THE SYNOD OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND.

Southland Times, Issue 1202, 28 January 1870, Page 3

THE SYNOD OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND.

♦ This Synod commenced its deliberations in Dunedin, on the 11th inst., when the.Eev. W. Johnstone, of Port Chalmers, was appointed moderator. The business of the first meeting was confined to a sermon preached by the retiring moderator, the Eev. Mr Todd, of Oamaru, an address by the moderator, and the appointment of several committees. On Wednesday, 12th inst., the Eev. Mr Stuart read the report of the Church Extension Committee, from which we make the following extracts : — " The income during the year from collections, exclusive of the sum provided by vacant congregations, has been only £108, a sum totally inadequate for enabling the Committee to do anything in the way of fostering new charges. " The amount raised by collections for paying the passage money of Ministers has only been £116 ; hence the debt due to: the Colonial Committee of the Free Church, for the passage and outfits of Messrs Thomson and Eoss, has not yet been paid, amounting to £26?. The Colonial Committee has intimated their intention to draw on this Church by the next mail for £200 of this sura, and as there is only £150 in the Treasurer's hands to meet this draft, the Synod must devise some means for providing the balance." It was intimated that a member of Knox Church had given a donation of £50 .towards bringing out a minister for the goldfields, and it was ultimately agreed to send for two, one for the Church generally, and one for the goldfields. Mr Cargill, at the request of the Synod, stated what steps had been taken towards the fqrmation'of the University. After the Council of the University had been constituted by Ordinance of the Provin cial Council, steps were immediately taken for the formation of the University. A very handsome fund was placed at the disposal of the Council, in the shape of land endowment, from which a revenue of about £1900 was derivable, which sum was now accruing. This sum was irrespective of any revenue that might be obtained from the Synod. It was determined, on the Council meeting, to provide for the maintenance of two professors, and the salary of each was fixed at £000 per annum. It was hoped that within the current year they would see the two professors in Otago, and prepared to undertake the work. The Eev. Mr G-illies proposed the adoption of the Interim Act, amended so as to make the salary of the professor not more than £750 for the first year, and not less than £550 nor more than £600 for the succeeding years, or such other sum as may be determined upon; Mr Gillies explaining that the second provision was necessary in case the funds proved not to be sufficient to allow of a salary of £600 being paid. The Eev. ftfr Bannerman asked if any arrangements were being made by the Council for the endowment of a chair of Natural Science? It was of more importance that the students should have the aid of professors in studying natural science than moral philosophy. The Eev. Mr Stuart agreed with the remarks of the previous speaker. It was a very general feeling of the Council that the next chair endowed should be a Chair of Natural Science. The motion was agreed to. An application was received from the Dunedin Presbytery for leave to take Mr Chisholm on trial for license as a proba-tioner-of the Church, he having undergone all the examinations required by the rules of the church. The Eev. D. Stuart expressed the satisfaction of the examining committee with the manner in which Mr Chisholm had undergone his examination. The Synod agreed to grant the necessary authority. The Eev. W. Grillies read the report of the Sustentation Committee. From it we make extracts : — " The total amount of the fund for 1868 was £4994. 18s 3d, allowing a dividend of £197 17s for the year. For 1869 the

