PRESBYTERY OF WELLINGTON.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue XXII, 23 November 1867, Page 5

PRESBYTERY OF WELLINGTON.

This reverend Court met in Willis street Church on Wednesday evening, when, after a sermon by the Rev. J. dimming, it was constituted in Hie usual manner. The minutes of the previous meeting of Presbytery wore read and sustained, and Mr AlcGrowun appointed Moderator for the ensuing year. Thereafter, a committee having been cliasen to arrange the business, the sederunt was closed with prayer. Tho Court met next morning at 11 o'clock. The minutes having been read and approved, and the business committee having handed in their report, Mr Elmslio said : Although we allowed tho minutes to bo read last evening, and adopted without discussion, we are bound, I think, as a Presbytery, to take some notice of that case about whica they are mainly taken up. Thoro hu3 been a great deal of misunderstanding, I find, not only in Wellington, but elsewhere, as to the actual position the Presbytery have taken up in this matter, and as to the nature of the influence they intended to exercise, in asking Mr Moir to resign his charge. The allegation lias not unfrequentfy been made, that the Prosbytery called upon or commanded Mr Moir to resign. Now, whether wo have given rise to such misapprehension through any inadvertence of ours, it is not for me at present to sny. But I urn anxious to take this opportunity of stating that tho Presbytery had no intention of doing such a thing — nay, more, that it was fully aware that constitutionally it hud no power to do such a thing. In the minute of the last sederunt of the Presbytery, hold at Wellington, it was stated that tho brethren deeply regretted that Mr Moir had not acceded to the recommendation of the Presbyterr, namely — a recommendation to resign his charge. Now I cannot help regretting the uso of that expression, because of its ambiguity. No doubt tho brethren, in adopting it, referred to die friendly counsel we took the liberty giving to Mr Moir at WaWganui. But there is nothing, I maintain, in any previous minute to show that tho Presbytery had by resolution recommended Mr Moir to resign. Wo took tho liberty of saying at a meeting of Prosbytery, that we thought the wisest course our friend and lather could adopt would bo to rotiro ; but, as will appear from the extract of minute, which I hold in my hand, wo never called upon Mr Moir to resign. Hero tho Rev Mr Elmslio read the lelivorance the Presbytery had given on this subject at Wunganui, which ran as follows : — ' That the Presbytery having received from i.ho congregation at Wellington a memorial inent the appointment of a colleague and successor to their present Minister, deeply sympathise ' both with Mr Moir and the congregation under j

