ST. SAVIOUR’S PARISH, TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1167, 30 October 1883, Page 3

ST. SAVIOUR’S PARISH, TEMUKA.

On Sunday last during the morning service at St. Saviour’s Church, Temuka, the ceremony of inducting the Rev T. A. Hamilton into the permanent charge of the parish was performed by His Lordship the Primate, who afterwards preached an eloquent sermon on the text : '1 have chosen you,’ taken from St. John 16th chapter and 15th verse. These words of Our Lord were addressed to men of like passions and infirmities with themselves, whom He was about to send into the world as teachers of His truth and stewards of His mysteries, and on whom He would build the Church of which He, Himself, would be the chief corner stone. He, Himself, chose men for holy purposes, who in themselves were wholly insufficient, but were to be made sufficient by Him, by the outpouring of His Holy Spirit, The great end and object of Christ’s coming was the salvation of man from the guilt and power of sin and its evil consequences here and hereafter. The rev preacher then dwelt on our inner consciousness of sin aud the inner knowledge which none can shake off, ‘ that the wages of sin is death,’ but redemption from sin is to be found in Christ alone. He came to seek and to save the lost, and when about to leave the world He commissioned men of His own choosing to carry on His work and seek for His sheep who are scattered abroad, to reclaim the erring, to instruct tbe ignorant,andto comfort tbe weak-bearted. He appointed chosen agents to act on His behalf, to proclaim His will and gracious purposes to the world, to go into tbe world and preach the gospel to every creature, While upon earth He selected chosen men and ordained them for Ibis purpose, and on leaving the world He invested them with all power to choose and ordain others for this same purpose ; for the promise was for all time, that ‘ He would be with His ministry even to the end of the world.’ The appointment of Pastors was then dwelt upon : ' A minister has been placed in this parish, formally authorised to execute among you his pastoral office as a priest or presbyter of Christ’s Church, called outwardly by the Church and inwardly in bis heart to this holy office. He lias now, by the solemn ceremony which you have wit- j nessed, undertaken responsibilities which j indeed he cannot execute in his own strength ; but relying on the words of the I text, he may find comfort and help in the midst of his arduous duties, ‘ Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.’ The rev speaker then reminded the congregation that the minister was appointed to lead them in tbe act of worship in the House of God, and it was their duty 1 not to forsake the assembling of themselves together’ and joining heartily in the acts of prayer and praise. He trusted ihat they would do all in their power to support their minister in his arduous duties ; to receive him in their homes, when visited by him, as the specially appointed minister of Christ, and to come to him freely at his home for counsel and advice and intercourse. In conclusion, he would warn them ‘ Take heed how ye hear for if the pastor’s responsibilities were great in ministering to them, their’s also were as great in receiving these ministrations and bringing forth the ‘ fruits of the Spirit;’ that when the pastor and flock appeared before the judgment seat of Christ,the words ‘ Well done, thon good and faithful servant ’ might be pronounced not only to the shepherd but to the sheep of his flock. At 3 o’clock His Lordship held a Con 1 firmation service at St John tbe Evangelist’s Church, Winchester, when the rite was administered to eight candidates, and he delivered an impressive address on the words of St Paul, ‘ Take heed that ye receive not the Grace of God in vain.’ During tbe evening service at St. Saviour’s Church bo administered the rite of Confirmation to twenty-one candidates, and afterwards addressed them, in an interesting and instructive discourse, on the subject of Confirmation. The church was crowded, numbers being unable to obtain sitting room. The musical portion of the services was most efficiently carried out by the Choir under the leadership of Mr W. G. Rutland. THE CONCERT. A very successful sacred concert was held last night in Hie Volunteer Hall, Temuka, There was a large attendance aud everything passed off most satisfactorily. The concert was under the condwetorship of Mr W G Rutland and the accompanyiets were Messrs Inwood and Proudlock, all of whom acquitted themselves very creditably. A long and varied programme was gone through efficiently. It; was as follows ; Fantasia, ‘ The Christian Soldier,’ Temuka Brass Band ; anthem, '' Incline Thine Ear,’ Choir ; recit. and air, ‘But who may abide,’ Mr Edmonds ; recit. and air, ‘ But Thou didst not leave,’ Miss Rutland ; solo, 1 Angels ever bright and fair,’ Mr Aspinall ; song, ‘ Children’s voices’ (invisible chorus), Mrs Hayhursb ; duet,' The Lord is a Man of War,’ Messrs Edmonds and Rutland ; anthem, ‘ 0, taste aud see,’ choir ; song, Miss Lr.dbrook ; fantasia (on sacred airs). ‘ The revival,’ Temuka- Brass Band ; anthem, ‘ In Jewry is G vl known,’ choir ; solo, ‘Consider the Lil ies.’Mrs Maylmrst ; solo. f A'mighty Spirit,' Miss Langridge ; anthem, ‘How Beautiful Upon the Mounta’ns.’ Choir; song, ‘ Child’s Mission,’ Mias Brown ; and the whole wound np with the National Anthem. Owing to the lateness of the hour we are unable to give a detailed account

of the singing, further than to say that every item was well done and that it was on the whole a most enjoyable concert. The usual votes of thank- wound up the proceedings. ADDRESS TO THE BISHOP. During the interval His Hardship the Primate made his appearance an the stage ami was received with manifestations of profound respect mid esteenu Ho was presented with the following address,which was read by Mr B, D, O’Halloran, parishioners warden : To the Most Rev, H. J. C. Harper, D.D., Bishop of Christchurch,

Primate of New Zealand,

Rev Father in God,—-We the undersinned Churchwardens and Vestrymen of the Pariih of Temuka beg, on behalf of the Church members resident in the Parish, to accord a most hearty welcome to your Lordship, and to assure you of our affectionate regard, and our continued zeal in the work of the Lord, and to tender our hearty congratulations upon your haring attained the advanced age^of four score years. We rejoice that a continuance of health permits you to discharge the duties of your high and holy office, with ‘eye undimmed, and natural force unabated,’ We pray that God’s blessing may rest upon your labors, and preserve you in your going out and coming in, and whilst in this earthly tabernacle may grace and peace be multiplied unto you, and hereafter may an entrance be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory, both now and for ever. —Amen.

(Signed) S D Barker, Clergyman’s Churchwarden. B D O’Halloran, Parishioners’ Churchwarden. W G Aspinall 'a W Wills / Members J Meyer ? of W G Rutland \ the Vestry, John Talbot j

His Lordship, in reply, said that lie felt very pleased at the kind feelings and good wishes expressed on his behalf in the address. It was certainly a pleasure to one who had arrived at his age to receive such kind expressions of regard. He could look back to the time when there was not a house on these plains. When he first passed through here there was not a house to be seen except some huts somewhere in a bush, and it was pleasing to him now to witness the march of civilisation and the good work that had been done. He was thankful to see so much material progress, but they should remember they owed it all to GodIt was all the result of God’s bless, ing on the industry of man. He was glad to find from the address that the vestry had expressed their determination to continue the work in which they had been engaged. It was only by the combined effort of the minister and people that the work of God could be done, and he was thankful to find the vestry expressing themselves ready to continue working in this manner. In every parish there must be a union of clergy and people if the worii of God is to be carried on efficiently. He was glad to say that in this part of the diocese the clergy and people were working admirably together, and he had to congratulate them upon it. He had come upon the duties connected with his office, and did not expect to be -presented with an address. He felt thankful to them for it, and hoped that the work hitherto done was but a small foretaste of what would yet be accomplished, and that what they were doing now would not only yield them good fruit in this life but also in the world to come (Applause).