OPENING OF THE NEW FIRST CHURCH.

Evening Star, Issue 3358, 24 November 1873, Page 2

OPENING OF THE NEW FIRST CHURCH.

The managers of the new First Church, or “ 801 l Hill Cathedral,” as the Superintendent humorously remarked at the meeting at the Drill-shed last week, acted wisely in adopting his Honor’s suggestion to take advantage of Dr.Begg’s presence amongst us by getting that distinguished and representative clergyman to open what is understood to be the representative church of the founders of the Province. The occasion and the man were fitted to each other, and, as if to grace the proceedings, the weather, which on Saturday was fearfully wet, cleared up wonderfully, so that yesterday it was all that could be wished. The effect was to cause about twice as many people as could enter the building to endeavor to bo present. Those who went half-an-hour before the time of commencing the service—eleven o’clock—were fortunate to get seats ; all others had to content themselves with the smallest possible amount of standing room, and several hundreds were unable to gain admittance. The church is supposed to hold about 870 persons; but in the main building, its side rooms, passages, even to its pulpit steps (for every place from which a glimpse of the proceedings could be obtained was occupied), there must have been over 1,000 present. It was u pity that the managers did not think it worth while to keep suitable places for the reporters. Like many others, they were subjected to such a crush that rendered notetaking absolutely impossible. Thus it happens that none of the papers are able to give more than an idea of the admirable discourse of Dr Begg. But before noticing the service, it would doubtless interest our readers if w f e stated briefly a few particulars connected with the Church, full descriptions of which have from time to time appeared in these columns. The original design of the Church was forwarded from Melbourne by Mr Lawson, then in Melbourne, to Dunedin in 18GI, and was unanimously selected by the committee then appointed to decide on the several designs sent in. In 1802 Mr Lawsou avrlvctl iu LKmeAiu, expecting to commence the work; but the Government of the day shortly thereafter decided to remove Church-hill, and commenced the reclamation , of the harbor; and this necessarily delayed the commencement of the work. Meantime powers were obtained from the Presbytery and Synod to enable the managers of the First Church to make what progress they could, the intention at that time being to expend LI O,OOO in the erection of the new' church. It was also intended to erect it with Caversham stone and Milestone ; but it was soon found that Caversham stone was not durable, and it became necessary to make a fresh selection of material. After ample tests Port Chalmers stone was selected for foundations and base ; and Kakanui (Oamaru) stone for the body of the building. This, of course, caused a considerable increase in cost; but no one could gainsay the wisdom Af the First Church managers iu making the change. The increased amount of L 4,000, looked at iu this light, ivas a matter of necessity, and such as should have commended itself to all interested. The late Dr Burns was much interested iu the new structure, and expressed himself deeply gratified at its commencement in 18(58. When the principal }nation of the hill was removed and cast into the bay, the late venerable founder of the Presbyterian Church in Otago laid its foundation stone. Little was it anticipated that, six years later, one of his early friends,- and with whom he held frequent correspondence to the last, the liev. Dr Begg, one also who took an active part in the formation of the settlement of OtAgo, would open the church of which he laid the .foundation stone. To return to the building. The exterior walls are built of Oamaru stone throughout, on a solid base course of Port Chalmers stone. The inner portions of the work are partly filled in with brick. The tower and spire are very strongly constructed; they are built iu cement from foundation to finish; the tower is 20 feet square at the base, ami the total height of the spire 17.1 feet. Giving to some misunderstanding, the spire has been erected slightly out of the perpendicular; hut arrangements have been made for heightening and straightening the upper portion, which will probably add 15 feet to the total height, and certainly enhance the elegant appearance of the spire itself. The body of the building is in one open space, and encloses a superficial area of 5,180 feet. It is seated for over 850 on the floor, which is sloped, and rises about four feet as it approaches the main entrance doorway. Bhoula the necessity for them arise, galleries can be easily erected. The doorway is screened off from the body of the church by an elaborate Gothic panelled and perforated screen. The most attractive features of the interior the pulpit, its surrounding rails, and the carved work on the capitals at the spring of the arches on the apse. They are all executed in Oamaru stone. A large circular window filling in the space in the main gable over the apsa is also a marked feature in the building. It is a most elaborate fretwork of Oamaru stone. This window, and the heads of the two principal transept windows, are filled in with, tastefully arranged stained glass in patterns; and colored margins are introduced into all of the windows. The style of roof finishing is also remarkable for its ease and expansive effect, with apparent strength in all parts. The whole of the woodwork is painted —the principal groundwork a pale blue, and the principals and rafters varied for relief. It is jotw&d to jp«st (bo roof os »future oocMioti,

