ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BLUE SPUR.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 410, 21 November 1874, Page 2

ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BLUE SPUR.

Tho annual soiree of tho above-named Church was celebrated on Tuesday evening, the 17th inst. There being neither wind nor rain, the occasion was made the best of, and a large company assembled, and everyone was there (with few exceptions) who should have been present. Conspicuous amongst tho absentees were several Presbyterian ministers, who were expected to be present. Tho Eev. Mr. Chisholm waß an exception ; for at tho eiovontb. hour, when tho others refused, Mr. Cliisholm, came to the rescue. Great sympathy was felt for our minister, Mr. Cameron, who is so good naturcd that he never refuses \~> assiot a brother hi adversity ; nevertheless, the soireo was a great success. The ladies, as usual, (God bless them) did their best ; and with au excellent and plentiful display oi comestibles, provided by oui- local bakers, Messrs. Mills and Son, left no room for grumblers on that ecoi-e. The names oi the laches who presided were — Mesdames Cameron, Nicoll, French, Ralston, and Cousins ; and Mademoiselles Al'Nab. Symcs, Pope, M/Lean, M'Millan, and Thomson. The Rev. Mr. Mcnzies said grace. After tea, a public meeting was held. The Eev. Mr. Cameron was iv the chair, who claimed exemption as Chairman. A piece was sung by the Choir, after which Mr. M'Lellancl, elder, was called upon, and read the following. particulars concerning the rise and progress of the Presbyterian Church in Great Britain and America, moro.espeoially that portion to which, we in Otago belong, viz., the Free Church :—": — " It will not be considered intrusion, or out of place, to give a few particulars of tho rise and progress of our Churches. We are considered by some as not belonging to tho Nonconformist body of the Christian Church, but that, we are a National Church. My answer to suoh. persons is fchi3 : That in May, 18-i3, an Act of Secession of nearly half the body from the National Church of Scotland (400) formed themselves into a separate Church ; and such a display of Nonconformists had never been seen in any other Church, by which-400 ministers left their comfortable manses and good livings, and took their departure, ' not knowing whither they went.' Great hardships were endured,but the noble 400 were prepared for it ; and nobly dul Scotland reply to the insinuation that ' the Scotch had little sympathy with any movement which affected their pockets.' I say tho Scotch made a most liberal response to their dis-established ministers. A large college was founded in 1846; and in 1853, — that is, ten years from the disruption — there were 850 congregations. In 1856, the sustentation fund amounted to £108,638, giving £138 each to 700 ministers. The Earl of Dalhousie, in laying^ the foundation stone

