THE PRESBYTERY OF WELLINGTON

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 32, 12 August 1867, Page 3

THE PRESBYTERY OF WELLINGTON

This Rev. Court met in the Presbyterian Church, Wanganui, on the evening of Tuesday, the 16th ult. Mr Gumming, the Moderator for the coming j-car presided, and preached the opening sermon. On the following day the Presbytery met again and pr ooceded with the business in hand. There were present, the Rev. J. Moir, of Wellington ; the Rev Mr McGowan, of the Hutt, the Rev. J. Ross, of the Wairarapa; the Rev. J. Elmsly, of Wanganui; the Rev. J. Gumming of Rangitikei, Ministers: Capt. Taylor and Mr Gregor McGregor, elders. The Rev J. Gumming gave in a report anent the induction of the Rev. J. Elmslie to the charge at Wanganui. The credentials and other papers were read and found highly satisfactory. The Presbytery then formally welcomed Mr Elmsly and extended to him the right baud of fellowship.

THE WAIRARAPA. Mr McGowan who had been instructed at a previous meeting of the Presbytery to visit the Wairarapa to introduce Mr Ross to the congregation there, then gave in bis report. The field there was wide and important and the church hopeful aud prosperous. He met with mush cordiality everywhere and especially at Masterton. Mr Ross in supplementing Mr McGowan’s report stated that in many respects bis work in that district was interesting, financially as well as in other respects

they were getting into a satisfactory condition. The subscription list for the nr.intonance fund now, was within a few pounds of the promised minimum of £2OO, and he believed that at the close of the financial ye: r over that amount would he realised. They were also taking steps to erect a place of worship at Masterton. It would have been a great boon bad a church been built already and as the IV airarapa had been left at the very outset to do for itself, and as the Church had not been at any expense with themiminy other way, he hoped that assistance would be given them in the erection of a suitable church, first at Masterton and afterwards in other localities. Were the Church Extension Committee to do something in this way, he would far prefer it to any other way in which they could give pecuniary assistance.

THE MATA KAW A DISTRICT. Mr Allsworth next gave in a report anent the preaching station at Mntarawa. lie road a letter from the Secretary of the Colonial Committee of the Free Church intimating that Mr Joseph Wood had been appointed to that district, and that he was to sail for New Zealand in June last, Mr Gregor Mr Gregor was deputed by the congregation to explain the state of matters at Matarawa. There was he said a considerable Presbj’tcrian population in the district. The average attendance on Sabbath was about 100. They had built a church already, and they were ready to receive their minister as soon as he arrived.

The Presbytery expressed their appreciation of the services of Mr Hutchison, who has for some time conducted service there and hoped he would carry on the work till the expected settlement took place. The Presbytery then adjourned to meet at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

THE WELLINGTON COSGIIEGATIOM. The afternoon sederunt was entirely occupied in the consideration of a memorial from the congregation at Wellington, anent the appointment of a colleague and successor to the Rev Mr Moir. After some conversation regarding the memorial and the way in which it had come up.

The Eev Air McGowan said that he had experienced much kindness at the hands both of Mr Moir and his congregation, and therefore felt deeply interested in their present position. He was pleased to mark the liberality and unanimity of the congregation as indicated by these papers, but could not approve of the course they proposes to adopt. Collegiate charges seldom wrought well, and in a case where the congregation was not very large, such an arrangement, he thought was not the best for either party. lie was of opinion, therefore, that the congregation should reconsider their proposal and along with the Presbytery, endeavour to persuade Mr Moir to retire on a competent allowance, and he hoped that their efforts for the good of the Church would in this case lead to a successful issue. The Revs Allsworth, Elmslie, and Ross concurred generally in the remarks made, and Mr T. B. Taylor and Mr G. McGregor, having also expressed their opinions to the same effect,

The Rev Mr Elmslie moved;—“ That the Presbytery having received a memorial from the congregation at Wellington anent the appointment of a colleague and successor to their present minister, deeply sympathised both with Mr Moir, and the congregation under the circumstances under which they are placed; that they are also unanimously of opinion that, in point of forth, the case is not fully before them, and find that the memorial docs not contain sufficient information as to the provision the congregation propose to make to Mr Moir; that they also are unanimously of opinion that the course indicated in the memorial is not that which they would suggest, in the event of any alteration taking place in the Wellington congregation; and that they further instruct the Rev Mr McGowan to preside at a congregational meeting to he called on an early day, and that commissioners be then oppointed to confer with the Presbytery at their next meeting, and give such infonna-

tion as may be required aueut the case.” The Rev Mr McGowan seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried. The Presbytery then adjourned to meet at ten o’clock, a.m.

LICENSING BILL. The Presbytery met again on Thursday, June 18. Sederunt as formerly. The Rev Mr Ross proposed the following , resolution :—That this Presbytery lamenting the prevalence ofintempcvance throughout the colony and the undue facilities given for the sale of strong drink by the present system of licensing public houses, express their gratification at a measure which was passed during the late session of the Provincial Council of Wellington, giving the inhabitants of any district being electors, the power of preventing the introduction of public houses into said district. They regret to learn that the measure has been disallowed by the Governor in Council and they venture to express a hope that the Provincial Council will again introduce and pass such a measure. The speaker supported the resolution at some length, dwelling upon the evils of intemperance and the duty of the church to put forth efforts to arrest them. He pointed out several clauses of the Provincial Act which were well calculated to aid their efforts in that direction, and concluded by expressing a hope that the members of Council who had moved in the matter would continue their efforts until they were crowned with complete success. The resolution was warmly supporten by the Rev Mr Allsworth, who seconded it, and by the Rev Mr Khn-ly. Messrs McGowan, McGregor and Gumming followed, and admitted tiic evil of intemperance and the desirability of checking the great evil. Ultimately it was agreed to send down the resolution to Kirk Sessions and congregations for their opinions, after which it could again he brought before the Presbytery. CONMISSIONEKS TO THE ASSEMBLY.

The following members were appointed members of the General Assembly to meet tit Nelson in November next, viz : —Messrs McGowan, Elmslio and Koss, Ministers; and T. B. Taylor and Gregor McGregor, elders.