SOUTHLAND PRESBYTERY

Southland Times, Issue 18745, 3 December 1919, Page 5

SOUTHLAND PRESBYTERY

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Presbytery of Southland was held in the First Church Hall j'esterday. The Rev. John Collie, M.A., Moderator, presiding over a fair attendance of members. Application was made by Mr D. H. Hay, teacher at Glencoe, for the Presbyterian Certificate required by the Theological Committee on entrance to the University as a student for the Ministry. The certificate was granted. Rev. D. K. Fisher, of Lumsden, announced his resignation of the Interim Moderatorship of Arrowtown and Rev. J. H. Robertson, Queenstown, was appointed in his place. Mr Ponder and Mr Collie reported on the commission set up to consider the better working of the outfields of South Invercargill parish, and it was agreed that these outfields be formed into a separate Home Mission charge, and that application be made to the Home Mission Committee for the needed assistance and agent. The Commission set up to examine into the advisability of the removal or sale of the Oteramika manse reported and the Commission was continued.

An application from Wallacetown and Riverton Deacons’ Courts for the septennial grant for church repairs was approved. Rev. R. Morgan presented a call from the Nightcaps congregation in favour of Mr G. H. Crockett signed by 47 ouf of 68 members and by 48 adherents. Mr Johnston, of Nightcaps, who appeared in support of (he call, stated that it was a most hearty one and that they were hopeful that they would soon again be happily settled with Mr Crockett as their pastor. The call was then sustained and Mr Crockett having signified his acceptance, it was resolved that the ordination and induction take place in Nightcaps Church on Thursday, December 18, at 6.30 p.m., the interim Moderator, Rev. R. Morgan, to preside, preach, and induct, Rev. Alex. McNeur, Winton, to address the congregation, and Rev. Alex. Macdonald, Otautau, to address the minister.

The resignation of Rev. H. W. Burridge of the charge of St. Paul’s congregation to take up the position of locum tenens for Dr Gibb, St. John’s, Wellington, was then dealt with. Mr Collie stated that lie- had had a meeting with the congregation with reference to the matters and that Mr J. S. Baxter and Mr McNaughton had been appointed to represent the session and congregation respectively. Mr Baxter after the reading of a resolution passed by the session appreciative of Mr Burridge and his work as preacher and pastor, stated that much as the session and congregation regretted the departure of Mr Burridge, they must though reluctantly acquiesce in this step, as the sphere offered in St. John’s would no doubt find better scope for Mr Burridge’s gifts. Mr McNaughton spoke in similar terms, so also did Mr Ayson and Rev. Jas. Baird, members of Mr Burridge’s session. Mr Burridge then expressed the regret which he himself felt in 'severing his connection with St; Paul’s and Invercargill. He spoke of the loyalty of his congregation which had led them time and again to re-, fuse to agree to his resignation during the war. He felt that the new sphere which had opened up for him must not be refused. Nevertheless he would carry with him happy memories of the years spent in Invercargill. Rev. J. K. Fishpr, Rev. John McGregor (a former minister of Oteramika to whom earlier a welcome had been extended by Presbytery), Rev. H. Maclean, Rev. John Collie, and Rev. J. Lawson Robinson all spoke in terms of esteem and appreciation of Burridge and the loss which the Presbytery would sustain by his removal. The resignation was then accepted and Mr Collie was appointed Interim-Moderator of St. Paul’s parish during the vacancy. On the motion of Rev. J. S. Ponder, the following resolution was adopted:—“ln accepting with regret the resignation of Rev. H. W. Burridge, Presbytery desires to put on record its appreciation of the valuable services rendered during his pastorate in St. Paul’s, Invercargill. His pulpit ministry has been marked by culture and spirituality, his pastoral work by earnestness and fine sympathy, and his organising powers have been evidenced of a very high order. His zeal in army chaplaincy work has won him a high reputation not only in Invercargill, but throughout the whole Church of New Zealand. His readiness at all times to take his full share in the work of the Presbytery and the ability and energy with which he carried such out have gained him the esteem and appreciation of his copresbyters. He leaves the Presbytery with the good wishes of all the members and their prayers that the good hand of God may continually enlarge his sphere of usefulness in the Church’s Service and enrich his own and his help-meet’s lives with heaven’s choicest gifts.” Rev. W. J. Robertson submitted a report on the statistics of the Sunday Schools and Bible Classes within the Presbytery. The report showed a marked decrease in the membership of the Bible classes and the failure of these classes to supply workers for the Sabbath Schools. Mr Maclean, Mr Robinson, Mr Fisher and Mr Burridge spoke in terms of dissatisfaction with the Bible Class as at present organised and the need for co-ordination and of some action on the part of the Presbytery to foster in Bible Classes a sense of the claims upon them of the Church in all its activities. It was resolved that the Presbytery hold a special sederunt for the discussion of the problems of Youth of the Church Work on the afternoon of its March meeting. On the motion pf Rev. J. L. Robinson, it was agreed to invite the Moderator of the General Assembly to include Southland in his Moderatorial tour.

Rev. H. Maclean reported on the Committee set up to seek some solution of the problem of the supply of vacant charges. He informed the Court that the Invercargill Lay Preachers’ Association had been reformed and that Moderators desiring supply should communicate with Mr Berry, secretary of Y.M.C.A., who was also the secretary of the L.P.A.