LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF ST. PAUL’S CHURCH.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 744, 7 November 1876, Page 3

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF ST. PAUL’S CHURCH.

The corner stone of the new church to be erected for the congregation now worshipping in St Paul’s Presbyterian Church, was laid yesterday by Mr John Anderson. The church, when completed, will be both an ornament to the city and a credit to the denomination.

There was a very large attendance, and it is gratifying to be able to record that every denomination was represented on the platform by their ministers, thus showing a kindly Christian feeling and co-operation which was very gratifying. The Rev John Elmslie, pastor of the church, opened the proceenings by giving out the 100th Psalm, and reading a portion of Scripture. The Rev W. J. Habens offered prayer. The Rev John Elmslie then called upon the Rev Charles Fraser to address those present.

The Rev Charles Fraser then delivered a very eloquent address on the past history of the Presbyterian Church as a church of the Reformation,

Mr S. 0. Farr, the architect, then came forward with a bottle, in which was enclosed copies of the following papers :—“ Presbyterian Church Review,” “Free Church of Scotland Record,” “ Christian Record,” “ Evangelist, or Presbyterian Herald,” the various local papers, the coins of the realm, and a scroll containing a history of the progress of the church. Mr Duncan, one of the secretaries of the building committee, read the following document, which is a copy of tbe scroll deposited : “The first steps towards forming the congregation of St Paul’s Presbyterian Church, took place on the 30th November, 1863. A call was presented to and accepted by the Rev George Grant, of Akaroa, and he was inducted as pastor of the congregation in April, 1864. The congregation worshipped in the Town Hall until the erection of the church in Lichfield street, which was opened for divine service on the 19th May, 1867. The Rev George Grant resigned his charge in January, 1869, and the congregation appointed commissioners in Scotland to elect a suitable minister. The Rev A. F. Douglas, of Alnwick, accepted the charge, and was inducted in February, 1871. In August, 1875, the Rev A. F. Douglas resigned the pastorate of the congregation, and at a meeting of the members and adherents of the church, held in Dec, 1875, it was unanimously agreed to invite the Rev John Blmslie, M.A.,of Wanganui, to the vacant charge. The Rev Mr Elmslie having accepted the unanimous call of the congregation was inducted as minister on the 4th May, 1876, In 1874 the

site of this building was purchased, and on the arrival of the Rev Mr Elmslie the committee instructed Mr S. C. Farr, architect, to prepare the design for the present building. The tender of Mr Peter Hyndman for the erection of the church for the sum of £7999 was accepted. The foundation stone was laid by John Anderson, Esq, on the 6th November, 1876. The building, which when completed was not expected to cost less than £9OOO, was intended not only to meet the wants of the overcrowded congregation then worshipping in St Paul’s, and thus afford the means of largely extending the Kingdom of Christ, but also to be a monument of their warm attachment to those truths and principles with which the Presbyterian Church has been so long and so invariably identified.

