BRUCE PRE BYTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2665, 12 April 1905, Page 13

BRUCE PRE BYTERY.

The Dunedin Presbytery met on the sth inst., in the- hall at the rear of First Church, the Rev. I/. Thompson, moderator-, presiding. The Rev. Mr Borrie referred to the matter of the amalgamation of the funds, north and south, and on his suggestion it was agreed to consider it at next meeting; a committee being formed to look into the subject. The same committee was empowered to consider the matter of the eeneral tre>asureship. The Rev. Mr M'lntyre mentioned that at a meeting of the Chalmers Church congregation on the 9th inst. it was agreed to ask the Presbytery to moderate in a call, th& minister in view being the Rev. D. M'Lennan, of Waipu, Auckland. There was now no difficulty in the wav of Mr M'Lennan accepting the call. He mentioned further that the commissioners present were Messrs Fleming and M'Pherson. — It was agreed that the request of the congregation /be granted, and that the moderation take place on the evening of the 19th inst., the Rev. Mr M'lntyre to preside. Mr Wright, organising agent for the Bible-in-schools League, was present at the meeting of the Presbytery, and explained the objects of the league. What he asked of the Presbytery was that a resolution be passed sympathising and endorsing the platform of the Referendum League, and promises on the- part of ministers of active assistance. There was a great deal of feeling in favour of the Bible-m-schools movement, but, unfortunately, it was to an extent dormant, and the ministers could wake it up. A few ministers were not with them in the movement, and a r.??olution from the Presbytery would assist greatly. He had spoken to several members of Parliament round the district, and all he had spoken to were strongly in sympathy with the taking of a poll upon the subject, though some were not in favour of the Bible in schools. . On the motion of the Rev. D. Borrie it was r>26oh'ed— " That the Presbytery heartily endorses the platform of the Referendum League, and promises to give all the help in its power to further the-movement ; further, that Mr Wright be furnished with the names of the ministers prepared to assist. The Rev Mr Maokie brought before the Presbytery the report dealing with lay preachers. The committee now presented a report that it thought the Presbytery would approve of. The report was as follows : — lWith the object of combining, developing, and utilising the lay-preaching powers of the Church, the Dunedin and Suburban Oincebearers' Association shall keep a roll of lay preachers, to be revised annual iy. 2. Those wishing to be enrolled as fiiliyaccredited lay preachers shall be communicants of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand who have received certificates of personal fitness for the work from the sessions of the congregations of which they are members, and must either — (a) pass an examination in Bible knowledge, Chrfstian doctrine, and English composition on a syllabus prepared by a committee to be hereafter described and approved by Presbytery: (b) be elected by that committee beca-ise of approved fitness for the work.

3. A committee composed of four ministers of the Dunedin Prssbytery (to be elected by the Presbytery) and four members of the Dimedin and Suburban Office-bearers' Association (to be elected by that body) shall be set up to deal with all applications for enrolment, arrange for preparatory classes, classes or confeiences for mutual aid, examinations, and everything pertaining to the preparation and improvement of lay preichers. Two members of each body shall form a quorum

4. Before being enrolled as fuliy-accreditad lay preachers th.3 names of all applicants must be submitted to Presbytery and approved, those so approved to be entitled to a certificate signed by Moderator of Presbytery. 5. Applications for the services of lay pieachers should be made to the convener ot committee or to some other person appointed by them. T n making appoirlments care r,hould b9 talj^n not to interfere with the woik of the Ohurcff Extension Comxnittee, nor with tho rights of licensed preachers, students, and other agents of the Church Extension Committee.

6. I'roachers may read sermons other than their own which have been approved by the committee. 7 All contnbuliona in return ;&m; the ser-

vices of lay preachers, above travelling and other necessary expenses, shall go to the funds of the Dimedin and Suburban Office-bearers' As.-ociation, to bo used in. the interests of Jaypreaching.

8. In making appointments care should be taken to discountenance Sunday travelling r.s much as possible.

The scheme was adopted, and Dr Nisbet anc) the Rev. Messrs Dutton, Borrie, anct Mackie were appointed to represent the Presbytery on the. committee.

The accounts in connection with expenditure 011 repairs on the manse at Middlemarch were approved and passed on to the board.

A letter from the Modarat and the Clerk of tho General Assembly was read by the Clerk, the Rev. A. M. Finiayson. Ik stated that the travelling expenses of members to Auckland would amount to £900, which would be £516 more than had ever been paid previously, and that thepayment of such sum would seriously cripple the funds of the Church for years afterwards. Various measures to meet the case, the writers said, had been talked over, but the only one efficient appeared to be that a motion should bo made in next Assembly asking the members to agree to receive half the usual payment for this occasion.

On the motion of the- Rev. Mr Chisholm it was resolved — " That the letter be received, and that the Presbytery regrets that there should even be an appearance to set up an imperium in imperio." The Rev. R. J. Porter was nominated Moderator of the Synod of Otago and Skmthland for the ensuing year.