of a new church at Dunkeld in last June, took occasion to bring before his audience a few facts connected with tho Free Church. The noble Earl said ' that in thirty years, since tho disruption, there had been subscribed for all the schemes of the Church, the amount of £10,700,000; and that tho receipts the last year amounted to upwards of half a million.' For several years, the Presbyterian form of worship did not take with our English brethren ; but by the introduction of hymns and instrumental music, the chasm, which for a long time was impassable, has been bridged; and now, at the present time, the Presbytery of London alono embrace 47 Churches, with many preaching stations. These Churches, too, in architectural display, are in accordance with the times. The foundation stone of a new Church for the Key. Dr. Donald Eraser was laid a few months ago by the Lord Mayor of London, who is a member of Dr. Fraser's Church. On that occasion, Lord Ebury, the Lord Advocate.Mr. S. Morley, and several distinguished gcntlcmon were present. Then to take a glance at the principality ; the Wolsli are almost to a man coming over to us. In the Presbytery ot Liverpool, there are 28 Welsh Presbyterian Churches ; in Liverpool and Bootlc alone, they number 13 Clnirches. In going across the Channel to the Green Isle of Erin, wo have not many statistics to place before you. At the last General Assembly in Belfast, it was stated that the Irish National Schools numbered 7,050, and the attendance "of children was orer a million. The report was received, and a resolution passed, declaring continued adhesion to the principle of united non-sectarian education. The children attending the Sabbath Schools hare a special object every year for their support ; the last year it was China, when £31G Is. lid. was collected from 148 Sunday Schools, for the New Chwang Mission. This year, £500 for a residence for the same mission is wanted by the Eev. Dr. Hunter. I must now take you across the Atlantic. Our voyage tnust be quick, and our stay brief, as our time is limited. We have been trying to amalgamate the Presbyterian Churches in the Home country for many years, and are as far off as ever ; but while we have been talking, they have been acting in America. In Canada, there 575,000 members connected with the four Presbyterian bodies, which, by a bond of union lately entered into, will all belong to one Church. In the United" States, fire years ago, a union of the old and new school branches was effected, and the greatest harmony has existed since that period. The Assembly now consists of 4,882 ministers ; 4,802 churches; and upwards of 500,000 members, contributing annually to the various schemes of the Church £1,924,400 and upwards. 160 years ago, there were only 7 ministers, and 12 Churches. There are now, representing tho different branches, and the two sections given above included, a number of 8.520 ministers, 10.450 Churches, and 1,000,000 members. The contributions ltvt year amounted to £2,090,800, for the various religious purposes of the Churches. During the year, 152 Churccs were built ; and 373 new Sunday Schools were established. The Home Mission Board contribxilcd £59,430 ; and Foreign Missions, £121,597. Thu3 we | have taken a glance at what is being done by voluntary effort iv tho Presbyterian Churches of Great Britain and America. I shall leave the New Zealand Churches to the care of tho ministers present. Whether our Church will be the Church of the millenium or not, it is not for me to offer a conjecture. I think it will bo conceded that she is doing a gi--at and good work, and having a Catholic spirit, she bids God speed to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and in truth." The Eev. Mr. Mcnzies wa« the next speaker. He apologised for any defect his hearers might observe in the order of liis address. He (the speaker) would be obliged to hare recourse to ins " bottle," and give the audience a little of thi3 and a little of that. The ladies first claimed his attention in the pleasant manner in which they exacted tribute from the bachelors — a tribute, apparently, willingly paid. Mr. M'Lclland had said that ho reminded him (Mr. M'Lelland) of John Xnox, and that ho (the speaker) should have been a Presbyterian, He said that he felt the compliment, but he was satisfied in his own mind that ho had made a wise selection for his sphere of operation as a Christian minister ; and as regards his likeness to John Knox, ho feared there was but little resemblance to that great divine, except in his beard. Mr. Menzies then wound up his speech with a few interesting remarks upon the compulsory system of education in Victoria. After making a few remarks, the Chairman called upon the Eev. Mr. Chisholm to address the meeting. Mr. Chisholm said that ho had no expectation of being present, but at tho urgent request of our minister,' lie had made an effort to be present. He had often read with great pleasure of our doings at the Blue Spur, and how admirably everything was carried out in connection with soirees, and from what he had seen and experienced, former statements were fully borno out. Mr. M'Lelland, in Jus address, had left tho condition of the New Zealand Churches to the ministers present to give an account of, and ho gladly accepted the challenge on behalf of the Presbyterian Church of Otago. He (tho speaker) had in his hands a few days ago, the minutes of the first Presbytery meeting held in this Province, ou the occasion of which there were were three ministers present, viz., Mr. Burns (afterwards Dr. Burns), Mr. Bannerman, and Mr. Wills, and three elders. These six gentlemen formed tho nucleus of the present church of Otago, which now numbers 33 settled ministers, several probationers, missionaries, and students. The first division of the sustentation fund gave thesurn of £67 as ahalf- . yearly dividend; and now the half-yeai-ly division is about £100. Mr. Chisholra said a few sensible tilings about our educational institutiou,- and observed that there is very great danger of its being broken into fragments, to suit different sects and parties ; but wo should raise our voice against it, and be determined to preserve it intact. He would have been glad to have said more on this point ; and likewise he had made up his mind mind to say a few words to tho young, but ho must reserve that for a future occasion. The next speaker was Mr. A. B. Matthews, who, for thirteen years has gone out and come in amongst U3, and who was one of the pioneers of the Church in this district, and for years has occupied a prominent place in the Wesley an denomination as a- local preacher, which position he occupied with more than pommon acceptance. He is about to take himself off to fresh fields and pastures new ; but wherever he goes, ho will be found on the right side, and will do all the good he can. Mr. Matthews gavo an earnest and parting salute by enforcing the right way of doing everything. We often did harm instead of good by the abrupt manner of bringing tho truth to bear upon unbelievers. Mr. Herriott, teacher o£ Claris Flat School, was the last speaker, and from what little he said, he promises to bo an acquisition to our platform speakers. The usual votes of thanks were then proposed, which the following gohtlernen had charge of : — Mr. Gilbert Ealston, " The Speakers ; " Mr. Stenhouse, " The Ladies j " Mr. M'Lelland, " The Choir." An agreeable element in the musicalarrangements, and something new here, was the astance of the harmonium. Mr. Dalziel, the new teacher, did hia part well on that instrument, and the whole " get-up '^.was under the direction of Mr. A. Cormack.'*" On Wednesday afternoon, ohildren to the number of 80 were feted. Mr. Cameron and M'Lelland delivered short addresses, and the children sang several hymns, accompanied by Mr. Dalziel on the harmonium ; thus the annual treat passed off to the satisfaction of all concerned,