SYNOD OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2668, 3 May 1905, Page 18

SYNOD OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND.

j?he Syncd of the"_T?resbyterian Church of Otago "*and * Southland^ "met at " First Church Hall on 7 - the 25th ult., _fche->:Mode-rator (the Rev. A. M. -JDalrymple) presid-

ing. _ ij The JRev. Adam T3egg brought ap a report on the state" of religion, stating that he bad received tome 44 returns, in response to circulars, sent -to some 80 different

charges. The report was a lengthy one, and in' general- ira versed the nature of the replies received, the replies \«ing ttated to bo, on the jwhofol -distinctly encouraging. — It was reserved that the report be handed back io the committee for consideration, after which it shonld be printed and distributed, and read by ministers from the pulpifcr "A reference was received trom Oatnaru ia - which the Synod was asked for a decision in respect to the ehurqh .glebe at Tctara, and, after discussion decision .Teas given in i:he matter. On the recommendation of Hve> presbyfceriesT t~He Synod decided to a.ominate the Rev. R. X Porter {of Oamana) as Moderator for next year. * - . The" Synod then r held-^a- conference in reipeoi; to the sustentation fund, and it -was resolved — " That it- is expedient, to go f orvard, to appoint air age.it to advocate and - organise a sustentation fund as authorised the ".General Assembly, and that a com'niittee'bei appointed "to consider details and report to the Synod- as early as possible."' -In the the Synod considered in conference the question" of the Toning -Men's Bible Class movement, but i.-o resolution was passed en. the subject. - ,lri- the: evening First -Church was -largely attended on the occasion <f "the IToung People's Rally, the v Moderator^- presiding. - Tnterestingr. addresses were given "by -the Rev. A. J. Wade (of Armadale, "Victoria) and Messrs D.-Seotti and J. Jupp (mission deputies).. Mr Scott having given a ttimulatine address on mission work,' s the Rev. Mr Wade, , speaking particularly .to the young people, impressed on them the necessity of using the gifts they might have to the best advantage. Mr Jupp followed with a brief font forcible address., in which lie laid before the - meeting the motto of the 'Student Volunteer Missionary Uriiqn t "The Evangelisation of the World in this Genera- . tion." and discoursed -on its greatness as a , life ideal. . The young people's service concluded, new— ministerial members, of -the iSynod were 'duly -presented to the Moderator. "The Moderator (the Rev. A. 11. Dal- - rymple) then delivered his Synod address, the subiectof which -was lt ßeligion and Science," and which proved a thoughtful - and - scholarly treatise. On the motjon of "the Rev. A. Finlayson the Moderator was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for iiis address, and -votes or ihanks to the speakers at the .young people's rally aud to the Hey. J. M'Kerrow (who had presided at the opening meeting of the Synod) were also recorded. "The benediction having been pronounced the Synod then adjourned till next day. A "public meetinsc -wiiL be iield .this evening, alt which Dr Nisbet' aiid others will speak m the eustentation fund. The '• annual meeting of "the Presbyterian Synod was cbntiauea on Wednesday in First Church- Hall, when there was a good attendance of- ministers-- and elders. The _ Moderator (the_ Rev. 'A. M. Dalrymple) presided. - - , SUSTEXTA.TIb'N FUND. .-The Rev. H. R. M. Sutherland submitted the report of the committee -appointed to jonsider the proposal to appoint an organising agent for "the fund. The committee was unable to recommend anyone, but ttske'd- the Synod to continue the committee, with power to negotiate with likely men, and if it found one whom it con- ■ Bidered suitable to have power to appoint j him at what it considers suitable remuneraJfcion, but ~ that this be not done till the committee had a guarantee to cover expenses .for one jrear. He moved the adoption of the report. • ' Mr Pryor seconded -the motion. After a lengthy discussion it was resolved on the motion of the Rev. D. Borrie — " That the committee be empowered to -communicate with the Rev. J. Paterson, of Wellington, and on satisfactory. arrangements being -.made to appoint him, but, failing satisfactory arrangements, that the committee look for another suitable man and appoint him." CHUHGH The Rev. A M. Finlayson (clerk) read a letter: TErom the factor <Mr Fred. Smith), enclosing Messrs Stewart and Payee's opinion that the Ota-go Presbyterian Church .Board of Property cannot -make a grant in respect of property vested in the Presby--terian" Church Property Trustees, and suggesting that the necessary amendments be made. ■ It was Tesolved to -make two amendments in. the -regulations, to 'pass the regulations in an amended form into an Interim Act, and send it to ministers and Bessions before being disposed of ai next meeting of Synod. The Rev. W. Will called attention to a possible danger. It seemed to him that, in riew of the difficulties which the Free ' Church had exDerienced a.t Horns, tho

