SYNOD OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 215, 12 February 1866, Page 3

SYNOD OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND.

fFrom the Daily Times, 19th Jan.^ Thursday, 18th Janttaby. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved of. GENERAL BUSINESS. A Committee on Synodical expenses was appointed, consisting of the Key. Messrs Stobo, Will, Todd, and Mr. Rennie, and Captain Thomson, to report in the evening. The Rev. Mr. Todd gave in the report of the Committee appointed to visit Tunpeka, and explain to the congregation the position in which Mr. Forsaith stood to the church. The deputation found that the congregation had been mistaken as to Mr. Forsaith's position, believing him to be open to receive a call as a minister ; but when the matter was explained, and they learned that he was not in that position, they were satisfied ; and since Dr. Copland was settled at Tuapeka, all misunderstanding had passed away, and the congregation was now in a satisfactory position. The report of the Committee on Sabbath Observance was called for, and the Rev. Mr. Johnston, in the absence of the convener, said the Committee had not been called together, and consequently no report could be given in. The Committee was re-appointed, Mr. Will, convener. A reference was read from the Presbytery of Southland, asking that Wallacetown should be sanctioned as a regular ministerial charge. The Key. Mr. Stobo supported the application and stated that during the past half-year the congregation at Wallacetown was self-sustaining, having raised £100. There was there a very wide and necessitous field, sufficient to engage the ample efforts of any minister of the Church. He moved that the application be granted. The Rev. Mr. Stuaet seconded the motion, and it was agreed to. An application was read from Wallacetown and Eiverton for aid from the Manse Fund. The Rev. Mr. Stobo moved that Wallacetown stand, as far as Southland is concerned, as the the first to receive the grant or a portion of the grant from the Manse Fund. This was agreed to. An application was read from the deacons' court of the East Taieri congregation, asking for a grant-in-aid from the Manse Fund of £200, towards the proposed re-building of the manse. In support of the application, the Rev. Mr. Will made explanationns' as to the necessities of the case. The grant would not be asked until all present claims on the fund were paid. The application was granted, and it was resolved, " That the trustees be empowered to grant a like sum, if necessary, towards enlarging the Clutha Manse, on an application from the Clutha Presbytery to that effect, on the Presbytery certifying that they are satisfied with the plans and specifications; and, further, that this shall not be held as a precedent in future cases." The Rev. Mr. Bannesman moved, "That a Committee be appointed, consisting of the Eev. Messrs. Will, Todd, and the mover, and Messrs. Souhess and Rennie, to consider whether it be in accordance with the constitution of this Church to receive a commission in favor of an elder from any kirk-session whilst another elder from the said kirk-session is its representative elder to the Presbytery of the bounds." He did so because certain commissions were handed in by elders dated on the day of the meeting of Synod, whereas the law of the Church required that an elder, to have a seat in the Synod, must have been the representative of his session at the last meeting of lhe Presbytery of the bounds. The Rev. Mr Stobo seconded the motion.

There was a long discussion on this motion, and various points of order. The Rev. Mr. Will moved an amendment, " That it shall be part of the constitution of this Synod, that if sessions see fit they shall be at liberty to elect to represent them in the Synod an elder other than the one representing them in the Presbytery ; and that the present disputed commissions be held as legal. On the suggestion of the Moderatob, the following words were added to the motion, " It being agreed that whatever shall be the result of the enquiry, in no instance shail the eifect be the unseating of any of any of the present members of Synod." The amendment was then withdrawn, and. the motion, ac ameaded, agreed to. v

