PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EXTENSION.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1617, 26 April 1879, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EXTENSION.

A meeting was held last night in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Montreal street North, for the purpose of ascertaining how far the time was ripe for the establishment of a separate charge in the northern portion of the city, in connection with St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. The Rev. O. Fraser occupied the chair and briefly addressed the few residents present upon the matter for which the meeting had been called. He said that it had arisen out of a resolution which had been passed at a meeting of the Presbytery, appointing a committee to see to the establishment of at least two new charges in Christchurch. The district of Sydenham was at once selected us the most eligible for a commencement, and as soon as a suitable minister could be obtained a meeting bad been called, and the

district erected into a regular charge, with a moderator and kirk session of its own. It, was now deemed that the time had arrived for the northern part of the city to make a commencement, and for his own part he thought that the northern extremity of Colombo street, which would embrace the districts outside the belt, would be the most suitable locality. Circumstances, however, had arisen during the past six months which had made it a matter of anxiety as to whether the time was opportune for incurring the fresh responsibility the establishment of the fresh charge would involve. It was for the meeting tj say, from their own personal knowledge of the circumstances of the people, whether they should try the experiment of holding regular services for, say, one month, with its necessary expenses, or to wait until the end of the winter. Mr Cameron had informed the Presbytery that a wish had been expressed to have a weekly Sabbath evening service, only without incurring the responsibility of having to support a regularly established charge. To this the Presbytery were averse, partly because it might stay further proceedings at a future lime, and likewise from the difficulty of getting a man to undertake a half day’s service. The experiment of establishing regular services for one month in the Oddfellows’ Hall could now be tried, as the Presbytery had at their command the services of a minister to whom the charge could be entrusted, but it would involve an expense of about £25 or £3O for allowance of minister, rent of hall, lighting, and other incidentals, and the question was whether it would be wise in the present state of things to make a commencement. He would like to hear the opinion of those present upon the matter. On the sense of the meeting being taken, it appeared that the general opinion was that, owing to the small attendance and other circumstances, they were scarcely justified in undertaking the responsibility of appointing a meeting for one month, and the matter had therefore better be adjourned sine die. The Rev. 0. Fraser agreed with the opinion which had been expressed, and after a few more remarks pronounced a Benediction, and the meeting adjourned.