PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EXTENSION ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 164, 14 December 1874, Page 4

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EXTENSION ASSOCIATION.

The third annual meeting of the above association was held last Thursday, in 8t Andrew’s Church, Mr R. Wilkin, president of the association, in the chair. The proceedings were commenced by singing the hundreth psalm, after which the Rev A. F. Douglas engaged in prayer. The chairman, after some introductory remarks, called on Mr W. Dymock (hon secretary), who read the following report: — “ The committee of the Presbyterian Church Extension Association have the pleasure of presenting their subscribers and the Presbyterians of the province with the third annual report of their labors. They do so with mixed emotions, yet with feelings of devout thankfulness to the Great Head of the Church, who has so abundantly helped them, and crowned their labors with a larger measure of success than they sometimes during the year anticipated. “ Our burden has been heavier than during preceding years. Since last annual meeting we have had in our employment for most of the time four preachers, and latterly a fifth. It is easy to see that with our limited resources, and with our fields of labor either new, or what is still worse, places which have been scenes of former failures, that it has required all the energy and wisdom of the committee, and all the zeal of our preachers, to provide the funds needful for the support and expenses of such a staff. Nevertheless, we are able to show a large amount of successful labor, and if all our expected subscriptions come in before the accounts are made up, we will have a balance on the right side. “ It might be naturally expected that every district which has reached the selfsustaining point, and enjoys the benefit of a settled and suitable ministry, would prove an addition to the missionary powers and resources of the whole body. We doubt not that this hope will eventally be realised. Meanwhile, it is perhaps too early to expect much help from this quarter. These new spheres have at present much to do within themselves, and being new to the work, find themselves unable as yet to look beyond their own borders. Soon, however, this state of things will pass away, and the country congregations as well as the town ones will share the burdens of our evangelistic labours in the province. We cannot offer this excuse for the congregations of Southbrook, Leeston, and Southbridge, which ought to be in easier circumstances than the city churches. A reference to our subscription list will show the amount of interest in the work of church extension, and number of subscribers which these congregations can boast of. “ Again, we beg to call attention to the fact that if our progress be slow, it is substantial and decided. We have had no dissatisfaction either with the congregations settled under our care or the ministers. Neither party make their choice until they thoroughly know each other ; there is no necessity Xor any haste in making a settlement ; tKSre is perfect liberty of choice on the part of the people ; and there is no necessity for the preacher settling in any particular sphere unless he thinks it will suit him ; and thus all our laborers are not only satisfied, but become increasingly impressed with the greatness of their opportunities of usefulness, and the people are learning to sympathise with the minister’s enthusiasm. We cannot but think, therefore, that we are laying the foundation of a strong, healthy, and vigorous Church —one which will not only be strong in itself, but most influential for good on the population beyond us. “ Our great want is additional laborers. Since the last report was issued, we have received from the Free Church of Scotland, the Rev W. Douglas, M.A.; from the Irish Presbyterian Church, the Rev H. B. Burnett; and we have also had the services of the Rev W. R. Campbell, who was originally settled at Timaru. We had also in oar employment the Revs Robert Ewen, and W. H. Murray, Of these, this year, for the work of building new churches, we shall have only two, viz:— Messrs Ewen and Burnett. Mr Douglas is ordained over the Peninsula; Mr Campbell is called by the people to settle in the Amuri; and Mr Murray, at the end of his two years’ engagement, resigned. We shall thus be very much restricted in our operations unless help come to us speedily. The committee purpose to begin the year by fresh efforts in this direction. It is our hope that the present religious awakening at home will have the happy effect of increasing the number of preachers who may be willing at the call of God to leave their fatherland to labor in the colonies, “ Before proceeding to report the direct work of the association for the year, we would refer briefly to former spheres of labor. KAIAPOI AND RANGIORA Have made great progress since they ceased their connection with the association, and this would have been much greater but for the feeble health of our minister there. In Kaiapoi, the old church has become insufficient for the congregation, and a handsome new edifice is now in process of erection which will be completed in a month or two. In Rangiora also the church is quite full, and were Mr McGregor able to devote more time to the work there, the accommodation also would be insufficient. Here is also a model Sunday school, under the care of Mr Johnson, sen, and one which will insure on gome future day a fine and intelligent Presbyterian congregation in that rising township. These two congregations would afford work enough for two ministers, and will also soon be in a position to support