ST. LUKE'S CHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1932, Page 3

ST. LUKE'S CHURCH.

DEDICATION CEREMONY. HIS EXCELLENCY'S ADDRESS. PRACTICAL EVIDENCE OF FAITH. "Your church, both within and without, is an inspiring tribute to the zeal of this great Presbyterian community, so powerful for good throughout the Empire, and so outstanding in its vigorous activities, religious, philanthropic and educational, in this Dominion," said the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, last night, when the new St. Luke's Church in Kemuera Road was opened. Those officiating at the dedication and opening ceremony were: The Rev. D. D. Scott, moderator-designate of the General Assembly; the Rev. George Budd. Moderator of the Auckland Presbytery; and the Rev. A. J. Thompson, niniriter of St. Luke's. His Excellency tlie Governor-General and the Lady Bledisloe were met at the church gates by the ministers and escorted to tlie church door, where the Rev. Mr. Thompson, in welcoming; them, said members of the church desired to have Lord Bledisloo with them, not only because of the high office lie held as tlie representative of His Majesty the King, but became of hie high ideals and interest in the tilings for which the Christian Church stood. Tho architect, Mr. l>. V. Moses, then presented Lord Bledieloe with a gold key, with which he opened the door and led the congregation into the new church. The religious service, which began with tho National Anthem, was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Thompson, and tho Rev. Mr. Budd read the lessons. The church was dedicated by the Rev. Mr. Scott.

Self-Denial and Determination. His Excellency, in an address, said ho and his wife rejoiced to be with the congregation for the purpose of formally opening the beautiful new church, which was the outcome of generous self-denial and a courageous determination that the building of God's House should not be thwarted or delayed by the prevalent economic difficulties. "Jf, according to ancient Judaic law," he tsnid, "each of ue contributed one tithe of all that we poesessod in good timos as well as bad, there would be no lack of fitting accommodation for Chi'ietiiin worshippers, and there would be bountiful provision for those who, through no fault of their own, drift into the backwaters of life's buoyant stream. "Your church, in it* early Gothic architecture, is a fitting embellishment of this attractive residential quarter of your fair city, and a- reminder that, as there is much to commend in the simplicity of faith of our forefathers of which (basing itself on the New Testament) your ancient form of Church polity was the groat exemplar, so in tho sphere of ecclesiastical architecture simplicity, grace and lofty idealism never found nobler or more appropriate expression than in the Middle Ages, when spiritually-minded artifets and craftsmen gave of their best to the temples of Clod. Post-War Christendom. "It is indeed an interesting and significant reflection that, whereas in the thirteenth century the great churches of Europe dominated in their lofty magnificence the humble and often squalid dwellings of tho people, in these modern times it is the magnificence' of secular public buildings, of luxurious houses of entertainment and of residential mansions which so often stands out in glaring contrast to the relatively mean provision for tho worship of the Deity." That the polity of the Presbyterian Church reflected to a, remarkable degree the instincts of post-war Christendom was demonstrated by its present world membership of 45,000,000, an increase since 1014 of over 2,000,000. His Excellency said it was 57 years since the congregation had purchased the old church and eitc at a cost of approximately one-tenth of that incurred in erecting the new building. The intervening period had been one of etrenuous endeavour, self-denial and confident enterprise, particularly on tho part of their late devoted pastor, the Rev. G. B. Monro, and Mr. J. G. Stevenson. It was this practical evidence of the Christian faith for which the world was calling to-day.