PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Evening Star, Issue 3711, 14 January 1875, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

The annual session of the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland was commenced last night. The retiring Moderator (the Rev. J. H. M‘Naughton) preached from Psalms Ixxxvii, 3, and the Synod having been constituted the clerk (the Rev. W. Bannerman) read the rbll as follows

Ministers : Presbytery of Dunedin—Revs. W. Will, W. Johnstone, D. M. Stuart, J. H. M'Naughton, M. Watt, W. Gillies, Alex. Greig, J. Copland, J. Gow, A. Blake, J. Sutherland, L. Mackie. Olutha—Revs. W. Bannerman, J. M. Allan, J. Waters, R. Telford, Ohas. Connor, J. Chisholm, A, Bett, J. M‘Ara, J. H. Cameron, Jas. Skinner, Jae. Henry. Southland—Revs. A. H. Stobo, Thos. Alexander, Andrew Stevens, A Ross, Robert Morrison, C. S. Ross, J. H. Thomson. Oamaru —Revs. A. B. Todd, John Ryley, John Christie, James Clark, J. M‘Cosh Smith, James Baird.

Elders : Presbytery of Dunedin—Messrs Jas. Ross (East Taieri), Jas. M‘Donald (Port Chalmere), Robert Dalgleish (Knox Church), Jas. King (Anderson’s Bay), Thomas King (Green Island), David Biauie (West Taieri), E. Dick . (Portobello), John Duncan (North Dunedin), [ W. Stewart (St. Andrew’s Church), P, Souness I (Kaikorai), R. S. Nicholson (First Church). Clutha—Messrs Jas. Johstone, W. Paterson (Inch Clutha), John Johstone (Warepa), H. Clark (Tokomairirq), R. Howliston (Balclutha), Andrew Wation (Waihdla). Southland—Messrs Thos. Watson (Invercargill), Jas, M’Donald (Riverton). Oamaru—Messrs Jas, Milligan (Oamaru), James Smith (Waikouaiti), E. B. Cargill (Naaeby), Captain Thomson (Hampden). The retiring Moderator, in nominating as his successor the Rev. John Allan, of Inch-Clutha and Kaitangata, said Mr Allan was one of six who arrived in this Province about the surne time. Two of the six have already acted as Moderators of Synod, and he is the third. He had enjoyed—what few of them had done—the privilege of being translated from one congregation to another, and the further privilege of being the second minister from the same congregation called to 51 o derate over our Synod. The present Moderator and all ex-Moderators were quite unanimous in this choice. The Moderator elect then delivered his inanral address, from which we make a few extracts We meet this year under auspicious circumstances. The goodness of God has been great towards us. Death has made no inroads on our numbers this last year, and our lack of laborers has been graciously supplied. There have been four pastoral charges filled up during the year, and supply obtained for filling up others still vacant. Besides, we have young men who give promise of great usefulness to our portion of the vineyard. The country, meantime, is unusually prosperous, and the civil schemes and funds of our churches continue to show progress. There is abundant cause for thankfulness for our manifold mercies —enough to spur us on to still greater things. Our Church must extend, as populated districts extend, and provision made for that extension ; onr missionary liberality must be fostered and increased ; a staff for the training of young men in theological requirements must be set apart, together with other matters concerning the internal workings and administration of our affairs. The accounts that had been received of the revival by religious enthusiasm in Scotland were fitted to excite their faith and efforts in their own spheres of labor and the hope of and the means tq attain q portion of the same blessings here was a subject which would he trusted secure a large place among the subjects of consideration by the Synod. “It is but once a year that we assemble together—that we become visible as » body and the Church and the world look on. It is too much to expect that it is through the ministry ef the Church that God will pour his shower of blessing on om land, and it is for you to consider and inquire whether the principles of piety are fairly embodied in the spirit that prevails among you. There is not one of us who will not admit that there is need for a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit, and I trust there will be time for waiting on God for it. Give me a minister who lives, as it were in the presence of God—who diligently watches to conform the whole man to the law of life in Christ Jesus—who is transformed, and beina fraiurfarojeil to the Image of Gafc and I confess ' no fear or alarm of the opposition of natural

