AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.- Wednesday.

Thames Advertiser, Volume X, Issue 2626, 18 May 1877, Page 3

AUCKLAND PRESBYTERY.Wednesday.

CALL TO THE REV. J. HILL. The Bev. G. Brown, in bringing forward the above business, stated that the call had been received immediately at the close of the last Presbytery meeting. A commission had been appointed atLyttelton, but, at Mr Hill's request, the gentlemen comprised in it had not taken the trouble to come to Auckland in support of it. An extract from the minutes of a meeting of the session of St. Andrew's Church, Lyttelton, was read by the Clerk; also the call. He likewise read the following communication from the congregation of St. James's, Thames " To the Eev, Moderator and members of the Auckland Presbytery: Having receivred a statement from tho Kev. Mr Hill that his mind was made up in regard to the call from Lyttelton, and a request that, as we had recently gone through the same process, we should not sond commissioners to the Presbytery, we have departed from the course usually followed in such cases, and have agreed to send only a letter expressive of our continued respect for Mr Hill and attachment to him as our minister. Mr Hill originated the Presbyterian cause here, and for nine years has given his best efforts to the building up of tho Church, i\nd his removal will be a great loss to us. If Mr Hill decides still to continue among us, it will be the cause of gratitude and thankfulness j but if he leaves us, we sincerely hopo it will be for his happiness, and that in his now sphere his ministry may be, greatly blessed. 'We shall long retain a grateful recollection of his labours among us, and he shall take with him our best wishes for his prosperity.—D. Maonab, Chairman." —The Clerk having intimated that the Presbytery was prepared to hear Mr Hill, that gentleman said: Moderator, During the last few years I have received, both publicly and privately, several invitations to go to other spheres of labour, but, though there has been in every instance tho inducement of an increase of stipend and other advantages, I have till now elected to remain at the Thames. No undue haste to leave my position there, therefore, have I manifested. In a different light, however, do I rogard the call sent to me from St. Andrew's congregation, Lyttelton. Since the day I received it I have never doubted it was my duty to accept it; and, with the permission of the Presbytery, I now do so. Tho prospect of my removal from tho Thames awakens in my breast very deep regret, I have been there, I may say, from the commencement of the field, I have taken a part in most of the public matters; I have been with the community in prosperity and iu depression; I know almost all who reside in the district-, and among those are many whose personal friendship I enjoy, and highly value; and tho thought of breaking the ties which bind me to the place is the occasion of nothing short of actual sorrow. Within the outer circle of tho general community thero are several circles with which I have been more immediately associated, —and first among these, of course, is the congregation over which I have had tho honour aud the pleasure to preside. In ceasing to be their minister, I have to say that of the partings with congregations which I have Lad during tho twenty-three years of my ministry, that with the congregation at tho Thames occasions a regret only second to that which I experienced in leaving my first congregation —the congregation of my youth in Scotland. The members and adherents of the ohurch at, tho Thames have manifested to me kindness which has not only encouraged me iu the discharge of my duties, but supported me in the time of my sorrow; and which, wherever.. I go in the world, I never shall forget. Their unabated attachment lo me as their minister I highly appreciate, and nothing but a strong sense of duty could have brought me to decide for separation, It is my earnest hjpe that they may soon have placed over them a minuter whose labours shall be blessed to a greater degree than mine have been. One other cause of regret I mention, namely, withdrawal from tho . members of the Auckland Presbytery. It ig a satisfaction to mo to-day to think that during the thirteen years I have been connected with tho Presbytery I have lived on the best terms with all my brethren in the'ministry. Though often differing in opinion in the consideration of the business arid work of the Church, never have these differences been permitted in the slightest degree to interrupt tho intercourse or diminish the friendship of private life. For tho prosperity of all the members of the Presbytery my best wishes are cherished, as I confidently believe I shall take with me their earnest desires for my welfare and happiness. Though I have thus spoken' honestly and freely of the regret which the acceptance of this call awakens in my heart, I have to say that, as to the propriety of that acceptance my opinion remains unchanged. To the reasons which have influenced me I have made no allusion. Suffice it to say that, to my own mind, these appear thoroughly sufficient; and I trust that results will make it manifest that they receive the approval of the Great Master Himself. [At this stage the Moderator (Rev. J. Galloway) arrived and assumed the chair, Mr Macnicol vacating it.]-The Eev. J. Macky said it was with feelings of sincere regret that he rose to move that the connection between the Kev. Mr Hill and the Thames congregation should be dissolved. Since Mr Hill ,h'ad first taken his seat at the Presbytery thoy had been called upon five times to consider calls made to him, and that was the fifth time that ho (tlie speaker) had moved a similar proposition. Mr Macky then narrated Mr Hill's career at Auckland aud the 'ihamefl, and in doing so paid a high tribute of praise to his abilities and energy as a minister of tho Gospel. Ho concluded by expressing his deep regret at Mr Hill's departure from their midst, and tho earnest hope that his connection with the Lyttelton congregation might be as harmonious and satisfactory as thoso with St. James's, Aucklaud, and St. James's, Thames.—Tho Eev D. Bruce seconded the motion, and in doing so, fully and cordially endorsod the utterances of Mr Macky. He further took occasion to say that Mr Hill's presence in the South would have a beneficial effect. It would have the effect of blending to a greater degree than hitherto attained the sympathies of Worth and South. He would also build up a strong and prosperous church iu tho district to which ho was going.—Tho Eev. E. I?. Macnicol expressed his deep personal regret at tho severance of the tio which had bound Mr Hill more immediately to them. He had conducted with tho greatest success, and for a number of years, (ho most important charge in tho limits of tho Auckland Presbytery. It was the most important because it involvcd a great amount of labour, and was peculiar iu somo respects from other

charges.—The Eevs T. Norrio and G. Brown spoke in similar terms.—The Moderator then ongaged in prayer, commending Mr Hill to the care aud guidance of his Lord and Master.—On the motion of tho iiev. J. Macky, seconded by the Kev. D. Bruce, the Moderator was deputed to attend at tho Thames on tho first Sabbath in June to officially declare the pastoral tie dissolved, and the charge vacant.