DR. SOMERVILLE’S FAREWELL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5433, 26 August 1878, Page 3

DR. SOMERVILLE’S FAREWELL.

health, overworked, and from the-very nature of his office, somewhat unfitted for the role of political leader. The other Ministers are not worth considering, for though Mr. .Macandrew is an able man of business, he is no debater, and lays no claim to Parliamentary, contiol. Mr. Kisher is merely a lump- It apnears then, that in a House more disorganised than it has ever, perhaps, been before, the Government have to depend on the personal influence and rhetorical flights of an invalid Premier, and on the - personal popularity and ready tact of ;>u invalid and overworked Native Minister, Failing them they have only to fall back upon two'Ministers who are nothing more than units, and were never intended by nature to be leaders of men. In the meantime, burning questions are cropping up iu all directions, time is slipping away while the House remains in dangerous idleness, and nothing is being put forward to rally or consolidate the party. How it will all end it is impossible to say ; but we do not hesitate to express the opinion that the strength of the Government is more apparent than real, that an accident might at any moment weaken them fatally, or that any man of commanding qualities who should step forth with a bold and clearly defined policy, would have an excellent chance of gathering a powerful party round him. What we most fear is that the Ministry, feeling their weakness, will temporise with, concede to, and intrigue with individuals or factions, without risking their fate on measures ; and will thus reduce Parliamentary Government for the time to a mere traffic in votes, a mere matt°r of political huckstering.

