DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3774, 13 July 1926, Page 6

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

MONTHLY MEETING. Tho monthly meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery, held on Tuesday evening last in First Church, was presided over by the Moderator (Rev. E. J. Tipler). CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates) in reply to a resolution protesting against raffles and art unions. The letter stated that the gist of the protest had been noted. —Received. «. The Convener of the Theological Conn mittee (the Rev. H. Maclean) wrote in respect of the proposal to raise £IO,OOO for theological training, suggesting that £I7OO should be allocated as the Presbytery’s contribution. The Rev. IT. Maclean said Dr Gibb had undertaken to canvass for the appeal, and that he proposed to begin his work in Dunedin about the middle of this month.— Decided to commend the appeal to congregations. It was decided that the Theological Committee should fix the itinerary of Dr Gibb. Dr Merrington moved that advices of the amounts each congregation was expected to raise should be forwarded to Deacons' Courts.—Carried. CALL TO ST. CLAIR. Tho Rev. H. 11. Barton (interim moderator), on behalf of the St. Clair Church, introduced a deputation and presented a call from the St. Clair congregation to the Rev. R. G. M’Dowall, M.A., who is at present away in the Old County pursuing postgraduate studies. Of an effective roll of 247 190 members signed the call. Mr Anderson (session clerk) spoke on the call and the feeling and spirit of the congregation in respect of the conclusion arrived at. He considered that Mr M'Dowall, with his youth and accomplishments, would do much for the cause at St. Clair. Mr C. R. M'Lean and Mrs Howarth also spoke supporting the call. The Rev. J. Kilpatrick moved that the call should be sustained. The Rev. H. Maclean said as Mr M‘DowalFs minister he had great pleasure in seconding the motion, which was carMr Barton said Mr M'Dowall bad cabled acceptance of a unanimous call. Hawke’s Bay Presbytery wrote in respect of a call from Caversham to the Rev. R. F. Fish, of Waipukurau.—The induction of the Rev. R. F. Fish was fixed for July 20. THE RIGHT OF CALL. The settlement of the Rev. John M Lure Brodie at Seacliff-Warrington was the cause of voluminous correspondence from the Rev. D. C. Herron, convener of the General Assembly’s Supply and Appointments Committee, who alleged that the Presbytery had violated Assembly regulations in sustaining a call by the SeacliffWarrington charge which was not selfsustaining. ’J *1 f The Rev. H. Maclean said that the most serious aspect of the matter was that the convener of the Supply and Appointments Committee had cast a slur on the clerk of the Presbytery by wiring another member asking him if what the clerk had advised was the truth. He considered that a firm protest against such action should be made. The Supply and Appointments Committee had evidently misunderstood the position and the Presbytery’s action, but it might have had the grace to apologise in a gentlemanly manner a little different from the tone of the correspondence reRev. J. W. M’Kenzie said it would not improve matters to pass such a resolution as suggested by Mr Maclean. It would certainly not be pouring oil on the troubled waters. The Moderator and others suggested that Mr Maclean should withdraw hia motioo. Mr Maclean said there was no feeling in the matter. He and Mr Herron were the greatest friends. It was the committee ne was aiming at. However, he would withdraw his motion if the Presbytery wished. The motion was withdrawn. CHURCH AT TOMAHAWK. The Rev. G. H. Jupp applied for the sanction of the Presbytery to the acceptance of an eighth of an acre site at Tomahawk for a new church, which had been offered by a church member. The matter was referred to the Church Extension Committee.