure, and the Assembly be asked to endorse the Presbytery's action. The necessary arrangements were left in the hands of the Missions Committee, the ordination to take place at 7.30 on the 14fch inst at Knox Church. GRANTS. Grants of £25 we.re made to North-East Harbour and to the Chinese Mission Church in Walker street, the former for repairs to mansp, and the latter for repairs to the church. In the case of a request from Middlemarch for a renewal of a grant for repairs to the church for another year, the Rev. Mr Ponder withdrew the application in the name of the congregation, and said he would bring the matter up again. THE INDIVIDITAL CUP. The Rev. Mr Tennent said the congregation at Port Chalmers had held a special meeting to determine whether the individual cup should be introduced. The result had been that 68 were in favour of the change and 34 against it. The question he wished to bring before the Presbytery to decide was, seeing there were 34^ strong opponents to it and 63 equally anxious for the change, which way the matter should be decided. . The Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland said they had in other cases required practically unanimity, but here the opposition was strong. Mr Tennent said, although he was m favour of the individual cup, his own feeling was the change should not be made. It was resolved that the Presbytery sympathises with the majority, but as a matter of expediency urge they should fall in with the feelings of the large minority. Th© Rev. Mr Cairney brought up a similar matter in connection with the Waikouaiti Churoh. mentioning that there were

129 in favour of the individual cup and 29 against. In his case the minority were willing to fall in with the majority. It was decided that the request for the introduction of the individual cup be granted in th© case of Waikouaiti.