“ Rev John Elmslie, M. A,, minister; Messrs W, Henderson, senr, John Cameron, John Miln, David Duncan, J. M, Watt, and W. Gavin, elders ; Messrs John Anderson, J. Tait, W, Henderson, P. Duncan, Dr Campbell, M.D;, C. A. C. Cunningham, T. S, Lambert, and A, Kirk, managing committee; Messrs John Anderson, R. Sutherland, Wm. Henderson, J. Tait, and A. Duncan, building committee; Messrs J. Anderson, R. Sutherland, John Miln, and Andrew Duncan, trustees.” Rev Mr Elmslie then said that he had the greatest possible pleasure in asking Mr John Anderson to perform the ceremony of laying the corner stone of the new church. Mr Anderson had deservedly won the esteem of his fellow citizens, and had also been one of the earliest Presbyterian settlers. Mr Parr then presented Mr Anderson with a handsome solid silver trowel, bearing the following inscription—“ Presented to Mr John Anderson, in commemoration of the laying of the foundation stone of St Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Christchurch, N.Z., Nov. 6th, 1876.” Mr Anderson then came forward and said— Mr Elmslie, ladies, gand gentlemen, I have now to thank you, and I do so very cordially, for the honor you have conferred on me in inviting me to take so important a part in the ceremony in which we have just been engaged, I have an additional pleasure in the performance of this duty, I need hardly say in the hope that the event we are this day celebrating will mark a new era in the history of our church in this city. Great prosperity and rapid progress have recently marked our career as a colony, and more especially as a province; and having also been favored with unwonted prosperity as a congregation, we have this day laid the foundation stone of a Presbyterian Church, which, when completed, will be an ornament to the city, a credit to the religious community with which we are connected, and a thank offering, not by any means too large, to Him from whom our blessings flow. All who have experienced the discomfort arising from the crowded state of our present church, will be fully satisfied as to the necessity of our taking this step. Yet it may not be deemed unbecoming in me to express a hope that the burden of the work may not be left upon the shoulders of a few. We have no fear about success; but it will greatly encourage our pastor, who I trust may be long spared in the midst of us, to see the congregation putting their hands to the work unitedly and enthusiastically. And you have much encouragement to do this, not only in the prospect you have of largely extending the Church in our own time, but also in the hope of handing down to posterity so elegant and durable a monument of your attachment to those great truths and principles with which the Presbyterian Church has been so long and so nobly identified. In making reference to the prosperity of our own Church, I may say that wo do not grudge, but rather rejoice in the prosperity of others. Indeed, I believe that the prosperity of one church implies, to some extent, the prosperity of other churches. And if it be true that the several churches of evangelical Christendom have their respective spheres of usefulness, we can well afford to wish each other success. Some churches are in the main evangelistic, others occupy themselves more, especially in the regulation and observance of the forms of divine worship, whilst a third class may be said to display their most prominent characteristic in the exposition and defence of divine truth. To this third class I think the Presbyterian Church belongs; for whilst she glories in the proclamation of a full Gospel, and assigns an important place to the services of divine worship, she is perhaps best known in history for the part she has taken in the defence of Bible truth, and for the battles she has fought in the interests of civil and religious liberty. She has a history indeed of which most Scotchmen are justly proud ; yet I humbly look upon it as a mistake to speak of her as the Scotch Church, as if Scotland were the only sphere of her operations, and as if she were fitted mainly or exclusively to meet the wants of the Scottish people. Not to speak of England and Ireland, where we have so many of our brethren, the church we represent is one of the largest and most properous in America. She may be said to be the church also of large and influential communities in France, Switzerland, and Holland, as well as in other parts of the Continent of Europe. And I most sincerely hope that, whilst proving faithful to the Old Book and its unchanging truths, she may ever show herself ready to adopt herself to surrounding circumstances, and be able to embrace the different nationalities that may seek to avail themselves of her services in these islands of the South. I again thank you for the honor you have done me, and whilst expressing only goodwill to other churches that are truly Christian, I conclude by fondly expressing a hope that bright days of usefulness aud prosperity may be awaiting us, not only as a congregation, but in a fuller aud broader sense —as the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Rev G. Barclay (Timaru) then delivered an eloquent address on Presbyterianism. The Rev W. Morley (Wesleyan), and Dr Symes (Episcopalian) congratulated the members of the Church on raising such a splendid edifice. The Rev Mr Elmslie apologised for the absence of several friends who had previous engagements. He said he had much pleasure in stating that the collections amounted to £4B. Mr Callender proposed a vote of thanks to the members of other denominations who had taken part in the service, and the motion was carried by acclamation. Mr A. Duncan, on behalf of the financial committee, returned thanks for the liberal contributions given that day. The Chairman said they were all most loyal subjects to her Majesty the Queen, and he would ask them to join in singing a verse of the National Anthem. This and the pronouncing of the Benediction brought the proceedings to a close,