NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT LOWER HUTT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 188, 29 April 1918, Page 8

NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT LOWER HUTT

FOUNDATION STONE LAID. The hUlory of !he Presbyterian Church in the Hint Valley dates back to 18J3, when services wiu'o first held. In 18-tl the Rev. J. Inglas, who camo out as a missionary to tho Maoris, acted ne "supply," eventually going to tho liana, wntii, where ho found that tho Anglican Church was meeting all requirements and doing cxcollent work. On his own application ho was sent to the New Hebrides, where ho accomplished his lifo work. The first resident minister was tho Rev. William Dion, and lift held services in JSS3 in tho old church, which latterly was used as a schoolroom. In thoso far-back days the Presbyterian church was in the centre of tho valley, and was conveniently placed for worshippers. The spread of settlement, however, had long since mado it urgently necessary to provide another chuTch, and Woburn Road was selected as the most convenient site. Tho new church building has already been described, and on Saturday the Hon. J. G. W. Aitkon, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand, laid the foundation stone. After the singing of the Hundredth Psalm, tho reading of a Scripture lesson by the "Her. D. J. Murray, and tho sing, ing of a hymn by the children, _ the Moderator was presented with a silver t,rowel by the tontr.ictor (Mr. M. Upton), and tho foundation stono was'laid in position, with the usual dedication. Tho Rev. A. B. Todd delivered the dedication prayer. Tho Rev. James M'Caw (minister in charge) said that the Presbytorinn church in tho Hntt Valley was tho oldest, although it was only 06 years iigo that tho first minister was inducted. He then traced the history of' the church in the valley, and stated that it had been long felt that a church was neoded in the locality where they wero standing. A few years ago an anonymous donor irave them a section, about ,£3OO was collected, and they wero to borrow a further .£6OO. The contract was let, and now they were lo have the foundation stone laid. The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken congratulated the Rev. James M'Caw and his congregation on the progress made, and trusted that the new church wnuld be available for the worship of God for many years. Ho said tho congregation at the Lower JTutt was only one congregation of a strong and growing Church. Hβ then quoted rigures showing the progress of the Church in New Zealand. Ten, years ago there were 3(1!) buildings devoted to tho services of the Church, while last year there were 199 such buildings, and now they had another building. Thero were 265 ministers ln?t year, against 206 ten years ago, and there were 120 lomo missionaries, as against 60 ton years ago. The amount collected for home missions ten years ago was .£I7OO, pnd last year it totalled ,£6385, or four times as much, and lor foreign missions .£SOOO in 1907, as against last year's .£IO,OOO. Continuing, ho said tho Presbyterian Church was often referred to as tho Scotch Church, but the Scotch had ko monopoly of it. It was because tho Scotch knew a good thingand grasped it that they were Presbyterians. He again congratulated tho minister and his congregation on tho bniidhiK of the new church. Dr Gibb also offered his congratulations, and said he heartily endorsed tho Moderator's words and sentiments, except his reference to the Scotch Church. Dr: Gibb said ho would prefer that the Church was referred to as tho Church of Scotland, as indicating as far as their origin was toncerned their national Church. He said tho Presbyterian Church was spread all over tho worldhe declared that the Presbyterians were the largest Protestant body, in the world. He concluded by eulogising tho Kov. ■ James M'Caw, tho minister in charge at the Lower Hutt. • A collection was taken up on behalf of the building fund, and i:46 17s. lid. was secured. After tho pronouncement of tho benediction tho mcoting terminated with the sirring of tho National Anthom. Tho congregation then cdjnurncd to Mrs. Teist's, whero afternoon -tea was served.