PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 293, 20 May 1875, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

Wednesday, May 19. : „7 The Synod of Canterbury and Westland resumed its sittings at 11 a.m. in the vestry of St Andrew’s Church. Sederunt —Rev W. S. McGowan, moderator. Ministers — Revs 0. Fraser, G. Barclay, W. Gillies, W. B. Campbell, W. 'Douglas, J. W. Cree, ,and A. F. Douglas (clerk). Mr J. Camerpn, elder. , -r : ; ; The first hour was spent in devotional exercises, after which the Synod resolved itself into a committee to arrange the business. ! i ■■ 4.f 'The court having resumed, the clerk ‘laid his resignation on the table, which the Synod resolved to takeup in the afternoon, j A memorial from members of the congregation at Stafford, countersigned byjMr Hogg, minister of the Presbyterian Church, Ross, but at present ministering at Stafford, asking the Synod to sanction Stafford ias a charge in the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and.to appoint and, declare him its minister,“was read by the clerk, and the consideration of it was deferred to the afternoon sederunt. The Synod then adjourned, j On the Synod resuming at 3 p.m.: the session was duly constituted by prayer by the Moderator. The Rev W. H. Horner took his seat. CHURCH WORK EXTENSION. Messrs Higgins (president), Dymock (secretary), and VVhitelaw, were introducedjas a deputation from the Church Work Extension Association by the Rev C. Fraser. Mr Higgins said that he had no particularsubject to bring before the Synod, but he would tbs difficrtlt.ies w'th which ‘

the association hail to contend bad been overcome, and he believed, that the work of the association had been successfully carried out. The association had .brought out several ministers, who had been located in various districts. He believed that the association .bad the sympathy of the Synod and the members of the church generally, and he would conclude by laying on the table a few copies of the last report of the association. Mr Dymock pointed out that no communications had been lately received from the associations at Timaru and Westland, and. he suggestcd that the Synod should urge upon the associations in those localities he had named the necessity of immediate action, so as to spread the work of the church and collect together those members who might otherwise be absorbed by other churches. Mr Whitelaw also briefly addressed the Synod, and seated that he had great pleasure in attending with his brother members to testify their allegiance to the Synod. Rev 0. Fraser said he was certain that the Synod felt great sympathy with the association, and was sure that, the Moderator would convey to the deputation the thanks of the Synod for their attendance. The Moderator thanked the deputation for their attendance, and in the name ox the Synod bade the association “ God speed.” ELECTION OF CLERK. The Synod having accepted the resignation of the Rev A. F. Douglas as clerk, .directed a volte of thanks to be recorded to him, for the manner in which he had discharged the duties of his office. On the motion of Rev A. F. Douglas, the Rev W. R. Campbell of the Amuri, was elected clerk. THE MEMORIAL FROM STAFFORD. The Synod then proceeded to consider the memorial from Stafford, together with certain communications from Mr Hogg, which were received ex gratia , not having been forwarded by the Presbytery of Westland. . : . Rev C. Fraser.moved—“That the memorial forwarded from Stafford Town be remitted to the Presbytery of Westland, with instructions to proceed in the case with all convenient speed:, and the' Synod further instructs Mr Hogg to act continuously as memben of Presbytery until the settlement of ; the case.” . . ;f; .. . , Rev W. R. Campbell seconded the motion. Rev-W. Gillies moved as an amendment—‘That, this Synod has heard with much pleasure of the'success of : Mr Hogg’s labors at Stafford Town,, but inasmuch as therelea.se of him from Ross and his settlement at Stafford town are matters belonging to the Presbytery of the bounds this Synod cannot interfere unless the Presbytery of Westland as : a Court refer the matter to it,” Mr JV Cameron seconded the : amendment, which wds carried. ' ■ ’ ' Rev C. Fraser recorded hia dissent. The Synod adjourned until 7 p.m. Gu the Synod resuming, in the absence of the Moderator,-the Rev G. Barclay, exModerator, presided. 1 - VOTE OF THANKS.' 1 Rev C, Fraser moved—“ That the thanks of the Synod be tendere 3 to Mr Barclay, the retiring Moderator, for his excellent sermon preached before the Synod.” Rev W. Douglas' seconded the motion, which was agreed to unanimously. TITLE DEEDS. Rev 0. Fraser moved— ‘ Whereas it is expedient for the consolidation and progress of the church, and for the avoidance of litigation, that the trie deeds of the various properties of the church should be in due form, the Synod of Canterbury hereby appoints the following committee to examine into the condition and terms of the several title deeds of church property within the bounds of the Synod, and where title deeds are not in existence, to see that immediate steps be taken to obtain the same, and to report thereon to next meeting of Synod, viz, Rev C. Fraser, Rev A. F. Dougtes, ministers; Messrs McDowell and J. Cameron, elders; Mr Fraser to be convener." Rev W. Gillies seconded the motion, which was agreed to unanimously. REPORT ON TEMPERANCE. The consideration of this was postponed, in consequence of the absence of the Moderator. SABBATH SCHOOLS. Rev 0, Fraser said that they required a higher development in the work done in their Sabbath schools, and that a general scheme should be prepared and sent down to the various Presbyteries for transmission to the Kirk Sessions. He thought also that sending down ouch a scheme would indicate the right position which Sabbath schools occupied in carrying on the work of the Church. He begged to move —“ That the committee be instructed to send the report laid before jibe last Synod to the various Presbyteries, with, the view of its being sent down to Kirk Sessions for conference thereon with Sabbath school teachers and others interested in the work, and that the returns of the several Presbyteries and Kirk Sessions be sent to the committee, and by them laid before the Synod at its nest meeting.” Rev W. Douglas seconded the motion pro forma. This was the first time he had seen the report referred to, and he must say it contained a principle which was very important, and which he highly approved, viz, that the Presbyterian Church took charge of the young as well .as the old. He thought also that the teachers should be aware that they were responsible to the general body of the church, and furthermore he was of opinion that the books used should be selected by some persons in whom they had confidence. Rev W. McGregor opposed the motion, inasmuch as he believed if it were carried into effect it would be the means of separating the Presbyterian Sabbath schools from the Sunday School Union, and thus cause a disruption with other Christian bodies. Mr Cameron said that he fully approved of Mr Fraser’s motion. Rev W, Gillies moved as an amendment—- “• That a Sabbath school committee be appointed to report upon the present state of the Sabbath schools in connection with the church; ministers being instructed to give all information required by the committee as to the working of the various schools within the bounds of their congregations.” Rev W. McGregor seconded it, Rev C. Fraser said that was not an amendment ; it was a substantive motion. Rev W. H. Horner intimated his intention of supporting the amendment. Rev W. Gillies said that he was quite willing to consent to the amendment being added to the original motion, Pvev W. McGregor said that, as the seconder of the amendment, he could not consent to the course proposed. Rev 0. Fraser said that ho would apk permission fco modify hte motion by ol&cme

