INDUCTION OF THE REY. MR MACKIE.

Evening Star, Issue 3682, 10 December 1874, Page 2

INDUCTION OF THE REY. MR MACKIE.

The Dunedin Presbytery yesterday afternoon inducted the Key. Lindsay Mackie to the pastorate of the First Church, borne 250 persons were present, . The congregation having assembled in the chuich the Kev. Mr Gillies, clerk, intimated that the Presbytery were then met to hear any objections that might lie presented. against the life and. doctrines of the Rev. Mr Mackie. No answer being made the members of that body came into the ihnrch. Amongst them were the Revs. Messrs Greig, Will. Johnstone, Watt, Gillies, M'Naughton, and Johnston, and with them came Mr Mackie The S-lth Psalm—“ How worthy is Thy dwelling place, Oh Lord 1” was then sung, and, after offering up a prayer, the Rev. Mr Greks tead the first ebap er of the Kpi-.t e to the Colossians. ('salrn 126 was sung—“ When Zion’s bondage God turned back.”

The Rev. Mr Grek: then preached a discourse from the following text:—“My brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, s’o stand fast in the Lord.”—.

Epistle to Philippians, ch. IV., v. I. The oreacher referred to the relations which should, and generally do exist, between a minister and his congregation, describing how the former longs for the safety and well-being of the members of bis church, and dots his best to teach them what he considers best for them to learn. Especially was it the duty of a minister to teach his Hock to “stand fast in the Lord.” Psal e. 132, v 13—“ For God of Zion hath made choice’—was simi. The Rev. Mr Greig then said he would proceed to the Lev. Mr Mackie, bub would first ask him the qucsUons ui-ual on such occasions. These being answered satis'actoiily, the clergy shook hands with Mr Mackie, and Mr Greig offered up a prayer suitable to the occasion The ev. Mr ait then addressed the new minister and r.lie uev. Hr Will, ..d----dressed the congregation, the ceremony concluding with the 122 nd Psalm.

In ihe evening the tea meeting was held in the large hall, where a large company sat down to an exce lent repast. After tea and prayer by the Hev. Mr Blake, the Ohairma » (Jr Will), before introducing Mr Maekie t' the meeting, read a letter from the Superinintendent apologising f r his absence, which was unavoidable, congr itulatiug the congregation on having obtained a permanent minister, and trusting Mr Mackie’s residence in Dunedin would conduce to the best interests of the community. The Chairman regarded Mr Mackie’s induc ion to the pastorate as the beginning of a new era in the First Church; the Bcv. Mr M*Naughtou c n,'iatulated Mr Mackie on procuring the hj unlsomest church iu the southern hemisphere ; and the Rev Dr Koseby, on behalf ■ f other denomina'ion o , cord ally welcomed the new pa tor. Mr Mackie, in the-course of his remarks, said had he consulted his own inclinations he would have remained m Victoria. He as-tired them that when he first visited Duncdiu some two years ago he did n .t do so as a candidate to till the vacancy in the church. He did so merely owing to pressure that was brought to bear upon him, and to assist in ministering to a congregation which was without a misior ' t the time he was under the belief that the congregation had written Home for a minister, ii e should, howe' er, endeavor con ci ntiously to fulfil the duties he had taken upon himself. During the evening the choir of the church rendered some musical teb.ctions iu til st-iate style.