INDUCTION SERVICE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 58, 20 March 1945, Page 6

INDUCTION SERVICE

NEW PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER

V REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING

Consequent upon the resignation ol' Rev. H. Hogg from the pastorate of Knox Church last November owing to ill-health a Selection Committee appointed by the congregation has since been occupied with the problem of finding a successor. Various names were considered until early in January when Rev. 11. M. Bell occupied the pulpit for one Sunday. Mr Bell had recently arrived in New Zealand after a period of service in the New Hebridies mission field where he had been work-

J ing under tlie auspice& of the Presbyterian Cliurcli of Victoria. The direct result of his visit was that the Selection Committee unanimously decided to recommend to the congregation that a call be offered to Mr Bell. A subsequent congregational meeting decided on this course. The culmination of the. proceedings occurred recently when Mr Bell was formally inducted to the charge by the Bay of Plenty Presbj'tery. The church was packed, and the whole service was most impressive.

Rev. J. H. Moderator of the conducted the opening portion of the service after which Rev. E. J. Melville (Te Puke) preached the induction sermon, taking as his theme the power of the spoken word. The acting Presbytery Clerk, the Very Rev. J. G. Laughton ? then gave an account of the steps which had led to the call being made to Mr whereupon the Moderator put to the minister the. formal questions concerning his doctrinc and duties in his. new sphere. The congregation signified their acceptance of Mr after which the members of the PrcsbyteiT extended to him the right hand of fellowship. Rev. P. J. Wain. wright of Tauranga t then addressed the new minister emphasising the unique situation in which they found themselves. It Avas an experience .that he himself • had been through a number of timcs :j and to his mind it was both a humbling and an inspiring one. Finally Rev. A. C. Hampton (Opoti'ki) addressed the congregation, pointing out their responsibility to lend every support to the minister, ami Uv co-operate in the work of the church. He. thought that, the timber stacked outside for the extension of the-building was a healthy sign.

Alter the .service a welcome social to Rev. and Mrs Bell was held in the church hall. At the commencement of proceedings a beautiful bouquet was presented to Mrs Bell by Shirley Watt", and in Mr Bell's honour a bagpipe duet was rendered by Mas., ters E. Petty and D. MacKenzie. Rev. J. G. Laughton was in the chair and with Mr Starnes extended

a welcome to Mr Bell on beliaif of the Presbytery ? saying that they wculd do all in their power to assist him in his new work. M-r Laughton remarked that when the recent pact had. been signed with Australia he had no idea that New Zealand was to gain such a valuable import as Mr Bell. Mr W. M. P. welcomed Mr Bell on behalf of the observing that Knox Church seem, ed to be following the national example in importing its minister from abroad. In welcoming Mr Bell on behalf of the townspeople of Wha. katane, ; the Mayor ? Mr B. S. Barry, mentioned some of its natural a-dj vantages and expressed the hope that Mr Bell would find his sojourn here pleasant for himself and his family and profitable to Knox Church.

Mr J. E. Bigelow welcomed the new minister on behalf ol' the .congregation and its various organisations saying that they were fortunate in having the charge vacant for such a short period, and pointing out that in choosing a minister from the mission lield the congregation was keeping up the strong missionary tradition in the Bay of Plenty. Rev. A. F. Alt wood extended a welcome on behalf of the Methodist Church saying that he had been fortunate in his relationships with Presbyterian ministers- in other places, and that he looked forward to enjoying Christian fellowship with Mr Bell. Rev. J. C. Wilson expressed good wishes 011 beha'.l ol the Church ol" England, and struck a personal note in welcoming a I ellow minister from Australia.

In replying Mr Dell thanked the various .speakers I'or their renin rUs. He said that it was through meeting New Zealand missionaries and New Zealand soldiers and airmen in the New Hebrklies that he and Mrs Hell had desired to settle in this country. When he first heard of aney at Whakatanc he was just interested* in it as a possible hut alter visiting the town,, seeing the church and meeting some el' the people he certainly hoped for a call^

and he. now looked forward eagerly to his work here. Rev. and Mrs H. Hogg AdA'antage Avas also taken of the gathering to express the congregation's appreciation of the Avork of Rev. H. Hogg and Mrs Hogg during the last fiA*e years, and of Mr Hogg's action in carrying on in the pulpit until a successor had been chosen. Mrs. Ganuvay spoke particularly on behalf of the l\lr F. B. Cutler on behalf of the Board ol Managers, Mr 13. Watts on behalf of the Session, and Rev. J. G. Laughton on behalf of Presbytery. Colleen Johnston presented a bouquet to Mrs Hogg and the speakers thanked her and Mr Hogg for their capable and untiring efforts on behalf of the congregation and expressed pleasure at the fact that they would not be leaving the district. On the congregations behalf they were presented with a pair of (iresiiie chairs and a cheque. Mr and Mrs Hogg -suitably replied.

The final ceremony was the presentation of a 'Cheque to Rev. J. G. Langhton in recognition of his work res Moderator through the period of the vacancy. During the evening items were, contributed by Mrs Te H. Ferguson and Mrs F. Cole, and the serving of supper Avas carried out by the Girls' Auxiliary.