TRADITIONS RE-CALLED.

Franklin Times, Volume 10, Issue 797, 5 January 1923, Page 2

TRADITIONS RE -CALLED.

PAPATOETOE’S PRESSYTERI AN CHUiRGH. / ' f< ' OLDEST OUTSIDE AUCKLAND CITY. TO BE REPLACED BY NEW BUILDING. THE FOUNDATION STONE LAID. CEREMONY BY PRIME' MINISTER. The traditions of St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Pajfjitoetoe, will be carried on in a larger , and building well worthy of the growing interests and importance of the district, and a fitting substitute for the wooden building which has stood for so long. This wooden buil.iing was erected in 1863, but prior to that services were held in a small hall close by, which came to be known as the Old Otara Hall, while the church was known as the Scotch Church. In the year 1854, 68 years ago on July last, the parish was founded” bv the Revj John Mack, who preached the first service at Baird’s Wharf, on the Tamaki River, about the middle of that year. The church is, therefore, the second oldest Presbyterian Church in the Auckland Province, and, in point of time, ranks second only to St. Andrew’s in Symonds Street. Papatoetoe was then a much larger parish than it is now =and included, besides Papatoetoe, Otahuhu, Howick, Pakuranga, West Tamaki and Managere. An Historic Event. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone which was held on Saturday last for the new church building should' naturally be regarded as an historic event. Prayers were offered, by the Rev. C. E. Porter, pastor of the Parish, and by thfe Rev. W. McDonald and the Scriptures from the Old and New Testaments respectfully were read by* the Rev. G. Budd and the Rev. F. B. Barton, B,A. The hymns, “All People that on Earth do Dwell,” “Q God of Bethel,” and “The Church’s One Foundation ” were sung by the large assembly present, and thd Benediction was pronounced by the Rev. R. Sbmmerville (clerk of . the Presbytery). ■ A Load to lbs Followed. r

The Rev. D. C. Herron, who delivered the address in the absence of the Rev. C. J. Tocker (Moderator of the Presbytery) through illness, said that since the foundation 'of the parish there had been four ministers. The Rev. John Macky, who lay buried in the cemetery behind the church, held the trust for 48 years. He was followed by the Rev. D. J. Steele, the Rev. Alex. Doull and the Rev. C. E. Porter, who was the present pastor. “I hope that the lead given by Papatoetoe to-day/’ said Mr Herron, “will be followed by other parts of the Presbytery. I hope it will be the beginning of the building of a number of churches in keeping with the strength and interests of the parishes in this Presbytery.” Explaining ■ this, the speaker said that the Prebyterian Church i epresented about ,25 per cent, of the total, population of New Zealand, and Was therefore a powerful organisation. ,

Besides mentioning the fact that the “saints” were recognised as the chief benefactors ! of the world through the ages, Mr -Herron said that the influence of the in the world to-day, though imperceptible, was real and constant. The church should bring men into a living relationship with the Saviour of men, he added, and should! send men out to propagate ithe ideals of Christ in the community inf which they lived. “I say,'” he explained, “that the church is to blame if society is not re-organised on a better plan.” ; ■ The Church and Public Opinion. The Washington Conference was the direct result of the pressure brought to bear by the Christian Church in America on publicV opinion there, hq said, and thinking along those lines it seemed that the spiritual life pf America would lead that country \o give up her policy of isolation. He hoped that the church might be a'place where men and women having made faith with God would set out to have his will done upon earth, as it would please Him best. Oldest Living Member of the Church. Mr Porter expressed regref that illness had prevented the oldest living: member of the church from attending the ceremony. He referred to Mrs Baird, of Fairview. Like her husband, the late Mr S. C. Baird, Mrs Baird had always taken the keenest interest in the work of thechurch. Mr Baird was, in the early days, the shipping agent upon whom the farmers of the district relied for their supplies of fertiliser and the sale of their produce. Before gooc| roads had been formed* a fleet) of cutters maintained a regular service up the Tamaki River to where the Otahuhu bridge is now and supplies or took away the chaff, wheat and other produce that the farmers had to sell. Mr Baird also traded direct to Sydney. Mr Pprter was pleased, however, to see present Mr Johp Mack, son of the late Rev. John Macky. Fellow Countrymen. The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. W. ?F. Massey, then delivered an address. He knew Mr Macky ( very well, he said. They both came from the same part of Ireland. He did not think Mr Porter knew wha£ Ulster people were made ol? when lie apologised for asking him to perform the stone-laying ceremony so soon after the excitment of the elections. (Laughter). “I was a member of the debating class that used to meet at the church,” said Mr Massey. “Mr

