THE PRESBYTERY

Southland Times, Issue 20792, 5 June 1929, Page 9

THE PRESBYTERY

MONTHLY MEETING. > At the monthly meeting of the Southland Presbytery yesterday morning the Moderator (the Rev. W. F. Evans) presided over a good attendance of members, 15 ministers and 21 elders being present. The Moderator extended a welcome on behalf of the Presbytery to the Rev. J. C. Mill, of Browns. Correspondence. The superintendent of the Home Mission Committee, Auckland (the Rev. G. Budd) wrote stating that the matter of the Stew, art Island grant would be attended to and that the committee would pay £5 half year’s additional amount on the June quarter and that thereafter the grant would be at the rate of £6O per annum. On the subject of transfers the superintendent stated that he would report the Presbytery’s request to the committee at a meeting which was to be held yesterday. He stated, however, that in his opinion it was quite impracticable to carry out the Presbytery’s request. As they were aware Presbyteries were consulted about the changes that were deemed necessary. To send down a tentative list of transfers would mean that finality would never be reached. The writer quoted the following regulation which, he said, gave definite guidance in the matter: “Missionaries are under the supervision of the Presbytery within whose bounds they are working, but are appointed and removed by the Home Mission Committee, all changes to be notified to the Presbytery. Usually an appointemnt is for three years, but the period may be lengthened or shortened at the discretion of the committee after consultation with the Presbytery and congregation concerned. This rule applies also to missionaries who may be required to assist in sanctioned charges.” The communication was received. The Moderator of the Athol Session (the Rev. G. Renwick) wrote advising that Mr C. E. H. Naylor had been elected as representative elder for the ensuing six months. —Approved. The Session Clerk, Orepuki (Mr J. I. Miller) wrote stating that Mr J. Wylie had been appointed as representative elder on the Presbytery of Southland and Synod of Otago and Southland during the current twelve months.—Approved. An application was received from the kirk session at. Woodlands asking that a long service diploma be awarded Mr Charles J. Bigwood who had served as Sunday School sunerintendent and teacher for 25 years at Woodlands. The Presbytery approved of the application which was left in the hands of the Youth Committee. Retreat. It was decided to hold a retreat at Winton cn Tuesday, June 18, and after considerable discussion it was decided that the subjects for addresses be “Evangelism,” “The Evangelist,” and “Evangelism in the Home.” “I think that it is a step in the right direction,” said the Moderator, who went on to stress the spiritual value of such gatherings. Arrangements for the retreat were left in the hands of the Life and Work Committee. General. With regard to parish matters at Nightcaps the Rev. C. J. Tocker suggested that a commission consisting of himself and the Rev. J. Chisholm, Messrs W. N. Stirling and W. A. McCaw, should visit Nightcaps, the Presbytery agreeing to this course. Messrs W. A. McCaw, W. N. Stirling and J. Grant were appointed by the Presbytery as assessors to form session at Stewart Island, the Rev. E. Gardiner being Moderator. It was decided to support the remit from the General Assembly entitling an elder to preside as Moderator at a meeting of Presbytery.