MATAURA PRESBYTERY

Southland Times, Issue 19939, 4 August 1926, Page 9

MATAURA PRESBYTERY

YESTERDAY’S MEETING. The bi-monthly meeting of the Mataura Presbytery was held in the Gore church yesterday morning and attended by Revs. W. F. Falconer (Moderator), S. E. Hill, J. E. Lopdell, R. D. McEwan, R. Mackie, T. Tweedie, A. W. Smaill, D. Hay, J. Cawley, F. M. Beattie and D. McColl, Mr G. B. Jardine (home missionarv), and Messrs. J. Pullar, W. Boyne, M. McLay, B. Chittock, A. Speden, R. L. Byars, J. Edgar, R. H. Dickie, J. Johnston, T. Crossan and C. McKelvie. Rev. J. E. Lopdell was appointed Moderator of Presbytery for the ensuing six months. Mr Lopdell briefly returned thanks. Rev. R. Mackie proposed a vote of sympathy with the widow and family of the late Rev. George McDonald, at one time minister at Mataura. Mr Mackie briefly referred to Mr McDonald’s ministerial career. Mr McDonald was an able, persevering, dill, gent and faithful minister, and was highly esteemed. Rev. Falconer seconded the motion. Mr McDonald and the speaker had been brought up in the same town in Lanarkshire. As a man and a Christian minister he was proud of Mr McDonald. His family had made good, and one son had gained his M.A. degree. The motion was carried by members standing. Mr B. Chittock moved a similar motion in respect to the late Mrs G. P. Johnston, Maitland. Mrs Johnston was a pioneer of the district and had rendered great service to the church and district. Rev. S. E. Hill seconded the motion, which, was similarly carried. On the motion of the same gentlemen, a similar motion was passed to the widow and family of the late Mr J. A. Aitken, Walk aka Valley. RESIGNATION. Rev. D. McColl wrote tendering his resignation of the pastorate of the Pukerau parish as he had received appointment to the Oteramika parish. Rev. Tweedie said Mr McColl was the “father” of the Presbytery. The speaker had met the congregation and office-bearers, and they were sorry to hear of the resignation. The people, while sorry to lose Mr McColl, would place no obstacle in the waj of the transfer to Oteramika. Mr Joseph Pullar spoke in laudatory terms of Mr McColl’s work at Pukerau. They would have preferred him to stay with them a little longer. Mr McColl, he said, was a fine preacher. Mr Henderson (Waipahi) spoke of the earnest work of Mr McColl in the district. Mr G. W. Styles also spoke in high terms of Mr McColl. He was loved by all the people, in the homes, in the pulpit and outside. They all regretted losing such a man. Rev. D. McColl said he had never found a more loyal and devoted congregation than that of Pukerau. His 10j years’ service there had been a very happy time. During the two and a-half years of his illness the congregation had treated him most handsomely. He was leaving the place with regret. Rev. S. E. Hill moved that the resignation be accepted, and he referred to the good work done in the parish of Pukerau by Mr McColl. Rev. R. D McEwan seconded the motion, which was carried. The Moderator conveyed the good wishes of the meeting to Mr McColl, who suitably replied. Rev. F. M. Beattie was elected interim moderator of the Pukerau parish. BALFOUR. Rev. R. Mackie reported on Balfour, and referred to what the Southland Presbytery had done in respect to the amalgamation of Lumsden and Balfour. The deputation to Southland agreed to the transfer, which is to be reported to and verified by the Assembly. However, no difficulty was anticipated on this point The parties were agreed that amalgamation should take place as from July 31. Rev. A. W. Smaill corroborated Mr Mackie’s statement.. The Presbytery received the report, and the actions of the delegates with the Southland Presbytery Were approved. RIVERSDALE. Rev. WF. Falconer reported on the presbyterial visitation to Riversdale. They found the work being carried out well. There was no debt on the property. There were two churches. Good work had been done by Mr P. Keene. There was a membership of 80 families, with an average attendance of 57 at worship. The various activities of the church were prosperous. It was resolved that Revs. McEwan and Mackie prepare a minute of appreciation of the services of Mr P. Keene at Riversdale during his ministry there, Mr Keene was now a student at the Theological Hall, Dunedin. JUBILEE SCHOLARSHIP FUND. Rev. Hector McLean, convenor of the Theological College Committee, wrote referring to the authority of Assembly to raise £lO,OOO as a jubilee scholarship fund. It was a serious matter to finance the training of students for the ministry. On a basks of allocation it was considered that £450 was a fair amount for the charges within the Presbytery. Rev. F. M. Beattie said he might state that the Gore congregation had its hands full. The students of older days had not so much assistance rendered them as nowadays. Gore had on its hands just now a proposal for a new church building to cost £BOOO to £lO,OOO. It was overdue, and the congregation was in good heart just now to make a start in this movement. The present building was decaying, and a new one was required. The load they had to carry just now was a fairly heavy one, and nothing could be expected from Gore at present. Mr Hill said that, while he had sympathy with Mr Beattie, they must remember that a great, wealthy church like theirs should make an effort to rise to the occasion. The church should help the student to prepare for the ministry. Mr A. Speden said there would be no difficulty in raising £450 within the Presbytery. They all had difficulties, but he felt sure many private donations would come in when the appeal was made. Mr R. L. Byars said many people did not like being told they had to raise any specific sum of money. It would be better if an appeal were made to the people by deputation. Mr R. H. Dickie thought it preferable to raise £5OO a year to raising a capital fund of £lO,OOO to provide £5OO, Revs. R. D. McEwan and Hay and Messrs. Pullar and Edgar also spoke generally in favour of something being done. It was finally resolved that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee to consider it and to confer with Rev. H. McLean on certain points, especially regarding an advocate for the fund to visit the districts. HOME MISSIONS'. The various grants in connection with the home mission stations were reviewed and recommendations to the Assembly made. Most of the present grants were sustained. GRANTS. An application for a grant for manse repairs was received from Mataura. Certain works had been done, but no grants had been forthcoming. After a general discussion it was resolved to refer tire matter to the Finance Committee with power to investigate and recommend to Assembly.