CHALMERS PRESBYTERIANS

Evening Star, Issue 20133, 25 March 1929, Page 16

CHALMERS PRESBYTERIANS

MEMORIAL ORGAN DEDICATED An exceptionally large attendance of members and visitors participated in a beautiful choral service of dedication in,the Port Chalmers. Presbyterian Church yesterday afternoon. It ivas the dedication of a magnificent organ, presented to the church as a memorial to the late Mr John Mill. The deceased gentleman attended church regularly, and the musical portion of_the services itad a strong appeal for him. Mrs J. Mill therefore decided that his memorial in the church he loved so well should take the form of a modern organ, Accompanied by her two daughters and her son (Dr T. Mill), Mrs Mill was present- at the memorial service ami personally handed over the key of the new organ, thus formally presenting the memorial to the congregation. The Rev. J. W. MTvenzie, R.A., who has been minister of the church since shortly after he returned from the Great War, conducted the dedication service reverently find impressively.

The Scripture lesson from Proverbs embodied .Solomon’s exhortation to the study of .wisdom,, and showed how Hint wisu Jew acquired right understanding by attending ,to .the instructions of his father. Wisdom was, the principal thing, therefore get wisdom, and the years of one’s life would be many. After dedicating the memorial organ to the service of God. and praying that it might prove ;i means of blessing lo the congregation, Mr M‘Kenzio expressed gratitude to the donor of the gift, and proceeded to recall the good qualities which had endeared the late Mr Mill to his own people, and had won him the esteem of his fellow citizens. He was a man of outstanding business ability, and it was owing in his success in business that the gift of the organ was possible. As a. husband and father be was loved and honoured. In worship he was constant and attentive, possessing a dear and penetrating mind. He'had a remarkable love for children, and he was passionately fond of music, which provided natural expression for a soul deeply stirred. Possessing as he did such a love of music, it was appronrialo that the beautiful organ should "he bis memorial in the church in which ho worshipped for fifty years. ‘Lead, Kindly' Light’ was the late Mr Mill's favourite hymn, so it was the first to he played on the memorial organ and the whole congregation joined the choir in singing it. as a vocal tribute lo the departed churchman. .Mr G. Stuart Thomson sang ‘Lord God of Abraham ’ (.Mendelssohn). The erecting of the organ had been completed the previous day, and the instrument was therefore not yet. at its best. Nevertheless.' Dr V. hi. Galwav conveyed a good idea of its possibilities in the playing of the following:— ‘Largo in (I .Major’ (Handel). ‘ Priere et" liercease ’ (Gniiniant), and the ‘ Intermez/.o in 1) Flat,’ (Hollens).