MEETING OF PRESBYTERY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 53, 8 April 1914, Page 5

MEETING OF PRESBYTERY.

PROCEEDINGS TO-DAY. A meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery was held this morning, there being present:—Revs. J. J. Bates (acting Moderator), T. M'Donald, J. Watt, Geo. Miller, Dr E. Erwin, J. Mackenzie, C. Murray, J. Pringle, P. Eule, J. Johnston,: G. K. Aitken, W. T. Todd, T. Miller, Geo. j Lindsay, A. D. Kirkland, W. R. Camp-1 bell, N. M'Callum, and R. M'Lean, Messrs J. Parlane, J. M'Master, J. Tennent, and J. Steele (home missionaries),! James Reid, W. Ross, William Reid, and R. Shaw (elders). | Rev. T. M 'Donald read the report of | the commission which had visited Lytiel-: ton on February 26. The questions in • the Book of Order were put to the Session and Deacons' Court, the answers being in every way satisfactory. Mr; M 'Donald moved that the Presbytery \ learned with satisfaction of the continued prosperity of the congregation, notwithstanding that the population of Lyttelton is not increasing. It was pleased to see the liberality of the people with regard to all the ordinances and schemes of the Church. The Presbytery also rejoiced to see that the minister was able to devote a portion of his time to work amongst the seamen at the port, and also to work at the gaol. Good work was also being done in the Bible classes and Sunday school. As next year is the jubilee year of- the Church, the Presbytery hoped that it would be. a year of blessing, and would give an impetus to the work at Lyttelton. Rev. Dr Erwin, who seconded the motion, said that the work of the Rev. J. J. Bates at Lyttelton was most excellent. Although the Church was to celebrate its jubilee next year, services had been held in Lyttelton more than 50 years ago, and the Church had really' been established in a way long before some churches which had already celebrated their jubilees. The report was adopted. A motion placing on Record the Presbytery 's high appreciation of the services of the Rev. T. Tait, late of St. Paul's Church, Christchurch, who has gone to take charge-of-Chalmers Church, Adelaide, was carried. A Copy of the motion will be sent to 'Mr Ta,it. The Rev. Dr Erwin said that the officebearers of St. Paul's had practically unanimously decided that in future the minister's stipend would be reduced by £IOO a'year. The stipend would now be £6OO a year, without a manse. He understood that the consent of Presbytery was necessary to enable the reduction to be made. A report was received from the commission appointed by the Presbytery that, Mr T. Bryant had been ordained,a home missionary at Thei Rev. J. Mackenzie reported that the ordination of Sister Miriam as a deaconess of the Church would take place this evening. Visitations during the next month were arranged as follows: —Rakaia, Revs. J. S. Reid, G. K. Aitken, and M. J. Lane; Hallcett, Revs. S. E. Hill, J. Johnston, and M. H. Brown. The Rev. IV Rule reported that he, had visited Hanmer, and had had a long meeting with the local committee.' It was arranged that the congregation should pay £BS a yeaj* towards .-the salary of a home missionary. A canvass of all newcomers to the district and of outside helpers was also arranged for. It was agreed to s ask the Presbytery to appoint Mr Steele for one year..' Mr Steele had agreed to continue throughout the winter. The report was adopted. An application for admission as a home missionary was received from Mr George M. Yule, New Brighton. A com-' mission, consisting of the Revs. ,-Dr. Erwin and J. Mackenzie, and Mr Jas. Reid, ; was set up to consider the application. Another application for admission was similarly dealt with. Both commissions were given Presbyterial powers. Mr J. Gray, who has been appointed home missionary at Motukarara, was welcomed to the Presbytery by the acting-moderator. It ■ was reported that the Rev. A. Laishley, of Kaiapoi, was seriously ill, and would be unable to do any work for a long time to come. The Rev. D. > D. Rodger was appointed moderator to arrange for supply during Mr Laish-. ley's illness. It was decided that all ministerial members of the Presbytery should undertake to fill the pulpit on at least one Sunday. A letter of sympathy will be sent to Mr Laishley. A deputation representing the Sumner charge was introduced by the Rev. R. M'Clean. Their request was that the Church's section at Monck's Bay should be sold, and the proceeds devoted to the purchase of a section in Sumner. The speakers said that there was urgent need of a small church building in Sumner, where service is now held in the Town Hall. - It was decided that a committee consisting of the Moderator of Presbytery (Rev. D. D. Rodger), the Revs. Murray, Mackenzie, and M'Donald, and Messrs Ross and Tulloch be' instructed to enquire what price is likely to be obtained for the section and what are the prospects of acquiring a section and building a church in Sumner. The committee will report to the next meeting of Presbytery. . A call for the Rev. W. C. Blair, "of Te A'roha, was received from the new charge at Wakanui. The call was presented by the Rev. G. K. Aitken, of Methven. The call, Mr Aitken said, was a unique one, in that it was signed by every one of the 42 communicants on the roll and by ; 86 adherents. It was decided that the call be sustained and forwarded to the Waikato Presbytery for confirmation, i The induction of Mr Blair at Wakanui will take place on Thursday, April 30. : The Rev. G. H. Jupp notified that he had accented a call to .Woodlands, Southland. The call had been sent direct to Mr Jupp instead of through the Presbytery. The matter was referred to the General Assembly. The Rev. F. Rule, secretary of the Presbyterian Social Service Association, notified that the sum of £IOOO had been received by the association from the Fraser Trust, also that the association had been made the residuary legatee under the will of the late Mr G. E. Young, of Sefton. The association would benefit to the extent of at least £4500, and they hoped to get even more. The Rev. A. D. Kirkland reported on the visitation to the Cust congregation. The Presbytery decided to place on record its appreciation of the work being done in Cust by the minister (the Rev. G. Howes), his office-bearers, and congregation. Several matters on the agenda paper had not been reached when the adjournment hour arrived, and were held over until the next meeting in June.

SYNOD IN DUNEDIN. Press Association. DUNEDIN, April 8. At the Presbyterian Synod this morning it was reported that grants for churches during the year totalled £2174, and for ecclesiastical fund on December 31 stood at £2542, and by the end of June it would be £5042.