CONFERENCE OF PRESBYTERY.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 190, 1 March 1878, Page 5

CONFERENCE OF PRESBYTERY.

A conference of members' of the* Clutha Presbytery with Rey.P. Hope, B.D;,was held in the Presbyterian Church here s on Wednesday. The following members of Presbytery were present:' ReVS'J Baririerman, Waters, Connor,' Chishblm, 1 M l Ara, and Borrie. Mr ' Connor, moderator of Presbytery, inthe chair. Mr Hope stated he , was desirous of : get- ( ting information regarding the require-' ments of the ! CHarcli.' ! He had' already^ received from' many quarters^ many useful 1 hints! He had corrieifrbnY the' 'Colonial Committee of the Church of Scotland, holy! aa if that church had any authority' over the church here, but as' cherishing a deep interest in tlie ' pi*6gress bf the' ; Unristain Church; more especially, the Presbyterian; branch of ii,, AHe; fully recognised Hhe; ; complete indeperideiice of the church here j; arid he came 'riot; to 'advise but/toi learn libw best to, help. "'He .supposed* the'time would' come Svlieri'the : church')here ; "^duld • -be wholly irideperiderit' of supply '-froth the ; home churches. He' thought it right to state that tlie" Committee f ouiidWery great difficulty iri meeting 'the "calls for supply] ; 'addressed "to them,- especiaUy' as they imade'-ita-rule.-to* seek -dnlyAsiich^as Were • likely- to prove* succdssf hi.-* >'■* Of* course j the' I- ; Committee -was' not iiiifalliblej^ aiKU'mis-< '• ! takes had doubtless been committed; '• ?There was* a /class 1 - of 'Ministers;' who^'he I thought would 1 be the->right men to send i ,-^-those; vik,' i *vvhdliad;;been , s^ *■ ffew yeiara in the rural distncts cf Scotland", >- [and from whom men;^^Bf^tte^-nght;"stamp A -might be bptairiyd^^ |: jmadeby wKifchnhe;y^ r i c^eCtty^to^^ i sequence ybf-*^ a| :&pme j^?^^

rural papulation wereliteadily diminishing, while that of 'the 'cities 'were .steadily in-., creasing, "many congregaiiorii.h^d,!be ; come so sm&ll,'t3iat : there : was .not yfield; enough^ for the energies, of some of their yery best men. But these men of course would; not* dream, of fbing-. to .the Cploriies : in the cbaracte-r or mei^ probationers, to'be sent hither and t&ither to find a charge, J, He would: like the Ghurch here to consider this • matter-, -and inform' him whether it might hot be "a'rrariged that a call should.be given to such men, so as io' enable then", at once to enter nppn a definite field of labour on. their arrival.; ' TSe.said the number , of 5 students .this year had largely, increaseel, , many' of these being the fruits ofthe receht revival movements. Many of themWe-re well fitted for Cblonial; work,, arid' were the churches here in a position to carry' on, their; . studies, . and engage them in ' missionary work some of them r w*ould' be~ f ound.willing to come, to Otago, and he had no" doubf|tliey- would be very useful, i He wished the /opinion 'of tMe v *brethren upon /that. subject also. ..He. had 'been greatly-delighted with'. all he had seeri c and heard, and reminded the brethren ..present*, of the great < responsibility • that rested on them as the first Ministry 'in laying thefoundation of 1 what, iriight, yet become a great church in the land... "" * -■ - . The several members' present having spoken to the matters. referred, to by Mr Hope, the following deliverance was adopted : — ■"' The conference of members of Presbytery expi*esses\it satisfaction with the visit of MriHope .'; its .appreciation bf. the attention of the. Colonial Qommitte of the Free Churoh* of - Scotland toi the- iriterests ,of the Colonial churches in send* ing their' Secretary to visit tbem, , and its prayer that the visit of Mr Hope' 1 may result .not only in restoring his health, but also in awakening, an increasing interest ,in the young: churches in* those Colonies . on; the part of tlie probationers and Ministers 1 of the home churches.' Further thariks Mi? Hope for his address, and resolves to take' into consideration the. suggestions he has made, with the view . of the necessities, of ; this church being met."* ■ : • ■ : The conference then terriiiriated.. . '* '