TIMARU PRESBYTERY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 4013, 19 February 1903, Page 1

TIMARU PRESBYTERY.

CALL TO TEMUKA. A special meeting of the Tiinaru Presbytery was held in the vestry Trinity Church, Timaru, on Tuesday I morning. There were present the Rev. j Messrs T. Stinson (Moderator* pro. ’tern), J. White, R. Jackson, A.B. j Todd (clerk), and Messrs A. McKenzie, R. Erwin, J. Campbell, S. ' Mcßride, D. Shaw, junr., and S. I McCully, Elders. The Clerk said the business was to consider the call from Tcmuka. Mr White, ,interim imoderator, for the Tomuka congregation, said that January 25thp the day fixed for moderation in a call to Tcmuka; uuforlunatoly turned out very wot, and ’ only half the . congregation were present. A unanimous , resolution, however,, was 1 passed, >postponing, the callsfor a week, ) and at consequently took> place oh the following Sunday, when there Was a very gOoJi representation; of ■ the parish) The hnmes. of ; two candidates were • submitted.- He also read to the Congregation the resolution 'passed by, the Presbytery respecting the ruling of the interim moderator at the previous meeting when he intimated that Mr Steele’s; name could hot bo introduced to the congregation. He afterwards found out that Mr Steele had written to his friends in Ternuka that he had Withdrawn his naihc from_tiiG candidature. Before taljng the vote ho asked the congregation if they were pre* pared, to pass a resolution .‘that the: . .tji'c, ■ (hinorjiy; on either side . shbuhfi fall in, with the majority, and this 'unanimously agreed to. The voting was. very close, My Macdonald obtaining 30 yptps apd the, other candidate .Jw, : members • only, with a corresponding number of,; adherents, : and . according. to the previous, resolution it was unanimously agreed that the i name of the Rev. Chas. Macdonald be inserted in the call. Altogether the call had! been signed by 93 out of a total membership of 128 so that there were three or four beyond the three-fifths majority. There are 44 adherents to the Church. Mr S. McCully. said ho could only endorse Mr White's remarks. In reply to an enquiry about the stipend allowed Mr White said it was £250. There was a considerable improvement in thq finances of the Church, , ; Mr Tbdd said the call was a very harmonious and satisfactory one, and according to the remarks made the church was in a very good state. He moved, that the call be, sustained and forwarded to Mr Macdonald. Mr. Campbell seconded this, and it was | carried. 1 It was. agreed that t'ho induction shpuld take place on March 24th, when the Rev R. Jackson will preach, Rev. T. Stinson 1 address the minister, and the Rev. J. White address the: people. On the suggestion of Mr S. McCully, it was resolved that the induction services will be held at §p,m*.» a S f'his will save country, people making twotrips to Tcmuka, the soiree being held,' in the evening. Mr White said that the Tcmuka Church needed to be “ supplied ” for: four Sundays next month. The Rev. 1 J. B. Smellcy, of Rangiora, had recently' returned from a'trip‘to South Australia, pud was askjng b>V- work. It was agreed that Mr Smclley bo asked to supply as change minister, Mr Jackson to take the first Sunday of the next month at Tcmuka, and MrTodd to take the next. Matters in connection with the Chalmers Church were dealt with The plans of the building worn approved of and .adopted. Mr Jackson said that the cost of the chweh had'been provided bv deberitures taken; up among the people themselves, and there was no necessity, to bottow money, elsewhere. He asked if the Presbytery would agree to this. My White expressed much gratiucatijpn ‘on hearing: this statement, and ho said that Chalmers Church certainly has faith in its future, My Todd: said , .that Jdlnoo their last meeting the proeeodlngs ot the General Assembly had come 1.0 hand, and ho drew attention to several sections in the proceedings. No 64, on fire insurance, and No. 55, on the scheme for calling ministers, being -f most importance. It was agreed that ngW' da-f®aper& of-.the ■? scni out to ‘ membpra' ‘ next • meeting. This pjos^d''.the bftvskess, and Mr Jackson-iiivitcd members to his place to luncheon.