TIMARU PRESBYTERY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16194, 1 March 1917, Page 11

TIMARU PRESBYTERY.

SPECIAL MEETING. "■ A LITTLE IRREGULARITY; A pro I*o nata meeting of the Presbytery of Timaru was held iu-Trindty' Hall to dispose- of calls to the Revs. John Craig, of Fairlie and J. C. Paterson, M.A., of Albui-y. There were present—Revs. T. Stinson, E. R. Harries, C; MacdonoJd, R. Diokie, G. Eng, J. Craig, J. C.. Paterson. T. N. Cuttle, with Messrs Hollow Cochrane and Lyall, elders. The action of the Moderator in. call- | ing the meeting was approved. .The Rev. R. H. Blair, member of Ohristchureh Presbytery being present was associated and welcomed (by the Moderator. . The Clerk laid on the table a caJl from the congregation of Kurow to tile Rev. John Craig and reported - having cited tho\ Fairli© ' congregation ' and session through' their Moderator to appear for: their interests. T.t was gathered from ■ statements made hy Mr Craig that there had boen no meeting of the Fairlie congregation ' to consider the Call to their minister as laid down in the rules of . procedure for such matters. The members of Presbytery considered that they were placed in a difficulty by Mr Craig's negligence in not casing a meeting of .his congregation. ... . ' ; . After.-a (somewhat /lengthy discussion the Rev. Chas. Macdonald . moved "That, notwithstanding the irregularity in, the proceedings, the Presbytery proceed to deal with the call." In speaking to the motion the mover said that it was useless to hang the matter up longer and to convene another meeting of the Pres'bytery to deal with it, as even if tho congregation were cited they w<? T e quit© unlikely to try to put anything in the way of Mr Craig's removal. That was matter of common knowledge in the Presbytery. The motion on being put was carried. On being asked to state his views regarding the c-all the Rev Mr ..Craig read a lengthy statement regarding the work he had done in -Fairlie. and on tho call being placed in his hands he signified his •• acceptance •of it.

Tlip Rev. Mr Craig then moved that the Rev. C: J-. ■ ToKk^r > ■ be-appointed Moderator of the Fairlio congregation during the vacancy.—This was agreed to.

•MR, PATERSON'S CALL.

The Cleric then, laid on the table a call from Lincoln congregation to, the Rev. J. C. Paterson of Albury,. ;and ■reported: tliat at- Mr. Paterson's request J'h.a had presided .at congregational L)meetihg3 in the Albury parish on SunRday last at which meetings the call to ( Mr Paterson was brought to the notice of the people. The people had been most unanimous in their expression of appreciaton of Mr Paterson as minister, and his work as a man, and keenly regretted that theprospect of losing his services had arisen. Commissioners from the' coilgrega.ti.cn, Messrs Murray Austin, Morrison and Little were present and all spoke or the high esteem itl which their mimstex was held throughout the district- .While sorry to lose so able and devout a minister as Mr Pater son undoubtedly was thev felt it would bo selfish on their'part to try to keep parish such as theirs was, so large and so widely scattered. N y All the commissioners paid grapetui M d grateful trbiutes to the work ot Mrs Paterson especially among tlie young people of the congregation. - Rev. R,. H. Blair was heard on behalt of the Lincoln congregation and assured Mr Paterson of a most hearty welcome from them and from the members of the Oiristchurch Presbytery. .• Mr Paterson in declaring his acceptance of the call spoke feelingly of the great he had always received from the members' of the Albury congregation and of the* many lasting friendships he.iiad made among them. Members of' Presbytery spoke of their deep regret in losing Mr Paterson as a member of the Presbytery. He had been most regular in his attendance at meetings and had always. been ready to take his full share of the work of the Presbytery. The Rev. G-; King was appointed Moderator of Albury in the vacancy. The Revs. T. Stinson and E. R. Harries were appointed a committee "to. draw up suitable minutes for the Presbytery records regarding the work of the departing ministers. ■