RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1593, 9 November 1912, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

ANDREW CAMERON(The Rev. the Moderator-Elect of the General Assembly.) BY PROFESSOR HEWITSQN. To those who know the Rev, Andrew Cameron, of Anderson's Bay, Dunedm, Moderator-elect of tho Presbyterian lictteral Assemblv, which assembles in Wellington on November 12, and to a great many others who do not know him, much interest and pleasure has been given by the following exceedingly well written article which appeared in tho "Outlook oil October 29. Professor Hewitson, writing in his happy characteristic style, states:—. Andrew Camoron is not an Ecclesiastic. The editor has asked me to write a sketch of the Hc-v. tho ModeratoMdcct of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. It accords more with my inclination to write a sketch of Andrew Cameron. It is a more homely subject, and the sketch will be truer to life. Andrew Cameron is not an ecclesiastic by nature nor by practice. I do not regard him as a great authority on Church law. He has a.grasp.of tho, main principles, and knows their relations, but he is not familiar with the minutiae of law, which form such an important part of the armoury of the ecclesiastic and constitute such a useful instrument ■ in framing resolutions, blocking amendments, grounds of appeal, etc, ■ He is possibly mating up the Book of Order How in view of his .ModeratorshiPi or, nioro probably, • intending to. make it up before tho Assembly meets. His name in the Church does not rest on debates in-.Church courts and on ecclesiastical critical acumen. If he gets into a tight place in the Assembly he may be relied upon, to'rule, and his ruling; will have abundant common-sense- at the back of .it, I whether it has law or not.. "When 1 See Aridrßw Cameron's Hat , Hanging." ; . The presence of common-sense' and tho absence of law are not incompatible, the famous judgment, "The law is an ass, being.proof. Further, toy friend is not only not an ecclesiastic; he is'.riot, great at ceremonials, nor is he addicted to vestments. A distinguished anatomist could construct imaginatively the complete animal from & single bora. As one holds up, tho-hat of one's:friend, ho can ses. with the mind's eye the owner. I can imaginatively construct my friend, Cameron when I see his hat hanging in my hall; but I cannot imaginatively put. the moderatorial court dress on hiifl.. ; He-.simply will not get into it. , ... . - The critical would say that he has not pondered deeply enough the relation, between life a.nd its appropriate' expression,, and that ho loses,thereby. I do'not think that.loyalty to my friend imposes upon me the obligation of contradicting, everything a critic may, say.; ... ' I am content to affirm that toy friend pays more attention to substance than to form, and that, in life and in literature,, substance is Much the. niore important element of the two- The place, where he lays stress is on reality,- sincerity, truth, not on form and utterance.. I would not admit "it to a critic;'but Tdo -not mmd saying it to a friend, like the- editor of the "Outlook," that during, the years-..-! have known Andrew Cameron I have tried to get him to think more of the relation, between -substance' and form, truth and expression, and; to got him to look really jvhat he really is. ' ... ' ,L----"There is more in Him than he Will ever ■ Get Out." : ' ■;.- .^'/ My success has'been only qualified; .To." be'good, to be true, rather thaii ; seem so,-; is his guiding principle. The fact, is, 1' do not think' that expression, is Andrew Cameron's strong point by nature, there, is more in him' than he will ever -get out. - As a preacher his matter is superior, !fo' his delivery. thoughtful,: earnest, bnt not fluent.- Scores of men make « greater popular impression; they travel much more rapidly and carry, much less.baggage., . ■■■■*",,../-. v.-' ,-';.; ..-'The' last, time ,1 .heard him ..preach, he-; was not eloquent, hi was Hot profound, but' he-gave' me the' feeling "that I" was not a' vcryVgood man, but that he' was.. I stood iti. tire' Outer court?