PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN PALMERSTON.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 64, 9 August 1879, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN PALMERSTON.

Wednesday will be marked am red-letter day m the annals of the Presbyterian Church m this town, for on that day it reacivpd sufficient maturity to assume the responsibility of accepting the services of a pastor specially appointed to minister m the district. Some six or eight months ago, the Rev. Mr. Briice, of -"Auckland, who holds a kind of roving commission from his Church, paid a visit to Palmerston, and being interviewed by a few of the local members of that denomination promised to take steps, to supply the much-felt want of a. resident pastor. Upon his return' North he selected Mr. Alexander McLean Wright, agentleir j*n who had but a short time befora arrived from Home, 1 ntid who was a candidate foB the Presbyterian Ministry. Mr. Wright was therefore dispatched upon a six months' probation,to Palmerston, the result of whidh has been that his congregation has unanimously asked fqr 1 his ordination and pastorale over, them, he himself has been highly pleased and satisfied with the flock, the charge of which has been committed 'to him, and the solemn services which took place on Wednesday were to carry out the ipAwf W feetU. At tw 9 9'ci9oi fee f?t»t>y-

tery represented by the Revs. J. Torry, Douali, Patterson, and Allsworfch, met together, and half an hour later the Church being declared open to the congregation, who mustered m large numbers, the ordination* services commenced with tho singing of the 58th hymn. The Rev. J. Torry, the ordaining minister, then delivered a most lucid and able exposition of the soorad office of the minister, taking as his text 1 Peter, ii. 9— "That ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and holy nation, a peouliar people, that ye shall show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness, into his marvelous light," also from Leviticus viii, Afc its conclusion the candidate for the Ministry was ordered to stand up; when the ordaining clergyman, after intimating the circumstances under whioh Mr-. Wright had received a call to Palmaraton, stated that m accordance with the practices of the Church, before the commencement of the ordination service, a proclamation had heen mads at the door of the Church, calling upon all or any objector or objectors to come forward and declare, their reasons for their opposition to the installation of the pastor. No objection had been made, and he then proceeded to catechist the candidate as to his motive m seeking to become a member of the priesthood. All the various questions having been answered m a satisfactory manner, the neophyte then knelt down and the act of ordination took place by t>he imposition of hands, each member of the Presbytery placing his hand on the head of the candidate, wJjile the.ordaining minister engaged , m prayer. At its conclusion the Rev. Mr. Wright arose to his feet an ordained clergyman, and m respect to his sacred calling, each Presbytery gave him the right hand of fellowship. The Rev Mr. AUsworth than mounted the pulpit and delivered a most admirable lecture to both paster, and. people, being a glowing exhortation to holiness on one side, and an appeal to the congregation to perform their duties toward tbeir pastor on ihe other. We regret that pressure upon our space precludes us from giving it m extenso, as it was a masterpiece of oratory, and every line of it worthy to have been written m letters of gold. After the choir had sung a hymn, the Rev. *Mr. Patterson came forward, and stated that he ha.d been deputed to be present at the cermonios as the representative of the Wellington Presbytery. He had intended to address them, but the ordinances had been somewhat lengthy, and as he would have an opportunity of doing to during the evening, he would not detain them just then. He, however, 'intimated that it was the custom np'oh' such occasions for the newly-ov-dained clergyman to take his stand at the , door of the Church at the departure of the congregation, and receive the welcome and congratulations of his flock by the cordial shaking of hands. The new. minister then took his station at the door, the 3] Bth hymn was sung and as each one left the church Mi\ Wright received the nearby congratulations of the members of the Presbyterian Church of Palmerston, of whioh he is now; the duly installed pastor. . TBB SOOtAL MEBTHTG. The social festivities to' mark the ordination and induction of the Rev. Mr. Wright, as Pastor of the Presbyterian Church m Palmerston,' were held m the-evening m the Town Hbll^ the use of which was kindly given by the Borough Council. The hall was admirably arranged, the seats being placed m the centre of the building, while along the side walls the tables containing the refreshments were situated. There, were five tables m all, the good things of -^^^loiiown^fadies— Sfesdames" PalT "merston and Dundas, T. Manson, GKlleft, and the Misses Sinclair and Aitkinson, and judging from :the patronage accorded and the satisfaction expressed, must have reached a high standard of excellence. We have been asked to express, the hearty thanks of the members of the Presbyterian.ChKrch to the townspeople of all denominations for the very liberal and generous manner m which goffers of aid and assistance were tendered, one vicing with the other to give a helping hand to. make the demonstration a success.. After the tables had been cleared, the various members of the Presbytery mounted the platform, the chair being taken by the Rev. James Duncan, of Foxton, who called upon the choir to sing the 100 th hymn. He then said that it gave him great pleasure to preside upon the occasion, and he presumed the reason why he had been called to the position was on on account of his long years of laboring m the Manawktu. -When he looked around him, and saw. 'Buch a gathering his heart was filled with joy and thankfulness, tli» more so as. the time had not been so very far back, ; #hen. it had bepn moved by other feelings. There been a time when, the Pr<asb,yterian cause m Palmerston had been m a very desponding state, and when hope had been almost dead, but a look at the assemblage that' evening was an earnest protest against despondency. -The Chairman then gave a somewhat lengthy explanation of the 'relative duties between pastor and people, likening the conjunction of the two to the marriage contract, and while he exhorted the young minister to the faithful and zealous m the discharge of thefunctions of his high office and sacred calling, he impressed upon the members of b,is flock the, absolute necessity of lessening 1 his burden by a re'gulan attendance at his ministrations. The Chaibman then called upon she Choir, when the pleasing melody of "I will G-uide Thee," was given m an efficient manner. The ReT.*Mr. BBtroa ori) being called upon, said that he had Un espocial reason for being proud of being present upon that particular occasion, inasmuch it was through his instrumentality that Mr. Wright was now settled m Palmerston as its pastor. And while upon that matter he might make a statement. During, a "previous visit he had occasion to test the generosity of the people of Palmerstbn, - and he found that they subscribed far more liberally than m planes where heads, were carried much higher. For that reason he took a liking to-them, for he always respected people who gave him monay. (The/Rev.* Mr. Patterson — Hear, hear.) Well he saw what a very great strait they were m for a clergyman, and he determined upon his return to Auckland to do his best to supply the want. He looked about him for, the most eligible person, and his choice fell upon* Mb. Wright, but he was compelled to say that that gentleman did hot view 'the selection m a favorable, light, and when the matter was broached to him felt as he wesne about to. be consigned to Siberia. Mr. Wright had heard reports about Palmerston, whioh evidently had not •impressed him with a high opinion of it. However, very reluctantly he departed upon his Tnisaibn, and the purpose for which the celebration was held that evening proved that \Mr. Wright had found his (the speaker's) estimate of the people of Palmer-,, s ton the correct one. The reverend gentleman then related several amusing anecdotes and woundup an interesting discourse by trusting that the newly, installed pastor and his people would be like man and wife— like each other the, better the longer they were acquainted. " • ■ Choir— <' The Sweet By-and-bye." * The Rev. Mr. Pattbbsqn next addressed fe§i&??ting, agd foljowe^ ffi jhe -wftlf.gf

