WELLINGTON PRESBYTERY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume V, Issue 586, 22 December 1897, Page 2

WELLINGTON PRESBYTERY.

Meeting in Pahiatua. The Presbytry for the Wellington district met yesterday afternoon in the Presbyterian Church for the transaction of business in conmction with the work of the Church. A considerable amount o: general business was transacted, and at tbe conclusion of the sitting the Presbytery submitted the following finding in connection with the Pahiatua Church “ Tho Presbytery of Wellington in conference with the Ministers and office-bearers of Pahiatua charge, having put the questions prescribed by the Assembly, put on record their sympathetic recognition of the arduous nature of the work to be done in a district so wide and scattered and its appreciation of the power and acceptance of Mr Philip’ pulpit administration. The Pr.-by-tery is pleased to learn that a large Sunday School is sue:--- fully carried on in Pahiatua, but would earnestly urge that efforts be made to establish Sunday schools in the outfields. The Presbytery is interested to know that children’s services are bold, and would strongly recommend that attempts be made to form week night bible classes and prayer meetings. They would suggest that a series of evangelistic services should be held in the charge. The Presbytery recommends that steps be taken to dispense the communion in tbe outfields and to lead the undecided to full fellowship. In regard to the financial affairs of the congregation the Presbytery learns with extreme regret that the Minister’s stipend is largely in arrears, and would earnestly impress on the congregation the speedy extinction of this liability. They recognise that the congregation has done well in erecting a comfortable church, and seeing the debt is small the efforts of the congregation should be directed to putting the ordinary revenue on a satisfactorybasis. They recommend that in addition to the general church committee a branch committee should be formed in the outfields.

A long discussion took place upon the action of the Government running their steamers and railways on Sundays, and in connection with this matter the following resolution was unanimously carried, Moved by the Rev. Mr Wood, of Masterton, and seconded by the Rev. Mr Shirer, of Wellington. That the Presbytery deplore the running of ihe Government steamers and also the runniog of railway trains recently in the Wairarapa, and bolds that this is a desecration of the Lord’s day and an injury to the working men. Tbe clerk was instructed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Hon. the Premier and tbe Minister of Railways. The instructions of the General Assembly in connection with the committee on temperance and also those of the committee on religion and morals had received careful attention. A considerable amount of other business was transacted.