PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1441, 28 August 1915, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

CALLING A MINISTER. The Foxton charge of the A Presbyterian Church Is at present vacant, owing to the resignation of the Rev. J. M. Thomson, M.A. The office-bearers and members, assisted by the interim moderator, Rev. J. Doull. have lost no time in seeking out a suitable pastor, and a meeting of church members and adherents was held on Thursday night for the purpose of giving a “call” to the Rev. J. H. Bredin, who is now supplying for the Rev. Mr McKenzie, at Shannon. The session and managers met and discussed details to be submitted to the congregational meeting. Owing to the unavoidable absence ot the Rev. J. Doull, interim moderator of the charge, the Rev. G. Budd, of Feilding, presided. Tiakltahuna and Glen Oroua were unrepresented at the meeting but were sympathetic. Rangiotu was represented by Messrs Wilton, Macaulay, Glendinning and Ingley. fhe Foxton congregation was particularly well represented. After preliminaries as to stipend, etc., had been disposed of and the procedure declared, Mr John Ross moved and Mr J. M. Barr seconded, that the Rev J. H. Bredin be nominated as an eligible person to fill the vacancy. The motion was carried unanimously on a show of hands. The form of call was then read to the congregation and it was unanimously carried that the name of J. H, Bredin be inserted in the call. Messrs Speirs, Hornblow and Wilton were appointed commissioners to take charge of the call and concurrence. The call was then signed by all the officebearers and members present. The proceedings throughout were most hearty, and unanimity prevailed. The call will be placed in the hands of the Rev Mr Btediu at next meeting of Presbytery for his acceptance or otherwise. The Rev J. H. Bredin is a recent arrival from Ireland, and his credentials and commission from the Presbyterian Church of Ireland are of a first-class order. Members of his family came to New Zealand some years ago, aud settled in the Taranaki district, and this fact finally induced him to follow them. He has been admitted as a minister of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and for the past two months has acted as supply for the Rev McKenzie, at Shannon. The Rev Mr Bredin is a married man with one child. He is reported to be an eloquent and deeply spiritual preacher, a faithful pastor, and possesses that warmth of character and genial manner typical of the country which gave him his birth and education. He is much impressed with New Zealand, and speaks well of the people with whom he has come in contact, who, he says, are just like the people in Ireland in their heartiness and hospitality. The above facts were gleaned from the meeting, and if the Rev Mr Bredin accepts the call to be placed in his hands, the Presbyterians in this district will have just cause for hearty congratulation. The decision will be known after Tuesday’s Presbytery meeting.