THE SOUTHLAND PRESBYTERY

Southland Times, Issue 17697, 8 July 1914, Page 2

THE SOUTHLAND PRESBYTERY

The Presbytery met yesterday at St. Paul’s. Commissions in favour of the following were sustained —Messrs J. Calder, Dipton; J. Officer. Wallacetown; W. Fraser, Waianiwa; J. Beck, Nightcaps; n Mitchell, Bluff; R. Officer, Waikiwi; Cr. D. Maclndoo, First Church. Appreciation was expressed of the action of the Government in introducing tlie Referendum Bill asked for by the Bililc in State Schools’ League, and it was resolved that the members of the district he respectfully and strongly urged tc support by their vote the wishes of so many constituents who desire that the whole of the people, whether opponents or supporters of the League’s proposals, shall have the opportunity of giving a direct vote thereon at the ballot box at the next general election; and that tlie opinion is expressed that by taking this course encroachment of tliis subject upon the political arena will be avoided. The report of the ordination of the Rev. George Gibb at Queenstown was received. Rev. R. M. Ryburn tendered his resignation of the moderatorship of Arrowtown to take effect from next Presbytery meeting. The Rev. George Gibb was appointed in his place. The clerk, after discussion upon the payment of travelling expenses of members, was asked to prepare a report thereon. It was agreed that tlie Rev. A. Begg liresido and preach at the Rev. J. Collie’s induction at North Invercargill on 17th inst., and that the Revs. G. H. Jupp and J. W. Shaw address the minister and people respectively. The matter of boundaries of North Invercargill was assigned to a sub-committee of the town ministers and tlie Rev. A. Begg. The Revs. H. W. Burridge, moderator, and J. Baird were appointed to represent the Presbytery at the jubilee of the Woodlands parish. Various emendations in the Book of Order were submitted by the committee appointed at last meeting and approved. The P.ev. J. Chisholm reported on the Laymen's Missionary meeting that it had been most successful and this resolution had been passed—That the meeting recommend to tlie Presbytery that a special Sunday be set aside by each minister in order that the objects and aims of the Laymen’s Missionary movement may be brought before the respective congregations. Mr Chisholm was thanked for his labours in connection witn the conference. The Revs. H. W. Burridge and J. Chisholm were appointed to act with the Invercargill committee in arranging for the missionary movement to be brought before country churches. The Rev. G. H. Jupp reported on the special missionary fund. It was agreed to ask the Assembly to permit Mr McEwan to continue a fourth year at Tuatapere. In connection with no-license the following resolution was passed—That we express our appreciation of the action of the Prime Minister in introducing into the House of Representatives a Bill proposing to reduce the majority required to carry dominion prohibition from sixty to fifty-five per cent, of the valid votes polled. We are fully convinced that the liquor traffic is responsible for a very large percentage of the crime and pauperism of the dominion. Wc are satisfied that much of the revenue received from this traffic is lost to the country in seeking to counteract its evil influence. Wo are strongly of opinion that the proposed reduction of majority is a stop in the direction of justice and democracy. Our experience of Invercargill has convinced us that no-license has had a most beneficial effect on tliis community and that national prohibition will remove all the abuses which are attributed to the no-license regime, but which are solely the consequence of the establishment of brewery depots on the border of the town and strongly urge upon members of Southland doctorates the importance of doing their utmost to have the proposed amendment placed upon the Statute Book. The Revs. J. W. Shaw, convener, G. H. Jupp and J. Collie were appointed a subcommittee to consider and report on regulations for licensing students. The sympathy of the Presbytery was expressed with the Rev. J. lv. and his congregation in their recent loss by fire. It was agreed to apply for long service in Sunday school certificates for Mr John Neill and Miss McCulloch. The Presbytery adjourned, to meet on the first Tuesday of August, WOODLANDS’ JUBILEE. Tlie tollowing minute was recorded — The Presbytery desires to offer to the congregation of Woodlands its cordial felicitations on the interesting occasion of the attainment of its jubilee; and heartily congratulates them that, though the parish lias been divided again and again it is still an important charge and is doing much excellent Christian work. During tlie past fifty years the congregation has had the following ministers — Revs. T. Alexander. D. Dutton, Hugh Kelly, M.A., and Evan Bissitt. These were men of faith and of evangeical zeal who held aloft the banner of truth, and preached the evangel of Jesus Christ. Each o" these ministers did his own part in building up the congregation and feeding the flock of God. The present pastor, ihe Rev. George Jupp. Inducted a few months ago to the parishTsuccessfully carries on the work. But the Presbytery in recalling the past cannot but feel that a special Interest attaches to the early annals of the parish, when homes were being formed in the wilderness and when the foundations of the Christian church in the district were being laid; and it is with those early years that the name of Mr Alexander, the pioneer minister, must always bo associated. Mr Alexander arrived in the dominion in 1863, and having laboured for some months in the Riverton district he was ordained on July 28, 1864, minister of the charge of Longbush, now called Woodlands. On the sabbath following bis ordination he preached .from the text. "We preach Christ crucified,” 1 Cor. 1, 23, and at the close of his ministry in 1887, he said, he began with the doctrine of the cross and he never departed from, it. In due course steps were taken to form a session and the following were elected the first elders — Messrs Donald McKerchar, George Dawsand and William Johnston. The first communion observed was on March 5, 1865 —forty-nine yeers ago. Mr Alexander was really the second Southland minStobo being ,th^_£iist t Mr

