THE PRESBYTERY OF WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5050, 31 May 1877, Page 3

THE PRESBYTERY OF WELLINGTON.

The Presbytery of Wellington hold its quarterly meeting at Wanganui on the 21st inst. Present: Revs. James Treadwell, James Donll, John Ross, and James Paterson, ministers, and Mr. Ilavid Strachan, elder. In the absence of the Moderator, the Rev. Mr. Ogg, Mr. Donll was requested to act as Moderator pro Urn. The minutes of former meeting, held at Wellington on 21st February, were read and confirmed.

A commission wan given in from the kirk session of Waverley in favor of Mr. Alexander Howie, ruling elder. Mr. Treadwell, Moderatorof the temporary session appointed to take charge of Hawera, reported that the session had met with the people at Hawera and the other places adjoining, that they had organised the congregation, had formed a communion roll consisting of about thirty members, who had been foriierly in communion with the Church ; that in addition to these there was a very considerable number of adherents, who were all hearty in the cause, and were a suitable minister settled there, there is every prospect of a flourishing congregation.

FEILDING AND PALMERSTON. Mr. Ross, convener of the committee appointed to visit i’eilding and Palmerston, reported that the committee had met with the people at both places ; that new committees h:ul been appointed ; that the committee at Palmerston had undertaken to raise at least £SO per annum towards Mr. McGregor s stipend ; that FelMing had undertaken to raise from £lO to £45 ; that a meeting had been held at Saudon, where a committee was formed, and a promise given to contribute towards the support of ordinances according to their abilities. The Presbytery recorded their gratification at the report, and thanked the committee for their diligence in the matter. In re the collection for church extension, the Clerk reported amount collected at St. John’s, Wellington, £ls ; St. Paul’s, Wanganui, £5 ; Turakina, £s.—The clerk was instructed to communicate with those congregations that have not yet reported ; also, to write to the church extension committee, making application for the renewal of the grant of £SO to Eeilding and Palmerston, and stating that the districts undertake to raise at least £IOO, and the Presbytery by collections to raise £SO.

Mr. Paterson moved, and Mr. Ross seconded, —That the session records, including the communion roll, be brought up, examined, and attested.

Mr. Ross brought before the Presbytery the matter of a curriculum of study, and produced a draft course of study for theological students. It was agreed to appoint a committee, consisting of Messrs. Treadwell, Rosa, Patersou, Ogg, and Doull, to consider the whole subject of curriculum, studies, and examination board, and to report at next meeting of Presbytery ; the Rev. Mr. Treadwell convener. Mr. Treadwell moved, —That the Presbytery appoint a committee, consisting of Messrs. Ross and the mover, to systematise arrangements for carrying on evangelistic work next summer.

Having vacated the chair, which was occupied by Mr. Treadwell, Mr. Dourx gave notice of the following motion, to be proposed at next meeting,—Tins Presbytery, while recommending the”energetic use of ail legitimate means for the erection of ecclesiastical buildings and tor other Christian purposes, do record its disapproval of the practices of raising money by lotteries, art unions, or in other ways not consistent with the gospel of Christ ; do exhort the congregations within the bounds to discountenance tiie same, and do agree to overture the General Assembly with the view of having a recommendation issued to the Church generally in accordance with this resolution. The Presbytery proceeded to hear the trial discourses of Mr. Robert McGregor, student of theology. He read an exegesis on Matthew xi., 25-7 ; also a homily on inspiration. He also read answers to a series of questions on inspiration; and Mr. Treadwell reported on two examination papers, one on the Sixtlx Book of Virgil and one on the First Book of Homer. The Presbytery recorded thenthorough satisfaction with the progress Mr. McGregor was making in his studies. It was agreed that the Presbytery adjourn, to meet at Masterton on the third Wednesday of August.