two. We can only hope that the day is not far distant when not only will Mr McGregor’s health be completely restored, but that we shall also be able to spare another labourer to share with him his heavy burden. ASHLEY BANK, MOUNT GREY DOWNS, LEITHFIELD. “The same rapid and substantial progress has followed the labours of the Rev W. H. Horner in this district. These congregations have increased in number, in liberality, in attention to spiritual things, every day since he was settled among them. The central congregation will soon require more sitting accommodation. Our friends there also, though they left us considerably in arrear, have recently repaid a portion of their indebtedness ; and we quite expect to have to report at our next anniversary, that this district occupies the same honourable position with Kaiapoi and Rangiora,—that of being established as organized congregations without drawing upon the funds of the committee. WAIMATE. <( Mr R. Ewen ban here also, as formerly at Jielwyu and Courtenay, been the first laborer

of the association, having corac to the district in February 1873. As the result of his earnest and faithful labors and the zealous operation of the local committee, a handsome church has been erected at a cost, including site, of £B7O and capable of containing over 250 adults. We note with much satisfaction, that in the statement of accounts presented at the opening of the church, there was distinct reference to the amount which had been paid by this association to their agent in the district, the amount remitted from the congregation to the association, and the sura still due. This is as it ought to be, and shows that the aid afforded to this congregation has been received in the same spirit in which it was given. The express object of the association has been to lend a helping hand to those who are willing to help themselves. We trust that the efforts made by the local committee and their friends in erecting a suitable building for the worship of God, will be accompanied by the blessing from on high, and that a large and flourishing congregation will have cause to rejoice in spiritual benefits there received. With the view of affording them as large a choice as possible in our present circumstances, Mr H. B. Burnett has been stationed at Waimate for three months. We hope that they may be divinely guided in their choice of a pastor, and soon be able to take a prominent part in spreading the blessings of a preached gospel throughout the wide and important district of which this locality forms the centre. ASHBURTON. “ This district has been for some months under the charge of Mr H. B. Burnett, who has conducted services at the Ashburton township and Westerfield, Rakaia township, and Kokeby, and at Alford Forest, in turn. A subscription list was early started for the erection of a church at Ashburton, and through the liberality of Mr D, Williamson, who advanced the money for that purpose, au excellent site has been secured. But some time afterwards the local committee judged it desirable to see to the erection of a Manse. Allan M'Lean, Esq, a resident in the district, has contributed the handsome sum of £IOO sterling for this object, but the difficulty of finding a site has delayed further progress. Robert Wilkin, Esq, of Christchurch, has also recently offered a convenient site of one acre near the township, by which means the committee may be enabled to proceed. A want of organisation in the various districts has hitherto prevented the manifestation of any marked success among the general Presbyterian population, and the district, as a whole, is consequently considerably in arrears to the association, notwithstanding the assurances which were at the first held out that ample funds would be forthcoming to meet every obligation incurred. But we have every confidence that the original promise will yet be made good, and hope to see a church erected at the Ashburton, and thereafter a manse at a very early date.

COURTENAY, HALKETT, AND UPPER SELWYN. “ Since the removal of Mr Eweu, this district has been a very heavy drain upon the funds of the association, and the committee has, in consequence, been compelled to leave these stations vacant for a time. We hope that the interval thus occurring will be em ployed for the purpose of erecting buildings in the various places where sites have been obtained. Meanwhile the Rev J. Gumming has kindly offered to provide fortnightly Sabbath services for Halkett and Courtenay gratuitously for some mouths, on condition that efforts be made to meet at least a portion of the obligations incurred to the association. The opening of the railway through this district, and the gradual clustering of a population around the ;foot of the Malvern Hills, afford the hope that a new field of labor may soon be opened up there, which, by the blessing of God, may be profitably occupied. LINCOLN AND PREBBLETON. “ The Presbyterians of this quarter have united in a unanimous call to the Rev H. B. Burnett, and have shewn by their exertions a determination to do what in them lies that the ministrations of a settled pastor may be provided, notwithstanding the long vacancy which has occurred. Much as they owe to the faithful and highly appreciated services of the Rev J. D. Ferguson, they feel that there are many families still to be gathered into the Church, whom only the continuous labors of a resident minister can reach. THE PENINSULA. “ Hitherto our reports from this quarter have been somewhat desponding. Hero however all is changed. The Rev Mr McGowan has watched over this district with a fatherly care from the first, and at much sacrifice to himself, frequently visited the various districts, and