the previous speakers m exhorting an unity of spirit and harmonious -working between the priest and hit congregation. Ho spoke with pride and pleasure of the difference between the cause on his first visit to Palmerston — about eight years previously — and its position on that day. Eight ycftr» bt f,i • there was.no church and very Uttle congrer gation, and the service whioh he then celebrated was held m the little court-house, which formed one of the very few houses m the town. At that time his visit was celebrated by a lecture and a tea-meeting, but the ladies were very few indeed. He urged the congregation to work and pull together with their pastor, and exhorted them to be regular m the attendance upon his ministrations, intimating that that was the surest way to give him encouragement. Mr. Wright was a bachelor, but that was a defect which was easily remedied, and ha trusted that that gentleman would see his way clear to. make so desirable a change. Nothing was so cheering to the worker as tq have one to whom he could look for. sympathy and companionship m his good work. Ohoir— «« The Joy Bells." The Rev. Mr. DotrAH said he thought it was scarcely necessary to .say much after the lengthy and eloquent addresses ' which ha.d been delivered. He would, however, just make one observation, and tba.t was upon the efficacy of encouragement. It was of incalculable value to the worker, it cost very little, and many a good man had been disheartened and lost for- want of it. Mr. EbbghtsGn then came forward, and said that he appeared before the meeting as a representative man, inasmuch as he had the honor to represent the ladies of Palmerstoh. It had been said that brevity was the soul of wit, and that being so he would be considered very witty, as he certainly intended being very brief, a feature which he had no doubt would meet with commendation from the meeting. The ladies of the congregation had determined to show their appreciation of the pastor by presenting him with a. Bible and Psalm Book, as. a memento of his induction infco his charge, and on their behalf he had very great pleasure m presenting it. The Eov. Mr. WaiG^i, after heartily returning thanks for the very valuable present which he had received, reverted to the remarks made by the Eev-. Mv, Bruce, which he confessed were perfectly correct. Before he left the North he had heqrd opinions expressed of Palmerston the reverse of flattering; when he arrived at Wellington they were confirmed, rather than contradicted ; and when Foxton was raached, well, ina<steri were not made brighter, so 'that he reached Palmerston with the foregone conclusion that he would not stay three weeks; However, from the hour of his arrival he had experienced the greatest kindness, , aid, . and sympathy from the congregation, each, and all being only to willing to second IMs efforts. v . \-. ;■■ ; ; •-■./- A vote of thanks to the ladies, for their invaluable aid and liberality m attending and furnishing the tea ' tables, having been carried by acclamations ; another to the ch«ir, and a third to the Chairman, the proceedings terminated by the singing of the DoxologJS,