PRESBYTERY HOLDS MONTHLY MEETING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18940, 10 December 1929, Page 10

PRESBYTERY HOLDS MONTHLY MEETING.

TERM OF MODERATOR TO BE EXTENDED

The Christchurch Presbytery met this morning, the Moderator, the Rev John Miller, presiding. Before proceeding with the usual business, the Moderator welcomed Mr A. J. M’Eldowney to the Presbytery. The Rev F. Rule was welcomed back after his illness. Congratulations were extended to the Presbytery Clerk, the Rev G. K. Aitken, who will shortly celebrate his golden wedding. The matter of electing a Moderator was brought up, and a motion carried unanimously, that the present Moderator, the Rev John Miller, should continue in office until after the meeting of the Assembly. The Moderator briefly returned thanks for the honour done him. The Rev John Allan moved that Presbytery meetings should be held bi-monthly. Mr Allan said that at present the monthly meetings were liable to drag when the agenda was a light one. He suggested that meetings should be held bi-monthly, with a sitting in the morning and another session after lunch.

A country member said that for those coming from the country Tuesday was the most inconvenient day, that could be possible, so he would support the motion.

Those opposing the motion said that afternoon sessions had never been a success from the point of view of attendance. On being put to the vote, the motion was defeated. Notice of motion was % given that the meetings be held on Wednesdays, instead of on Tuesdays, as at present.

St Andrew’s Church. It was unanimously resolved that the call of St Andrew’s congregation to the Rev J. Lawson Robinson, of Invercargill be approved. The Rev W. Bower Black said that he was very pleased to support the call, as the Rev Lawson Robinson was a man who would worthily fill the charge at St Andrew’s. Subject to Mr Robinson’s acceptance, Mr Black moved that the induction be held on February 20, as the Rev Lawson Robinson would be able to come to Christchurch between February 16 and 23. The Presbytery resolved that the call from the Cashmere congregation to the Rev John Hubbard, of Auckland, be sustained. Several speakers eulogised the work of Mr Hubbard, and it was decided that, subject to Mr Hubbard’s acceptance, the induction should be held in the first week of February, details to be arranged later. A letter was received from Mr A. K. Anderson, headmaster of St Andrew’s College, inviting the members of the Christchurch Presbytery to the annual display on Friday, December 13, at 7.30 p.m., in the Caledonian Hall, and to the presentation of prizes at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, December 14. With reference to a donation of fl Is from the Moderator, Mr Anderson stated that the sum had been allotted for the purchase of two prizes in Scripture for the senior forms. Mr Anderson suggested that the prize should be made an annual one, to be known as the Moderator’s Prize. The letter was received. The Hawke’s Bay Presbytery wrote suggesting that the shorter catechism be omitted from Sunday School teaching.

The Rev T. W. Armour moved that the proposal lie on the table. The Rev ‘John Allan moved, as an amendment, that the proposal of the Hawke’s Bay Presbytery be endorsed. Finally it was decided that the Christchurch Presbytery continue as at present.

World Peace. The Public Questions Committee’s report was presented by the Rev J Allan. The report emphasised the necessity of preventing recourse to arms for settlement of disputes, and expressed the hope that the cause of world peace would be assisted in every way possible by the League of Nations, and by the reduction of armaments. A motion that the Presbytery express sympathy with the resolutions in the report was carried unanimously.

Reports were submitted on visitations to the Shirley-Richmond and the Motunau charges. Great progress was recorded, especially in the young parish of Motunau, where a new church will be opened shortly. The appointment of delegates to the General Assembly was then brought up. There were sixteen ministerial nominees who would be entitled to attend the Assembly. Those eligible were the Revs G. K. Aitken, J. A. Allan, T. W. Armour, J. Dickson, W. R. Hutchison, J. Johnston, G. Lindsay, W. M’Ara, A. M’Neur, J. Miller, G. A. Naylor. J. Newlands, J. Paterson, R. M. Ryburn, W. T. Todd and A. C. Wiiitelaw. In case of any of the* .iot being able to go, substitutes were appointed as follows:—J. C. M’Caw F E. 11. Paton, F. J. Tyler. J. D. Webster and the Rev Dr R. Erwin.