DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 21

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

The monthly meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery was held on the 2nd, the Modera* tor (Rev. J. O. Jamieson) i presiding. NORTH TAIEHT CHAEGB. After some discussion regarding the of the North Taieri charge, it was agreed to . sanction the appointment of a student pi! - missionary, and to leave the parish on 4 full-charge, basis. ' , CALL TO POET CHALMERS. Messrs Tait, Mawson, and Fraser appeared jn support of the call to the Rev". J. M. Simpson, of Gore, to the charge of Port Chalmers. The call was and the induction fixed for the 29th inst. INDUCTION _ OP PROFESSORS. In connection with the induction of the Rev. Professors Jas. Oumming, M.A., 8.D., and R. E. Davies, M.A., as professors of College, the report of the committee apCollege, the convener of the committee appointed to make the necessary was adopted, the induction to be held in l ' First Church, on March 9. xtJStoIUJSAXION. The Rev. D. Dutton (Cavei-sham) wrote resigning from the charge as from the last Sunday in April. He stated that, owing to the extension of the parish, he felt that ho was no longer able to do justice to its requirements. He was 71 years of age, and tor 48 years had endeavoured to discharge ' the duties of an ordained minister. Ho was deeply thankful to God that he had been enabled to continue in the work of the ministry dm-ing such a long period, and hoped he would still be able to serve the OhCrch in* other ways for some time to come. He also made application to bO made a beneficiary under the Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund, i S The Rov. J. Kilpatrick said they were sorry to receive any minister's resignation, ana very sorry 'to receive Mr Dutton's. Ho moved that the Rev. R. Fairmaid be appointed to summon a congregational meeting -and report to the next meeting of the Presbytery. Tho motion was carried UNCONSTITUTIONAL PBOCEDTJEE. The Rev. J. Kiipatrick entered a protest against the action of the General Assembly in making radical changes in the government of the Church in an unconstitutional manner. He referred specifically to alterations in the book of procedure regarding the appointment of representatives to the Presbytery, wh'.ch, he said, should not have been made operative without being sent down under tiie Barrier Act. There were changes in the 'book of procedure of which, quite probably, none of the members pre-, sent were aware. How many knew that the three-fifths majority necessary to sign a call had been reduced to a bare majority?. He moved: 'That the Dunedin Presbytery,' while obeying the resolution of the General Assembly in - re altering the principle of representation of sessions in the Presbytery, desires to protest against the resolution . becoming operative without first being submitted to presbyteries under the Barrier "' Act." Several members spoke in support of the protest' being entered. One said there were a certain Pope and a number of Cardinali in the Church doing far too many and" it was tiine their power was curtailed. Mr Finlayson thought the question raised should, be: referred to a committee to investigate and' report. He moved accordingly, nominating Professor Dickie, Revs. H. H. Barton, R. R. M. Sutherland, W. R. Hutchison. Messrs Calder, Tait, Bennetts, and the mover Rev. J. Kilpatrick withdrew his motion in favour of the amendment, which was carried. Mr Finlayson was appointed convener of the committee.