total is £5407 12s Bd, allowing a dividend of £197 13a 9d for the year, or first half-year's dividend, £101 3s; second half-year, £96 10a 9d. "The following is the classified statement of the congregations and their contributions: — "There are this year eleven congregations contributing above £200 per annum, and these are more than self-sustaining — a larger number than have been in any previous year. Of these six are contributing above £250 each, viz., Kdox Church, £416 ss; First Church, .£366 0s 6d ; East Taieri, £283 Is 6d; "West Taieri, £259 7s 6d; "Waikouaiti and Palmerstpn, £256 33 6d ; and Oaraaru, for eight months, £184 10s. Tokomairiro would also come into this class, if it were not for the vacancy. " There are fire congregations contributing between £200 and £220 per annum, viz.. Invercargill, £220 ; Otepopo and Hampden, £217 19s 6d ; Lawrence and "Waitahuna, £210; Inch Clutha, £203 Us Od ; and Queenstown, for eight months, £137 19s 2d. St Andrews would also probably come into this class, were it not for the vacancy. "Then there are four congregations contributing between £170 and £200 per annum — Alexandra and Clyde, £187 10s ; Kaikorai, £180; Green Island, £179 5s 8d ; Popotunoa, £173. "Then there are eight congregations contributing between £150 and £170 per annum, viz., Anderson's Bay, £162 10s ; Otenmika,£l6o 4s 6d ; Pomahaka, £160; North Taieri, £158 ; North-east Harbour and Portobello, £155 0$ Id ; Wallacetown, £154 9s ; "Waipori, £151 7s 6d ; Teviot, £151. "Then there are four congregations contributing under £135 per annum — Riverton, £133 ; "Waihola, £131 12s 6d ; Clutha, £130 ; Port Chalmers, £130." After some discussion as to the small amount of the average stipend of ministers, the report was adopted. The Rev. W. Will moved the adoption of the following overture from the Dunedin Presbytery — " Whereas it is desirable that there should be some definite regulations laid down by the Supreme Court of the Church in connection with that fund known as the Sustentation Fund, in order to protect the interests thereof and secure its more efficient working, it is humbly overtured by the Presbytery of Duuedin to the Synod of Otago and Southland that it would take this whole matter into serious consideration/and more especially the following proposals, and take such steps thereanent as it may deem best for the glory of God and the good of the church in connection with this fund : — ' " First. That the general principle on which the fund shall be administered shall be, as hitherto, that all congregations of the church shall receive an equal dividend,, but only under the following provisions. "1. ~No new charge shall be sanctioned unless there is a reasonable prospect of its contributing at least £150 per annum* to the fund, and if in any after year the contributions shall fall short of that sura, a statement of the causes shall be given, and if not satisfactory, the committee shall be authorised to pay only the amount contributed with one-fourth more added thereto. "2. No aid receiving congregation giving supplement of . more than £20 per annum to their minister shall be entitled to a full dividend, but only to a sum equal to the amount contributed. "3. On the occasion of a vacancy in any sanctioned charge, the contributions of which for the immediately preceding year were under £150, no moderation of call shall be allowed unless there is provision made to the satisfaction of the Sustentation Eund Committee for raising the fund to at least that amount. " 4. All charges already sanctioned shall come under the operation oi provision No. 1, at the first vacancy. " 5. The half-yearly return, sent in in December to the Treasurer, to be accompanied with a statement as to the amount of supplement given, or promised, for the year. Blank returns to be printed and supplied to the Deacons' Courts." The rev. gentleman, in a speech of considerable length, supported the overture. It was not proposed to interfere with any ministers in charge, the regulations would only apply to future engagements. The Sustentation Eund had done a noble work, and he agreed in the remark made by a previous speaker, that if they abolished the fund, the Synod would soon offer a very different appearance to what it then presented. He should therefore very much regret their departing from the principle of a Sustentation Eund; but some modifications in the mode of distribution might properly be made. The Rev. A. B; Todd seconded the motion. Unless the Synod proceeded in this direction the Sustentation Eund wouldjse destroyed entirely. There was very great difficulty in sending round collectors to raise the funds of the Church. The Eree Church of Scotland had found it necessary to adopt regulations such as those just proposed, and they had been found much more successful than was anticipated. In raising their funds, they should educate the people to bring their contributions to the church. The Rev. Mr Stobo moved, as an amendment, that the overture be sent down to the Presbyteries for further consideration. The motion that the overture be adopted, and the amendment that it be sent down for further consideration, were then put to the vote with the following result : — For the motion, 17 ; for the amendment, 10. The motion was therefore carried. The Synod then adjourned till next day.

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