PRESBYTERY OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 216, 14 February 1866, Page 2

PRESBYTERY OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND.

Fbiday, Janttaby 19th. The Presbytery resumed this morning, at eleven e'clock, the Modebatob in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. - SEASONS OP DISSENT. The Rev. Mr. Wm gave in the following reasons of dissent from the motion with regard to tke Confession of l?»ith and the Basis of Union, passed at the last meeting of Synod : — That, whilst it is perfectly competent for the Synod to re /iew and amend its own procedure, it was inexpedient in the highest degree for the • Synod to go back upon the minutes of the Presbytery of Otago, and take action thereanent, which amounted to a censuring of that Presbytery, inasmuch as that Presbytery is now defunct, and can»ot therefore be heard in defence of its procedure ; and further, inasmuch as said Presbytery was then the highest Court of the Church. That it was open to the Synod simply to declare its adherence to the Confession of Faith in its entirety, or with such modification as might be deemed necessary, and that the resolution of Presbytery complained of when rightly interpreted in reference to the time and circumstances of its passing, did not betoken any readiness or willing, ness on the part of this Church to depart from its standards, and could not fairly be so construed. ( That the resolution of Synod being 'supported by the mover in a speech reflecting upon the members of Presbytery, who agreed to its resolu« tion of 1862, and upon the session from whom the proposal first emanated, the agreeing to the resolution of Mr. Bannerman was unjust to those parties, and established a dangerous precedent, opening a door for the raking up of old questions, and irritating old sores, to the destruction of the Church's peace and prosperity. That when the final vote was taken, one member voted by mistake, caused by an infirmity of hearing, which mistake was pointed out and declared by said party, immediately on the close of the calling of the roll, but he was not allowed then to correct himself. That in consequence of the above mistake, there was an equal division, but if said mistake had been corrected, there would have been a majority of two for the amendment, which accordingly expressed the real mind of the Synod. That notwithstanding this disputed vote, which, if allowed, would have carried the amendment, the Moderator gave his casting vote upon the equal division in favor of the motion, which though legally competent for him, the dissentients deem an exercise of authority, which ought not to be allowed to pass unnoticed. Signed by Wm. Will, D. M. Stnart, A. B. Todd, Charles Connor, James Copland, , Win, Johnston, and Wm. Gullies, Ministers ; and Wm, Johnston, Alexander Eennie, and John Gillies, Elders A committee, consisting of the Rev. Messrs Bannerman, Kirkland and Waters,- was appointed to answer these reasons of dissent. THE BASIS OP UNION. An overture was read from the Rev. A. H. Stobo setting forth that the steps taken by this • Church with respect to union with the other, portions of the Presbyterian Church in Mew Zealand have been misunderstood, and misre- , presented at home, especially before the Colonial Committee of the Free Church of Scotland, and he hoped that the whole subject would be taken into consideration, and a committee appointed to prepare a report, with a view to its being transmitted to the Colonial Committee of the Free Church of Scotland. The overture, the- Eev Mr. Stobo, said he would not press, if there was any likelihood of its being the cause of raising a discussion. The Rev Mr. Will thought it was" very probable that the overture would raise a long dis- > cussion. The overture was, by leave, • withdrawn. The following petition from the Kirk Session of Knox Church was read :— " Unto the Reverend the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland: — The Petition of the Kirk Session of Knox Church, Dunedin, prepared in conformity with a resolution adopted by the Session at a meeting held on the 7th January, 1866, and. unanimously approved of and adopted at a meeting of Session held in Knox Church on I the 14th January, 1866. [ "Humbly Representeth — That, on the 18th of December last, your Petitioners resolved to overture the Reverend Presbytery of Dunedin to. th» following effect ; — Whereas, tliis Session deem i% highly expedient, both for the glory of God and thegoodofthiß Church, that the Pwibjferiw

