WANGANUI PRESBYTERY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19718, 8 December 1926, Page 5

WANGANUI PRESBYTERY

MEETING AT MARTON NEW CHARGES SUGGESTED. The Presbytery met at Marton on Tuesday, the Rev. G. F. Cox, Moderator, presiding over a good attendance of ministers and elders. Commissions in favour of Messrs Munro, Whitehead, Nairn, Nicholas, Sorensen, Ireland, P. Clemance, McBean, Hughes and Sutherland were sustained. A letter was received from the Home Missions Committee saying that it could not see its way to ordain Mr Wilson, missionary of Palmerston outfields. Bevs. G. I'. Cox and Mclvor were appointed to prepare an itinerary for tne visit of the Moderator, Rev. G. R. MeNeur, in March, 1927. It was agreed that next meeting be at the end of February. Mr G. Stewart, Bible Class travelling secretary, was welcomed and addressed the Presbytery regarding the coming Bible Class Conference at Wanganui during Christmas week. Rev. W. Elliott was appointed Moderator of the Presbytery for the ensuing six months. The Moderator urged on ministers to impress on their members to attend the conference, and asked that farmers should assist as far as possible towards the catering by gifts of produce. Rev. J. Paterson seconded these remarks and urged all ministers to attend the conference and help it on at least by registering. The conferenct* this year was going to be on definite spiritual lines.

Rev. J. Paterson also reported on the arrangements for the Gipsy Smith mission in Wanganui from December 9 to 16. There had been a very suc--1 cessful mission in Christchurch, where there had been large attendances, none less than 1400, and on two occasions over 5000, while there had been 500 decisions among the young people. Rev. Brown reported on the proposed appointment of a minister at Foxton. As the Supply and Appointments Com- | mittee could not provide a minister, he moved that a missionary be appointed in the meantime. This was agreed to. The youth report was handed in by Rev. W. Elliott, and showed a satisfactory state of affairs, with increases in membership and finances in several departments. A Youth Committee of the Presbytery was appointed, consisting of the Wanganui ministers and representatives from the Sunday schools and Bible classes, with Rev. W. Elliott as convener. The report was adopted. Rev. J. Paterson reported on the proposal to form a new charge, consisting of Upper Aramoho and Upokongaro, and asked the Presbytery to authorise the formation of a Home Mission charge. Mr Paterson was appointed moderator. Rev. D. Mill reported on Rev. J. Bissett’s mission at Hunterville, and said a very fine work was done, and the church was revived. Ho commented especially on the nrssioner’s wonderful power of intercessory prayer. Rev. Bredin intimated that. Mr Bissett would be available next year, about March. He proposed that Mr Bissett be invited in that month to visit the Presbytery for three months, if possible. This was agreed to. The Moderator welcomed Rev. Catherwoed after his recent illness, and he feelingly respon d e d. Rev. J. Paterson reported on the Bible in Schools Committee and the Temperance Committee at the Assembly. He was given authority lo send out a circular letter to members of the Presbytery on the Bible in schools matter. In connection with temperance he reported on the new policy of the Church, which as a Church would work directly through the Alliance. He requested that the Wanganui ministers and elders be an executive of the Temperance Committee with power to circularise the Presbyteries of the Dominion. This was agreed to. Mr Nicholas called attention to the needs of the growing Kakahi district, and moved that a commission be set up to look into the matter of forming a home mission district in the southern King Country, with its centre at Ka- / kahi, Rev. Bandy to be convener. This was carried, and Mr Bandy was commissioned to visit the district. Rev. J. Paterson gave notice of motion that the Presbytery appoint a Home Mission Committee to deal with such business as should arise; also that the Moderator of the Presbytery’ be appointed for twelve months instead of six months as nt present. Rev. Nicholas asked the Presbytery’s sanction for a request to New Century Fund to allow' the payments on loan to Ohakunc to remain in abeyance for twelve months. Rev. D. McNeur moved that the Presbytery grant Ohakunc a loan of £4O from local funds without interest. This was agreed to. Rev. G. F. Cox submitted the Foreign Missions report, which was adopted.