NEW MODERATOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26634, 3 December 1947, Page 6

NEW MODERATOR

PRESBYTERY OF DUNEDIN THE REV. A. M. ELLIFFE CHOSEN The moderator of the Presbytery of Dunedin during the centennial year will be the Rev. A. M. Elliffe, who is at present clerk of the presbytery. He will continue to carry out his duties as clerk, but will have the help of an assistant clerk in -Dr H. W. West This was decided at the monthly meeting of the presbytery yesterday. The question of whether the Port Chalmers congregation is entitled to celebrate its centenary next year was considered at some length. The Rev. H. O. Bowman said that a ruling was sought in the matter. He pointed out that the first Presbyterian service in Otago was held on shipboard at Port Chalmers on March 26, 1848, and the first regular service on October 15 of the same year. It was stated that the Port Chalmers congregation did not become independent of First Church until 1857. The presbytery approved celebrating the March 26 date as the centenary of the first service arid referred the other matter to the Ecclesiastical Committee for a report. A call to the charge of St. Andrew’s Church, Hastings, was accepted by the Rev. H. A. Mitchell, of Roslyn. The Rev. J. M. McKenzie was appointed interim moderator of Roslyn. A welcome to Mr F. J. Jarvis, who will represent the Presbyterian Church of South Africa at the centennial celebrations next year was extended by the presbytery.