WELCOME TO THE REV. J. G. PATERSON.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3891, 9 January 1884, Page 2

WELCOME TO THE REV. J. G. PATERSON.

Last night a tea meeting was held in St. Paul's school-room, in connection with the induction of the Rev. J. G. Paterson to the charge of St. Paul's. The school-room was neatly decorated for the occasion, and a large number sat down to the tables groaning under the weight of good things provided by Mesdames Lamb, Large, Miller, Sidcy, Randall, Scarfe, Aplin, Collcdgo, MoVay, Bowman, AVatt, Cowell, Heron, and Caro.

After tea a public meeting was held in tho church, which was crowded to excess, MrF. Sutton, M.H.R., occupyingthe chair, and supported on the platform by the Right Rev. tho Bishop of AYaiapu and the Revs. de Bcrdt Hovcll. D. Sidcy, J. G. Paterson, AY. AVelch, J. J. Lewis, AY. Douglas, and AY. Nichol.

Rev. Mr Sidey said ho had been requested to introduce Mr Paterson among them and the public of Napier, a duty which he very cordially took upon himself. Ho did not think ho could do better than narrate the circumstances which led to Mr Paterson's presence among them. Mr Sidcy then narrated the various steps which had been taken to obtain a pastor for St. Paul's. He found out that Mr Paterson was anxious to get nearer tho sun. From enquiries made he learned that ho was a faithful pastor and successful preacher ; a genuine scholar, though not a philosopher ; full of vivacity and hearty cheeriness; evangelical; thoroughly conversant with Gorman and English literature; one who had always excelled in pastoral duties, and had groat power with tho young. Those elements in his character and ministry led the committee to fix upon him as a suitable person to occupy the pulpit of St. Paul's, and he (the speaker) knew his gifts and graces in the future would commend themselves to tho congregation and the community round about. It was a matter of intense thankfulness to himself personally that ho could commit the result of his labors into such efficient hands. The people were thoroughly prepared to welcome a good thorough teacher, any one who would set himself to do good in the community would bo welcomed. Ho could only express the Avish and fervent prayer of his heart that God might give them that best guide to success, true progress in the things pertaining to Himself. If he had the success ho wished him his heart would be gratified.

Rev. J. G. Paterson said ho was not prepared to hear such a critical analysis of his character submitted to them as had been read. He himself did not find it necessary to sec moro of the sun, but his wife had that desire. When the call came to Napier he had almost resolved to go to Victoria, and, as ho had made no effort to get that call, surely it was God's own hand pointing out the way to him. Down South he had heard extraordinary things of Napier— fresh air could only be got by gasping on the beach, aud, owing to tho heat and limestone formation, everyone wore goggles, He had found things very different to what he had anticipated. From their late pastor he learned that Napier was a beautiful place, and with one of the finest climates in the world, and since he came he must say he had been favorably impressed with it. It was exquisitely beautiful, no prettier scene could be imagined than from a verandah on the hill. Ho would got on with tho people of Napier. Only that day a gentleman had told him tho Presbyterian people were easy to manage. He hoped soon to visit all of them in their own homes, for a man to bo successful in his ministry must visit the people in their homes if he wished to get them into his church. Thcro was a sunny side to everything. Let them pitch their tents in the streets of thankfulness, and keep away from the fogs and damps of grumbling street. People who were always grumbling he called pastoral gimlets, part of their creed being to bo sad and sombre, but that was no more like true religion than a fossil was like the living animal. Every thing depended on how they looked at it; if the home was bright all elso would be bright. Not very long ago ho sawin a paper religion was dead. Now, as ho had an interest in religion, he would like to know whether there had been a post mortem, and who was the coroner. Religion was a pretty lively corpse. He was convinced that religion never had more power than at the present day. The Bible had not become obsolete as A'oltaire had prophesied; the Bible would never become obsolete. He was glad so many ministers had come to welcome him, for ho was always ready to work with any who loved the Lord Jesus in sincerity and truth. If they wanted to be victorious, let them go hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, one solid united phalanx, and God helping them they would gain the day.

Tho Bishop of AVaiapu expressed the peculiar interest and satisfaction he felt that evening in being there to Avclcome Mr Paterson as a fellow countryman—"a brithcr Scot." He did not know whether it was allowable in a Presbyterian Church to quote the great national bard, not their hymn writer exactly, though the writer of the Cotter's Saturday night, but the line had been ringing in his cars when listening to Mr Paterson's word —

" The rank is but the guinea's stamp,

The man's the gowd for a' that." —The guinea he must say that night had given a very good sound. He Avelcomed Mr Paterson among them to join the ranks of the ministry in the town and province.

Rev. J. J. LeAvis thought all that was expected of him that evening was that ho should join in the expression of Avelcome to the new pastor, and that ho most heartily did. At the pic-nic ho had been glad to find that in the cause of temperance Mr Paterson Avas somewhat blue. He did not knoAV how the Bishop managed, but ho was always in town Avhon a new minister had to bo welcomed. There should be no jealousy among tho churches, but their motto should be, "In essentials unity; in nou-essentials liberty ; in all things charity."

Rev. De Bcrdt Hovcll said it was hardly necessary for him to say anything, simply because ho did not happen to be a rcproKciitati\ - c man, that position lowing been taken by his chief officer, who had done his duty on tho occasion and extended the right hand of Christian felloAvship to Mr Paterson. Mr Paterson's ministrations were likely to be a blessing to them as a congregation and to Napier as a town. Ho congratulated tho congregation on having obtained the services of such an ablo dcA-oted man as Mr Paterson, and he congratulated him on succeeding to the pulpit of Mr Sidcy in a church that was almost if not entirely free from that horror—a church debt. He also had to congratulate him on entering on his ministry in a church which contained a considerable number, as ho (the speaker) knew from personal friendship, of Christian men and women. Ho congratulated them all on tho arrangement that had been mado. Such a gathering as that should put to the blush those who said they were totally disunited. AVhcn a man uplifted such a standard, as our Redeemer dying for the sins of the Avholo world, God forbid that he should withhold the right hand of fellowship, and he prayed that God's blessing might rest on his work hero in Napier. Rev. AY. Nichol also addressed tho meeting. During tho evening tho choir rendered several sacred pieces, and two solos Avero contributed by local amateurs.

Yot f, s of thanks to the ladies Avho had prepared tho tea, to Mr Aplin the organist, the choir, the chairman, and speakers having been carried, Mr Sidey brought a most successful meeting to a close by pronouncing the Benediction.