science or scientists. But let there be a minister highly orthodox, or Evangelical if yon will in creed, highly religious in the pulpit, or mourning like a very Jeremiah over the sins of the land out of it, but who suffers sins in himself, refined and cultivated, but not the less deadly for all that, to continue, Whether unknown or unheeded, who only reads the Word of God professionally, and who seeks its own honor; and give me a membership of the Church that even contrasts unfavorably in morality with the sober portion of the world. And I affirm there are more than a Tyndall, or a Huxley, or a Spencer, who moot a not very dignified origin to our species. Is it wrong to look at the present aspect of science and scientists in the light of a deserved rebuke by God himself to His Church, whose members act and live, as if Christianity held only a second place in importance to their own temporal gains and present enjoyments, but who, for all that, would not like to lose its stays and supports? That the discoveries of the world of nature will ever belie the truths of revelation, we have not the shadow of suspicion. When scientists have waded through the secrets of matter, that matter itself will bear witness to its Creator. Let those who profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and who put themselves amongst his professed people, show something that those did at the first flush of Christianity on earth— ‘ see how these Christians love one another ’ —let Christians show themselves to be a peculiar people, who are not as greedy, if sometimes not greedier, than those are who are ignorant of the truth; let them deny self for Christ’s sake; let them shine as luminaries in the world, and scientists may propound what they please, Christianity will always be owned by humanity as the only healer and hope of the world.”

The Rev. Mr Patterson and Mr James Smith, deputies from the General Assembly, were introduced and accommodated with seats. The Rev. Mr Waters called attention to a document purporting to be a statement of Gillies v. Bancerman, brought from the Clutha Pi esbytery— which he presumed was circulated by the appellant—and asked that the matter should be considered next day. After conside' rable discussion, the motion was catried.

Thursday, January 14.

TRIAL FOE LICENSE. There was considerable discussion on the Rev. Mr Gillies’s motion that the Synod should take Messrs Johnson and Lindsay on trial for license as soon as their present prescribed work for third year students is comple'teci, and the Rev. Mr Will moved as an. amendment that the gentlemen referred to should only obtain trial on condition that they attended such classes as the Synod might appoint for students of their standing. Mr Will and Dr STUART urged that if they were to have theological tutors, the students shou’d attend the latters’ classes; but the Rev. Mr Todd pointed out that these were exceptional cases, as Messrs Johnson and Lindsay had already gone through the curriculum.—’The amendment was carried by fifteen against fourteen. The sanction of the Synod was given to a meeting of the Clutha Presbytery, held at Tuturau, Mataura, on April 15, to moderate a call to Mataura. This step was necessitated by there not having been a quorum at Tuturau. In supporting an overture from the Southland Presbytery recommending the Synod to devise some means of raising a fund toward the travelling expenses of members to that body, the Revs. Messrs Stobo and Ross dwelt upon the necessity of some action being taken, in order that members from remote districts might be induced to attend. Mr Stobo thought the expenses should he' defrayed out of ordinary synodical expenses funds, but Dr Ssuaht preferred an animal or biennial collection! A committee was appointed to consider and report upon the subject. *.

The Clutha Presbytery brought under the notice of the Synod the case of Mr A. G. Boyd with the object of his being allowed to prose’ cute, at least for a time, his theological studies Under the Presbytery, with the view of his occupying the charge at Alexandra, the necessities of which require that it be continuously occupied,, and where Mr Boyd has proved himself highly acceptable. Tbe adoption of the Presbytery s recommendation was moved by Mr BanNerman and opposed by Dr Stuart, who moved as an amendment that Mr Boyd should prosecute his studies as a divinity student under such arrangements for theological students as the Synod might make. The voting was equal, 16 voting for and 16 against the amehdmerit. The Moderator gave his casting vote m favor of the idotion, which Was accordingly declared carried. ■

The He*. Mr Waters, in calling the attentlon of the Synod to the document' in reference to the appeal case of Gillies v. Bannetman, s.ud it was a very improper proceeding to circulate among those who were to judge the matter a document calculated to prejudice their minds in favor of one side. The document comprised a reproduction of the re Portß in' the ‘Daily Times,’ ‘Guardian’ and Bruce Herald.’ The reports themselves might contain nothing wrongly stated, but many of the passages were put in italics. The reports did not contain all that was said, as * or 3J^ me the reporters were absent, making themselves comfortable, it being a cold night ~ (Loud laugh ter.) The Rev. Mr Tod., moved that the Synod should proceed to the next business ; and he was followed by the Rev. Mr Gow, who moved that the Synod should'express its disapprobation of the conduct of the person or persons circulating the docupent conduct that, in his opinion, was m ... . “ffhest degree- improper and most; injudicious. The Rev. Mr • Rvlet said if such conduct was to be tolerated they need not look to the Supreme Court of the Church for justice in any future case. Captain Thomson thought if any censure jyas tp bo passed it should be upon the members of Synod themselves who had received thedocnment. They should have known their duty better. The Rev. Mr Clare thought the last speaker’s remarks an unmerited reflection upon the Synod; while Mr Stobo thought it would be judicious to say nothing about it. The Rev. Mr GILLIEB was of opinion that should be laid on Mr Waters and Mr Bannerman for discussing tho matter in the papers when it was under appeal. After some discussion, Mr Gow’a amendment was withdrawn, and Mr ToddV motion earned. Mr Bannerman intimated that neither he nor any member of the Clutha Presbytery had circulated the paper. * *