-.among the. Gen- • tiles; he had pressed further in towards, the heart of things. Pursuit of tho Psalmist's Ideal* ■ I know, from mote than one talk on quiet country Toads that he is a, kinsman of the. Psalmist: "One thing have I desired of' the Lord,, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in'the house,of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and, to inquire.in His temple." • . :.-'-.. , - ~..'.' ■ I .know that for a long time le has been trying to realise the Unseen, that he has been giving tithe-,to quiet.meditation in order that he might know HOT. whom he has believed. Perhaps I ought not to tell you this, "but without • the' knowledge of it you cannot understand'a certain atmosphere that there ..is 'about him in liis friendships and in his. parish in Anderson's Bay. These'quiet spaces give freshness to his spirit, and snake him. like the'tree the leaf Of which does not wither. They help him to discipline.his heart and keep him, free from,the world-, ly and ecclesiastical ambition 'into w'hich a man .so much engaged in practical affairs and with so great aptitude for them, ■might easily fall. Andrew Cameron is an unusual combination of uriworldliness and practical sagacity. AH that is deepest and most spiritual in the, work of the Christian ministry appeals ■ to him strongly. ,-,.'• '-.' ... n'., The character of his ministry is reflected in the congregation,: which has stood by him loyally and 'affectionately for 28 years. Out of that a large one—there have, gone four workers into thehome -ministry,: and as many Sato theforeign' field,, and several of the young men of the church ars'uow preparing for the ministry. -,My.impression is that his ■ people regard him with great resßcct, that they trust hibi 'as a wise counsellor, and love" him as a true'friend.' ' If He had Gone into Cotnmerca. If Andrew Cameron had gone into commorce.he would have built■ up a good business and made money. He has imag* inatiou and can conceive great schemes. Ho has also tlie faculty for detail and persistent application, without which big schemes aro castles, in the air, and, remain such. If he- had- gone m-to law no would not have done, imich in the police. courts or as a criminal iiwyer; but as a consultant or an equity barrister he would have attained high rank. His Educational Activities and Social Service, In the Church he has given'his practical power chiefly- to■. educational.;work; and to social service."" He has been connected with the Theological',, Hall. Com-' niittee ever since his ordination; as secretary under iDr; Coltivenership,: later as convener',.' niid 'now. ns;'a member. In wisely adaptihg-V the ,o'urricnlum' hi our as. a , Church, ho has done more," in iffy opinion, than' any' other man amongst us. - Ho the seed of' a residential- college in the- good< and honest heart",of Mr, John Koss,,and : it brought fartli a";thousandfold. 2\ T o one knows, except those most intimate with him, how much, thought he has: #ven to maturing'the college scheme, and watching the details of the building. . I have reason to believe'that tho first suggestion that'our Church" should undertake social work whs niadc by Andrew Cameron in a conversation with Mr. A'xclsen < in the street. Dr. Nisbet, as, the first convener of, the* Presbyterian'■ Social Ser-_ vice Association; -gave - the'mo'vCine'nt a splendid start by.liisoiithnsiasm and nito executive ability. Mr. Cameron, as: his successor, has carried on the good. work. • Tu tho "good and honest heart.' of .Mr. Eobsrt Ciiendiniug he, sowed-the seod'of a now orilhanapo, and it also brQught: forth a thousandfold,' Able business inen. of generous heart \vho believe in-'hUii. have given liberally to. his schemes,, and now he is the Convener of two cam'-, mittees. the one, representing'• property worth about' <&10,OOu, the other.about.iEio.Ofw. ' ■ ': Saw Edinburgh—Saw JenaIn t!io cause of general education he has occupied u position On every educational administrative, body except tho Ofago Education Board, and at tho pn> sent time he is Chancellor of tho Otago University—the first of it? graduates to . occumr the, a, member* .of the..

