THE PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Evening Star, Issue 4027, 22 January 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Thursday’s sederunt,

It was resolved to remit an application from Wait huna, for erecting a mau-e to Clutoa I’resbytery. An application from Riverton wa< biiri'l iriy d<-alt with with poorer to sauotion 1 300, if it was shown that such an amount was required ; also one from Inverca:gill for the same object; and "ne from ' allAcetown, that the 1 reabytery sbo dd c rtify the aniuu it to he paid in terms of the regulations. The Otepopo grant was remitted to the I'reshvtery of Lawrence, with power to grant L 10 0; Palmerston 1.50, under regulation 8; t. Andrews, L 20 0; Knox Cnurch, 103 9-; N irth-E ist Harbor, LSO ; Last aien, I.O'*; Olutlia, ! 50 ; and Tokoma liio, LSO. The Sabbath Ooservance Commi see repoited that the opening of railways liad greatly lessened dray traffic on the Sabbath in vanous pirtsofthe rovince. There was, ..owever a lamentable amount of Sabbath desecration still prevalent. Trains continued to iiiu between Dimedin and Port i halmera, and the 1 'ominittee hoped the members of the Presbyteiian Church would maintain the divi e authority ot the Sabbath. From the returns sent, it appeared that there are 629 office bearers in the Church, ■OS elders, 42-1 deacons or man<g p rs, aud 6655 membersin full co mimnion. '['he rep vt emc uded by rn kmg the following sugges ions;—(l,l That, on the first sabba hj of Ma 1 ch. ministers be instructed to preach ou Sabbath Ob-erv nice. (2.) That the first Sabbath ■ £ .November be ap minted as a day of special prayer and religious service for the young. (3) That Kvangelistic Sei vices be held n as many congregations as possible. (4 ) That the ministers of the Church be instructed to triage returns to this Committee not lat“r than |he middle of December. The billowing deliverance was adopted ; “ That the report be adopted, ai d the th inks of the Synod be given to the committee, and especially the Convener, for their ddigence. The Synod desires to express its gratitude to Cod for the large amouut of spiritual b essing bestowed upon the Church in connection with the Evangelistic services ieferred to in the report, whilst at the same time it deplores the still-existing amount of Sabbath daseciation that still ex’sts around us. The t\ynod also, whilst expressing its satuf clioii with the attention giveu to the mstnic ions of last Synod, hereby renews its instructions to ministers, enjoining them'o carry out as far as possible

he recommendations of the Committee men-tion-A at the end o ; the report, the .synod aLo cdls the attention of the Gmnmitt o to the overture on the subject of religion brought u > hv the I iutha Pr. shytery ” The theological Commit ee, after noting the appointment ot the Lev. Mr Sa montl to the theological chair, reported : -

The committee luive great pleasure iu announcing a further contribution to the library iu the handsome gift of the Rev. M. Watt, who has appropri ated the whole of his year’s salary as theological tutor (L 100) to the purchase of books, which he presents to it. The Rev. Dr Stuart, with the like liberality, has preseuted his year’s salary as tutor (MOO) as a fund to provide two auuual prizes iu appropriate books to theological students, for encouragement in the study of Church history and pastoral theology. The amount has been paid over to the Treasurer of the Synod. Two candidates only preseuted themselves as co'mpetitors for the scho arships offered by the Synod, and to one of these (Mr A. Cameron) a scholarship has been awarded of the auuual value of L 25 for three years. Mr Robert Huie has surrendered the scholarship held by him for the miexpired period of two years. The committee has resolved to offer for ' ompetitiou this year two Scholarships to undergraduates of the first year, and one Scholarship to students of theology. The Rev. Dr Stuart a..d the Rev. M. Watt, theological tutors, report that Mr David Borrie, student of theolouy for the second year, has received instruction iu the subjects of. Church History and Systematic Theology from Dr Stuart, aud of Hebrew and EiTgesii of the Now Testaiueutjfrom Mr Watt, aud botn tutors express their high gratification at the attention paid byl Mr Borrie to his studies, and the progress made by him. A statement of accounts of the College Fund, as furnished by the treasurer, shows a balance of money iu hand, L 1.072 8s lOd, aud a gross income for the current year estimated at L 829 Bs. The report was adapted. Friday’s Sederunt. The Synod met at 11 o’clock this morning ; the Kev. Mr Allan ac.ing as Moderator pro tan Mr Rennie, convener, brought up the report, of the comm ttee on the Age i and Infirm Minis’er-d Fund. This was adopied, and it w s ague Ito made an annua colhc ion for the fr ml until it reached f’e sum of _L2,000 The ev. Mr BanneumaN gave noth e that at a future sederunt he would move that the overture re instrumental music air ady.approved of be enacted into a law and sent down to I’n.s----b ■ tetii s ami Kirk S ssions. On the notion of or Copland a vote of thanks to Mr W. I’. “ tewart. rendered for his professional services ren lei ed to the Synod.

The ll;v. Mr Ho s, of Riverton, was appointed to visit t' e K'ji Islands, with the view of making full enquiry re arding the spiritual necessities of the Presin terian settlers there, and the best means of supplying them.

An acrimonious discussion aro-e on a motion by the Rev. Mr Will, that the Synod now adjourn, ami this was intercepted by Mr Banneuman’s motion in reference to instrument d music. Ultimat-ly the llev. Mr Russell moved—“Th t there being considerable doubt in the minds of many office-' carers and others as to whether the adoption of the overt ire re inst umental music is equivalent tianenactmei t of t ie Synod, the Syivd her -hy reco n mends congregations not tit ke acti >n in rega <1 to instrument d mus c till nc.xt m-'t ; g»f ►he Synod ’’—which was carried. l>r UPLAND and others gave in a written dissent as tol uw.s; We dissent from the motion of Mrliussell for ilia following- reasons;— 1. because the motion is practically a stultifying of the action of this synod in regard to the decision aucut instrumental music. 2. Because said action was arrived at in accordance with the regular practice of this Church. I>. Because f'C attendance of the members of such meeting of Synod was probably the largest that has ever been present, and the subject received the fullest consideration. ■l. Because the motion dissented from was passed at the close of a very protracted meeting of Synod, and after a large number of members had loft Dunedin with tin- distinct understanding that the whole matter of instrumental music was settled by the Synod. The Rev, Mr Gow was elected Moderator for the next teun. The Rev. Mr Bannermau and the Hou. James Paterson wem elected deputies to the General Presbyterian Gounuil about to be held in Britain. It Was mentioned thst the ModoratoV c'oqld, if be desired It (he was thinking of

visiting Englind), receive a commission as deputy from die Noit .em Church to the Gen.Malt omic'l. Votes of th nks were passed:—io Mr W. I). Stewirt, for his services iu connect! n with ■h • lute i o ot, ’o j wine i the Synod effected a es ro saving of time, and was saved paying a goodly fee; to the re'.i ing Mo e auir; to the • res ; and to the citizen* who had shown courtesy and exercised hospitality to the country members. The ynod then adjourned till January of next year.