THE REV. J. J. NORTH

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1570, 14 October 1912, Page 6

THE REV. J. J. NORTH

ACCEPTS A CALL TO CHRISTCHURCH. "THE TONIC OF A CHANGE NECES- , SAKY." At yesterday morning's service (after the sermon) at tho Vivian Street Baptist Church, tho Rev. J. J. North told the congregation, in tho following words, that ho had accepted the call of tho Oxford Terrace Church at Christchurch:— ,"1 have passed through one of the great crises of my lifo during last week," he saitl. "I camo at your call to tliis city eiglit years ago. i was young and unl'oiuieu, and the honour you aid mo in calling me to tliis central church 1 shall never forget, i came here with many of my ideas, ill a state of llux. 1 came, indeed, with a very lixeil iaith iu

Jesus Christ as tiie revelation of God and as the Saviour of men; but I was struggling to relate my faith in Christ with the revelation of God in nature. I was also keenly touched by Social aud ecouumic problems, and was feeling my way to the relation between them and the Christian Faith. You met me from the first with a wonderful pationce, and a wonderful courtesy, and through 'eight years you have given me unfailing, support. Every year has seen our church stronger in numbers, in finance, and in general influence. I have, by your goodness, come to understand human naturo much better than 1 did, and 1 have seeu my way to larger and grander views oi Christian truth. I have also como to know that certain social and economic questions have their roots in morals, ami can be ignored by no church which is true to the whole of Christ's Evangel. I have never preached politics, and I never shall. All my work has, I hope, been intensely religious. Some people say that the Church is -intolerant of plain speaking. l'ou have given tho lie to that kijing by a tolerauce which has been very beautiful. I have been supremely happy through the years of my service amongst you. This call to Christchurch is a call to nothing but hard work. Financially, tho propositions are identical, though there is a somewhat larger constituency there. Since the call came you hnvo overwhelmed me with your expressions of strong desire tKat I should remain. I value these expressions beyond words. They have qome from the learned and the unlearned. No other subject but the Christian Faith could remain after eight voars of constant utterance, so engrossing, so fresh, as you evidently find the exposition of it to be. I have been unable to contemplate a separation without much pain. 1 love this church; 1 appreciate life in this great city.' One thing alone hns urged 1110: I find myself spent physically, and tho tonic of a change, either in the form of a prolonged holiday or of a change of sphere has become necessary. The first is impossible just now. The second has been offered me. I feel I shall bo doing a right thing in responding to this call. Tho pillar of cloud tarried awhile .it the. cross-roads. It has now moved southwards. I contemplate with a real disrnav, tho separation from a work and a people I have loved so deeply. I have- two remaining ambitions. Iho first is to open before I leave, free of debt, tho new kindergarten and Bible-class rooms, which we ure about to build. The second is to see many of you ranged definitely 011 Christ's side, and enlisting 111 Christ-like service for the good of human k'lths expected that Mr. North will soy farewell in Wellington on the first Sunday of February, 1913. In the meantime ho intends to preach a double series of special sermons on the second coming of Christ, and tho last things.