PRESBYTERY OF TIMARU.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3625, 21 August 1901, Page 3

PRESBYTERY OF TIMARU.

A meeting of the Timaru Presbytery pro re nata was held in the vestiy. of Trinity Presbyterian Church yesterday. There were present the Rev. Messrs I-aw-rie (Moderator), J. Dickson, W. Gillies, A. S. Morrison, J. White, R. Mackie, G. Barclay, A. B. Todd, J. Watt, and Messrs S. Mcßride, J. Norton, A. H. McLean, D. Martin (Elders). Messrs Cox, Ward, Paterson, Miller, D. Martin, Keddie, Blythe, Shaw, Chisholm, Bowie, Campbell, Mair, Meehan, and Linton attended as commissioners from the St. Andrews congregation.' The clerk, the Rev. A. B. Todd, read correspondence from the Dunedin Pres-. bytery forwarding the call from South Dunedin to the Rev. R. Mackie, of St. Andrews, and appointing the Rev. Messrs Scorgie and Cameron as their representatives at the Timaru Presbytery meeting. The Moderator of the South Dunedin Church forwarded a notice that Messrs G. Reid and R. Mercer would represent the congregation.

The reasons forwarded by the Dunedin Presbytery were shortly as follows :—(1) That the change would be to Mr Mackie's lasting advantage; (2) the larger field of labour made the translation desirable; 8000 people reside in the district in which the church is placed, many of them having no church connection; (3) a large number of young people could be easily reached by the minister's influence; (4) the field was not only large, but the work was necessitous; a vacancy of any length would be disastrous to the congregation; (5) the character of the call, its unanimity, was remarkable.

The clerk reported that as Moderator of the congregation he had preached to the St. Andrews congregation and cited them, to appear for their interests, and the Rev. Mr Morrison had done the same.

The; Moderator invited the representatives of the Dunedin Presbytery and'the South Dunedin congregation to give their reasons for the translation. The Rev: Mr Cameron aaid that while it l was necessary that the representatives should address the Presbytery on such an occasion, it was recognised by them all that the real decision rested with Mr Mackie. In asking that the call be put into Mr Mackie's hands the people were only asking for their own back again. He belonged to the south, and they were looking forward to his services there from the beginning. The St. Andrews congregation must recognise that such a separation must ultimately come, and every member of the Presbytery would recognise that the larger field of labour afforded opportunities of service such as he could not enjoy where he was at present. Refering to the unanimous character of the call, Mr Cameron said that as Moderator he was present, and with others was surprised at- the unanimity of the congregation.

The Rev. Mr Scorgie urged that Mr Mackie's ability would have much larger scope, and that at St. Andrews another mail would take up and carry on the work as well as he had.

Mr Reid, for the South Dunedin Church, I said that the members of that church were not insensible of the loss which : Mr Mac- j Jfie's removal would occasion the congrega.-. tion- of- St. Andrews; and regretted .the necessity; for it, which had been caused by the translation of the Rev. Mr Jolly, to the North Island. He hoped that the greatness of the field and its necessities would help them in some measure to be reconciled to the charge. The South Dunedin Church, was the only Presbyterian Church in the district. In the Sabbath School there were 300 odd scholars and most of them when about 16 years of age must go to work, and it required strong influence to keep them in contact with the church. The call to Mr Mackie had been practically unanimous, 227 members and 105 adherents having signed it, and in all dealings with the matter there had been perfect harmony and absolute unanimity. Mr Mercer also addressed the Presbytery on behalf of the South Dunedin Church, emphasising Mr Reid's arguments. The Moderator then called on the St. Andrews commissioners to state their case. Mr Campbell said that the St. Andrews people were very pleased that their minister had gained such a high reputation in Otago and elsewhere. The present was not the first occasion on which be had been asked to leave them, but it was the first direct call. The St. Andrews commissioners could not so eloquently put their view of the matter before the Presbytery as the deputation had done, but they hoped to show a few facts that would appeal against the call. The congregation at present was in a state of transition, not established or consolidated as it would be if Mr Mackie would: stay for another year or two. The congregation did not, however, wish to go against Mr Mackie'ii own mind or coriscieiice; There were many people who had just come to the district, and were joining' tlie congregation.

