NEARLY GILBERTIAN

Evening Star, Issue 19784, 7 February 1928, Page 5

NEARLY GILBERTIAN

MOTION BEFORE PRESBYTERY ‘■'.Very near the Gilbertian,” was how uno member summed up a resolution before the Dunedin Presbytery today. One member had made a complaint against the Presbytery not being advised of the Rev. G. H. M'Neur’s departure, and that no official farewell had been accorded “the first missionary to leave Now Zealand,” and a Moderator ot the .New Zealand Church. The Moderator (Rev. J. Kilpatrick) said he had referred to the Foreign Missions Committee a letter Rom the Rev. 11.• F. Fish. The chairman of the committee had informed him that Mr Fish did not want the letter read. Mr Fish asked that the letter be read. It expressed regret that no opportunity had been given members of Presbytery tc farewell the Rev. G. H. M‘Neur, who had returned to China as a missionary.

The Rev. W. Trotter: Who is supposed to refer letters to the Foreign Missions Committee?

Mr Kilpatrick: Tire clerk. Mr Trotter: Excuse me! Ho moved that the letter be referred back to the Foreign Missions Committee. “It seems to mo that the situation is very near the Gilbertian,” exclaimed the Rev. G. Tipler. Mr i'ish had wanted to drop the matter, and the suggestion that the letter he referred back was difficult to understand. Mr Fisli: I want the letter to be read in Presbytery, hut I did not want the matter to bo pressed, particularly as the event has passed. We really made a mistake in not giving Mr M‘Neur a proper farewell. Dr Herrington (Moderator) said the proper business customs must be followed. . . , , Mr Trotter said that if Mr Fish did not desire the matter to go further lie would allow his motion to lapse. But the Presbytery should do its business in an orderly way. Dr Herrington said that no deliberate disrespect had been intended Mr M'Neur, who was held in the highest respect and love by all members. Many saw him off at the station. Doubtless Mr Fish had been actuated by the best motives in drawing Presbytery’s attention to the matter. The Rev. R. G. M'Dowell, convener of the Foreign Missions Committee, said that when Mr Fish had asked the committee not to press the matter, he had understood that ho wanted the matter dropped. . Mr Trotter: After this explanation 1 do not blame the clerk. Mr Fish has not kept the understanding he entered into. , Mr Fish rose in protest, and after further explanations the motion was allowed to lapse,