SOUTHLAND PRESBYTERY

Southland Times, Issue 22419, 5 September 1934, Page 3

SOUTHLAND PRESBYTERY

MONTHLY MEETING TUATAPERE DEPUTATION. > At the monthly meeting of the Southland Presbytery yesterday morning Mr W. A. McCaw was elected moderator and occupied the chair. The Rev. James Cumming, clerk of the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland, wrote reporting that at the recent meeting of the synod grants were sanctioned as follows: New churches at Centre Bush, Ocean Beach and Woodend; Stewart Island (addition to church); church maintenance at Drummond, Gropers Bush, Hedgehope, Ohai, Mabel Bush’ Eastern Bush, Stewart Island, Niagara (renewal) and Waikiwi (renewal). The transfer, from balance of proceeds of sale of manse. sections, of £5O to the church building fund, Stewart Island, if practicable, had been authorized by the synod and the request had been sent on to the board. Leave was granted to sell the sections specified at Wallacetown, the proceeds to be applied to improvements of manse property, as approved by the presbytery. Tlie moderator of the Oteramika charge, the Rev. J. H. Thomson, informed the Presbytery that the Rev. D. McColl, of the Oteramika charge, desired to resign from his charge. Tributes to the ability and the sincerity of Mr McColl were paid by a commission from Oteramika which addressed the Presbytery. Many expressions of regret were made concerning the fact that Mr McColl had tendered his resignation. Tlie following motion was finally carried: “That the resignation be accepted with great regret as from September 30, and the Presbytery places on record its appreciation of his devoted service in eight years’ ministry within its bounds. As preacher and pastor he has been faithful and commended his message and his Master. As a member of the Presbytery he has taken such share as his infirmity would permit. The Presbytery cordially commends him to the grace of God and prays that he will speedily find some other suitable sphere.” A petition signed by 65 members of the Tuatapere Parish was presented as follows: “We, the undersigned officebearers, members and supporters of the Tuatapere parish, respectfully request the Presbytery to put into immediate effect the resolution carried at the annaul congregational meeting held at Tuatapere on Monday, July 30, 1934, namely, that the guarantee offered by six people to provide the necessary sum to rise to an aided charge be accepted and that the home mission committee be requested to raise the charge accordingly and to appoint the present minister, the Rev. J. M. Thomson, for a further period of two years as from January, 1935.” A deputation in support of the petition was then heard.

Miss G. Kennedy said that she and Dr. Dodds had come for three reasons. Firstly, because it was believed that the petition was for the good of the church, and secondly, because the church was democratic in government and the parishioners had the right of decision by vote. The petition had, she said, been signed by 65 people, although the signatures of doube that number could have been obtained. Thirdly, she said, the moderator of the Presbytery had said last winter that the Presbytery was out to help every charge. They were there to ask for the redemption of that promise. She went on to laud the work of the Rev. J. M. Thomson, minister in charge of the parish. The earnestness of the parishioners who supported the petition was stressed by Dr. Dodds, who supplemented the remarks of Miss Kennedy. The Rev. J. Johnson, in moving that the Tuatapere request be granted and that the charge be commended for its effort, said that he knew personally of the growth of the parish. The Rev. A. Gardiner seconded the motion.

After a short discussion the motion was carried.