e They had been disappointed time after time, the Church having failed to provide suitable men for the ■work at St. Andrews. • About twenty years ago the Kev. Mr ' Macintosh was settled there, and there - was a prospect of the congregation adL vancing, but after his Retirement unsuitable r mem were sent and the people Were discouraged. Then nine years ago the Rev. 1 Mr Ross was sent to them, and the uphill fight was continued. Although they had not the number or' members South Dunediii, the district was growing. The congregation might let Mr Mackie go in another year or two with better grace. They had now 90 members and a large number of adherents, and they were unanimous in their wish to retain him as their minister. Messrs Bowie, Paterson, Martin, and Keddie also spoke, each urging that the St. Andrews district required the .services of Mr Mackie as much as South Dunedin did. Mr Mackie, in reply, said that he was placed in a most painful position. He had turned the matter over in every possible way he could, and those who. were immediately concerned knew well that he had' discouraged the call at its earliest stages, and had placed the position before the South Dunedin people as fairly and strongly as he could. If he were to judge by his feelings, when he called before his. mind the faces of those" who had sat before him, and the faithful men who had put their hands in their pockets to make things move well, and so liberally stood by him, he would refuse the call. . But he would state at once that if the Presbytery put the call •" into his hands he would accept it, and he had come to this conclusion after turning the question over carefully. South Dunedin was in the direction of his inclinations and ambitions as a preacher. Ambition was sometimes a snare, and sometimes a leading. He had been approached nine times since he had, been settled at St. Andrews, some of the calls being along the line of his inclinations, but he had felt that the position of the district was such that it was his duty to stay by it. But when a congregation, after his discouraging the call, , and' not seeking it in any way and after prayerful consideration, he was of opinion that there was an indication, that his inclination was to be takpn as a leading,. not a snare. He highly appreciated the feelings of the congregation and the spirit which they had shown. He had little fear of the district financially, and tie members only wanted to pull together and they would get a minister to take up the work. He considered it his duty to accept the call if" it were put in his hands. After prayer' by the Rev. Mr Dickson, | the Rev. Mr White moved and the . Rev. Mr Morrison seconded "That the call is expedient and that it be placed in Mr • Mackie's hands." Both speakers expressed regret at'; the prospect of dosing . Mr Mackie.

The Rev. Mr Dickson proposed an amendment " That the call be placed in Mr Mackie's, hands,' with a recommendation that in the interests of the Presbytery and the St. Andrews district, the call be declined." This amendment was supported by many of the ministers and elders.

On a vote being taken Mr White's motion was lost by 3 to 7, and the amendment carried by-7 to .3.

Mr -Mackie' " recfeived • the call from the Moderator. He said that in view of the unanimous nature of the call, and his inclination for the work,. which he considered was a leading of Providence, he would accept the call. The pastoral tie between Mr Mackie ai d the congregation was formally severed as from September 9th, and the Presbytery agreed to the translation to Dunedin. The Rev. A. S. Morrison was appointed Moderator of the congregation. Mr Morrison will declare the pulpit vacant on September 15th. .

HOCKEY

The annual match, North v. South Canterbury, will be played on the Athletic Grounds to-morrow, play commencing at 2.30 p.m. Great interest is being taken in the match, and the following are the respective teams:—North Canterbury— Goal, F. Bull; backs,. Hunter and M'Fedries; halves, Oram, Davies and Yincent; forwards, Barry, Jacobs, N. Strange, Mahar and Edser; emergency backs, Tinsley, Robson and Wylie; emergency forwards, Pattrick and Bradley. South Canterbury—Goal, Stock; backs, A. Millchamp, Smith,; halves, E. Lane, Hardy, Healey; forwards, H. Millichamp, White, 'A. Lane, May and Berry. A meeting of the committee of the Timaru Hockey Club was held last evening to arrange final details, and particulars are advertised this morning. The North team will arrive by the 2 p.m. train, and will be driven to the ground, play commencing immediately afterwards. Ladies will be admitted to the grounds free, and are specially invited to be present by the Timaru Club. There is a good footpath • right up to the grounds now, no inconvenience being met with in that direction.