model trust' deeds should be looked into and revised. ,~ The Rev. D. Borrie said there was a 'large legal question involved, as to whether the Church Board of Property, being, as it were, outside the Church, could hold the property of the Church of New Zealand. On the motion of the Rev. A. W. Kinmont, seconded by the Rev. W. Scorgie, it was resolved — " That a committee be appointed to •consider the manner in which the Church, property is held axid the relation between the Otago Board of Property, the Church Property Trustees, and deacons' i courts, and report to next meeting of Synod." TIOTST PUNDS-x, The Rev. Dr Nisbet moved— "That a representative committee be appointed to investigate and report to next meeting of Synod on the feasibility of utilising the trust funds at present -devoted to assisting congregations, and purchase sites and build | and repair churches and manses throughout i Ofcago and Southland in the interests of Presbyterianism throughout New Zealand. In the event of -a, decision being come to, j to- report favourably on this proposal, | authorise the committee to devise a scheme , by which existing- obligations may be honourably discharged." The .Rev. A. W. Kinmont seconded the motion. The Rev. W. Will said that the proposed step was one of great difficulty, and should be fully considered before being even entertained. The Rev. P. B. Eraser thought that, in the ., interests of- the proposal itself, the i subject should "be approached not so suddenly^ I i -The motion . was- ultimately carried by 28 votes to 19. . _ ,GBAXTS. Applications for grants for new churches -. were granted -in re&oeot to Maeraes, Maori -Hill, Ratanui, Pembroke, Miller's Flat, i and Ranfurly. ' \ ior church repairs were authorised in lavour of Waipahi, the Chinese Church, j Duntroon, Columfca. Arrowtow.n, Mokoreta, j Pukerau, Green Island, and Wyndham. j The grants for manses, extensions, etc., , aßproved of were in favour of Edendale, | Waiwera-, Roxburgh, Waikaia (conditional). ' ,and JPatearoa. The application from Bluff . j led, -to a discussion and the setting up of : a committee to inquire and report. ■COMMITTEES. At the evening "sitting, which commenced at 7 o'clock in the hall, the Synod dealt ' first with the appointment of committees. j Church Extension ?.nd Finance. — The Rev. j Mr Sutherland, :n moving the appointment i of this committee, said it was desirable to | .have «, large committee, so as to have ] jnembers in different parts of the territory. j He proposed the following names: — The ' Hevs. R. R. M. Sutherland (convener). A. Cameron. A- M. Dalrymple, "G. Lindsay, W. Nichol, and T. Neave, J. M'Cosh Smith. D. Borrie, and A. Begg, and as elders j Messrs W. Couston, D. Scott, W. H. Rose, j and A. O. Begg. — The motion was agreed to. ~sSynod Business, Expenses, and Accommodation. — The Revs. D. Dutton (convener), W. -Scorgie, I. K. M'lntyre, J. Chisholm, and A. M. Finlayson ; elders Messrs W. H. Adams. W. T. Todd, G. Reid, R. Bagrie, and W. Pryor. * State of v Religion. The Presbytery of "Mataxira, with the Hot. A. Begg (convener). THE ASSEMBLY'S STEXT MEETING. The Rev. Mr Sutherland said lie would like to .get the mind of the Synod as to the place of the Assembly's next meeting. It lia-d been resolved to meet in Auckland, and there should be some understanding as to the number of members going, and as to the amount <yt expenses they would receive. His I opinion was that there should be no departure from the provisions laid down in the Basis of Union, or some future Assembly might resolve to meet in Timbuctoo. or somewhere where only two or tnree members could appear. The Rev. D. Borrie thought it wa^ a pity to raise the question. The matter- had been remited to Presbyteries, which were the bodies to deal with it. The Rev. Mr Scorgie was against interfering with the work of the Assembly, and' thought it was a most damaging blow to the Church to state in the Outlook that £900 was to be spent on what appeared to some to be just an ecclesiastical picnic. The discussion was adjourned until the; - conclusion of the public meeting. THE STTSTENTATION FUND. : At the public meeting in the church, when there waa a fair attendance, addresses were given by two elders and a minister on the nosition of the Sustentation Fund. Mr Walter Gow. a member of the Dunedin Office-bearers' Association, spoke of the necessity of the ohurches contributing liberally to the Sustentation Fund and increasing- the salary paid to ministers so as 10 encourage young men to enter the Church. It v.-as necessary for a candidate for the ministry to sro through a course of six years' training. He believed that many of their ministers, if they had devoted their talents" to a secular calliner. would have done much .belter financially than they were doing in the ministry. Twenty years ago the equal -dividend was £224. but it had now fallen to £197 10s, which, he held, was not sufficient for their ministers. He submitted +o their people these propositions: — 1. That it is the primary duty of the United Church to the utmost of its power to extend its influence and to provide ordinances for all it- adliorpnt<; in evpry district within its bounds. 2. That in order

