DUNSTAN PRESBYTERY

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 7

DUNSTAN PRESBYTERY

A meeting of the Dunstan Presbytery was held in the Ranfurly Church on Tuesday, last, when the Rev. J. Standring presided. The Rev. A. J. Davis, of Waipiata, being present, was welcomed by the Moderator and associated with the Presbytery. The Rev. W. P. Rankin was elected Moderator of Presbytery for the ensuing year, and took the chair accordingly. The resignation of the Rev. H. Bloomfield was received and resolutions were also .received from congregational meetings at Middlemarch and Hyde expressive of regret at Air Bloomfield's projected departure and gratitude for his able services during his four years’ ministry, but offering no objection to his removal, which was entirely by his own desire. Mr Bloomfield having addressed the Presbytery explaining that he considered the change would be beneficial for himself, his family, arid the charge, several members of the Presbytery expressed their deep regret at the decision. Air Bloomfield had arrived at and at his imminent dej>art.ure from their midst. On the motion of the Rev. A. V. G. Chandler, seconded by the Rev. J. Standring, it was decided to accept the resignation and dissolve - the pastoral tie from January 31. The Rev. J. Standring of was appointed InterimModerator. Reports of the vacant charges—Mount Ida and Patea-roa-Waipiata— were given by the Interim-Miderator and the Rev. A. J. Davis briefly reported concerning his work. e The Rev. W. P. Rankin and Mr H. Bowie were appointed the lh-eshytery’s feunday School Oommittee to arrange for the annual examinations. A tetter from the Rev. L. N. Walker, of Roxburgh was received stating that he was s ill in Queensland and hoped to return to Roxburgh in February. A resolution was passed of congratulation to Air Walker in the measure of success attending the treatment of his eyes and of sympathy Wlt u su dden death of his father. •ihe Rev SL F. Hunter, convener of the Assembly Life and Work Committee, reported that Mr Bissett, Assembly’s evangelist, would* be available for six weeks in October and September, 1923, for Dunstan iTesbytery. It was decided to instruct the clerk to arrange for missions in Cromwell, Alexandra, Lauder, or Patearoa charges. On the motion of the Rev. J. Standring, it was unanimously decided to nominate the Rev. J. Collie, M.A., of Invercargill, as the next Moderator of the Synod of Otago and Southland. An application for manse repairs at Naseby was received, and on the motion of the Rev. A. V. G. Chandler, seconded by Bev. J. Standring, it was resolved — That the application for the quinquennial grant for manse repairs at Naseby be sustained, and seeing that the change of minister’s residence to Ranfurly is inevitable in the near future the Presbytery urges the office-bearers and members of the Mount tea charge to united effort in raising funds for a new manse at Ranfurly.” A resolution of sympathy with the Rev. J. Standring in the pathetic death of a grandchild in the Alexandra manse was carried by a standing vote. The Clerk reported concerning the assessment- of the Sustentation Fund Committee, Alexandra being assessed at £250 and Teviot and Cromwell at £265. It was decided to endorse the action of the Sustentation Fund Committee in postponing for one year the application of the Ida A l alley homo mission station to be placed on the fund and to be made a fully sanctioned charge on the minimum basis. The Moderator was instructed to secure a home missionary for another vear for Ida A 7 alley.