PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD OF CANTERBURY AND WESTLAND.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 896, 9 May 1877, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD OF CANTERBURY AND WESTLAND.

The second sitting of the Presbytery took place in St. Andrew's Church, at 2 p.m. yesterday. Present —Rev. G-. Morice (Moderator), Rev. Charles Eraser, J". Elmslie, W. McGregor, J. W. Cree, W. Douglas, H. B. Burnett, Joshua Mcintosh, AY. R, Campbell, Neil McCallum, W. 11. Horner, G. Barclay, W. Gillies, G. Liudsay. The Synod arranged the order of business, received several notices of motions, appointed committees to examine the records of the Presbyteries of Christchurch and of Timarn. The Rev. W. McGregor proposed themotion of which he had given notice —" That the Synod should enjoin the various Presbyteries to make Prcsbyterial visitations." After considerable discussion it was agreed that the Synod should receive the overture and recommend it to Presbyteries. The Synod then adjourned. The Synod met again at 7 p.m.; the same members present as in the afternoon, with the

addition of Messrs David Duncan and W. Nixon. The Eev. George Barclay proposed the motion of which he had given notice—" That whereas from various points of view it would seem to be for the good of the Church that the Church should sanction a term of limited eldership, it is proposed that the Synod should overture the Venerable General Assembly to this effect." The Rev. G. Barclay supported the overture for the sake of encouraging good men to enter the eldership, and in order to give more opening for worthy Christian ambition to to serve the Church, to secure the services of a larger number of the members of the Church, as well as to leave an opening for the removal of unsatisfactory men from the sessions. The Eev. C. Eraser seconded the overture on the understanding that it meant not the removal of the elders from the eldership, and that they should after a limited term of years be relieved from the active discharge of the duties of the eldershijp at the close of a certain term of years. The Rev. W. Douglas moved—" That it is not expedient to transmit this overture." The Rev. W. Gillies seconded the amendment. .The Rev. J. W. Crcc supported Mr Barclay's overture. The Rev. H. B. Burnett supported the amendment. Rev. W. McGregor and Rev. W. Campbell spoke against the overture. The Rev. G. Morice, vacating the chair, which was occupied for the time by Rev. J. W. Cree, spoke somewhat in favour of the overture. . The Rev. G. Lindsay, after a brief reply from Rev. G. Barclay, agreed to allow the motion to be altered to " sanction the election of elders for a limited term of service in the session." Amendment was carried by seven votes against five. The Rev. W. Douglas then brought forward the motion, of which he he had given notice, viz. :—" That whereas it is of great importance to the Church of Christ in New Zealand, and to the general community, that a sound system of education should be established in the colony, and whereas it is proposed to give forth a new general scheme under the auspices of the General Government, it is humbly \ ovcrtured to the Very Rev. the Synod of Canterbury, to give a formal deliverance of its judgment in favor of a Scriptural, but nonsectarian system." The Rev. N. McCallum seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to. The Rev. W. McGregor, seconded by the Rev. W. Gillies, moved —" That a committee, consisting of the Bev. C. Eraser, G. Barclay, and J. Mcintosh (Mr Eraser convener), be appointed to draw up a deliverance , on this subject to be submitted to the . Synod." . The Rev. C. Eraser then gave in the report of the Committee on Religious Periodicals, and moved—" That the report of the Committee on Religious Publications should be received and approved, that the committee be instructed to continue its labours, to carry out the suggestions made in the report, and to correspond with parties in Otago if thought ' desirable. Further, that the name of the Rev W. Gillies be added to the list of the ; members of committee." The motion was agreed to. The Rev. W. Gillies asked to be relieved from acting on the committee. Mr Andrew Duncan then read the report of the committee on a Synodical' Sustcntation fund. ' The Rev. J. Mcintosh moved the adoption of the report, and the re-appointment of the committee to carry out the proposals of the report. The Rev "W. Gillies moved as an amend- ; inent—" That the report be received, and that the thanks of the Synod be given to the committee for the time and attention they have ! bestowed on this subject, but seeing that the Assembly has moved on the same subject, the ] Synod do not deem it expedient to re-ajipoint the committee." The Rev. "VV. Douglas seconded. The Rev W. Gillies moved—" That the Synod adjourn, to meet at 11 a.m., May 9th." . Seconded by the Rev. H. B. Burnett. , The Rev. C. Eraser moved —" That the previous arrangement be adhered to." The Rev. W. M'Gregor seconded the . motion.

The amendment was carried. The Synod adjourned, to meet at 2 p.m. today.