HAWKE'S BAY PRESBYTERY

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2190, 14 May 1908, Page 2

HAWKE'S BAY PRESBYTERY

GISBORNE SITTING

A meeting of (the Hawke’s Bay Presbytery was held in St. Andrews Church yesterday. The .Moderator the Rev. P. Ramsay (Hastings) presided and. there were also present: Rev. T. A. Asher, 8.A., Napier, clerk; Rev. Alex. Whyte, M.A., 8.D., B.Sc., Havelock; Rev. William Grant, Gisborne; Rev. Robert Gardner, Mata whero; the .Rev. E. Walker,. Ormond ; with Messrs Evans, Kialcora N.; Graham, Gisborne; and Parker, Matawhero, elders. The visitors were cordially welcomed to Gisborne by the Rev. W. Grant and the [Moderator briefly returned thanks. Apologies were received from Revs. Dr. Sidey, Napier, S. E. Hill, Taradale, G. A. Stowell, Waipawa, T. Pattison, Waipukurau, and A. Grant, Dannevirke; also from Mr T. Wilson Craig, Napier, elder. The Rev. George Aitken, Foxtou, who was also ■present, was welcomed and associated with the (Presbytery. Commissions in favor of the /Rev. E. Walker, Messrs Graham and Parker were submitted by the clerk. The Rev. A. Grant, Dannevirke, reported that the Rev. James Paterson, of Wellington, had taken temporary charge of the congregation of Woodville, and had been able to secure much harmony among the people. The Rev. J. Pattison reported that Mr John McCaw, at present missionary at Levin, had arranged to supply Norsewood for a month, with the possibility of a permanent settlement. The Rev. A. Grant, Dannevirke, reported that .Mr Knight, missionary elect of Weher, had accepted an appointment in Otago. The Rev. William Grant reported that a "member of the congregation, Mr Mclntyre, 'who had. become a settler at Te Arai, had presented a section of one acre of land for a church site.

The Rev. Wm. Grant, with the Rev. Robert Gardiner, of Matawhero, in which parish Te Arai is situated, were appointed to arrange for the election of a committee of settlers to collect money for the erection of a church. A grant of £lO was promised from tlie Anderson bequest. The -Presbytery made the following arrangements regarding visitations:—The Revs. Asher and Grant to Morere Tuesday evening,, the 'Revs. Ramsay, Whyte and Gar-diner,-with Mr Evans, elder, to, Ormond also this same evening. The arrangements for Sunday were left ill the hands of a small committee. •’ In the afternoon the members lunched at tlie Alexandra tea rooms.

MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION. The 'Presbytery met .last evening again in St. Andrews Church. The minister and office-bearers were present and furnished answers to tlie numorous questions prescribed by the Genera] Assembly for the visitation of congregations. The Moderator and the Rev. Alex. Whyte were appointed to prepare a deliverance. Tlie Presbytery then repaired to the church, where a large congregation was assembled.

The Moderator, the Clerk and the Rev. Alex. Whyte addressed the congregation, congratulating it upon its progress, and advising it with respect to its future. The Rev. J. A. Asher conveyed tlie apologies of the three southern members of the Presbytery who were unable to he present and intimated that the Rev. James Rattisoii, of Waipukiirau, offered, when the Presbytery thought it opportune, to come to Poverty Bay for a month, to conduct Evangelistic services. The present. visitation had disclosed the fact that already there were signs of an approaching revival of religion in this parish, Mr Pattison had been of great service in the parishes of Hastings, Havelock and elsewhere in the Presbytery in bringing men and women to decision. Mr Asher hopes that Mr Pattison might soon arrive to bring to Poverty Bay the blessing lie had brought to others. With the Moderator, he expressed the admiration of the Presbytery at. the splendid monk otf the Rev. William Grant, not only in Gisborne, but also ill the remotest parts of the hack country. He thanked the congregation for the generosity with which they had allowed Mr Grant leisure to go forth to bis episcopal duties in caring for the congregations at a distance.

Tlie Rev. W. Grant gave in the report of the arrangements committee. On Tuesday the Presbytery will meet at Ormond for visitation of the congregation. The same evening a commission of the Presbytery will visit the parish oif Morere and Nuliaka. At Gisborne on Sunday the Moderator will preach in tlie' morning and the Rev. J. A. Asher, 8.A., in the evening. The Rev. George Aitken of Foxton, will preach at Wesley Church in the evening. ’Tlie other services will be Ormond, 3 p.m., Rev J. A Asher; Matawhero 2.30 p.m., Rev. G Aitken; Patutalii 7 .p.m., Rev. P Ramsay; Rakauroa 11 a.m., Wlnkavau 3 p.m., and iMotu 7.30 p.m., also Matawai on Saturday at 7 p,m., Rev. A. Whyte On Tuesday 19th there will be in the evening a visitation of Matawhero parish;. ~ 'Tt G'P close of the public nieethiv the ladies of the congregation furnished refreshments.