TIMARU PRESBYTERY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18817, 4 March 1931, Page 5

TIMARU PRESBYTERY.

SPECIAL MEETING. A pro re nata meeting of Timaru Presbytery was held at Trinity Hall yesterday. Present —The Revs. W. F. Nichol (moderator), A. Begg (clerk), T. Stinson, D. K. Fisher, A. Alexander, J. Fordyce, J. B. Hall, C. A. Kennedy, J. Tennant, A. J. H. Dow, W. McNeur, W. F. Findlay, D. M. Pryor, and Messrs R Taylor, J. Stark, W. H. Walton, G. «V Sealey, C. T. Norton, W. Renton, H. J. Evans, and E. Kingsbury. Resignation. The Rev. A. Alexander tendered his resignation from the Albury charge, as he intended leaving shortly for Ireland, where he has accepted a church at Largy,’ Limavady, County Londonderry. Mr Alexander said that a short time ago he received a cable calling him to Limavady, and he desired the Presbytery to see its way clear to release him from the Albury charge, as he intended sailing on March 19th, so as to reach Ireland for the General Assembly of the Church on June Ist. The Clerk: “Can you tell us why there has been no direct call?”—“I can’t be installed into the Irish Presbyterian Church before I am received into the Church. I understand, however, that the call is unanimous.” The Moderator: “That is the ruling of the Irish Presbyterian Church, I understand ”

The Rev. Mr Alexander explained that some of the committees had powers which could block his installation until he was received into the Church.

Mr C. T. Norton (clerk of Albury session) stated that the session had held a meeting, and had no objection to Mr Alexander accepting the call, as they considered the step in his best interests. He assured Presbytery that it was with profound regret and sorrow that the session had learned of Mr Alexander’s departure. He could vo’ce the feelings of each one, in fact, the whole community, when he said that the, district was losing its best friend, and the Presbyterian Church one of its finest ministers. Albury had always been proud of its minister, who was a man looked up to with admiration and pride. Mr Alexander was, however, too good a man to remain at Albury, and the congregation ,felt pleased when they thought he was going to a place more worthy of his services. Mr Norton then read a resolution carried at the meeting of Session, which recorded the deep regret at which they felt in the loss of Mr and Mrs Alexander. While the whole congregation regretted their departure, they congratulated the minister and his wife on the call to a greater field of service. The Session and the Board of Managers desired to place on record their appreciation of Mr Alexander’s work, and to thank him for the high level the Church had been placed on as a result of his efforts.

Speaking on behalf of the Albury congregation, Mr A. Smith said that Mr Alexander had won the aspect of all with whom he had come in contact. He was an able minister, who had inspired the congregation with his messages.

The Rev. T. Stinson said that while he was sorry Mr Alexander was leaving Albury, he was pleased to see that he had been afforded the opportunity of accepting a Church in the land of his birth. He was sure that when Mr Alexander went back to County ’Derry he would do equally good work there as had been the case at Albury. He moved that the resignation be accepted with regret. The Rev. J. Tennant, in seconding the motion, said he did so with regret at losing an old friend. He wished both Mr and Mrs Alexander the continued success they justly deserved.

“The Church in New Zealand can ill-afford to lose such ministers as Mr Alexander,” said the Rev. A. Begg. Mr Alexander had gone on in a quiet way at Albury, carrying out his work in a manner which had appealed to the hearts and commonsense of the people. “I don’t think any minister could leave a parish with a higher testimony than has been given Mr Alexander by the people of Albury.”

The Rev. W. McNeur said that at the meeting at Albury it had been suggested that Mr Alexander might be given extended leave of absence, so that if he desired to come back to New Zealand he could agan be appointed to the Albury parish. The speaker said he had explained, however. that a minister could not very well be inducted in Ireland when he was on leave of absence from a New Zealand Church. The Rev. A. J. H. Dow added his congratulations to Mr Alexander on his appointment to a charge in his native land, and wished the family every possible success.

The Moderator: “I thought Ireland Was a good place to keep out of, but evidently it has a fascination for its sons.” (Laughter.) He said that Mr Alexander had been a valued member of Presbytery, and last year had carried out the duties of Moderator with dignity which was a credit to the Church.

The motion was then carried unanimously. Mr Alexander said he had a real affection for New Zealand, and also her people, and said that one day he might come back. He thanked the people of Albury on behalf of his wife and family for their kindness and consideration at all times, stating that he had never had such a pleasant experience as he had had at Albury during the past six years. He spoke of the struggle it was for Albury to keep a minister on account of the financial and numerical strength, stating that he would issue a challenge that in no other part of New Zealand was a minister supported under such circumstances. He referred to the pleasant associations with Presbytery, and thanked one and all for the help they had been to him during his ministry in South Canterbury. The Rev. W. McNeur was appointed interim moderator of the charge. Albury Protest. The Home Mission Committee of the General Assembly wrote stating that after giving careful consideration to the question of grants, they had decided as follows:—Orari, nil, instead of £lO as recommended by Presbytery; Albury, nil, that is that it became self-supporting at the £3OO level; Morven, £2O, instead of the £25, making the minimum £220, plus an £BO grant; Waihao Valley, as at present. “in view of our very straitened circumstances,” the letter continued, “every possible effort must be made by every congregation to pay its own way. in the case of Albury, we note that its balance in the Bank has increased in the past year from £ll4 to £172.” The Rev. A. Alexander (Albury): “it shows just how much these men know; they look at the balance sheet, but not at the items.” He explained that Albury received a good deal of support from an annual flower show, and the Committee should have looked at the ordinary revenue and not at the extraordinary. Were it not for the flower show, Albury could not have kept a minister, and unless a miracle happened, it was impossible for the Albury people to pay £3OO. “This treatment is anything but right,” said Mr Alexander, “and in the name of the

Albury parish, I strongly protest. Unless a larger amount of money comes from the Sustentation Committee, Albury will have to be reduced to a Home Mission station.” Mr C. B. Norton (Albury Session clerk) said that the position had been discussed at a meeting last week, and the people were perplexed. They did not know how they were going to raise a minister’s salary, as £3OO at present seemed utterly impossible. It was agreed to hold the matter over till next meeting, pending a report from Albury. Sunday Excursion. The following letter was received from Mr G. H. McGregor, clerk of Chalmers Church Session: ‘‘The Session urges the Presbytery to bring pressure to bear on the Government not to run the excursion trains on Sunday, March Bth, which is to be observed as a day of intercession.” The Rev. A. Begg said that on the last occasion a day of intercession was ’ set aside, a protest had been made on the grounds that excursionists from Christchurch disturbed their people and kept them from going to Church. Some of Chalmers congregation felt very strongly on the matter, and that was the reason for the request. In reply to a question, Mr Begg said that all churches, including the Roman Catholic, intended to keep next Sunday as a day of intercession. It was agreed, on the motion of the Rev. J. Tennant, that the clerk send a telegram of protest to the Minister of Railways. Easter Camps. It was stated by the Revs. A. J. H. Dow and J. Tennant that the South Canterbury Young Men’s and Women’s Bible Class camps were to be held at Hunter Bush and Morven, respectively, at Easter.