PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1447, 16 September 1915, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

INDUCTION OF THK RKV. J. H. BREDIN. The Rev J. H. Bredin, who since his arrival in New Zealand, about three months ago, from Ireland, has acted as supply for the Rev Mr McKenzie, of Shannon, was yesterday inducted as minister of the Foxton charge of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand. The call to the Rev Mr Bredin was hearty and unanimous and although doubt existed in the minds of many local Presbyterians that it would be accepted in view of the fact that the war has caused so many vacancies in more important centres, yet all doubts on the point were quickly dispelled by the rev., gentleman’s immediate acceptance. Presbytery upheld the call and at the same time heartily congratulated Foxton upon Its quick settlement and also upon having received the services of a minister possessing such academic attainments, wide experience and deep spirituality. The filling of the vacancy in so short a time constitutes a record in the church’s history and in this connection credit is due to the interim moderator, Rev A. Doull M.A., Rev G. Budd and the local committee of management. The induction service was held in accordance with the rules and custom of the church and was witnessed by a good and representative congregation. The Rev Mr Wilson, of Turakina, delivered an eloquent sermon to the congregation, the Rev A.. Doull put the usual questions to the minister and the Rev Mr Evans, of Hunterville addressed the congregation, after which the Rev Mr Bredin was given the right hand of fellowship. The Rev A. Doull, in addressing the minister, congratulated the reverend gentleman on his selection of New Zealand as a field for his ministry, for New Zealand is still a new land, he said, although its pioneers are nearly all gone. In the work of the Church the pioneering stage was not gone, and men had > ae peculiar joy of laying the solid foundations of the churches that are to be. Such a task was one of continual struggle against difficulties, and it demanded ministers of great heart and unfailing cheer and hope, and thus ha urged the new minister to be. an embodiment of hope and a continual carrier of good cheer. Then at some length the necessity for the careful cultivation of his own spiritual life was dwelt upon and urged upon the new minister. Roth for the sake of the freshness, breadth, and force of his gospel message, of which be was to be a herald and a witness, and for the sake of the effectiveness of his pastoral work, the minister’s private spiritual life must be carefully tended. He contrasted the minister at the end of his studies with the medical student; the latter has witnessed hundreds of operations, and followed the effect of the treatment prescribed, upon many cases in the hospitals, but the man that is called to the cure of souls has been deprived of this practical training very largely. He has his own experience to win, and in this It is essential that he shall be a deeply spiritual man. The hymns, etc., were appropriate to the occasion. PUBLIC WELCOME. A public welcome was extended to the Rev Mr and Mrs Bredin iu the Masonic Hall last night. The interior of the building, and the stage, was most artistically decorated, and included among the bunting, in a prominent position, was noticeable the Irish flag intertwined with the N.Z. ensign. The seating accommodation was overtaxed, and a number had to stand during the evening. The Rev A. Dotill occupied the chair, and those on the stage were the representatives of Presbytery, the guest, and Mr Hornblow, representing the local congregation, while in a "cosy corner’’ at the loot of the stage were seated Mrs Bredin and lady members of the congregation. After the singing of the National Anthem and an orchestral overture by Mr Betty’s orchestra, the chairman read apologies for unavoidable absence from the Mayor (Mr Alf. Fraser, who was absent in Wellington) iu which he accorded the minister a hearty welcome to Foxton, and hoped that his stay wouldbe a pleasant one, and that his work for the uplifting and betterment of our folks would be successful and lasting. The Mayor’s letter continued : "From what I have heard of the Rev Bredin, I am sure the church is to be congratulated upon securing his services, and that a new era of prosperity lies before it, and that the members would vie with each other in helping and assisting him in the work that lies before him," An apology was also received from the Rev W. Raine (vicar of All Saints), from the Rangiotu training camp, expressing his disappointment at not being able to join in the welcome, but the camp work demanded all his attention. "May I ask you to convey to him." the letter continued, "my sincere wishes for his success and happiness during his stay amongst us. He will come, I know, with ideals, and I hope he may have that great joy of realising them. Both he and the congregation have my prayers.'’ Welcome speeches were then delivered by t?.e Chairman, Messrs Hornblow, and Wilton (Rangiotu.;, Revs Wilson and Evans (representing the Wanganui Presbytery), Rev Mr Rowe (Methodist), Adjutant Potter (Salvation Army), The chair was then handed over to the Rev Mr Bredin, who was feceived with a hearty round of

