DUNSTAN PRESBYTERY

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 21

DUNSTAN PRESBYTERY

The Presbytery oi Dunstan met on the 21st ult. at Ranfurly, when tho Rev. H. Bloomfield (Moderator) presided. Apologies from Mr A. H. Lennox and Mr P. M'Kellar were received, and the clerk was instructed to forward a letter of sympathy with the latter in his illness. Elders’ commissions in favour of Mr T. W. Wise (Strath-Taieri), Mr P. M'Kellar (Alexandra), and Mr K. Swinerd (Ida Valley) were received and sustained. The Rev. L. N. Walker was elected Moderator for the ensuing year. Applications for grants of £35 were received from the Mount Ida and AlexandraClyde charges for repairs to the Ranfurly and Clyde churches, and were recommended to the Synod for payment. The Rev. A. Don, of the Foreign Mission Committee, wrote expressing the pleasure of the committee at the fine advance made by the Presbytery last, year from £42 to £l6O, and as the exchang was still adverso in India and China, urging the Presbytery to continue its liberality.—lt was decided to commend the foreign missionary enterprise earnestly to all congregatons. The working union between tne Presbyterian and Methodist Churches in the Teviot parish was discussed, and a resolution relative to the present position of matters was passed. The Rev. H. Bloomfield reported concerning the Youth of the Church Committee, and it was decided to approve of the decentralisation of the Sunday school examinations. The Revs. H. Bloomfield a.nd A. D. Kirkland and Mr A. H. Lennox were appointed a committee to carry out the scheme. The matter of the Assembly's budget for the unifying of the financial schemes of the Church was discussed at length, and on the motion of the Rev. A. V. G. Chandler it was finally decided to remit the matter to the above committee to make the congregational allocations and report to Presbytery. it lie General Assembly’s remit concerning the Sustentation Fund Committee’s proposal for a minimum salary of £3OO was approved, and the ex-Moderator and clerk were appointed to communicate with the convener and clerk ot the Sustentation Fund Committee to secure the services oi a lay member of that committee to visit the congregations of the Presbytery to obtain the desired results, and to make other necessary arrangements. A letter was read irom Mrs A. M. Allan, of the Women’s Missionary Union, concerning a visit of Sister Christafiel to the Presbytery in March. —It was agreed to accent the offer with thanks, and to appoint the Rev. A. D. Kirkland to arrange tile itinerary. A report concerning the vacant charge of Patcaroa was given in by the Interim Moderator, and was received, and the Rev. A. Y. G. Chandler moved and Mr E. Swinerd seconded the following resolution: “In,receiving the resignation of Mr A. H. Lennox, the Presbytery desires to express its appreciation of his earnest labours during Ins ministry in the Patearoa Charge, prays that his health may be soon restored, and that in his new sphere he may enjoy much prosperity and still be of service to the Church oi God.” A report was also given in concerning the Ida Valley home mission station by the Moderator and the missionary in charge (Mr E. Swinerd). The manse had been repaired at a cost of over £;0, and the various work oi the parish was progressing satisfactorily. It was decided to endorse the action of the Moderator and clerk in securing a grant of £3O from the Home Mission Committee for the support of a student supply during the summer months in the Alexandra outfields. The Rev. A. D. Kirkland moved and Mr E. Swinerd seconded, and it was unanimously agreed—“ That the Presbytery regrets ”that in connection with the visits of a prominent official in the Government service and of a Minister of the Crown to Central Otago violations of the sanctity of the Sabbath occurred; it commends the action, of certain Alexandra residents in endeavouring to prevent such violation, and directs that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the gentlemen concerned.” Messrs Standring and Chandler were appointed a committee for the examination of church records, and the clerk was instructed to write to the convener of the Life and Work Committee to secure the services of Mr Bissett, Assembly’s evangelist, and to the Chaplains’ Committee for information. It was decided to hold an official visitation of the Alexandra-Clyde charge at the next Presbytery meeting.