OAMARU PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 38, 10 November 1864, Page 2

OAMARU PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

A " social meeting " in aid of the building fund of the Presbytenan Church took place at the distant schoolroom on Tuesday evening. There was a large attendance ; and pioceedings having been opened by singing and prayei, The Rev. Charles Connor said that it was just twelve months since he first stood before them, and it was natuial that his feelings should be touched when he looked back at what had been done since that occasion. It was not necessary that he should relate to them all that had passed, but he had great reason to be thankful. God had been very good to them. He would not say he had had no discouragements ; but the encouragement he had received had counterbalanced them. He had not been without one or two narrow escapes, and for nearly a month he had been so attacked by sickness that at one time he thought it was denied that he should ever be their pastor. Dui ing the past twelve months he had lidden no fewer than 300U miles, had baptised 5G chil dien, and married 12 couples. He was very sorry that this Litter item was so low, but perhaps the incoming year might make amends for it. They-were all acquainted with the cucumstances that led to that meeting : by the piovidence of God they were enabled to lay the foundation stone of the Presbyterian Church building in Oamaru. [Mr Connor read letters from the Superintendent and others, regretting their inability t<» attend ; anu made some further remarks, which through the present extraordinary demands upon our space, we aie leluctamly compelled to omit.] He then read th-9 following sketch of Piesbyteiianism, past and present, in Oumaiu : — " In the latter end of the year 1859 the township of Oamaru consisted of four dwellings, belonging to Mr H. France, Di King, Mi J. Hassell, and Mr Hertslett. The last named was the residence of the landing officers, aud klr Hassell occupied the original station hut, near whete the Court house now stands. Besides these' there was a whare of jLions, who manned the landing boats. At this time Oamaru was visited about every three months by the Rev. Wni. Johnstone, of Port Chalmers, who occasionally extended his visits up the Waitaki as far as the Marawhenua station ; and in February, 186D, he preached in Mr Hassell's woolshed the first sermon evei delivered in Oamaru, to between twenty and thirt y pel sons being nearly the entire adult population— Presbyterianism thus virtually taking possession of tie land. Town sections now began to be built upon, and houses to spring up rapidly. In November of the same yeai the Rev. Mr Johnstone, accompanied by the Re 7. D. M. Stuart, of Dunedin, visited the district and saw the necessity of looking out for a site for a church and manse. One was fixed upon between the two creeks ; but at that time this giound was uuder litigation. Tue paity claiming it piomised to make a present of a site if he gained the suit ; but as he lost it, another site had to be provided. About the middle of 1861 the Rev. Mr M'Gilliviay was sent up by the Presbytery for two Sabbaths, who preached in Mr Hassell's store. A meeting of the people was at this time held, Mr Hutchison in the chair. It was agreed that Oamai u, in conjuncti m with Otepopo should petition the Presbytery to send preacheis, at the same time it was the opinion of the meeting that the place was not far enough advanced for the maintenance of an ordained pastor. About the end of 1861 a eleigynian belonging to the Church of England was located m the disti ict, aud all deaommations united in waiting on his nnnistrations. In November, 18(52, Mr Stuart again visited Oamaru and the neighborhood, and pieached to a large audience hi Messrs Dalgety and Cn.'b store, subsequently suggesting the desirability of the Presbyterians forming themselves into a congregation. A committee was appointed on the motion of Jar Alexander M'Master, to call a public meeting on the subject. In the afternoon Mr Stuart dispensed the Loid's Supper to upwards of 80 persons of different denominations, and baptised a number of childreu. The meeting took place in Mr Hassell's store, and a committee was elected, who took the necessary steps for raisingfunds, and made the necessary applications to the Piesbytery. The Revs. John Christie, D. Meiklejohn, John Allan, and Charles Connor were sent as probationers. The latter received a call, and was ordained on Snbbath, Nov. 1, preaching his introductory sermon on the 29th. The first congregational meeting after Mr Connor's 01 dination was held on the 24th January, 1864 ; and at the next, held on the 31st, four elders and seven members of committee were elected. The retiring committee retorted that £377 had been collected in the district, md that after paving all expenses there was to the credit of the congregation £285 lls fid. At the next congregational meeting, held February 19, it was unanimously i agreen that steps should be taken to erect a plac=3 of i worship, and a committee was appointed. The architects of the chuich are Messrs Mason and Clayton, of Dunedin, whose plan was accepted by the committee July 4th, 1864 ; the conti actors are Messrs Arnot and Co, whose tender was accepted on September 14th ; the contract was signed ©n October 15th. The average attendance of the congregation at Oamaru 13 200 ; at Otepopo, 100; at Hampden, 50." The reading of this statement was received -vtih applause, and Mr Orr (who attended as a deputation from Otepopo) having addressed the meeting, the Rev. Mr Connor read the following from the pen of Mr Jas. Oliver, of Otepopo, relating to Presbyterianism in that township : — " Up to the year 1858 the inhabitants were few it the, distinct, but smce that date the population has been gradually increasing. The people for the most part ',Tere Presbyterians, and desired to haye the services, occasionally, of a minister, for as yet none had visited them. Through the efforts of Mr M'Glashan, the Presbjtery appointed the Rev \V. Johnstone to visit the Northern pait of the province ; and accordingly he preached on a yabbath-day, in Mr Fenwiek's wool-shed, the first sermon ever preached in the district. At the close of the service Mr M'Glashan proposed that an effort should be made to secure the services of Mr Jolinstoneonce every three montlis, which met with the approval of the meeting, and ho continued to visit the district during the whole of 1859 and 1960. In one of his quarterly visits hi the latter year, Mr Johnstone was accompanied by the Rev Mr Stuart, who preached at Otepopo while Mr Johnstone conducted service at Oamaru. Ha intimated at both places that the Presbytery had appo nted the Rev. Mr M'Gilhvray to visit this part of the country with the view of giving the people an opportunity of hearing him : if pleased with his preaching, of giving him a call to be their minister ; but as they did not likft him, no steps were taken towards giving him a call. The visits of Mr Johnstone were continued until the middle of the year 1861, when he was compelled through ill-health to give up. In the year 1862 Mr D. Stuart visited us twice. In the early part of the year 1863 & meeting was called at Oamaru, to obtain the servic3 of a minister, at which a deputation from Otepopc yraa present. At the meeting it was resolved that a petition should be sent to the Presbytery, at the same time promising to pay Eaid mimstera salary of £300 per annum, Otepopo guaranteeing £50 to make up such salary. Probationers were therefore appointed and a call given to Mr C. Connor, which he accepted, and on the 1st November he was ordained to the pastoral charge of Oamaru, Otepopo and Hampden." Mr Christie and Mr Ryley also addressed the meeting and it was then determined that the new church should be named St Paul's.- After a vote of thauks to Mr Christie and other visitors, to the Ladies, and to the children who had collected in aid of the building fund, the benediction was pronounced, and the* nweting separated.