ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 132, 10 July 1914, Page 11

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.

REV. PATERSON WELCOMED. Last night a tea and public meeting were held by the congregation and officials of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church to welcome the Rev. J. Paterson, the newly-elected minister. The tea was held in the Lichfield Street schoolroom, the after-meeting taking place in the Choral Hall. In his opening remarks, the Hew Dr Erwin read several apologies from absent members.

Addresses of welcome were given by the following:— Mr H. Holland; the Rev. D. D. Rodger, Moderator of the Presbytery; Rev. J. J. North, on behalf of the Christchureh Ministers' Association; Mr D. C. Burns, clerk of St. Paul's; Mr A. S. Bruce, on behalf of the Finance Committee; Mr G. Burn, on behalf of the young people of the church; Rev. Dr Erwin, and the Rev. P. H. Cocks, on behalf of St. John's Church.

During the course of the evening vocal items were given by Mrs M'Whirter, Miss Richardson, and' Mr Charters. In expressing; his appreciation of the welcome he had 'received, Mr Paterson stated that when he took his departure from Christchureh recently, after having taken part in St. Paul's Jubilee celebrations, he had'had no. intention of returning to this city. However, when the call came, and he had faced the whole question and had looked at all the issues involved, he had decided, under God's guidance, to come. "It remains to be seen,'' considered the speaker, 1 ' whether it has been the right step. I hope that, with God's help, I shall be able to fulfil even a small portion of your hopes under my ministry.'' Mr Paterson went on to say that from the conversation that went on at the tea meeting he had gathered the impression that the ministers present took a very keen interest in political questions. ' In fket, he had been advised to become a sort of theological politician. To this suggestion he replied that he did not think his parishioners would see hini on public platforms, except, perhaps, on one or two issues. With regard to certain opinions that had been expressed by . a recent visitor to Sydney with regard to the . iniquity of that city, he would like to remind people who had those views that among the 600,000 inhabitants of the capital of New South Wales there were a large number who were . ajl ... they '. ought. to be. Thti speaker was gratified to notice the presence on : the platform of ministers of other. denominations. The time, had gone by, he said, when one sect could afford to hold superciliously aloof from other denominations. f' Whatever our religious beliefs, " continued the, speaker, ' • we can work' together, shoulder, to shoulder. We ca.n have, and we must,' have, a united, sympathetic, brotherly co-operation which, while it agrees to diffefy works steadily for great common purposes and great common ideals.".

At the close of the meeting, Mr D. G. Bums,' the Session clerk, •p're'sented the Eev. Di-' Elwii with aVcheqiie in acknowledgment of his invaluable!'services during. the vacancy of the o'flftcd of Moderator of < the' Presbytery:' ' ' "