A reference was read from the Kirk-session of the First Church, asking the assent of the Synod to the providing of an assistant for Dr. Burns, and it was agreed to approve of the proposal. An application was read from the Rev. Andrew Bett, offering his services to the Synod to preach. He stated that he arrived in this country a few years ago under a transfer from the Free Church of Scotland, and he was licensed by the Presbytery of Otago to preach. He had, from various reasons, for a time retired from the work, but a few months ago he had been called upon unexpectedly to preach, and if now acceptable to the Synod, he offered regularly to resume the work of preaching. It was agreed to employ him for twelve months at the usual rate allowed to probationers. A reference was read from the Clutha Presbytery, with respect to Popotunoa district. It stated that a deputation had visited the district, and examined as to the Sustentation Fund, and reported that £100 per annum might reasonably be expected from the district. It recommended that Popotunoa should be continued as a preaching station of th i Church, and that arrangements should be made to supply the districts regularly. After a long and very irregular debate, it was agreed to postpone the matter until after the appointment of a Church Extension Committee. The Synod adjourned at four o'clock, and met again at six o'clock. It was resolved that the Address delivered by the Moderator at the opening of the Synod be entered at length on the minutes, and that the ' thanks of the Synod be recorded to the Moderator for the same. A motion was also made that the Address be printed, and circulated through the Church, along with the financial statement, but several members objected to this coui'se, on the j ground that there were in the Address matters ] upon which there were differences of opinion. After a discussion the motion was withdrawn. Overtures were read from the Presbyteries of Otago and Clutha, pointing out the difficulties which existed in the way of the Church obtaining an adequate supply of ministers from the Home Churches, L and asking the Synod to take the matter into their consideration, with the view of devising measures to induce young men within the Province, to give themselves to the work of the ministry. The Rev. Mr. Todd supported the overtm-e for the Clutha Presbytery. He moved that a College Committee be appointed to bring up a definite report to the next meeting of the Synod. The Rev. Mr. Gilles seconded the motion, and supported|the overture for the Dunedin Presbytery. After a discussion, the motion was amended and carried as follows : — " That a College Committee be appointed to consider and report as to the means within the power of the Church to carry out tho object of the overtures ; meantime, that Presbyteries be at liberty to appoint any of their number to undertake the training of young men within their bounds. That L'resbyteries report to Synods the stud : es prescribed, and also the progress made by the young men ender training. The Committee to consist of the Rev. Messrs Will, Gillies, Stobo, Bannerman, Todd, and Messrs Souness, Monis, Rennie, Thomson, Gillies, elders." Mr John Gillies laid on th table the power of 'attorney to Mr J. E. Smith, the Factor of Church Property, which it had been agreed should be drawn up at a previous meeting of the Synod, it was read over by the Clerk, and the Moderator and Clerk were aurhorised to sign the same on behalf of the Synod. The document was imme.diately executed. An overture was read from the Presbytery of Clutha, asking the Synod to order the preparation of a formula to be signed by ministers, probationers, and office-bearers, and questions to be put to the same. The Rev Mr Bannebman supported the overture, and moved the appointment of a Committee in accordance with the overture. The Rev. Mr. Johnston seconded the motion, and it was agreed to. The Committee appointed consisted of the Rev. Messrs. Todd, Kirk and, and Bannerman — Mr. Bannerman to be Convener. On the motion of the Rev. Mr. Todd, it was also remitted to the same Committee, to prepare a digest of rules and procedure of the Courts of this Church. The Key. Mr. Stobo brought up the report of the Committee on the Model Trust Deed, to be used by Deacons' Courts in pecuring Church property. Mr. J. Gilles suggested a number of alterations. "It was resolved — " The Synod, having heard the report of the Committee on the draft of the model trust deed for congregational property, approve of the same with the alterations which have been submitted to the Synod, and enjoin that it be printed with these alterat'ons aa a draft model trust deed ; and that it be also printed as a draft model trust deed for manses ; and resolved, that Deacons' Courts have all congregational property secured under the provisions thereof." On themotion of Mr. J. Gilles, Messrs. Morris,Souness, and the mover were appointed a Comr mittee to prepare the necessary draft deeds fo churches, aud manses, with the alterations agreed to by the Sgnod ; and that Mr. J. H. Harris be appointed by the Synod, as the solicitor, to revise the trust deeds of the various congregational properties. An overture was read from the Presbytery of Clutha on the subject of giving compensation for improvements on glebes. Iv accordance with the terms of the overture, Dr. Copland moved a motion, which he afterwards withdrew in favor of the following moved by Mr. John Gillies : — " The Synod resolve to recommend to the different congregations of the Church that in the event of a Minister being removed from any congregation, and in the event of the death of a Mintster, the Deacons' Court should give some compensation for the permanent and necessary improvements made by such Ministers on their glebes." An overture was read from the Presbytery of Southland, asking that steps should be taken to enter into correspondence with the Presbytery of thb bounds, with the view of making arrangements for the supply of Gospel Ordinances at Hokitika. It was resolved, " That as the Synod has been given to understanc that arrangements are being made by the Presbytery of the bounds for the supply of ordinances at Hokitika, this overture be fallen from." The Rev, Mr. Bannerman grvc in a verbal report as one of the Commissioners appointed to attend the late meeting of the General Assembly of New Zealand, tbat he had, in company with the Rev. Mr. Meiklejohn, attended the meetings, and was received in a kiud and fraternal manner by the brethern from the North. As the result of the conference, he read the resolution adopted by the General Assembly, and which has already been published. It was resolved to approve of the dilligence of the commissioners, and to tender them the thanks of the Synod for their services. The following overture was read from the Rev. Mr. Bannerman — " Whereas the members of this Synod have severally at theirordinationadopted the Confession of Faith in its entireity ; and whereas, at a meeting of the Presbytery of Otago (now represented by the Synod of Otago and Southland), held at Dunedin on the 17th September, 1962, a resolution was agreed to recommending to the serious consideration of the Auckland Conference on Union fhe Confession of Faith, with the exception of the 3rd section of the 23rd chapter of the said Confession, as one of the subordinate standards ; whereas, the said resolution has been' interpreted as implying a departure, on the part of the Presbytery of Otago from the Confession of Faith in its entirety, it is humbly overtured to the very reverend the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland, that they will take this resolution into their consideration, with the view of declaring that such resolution docs not imply any purpose of this Church in any way to depart from the Confession of Faith." 'In accordance with this, the Rev. Mr. Bannerbian moved — " That this Synod declares that the said resolution is not to be held as implying any purpose of this Church in any way to depart from the Confession of Faith in its entirety." ' j A long and stormy discussion ensurd upon PQiata of. order y&i«d, &nd also, upon the jaotion..

The Rev. Mr Gillies moved as an amendment — " That the Synod dismiss the overture of Mr. Bannerman simpliciter." On the vote being taken, the members were j equal, eleven voting on either side. It was then stated that one of the elders, Mr. Sinclair, had voted for the motion under a misapprehension. There was a discussion as to whether the Vote, could be altered, when the Moderator ruled that it could not, as the voting was completed before the mistake was discovered. Mr. Sinclair afterwards stated that he wished his vote to stand as rcorded. The Moderator gave his casting vote for the motion, which was carried. The Rev. Mr. Will dissented from the motion, for reasons to be given in for himself and all who adhered to him. The Synod adjourned at half-past eleven o'clock.