Carruth was also a member, and it was the experience l gained there that give me my bent towards politics.” (Laughter). In those days the districts in the paris were agricultural districts and Auckland was only a little town. But the land was now going out of cultivation and finding a new use as residential sites. Auckland was growing and would continue to grow, on account of its great hinterland, which was practically untouched, and its splendid trade position. It was the duty of the residents of this t istrict,, as elsewhere, to pass on; to succeeding generations the traditions which they had inherited. flflr Rlassey’s Reminiscences.

Going bacA in memory almost to the beginning, Mr Massey said that jthe centre of meeting of the early Presbyterians in Auckland was the old Supreme Court building at the Corner of Queen and Wellesley Streets. The pew for the eiders was the dock and the wits of the town used to make them a * source of day associations that clung round their pew. Mr Massey paid a tribute to the work of the Revs. J. Macky, R. McKinney and Thomas (N’orrie. Mr McKininey was another of his fellowcountrymen and had hi? headquarters at Warkworth Mr’ Norrie at Dury. Mr Macky used to travel around his;; parish on an oid horse called “Jack,” which he used for 27 years. No one knew how, he ever managed to get along wi,th that horse towards the last years of its life, for it was nearly blind. He. would go out to Howick on Sunday afternoon and visit some of the people in that pari of his parish,, on Monday returning about Tuesday to Papatoetoe. Yet he always seemed to be present when any of his people were sick, no matter in w'hat part of the parish they lived. Characteristics of Presbyterians.

Mr Massey evoked a good deal of laughter by saying that; one of the main characteristics of Presbyterians was that “they never got on without a difference of opinion.” (Laughter). There was a difference of opinion when they were trying to decide where the church should be erected. Then, there was a difference of opinion as to what size it should be. But that time wa,-s past and he hoped now that the district would be a centre from whicHJ gospel truth would radiate for many miles around and for many years to come. Members of the 1 Presbyterian Church were tolerant, at any rate, of the opinions and religious convictions of members of other denomiiations.

Though some might say that they were “dour and sterne;” obstinate, stiff-necked and rebellious (laughter), they, at/ least, insisted that every man should be allowed to worship in the way he thought best. They stood for national ife„ liberal education and the highest ideals of a jfree people. Saying this, Mr Massey turned to lay the stone on which were inscribed thp words “To the Glory of God, stone was laid by , the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. "W. F. Ma-ssey, on December SOitig' 1922." ■ After Mr Massey had declared the stone “well and truly laid,” Mr Sam McCullough briefly outlined the financial position and a collection was taken up in aid of the building fund. Afternoon tea was lates dispensed by the ladies. Description of the Ghurcb. / The new church, which is estimated to cost about £SOOO, is beingbuilt on the church property, comprising about one acre, on the very spot where the original buildingstood. It is under the contract of Messrs McKenzie Brothers* and is to be completed bv the end of April next. Its length outside is 54 feet and the width” 39 feet, the seatingaccommodation being 39 by 43 and sufficient to seat a congregation of 'three hundred. The tower, at the base of which the foundation stone is laid, will be 58 feet high and the height of the building; to the top of the gable will be 38 *2 feet. The ornamentation in the roof principles will consist of Gothic tracery, and a large Gothic window, 6 feet by f2 feet., will be placed in the' front gable.. The design for this is being drawr/ now by Mr Spencer Mac'kjj, late of Auckland, w ho is an artist in America,! and after the design has been sent over and approved by the church, authorities here , SMr Macky will have the window made,, as a memorial to his grandfather* the founder of the parish. The inside of the building will be of rimu finish and the outside will- be finished off in red, pressed brick. , Around the church will be a. continuous drive, 14 feet wide, for vehicular traffic, having two entrances to the road.