applause. In responding be said I think I shall best consult my own taste and yours by not imposing on you at this time a long speech. As I stand here this evening, minister of the Foxton charge, naturally my thoughts go back to my old congregation in the Green Isle. I remember my ordination there, I remember gratefully the happy years I spent among the kindly people to whom I ministered. I remember parting with them and I led that if the past of my ministerial life portrays to any fair extent the future, I shall not regret having faced the perils of submarines and the storms of the deep. I thank you for the hearty reception you have given me this evening. 1 thank the people of the Foxton charge for their hearty and unanimous call. I thank them for the confidence they have reposed in me, and it shall be ray earnest purpose and endeavour to show that your confidence has not been misplaced, I am a stranger in a strange laud, but you have made ms feel at home. You have given me a right loyal, warm-hearted British welcome, and I tbauk you sincerely and hope that in the days to come the friendship begun now will be more and more firmly cemented. As minister and congregation we meet together for the first time this evening. You have taken me on trust and I have taken you on trust and let me say here that it is only by the faithful discharge of our mutual duties that we can prove that we have not trusted each other in vain. You expect me to work hard. I intend to do so, but I expect you to work and I hope you intend to do so also. You can in no other way call lorth the best that is in me than by calling forth the best that is in yourselves. When each of us does our work our common work shall flourish. I am here as a minister ot Jesus Christ. To show forth Christ and preach Ills gospel shall be my great and constant aim. Other work, outside work, will have to fall into the second rank—the preaching of the gospel must occupy the first place. Not in my own strength do I take up the work of the ministry here but realising my own weakness I throw myself ' m the strength of God and the might of His spirit and go forward in faith and in hope. God has a p.-ice for each one of us in fill and a work for each one of us to do and only as we take up that work and do It heartily, will the Lord b-v ss us. My work here is the advancement of the church ot Christ and ol that branch of the church to which we belong, and I prom the people ol the Foxton charge that I will do ail in my power to make my ministry amongst them a bleSi.ag. In concluding I wish to thank the members of Presbytery present for their kind welcome. From what I have seen of the members of the Wanganui Presbytery I think I shall feel at home amongst them. I wish also to thank the representatives ot other denominations lor their friendly words, and kind offer ot help. As mention has been made ot Shannon, let me say that lam greatly indebted to the minister of Shannon and to the people of Shannon. To them I owe almost all I know of colonial life and colonial ways. For some months I have been supplying for the Rev McKenzie, who has been appointed chaplain to the Forces, and I ran only say that, the kindness of the people of Shannon to Mrs Bred in and myself was Irish in quality and Irish in quantity, and belter cannot be said. I think I can hope for much the same kindness in Foxton. I have met a great many members of the congregation already, and their kindness and heartiness have made the fnlare bright and hopeful. We hold the future in our own hands, let us lie one in our desire to work for God and for the good of each other, and pray that the settlement effected here io day may have the rich blessing of God. (Applause). Items were rendered during the evening by the following popular and talented vocalists : Mrs Boyes, Misses Kerapton and Signal, and Messrs Alf. Jenks, P.nglass, Aitkeu and Hornblow. The accompaniments were played by Mrs Boyes, Miss Jenks, and Mr Collins. Votes ot thanks were passed to all who had assisted, and particularly to the lady members who were responsible for the artistic decorations and splendid supper. The social was hearty in every sense of the word, and should prove a good angary for the future of the local Presbyterian Chinch.