THE PRESBYTERY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 583, 11 August 1909, Page 5

THE PRESBYTERY.

FIRE INSURANCE SCHEME. EVANGELISTIC COMMITTEE'S! REPORT. . At the. meeting of -the Wellington. Presbytery yesterday,: there were present the Rev. Dr. Gibb, Moderator (presiding),', the Revs. W. Douglas, J. C. Mill, L. Thompson, .A. . Thomson, W. H. Comrib, W./Shirer, JM'Caw, Messrs. J. G. W.-Aitken, W. Allan, T. P. Allen, 'J. Reith, M'Farlane, and W. M. Haniiay. ■•."■■ ••' • '• FIRE INSURANCE. ...Tho .Rev.. .W. J. Conirie moved that an overture be approved and transmitted to the ■ General' Assembly that, - for .' certain expressed reasons, the "Assembly .should ! "direct that .fte New.CenturyxFund.and the Jubilee Fund ' shall each guarantee the Fire Insurance Fund to the extent of £1000, such, guarantee to be available- either, as temporary loans or as security for 'a bank overdraft,: or otherwise to make, such provision as' the Assembly in its wisdom- may deem expedient.". - ■ "It ■ wa-s -pointed out that the Methodist Eie-Insurance Fund, on which the Presbyterian scheme has been modelled, ;had a guarantee from the - Church Building and Loan Fund. -The Rev; Dr. Gibb said he was confident that if the Methodist Church could carry, out such; a. scheme-successfully, the Presbyterian Church could do- the same. . ■The. motion. was adopted, after a sport discussion. .'. ■- : ~ ' . The following committees were appointed--Ito 'obtain 'guarantors': —Wellington: The Revs.-W. J. Conirie (convener), A. Thomson, W. Shirer, Messrs.-J. G. W. Aitken, and/W. Allan. Wairarapa: The Revs. L. Thompson, J. C. Mill, ; Messrs. M'Farlane, , D. M'Gregor, and • Sawyers.

; NEED FOR .EVANGELISTIC .WORK. The' Rev. W. J. Comrie presented si report of the Evangelistic Committee, which stated V, that • evangeEstic "services 'had been. held .in the Kent Terrace Church. 'The meetings had been well attended, and.were believed to have been productive of .good results.., Similar meetings'were being held this week.inPe.tone, ' and arrangements, .were being made ; for meetings in. Lower Hutt, Khandallah, St. "James's; and Evans Bay. The ' committee.considered .'the questions submitted by , the.'Assembly's Evangelistic Committee,'and recommended that a reply should be sent in the following .terns': (1) The .usual conditions prevail (in Wellington); a considerable partof the population is now church-going, and. a good many of the. church-goers need-the evangelistic effort; the conditions of life in a .. city' Tike Wellington probably accentuate the need for 'evangelistic work. (2). Special ser- : vices are being'held in' as many congregations as can be arranged for,; these services being : conducted 'either by one man or more, commonly by several ministers, taking successive evenings. In at.least some cases, increased prominence is being given to .the evengelistic:. vote in connection with the work' or the Sabbath,'schools! and': bible classes, .and: the ordinary. Sdbbath service. (3) The Presbytery is unable to recommend , the appoint- :. ment' in an assembly evangelist,' both be- ' cause no 'man of proved suitable ability is ■ known to be available;' and on accoiint of . the financial and other difficulties connected'with tiie working of such a scheme. If, however, theiwav opens up for such an-appointment, ' it would nave -tho hearty approval of the Presbytery. ,(4);The Presbytery.is of.opinioh that - each congregation '-should • riiore"defii»it«-' ly.'seekto. make the evangelistic note . pre-. " 'dominant, and .that] say, Vonce in 'eaoh year, a definite and sustained effort should be | made.- to bring tho 'work -of the Sabbath " ordinary preaicnihg of the "Word to a climax, "'' resulting in the full acceptance -and open confession of Jesus Christ as Saviour; and Lord. .. ' -. ; .-'.Mr. Comrie said that arrangements were now --in-.- progress to hold special evangelistic services -*for..the bulk of -.the'..congregations ■ in- Wellington and its immediate neighbqur- • liood,:'but it was to be regretted-ithat no- '. thing had!'yit: . He did-, not -fsee '.how:. aWellington ;comniit- .-' '.-tee. cou'kL arrange services 'for .the^Waira'rapa. ■ .'Dr.'.G-ibb,- ; wmle'Vexpressmg his,','heartiest. , sympa:^^!^^';.the terms,.of.othe ; report',' and appreciation of', the importance !of evangelistic -.effort, : '-said he' was uttely:opposed to "days ■ '-'of; decision,"', because every duy was ,a day of decision, and to suppose that, God's grace ;' y was , only going to . work ' on: a certain day '".V '.pf i.thei-'year,.- or, hour: of ,the day,. was an ' absolute absurdity; ' The Rev. J. Kennedy Elliott agreed that there was a danger that' when One : day' in > ■ the; calendar was- fixed for special:..evangel-, istic appeal/ some-persons might:think that ■ • they; could hold off iintil' that day came. ■He expressed wirm' appreciation of . the series of evangelistic meetings held by brother '" ' ministers in his own church: . , Mr. Comrie'pointed out that there was no -reference to a "decision day"-in,,the:report. It';; was . resolved- that'the ministers and elders.of the Wairarapa congregations be a' - '-'.committee',' .to; arrange .evangelistic,; services for that district-. : ,;r,'/v "other MATTERS. - It was "reported that the Greytown charge had contributed £8 to the unemployed fund,: ; and a member'of the congregation had found work for-ten semi-unemployed men : in-the district. ' ; :r- ' "- Dr. Gibb said that'great gratification could be expressed that the congregations' had responded, sb admirably to the appeal made for the unemployed. " ■. ; The; Rev. Frank Tucker,' who has been a Congregationalist minister in England, and who is taking up his residence in Wellington, applied'to enter the Presbyteran. ministry Tho Revs. Dr. Gibb and ;R. Inglis, Messrs.' J. G. W. Aitken, and-^W.'M. Hannay, were appointed a committee to report on the ap-' plication. ' . " Regarding--the. .vacancy -at Kelburnp, the. ; .Moderator said! it was felt to be desirable that someone- should charge ' of the. church, to avoid the interruptions of successive "supply,!'-., until, cine "or: other of'/the ministers with'whom, negotiations " were : in progress,was ; appointed t-o'the charge. .