SECOND DAY-APRIL 15.

Otago Witness, Issue 2823, 22 April 1908, Page 66

SECOND DAY-APRIL 15.

Th« Synod resumed sitting on the 15th m First Church at 10 a.m. MODERATOR. It was moved and carried that the Rev. James Cumming (Waikiwi) be nominated as Moderator of next year's Synod. FINANCE. The Rev. James Cumming reported on the ecclesiastical fund. This wae the administration of a sum that totalled nearly £3000 per year. Of this £680 went to pay a land tax, and £450 annually towards a theological hall. The latter sum was small, and they expected that much larger calls would be made upon the fund from this source when the theological college was completed. The balance was devoted to expenditure upon manses. The fund had been m a satisfactory state for the past 10 years, and was so now. The manse reserve fund was not m a solvent state, however, and had not been for years. Once it was over £7000 m debt. In order that this fund might .be brought back into a satisfactory position, and to allow the church finances (there were 155 churches m Otago and Southland) to be more conveniently administered, it was '.recommended that certain alterations be made m tho manse and church" grant regulations m the General Synod regulations. • . The Synod, m committee, dealt with the regulations seriatim, and made a large number of small alterations. arid insertions. After resuming m open Synod, the alterations and additions made were confirmed. The regulations will come up for adoption m their amended form at the next meeting of Synod. THE BLUFF CHARGE. The following motion, passed at last year's Synod, came un for consideration: — "That whenever the Deacons' Court of the I Bluff charge can report having r?,i3ed I

locally £100 towards the liquidation of tha bedt of £400, and forwarded the money .. raised to the C/iurch Board of Property, the board be authorised to redeem the mortgage by a grant of £300 from ihe ecclesiastical fund, and that- as soon thereafter as arrangements can be made with the tenant, the minister enter into occupation of the manse." — It wa6 reported that ; ths £100 had been raised, and was m the bank, and the board was authorised to aot ' m the direction indicated. BUSTENTATION FUND. Tho Synod went into committee to d*- ' cuss the Sustentation Fund. The Rev. Mr -Wood, organiser of the fund movement, said that m comparine the congregations' givings for the year 1907 with those of 1905 he found the following.-. I increases : —Dunedin -Presbytery, £231 " ! Clutha, £73; Mataura, £62; -Southland," | £272- Oamaru, £111 There had. how-- ■ ever, been such calls on the fund that the v ■ increase m dividends had not been m pre- v | portion to t»^ increase m the fund he 1 referred to. He went on to speak gener: ; ally of the "orward movement m conneci tion with the Sustentation Fund. j Very littie was said on \he~ subjeot by i other members, however, and on the . j motion of the Rev. Jas-. Cummings, . seconded I by the Rev. Mr Sutherland, it was :e--j solved — "That the Synod expresses grati-; fication at the response made to. the for*. | ward momevent m connection with therI Sustentation Fund, as shown m the m.. i crease of £750 per annum since 1905 ,' I recognise the advance shown by many ot • the aid-receiving and aid-giving congrega- -. lions,, and specially recommends >egulatioik 5 to the consideration of ihe ■supplemeT.. : raying congr Rations." / GRANTS. On the recommendation or the IFijuuico Committee it. -vas resolved' that the follow-^ giants be made: — South Hillend, new ■church. £415; Te Tua, new church, £300;: Waikiwi, enlargement of church, £150 ; Otautau, enlargement of manse, 665. Church repairs. Balfour, Orepuki, Drum-' mond, Mabel Bush, Fonest Hill, end Bluff. Tuapeka Mouth. New church (sub. jeot to -Presbytery's approval of plans) , Owaka: Half cost of removing church ; Church repairs: Edendale, Waikaka Valley, 1 and Crookston. Wyndham, addition to [manse; Mosgiel, new church, £750: I Ravensbourne, church repairs ; Knor j Church, Dunedin, church repaifls ; Balclutha, new manse on new 3ite ; Wa.ikaia, new manse on new site, the new site to l be paid for out of the proceeds of the sale of the old manse, and tho balance of the price to be divided between the congregation and the Synod. factor's accounts. The factor's accounts were submitted, and it was decided to transfer from the ecclesiastical fund to the manse reserve fund : 6uch sum as tlie Board of Property sawcould be spared. ,_>-• THE EDKNDAfcE CASE. • -" A reference re the Edendale . case irom the , Presbytery of Mataura was read. The reference shbwed that the foi lowiiur motion re the arrears of stipend due to- the Rey. AY. Ritchie had been passed at" Edendale •. — " That this meeting recommend the Presbytery to accept the results' of a thorough canvass, to "be made. .-during Aprili-^ «; final sum towards congregational dues ';.<Hnrqj. to Rev. W. Ritchie." The Pre*ytery ; of Mataura had resolved—" That the _whole matter be taken to the Synod simpliciter." The Synod discussed this matter and other matters m private, and did not announce m nublio the decisions arrived at. CONFERENCE UPON THE STATE OF RELIGION. When the Synod resumed m publio session at 9.30 p.m., a number ot members retired, and it was deemed to be too' late to hold the conference upon the etate of religion. It was resolved that the Rev. Wm. Wright be asked to arrange to have tho various prepared papers published m the Outlook. It was further resolved—" That the Oamaru Presbytery be reappointed a committee to arrange a conference upon the 6tate of religion .for next Synod." Arising out of this matter it was decided, to appoint a business committee to, facilitate the conduct of the Synod, the following being the personnel of the committee: Revs. H. B. Gray, A. Don, W. M'Donald. and the clerk (convener). GENERAL. The Revs. W. M'Donald and J. C. Paterson, new ministers, were introduced to the Moderator. It was resolved— " That 750 copies of Synod Proceedings be printed and distributed, and the type kept for inclusion m - the Assembly Proceedings " The Synod was then adjourned unt*. Tuesday. April 6, 1909.