Church of New Zealand and the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland should be united in one Church, under one common designation ; and being of opinion that the Basis of Union as agreed to by the conference held in Danedin in 1861, with the alterations recommended by the Presbytery of Otago at their meeting, held on 17 ch September, 1862, would be a good and solid ground of Union, resolve to humbly overture the Keverend Presbytery of Dunedin to take this subject into their serious consideration, and devise and adopt such measures anent the premises as may promote the glory of God and the good of this Church. • " That this overture was accordingly'forwarded to the Presbytery of Dunedin ; but that Presbytery, without giving any opinion on the overture, simply set it aside by deciding, by the casting vote of the Moderator, that it should not be transmitted to your Eeverend Synod. "That your petitioners, being deeply impressed with the importance of the subject of the above overture, and believing that there are no insuperable difficulties or grounds to prevent the desired Union, and that such a Union would be for the glory of God and the good of this Church, they feel aggrieved, and are compelled to come before your Keverend Court as Petitioners. " Tour petitioners are satisfied that there can be no reasonable objection on the part of any member of your Eeverend Synod to the effecting of the desired Union on the basis agreed to, not only by the Conference held in 1861, but also BTeed to by all the Kirk Sessions and Deacons' Courts connected with your Keverend Synod which then existed ; and with regard to all those Ministers who have been since admitted into this Church, they joined themselves to the Church in the full knowledge of that basis of Union having been agreed to. "Your petitioners further feel satisfied that there can be no objection to a Union of both portions of the Presbyterian Church on the above mentioned basis, because all the opposition which has been given to the Union was professedly made on the ground that that basis was departed from. " That your petitioners, on reviewing the proceedings of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, held lately at Dnnedin, feel satisfied that that body will still agree to unite with your Keverend Synod on the basis adopted in November 1861. "That, under these circumstances, your petitioners do not see die slightest ground for the two branches of the same Church remaining in a state of apparent antagonism, as at present; a position most unseemly for both parties, and most injurious to the interests of the Presbyterian Church and of true Keligion. "For these and other reasons, which your Petitioners have instructed then* Kepresentatives in your Synod to urge at your bar, your petitioners humbly pray that your Kererend Synod take the object of this petition into your prayerful consideration, and adopt and prosecute such measures as will, at an early date, consummate a full and perfect union of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand and your Keverend Synod, on the basis above referred to as adopted at the Conference held at Dunedin in November, 1861. And your petitioners shall ever pray. Signed in name, and by •sppointment, of the Erk° Session of Knox Church, Dunedin, by the Moderator and Clerk, and also signed by the •whole members of the session in token of their individual approval thereef." There was also read a memorial, signed by all the members of the Deacon's Court of the same Church, stating that the " Memorialists deem it to be their duty to give expression to their admiration of the Christian, liberal, and enlightened spirit manifested by the Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand during its recent sitting in Dunedin, and their profound regretthat circumstances have hitherto prevented a thorough union between the Presbyterian Church cf Otago and that Church." It further stated that the memorialists " are decidedly of opinion that such union, at a very early date, is not only most desirable, but also possible and that it is a consummation most earnestly to be prayed for, and that they further believe that the proposed ■union would tend greatly to the promotion of the cause of the Kedeemer and the usefulness of the Church in these Islands ;" and they asked the Synod to adopt measures for the accomplishment of the object contemplated at the earliest possible date. The Modebatoe appealed to everyone who intended to take part in the discussion which might be raised upon the memorials, to approach the question hi as calm a spirit as possible, and to be on their guard against saying anything which would irritate others, or rake up past events. Mr. John Gillies [appeared for the petitioners. The Key. Mr. Stobo moved — " That this Synod, having heard the memorial and petition from Enox Church deacon's court and kirk-session, and considered the same, whilst expressing their desire, in common with the memorialists and petitioners, for a union with other portions of the Presbyterian Church in these islands, on a basis such as that agreed to by the Conference held in Dunedin in 1861, as soon as practicable, yet do not think that such a union is at present practicable, and strongly deprecate further discussion on the subject in present circumstances. The Key. Mr. Todd seconded the motion, a3 a lover of union, and, for the purpose of accomplishing which, he thought their motto ought to be "delay." After a short discussion as to a point of order, and a conference among several members, The Key. Mr. Stobo added the following words to Ms motion — " And that a committee be appointed on this subject, to report to the next meeting of Synod ; said Committee to consist of Messrs Todd, M'Naughton, Stuart, and the mover, ministers ; and Messrs Morris, Thomson, Gillies, and Souness, elders." The Key. Mr. "Ratotftpata-h- would have preferred the motion as it originally stood. He would not move hi opposition, but he wished to state that he did not go with the proposal to hand this matter over to a Committee at its present stage. The Key. Mr. Waters was in favor of a union n a basis which was practicable. After a short discussion, the motion was carried. The Modebator wished to express his gratitude to Almighty God that this discussion had taken this kind and friendly turn. He assured the Synod that the whole of this dispute about ■union had sunk deeply into his feelings, and he liad been alarmed for the future of the Church. The discussion which had now closed had allayed Jiis apprehensions. 3HNTSTEBS FOB THE G-OLDFIELDS. The Key. Mr. Will brought under the notice of the Synod the necessity which existed for ministers on the Gold-fiields, and he proposed that two ministers should be sent for from Home, who would devote themselves to the ministerial work on the Gold-fields. After a debate in a very thin house, it was resolved "to make an application to the Colonial Committe of the Free Church of Scotland to send out two ministers or probationers for the Goldfields, and that the matter be remitted to the Church Extension Committee. GENEBAL BUSINESS. A committee, consisting of the Key. Messrs Will, Stuart, and Gillies, was appointed, with -authority to adjust the accounts in connection with the passage money of ministers ; to recieve the money now in the hands of the treasurer ; and to settle all claims as far as the present funds will •allow. A Sustentation Fund Committee was appointed, ■consisting of Messrs. Todd, Allen, Stuart, and Will, ministers ; and Messrs. Souness, Murray, Gillies, and Kennie, elders. The Probationers Committee was discharged, and a Church Extension Committee appointed to •arrange with Presbyteries as to the employment of probationers, aud the giving of supply to preaching stations. Said Committee to consist of Messrs. Stuart, Watt, M'Naughton, Johnston, ministers; and Messrs, Souness, Moms, and

i Consideration of the referencefrom the Presbyter I Clutha withrespecttocontinuingministerial supply ; at Popotunoa was resumed, and it was agreec i that Popotunoa be dealt with according to th< l terms of the appointment of the Church Exten i sion Committee. An application was by the Rev. Mr Gillies, a! . Moderator of the Deacon's Court of the Wes: i Tairia congregation, far a loan to that court o: i LSOO, at bank interest, out of the Manse Reserve Fund. There was a discussion, after which it was ; resolved, "That the application be granted, or " condition that security be given for the due repayment of the same within three years, to the satisfaction of the Deacon's Court of First Churci and of the factor and solicitor of the Church ; and the factor is hereby authorised to pay such sum, on the said condition being fulfilled." On the same subject the following motion was also carried — "'That a Committee be appointed to consider and report upon the granting of loans to deacons courts from the Manse Reserve Fund, and that the following gentlemen be requested to act as the Committee : — Messrs E. B. Cargill, J. Duncan, Livingston, J. Gillies, and J. H. Harris ; Mr. Livingston to be convener. Several formal matters of business were disposed of, and the Synod adjourned.