PRESBYTERY OF WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20073, 15 February 1928, Page 11

PRESBYTERY OF WANGANUI

MEETING AT MARTON The Presbytery of Wanganui met at Marton yesterday in the Marton Church Hall. The Moderator, Rev. J. Paterson. St. Paul’s presided, and the following members were present: —Revs. D. Mcivor (clerk), C. Watt, D. McNeur, K. H. Catherwood, G. Miller, E. Bandy G. S. King, J. C. Mill, W. Elliott (minis- 1 ters), Messrs Clark, Shilton, Sutherland, Murray, Wallace, Clemance, Marshall, Whitehead, Stewart, Nicholas, Sorensen, Wilson, and McNaught ( (Elders). The following were also present: Revs. Watt and Ireland and Mr Spencer. The Moderator drew attention to tho fact that Revs. Catherwood and Me* Ivor had attained the semi-jubilee as ministers of the Presbyterian Churcn and received the congratulations of the Presbytery and several members spoke of the splendid services each had rendered to the church and the Dominion. Revs Catherwood and Mcivor suitably acknowledged the plicitations expressed. It was decided to hold a picnic in the Hunterville Duimwii on February 20 to do honour to these brethern. It was reported that the assembly had admitted Mr Ireland to the ministry of the church and the Presbytery proceeded to license him as a probationer for the ministry. The Moderator put the usual questions and addressed the liccnsiato on the duties and privileges of the office to which he was being admitted. Reports from the following Home mission stations were received: Apiti, by Mr Murray; Bulls, by Mr Stewart; Halcomb e, by Mr Marshall; Shannon, by Mr Williamson; Ohakune, by Mr Shilton; Rewa, by Mr Spence; and Aramoho, by Rev. J. Paterson. The reports were considered satisfactory and showed that good work was being done in all the stations by the Home missionaries and they received the thanks of the Presbytery for their self-denying labours. An application for work as a Homo missionary was referred to the follow ing committee, with power to act: Rev» King (convener), Paterson, Elliott and Beggs and their elders. Rev. J. Paterson was appointed to a committee of assembly to consider matters relating to the church officers and all the paid | agents of the assembly. A letter from the secretary of tub Knox College Council referring to the matter of a successor to Professor Hewitson as master of Knox College.—The clerk, as a corresponding member of the committee having the question in hand was asked for suggestions and wished the Presbytery to give him instructions. The Rev. G. S. King moveu. that the clerk be instructed co suggest the name of the Bev. John Paterson, of St. Paul’s, Wanganui for the position of master of Knox College. In speaking to the motion, Mr King said that the qualifications required for the ! position were all to be found in Mr Paterson. What was required above ■ all was that the occupant of the office j should be a real man, with a wierc 1 knowledge and experience among men, if he was to establish that contact with men that would influence their lives for the future. He should be a scholar in order that he might enter sympathetically in the lives of students. He should be a man, who like Mr Paterson had proved his worth in the ordinary work of tho ministry. From every point of view Mr Paterson was cnimently suited for tho position. Several members of the Presbytery endorsed all that was said regarding Mr Paterson and his fitness for the mastership of Knox College and on the clerK putting the motion it was carried unanimously. Mr Paterson stated that he had no desire to leave the work of the ministry as he loved the preaching of the Gospel above all other work, and his congregation of St. Paul’s was dearer to him than any position that could be offered him. He would only consider the question if the call came to him as the unanimous voice of the church. All the members of tho Presbytery agreed that they would be sorry to lose Mr Paterson from tho Presbytery but they felt that Air Paterson’s qualifications for the position should dispose them to offer him to the Assembly.