PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1035, 25 April 1912, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

INDUCTION OF THE REV JAS. M. THOMSON, M.A.

The induction of the Rev Jas. M. Thomson, M.A., to the Foxton charge took place in the local Presbyterian Chmch yesterday afternoon. The very inclement weather prevented many from a distance being present, but tbe attendance was very good. The proceedings opened with the singing of the “Old Hundredth.” The Scripture reading was from the 62nd chapter of Isaiah, after which the hymn “The Church is one Foundation” was sung. Tbe Rev Mr Calder preached from the text: “I have set watchmen upon the wails of Jerusalem.” The preacher stated that the context showed that this scripture was a promise of special blessing to tbe city of God’s choice in guardianship aud

care. The idea, however, had today a very particular application in its reference to the position of the minister over the church of

God, and still more in regard to the position of Christianity as a whole to the world. The great love of God for the world of men

had given to the world the sweetening and purifying influence ot Christianity. Men often made the great mistake cf seeing in statistics of conversion the whole result o( the church’s effort. This result was small in comparison with the grand guardianship over the world exerted by the church of God. In her individual members and in the united voice of her people, she had done, and was doing, a work of greatest importance iu restraining evil aud encouraging all goodness. This was what Christ promised. She should be a light to the world —small it might be, but powerful in a glorious radiance. Proceeding, the preacher showed the application of this truth in the detailed work of the members of the church of God, and called upon one and .all to be active and earnest in making Christianity the grand sweetening power of our land, our district, aud our town. The Rev Mi McKenzie, interim moderato., put me necessary questions to the minister and congregation, and on these being answered, he inducted Mr Thomson into the charge, aud iu token of same the reverend gentleman was given the right hand of fellowship by members ot Presbytery. The Rev Mr Randerson, M.A., delivered tbe address to the minister, from Cor. 11., x6 —“We have the mind of Christ.” He said that the apostle did not speak in any priestly way. His words applied to the universal priesthood ot true Christian men, but especially to the minister set apart to preach. There was no more tremendous task for the minister than that of rightly expressing the mind of Christ. You will need this strong confidence that you have the mind of Christ. That is,

you will need to be sure, aud to be conliuually reassured, that you

are called of God. It is necessary in order that your pulpit may sound the note of authority—not a dogmatic tone in delivery, but a noted positive and final conviction at the heart ol your message. In this respect modern preaching, especially Protestant preaching, tends to be lacking. Science has its 'verily, verily,’ and religion must not savour too much of apologetic, or make too liberal con-

cessions to modern thought. That is not to be impervious to new light, but to ever remember that the preacher has the eternal verities. But you will need to be able to convince others that you have this mind of Christ. It is easy to

preach—anyone can do it—easy to preach the truth for anyone with glib longue, but to preach that gospel that is as heaven lor height and earth for depth —that is not so easy. How it should be coveted that people should say of preaching not, “That is the minister’s opinion,’’ but, “That is the judgment ol God,” and however it may be necessary to qualify the message ot the pulpit sometimes when it concerns the dimmer regions of revelation, the minister may always show be has the mind of it by the spirit in which he approaches his theme. How shall you express this mind of Christ ? What shall be the central note ot your ministry ? The evangelic note that has been defined as one that dwells much on the deep things of the soul’s relations with a personal God. But that may be done without reaching the soul’s dynamic centre —the will. All the rest ot preaching should lead up to positive mental conclusions and positive practical decisions for the clean life. But you will not torget other directions in which the mind of it must find expression. It is sometimes said, “What matters a bad moral lapse alter all if there is a triumphant death iu clear laith. But a bad or imperfect morality cannot rest on a true evangelism, the minister must build the foundations in young converts of a godly life, and in the vices ot social life, political struggles, industrial strife, the educational problem, the field of sport—iu all these spheres the minister must labour to show the mind of Christ. He wiM speak not to men as classes, but to men as men,

as sons of God without distinction, ' helping to solve all problems of our corporate life in accord with the mind of Christ, he will commend himself as a true minister oi Christ. You will need to be much alone with God to have this mind. That is true, but needs much more emphasis than sometimes it is given. The voices of men, the noise ot their strite, the conflict of their opinion, if we are too much among them, tend to divert us from the mind oi Christ. It will he helpful

to remember that Christ, besieged as he was by sick, sorrowing and sinning, made time to be alone in prayer on the Mount of Olives. In expressing this mind of Christ, you will need a great directness. Sometimes we lollow our intellectual ..oLbies in the study for our own delectation forgetting tbeir end in leading to higher truth.. And so in preaching we may draw largely Irom our reading until we overload our messages with poetic and philosophic and scientific treasures, but only to find that we have left our hearers wandering in philosophic doubt and speculation, or in the byways of poetic beauty and scientific truth, and have not carried them with us as we have led at last to the crowning beauty and glory of Christ.

The Rev Mr Doull addressed the congregation after which the benediction was pronounced.