TARANAKI PRESBYTERY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 87, 12 August 1915, Page 2

TARANAKI PRESBYTERY.

The two-monthly meeting was held in Haweia Presbyterian Hall With Rev. J. R. Shore in the chair, and a good muster of members. An elder’s commission from Kaponga in favor of Mr Kirgan was sustained, and his name added to the roll. . I The Clerk reported that he had forwarded to the Senior Chaplain the 'name of Rev. Welsh, who had offered his services as a chaplain. ! The Clcl'h iaid' bn the table a communication from Mr -T. Gumming, 'evangelist, at present labouring m Auckland Presbytery, and it was agreed that an endeavour be made to secure bis services for special meetings in Taranaki for a period of three months, commencing March 1, 1916. V request was received from Rev. T. H. Eoseveare for leave of absence from his charge for another month.—* [Leave granted, and hearty wishes expressed for speedy recovery. Mr MacHiarmid, on behalf of New Plymouth session, thanked the Presbytery, and especially the clerk, for assistance in carrying on the work during the minister’s absense;. . . Rev. Mr Pattison was appointed interim moderator of New Plymouth, and Rev. Mr Lowery, of Inglewood. Rev. Mr Mclvor reported that the Church Extension Grant to Patea had been reduced from £2O to £lO per annum without notice either to congregation nr Presbytery. A protest was directed to be sent to the convenor of the Church Extension Committee.

Delegates to Auckland Assembly. Revs. Messrs Shore, Howes, Pattison, and Roseveare, with Mr Lowery, substitute, were appointed ministerial delegates, and the sessions of New Plymouth, Stratford, Manaia and Opunake were each asked to appoint a representative elder. Messrs Howes and Bridge were appointed a sub-committee to examine and report on congregational balancesheet.

Mr Pattison introduced Mr A. H. Xorrie, the recently appointed Home Missionary at Whanga, and on his Behalf, asked that he be ordained as such. Air Norrie had been declared a missionary in full standing Ly the assembly, and the request was granted, and Messrs Pattison, Lilley, Lowery and Murray appointed to carry out the ordination at Whanga on a suitable date.

Rev. Mr Lowery moved, Mr Pattison seconded, and it was agreed that the Taranaki Presbytery, while recording its unwavering belief in the cause of the Allies and the desirability of supporting the “Wounded Soldiers” and other Patriotic Funds views with alarm the growing practice of holding raffles and art' unions on their behalf, and would strongly urge our people to discountenance these apd otherforms of gambling in aid of such worthy objects and further the Presbytery directed, that a strong protest be sent to the Minister of Internal Affairs against the granting of raffling permits.

It was agreed to instruct the Clerk to secure a return of all lands belonging to the Church within the hounds, of building on the same, of mortgages (if any), and to ascertain if transferred to the Church Board of Property of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.

Mr Pattison, in reporting on this matter, stated that it was due in large measure fo the low state of spiritual life in our churches, to the lack of family piety, the absence of the family altar and of religious conversation, to the inadequate salaries too often paid to ministers, to the attraction offered by a mercantile and commercial life, and to the greater financial inducements of other professions, and to the restlessness and perplexity due to radical criticism of the sacred scriptures. It was agreed to recommend that the Assembly direct Ministers and Missionaries to set before their young people the claims of the ministry as a life work; invite the professors of the clergy to undertake deputation work among the parishes, and urge our people to give themselves to united prayer. The Presbytery adjourned till October 7th.