TIMARU PRESBYTERY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13919, 2 June 1909, Page 2

TIMARU PRESBYTERY.

HI-MONTHLY MEETING

The bi-monthly. meeting of the Tiniaru Presbytery was held in Trinity. Jlall yesterday morning. Present —Kov. A. S. Morrison . (moderator), Rev. C. Macdonald, Rev. .J. J-l. 0. Chappie. Rev. T. Stinson, Rev. G. King. Her. A. B. Todd. Rev. R. Dickie, Rev. W. Black, and Messrs D. Sliaw (senior), \Y. Hewson, B. Wright, D. Wallace, H. McCleery, A. Archibald; elders. Messrs T. D. Robertson and J. Austin, commissioners from Albury, were also present. As the Rev. A. S. Morrison's term of office as Moderator expired, the Rev. T. Stinson was unanimously elected to the position for the ensuing twelve months.

The Rev. C. Macdonald reported on the visit taken by Mr R. 11. Bowie and himself to Balclutha, with the object of waiting upon the Rev. AY. Brown and asking him to accept the charge of Chalmers Church. Mr Maedonald said they had been unfortunate, as when they arrived at Balclutha, they found that Mr Brown had met with a serious accident, so it was not considered advisable to confer with him at- that time. Consequently the matter remained in abeyance until a reply was received from Mr W. Brown. The Moderator and clerk were appointed to make arrangements on receipt of reply. The Rev. A. B. Todd laid upon the table a largely signed call to the Rev; Peter Wilson, of Manaia, to the Albury charge.

Mr Robertson, one of the commissioners from Albury, spoke of the unanimity of the call, and said in his opinion the Rev. P. Wilson was a most suitable minister for the charge. It was stated that a stipend of. from £175 to £2OO was guaranteed. On the motion of Dr Black, the call was sustained, it to be forwarded to Taranaki. / The Rev. A. B. Todd mentioned that no arrangement had been made for the .reading of the deliverance to the congregation at Waitaki, with regard io the recent conference, and it was decided that- the Rev. A. S. Morrison read the finding at the earliest opportunity.

Supervisors in connection with the ensuing Sabbath school's examination were appointed as follows:—The ministers of all churches, and in the case of Chalmers Church, Mr Davey was appointed and Rev. A. B. Todd was instructed to make any arrangements necessary for the Albury charge. The Moderator . reminded the Presbytery of the collections for Knox College and the Maori Missions, which had to be taken up, and the date for the visitation to Trinity Church was fixed for August 12tli. At the request of the Beneficiary Committee Dr. Burns was appointed to examine candidates for admission to the Beneficiary Fund for aged and infirm ministers.

Remits from the Assembly were then considered, the first being the appointment of a chaplain for the benefit of Presbyterian sailors in His Majesty's fleet, when visiting local waters, and the Rev. T. Stinson was unanimously elected to the position. The second remit referred to representation of Presbyteries at the General Assembly and the seven clauses which it contained were agreed to, with the exception of the last, in which an amendment was made. A remit referring to Sabbath observation was considered and a committee consisting of Revs. T. Stinson and G. King, and Messrs Shaw and Hewson were elected to draw attention to any desecration of the Sabbath which .should occur, with a view to putting a stop to it. , The Rev. A. S. Morrison again Brought ihe matter- of " fire insurance guarantees before the Presbytery, 1 - and urged those present to take the matter up with enthusiasm, as it was a very, important subject. The Presbytery then adjourned.