PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1329, 18 April 1885, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

TEA AND CONCERT, The tea and concert held last Wednesday evening under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church, in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, was a great success. Besides those who had attended the afternoon ceremonies reported in our last issue, people from Geraldine and all the intervening district attended, and swelled up the audience to an extent evidently not anticipated, judging from the fact that the seating accommodation provided by the managers of the entertainment was insufficient, and many had to stand. Tea was placed on the table at 6 o’clock, and the tables were presided over by Mesdames Cain, Norton, and W. Wright, and Misses Longson, Russell, Blyth, McNair, Cromley, McCallum, Stewart (2), Binley, Smith, Ramsey and Ackroyd. The tea, which was of excellent quality, and supplied by Mr Marshall, having been done justice to, the hall was got ready for the entertainment, which commenced at 7.30. In commencing so early (half an hour, before advertised time) a mistake was made, the singers were not yet ready, and consequently the rev. gentlemen present had to fill in the time by making speeches. As the people continued crowding into the Hall for the next half hour the noise thus made had the effect of rendering the speakers inaudible and making things generally uncomfortable. These remarks are made with hope that managers of such entertainments will in future see the wisdom of not commencing before tlie proper time. The Rev. Mr Gillies opened the proceedings by congratulating the congregation on having settled amongst them a minister of the Rev Mr Macintosh’s zeal and ability. He referred in eulogistic terms to the rev gentleman, and read a letter from a Dunedin Minister under whoso tuition the Rev Mr Macintosh spent a part of his time. This letter spoke of the rev. gentleman in the most complimentary manner. After having read the letter, and made a few more remarks, ho said bis duties as Moderator of the congregation had now come to an end, and he would resign the chair to the Rsv. Mr Macintosh. The Rev. Mr Macintosh then took the chair, and was received with loud applause, He thanked them sincerely for the cordiality with which they had received him, and said be had already felt that their future relations would be crowned with success. He would always strive to do his duty, and he hoped his congregation would help him. They must remember that the Church was not his, but theirs, and be hoped they would all work for it, so that if they’achieved success the credit of it would be theirs as well as his. He felt that if the Church was a success, his Ministry would be a success, but such results could not be attained except by united action. They must work harmoniously together, and pray together, and, above all, they ought to pray for him (the rev. speaker.) He would ask them not to expect too much. If he made a mistake —as he no doubt would—-or if he hurt their feelings in any way, they should not go speaking to one another, but they should go to himself and have it out with him, and he felt sure the result would be satisfactory. Some people thought their duty—in fact their only duty—was to criticise their minister. They had a higher duty than this, and than keeping the Church open, or as an American would say “ running it.” They had to translate the Gospel of Christ ; they had to work and pray, and he. trusted he would have their co-opera-tion in this.

The Rev. McKee next spoke. He congratulated the congregation on having secured Mr Macintosh, and said he was glad to see the Rev. Mr Thomas present, with whom he had the pleasure of workin the North Island. He could assure Mr Macintosh he would find an agreeable fellow-worker and a true Welshman in Mr Thomas. He next referred to success, and said some people were in the habit of saying there were no opportunities of getting on now as there were in the old days. He could tell them there was ; (but there were too many now who were afraid of soiling their hands. And this was the fault of their system of education; instead of learning Lation and Greek they ought to learn some trade and work at it. The rev, gentlemen dwelt on this point forcibly, and pointed out the virtue of perseverance. He also referred to the necessity of persevering in religious matters, and exhorted those present to persevere in co-operating with their new minister. He had no doubt they would, and he felt sure their immediate future would be prosperous and happy. An overture was played on the harmonium by Miss Blyth, which elicited great applause. The Rev. Mr Thomas said he was glad to be present at such a large gathering, to extend to Mr Macintosh the right hand of fellowship. He bad during his time come in contact with many Presbyterian Ministers, and always found them working with a true Christian spirit. He had always received great kindness and consideration from them, and he could assure them he would reciprocate it in every possible way. He Wi.s present, representing the Wesleyan congregation, to extend to Mr Macintosh a right hearty welcome. He hoped they would all be loyal to the Lord Jesus, and work harmoniously together. Such was the spirit in which they had worked elsewhere, and he would work in the same spirit during his ministry in Tamuka.

