PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD OF CANTERBURY AND WESTLAND.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 895, 8 May 1877, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD OF CANTERBURY AND WESTLAND.

The Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canterbury and Westland opened its annual session in St. Andrew’s Church, at seven o’clock last evening. Present: Revs. J. W. Cree (Moderator), Fraser, McGregor, W. Douglas, W.R. Campbell, Burnett, McCallum, Horner, G. Barclay, and Morice ; and Mr D. Duncan, Elder. The retiring Moderator preached on John IV, 24th verse. The Synod was constituted with prayer, and the roll read. Thereafter the Rev. J. W. Cree (Retiring Moderator) nominated the Rev. G. Morice as moderator of this meeting. The Rev. C. Fraser seconded the nomination, which was unanimously agreed to. The Moderator, on being conducted to the chair, delivered an eloquent opening address. The following arrangements of business for next day were made Committee on Religious Periodicals, to meet at 10 a.m.; committee on Overtures at 11 a.m. ; committee on Synodical Sustcntation fund, at 11 a.m. ; the Synod to meet for devotional exercises at 2 p.m., and thereafter to form a committee on order of business ; the evening sederunt to be held at 7 p.m. ; the overture on education, and the report of the committee on religious periodicals to be taken up at the evening sederunt. The following notices of overtures were given : Ist. By the Rev. Wm. Douglas—ln favor of a scriptural and non-sectarian system of education in the colony. 2nd. By the Rev. George Barclay —Relative to limiting the term of eldership in the Chm'ch. 3rd. By the Rev. Wm. McGregor—On Presbyterial visitations. The Synod adjourned until this day at 2 p.m.