DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3743, 8 December 1925, Page 36

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

MONTHLY MEETING. Thu monthly meeting of the Dunedin PreaDytery was held in the First Church Hall on Tuesday morning. The Moderator, tbo Rev. F. M. Beattie, presided. The Rev. Russell, of Scotland, was introduced and welcomed by the Presbytery. It was decided to continue the Rev. fkunuel Preiiter on the list of officiating *lnl wtere under the Marriage Act. WORK IN MILITARY CAMPS. The Rev. Dr Merrington presented a ye port from the Chaplains’ Committee recommending a vote of £ls towards the Work, of the Y.M.C.A. in military camps. wIM committee, however, could not undertake to contribute on the same scale as In (he past owi.ig to changed conditions. Dr Iferrtngton said they had voted £2O the previous year, but their funds were getting Very .elender. lie was sorry they could Hot do more. , The Rev. D. Dutton emphasised the value 0 1 the church sending good representatives (nto the military camps. He thought the Ihresbytery should appeal to the Deacons’ Court for funds. He would be sorry to think there was any laxity or indifference In this matter. Dr Morrington said they would be happy to put into effect any plans devised by the Presbytery for the raising of funds. The report was adopted. CALL TO REV. JOHN MILLER. The dork int mated that lie had received from Chris.church Presbytery a call from Papanui to the Rev. John Miller, of St. Clair. The call was signed by 92 out of 102 members and by 99 adherents. The Bov. J. M. Simpson was appointed to support the call. Mr. Simpson referred to the great growth Of the Papanui district, and said the church wa« very conveniently situated. The people Were completely unanimous in the call. There was a fine field there, and it would he good for Papanui to have a man of Mr Miller’s experience. The Rev. H. H. Barton reported on a meeting of the St. Clair congregation held the previous evening. They contemElated with very great regret the likeliood of Mr Simpson’s removal. Messrs W. Anderson, W. Wills, and C. R. M‘Lean appeared to represent the St. Clair congregation. Mr Anderson stated (hat the congregation had adopted the following resolution“ That this meeting of Sfc. Clair congregation, having learnt of the Unanimous call to our minister, the Rev. John Miller, by the Papanui congregation, desires to express its hearty appreciation of his devoted and untiring labours as a pastor and of his acceptable efforts as a preacher during the past 12 years, and its recognition of the fact that he and his wife have, under God, been largely instrumental in building up this young congregation. While regretting Mr Miller’s prospective departure from our midst, the conjugation, realising that he has served a long and strenuous term amongst us, detires to place no obstacle in the way of lut acceptance of the call; and, should the matter be so determined, wishes him and Ua wife God’s richest blessing in their new Iphere of labour.” Mr Anderson said there was only one opinion in the St. Clair congregation with Vegard to Mr and Mrs Miller, and they greatly regretted the prospect of their departure. He referred to Mr Miller’s work ha a pastoral visitor, as a preacher, and as Sunday school superintendent. Mrs Miller had endeared herself to the hearts of the congregation, and they both would be greatly missed. He outlined the great progress the St. Clair congregation had made fince Mr Miller’s arrival 12 years ago.

Mr Wills and Mr M'Lean endorsed Mr Anderson's statement, and expressed their Own personal appreciation of Mr Miller. The Rev. J. Miller said he had come to the conclusion that the time had come for A change. There was, he believed, at St. Vlair an opportunity second to none in New Zealand. He had had 12 happy pears at St. Clair, and keenly regretted levering the ties there and with his friends m the Presbytery. If the Presbytery saw fit to place the call in his hands it was his intention to accept it.

The Rev. J. Kilpatrick moved that the call be placed in Mr Miller’s hands, and this was carried. Mr Miller accepted the call, and Mr Kilpatrick moved that Mr Miller be directed to await the instruction of the Christchurch presbytery, that the Rev. H. H. Barton be appointed interim moderator, with instructions to declare St. Clair vacant from the date of Mr Miller’s induction to Papanui, and that Mr Barton be instructed to 'prepare a suitable minute covering Mr biller's work at St. Clair. After the Rev. R. L. Walker had expressed his personal esteem of Mr Miller and of his work the motion was carried. RALLY MONTH AND HOLY WEEK. Tile Rev. G. Miller, on behalf of the Evangelistic Committee, brought forward (wo matters. The first was in regard to ially month. They were mentioning it darly because it was important that all the churches should join in. He believed that ft was a work that was greatly appreciated by the people. It had a decided educational value. Tlie committee recommended that rally month be held in the month of May and that they should write to the Council rf Christian Congregations asking it to jo-opevate to secure the observance of it by all congregations and thaj the council be aaked to appoint five to co-operate with the Presbytery's Evangelistic Committee in making arrangements. Tha motion was carried. Mr Miller referred next to Eustcr week, gnd said the committee felt that more ahould be done in the way of observing Faster as a holy week. There was no doubt that their Church did not give due • attention to the Easter festival. The comkhittae recommended that holy week be Bold throughout the bounds of the PresJytery from Monday, March 29, to Thursday, April 1, meetings to bo held each avening throughout aH congregations, and Mat a united communion service be held In Knox Church on Good Friday mornEg. Beooud, that the Presbytery communioate with the Council of Christian Congß|lt(ooi inviting it to co-operate with Ko Pnsbtyery with n view to having holy Week observed by all the churches. Third. Abet th# Presbytery direct the new EvangelEtio Committed in co-operation with the Cbuneil ol Christian Congregations, to sugJNfll topics for the week evening meetings. * fefnrrg to the first irtotion, the Rev

H. Maclean said he did not like the idea of holy week. It was apeing other churches. The meetings would be held at a time when very many people were on the move. The Rev. J. Kilpatrick said he would regret very much if they began calling any week of the year “holy week.” They all knew that Easter time was as bad as Christmas for people being away. The Rev. A. M. Finlayson said the annual meeting of the Synod of Otago and Southland was to be held during that week. The £ev. Dr Merrington suggested that the terminology of the motion be altered. Mr Miller agreed to substitute “special services” for “nolv week.” The Rev. Tullocn Yuille said that most people would be at home up to the Thursday of that week at any rate. He approved of holding the meetings. The first recommendation was put to the vote and declared carried by one vote. The Rev. H. Maclean suggested that in view of the voting Mr Miller should drop the remaining motions. Mr Miller said he thought it was well worth while going on even if only one or two congregations joined in. Mr Barton suggested deferring the matter till next meeting, and he moved that it be referred back to the committee. Mr Kilpatrick seconded the amendment, which was carried. The second and third recommendations have, therefore, been referred back,to the committee. GENERAL. The Rev. H. H. Barton reported on bohalf of the Assembly’s Arrangements Committee, and expressed its indebtedness to those who had given generous hospitality to the delegates. It had £ll6 14s lid entrusted to it and there was remaining a balance of £24 Os 7d.—The report was adopted, and the Presbytery’s thanks expressed to Mr Barton. The Clerk of Presbytery, the Rev. J. Kilpatrick, referred to the passing of the late Queen Alexandra, and reported the arrangements that had been made for uniting with the Council of Christian Congregations in a memorial service. The Rev. W. Trotter said they eohuld certainly approve of what the officials of the Presoytery had done. They were much jndebted to those who carried out the service for the manner in which thev had done so. —The matter was further discussed in private, and a motion carried approving of the Presbytery’s action. A committee, with the Rev. J. Kilpatrick as convener, was appointed to nominate Presbytery committees. The committee was instructed to nominate someone as treasurer of the Presbytery. The names of Professors T. D. Adams, R. Lawson, and Mr A. M. Cameron were added to the board of John M’Glashan College.