prepared the way for the future. The Free Church of Scotland in answer to our appeal sent out to us the Rev W. Douglas, M.A., who arrived hero in January. The Revs A. F, Douglas and 0. Fraser having previously spent a Sabbath each at Akaroa and elsewhere, Mr W. Douglas was sent to labor there in February. Through the energetic labors of this gentleman, under Mr McGowan’s superintendence, the people have been stirred up and gathered together with surprising speed, nay more, so well have the committees done their work, that though hitherto the Peninsula sent us little assistance in the way of money, returns have come regularly to the full extent of the cost incurred. The various places have now combined and asked the Presbytery to moderate in a call, which w T as done, and Hie result is that Mr Douglas w T as ordained on the 2nd of this month. The services on the occasion were highly interesting, the Revs W. S. McGowan, A.F. Douglas, C. Fraser, and W.H. Horner, represented the Presbytery, and Mr John Anderson presided at the evening meeting as the representative of the association. The people have been most liberal. They have refunded every shilling that has been expended upon them, so that this is another settlement of the most satisfactory character. They have presented the newly-ordained minister wilh [a horse, are making preparations to build him a manse, and have undertaken a minimum salary of £250. While every praise is due both to Mr McGowan and Mr W. Douglas, we cannot but exclaim, as we contemplate the change here. ‘ What hath God wrought !’ We anticipate, for this minister and his people much usefulness ; and we part from this field of labor with our best wishes. We rejoice, also, in the additional strength to the Presbytery which the minister of the Peninsula will certainly prove himself to be. THE AM URL “ This remote region has not been forgotten in our efforts to meet the wants of our people. The Rev Mr Burnett was sent up for .a month in April, and during that time he visited all the stations in the district. We were able to do nothing more till September last, when the Rev W. R. Campbell, who had resigned his charge in Timaru, offered his services to the association, These

were gladly accepted, and, after preaching two Sabbaths in Christchurch, he proceeded by direction of the committee to labor here for three months. Mr Campbell met with the cordial reception which all our ministerial visitors have experienced here, and received every assistance and encouragement in his work. By the time he had made the circuit of the stations, the local committee were convinced that he was admirably suited to the district. A petition was forwarded through the Moderator, the Rev A. F. Douglas, to the Presbytery, to moderate in a call to him—guaranteeing to him the minimum stipend, in the expectation that when he had labored for a while, the hands employed at the stations would considerably increase it, and a manse, together with the use of a freehold of five acres which Mr Caverhill, of Highfield, generously gives to the Church, The Rev Mr McGregor moderated in the call at Waiau on the 22nd November, by the direction of the Presbytery ; and now, a convenient season is only waited for to complete the formal induction. This will be the second settlement effected through the labors of the committee this year. And as with the other, we contemplate it with the highest satisfaction, believing the parties to bo eminently suited to each other. We arc sure that the presence of a clergyman so upright and conscientious as Mr Campbell will prove in every way a blessing to this region. The hearty welcome which the people heve given testifies to their appreciation of his services. We may hope that this most interesting corner of the country, hitherto seldom the scene of any kind of continuous ministerial labour, will now rejoice in many delightful and fruitful gatherings for the worship of God, “ There arc other districts to which we look with longing eyes, but as yet we !have not been able to occupy ; notably among these are Cust Valley and Oxford. That we cannot at present send a preacher is the more to be regretted, as a large number of the recent immigrants have settled down in this locality, some of whom we know would be valuable members of any church. Mr Higgins, who though living there, is an active member of our committee, in his anxiety to prepare the way for the future, recently carried the following motion : —‘ That the secretaries of the association be requested to provide, if possible, services at Oxford and Cust alternately, one Sabbath a month.’ There has not been time as yet to act, upon this resolution, but the secretaries will do their best to carry it out. We cannot but believe, however, that ere we have to issue another report we shall have a preacher stationed here ; and we hope our friends will, in the meantime, be persuaded that they will not be forgotten, and with such an advocate in the committee as Mr Higgins, they may be sure their interests will be attended to at the earliest possible date. We have our eyes also upon other localities, which we need not name, and we will be glad to bo communicated with by individuals in any district which might prove a centre for a Presbyterian Church, a letter or a deputation will be always welcome. “ The only other incident of our year’s labors worth noticing is the effort made during the month of September to increase our funds. A deficiency stared us in the face chiefly owing to the large deficiency in the returns from the district in which Mr Murray labored, amounting then to £247, and the Ashburton under the care of Mr Burnett, of £B9, as well as the deficiency of the