PRESBYTERY OF CHRISTCHURCH.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1256, 28 March 1878, Page 3

PRESBYTERY OF CHRISTCHURCH.

A special meeting of the Presbytery of Christchurch was held in the Church, Kaiapoi, on Monday, 25th March, which was duly constituted with devotional exercises. ; Sederunt —The Eev Messrs McCallum (mode- , rator), Oree, Fraser, Horner, Elmslie, ' Mclntosh, and McGregor (clerk), and Mr Scott (elder). The clerk read minute relating to the business of the meeting. Parties were then called ; to the bar : Eev. C. Fraser as commissioner for Kumara, Rev. J. W. Oree as deputy of j the Presbytery to the congregations of Kaiapoi and Rangier a, Messrs Ross, Young, | Kidd, and McMillan as commissioners from Kaiapoi congregation, Messrs Johnston and Mclntyre commissioners from Rangiora congregation, and the Eev. W. McGregor minister, for himself. Mr Fraser proposed, and Mr Elmslie seconded—" That Mr Scott, elder, Hokitika, be associated to take part in the proceedings,” which was agreed to. Mr Fraser, commissioner for Kumara, read the reasons of Westland Presbytery for the translation of Mr McGregor to Kumara. He urged the claims of that congregation and its importance, and spoke at length as to the desirability of a minister of Mr McGregor s qualifications being settled there. Mr Scott desired to explain that Stafford was about eight miles from Kumara, and that the manse was at Stafford, but that a house would be provided at Kumara. Ho also stated that the people of Kumara alone would give £3OO, and Stafford £IOO at least, towards tipend. Mr Cree, deputy of the Presbytery, reported that he had presided at the congregational meetings ; that there was a good feeling existing towards their minister; and that the people were desirous of retaining his services. The congregational meeting of Rangiora had therefore resolved, “ That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is desirable that Mr McGregor’s stipend be raised to £3OO, and this congregation is prepared to pay the half of the stipend, provided the Presbytery appoint a student to work in connection with Mr McGregcr, and morning and evening services are obtained, the increased stipend to commence with the appointment of the student; and it is also prepared to pay £25 as its share of the student’s salary.” It was also resolved, “That this arrangement continue for a year, in conjunction with Kaiapoi congregation, and to terminate with six months’ notice from either congregation.” The Kaiapoi congregational meeting had also passed a resolution agreeable thereto —“ That this congregation is prepared to meet the proposal of the Rangiora congregation in raising the half of the Rev. W. McGregor’s stipend of £3OO, and the half of the £SO towards student’s salary.” Mr Cree explained that the other £SO of the student’s salary would be raised from midday services in the outlying districts. The commissioners were then heard from Kaiapoi. They stated that they were prepared to take steps to reduce the debt of their church building. That there was money enough among them on this side of the hills to make their minister as comfortable as the Kumara people could. And if all were not liberal, some of them were willing to put their hands a little deeper in their pockets to retain his services. They were certain if he were removed that it would bo detrimental to the Kaiapoi congregation. The commissioners from Rangiora pointed out the great boon morning and evening services would be to their congregation. They desired that Mr McGregor would not accept the call from Kumara, as everyone of the congregation desired him to remain with them. They trusted the Presbytery would accede to their wishes, and grant a student to ho associated with Mr McGregor in his services on the conditions Mr Cree stated. Mr McGregor was then called to state his opinion on the matter. After pointing out that the trying circumstances in which ho had been placed were not of his own making or seeking, he said these circumstances were complicated, inasmuch as there was a call on the Presbytery table from Kumara, and a motion on the Church session record of Rangiora asking the committee to take steps to ascertain if they could sustain a pastor among them. He was greatly perplexed and distressed for a week ove.r the matter, until he felt it was his duty to he submissive to the will of God either to stay or to go._ The alternative open to him was, that if his own people desired him to stay, and the congregation remained united, that they would have no difficulty in manifesting that desire, in enabling him to make little sacrifice by remaining among them. It was in their power, for they had said that they have plenty of money to make him comfortable there. On the other hand, if there had been no inducement for him to remain, he was to take that as the leadings in God’s providence to accept this call. Honestly he could say that during the time the call had been lying on the Presbytery table he had not sought to influence any one to make any movement in his favour in his present congregation. He left it entirely with themselves to act independently. He felt in his heart that ho could not break the tie of attachment between himself and his people j and hence if his people expressed their attachment to him, it would be an indication in God’s providence that it was hie duty to remain. I’hero were

however two difficulties that stood in his way preventing him from knowing what his future position would be. The one was the debt on the church building of Kaiapoi, and there being no manse at, Rangiora. He did not know what steps these congregations were to take in regard to these mat ters. The other difficulty was the desire which the Rangiora people had for some time expressed for a morning and evening service. He felt that this difficulty if not overcome might bo the cause of his having to leave the pastoral oversight, of these congregations. He might say that his own desire was that both these congregations should each be able to sustain a minister, and that time was not yet come, according to the best of his knowledge. He should not like to see these congregations broken up by a hasty and unripe separation, for there bad been a continual going forward and not backward during the six years he had been among them. The Rangiora congregation had no existence when ho came, and the Kaiapoi congregation was at its lowest ebb. Since the difficulties had been removed, and steps are to bo taken to make both charges selfsustaining, he felt it to he his duty to remain, and trusted that the Presbytery would find it right and expedient not to present to him the call from Kumara.

Mr Cree said he would take upon himself the responsibility of proposing—“ That taking into consideration the statement made by the Rev. W. McGregor in regard to the call from Kumara, the Presbytery resolves not to translate him from his present charge of Kaiapoi and Rangiora; and further, that the Presbytery accede to the proposal of the congregations re the appointment of a student.”

The Rev. Mr Elmslie seconded, and said that he hoped the congregations would soon be able each to offer a stipend of £3OO to a pastor. Moreover, that it was the duty of congregations to pay their ministers handsomely, so as to remove all anxiety about worldly cares from their mind. The resolution was carried by a majority, the commissioner for Kumara acquiescing.

The meeting was closed with the Benediction.