OAMARU PRESBYTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 15

OAMARU PRESBYTERY.

THE KEY. GIBSON SMITH'S BOOK. I OVERTURE POSTPONED. \ ' (Prom; Our Ovrcr Coaaxsvoiamrr.) OAMARU, October 13The Oamaru Presbytery to-day bad before it the overture of which the- Rev. J. Clarke had given notice during the past fortnight regarding the Rev. J. Gibson Smith's book, "The Christ of the Cross." The Rev. Mr Wright took the chair as acting-Moderator to allow Mr Clarke to move his motion. The Acting-Moderator read the proposed overture, which was as follows: — "Whereas a book has lecectly been published by a minister of our Church, entitled 'The Christ of the Cross ' ; whereas the teaching of that book en the doctrine of the Atonement is alleged to be seriously erroneous in view of the clear statement of Holy Scripture and of our subordinate standards^, whereas this alleged false teaching is causing widespread unrest and anxiety among' both ministers and people; and whereas it is most desirable in the interests of vit«l religion that something effective should be- done to terminate such unrest aod anxiety, it is hereby humbly overtured by the Presbytery of Oamaru to the Genera! Assembly of the Pr-esbyterian (Ihurch of New Zealand, indited to meet in Dunedin in the month of November coming, to take the prensiees into its serious consideration, and to make such careful inquiry into the teaching of the aforesaid book as is needful, and to express tuch an opinion thereupon as tin* facts of the case may warrant, or to deal otherwise with the subject as the Assembly may deem meet for the glory of God and the furtherance of the Gospel of Grace." The Rev. P. S. Hay rose to a point of order. Efe wanted to Snow wnai) was the practise of the Church on the notice. Ho understood that at last meeting of Presbytery a merely verbal notice was given by Mr Clarke. An overture must be in writing, and must be submitted at the previous meeting of a Presbytery. Was this overture in order? The Rev. J. Clarke said he had not even given verbal notice at the previous meeting. The Acting-Moderator said that technically no notice had been .given, but whether the Presbytery would deem the notice given sufficient he was not sure. He would like to throw the onus upon the Presbytery, i The Rev. Air Clarke said rule 339 was perfectly explicit. Had lie thought that notice- was necessary at last meeting he would * have given it, but he had not then read the book (Mr Gibson Smith's), although he had since been told that had he tabled his notice he would have had A seconder at once. He did not then know of rule 339 in the Book of Order, but when he prepared his overture he looked up Moncrief and found that notice of motion, was only a matter of courtesy, except where the law of the Church was co&oerned or parties had to be heard. If the Presbytery thought there would be any advantage in holding the matter over, he was agreeable, but he would then give notice and move for another meeting, which meant time and expense to members in attending again. The Rev. Mr Hay: Would it not do to take ifc at Herbert on November 5? 1 The Rev. Mr Clarke : That would be too late. The Rev. R. J. Porter said he was not opposed to the overture, which was a very reasonable one, he thought. But he did not think they could discuss it that day, for the rule said the notice " must " te given. He would like to point out that there would be no hardship if the overture did not go on. for the matter was coming before the Assembly in. an overture from another Presbytery in practically the same terras. It would therefore be discussed in any case. The Rev. Mr Clarke said he was led to understand that the overture from the Wellington Presbytery had neither head nor tail, and that the Bills and Business Committee could throw it out at once. The Dunedin overture came as an appeal, not as an .overture to inquire and express an opinion. Were it n«t for these facts, and were the matter coming before the Assembly direct from any othej Presbytery he would not have taken the present action. He thought it was perfectly competent to take the ten-days' notice which -had been given. This was not a heresy hunt, but a simple request for an inquiry. Sometirnea even the Assembly went on with business that was not technically in order. The Rev. W. Nicol said it was a pity there was no provision in the rule for notice given as thi-s one had been, but he was afraid the rule was fatal to the present proceedings, and if they went on with it it would be thrown out by tho Assembly Committee on Bills and Business. The Rev. Mr Hay said that even if the Wellington and Duucdin overture-? were thrown out, and e\cn if the present o\crture was not agreed to, Mr Clarke could «till overture the A.ssfMnHy on the .«pot. Tile Rev Mr Clarke: "Y-ca, under rule 336. Th© Rev. Mr Porter ea'd he thought there was no clianoc of the Wellington overture being throw n out, because of any technical dofect. It would be very unwise of the committee to do so. in view or the fuse which the book had aroused. The Rev. Mr Clarke said he had no ■desire to take advantage of ihe position. The Rev. Mr Nicol suggested running the risk and sending the overture on. After what Mr Porter had said it was clear that the ov&rtiirc would not be thrown out on technical grounds. Tlie Rev. Mr Clarke moved that notwithstanding- the slight irregularity the Presbyt-ery proceed with the overture. ■ Mr A. Ross seconded the motion. The Rev. Mr Hay said the rule was clear and he would object. After further discussion, the Rev. Mr Clarke wa6 allowed to withdraw hie motion and to put another calling an ad hunc ■rffectum meeting of the Presbytery for Tuesdev next to consider the overture, notice of -which was put in order. The Rev. Mr Hay intimated that -hie. objection was not a personal one, but he warned the Presbytery that it was entering on a perilous course. It would paralyse the work of th& Church for years to comer