KNOW CHURCH.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 20, 8 October 1898, Page 6

KNOW CHURCH.

A meeting of the congregation -was held in«the schoolroom on Wednesday evening. The Rev. Robert Maclrie, Moderator, presided. In spite of the bitter weather, there was a large attendance o-i members -and adherents. The meeting opened with prayer. The committee appointed to select candidates for the vacancy caused by the translation of the Rev. H. Kelly to Auckland 'handed -in its report, which was to the effect that great difficulty had been experienced in inducing ministers to •preach as candidates. Three men Jaad been heard, and«the committee made no recommendation, but left it to the congregation to .decide wha* further steps should foe taken. 'On the motion of Mr "T. Brown, seconded by Mr Coltman, the report was .received. In the -discussion on the motion, it came out that several ministers who would not candidate had intimated they -would favourably consider a -direct .call, ■whereupon one speaker cynically remarked *hat .£250, the stipend, had probably •something to -do with the refusal to candidate, as one minister who declined to ipreadh for the 'Waimate vacancy had since done so -at a church where the stipend offered was £20 a 'year more. Mr Morgan moved, and Mr P. Cockburn seconded, that more candidates he heard. 'T<he motion -was very fully debated. •One section of the congregation was evidently tired of the delay involved in hearing more candidates, but on the other hand it was pointed out that by waiting long -enough .on & preyious occasion the church had succeeded in obtaining &n excellent minister. The motion was eventually carried by a large majority, and any Presbyterian minister may now apply to be heard .as a candidate. It was pointed >out that having handed initsjeport the selection committee ceased to exist. A .discussion took place as to the power of the members of the committee in the matter of deciding which of the future should he heard. It -was tlien resolved *>n the motion of Mr Pitcaithly, seconded by Mr W. Allan, to re-appoint the gentlemen who' had acted as a selection committee to co-oper-ate with the Kirk Session. It jvaa understood that the members jappointed by the congregation were to ihavcan equal vote with the members, of the Session in all business dealt with by ' the combined committee. The meeting, like the previous one, was very harmonious and representative of the whole' district. 1 Opinions ior and against candidatingwere '.freely expressed- and all in the very -best spirit, '

On the motion of Mr J. F. Douglas, a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman was carried by aeelaniation. The meeting closed by the chairman pronouncing the benediction. The committee met at the close of the •congregational meeting and arranged that the Hey. Fraser of Dunedin, a candidate, should X3ccupy the pulpit on Sunday 16th insk, and that a report of the business done at the congregational meeting just held should be drawn up and sent to the Outlook.