REV. L. A. NORTH WELCOMED.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20101, 3 December 1930, Page 2

REV. L. A. NORTH WELCOMED.

OXFORD TERRACE CHURCH. The congregation of the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church, met in the church last evening to welcome to the pastorate the Rev. X>. A. North and Mrs North. Among those present were the Bev. Dr. J. J. North, Principal of the Baptist College, Auckland, and uncle of the new minister, the Mayor (the Eev. J. K. Archer), Mr Justice Adams, the Eev. T. W. Armour (representing the Ministers' Association), the Bev. E. T. Jones (representing the Canterbury Auxiliary of the Baptist Union), the Eev. A. S. Wilson, and Dr. C. North, of Dunedin, father of the Bev. It. A. North.

"This is a solemn and great moment in the history of this church," said the Bev. Dr. J. J. North in his words on the ministry. "For sixty years the work of the Baptist Church has been carried on in this pastorate, and there are thousands of people all over the world who received their first religious training here. Now the church is entering on a new chapter in its career — now it has a minister whose years are before him, a minister full of power and strength, and it is committed to hita to proclaim a gospel that is not a philosophy, that is beyond the bounds of science, and that is only a joyful faith and a great hope."

Welcomed by the Mayor. The Bev. J. K. Archer (Mayor of Christchurch) said he was going to speak in. two capacities. First, as the senior Baptist minister present, ana, second, as the Mayor of the City. He had been to many welcomes such as this, but to none, he could say sincerely, that gave him such great pleasure. Mr North was the grandson of the Bev. Alfred North, with whom he had corresponded before he came to New Zealand, and who had been, until his death, his best-loved friend. Also, he was pleased, on behalf of the church, and warmly congratulated it on acquiring Mr North. Mr North was young, but that was a very great advantage, because it had always been one of the weaknesses of the larger Baptist churches of New Zealand that they did not have as their pastors the young and enthusiastic men. As Mayor of the City, Mr Archer also wanted to welcome Mr and Mrs Nortn. It was an important church to which Mr North had come, and he was looking forward to receiving his help in everything that might work towai the benefit of the City. "I come to you not as a humble Presbyterian, but from the Churches or this City generally, as the representative of the Ministers' Association, said the Eev. T. W. Armour. -1-M3 congregation has not only the nieri of a long history, but it also has tne reputation of being loyal followers o its ministers. I believe you have in Mr North a man worth following, ana one who is going to be a source o strength to the community." The first gift of Christ to His Churcn, said the Bev. E. T. Jones, was men, and to-night they were welcoming this church a man whom they believe had been bestowed upon them for great use. _ -a The church secretary, Mr a. Burgess, thanked the Bev. Dr. J. North for the help he had given them during the nine months they had ® without a pastor. Ever since_ he been at the church he had noticed tn affectionate regard the _ congrega ion always had for its ministers a . ® loyalty with which they followed **? em, and he hoped that Mr and Mrs .Norm would be happy with them. Mrs D. Hercus welcomed Mrs Nortn on bohalf of the women of the congre gation, and Dr. C. North also spoke.

The New Minister's Reply* "I -want, in the first placa, ° n half of my wife and myself, to than* you and the speakers for your warm welcome," said the Rev. L. A. North, in, reply, addressing the congregation.

"Tils is a great emlag (aU ua—it is the evening on wßd n out to begin the work »hici n looked forward to togetba fa years. When your raff ami t in Dune din we wen loil otas a ingly astonished, ui tfwrt ml ing. Our first heliaatira tu 1 what we had at first iateniW & making a trip to Eel the cordiality of th 6 «aU ItaaM and after hearing tie ogisjitl men about me, and after nock p we decided that colli Mt i such ~ an opportunity® fflti > lenge. I vronld not law to come to this church if IW not to my heart a very sore ™ had been" led by a g» is His race we rna, ai MWI Grace is sufficient will Be. "1 know that I stand m to® old of a work that age. It is no good one man with another, bvt I even if I liv. to bs Wr* shall never to uncle. Pleaet don't try, therdn compare j gone before me,tattila m« u My wife and 1 of your welcome. H !o°£?her. conditions! Ifrrst, tto* workers, day, you rememberMßy 0 Du^g the messages of bodies and ■»«**"J™3„ Zealand. Mermg^ cipal be present. • ' -f