WELLINGTON DISTRICT PRESBYTERY MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1996, 21 May 1885, Page 2

WELLINGTON DISTRICT PRESBYTERY MEETING.

The annual meetinp of the Presbytery was held at the Presbyterian Church, Maaterton,- yesterday afternoon. Present—the Rev. C. S. Ogg (Moderator, pro. tern.), and the Revs. J. K. Elliott, J. Pat'erson, Thompson, D. Fulton, and Rogers (Clerk), and Elders A. Yule senr., C. Holdaway, J. McGregor, J. Harvey senr., and Bruce (Hutt), The proceedings were opened Ah prayer, and the minutes of the pre Mis meeting were read and confirmed. The Rev. D. Fulton was elected Moderator for the ensuing year. It A discussion took place upon the assessment of the various Churches, for the purpose of payiiig the expenses of Ministers and Elders attending the assemblies,, also as to the beat method of increasing the receipts of the Church Extension Funds.

The Rev. Mr Paterson regretted more effort was not used to obtain funds byrt subscription, instead of depending on thST special collections in the churches for this object. He thought if members " could be induced to give, say, 10s a year' each to this object, it would be an.im-" provenient upon the present system". The Rev, Mr Ogg said the subscriptions to this fund were considerably augmented by the Churches of Scotland and Ireland, or its sphere of usefulness would be but limited. He suggested that the advanced class of Sabbath scholars might well take such a work in hand, - arttthy • giving say 2s Cd a year each to thislid, and getting subscriptions outside of themselves, might be a valuable auxilliary. The Rev. Mr Fulton said the discussion was valuable in showing new ; methods by which this particular fund might be increased. He felt sure the schemo of having a special collection for • the Church Extension Fund once a year would givo but a meagre result. Before going any further with business he would beg to digress for the purpose of proposing a hearty vote of welcome to the Rev.., J. E. Elliott, of Newtown, who had ■ newly come amongst them. He had never had the privilege of hearing him . preach, but hoped to do so that eveningj^ The proposal was seconded by the Rev. J. Paterson, and Mr Elliotte having replied in suitable terms, the discussion on . the Church Extension Fund was re- ! . sumed, . *

The Rev. Mr Paterson said, in respect to special collections, it had been always a rule to deduct therefrom the- amount of what would be their ordinary collection before handing it over to the special object for which it was collected.

The Rev. Mr Elliott said he considered the special collections should not have the ordinary collections deducted from them. It had not been done in his Church, and he had nover known dßk being done, 'W-

_ The Rev. Mr Paterson said congregations, especially in country districts, could not afford to have their ordinary Church revenue interfered with.

The Rev. Mr Ogg thought each minister might please himself. The Moderator roso to speak upon the question, but was stopped by the Rov, Mr Ogg on a point of order,

The Rev. Mr Elliott said there was 110 necessity for any of them to come there at all if the Rev. Mr Ogg was soing to do all the business himself. The Rev. Mr Ogg said the Moderator might mov&s a resolution or Bpeak to one if he lefT the chair.

After some further discussion was resolved that subscriptions be collected by the Church Officers quarterly, instead of half-yearly. Elder J. McGregor said the officers had a great deal of ground to go over, and it took up a great deal of their time to gather in the subscriptions, and he thought if the collections wore made quarterly they would have difficulty in getting officers who could devote » time to it, but he declined to move an amendment. The meeting then adjourned, 1