fomier year of £BB in Mr Horner’s district: As the circular which was then issued contains an exposition of the duties of our preachers and the committees we append a few extracts from it for the information of all parties of our plans of working : “ ‘ Our preachers are not evangelists merely. Their business is not only to preach in spiritually-destitute localities, but also, and more especially, to organise congregations. This is the end of our labors. It is plain, therefore, that one of the lessons our preachers have to teach, and our people to learn, is the formation of committees, and the art of doing the works (financial and other) which are proper to them. We find that if this is not done, and done at once, and where the committee does not continue to prosecute its labors, everything else is neglected, and the district and the preacher become dependents upon the parent committee. “ ‘ There are three modes of raising church funds—seat rents, subscriptions, and collections. We expect that at all services our preachers conduct, collections are taken up, which are the property of the association. But this is not sufficient. We expect also that the committee take up monthly, quarterly, or half-yearly subscriptions ; and where churches are built there ought also to be seat rents. Then if some of the proceeds arc retained for local purposes, as much at least as the missionary’s salary, for which the parent committee is responsible, ought to be remitted ; and we are sure that, where there is a right spirit, the local committee will not consider how little they can send to our treasurer, but how much, seeing that all our funds are spent in the one work of church extension. It may be added that if the country committees would send representatives to the parent committee’s monthly meetings, they would feel a more intelligent and a deeper interest in the work, not only of their own district but of the whole province.’ CONCLUSION. “ We beg to say in conclusion that this brief account of our year’s work must satisfy those who have hitherto sympathised with us and helped us that their sympathy and help are not thrown away. Not to speak of past years, there have been five different districts where, but for this instrumentality, our people would have been left spiritually destitute, and we have added two charges and two ministers to the Presbytery. With our present limited resources in men and money this is a large amount of work. And we confidently ask a continuance and an increase of the assistance hitherto afforded us. We appeal as well to those in the mothercountry, ministers and probationers, who may be on the outlook for spheres where they shall best serve their Lord and advance His kingdom. We would say to such : Here we have a nobler field than any home church can offer. At home you have to seek work, here work will seek you. At home so large is the supply of churches and ministers that you have to oe thankful for a people who will in any measure welcome your ministrations. Here you will find vacant places where the presence of a true servant of God will speedily cause churches to spring up and congregations to be gathered together. Our climate is superior to the homo one ; we have richer fields and sunnier skies. We nothing that old England can produce. There arc neither wild beasts nor wild men to alarm the timid, We guarantee the

willing laborer £2OO a-year for two years—a lime sufficiently long to permit the formation of congregations strong enough to increase this sum. Those who have already joined our ranks are not only perfectly satisfied, but as they perceive their opportunities of usefulness, thank God that He has in His providence chosen so well for them. To aid in building up the Presbyterian Church here is to spread biblical Christianity, is to lay well the foundations of a Christian empire which will play its part in the regeneration of the world. Let the weak and the fainthearted continue to build ou other men’s foundations, but let the valiant and faithful remember that the field is the world, and we in this colony are daily praying the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into the harvest, for here the harvest truly is plenteous, while the laborers are few, “ The Free Church colonial committee act for us in choosing and sending out men, and their secretary will furnish all needful information. “ The financial statement for the past year is appended to this report, “ R. Sutherland, “ W. Dymock, “ Secretaries.” “ December, 1874, The treasurer’s balance-sheet showed the receipts to be (including a balance of £IOO 12s 3d on hand on November 30th, 1873) £933 IGs 6d, the expenditure £BO4 3s lOd, leaving a balance on hand of £129 12s Bd. The Rev C, Fraser, in an excellent speech, moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr R. Black, and unanimously carried. Mr J. Auderson (hon treasurer) read the financial statement, as appended to the report. On the motion of Dr Campbell, seconded by Mr Watt, the adoption of the statement was carried. The Rev Mr Douglas moved—“ That inasmuch as the spiritual destitution of the Presbyterians of the Province is still very great, this meeting of Presbyterians pledges itself to support the committee of this association iu their labors during this year.” Mr R. L. Higgins seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. On the motion of Mr W. Dymock, seconded by Air J. Anderson, Air R. L. Higgins was elected president of the association for the ensuing year, and the retiring officers and committee were re-elected. A vole of thanks to Mr Wilkin, the retiring president, was carried unanimously. After a hymn had been sung, the meeting was closed with prayer.