Alexander attended the first meeting of the Synod of Otago and Southland in 1866, the year it was constituted. The Southland Presbytery had now three minsters. Rev. .1. Clark, having meantime settled at Riverton. It is interesting- to note that this first Synod was composed of three Presbyteries and twenty charges, as follow—Dunedin ten, Clutha seven, and Southland three. The Southland Presbytery has at present twenty congregations, an number equal to the whole church in 1806, and in additon nine mission stations. Mr Alexander's parish was of immense size, his nearest ministerial neighbour on the north-east was the late Dr. Bannerman. of Clutha. The district was practically roadless. The population was widely scattered and the sheep stations at great distances apart. On his longer journeys and preaching tours Mr Alexander was often weeks away from his home. He used to visit Edendale. Wyndham, Fortrose. Mataura. Gore, Waliaceown, Forest Hill and Oteramika, He preached in houses, barns, woolsheds and later in schools. The 9th of April, 1873. was a red letter day with these early settlers. On that day the present church at Woodlands was opened by the Rev. Andrew Stobo. Tile settlers attended the dedicatory services from far and near and it became their zion to which they court up to worship the God of their fathers. Mr Alexander was a man of high Christian character, devotion to duty and a faithful preacher of God's message of love and foregiveness. He was decidedly evangical and kept in the foreground the saving doctrines of the gospel. Those who knew him were impressed with the transparency of his Christian character. Mr Alexander was held in much esteem, and the older people particularly still cherish pleasant and grateful memories of him as their pastor and friend Mrs Alexander had the honour of beginning the Sunday school, and she travelled round the various homes and personally invited the children. It was held for a time in the manse, and so ready a response did she meet with that tho school roll soon contained Ifty-four names. These were divided into three classes, conducted hv five teachers. Each class occupied a separate room. The name of Mr George Dawson had an honourable place in the history of the congregation from its beginning—as an elder. Sunday school teacher, worker, and temperance advocate. He was an elder for nearly fifty years, a Sunday school teacher for over forty years, and a trusted guide in congregational affairs. He often represented the congregation in Presbytery and Synod, and latterly in the Assembly. Mr Dawson was a man of strong individuality, and held decided religious views, and had always the courage of his convictions. The Presbytery is pleased to hear that a tablet is to he erected in the Woodlands church in commemoration and appreciation of Mr Dawson’s high Christian character and long years of devoted service to tho congregation. The Presbytery, in surveying tho past history of tho congregation, thanks God for the good work which has been faithfully carried on in this part of the Master’s vineyard by the various ministers, office-bearers and workers: rejoices in the Christian activity displayed at the present time, and believes that, under its able and efficient pastor, its will extend and prosper. The Presbytery commends minister, officebearers and congregation to the God of all grace, and prays that He may bless them w'lh all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.