MEETING OF NELSON PRESBYTERY

Nelson Evening Mail, 30 September 1916, Page 4

MEETING OF NELSON PRESBYTERY

RESIGNATION OF REV. J. H.. MACKENZIE. The Presbyterian of Nelsoii met ox. Thursday morning at the Presbyterian Church, the' Moderator ;; (Rev. A. A. Armstrong, of Picton) presiding. Reports were received from the .mission stations of Renwick, Seddon, lakaka, Riwaka, Motueka, and Tasman. All the reports were highly favourable, and there are good prospects of the Takaka and Motueka stations soon becoming set- ■ tied charges. ■ ' • tt- . The Presbyterv nominated the Hon: J. G. W. Ait-ken, M.L.C., of Wellington. as Moderator far the General , As- , sembly, 191.7, this toeing a departure from v Presbyterian use and wont, as commonly a minister occupies that position. Mr Mcßae Beattie has been appointed to the Riwaka district in room of Mr W. W. French, who retires at the end of October to take up duty as a_ field secretary. for the Younjj- Men's Christian . Association. '

It was reported that the Nelson congregation had agreed to' purchase . the residence of the .present minister as a. manse.

A report "was received that a new manse is about -to 'be erected at Blenheim, and plans for the building were submitted and approved. . The Rev. W. McAra and the Rev. _J. H. MacKenzie: were appointed, voting members of rthei General Assembly, "with elders from Blenheim and Nelson. The Presbytery received, the resignation of the Rev. J. -H. MacKenzie.

In the evening- 1 -the Presbytery met the Nelson congregation. in the churchy iij connection! .with, the minister's resigna-r fcion. . At, this meeting it was moved by Mr Thomas Neale that the congregation. acquiesce;; in. the Rev. Mr r MacTCenzie's with deep regret, and desires: 'to ex.press its appreciation of the good wor.k he has done here during the; past 25 years, and: the hope that as Clerk of fche>General Assembly and other ways .he; still will be a'ljle to do good service for the cause of Presbyteri-' anism in New Zealand. This was seconded by Mr W. Widdowson, and agreed to. /V number of other mombevs of the • irepation also expressed their sense of indebtedness to Mr MacKenzie, and their regret that he would,'be leavjng Nelson in December. As he was only going to Wellington,' they trusted they .would see him often after that. Special reference was also made to. the valuable assistance rendered by Mrs MacKenzie in many ways. The Presbytery met again after the meeting of the congregation, and duly ncoepted Mr MacKenzie's resignation, to take effect from November 30 th.