PRESBYTERY OF WESTLAND.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1441, 8 September 1884, Page 2

PRESBYTERY OF WESTLAND.

The adjourned meeting of the Presbytery of Westland was held oh Wednesday afternoon last, in the vestry of Knox Church. Present : — Rev. W. Douglas, M.A., (Moderator), B. J. Westbrooke, P. R. Monro, and W. J. Gow, ministers, and Mr John Bain, elder. The Moderator opened the meeting with prayer, A call was brought forward by the Moderator from the Kumara congregation, to the Rev. G. Hay, and being a unanimous one the Presbytery agreed to sustain it. The ordination and induction of Mr Hay was fixed to take place at Kumara at an early date. The Presbytery appointed the Rev. B J. Westbrooke, to ordain, the Rev. \V. J. Gow, to preach, and the Rev, P. R. Monro, .to address the minister and congregation , Collections on behalf of the various funds of the Church was brought. under consideration, and it was agreed to urge on the several congregations within the bounds, the duty of making these imporUlit coHectjuna at the appointed tiroes.

The Rev. Mr Monro brought forward the circumstances of VYaiin?ingnri>;i and Denniston, and shewed )>y Rtiiii.stics, that there' was a numerous nw\ constantly increasing population in this coiil-niining distviot, a. large proportion nf. which belonged to the Presbyterian Church, and on that account had a just claim on the attention of the Presbytery. Owing to the natural situation of those places, no Sunday services could be given, and weekni«rht services being found unsuitable, hundreds of their people were without the ordinances of the Presbyterian Church.

Mr Biiiu supplemented Mr Monro 'a statement from his own knowledge of the spiritual destitution of those places.

The Presbytery expressed its hearty sympathy with the people and interest in the district, and the clerk of Presbytery and Mr Monro, were appointed a committee to communicate with the Church Extension Committee, and to take immediate steps, if practicable, to supply the wants of the 'place. The Revs. Westbrooko, and Monro, were appointed a committee to draft an overture for transmission to the next General Assembly, with a view to the better denning of the relation between the Sunday School and the Church.

A long and interesting discussion arose out (if a proposal by Mr Mourn, that the Presbytery approach the General Assembly by overture, calling attentipu U\ the desirability of a full recognition by the church, of the office of evangelist, and that the Assembly endeavour to procure the services of two evangelists from the Home Church, for a period of two years. The Presbytery then adjourned, to meet at Kuniara in about a month, for the transaction of general business, and likewise to attend the ordination and induction of the Rev G. Hay.