PRESBYTERY OF WANGANUI.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8838, 14 June 1907, Page 4

PRESBYTERY OF WANGANUI.

The t-bove Presbytery met at Palmerston on Tuesday. Present: Rots. J. Jolly, moderator pro torn, Hutson, Ryburn, Gordon, Ross, Budd, Hall, Gunn and McGnlly, ministers; Messrs Brechin, Tucker, Scott, Honore, Mcßeth, Murray, Kilgour, and Bisliop, elders. Messrs Bishop, McCnlly, Aitken and the Rev. E. Walker, who were also present for the first time, were ; welcomed to the Presbytery. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. _ Commissions -wore received au'i sustained in favour of Messrs G. Scott, St. Andrew's, Wanganui; J. Kilgour, Bulls; R. K. Simpson, Turakina; E. Bishop, Taihape. Apologies were received and sustained from Messrs R. K. Simpson, A. Morton and A. G. Simpson, i On the motion of Mr Ryburn, ! seconded by Mr Hutson, MrMcOully i was appointed Clerk of Presbytery 1 : in succession to Rev. J. Doull. I Owing to this appointment Mr J McCully asked to be excused from I serving his term as Moderator. The I request was granted and the Rev. B. j Hutson elected Moderator of Presby--1 tery for the ensuing six months. I I The following minute re the late I I J. Doull was moved by the Rev. D. J I Gordon and received standing: — j I "The Presbytery places on record its I appreciation of the life and work ot 1 the Rev. James Doull, who ontered 1 into" his rest on the 3rd of May. Mr 1 Doull was born in Ceylon in 18*4. 9 and was brought up in the parish ot 1 Latheson, Caithness,under the care of godly parents and searching ministry. For some five years he followed a commercial life, and when about 21 was led to definite consecration to Christ, and began Ins studies with a view to the ministry. He studied at Edinburgh University and Divinity Hall, and distinguished himself in all his studies. In 1863 he was licensed, and not long after was ordained to thejeharge of Fetlar, in the Shetland Isles, where his labours had been abundantly blessed. Ten years later he came to this colony, and m ibid was ' inducted at Bulls. .Mr Doull was therefore one of the pioneer ministers of this coast. For thirtyfour years he served with efficiency and zeal, not only his own cougregaj tion, but the whole church. Ho exercised a strong influence in fostering into vigorous life the cause of the Presbyterian Church between Wellington and New Plymouth. He further did noble service m the causes of temperance and',;educati on. He was chosen Clerk of this Presbytery upon its disjunction from the Wellington Presbytery in 1884, and held the position with great distinction till last meeting, when he resigned. Mr Doull possessed great intellectual gifts, and to the last was a diligaut student. In this particular his brethren always found intercourse with him a vast gain and stimulus. Added to this there was a rare spirituality of mind and a piety of life which inspired tliose who were privileged to come under his influence. In the last two years, as Mr Doull's health declined, he still preserved his hopeful and bright spirits, he still loved work, and believed that to depart from tins life is to be called to higher servco. He died as he had lived, in full assurance of faith and the Presbytery thanks God for his consistent and well-spent life" A letter of commendation from Auckland Presbytery to Mr E. Bishop was read. The clerk laid on the table a call from Bulls in favour of Mr Evans, of Warkworth, signed by 27 member and 47 adherents, and testified to the heartiness of the call. Messrs Kilgour and Stevenson also spoke in : support. The salary promised "in the 1 meantime is £175 a year. ! Mr Ryburn moved, and it was 1 agreed that the call be forwarded to Auckland Presbytery with reasons for its acceptance, and that the Rev. A. Doull, of Otahuhu, support the interests of Bulls in the matter. Arrangements for the induction of Mr Evans were left in the hands of the Moderator and Clerk of Presyterv. Reports of stations were given, in,"and it was i'shown that on the Main Trunk Line, Raetihi, Eastown, Ohaknne, Taihape, Rewa, Pohangina, Kiwitea, Levin and Foxton, good work was being done. Power was conferred on Mr G. K. Aitken, missionary at Foxton, to dispense baptism and celebrate marriages in his district. Messrs Billens, Low and Monroe were appointed a session for Foxton, and Messrs Low and Billens were added to the Levin session.

A committee was appointed to consider and reply to correspondence from Church Extension Committee. Tlie deputation who visited Rewa, Halcombe and Martou, reported on the visitation, and the Presbytery adopted appreciative motions in each case, and made arrangements for thesejto be read to the congregations concerned. In connection with the proposal of the Assembly to make a change in payment of travelling expenses it was recommended that the present arraugementsjbe adhered to. Mr Gordon reported as Presbytery Treasurer on the various funds and a scheme of assessment was approved. It is "expected that the Presbytery will next meet at Bulls, when Mr Evans is to be inducted. In tho ovening a meeting in the interests of Home Missions was held in the hall of the church. Tho Moderator of Presbytery, Rev. B. Hutson, presided. Rev. It. M. Ryburn told of tho needs of the work iu tho area which the Presbytery cavers. Mr E. Bishop, Homo Missionary atT aihape, gave a remarkably brisk and interesting account of the work and life "at a Home Misionary, and Mr McOully spoke on the dutv of giving. The audience contributed a liberal sum to Home Missions at the close. On Wednesday morning the Presbytery met as Maori Mission Committee,and as Mr Fletcher, missionary at Taupo, was present, the work of tho Mission was thoroughly gono into and several important proposals outlined. The reports from the missionaries and the master of the Maori Girl's School were all highly satisfactory.