the circumstances in. which they are ploccd ; that the Presbytery is of opinion that in point of form the caso is not fully beforo them, and find that the memorial does not contain sufficient information as to the provisions the congregation intend to make for the Rev Mr Moir. They are also unanimously of opinion that tho plan proposed by the Wellington congregation is not that which the Presbytery would suggest in tho evont of any alteration taking place in that congregation, and they appoint the Rev Mr W. S. Mc&owan to preside at n congregational meeting, to bo called for tho purpose of appointing commissioners to confer with the Presbytery at its meeting, to be held at Wellington on the Bth day of August, 1867." Whatever may hiive given rise to this misunderstanding then, it will appear to all that the Presbytery recognised then, and recognise still, Mr Moir's right to ask for a colleague, and had such a plan met with the unanimous approval of tho people, they were bound favorably to entertain tho petition. I think wo are bound to say then, Moderator, that the advice we gave to Mr Moir, and which should never havo appeared in the public prints, did not arise from any want of respect to him, either as a man or as a minister of Christ, lam still a comparative stranger to Mr Moir, but I waa most agreeably surprised to find, tho Grstday I set my foot in his study, how richly stored it was with tho highest of all kinds of literature. Indeed I am of opinion that there are few men in New Zealand who have kept so fully abreast of tho religious literature of tho day, and it will bo some considerable time beforo his successor, whoever that may bo, will possess himself of such a library, or turn over so many pages of old Puritanic theology. Wo arc bound tlion, I think, owing to the misunderstanding which has arisen even in our Church, to state thus publicly that we respect both the ecclesiastical rights and the Christian character of tho Rev Mr Moir. And should this statement on Iho part of tho Presbytery — for I think tho Presbytery will corroborate every word thut I have said — lead Mr Moir to look at the matter from a different stand-point, I do hope thai, /or the sake of Presbyterianism, for the cuke of this congregation, and above all, for the sake of the Church of Christ, no discussion will take place fitted to prevent the good which may como out of it. Mr Elmslie then moved tho following resolution : — " That the Presbytery deeply regret tho misunderstanding that lias arisen throughout the Church, regarding tho position the Presbytery have taken up anent the application for a colleague to tho Rev. Mr Moir. That the Presbytery take this opportunity of declaring that they never by resolution or in any formal way called upon him to resign, and thut they only suggested to himself what they regarded as tho wisest course for him to adopt — thut they take this opportunity of expressing their high regard for him as a man and as a minister of Christ, and of assuring him, that in suggesting his retirement from office, they were simply taking into consideration his advanced ago alongside of tho necessities and growing importance of the town of Wellington." The Rev Mr Cumming seconded the resolution, which was heartily supported by Mr Allsworth, Mr Ross, Mr Duncan, and the moderator, and thereupon unanimously agreed to. fj^The Rev. Mr Moir then rose and said that he felt that the adoption of tHs resolution had materially altered his position, and that he was now prepared to make a proposal having for it object the reunion of the two divisions of the congregation. Some further deliberation followed, after which Mr Moir agreed, for the good of the church to resign his charge ad simpUciter. Mr. Wood who but lately arrived, and has now gono on to his sphere of labor, then handed in his credentials which were found satisfactory, and his trials being procribed, his ordination was appointed for January 1868, Mr. Elmslio to preach and preside thereat. The Presbyteey then adjourned. Tho Court having resumed its sittings at two o'clock, Mr MoG-owan gave in his report anent his visit to the Wairarapa, upon which occasion the congregation wus formed at Masterton, and Mr Ross inducted as its pastor. The thanks of the Court were conveyed to Mr NcGogan for his zeal, and he was appointed to revisit the district. Mr Ross then brought forward hia overture on intemperance, which he supported in an able and telling speech, pointing out intemperance as the present evil and future curso of the church and country. It was agreed to transmit the overture to the Assembly. After some unimportant discussion on various matters the Commissioners from tho Preaching Station, to whom Mr Moir's suggestions had been given, then handed in to the Presbytery their answer. It was to tho following effect: — They agree to give Mr Moir a retiring allowance of £iOO per annum and the manse, if he resides in Wellington ; in tho evont of his leaving tho town and resigning the manse they guarantee £150, on condition that Mr Moir at onco resign his charge, they agreeing that fora limited period ha shall preach every alternate Sabbath forenoon. Tho Presbytery instructed tho clerk to forward a copy of this paper to Mr Moir, with a recommendation to agree to the above terms. The Presbytery then adjourned to meet on Friday at 10 o'clock. On Friday tho Presbytery met, and after the usual preliminary business Mr Moir's answer to tho Commissioner's proposal was read to the following effect : — " I hereby intimato my resignation of my charge over the Willis street Presbyterian Congregation, on the terms proposed by the Commissioners of the Wellington Preaching Station, and recommended by the Presbytery. (Signed) John Moir. Tho Presbytery thon ordered this resignation to lio on the table till tho two sections of the congregation should be hoard before the Presbytery, at a future sitting. Tho Roy J. Duncan then gave in his report concerning the Btato of religion and education in tho province. It is an exceedingly able and valuable document, which we trust will see the light in a more open manner than was accorded to it. Mr Allsworth proposed that it be adopted ; that the Presbytery record its thanks to Mr Duncan, and that he be reappointod to his office. The Presbytery theo adjourned till this morning at 10 o'clock.