PRESBYTERY OF WANGANUI.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9026, 13 December 1907, Page 2

PRESBYTERY OF WANGANUI.

Tho Presbytery met at Turakiua on Thursday. Present: Revs. Hutson (Moderator), Hall, Jolly, Gordon, Budd, Ross, Morton, Rybtiru, Gunn and McOully ministers; Messrs Breclin, Scott.' Bishop, Simpson, Kilgour, Murray, and McCaw, elders. Rev. E. Walker, Mr J. McGregor (student), Mr W. C. Blair (probationer), and Mr J. 0. Loan (home missionary) were also present. Apologies for absence wero received and sustained from Messrs Evans, Houore and Tucker. The Rev. G. Budd was "elected Moderator for the ensuing six mouths.

Mr A. H. Lennox was given power to celebrate marriages and baptisms in bis district ou the railway route. It was agreed to ask tho next Assembly to place .Air R. Tucker, of Wanganui ou tho list of ministers authorised to celebrate marriages. A good report was given of the work being inaugurated hi the Waitotara district by Mr J. McGrcegor, divinity student.

Reports from Eastown, Tanmaraiuui, Raetilii were all satisfactory. Leave was given to the Raotihi congregation to soli one of their sections. Gratifying account was given of tlio work of Mr A. H. Lennox.

It was reported that Mr D. C. Herron had made a start at Taibape outfields with much encouragement. Reports from Kewa and Halcombo were both entirely satisfactory. It was reported tliat'tho debt on Kimboiton church would bo wiped out this mouth, and that the Mause at Apiti was nearly completed, -and that services had been established iu some new districts.

Mr W. H. Hawkes lias been secured for Pohaugiua and is making a good start there. Gratifying reports wero also received from Levin and Foxtou.

Tho request of the Levin managers for leave to make arrangements to enable them to secure a manse at once wero acceded to. Plans of a manse at Levin wore approved. Mr Ryburn gave in a report of the committee appointed to arrange a summer school for homo missionaries at Turakiua. Tho school will be bold from January Kith to January 25th next. Lectures on theology and other subjects will bo given by ministers of tho Presbytery, and it is fully expected that 15 missionaries will be in attendance. A committee is to mature tho details.

Tho application of Mr T. W. Graham to bo received as a home missionary was approved, and it is to bo forwarded to tho Assembly’s committee.

It was agreed that the following message be sent to Rev. J. Duncan, of Fox ton, who is now the oldest Presbyterian minister in Now Zealand, and who is now very ill: “The Fresh.-, tery having heard of your groat weakness, desire to express their deep sympathy with you and your daughter, and trust that the Saviour whom you long preached may ‘ now be your comfort and support, and that in God’s time you will have an abundant entrance into the Heavenly Kingdom,” Mr Ryburn reported on behalf of the delegates who attended the recent Assembly, and the delegates wore thanked for their diligence. The Presbytery proceeded to license Mr W. C. Blair, of Wanganui, who lias just completed his studies at Dunedin. Those who were appointed to examine the subjects Mr Blair had prepared having reported favourably Mr Blair was, in the usual solemn and impressive manner, duly licensed, and received the right band of fellowship from tbo Modelator and other members of the Presbytery. The Presbytery also had the important duty of carrying out the Assembly’s instructions to ordain Mr J. E. Ward, of JTaumaranui, as a Maori missionary in full standing. There was a good attendance of the general public at the ceromnoy, which was deeply impressive as the missionary knelt; and tiie brethren laid iiauds on his head and set him apart to ids great work. The Moderator (Mr Budd) suitably addressed Mr Ward.

The records of sessions and committees of management of the congregations were duly examined, and found in most cases to be correctly kept. Elders’ commissions wore received and sustained in favour of Messrs Peter Bell, Wanganui; B. Wilson, Martou; G. Scott, Wanganui; A. Thomson, Fordoll; A. S. Brooker, Ilnutorville.

The Presbytery adjourned to "meet again at Martou on the second Tuesday of February. The Presbytery at a later hour discharged some duties as Maori Mission Committee, when a good report was given of this branch of the work. Adjournment was made to the Maori Girls’ College for the prize distribution, an account of which our readers will find elsewhere.