PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2467, 12 January 1871, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

The annual meeting of the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland was opened last evening in the First Church, DoYvliug street. After devotional exercises, the retiring Moderator (the Rev. Mr Johnston, of Port Chalmers) preached on the text Gal. iv. IS. The roll of ministers having been read, the Clerk (the Rev. W. Bannerman) notified that the following gentlemen had been returned as elders :—Presbytery of Dunedin— Messrs Colin Allan, Kaikorai ; David Andrew, Green Island ; John Paterson, St Andrew’s; W. B. M‘Kay, Port Chalmers; John Duncan, First Church; Wm, Allan, North-Eabt Harbor; Alex. Chisholm, West Taieri; William Will, Waikouaiti; James King, Anderson’s Bay ; John Eeitb, Knox Church ; Robert Somerville, East Taieri; John Williamson, North Taieri. Presbytery of Clutha —J. Adam, Tokomairiro; W. M‘Nico 1 , Lawrence ; A. Robertson, Waibola; J. W. Thomson, Clutha ; Archd. Henderson, Inch Clutha ; John Johnston, Warepa; Robeit Howlisou, Balclutha. Presbytery of Southland—Frederick Grosso’.—The attendance of nrnisters and elders was large; the absence, however, of the Rev. Dr Burns, through illness, avas noticeable, and very much regretted. The Rev. Mr Stuart was unanimously chosen Moderator for the ensuing twelvemonths, was invested by the retiring Moderator with the robes of office, took the chair, and delivered an inaugural address. The Rev. Dr Copeland introduced the Rev. M- Morris, of Napier, who had been commissioned to attend the Synod; and it was herniated by the Presbyteries having charge of the districts that the Rev. Mr Arnot had been inducted to the pastoral charge of Balclutha, the Rev. Mr Chisholm to that of Tokomairiro, and the Rev. Mr Morrison to the charge of Switzers. Some business of a routine character having been transacted, the Synod adjourned until to-day. At to-day’s sederunt the Rev. Mr Sutherland brought up the report of the committee on the state of religion. Tiie report detailed that the committee had appointed evangelic d conferences. The services appointed had been promptly and well attended in the counti’y districts, but in the city, while the attendance were fair under the circumstances, they were not such as could be de? sired. It was recommended that, instead of separate services being held in each church on the same evening, there should be an assemblage in one church in the district. Reference was made to the question of Sabbath desecrations, and a number of recommends* tions were made, in effect as follows :—The continuation of evangelical deputations under the sanction of Presbyteries; that tie committee should continue its efforts to prevent public Sabbath desecration until tie desired end was attained; that a day should be set ap»rt for prayer for the conversion of the young ; that as the diffusion of religious literature was a powerful means of strengthening religion, the services of a qualified member of the Church be engaged as colpor* teur. Thanks were voted to the committee and its convener. It was agreed to adopt the recommendations contained in the report, and in accordance therewith, appoint the second Sabbath next as a day for united prayer for the conversion of the young and their dedication to the service of the Lord ; further the Synod instruct the Committee to memorialise the Government and the Post Office authorities with $ view to putting an end to labor in the Post Office and all running of trains, as also to memeriaUse the Chamber of Commerce with a view to putting an end to the loading and unloading and unloading and starting of vessels on the Lord’s Day.” The report of the Church Extension Committee wa| brought up by the Rev. Mr Watt, and adojp ted, tlae committee being requested to con-' tiuue its labors, and the following resolution was adopted : —“The Synod authorises the sending for three additional ministers, and congregations sending home for ministers iu the terms expressed in the report—the amount paid by congregations to be not less than Lso,—sanctions Mount Ida and surrounding districts as a regular charge, and instructs the Presbytery of Dunedin to ordain it at once, the minister expected shortly to arrive, and send him to labor in the Mount Ida district, with a view to his settlewent there.” The application of the Green Island congregation for an additional manse, giant of LISO was granted, in condition that L2OO be expended, the grant to be payable after existing vote 3 have been ■ met. The Synod then adjourned.