when probably a more elaborate style will be introduced. It is expected the building will be completed in January. Its total cost is about Ll4 000, and Mr 1), Hunter was the contractor. ' All the sculptured work is by Mr D. Godfrey. Dr Begg preached from Matthew, 10th chap. 26th verse : “ For what is a man profited if he ahall gain the whole world and lose his own soul; or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul.” On this text he raised three points —first, that every man has a precious soul; second, that that soul is in danger of being lost; and third, that if it is lost, all man cun secure otherwise will be miserable compensation for that loss. After considerable argument upon them, he proceeded to say that the opening of this Church was an important event in the history of the Province, as it naturally led one to think of the circumstances under which the Province was originally set up, viz., in connection with the Free Chinch of .Scotland. _ It was important that the principles upon which that Church itself struggled into existence should not be lost sight of, as well as the great distinction which always exists between the various forms of Protestantism. He said forms of Protestantism, because the Protestant Church in ail its brandies ' differ widely from the Church of Rome, and especially in this : the standard of authority in spiritual things, which standard has resolved itself at length into an infallible man, thus fulfilling the picture of the apostle who said that the man of sin would stand in the temple of God and say he himself was God. Here wo had God’s attribute, infallibility, claimed by a man—that man the vital and principal part of Christ’s Church. The Bible, as Chillingworth said, was the religion of Protestants. There was a gulf as wide as immensity between such doctrine and that held by Protestants, that the word of God was the standard of truth. Some said that everything might be introduced into the Church which was not expressly condemned by the Bible, But the teaching of all things whatsoever “as I have commanded you ” was a different thing from teaching things not condemned. Therefore it was that when anything was proposed in the government, discipline, or worship of the Church, it was necessary to produce the “ thus saith the Lord ” for it. It was in connection with this that they had always maintained the double headship of Christ that is, that Christ alone is head of the Church. Just as the human head presided over all motions of the human body, so in like manner Christ presided over every movement of the Church. That was one headship : the other was that He was 'over all things in the Church, which was his body. Some of the greatest struggles in Scotland had taken place in connection with the maintenance of that principle. Many professed to say that it was too minute and metaphysical; hut it was neither one nor the other, but the broad palpable truth that they must have God’s word for what they did. It had also always been maintained that the Church of Christ was a kingdom having laws ami officers of its own; ami though it was of great importance that the officers of this world should go along with the Church of Christ, still they must not sacrifice one jot or tittle of the liberty with which Christ made his church, for the greatest human patronage. Gravestones scattered over Scotland pointed to the struggle for that principle in that land. He remembered some time ago going to Wigton, and there seeing.the graves of some martyred women, the victims of this persecution. But times had change-i, though he remembered when landlords would Only allow the gospel to he preached above the tide mark, and he having to wait-until the tide went out to allow room for the people to stand to hoar him. That was the bid spirit. He strongly urged his readers to jealously guard those principles, because they lived in a time when people •were disposed to undervalue and make light of them and not be particular in regard to the worship of God, He was not entitled to introduce elements to make the House of God attractive ; nor was he entitled to introduce the elements of the old temple service which had <been abolished : God must be worshipped in His own appointed way. It was the fruit of the lips, ami not the sound of instruments, tiiat God required ; they should sing to the j raise of God, and rejoice in the liberty by which He had made them free Indeed they would find that in the beginning of Christianity and for eight centuries there was nothing but singing, praying, and preaching ; ami he had seen far more solemn scenes in the Highlands of Scotland, and had heard what to him sounded more delightful than all the musical instruments in the world, viz., the music of a multitude of human voices. The rev. gentleman (joncluded an excellent discourse by pointing to advantages which were possessed here over those in the old country, and by a brief exhortation to his hearers to maintain their princijiles; adding that, although they remained firm in the maintenance of these principles, they should not be intolerant, for this was not an era of perfection. Let them stand by the truth, ami do-good to all men as opportunity offered, ami seek to anticipate that bright period when the mountains and hills should break forth into song, and all the trees clap their hands over a regenerated world. The psalms sung were as follow :- x cxxii., St. Paul’s; cxxxii., 7, Orlington ; Ixvii. (Ist version), 1, Hampton. Fully 1,000 persons attended the evening service. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. Dr Stuart, who preached from Romans xiv., 7 and 8“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord ; and whether wc die, we die unto the Lord; whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lords’.” The day’s collections amounted to close upon I LIOO. ■ ' '