ST. SAVIOUR’S CHURCH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2739, 17 November 1894, Page 2

ST. SAVIOUR’S CHURCH.

INDUCTION OF THE KEY. T. FARLEY. There was a representative attendance j of the congregation on Wednesday - evening at the parish church to assist at ! the induction, by the Yen. Archdeacon . Harper, of the Rev. Thos. Farley, late of Hokitika, to the care of St. Saviour’s Temuka. The induction ceremonial, , which is of an impressive character, was ) followed by evening prayer, conducted by ; the newly - appointed incumbent, the . Archdeacon preaching from the4th chapter . of Ist Epistle to Corinthious, Ist verse. , In the course of his address he referred , to the responsibilities of priests as cany* ■ ing out the mission of the Apostles which . they received directly from our Saviour. . They were the stewards of the mysteries ■ of the Kingdom of God, mysteries that I must not be put aside because they might ) seem incomprehensible. He sketched , briefly the early history of the Church, and the gradual drawing together of this I people into one body. He pointed out • that the congregation must separate the L priest from the man. They might dissent with him in various matters of everyday life, but this would not absolve them from the responsibilities of neglect of public worship or attendance at Sacraments. He ( urged them to regular attendance at Holy Communion as a certain means of the [ revival of spiritual life. In conclusion he begged them to look upon their minister as a friend, one willing to share their joys , and sorrows, but who would himself need their sympathy and co-operation in his work. Appropriate hymns were sung at the service. At the conclusion of the service A WELCOME SOCIAL was held in the schoolroom to admit of the Rev. Mr and Mrs'Farley making the acquaintance, as far as possible, of their parishioners and co-workers. The Yen. Archdeacon Harper kindly consented to preside. Prior to more formal matter there was a short musical programme opened by Mesdames Herbert and Salmond with a brilliantly-executed duet upon the piano. Mr £. Whitehead, who was in capital voice, sang “ On Deck,” Mr Harrison playing the accompaniment. Miss Edith Lemon, who was most tastefully accompanied by Mias Wethey, sang, “ Sing, sweet bird ” in a sweet and cultured manner, that elicited very hearty applause and an imperative encore. To this she responded by singing “ No, Sir,” to which she gave a variety of expression that entirely relieved it from the stigma of “ hackneyed.” Mrs J. S. Hayes’s contribution, “ Winds that blow from the south,” with guitar accompaniment, was sung with expression, and was an agreeable change from the average musical selections. Mrs F. H. Barker’s appearance was the signal for applause, which was repeated at the termination of her song, “Dear Heart,” to which Mr Inwood played the accompaniment with his usual good taste. Later on in the evening, after refreshments, supplied by Mr J. McCaskill in his usual lavish stvle, had been handed round, Miss Wethey played a pianoforte selection, “ Haip JSolian,” in finished style, receiving welldeserved praise. Mr Low, ably accompanied by Miss Lilian Brown, sang very effectively that difficult song, “ The Landlord’s Daughter,” and was applauded. Mr J. McCaskill gave full effect to that breezy song, “ Steering Home,” and Mrs F. Barker closed the musical portion of the evening by singing “ Alice, Where art Thou.” It is needless to say it was duly appreciated. The opening address by the archdeacon was listened to most attentively. He referred to the solemn service just concluded in the church, at which Mr. Farley bad accepted the responsibility of the cure of souls of St. Saviour’s Parish. They wore now met to receive him on the common floor of human life. An Old Country parishioner of his father’s had once advised him (the speaker) not to confine bis services to the four walls of a church, but to meet his parishioners in their houses, and he coaid not give Mr Farley, although he thought he hardly needed it, better advice. He could say enough of Mr Farley to assure them that , - would have a happy time with llUb He had lately come irom «*» ’»® 9fc where they knew how to take Re measure of a man, and he had left it, if he might use the expression, with the best of characters. 'They woufd find bun an earnest, straightforward do his duty 'fearlessly •^