Mrs Rout sang “ Oh Lord, correct me,” and at a subsequent period “ He wipes the tear from every eye.” Mrs Rout was in splendid voice, and her singing of both solos was simply magnificent. Words could not do justice to the way in which she sang the last one. It was de-

lightful. A lady who was present was overheard to say that “it would do one more good, religiously speaking, to hear Mrs Rout sing, than all the parsons put together,'’ Such praise conveys to the reader a truer conception of Mrs Rout’s singing than anything we could say, so we shall leave it at that. The Rev. Mr ..Barclay, after having congratulated tßfc.congregation on the settlement effected, then went on to say that until the Millenium came preachers would be necessary. A preacher _ was necessary to them (the congregation), and he trusted they would co-operate with him in nil good works. At the induction of a minister once, in a part of the ceremony the new minister was warned to keep humble. One of the congregation stood up and said Oh, never mind that; we’ll keep him humble by keeping him poor !” Now, there was one thing which could not be said against Presbyterians in South Canterbury; it could not be said they kept ministers poor. He had been 20 years in South Canterbury, and certainly his experience was the reverse of this. He felt therefore that there was no need to ask their support in this respect for Mr Macintosh, as they would faithfully discharge their financial obligations to him. Bat they must support him in other ways ; he must be supported by the* Elders and the Committee in Church work, they must all co-operate with him, for unless they did that, what he might do would be useless. Nothing could bo done without co-operation ; on that depended all, and lie trusted they would realise this, and render to Mr Macintosh every assistance necessary to his success. Miss McNair sang “ Angels sver bright and fair” with much feeling, and was loudly applauded. The Rev. Mr Hamilton next addressed the meeting. It gave him much pleasure to be present to extend to Mr Macintosh a cordial welcome. The unanimity which existed at present augured well for the future, They ought always to be united, for without union could not be successful. He said this because there had been some disunion recently, created by one or two, who had thus brought discredit upon themselves; and he was present to-night to show that so far as he was concerned he would do his best towards bringing union about once more. He instanced the case of Germany and also of Italy. While both countries were divided into small States they were insigsignificant; but now, each of them was united under one government, they were powerful. He felt that there was a drawing together o! the various denominations that would eventually result in a closer un on. Each denomination was brought into existence by God for some special purpose; they were necessary to each other, and they could not do without each other any more than a man’s hand could do without a man’s head —and as all the limbs of the body worked together, so should the various denominations. It was not necessary for them to surrender any of their peculiar tenets to do this. Kindly Christian feeling sprang not from a Oh arch but from the heart, bringing the baud to the hand. (Great applause.) And the more they loved God the more, they would love each other. A great Churchman had told them that they should have unity in essentials, in nonessentials liberty, and chaiity in all. They could be united in the essential of Christian Charity, they could have liberty in the non-essential of Church Government, and they could be charitable in all.

Ihe Rev. Mr McLennan expressed the pleasure he felt in listening to the last speaker, as he had spoken exactly hia own sentiments. He also referred to Mr Macintosh, and said that when he had read the life of his father —the great and good Rev. Dr Macintosh —ho little thought he would have the pleasure of being brought into such close relations with hia son as to assist at the ceremony of his ordination. He sincerely hoped that all sects would yet be united. The Presbyterians had tried to unite all the Protestant sects together. Of course each of them had many precious inheritances they would not like to surrender, but they could all exercise Christian charity and forbearance.

Mr W. Stewart (of Orari) was highly delighted with the meeting. He was glad of the reference made to unity, be-~ Cfiuse he knew that those wh t hud spoken meant what they said. He was sorry they were losing Mr McLennan, and he felt sure he was making a mistake, for he would not be long climbing the hills of Akaroa before he would lose a couple of stone of his weight. He next referred to the Blue Ribbon Army, and hoped. all the ministers would assist in the cause, and that people in future would be drinking cold instead of hot water. Mr A. Russell moved a hearty vote of thanks to all who had assisted in rendering the meeting a success, and also to the Rev. Mr Gillies for tbe very satisfactory way in which be had acted as Moderator during the vacancy. The motion was carried by acclamation. At intervals during the evening a very efficient choir (consisting of members of the local choir, together with many from Timaru) sang four anthems splendidly, Miss Blyth presided at the harmonium, and the choir was under the conductorship of Mr King, the precentor of the Presbyterian choir. The singing of the Doxology and pronouncing of the Benediction by tbe rev. Chairman terminated the proceedings.