One Presbyterian minister enjoys a unique position. The Rev W.J. Watson, minister emeritus of Roseyards Presbyterian Church, Co Antrim, is the president of the Hackney Horse Association of Great Britain and Ireland, a position he has held for two years.
It is believed the society had hoped Prince Charles would accept the presidency for 2000 and 2001, but was unable because of a certain indisposition.
Past society presidents have been Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, the Princess Royal and the Duchess of York. Mr Watson is the first cleric and Irishman to have been invited to serve as president.
Mr Watson is a leading judge of hackneys in Great Britain and the Republic. He has judged at Royal Windsor, Royal Welsh, Royal Highland and, of course, Royal Dublin (Kerrygold) to mention but a few. He has received an MBE for his services in this area.
Mr Watson is a distinguished painter and, as might be expected, is frequently commissioned to paint horses. He has two volumes awaiting publication on the gamut of training and presentation of the hackney.
Western Samoa comprises two main islands and eight smaller ones in the Pacific. It has been an independent state since January 1st, 1962, with treaty relationships with New Zealand. The population of roughly 120,000 is mainly Polynesian, with about 7 per cent mixed races.
The Rev John Williams of the London Missionary Society arrived there in 1830, to be followed by those of other denominations. Today perhaps 75 per cent of the inhabitants are Protestant and 20 per cent Catholic and others. The official languages are Samoan and English.
The women of Western Samoa have prepared the worship service for Women's World Day of Prayer, to be observed in the Republic on Friday, March 2nd.
Samoans believe that informed prayer may develop into prayerful action and peace for the community. Hence the theme of their service is "Informed Prayer, Prayerful Action". An indigenous feature of the service is the kava ceremony, a special reception offered to guests and friends. This entails the receiving and passing on of a cup prepared from a special kava root while repeating the words "with all our blessing".
In Western Samoa all shops, government offices and businesses are closed on Sunday. Sunday observance is very important and the people are churchgoing.
Women in Western Samoa have an important and respected place in Samoan life; they are cabinet ministers, directors of government departments and leading business people.
Ms Patricia Kennedy has for eight years given extremely praiseworthy service as secretary of the Republic of Ireland Women's World Day of Prayer Committee. She is to be succeeded by her assistant, Ms Daphne McKee, a member of the Malahide Presbyterian Church.
Election to moderatorships in the Presbyterian Church were held early this month. The Rev Hugh Alistair Dunlop was elected moderator of the General Assembly. He has been minister in Knock, Belfast, for the past 18 years and convenor of important General Assembly committees and boards.
The Rev Stephen Wesley Rea was elected moderator of the Synod of Dublin. He is a graduate in law of Queen's University Belfast, and has a degree in divinity from Christ's Church, Aberdeen. He has been minister of Fannet, Milford and Rathmullen in Donegal for the past 11 years. The Synod of Dublin will meet early next month in Ramelton.
The Rev Samuel Stephen Johnston was elected Moderator of the Presbytery of Dublin-Munster. He is a graduate in agriculture and divinity of Queen's University Belfast. After an assistantship in Belfast from 1991 to 1993, he has been engaged in a home mission development ministry in Carlow and its environs.