to secure an efficient ministry, especially in j sparsely-populated districts, it is desirable I that the stipends of ministeis should be provided by the United Church. 3. That it is impossible to attain these objects unless _by the adoption of the Christian principle that the fatrong thall help the weak — in other words, that the larger communities and greater churches shall assist those who are. less able to provide for themselves. Taking all things into consideration, he said, it was obvious that the success of their ministers depended to a large extent on their freedom from care, and it ought to be the duty of the congregations to free them from the cares of ordinary life. He did not think that the people were to blame, or that the heart of the Church was unsound. The people were honestly desirous of doing what was right, but their duty had not been made clear to then*, and vehen that duty was pointed out Jf« believed they would rise and do with a | will what they ought to do in the matter. Tie Church .had a membership of 15,563 members, whose gross contributions for chtlreh purposes amounted to £57.492, which represented an average of £4- 4s 2d per member per annum. The south was more economical. There were 15.206 members in the south, who contributed for all purposes £41,441, or an average of £2 14s 7d per member per annum. The speaker went on to refer to the contributions of differentcentres to the Sustentation Fund, and urged that more interest -should be taken in the matter by the Church to maintain a stroiif fund. Mr W. Pryor. another member of the Dunedin Office-bearers' Association, .also referred 1o +.he necessity of strengthening the sustentation fund. ~ While they were paying their ministers £224 in 1883, they were practically paying them only a little over half that amount last year, because money had only about two-thirds of the purchasing power now that it had 20 years ago. It was .undoubtedly a reproacli to the Church when the matter was looked | at in that way. The Church in the south fell far short of the Church in the north in the matter of giving. The Church in the north gave Is 6|d per member per week for all purposes, but the- Church in th» south gave only Is per member per "week. Why was this? He had approached 1 his minister (the Rev. D. JBorrie). whose j reply was that it was owing to the curse } of the «n<iso\vin<3nt«. He felt sure the people would agree with him that it was "time there was a revolution of some sort and that the people gave as they ought to give. It had been desired to make the equal dividend £250 per annum, but instead of getting nearer to that point in late years the ■amount was getting away from it. It seemed to him the only remedy was to educate the people, and as Church members to recognise the suste<nt.->tion fund as the first and liaramounfc fund in the Church, j He asked tbo meeting to take these three ' facts home with them : — (1) The inadequate j salaries paid to their ministers ; (2) the paucity of general giving- for religiou-3 purposes ; and (3) that the sustentation fund should be placed in its rightful position as the paramount fund of the Church. The Rev. Dr Nisbet said that if they took away from the meeting that night the ■ ministers' wives and the staunch old elders they had not a meeting that was equal to a third-rate prayer meeting. It was an evidence of the utterly mistaken way in which many of the people regarded financial questions. There were those who looked Tm finance as a very secular matter. It was a folieh fallacy that -was gaining ground in these days, and a particular type of Christians would not talk cf financial matters at all. He thought it was a mistake. Christ did not hesitate to sit over against the treasury, not only to scan the gifts but to read the hearts of the givers. As to the sustentation fund, he might say that his church had decided to increase its contribution to it in the eomins: year by £75. Ib had already been mentioned that the equal dividend 24 years ago was £224, and as the rate of living had increased by 25 per cent, and prosperity had been general, the equal dividend to-day should really be £280. Since coming to the colony he had kept his eyes and ears open in going through some of the country parishes, and in one place he found that the income was . £374. and the congregation was paying only . the minimum sum to the Kind. Cases of that sort ought to bei looked into, and they . no doubt would be looked into whe'j theagent for the fund was appointed. The speaker went on to urge that, certain steps ; should be taken to strengthen the fund. On the motion of the Rev. Mr Sutherland the speakers were thanked for their addresses. : TIIE ASSEirBLT's NEXT MEETING. The adjourned discussion on this matter < was then resumed in the hall. ; The Rev. Mr Sutherland's motion was ; read, as follows : — "That the Synod expresses ; its opinion as to the provisions of the Basis - of Union for representation and expenses of representatives to the next meeting of ; Assembly being interfered with." ' The Rev. Mr Borrie's amendment was, at ' his request, withdrawn. The R-gv. Mr Sutherland replied, and the motion, on being put, was carried. The Rev. Mr Borrie recorded his dissent from the Synod taking up this question. The Rev. Mr Sutherland then moved — '" That the Synod is of opinion that the provisions of the Basis of Union for representation and expenses of representatives be not interfered .with."

