ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16310, 6 September 1918, Page 6

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

CALL TO IiEV. R. M. RYBURN

(SPECIM. TO "TUB PnESS,") IXVJiItGAIIGILL, September 5 The ltev. Roboi t Middieton Ryburn, to whom the congregation of St. Andrew's Presbyterian CJiurch, Christchurch, arc sending a call to occupy the pulpit recently vacated by iho'ltov. A. 'I'. ihoiiipson, has been minister of First Cumcii, in.eicargiil, lor nine and a liaii yeais. He was uom at i'aniuure, near Auckland, in 18'>3, and was educated at the Panniuie, Newmarket, and' Auckland City ii,ast Schools. At the age of thirteen years he obtained an Auckland Education Board junior scholarship, and entered Auckland College and Grammar School. Two years later h© won the Board's open scholarship. He entered the Auckland University College in 1884, and in that year gained a College senior scholarship and the Someiville theological bursary. After, taking his B.A. degree in 1837, he went to Dunedin, where ho i took the M.A. degree with honours in mathematics. Having completed his theological course in 1888, he continued his studies for two years longer in Dunedin. After being licensed by the Auckland Presbytery, Mr Ryburn received a hearty call from Gisborne, and he was ordained there in 1890 and inducted into his first charge which he held for seven yoars. At Gisborne he was married to Miss Steadman. His second chargc was St. Paul's Church, tV'anganui. In 1910 Mr Ryburn was elected Moderator of the New Zealand General Assembly The call has not yet reached Mr Ryburn, and to-night he declined to «ay whether he would accept it.