(From the New Zealand Herald, August 21.) The announcement that this eminent mis* sionary would meet his friends during the short interval that the outgoing mail. steamer remained in the harbor, brought together yesterday in the Theatre Royal a very large assemblage of persons desirous of wishing Dr. Somerville God-speed in his voyage to England. There was a large number of .the clergy of all denominations on the platform, and several others mixed with the audience in the body of the hall. There was also a considerable number of influential people of business, who took a prominent part in the proceedings. Punctually at the hour fixed for the meeting, Mr. Somerville, jun., took his seat at the , harmonium, and the Rev. Allan Webb led 1 the devotions with an extempore prayer. Dr. Somerville then gave out the 92nd hymn of Moody and Sankey’s collection, which was sung by the whole congregation, led by an excellent choir. Dr.’Somerville proceeded to address the congregation, taking for his text the ICfch and two following verses of St. Paul’s Second Epistle to Timothy : “ The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus, for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain.” “ But when ho was in Romo he sought me out very diligently, and found me.” “ The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day, and in how many things h ministered unto me at Ephesus thou knowest very well” He said it was a source of special satisfaction and delight to stand in the presence of the kind friends who had greeted him in that place some eight months before. It was in Auckland he had commenced his missionary tour, and the kindness of the Auckland people had opened for him the gates o! all the other places which he had since visited —■ the Thames, Waiwera, New Plymouth, Wanganui, ■Wellington, Nelson, Hokitika, Timaru, Oamarn, Christchurch, Dun -din, Invercargill, and the Bluff. Everywhere he had been received with an affection which touched him deeply, and sometimes overpowered him. He would try, however, to employ the short time available as profitably as possible for himself and those who heard him. The subject of the discourse was the imprisonment of St. Paul, where he was visited by Onesiphorus. Some account was given of the Apostle of the Gentiles, but his last imprisonment at Rome was accompanied by severities greater than any previous suffering inflicted npon him. In the first imprisonment the Apostle was chained to a soldier, but in the second he was chained to the walls of his prison. According to the text, Onesiphorus, who was a man of the world, and well to do, did not merely go to see Paul, but “sought him out diligently,” going from one prison to another, and finding him at last, “refreshed” the great Apostle with good words and deeds, and “ was not ashamed” of the prisoner’s chain. Ouesiphorus acted the part of the Good Samaritan in such circumstances ,and for that the Apostle prayed that his benefactor would find mercy of the Lord. What had the world given the Apostle as the reward of his suffering, of his perils undertaken during his journeys, of his teaching as the greatest of the exponents of Christianity ? Nothing but a chain. But that chain became burnished gold, every link of it stamped with the name of Christ and the testimony of noble service to reli gion and to mankind. (At this stage of the address Dr. Somerville gave out the 174th hymn of Moody and Sankey’s collection, “ 0 Crown of Rejoicing,”) The lesson he drew from the conduct of Onesiphorus was the good which even inferiors could do to superiors, and the obligation upon all persons to help those who were engaged in good works, The words of Paul had issued forth from his prison bars as upon the wings of a dove, and possessed a living potency for nearly two thousand years. There was •no human beings so feeble or so weak that might not have it in his power to help the suffering, to solace the afflicted. The smallest child with a bunch of flowers might influence the heart and mind of the strongest,—could give encouragement where the image of despair had entered. He (Dr, Somerville) had come to these colonies as a missionary seeking no money, although the enterprise was an arduous one. Ho was supported and sustained in it by some generous hearts. It was probable that he should not be able to enter again upon so great an enterprise at so great a distance. Yet he hoped to be able still to do missionary work, and he would like to be assured that he poa-' seaaecl the authority of the Ohrhfiain people of these beautiful islands to say that he was their missionary,—to know that he would be sustained by their prayers and encouraged by their sympathies. (Applause.) He had now to take far well of these Australasian in which he had been engaged for fourteen months. There was a wife anxiously expecting the return of husband and son. He hoped that through the goodness of God he might he borne to his beloved homo in Scotland. He must take this last public occasion of returning thanks to God, the fountain of all good, who had watched over himself and his son during their many wanderings., Ho took the same opportunity of expressing his great obligations t-* the clergy and laity, for the steady support he had received at their hands. In every city and place he had visited the; clergy came forward with valuable assistance, and he confessed that, without such aid and assistance, he could have made little or no progress in his work. There were three things which had mainly conduced to the prosperity (so to speak) of his mission. First of all came the earnest sympathy and prayerful help of the Christiana in the old country. He had sought this assistance in all his correspondence with Christian people at Home. If his work had been successful in any great degree, it was to this devout intercession that he mainly attributed such success. Tho second groat aid in hia work , had been given by the ministers of thn various denominations. In every part of New Zealand, and indeed everywhere he . had gone, the clergy had rallied round him, and secured for hpn ■ not only encouragement, hut gave their, active co-operation. (Applause.) A stranger coming amongst a people could but ’ fed this sympathy, encouragement, and cooperation as a real blessing. Although he had not cemo asking money, and sought not to take money away with him, still ho had observed the generosity with which all proposals for tho spread of religious truth and the promotion of good works had ■ been met. Ho found all the local committees with which ho had to deal earnest, active, and aealous. He could not lot tho occasion pass without thanking thprn for their many kindnesses. There was one matter of local importance which he might be allowed t® urge. They all remembered tho noble response which had been made to, tho appoalfor the benefit of the Young Men’s Christian Association, which had to struggle under £IOOO of debt. In one mooting £SOO had been promised, upon condition that the remainder would bo subscribed within the year. Since then £l5O had been promised [or subscribed, leaving only £350 to obtain. - He had received a proposal, which was certainly a practical one—namely, that 360 i persons should hold up their hands for £1 paplj. It was not necessary to pay tho money at once. He asked whether there was any response to that proposal ? (A largo number of hands was held up, and it was announced that a member of the committee would take the names of the mii'wcribora at tho doors.) The example of Auckl md had stimulated the people 1 of other places. £10»'i0 were wan to lin Christchurch, and a sum of £897 wna raised on'a similar occasion. In : Dunedin they wanted £2090 for a-yx)u»g men's house, and £llß6 was

raised in the same way. In Melbourne the greatest possible amount of good was being done by the Young Mon’s Institution. But whatever work they undertook they should be constant in their prayers for a blessing upon its commencement and continuance. He would for ever remember the kindness he had received in these beautiful islands, and the kind friends he had made in them. His time was up, and, in bidding his friends farewell, he wished them every happiness, and the blessing of God upon all their good undertakings. The choir sang the 17Cth hymn of Moody and Sankey's collection—“ 5 o the Work.” The Rev. Thomas Buddle led the concluding devotions with an eloquent prayer for the safety of Dr. Somerville and his sou on their voyage home, and then pronounced the benediction. After which the large meeting—which comprised some 900 persons—separated.