Mr G. Dawson seconded the motion.

The Rev. S. W .Currie moved as an amendment — " That this Synod, while recognising that the Basis of Union cannot bei interfered with. 'is of opinion that the difficulty of meeting' the expenses of next Assembly might be- largely met by the Assembly unanimously agreeing to pay expenses only over 30s or £2."

The Rev. Mr Cuming seconded the amendment.

On being- ~put, the amendment was carried by 18 votes to 15

GENERAL.

On the motion of the Rev. Dr Nisbet, seconded by Mr G. Reid, it was unanimously resolved— "That the Synod meet next year on the Tuesday before Easter — Tuesday, April 10."

The Rev. Mr Scorgie moved, Mr G. Reid fceconded, and it was agreed — "That the Synod enjoins every minister within tha bounds of Otago and Southland to preach a lecture on the quarter centenary of John Knox on Sunday, May 21. and recommends that a public meeting be held in the centre of each Presbytery during the week__unless ether arrangements are made." The reports of the Church Records and Synod Expenses Committees were adopted.

A memorial minute respecting the death of the Rev. J. A. Will, of Lawrence, was unanimously agreed to. The Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society was recommended to the sympathy and support of the Church.

Votes of thanks were passed to the press for its reports and to the friends who had provided accommodation for members*"^of the Synod.

A vote of thanks to the Moderator closed the- business of the Synod-