WAIRARAPA PRESBYTERY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 11 December 1912, Page 5

WAIRARAPA PRESBYTERY.

MEETING AT MASTER'fOX

j Tho Wairarapa Presbytery met yes-, I terday afternoon in Knox Hall, Mnsterton. Present—Rev Stowell derator). Tennent, A. T. Thompson (clerk), Young, Messrs Ralph and Wood. ! Rev J. S. Young was elected moderator for the ensuing year. Rev J. K. Stowell reported, as moderator of Pahiatua, that he had ■preached the charge vacant, and held a congregational meeting on 9th inst, 'at which a selection committee had been appointed. Rev E. C. Tennent reported on the Presbyterial visitation of Eketahuna recently. Changes in the population had made the carrying on of the work difficult, so many Presbyterian families having left the district. It was recommended that Mr Ralph, \ . homo missionary, be given power to i marry, and dispense the sacramonts, while in-that district. Mr Ralph reported on the present position of finances, and stated that the stipend fund was seriously in arrears. Memorial minutes were received standing, expressing the Presbytery's appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the Church of Christ, by tho late Rev John Ross and Mr Duncan McGregor and their sense of the j loss sustained, by their removal. 1 Tt .was reported that in Eketahuna j men's and ladies' branches of Bible in } Schools League had been formed ;■ that I in Featherston steps were being taken ,in the same direction; that in Mari tinborough a. good many members had j lieen enrolling, and that money was being sent in; and that in Mastertop ! a meeting was to be held last night to consider the formation of a league. Rev A. T. Thompson was authorised to urge the claims of the district on the services of tho Rev P. B. Fraser. tho superintendent of home missions, and to request a visit at an early date; to request the foreign missions commitee to arrange for a visitation iof the district by Dr Kirk, of the Canton Village Mission; and that j steps be taken to consider the Presbytery whether the district could not anow .undertake the support of - a missionary in tho foreign/ held in addition to present contributions to foreign missions. j It was intimated that Mr Rattray, of Pongaroa, had been appointed to Springfield, Canterbury, and that he would be succeeded by Mr Bloomfield. Rev A. T. Thompson was congratu- ( lated on the neat and attractive brochure recently (published containing tho sermons preached during the past winter, on "What's wrong with Masterton ?" containing as they did much food for thought. Tho opinion was also expressed that he had rendered timely service in introducing tho subject of "Social Purity" on a recent, Sunday to his congregation, and the hope was expressed that it would be tlie beginning of some organised movement to educate public opinion en a matter of vital importance, and calling for the earnest attention of parents 'and teachers, and all who had tho care of the young.