Senate of the University of Ne# Zealand. His training and. experience fit him for his work. He is a graduate of Otago, a student of our own Theological Hall under Dr. Solmond and Drv Watt, ana of the TF.P. Hall, Edinburgh, under Principal Cairns and Dr, John Ker. He spent ttto summers during his student days in Germany, one summer at Jena, and another at Leipzig. Seven yeafs ago - he was at the University of Berlin for some, months. We have totter scholars in our Tanks, and men of greater theological learning, but ho has a student's tastes, and would read if. he could, but how can'he? Roads His Hebrew Bible Daily, One thing he manages to do— ho reads Ms Hebrew Bible daily, and generally keeps a good book, going. Jlen who have been iff tropical countries are subject to periodical attacks of fever. One so afflicted has told me that tho patient then talks- more- nonsense than usual. Andrew Cameron gets occasional fits of. book hunger, then lie becomes feverish and restless, and talks a good deal of nonsense about resigning everything but his parish* After a while ho gets better, becomes sensible again, and resolves to sacrifice his student tastes. I have seen liim look-Tristful and have felt sorry for him, but I am afraid he must go on. - "I Have Walked many a Mite with Hiiti." I know him as a friend, bettor than as a minister or as an educationist. I have walked many a mile with him nrt the beautiful roads about Dunedra.. On Mondays I have heard scores of his' sermons—with an ever-growing admiration of the. congregation at, Anderson's Bay. On the principle "Owe lio man anything," I have tried to pay him back in kind. We have often spent holidays together, At those times, I estimate that, however old his head may be, his heart is aged about., 13. Cicero expressed the. opinion that One test of friendship is that ono-should be able to sit silent in the presence of a man for hoilrs -without offending against courtesy. Oiir friendship stands that test. -.-We have sat for days in different parts of. .an old garden, enjoyiji.? the-.sun.. our -Books, and our • thoughts, • without exchanging S word, «s- ] cept at meal tiriies. In tho cool, of the evening came the long walk and the help--•fui conversation* ,Ohc.e we..:wenfc round the world; together; Shall I- ever forget When'-I saw Mm, .covered with a sheet,, taken over the side of. the ship, and car-' ried away to ! . the smallpo/S hospital. at Port Said? Shall .1 ever forget-;.¥heh.,'.; weeks after, we met • again in the Uittlv , sitting-room of the hospital looking'put : on.the glare.of the sand and .the/wafers ■ of the.Hediterranean?, What great ex* perienccs, that cannot be. reported,,there,; had been, for him between that-partihg' n/nd Meeting. Two things, hbwesr; ; itiay be mentioned. When. lie. was.recovering,':: ho- wrote a liymn. ; That is a suggestion of an' unexplored field.; for the ■'editor \o'f.. the "Outlook.'' A Alittle -..poetry;, from. Andrew Cameron would ; ;he,a.'JWelcoiile chan&e from ;the letters'announcing-'the-receipt of athousaind and anotheK-'thou,-: sand; and the need .'for five (more.'.Out: of that rr/eeting in'the hospital..Slr...Cnrhr eroh got his : one good ■ s'toryv .Often, "toldw He had been shaved clean, and-.-Ms-'fiiie ourly locks .clbjely propped..' -.'Hei-.lQn'ked-younijer, or at all events, .di,ffer'prit.:,'-W-l)en.-•we .-w*nt away his Arab attendant' asked; • HVfr. Cameron if Jfrs. H^witsoij-.were'his. ' mother—the Arab-thought I waSHhe hiisVband.;' - : ' .. And. Finally, ■ All 'Andrew. Caiiaerijn's. .innuehce f arid!: activity are. based,upon "bis-happy; . tic .relations. -Tri the manse at. Anderson's 6a,y-is a gently-spoken; r«riring:Swpman;, : .who Jo'yes. ih£ shade. 'T hav.e;iea'rned>'ro. think .of lier as a wrorhan of ;.qu'jot strength:;and'niost kindly .jiidgmeiit/v -Without her my friend ' would "have- ■' made ;'m.oiie: fljistakes and 'less : go,TO Wof R.' He has- been the playmate ofi-hisyoijinger,. children, and now., he is the frfencl\:bf- : ■'theif opening manhopd and ..womanhood;. Ho gives, them room' to grow : and assert' 1 their, individuality,' but kfteps • trust.; ; :,.:In, all important maifters,%tjieir.; .ivihg .tjWw ' them- aii embaTra6'smen"t*Sr& , : their father. Wheii Oliver Cromwell.:sat ; ftir . liis, portrait,;.:he said .to-i-.thel.arfrst-':-, "Paint..m<s-*-w«rts"a.ncl e11.".' I:.'do; i riot, luiow what tti&'" ,: .f!irt]st/Si -siiß'seqiient -.re-' -.liitions with the Profer'top.were, whether the picture was an- end of his career; ;I, am not much' troubled about niy future' relations with the subject, of .my sketch,-:-but I .Could, not afford -to'lose him.--,,Fpr. years past,' in the difficult places of life;', I have been-in the habit of rernarkirig-s "Let us hear what Cameron has tb say about it," His family will want to -paint out the warts-; he will want to paint out the Colour. I ghali;not:"touch up" my woric. '~..