amendment moved by Mr Gillies at the head of the motion moved by him (Mr Fraser). Leave was giv p n, and the addition made. Rev W. McGregor moved as an amendment appointed to report the statistics and efficiency of the working of the Sabbath-schools within the bounds of the Synod.” The amendment was not seconded. The original resolution as added to was then agreed to. It was resolved that the committee consist of Messrs Gree and Fraser, ministers, and Messrs Cameron, McDowell, Gavin, and J. Robertson, elders, Mr Fraser convener. SYNODICAL SUSTENTATION FUND. Messrs Dymock and A. Duncan attended as a deputation from the Sustentation Fund committee. Mr Dymock said that he belonged to a committee which had unfortunately done but very little work. Mr A. Duncan had prepared a scheme, but through his absence in England veiy little had been done. It was however a matter for congratulation that the church had been consolidated, so that the congregations would be better now prepared to consider the scheme for a sustentation fund than they would have been formerly. What he would suggest was that a fresh committee should be appointed with power to confer with the Presbyteries on the matter. Mr A. Duncan being itfvited by the Moderator, addressed the Synod in support of the suggestion made by Mr Dymock. Rev W. Gillies moved—“ That the present synodical sustentation fund committee be discharged, and that the following be appointed as a committee to take the subject into consideration, with full power to ask for all information required, viz. :—Messrs Higgins, R. Sutherland, Gavin, Dymock, Duncan, Macdowell, and Cameron. Messrs Duncan and Dymock to be joint conveners.” Rev C. Fraser seconded the motion, which was agreed to. v 8 CHURCH EXTENSION ASSOCIATION. Mr W. Gavin, a member of the association, at the request of the Moderator, addressed the Synod, showing the progress made by the association, and what was required to be done particnlarly in the city and suburbs. Rev C. Fraser moved —“ That the Synod cordially thank the deputation of the Church Extension Association for their presence and interesting information, express, their high appreciation of the association’s labors, pray that these may be'still further prospered and blessed. The Synod will take into its best consideration the suggestions made by the deputation, and the Synod hereby warmly recommend the cause to the congregations of the Synod which have not yet taken an active part in this work.” Rev A. F. DouRLAb seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Synod adjourned until 11 a.m. this day.