of the matrimonial alliance that in the heat-assorted pair there is always something to forbear, and so it might be said with respect to the priest and bis flock. He hoped that they would realise this aud work harmoniously together for the glory of God, the salvation of souls aud the good of their little cues. It wan necessary for him, as one having a certain respoii aibility iu their parish, to say a little about finance, and he would like to impress upon them that it was not the large contributions to church funds that did the most good. It was a healthier state of things to see each one contributing regularly his small contribution in pro portion to bis means. Parishioners had another responsibility besides that placed upon them financially, and that was the necessity for according their minister full sympathy and co operation. They bad got on very well up to the present, although there had been a certain break in their intercourse with their clergymen. Be had now every hope that there was a period pf prosperous progress before them, and as times improved be hoped that they would perhaps see their way to erect a better church. The chairman then read an apology for absence from the Rev. Mr Hinson, of Pleasant Point, and a letter from the Rev. T. A. Hamilton, conveying gieetiugs and good wishes to the congregation, and a hearty desire that the Rev. Mr Farley and Mrs Farley would be enabled to ■pend an enjoyable and prosperous time in the parish, which he should always himself remember with feelings of pleasure and gratitude. The Rev. Mr Preston, who was also present, had to leave at this stage. Mr £. Herbert, as parishioners’ ohurchwaaden, then briefly welcomed Mr and Mrs Farley to their new home. The Rev. Mr Farley, in acknowledging bia reception, said that he fully recognised the responsibility he had undertaken, and he had not accepted the position without due consideration and prayer for guidance. In the course of some twelve years’ ministry he hal faced difficulties that, properly faced, had melted like snow, and he hoped that any yet to be encountered would vanish in a similar way. They lived now in a state of transitiofi, and a clergyman had to notice and avail himself of the signs of the times. He mnst read and think. He hoped he should be able to speak to them with profit. He certainly should not merely speak to please, but should speak, as he had always done, according to his convictions. He could have wished a saintlier or more scholarly man could have accepted the position, but having himself done so he should endeavor to fill it according to the best of his ability and without fear or favor. He thanked them cordially for their kind reception of Mra Farley. If they did not see a great deal of her they must remember abe was not his curate, but had domestic duties to attend to. However, she bad always proved a helpmeet to him iu his work, and they would be full sure to know and appreciate her iu due course. The next speaker was the Rev. L. C. Brady, of Otaio, who spoke from personal knowledge of Mr Farley as a man full of grit and free from vulgar “aide.” Wherever he had been hie had left friends, and they would find him a first-rate mau—an out-and-out worker and a real trusty friend. Be congratulated them on their choice of incumbent.

The Rev. G. Barclay also welcomed Mr Farley, in the absence of the Rev. Mr Dickson, and in, doing so referred to the amiable relationship that had always existed between the Anglican and Presbyterian Churches. He recalled with utmost pleasure the terms upon which he h»d associated socially and ecclesiastically with the Revs. Preston and Jasper Smythe. They had preached alternately in the same churches, aud partaken of each other’s hospitality. There were points of differences between the Churches, but these were as nothing to the points upon which they agreed. It had been ffaid that the Churches ran on parallel lines. He hoped not, for parallel lines never met. He hoped that the time would come when they would ran on convergent lines —when there would be a chance of their meeting for the fall

benefit of mankind and the glory of the Master. , The Rev. Mr Standage, on behalf of himself and the Wesleyan community, welcomed Mr and Mrs Farley to Temuka. Something had been said of the difficulties to be encountered in a new parish, but he thought it well to regard these difficulties m opportunities to be taken advantage of to the glory of God. They had heard of Mr Farley as a worker, and they might expect good results from him. Much might depend upon themselves, and he hoped that Mr Farley would have a good apostolic time. T he. Rev. Mr Barclay had referred in cordial terms to the

friendly relationship existing between the Churches, lie .had no more occasion to do so that a man had to speak publicly of his domestic felicity or other subject equally well understood. All recognised how much the colony owed to the Anglican Church, and, if ha might be permitted, he would merely mention the Archdeacon’s late father, Bishop Harper —truly a man of God—who, although it had been said than he kept somewhat to himself, wished well to every section of the Christian Church. Mr Farley, in his remarks, had sounded the keynote of progress, and he felt he would be a worker for the brotherhood of man. He welcomed him and Mrs Farley most cordially. Mr Herbert moved a vote of thanks to the archdeacon for presiding that evening at considerable personal inconvenience, and, this having been carried and acknowledged, the congregation dispersed.