CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14984, 3 June 1914, Page 7

CHRISTCHURCH PRESBYTERY.

ST. PAULS VACANCY. CALL TO REV. J. PATERSON.. A pro re nata meeting of the Christ.l.v.vi: iVe.sl... teiy was neld ye.,.e.'di.y afternoon, r-redemin:— Rev. J- .uaeiven_io (.UiNiera-oij, Rev. Dr. Erwin, Rev. F. l.vie, Ro'-. V*- *•• Cainpl»*J'i. Rev. A. K. Luicueil, and Ke.v. C. Mui-iuy .eiou-;. 'lb« meeting ,vas ci-i.cu io .u»-i-er tne call to tuo _iUv. J. ra.eioou, \...a.iu.ra Cuui'cii, ...ui.rn, -jU.-vy, A.o. v»., co 01. i/_Ui s Vi. _iw... __ : " J""- -" t -' j .~0 .iiO.i-rt.iAJl' i.l -•••'" -a " l'^-' a ' '" cCl * .„_, _i -'l«.--_--l. "«- _l ...ill.. .^CoiiuOU. 'nie _..v. o- -"i"''o (.-.oiiy objected _i.at tile culling O. t.ii" ;=_•---•■•* iuOv.-iiiig : ,us not in iitfuia-iicu ivii-i Vue uoo.i , ~ <jiuer. , 'in. motion was agreed co, Jii ; ..ui-iiO s oi/jotuuii U-i.-ti le.o.aeJ. j i>r. _,iwi.i p.a.oa Li.c _aii io t„e Key. j J. |-aiei.-,GH oil tne luu.c, ana fca.U-.aat viicre wcie old nam-- on St. l'aul s oU, and tho call liau uo.n i>igneu oy 033, and had U.e conetii lein-o . oi (4 adherents. T..ere were 20 meialxii- ol .lie congregation aosent irom ti.e UoiuiniOii, twelve of wiiom were known j .o be in favour oi tho call, lv audi- ! :'ion tuero wore a numo-r who were ; ick, to whom tne cad could not be nbmitted. Messrs P. Hercus and A. Seiwyn _ruce siioke in support of the cull. Mr Hercus, representing tile views of St. Paul's Kirk Session,.detailed tho circumstances which had led to Mr •"aterson visiting Christchureh, and .iaid that in addition to being a preacher of front rank ability, Mr i?aterson was zealous in matters of social reform, and was a strong supporter of the No-license and the Bible-in-Schools movements. The experience that St. Paul's congregation had of Mr Paterson during the jubilee celebra- ! tions in connexion with the Church j led them to believe that he would be a highly suitable man to fill-the vaganey caused by the departure of the Rev. T. Tait. * •■•' - Mr Bruce supported, and said that they felt that if they wero successful in inducing Mr Paterson to take charge they would have a man who would not only bo an ornament to the Church, but "one who would speedily make himself a power for good in the i city in every social work. Mr Pater-. ~oi\ was the kind of man that St. Paul's was much in need of. On the motion of Dr. Erwin, ••eeonded by Mr Rule, it was agreed: — •'That the call be sustained, and that it be transmitted, with reasons of translation, to the Clerk of the Sydney Presbytery.". -... ' Mr Rule e-xpressed the opinion that St. Paul's was to be congratulated on the steps taken. A long-protracted vacancy was not desirable. Tho "Moderator said that they felt that the speed with which the call had been sot no, and the circumstance connected with it, were altogether com■Tiendnble. So far as the ministers in ChriVchurch were concerned they would welcome Mr Paterson as a colI league, and would l ; ke to sco him settled as 60on ns possible. . .