THE SOUTHLAND PRESBYTERY.

Southland Times, Issue 20538, 14 July 1928, Page 3

THE SOUTHLAND PRESBYTERY.

To the Editor. Sir, —In your “news of the day notes” of July 4 there appears a paragraph, “Plenty of Gas.” A suggestion has been made that a donation be made to First Church, for “gas” the word proving too much for the solemnity of members, caused much laughter, by the Rev. J. L. Robinson remarking: “The clerk did not say whose gas.” Following the pressure to receive the donation of £5 as payment for use of the room, the Rev. J. L. Robinson said, “well I move that the £5 be paid to me personally; and Mr Tocker and I will go out on the spree together!” . Still a further note; the Rev. C. J. Tocker said members would have noticed a letter in the paper after last meeting objecting to the headlines over a certain article in the Press. It was moved that a committee be set up to report to next meeting of Presbytery, concerning the reporting of meetings of Presbytery in the daily press! We wonder if anything more ridiculous (than the above) has appeared from a body of ministers, who assemble as representatives of the people; who expect that reports of the work done will be wholesome reading for young and old? A further paragraph reads: “A minister with humour.” Reference is made to Ist Thessalonians V, 26. The Rev. Chisholm remarked perhaps he meant the next verse. Now Mr Editor, has the solemn Presbyterian gathering developed into an entertaining body for the diffusions of silly twaddle or is it merely intended for a day of livity and enjoyment after four Sundays of hard preaching, perhaps on the mythical Book of Jonah, or, the needs of a more developed manhood, to understand aright the Scriptures which are so misleading to the ordinary mind? Southland Presbytery has been notorious of late for squibs among its members such as the public do not expect from the called and chosen leaders of the church. How do such reports of Presbytery fit in to the ideas of those who expect from their ministers speech and words which are first true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report? How will Prohibitionists fare in their campaign among the young if the ministers can so glibly talk of going on the spree together, no matter what the implication? The

fact remains it will have edge for some and has no right to be spoken (and sent abroad for everyone to pick at) by our leaders in spiritual things. If our members of Presbytery would read, mark, learn and inwardly digest, the whole of Ist Thessalonians V there would be no room for such trash as sometimes appears. Verse 22 would be a good foundation and verse 23 would be a very fine benediction for work well and nobly done in the Master’s service.—l am, etc., PATER.