TIMARU PRESBYTERY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 2 June 1926, Page 8

TIMARU PRESBYTERY.

AIONTIILY AIEETIXG

■The monthly meeting of the Timaru Presbytery was held yesterday. The Moderator, the Rev. W. F. Finlay, presided over a large attendance. CALL TO REV. G. D. FALCONER. A call, signed by 97 members of the Brookland Church, Wellington, heartily sustained by the Wellington Presbytery, and addressed to the Rev. G. D. Falconer, of Pleasant Point, was received by the Presbytery. Speaking on behalf of the call, the Rev. T. Stinson said he did so with extreme- reluctance. All would remember the condition in which the Rev. Air Falconer took over the charge. At the present time the charge was in splendid order, and it was unfortunate that the congregation of Pleasant Point were to lose such a capable and very loyal minister. However, Brooklands Has a very important centre, and he thought it would be advisable to allow .Mr Falconer to extend his energies to that centre, where great scope was available to a man of Air Falconer’s typo.

The reasons for Air Falconer’s call were read by Air Stinson, who urged that the call be placed in Air Falconer’s hands.

Ah- Goldie, Pleasant Point, said that the session and congregation were very sorry to Jose Air Falconer. Their minister had had the whole-hearted support and assistance of the congregation, and although -all were very sorry to lose him, the congregation would not stand in his way. iVhat would be Pleasant Point’s loss would certainly be Brookland’s gain, concluded Mr * Goldie.

AVbilc the congregation were sorry to lose Air Falconer, the congregation felt that they could not staiid in'his wav, said Air C. Borrell. Wiren Mr. Falconer arrived at Pleasant Point, the 3-oil of communicants was 131; at the present time it was up to 200. That state of ail airs was largely due to Mr Falconer’s work, and it was with .the deepest regret that the congregation viewed the departure from Pleasant Point of both Air and Airs Falconer.

Air AV. F. Alorrison, Tycho, said that as a representative of one of the but- . lying portions of the charge, he would like to express his great respect and admiration for Mr Falconer’s work. The congregation would'-view--• with regret tho departure of Air and Airs Falconer, but would pray that God would bless his work at Brooklands as at Pleasant Point. Air Halstead said that he felt sur» that' Air Falconer would not have accepted the call unless he-'felt that iff was God’s call. In his opinion, Air Falconer’s greatest service lay in his attention to the sick and aged. Air) Falconer had always given of his best, ami had not confined himself sojely to his congregation, but had earned the respect and esteem of all. The, congregation would regret his’ departure, but at the same time would wish him God speed in h:s new work. Tho Rev. H. R. Fell said that it was with extreme reluctance that he moved the acceptance of.,the call. Alfl Falconer had been a friend of his since student days, and was at present his nearest ministerial neighbour. He trusted that his work in his new sphere would be just as happy and prosperous as at Pleasant Point. In yiew of the hearty call and thp kindly attitude of the Pleasant Point congregation, ha would move that the call be sustained. The Rev. J. D. C-. Aladill seconded the motion, adding that he was certain that the call had received Mr Falconer’s very earnest consideration. He was sorry to lose - a ..very . good friend, but felt' that he was doing a right' thing in accepting the call. The Rev. G. D. Falconer said that lie very much appreciated the kindly sentiments that had been expressed by the ministers and by representatives of his charge. He did not know whether he had deserved them, but he had always tried to do his best. He would assure them that he had in no way sought the call; but that having received it, he had" given . the matter! his very earnest, consideration. Brooklands appeared to him as being a charge which might prove more difficult than the one he occupied at present. The charge was a very compact one, and had its advantages and also disadvantages. One advantage, however, was the greater facilities for educating his children, and naturally that was a point which liad weighed heavily with him. It would be a hard thing to leave Pleasant Point. He had worked amongst splendid people, who had always accorded him their loval support. He ielfc that he was leaving tho charge in good order, both .spiritually and financially,' and .also felt that that was a good time to leave his parish. It was unanimously resolved that the call be placed in Air Falconer’s hands. in placing the call, Aloderator said that on no other occasion had he felt so much sorrow in placing a call in anvone’s hands as ho had that day. The Presbytery was glad; however, to hear such excellent reports from the Pleasant Point charge, which constituted a splendid testimonial to the work he had done. In .accepting the call, Air Falconer wrtfld go to Brooklands with the sympathies and prayers of the Presbytery for his-futuro work. In accepting the call, Mr Ealconet said that any success ho might have achieved, either as Aloderator or at Pleasant Point, was due to the splendid assistance he had received in such 1 it was resolved that the Rev. A. Begg be appointed interim Alodeiator at Pleasant Point.

GENERAL. ... In regard to the annual, subscription to the Presbyterian Home, the Rev. T. Stinson said that subscriptions had fallen off during the past year, and lie thought that the needs of the Home Find should be brought before the various, congregations. Jt was resolved that Messrs J. Hutchison, J- W. Thompson and W H. Walton be -appointed a Home Fund Committee. The Rev. 'l'. Stinson said that ;t was the recommendation of the sub-com-mittee anpointed that the principle of a junior’roll bo adopted, and that at the ago of 16 young people should automatically go on the roll of full membership. , , Rev. G. D. Falconer stated that he originally intended to oppose tho overture, especially as tho procedure was somewhat mechanical, and because he considered that the care of too young children could well be left to the discretioiTof the ministers. The Rev. 11. R. Fell saiu that the admittance of junior members m a wholesale manner might prove dangeious in the event of any serious question being discussed by a congregation. He did not think that young people could ho expected to intelligently vote on ceitnin matters. , It was resolved that the recommendation ho accepted. . , ~ . It was resolved that.iho induction ot the Rev. AY. E- Nichol into the AY.fim ite charge be carried out on July i, \r'r (' II Lowden 1.0 he asked to l'reaell. and the Rev. A. MeNcur to address the minister and congregation.