ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16363, 7 November 1918, Page 5

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

INDUCTION OF REV. It. M. RYBURN. The ceremony' of inducting tlie Rev. R. M. Ryburn, lato l (, irst Church, Invercargill, us minister of St. Andrew's ' Presbyterian Parish, in succession to the Rov; A T. Thompson, took place in St. Andrew's Church yesterday afternoon, in the presence of a large congregation. The opening part of the service was conducted by the Rev. G. Butler, of Springfield, who gave an eloquent and l [inspiring sermon, taking as his text, St. !John,. 12-47, "... . I came to savo the world," and St. John, 15-12, "This is My commandment, that ye love one another," the preacher speaking, forcefully of the duty of the Christian Church to-day in helping the Master to fulfil- His Word. - The actual inductipn ceremony was then conducted by the Rev. Dr. Erwin, who, after detailing the steps that had been taken to sosure a pastor, put the usual questions, to the new minister, offered prayer, "and "in the name of tho Lord Jesus Christ, and by tho authority of tho Presbytery of Christchurch,' 1 declared the Rev. Mr Ryburn duly inducted, and entitled to all ibe privileges of the parish and offered fiim the right hand of fellowship, membevs of the Presbytery following suit. I The Rev. T. Mac Donald, of St. Peter's, delivered a brief address of exhortation to the Rev. Mr Ryburn, who, he said, had had many years of j work in the Christian ministry, years of service in the Church, and was. a man of too ripe experience to require much exportation from tho speaker. Mr Mac Donald, however, spoke of the value of plain, pointed, and practical preaching, as the result of deep and earnest study of the Scriptures, together with the cultivation of the mind by keeping in touch with tho greatest mmds of all the ages, and the cultivation of the heart, by living communication with God. He urged the new in conclusion, to get to know his people and to lenve nothing undone to train their confidence and esteem, and if he knew of anyone who was straying from tho fold, to leave the ninety and nine an i seek the on© that was lost. j

The Rev John Paterson, of St. Paul's, delivered a stirring address to tho congregation on tho attitude they should adopt towards their new minister. He first congratulated them on obtaining a minister so highly regarded by the Church, one who had received tno highest honour and dignity the Church could confer upon him, that of

Moderator of the General Assembly. The value and power of a minister's work. Mr Paterson proceeded, depended largely on tho sympathetic reception and vho co-operation lro received from his pooplo. Petulant critics were one of the greatest evils he had to fight against, and a minister expected from the majority of his people protection against such criticism and underlying influences. It was not tho business of the congregation to prove a "Ihorn in the side" of their minister, nor was it the business of one or two to go on with their self-imposed task of giving that thorn .one or two pushes periodically to keep their minister up to what they considered his duty. Thotsuccess of tho preacher depended a great deal on the manner in which his people listened to him, and they must como regularly in prayerful expectancy, and with eager desire to hear, not what tho minister said, but what God had to say through the minister. One of the greatest tragedies a minister could be subjected to was to have his words fall on unresponsive hearers. There was only ope greater tragedy—that a congregation should regard their minister as a financial speculation, and measure his worth by the size of the collections. Mr Paterson continued that a congregation could get to know their minister only if they helped him. They must let him into their welcome hmi into their families, not as a visitor but is on© of the family. They must honour and lov© him, and let him into the family councils, let him share their joys their pains, their sorrows. Ir they could not do this they might at least treat him with common sense, and remember 'that even . -ministers were human beings. They must send for him if they needed .him, for ministers, like doctors, must be told of sickness and trouble. They must pay loyal attention to his wishes, and at times even show obedience to his commands. The minister might be especially fitted for certain branches of his work, and his people must let him do his very # best work in his own way, and give him a free hand to do his work m the best wav he could discharge his ministry. After the ceremony, the Rev. Mr Rvburn was introduced to the various members of his new congregation as they left the church. SOCIAL GATHERING. 4

In St. Andrew's schoolroom last evening a social gathering of St. Andrew's congregation was Held to welcome the now minister, the Rev. R. M. It j-burn. There was a large attendance, over which the Rev. Dr. Jirwia presided. 'l'he schoolroom was tastefully decorated lor tue occasion. The gathering was of a most enthusiastic character, and the ptpgramrno consisted of addresses of welcome interspersed wibii musical items, and at tho conclusion of the programme the proceedings partook of the nature of a conversazione. Tho Rev. Dr. Erwin, after the National Anthem had been ■ sung aud prayer had been ottered, congratulated the congregation of St. Andrew's on the settlement that had been accomplished, that afternoon. He had great experience of liiode. atorships for a long time in Christchureh, and he could say that the present was one of the most spontaneous and unanimous settlements that he had ever had to do with. (Applause.) Ho did not have any suggestions to make—they had been all made by their own church officers and they had minds made up as to the man who would suit them—if he were disposed to come. Everything went smoothly, and Mr R.vburn had been guided by God to come to Christchitrch. (Hear, hear.) Mr Ryburn was a minister who had had large experience in their church, had held very important pastorates, and had been very successful. Now that lie had come to St. Andrew's with his past experience ripe and full, they should have some of his best years as_ a minister. (Applause'.) Dr. Erwin impressed on his hearers that their new minister's succcss would depend 011 the support he received from the congic- 1 gation, and trusted that they Mould j give him their spiritual support and their entire sympathy and co-opera-tion. . He hoped that great spiritual results would flow from Mr Ryburn's ministry, and he prayed that the coming years might be the best that St. Andrew's'had ever had. (Applause.) He read a telegram from the Rev. A. T. Thompson (the former minister of St. Andrew's), welcoming Mr Ryburn. Mr James Frame, on behalf of the Kirk Session and Deacons Court, extended a hearty welcome to Mr and Mrs Ryburn, and assured Mr Ryburn that it would be their duty and privilege to assist him to the fullest extent of their power. "(Applause.) Mrs T. 0. Hay. on behalf of the Women's Association and the P.W.M.U., welcomed Mr and Mrs Ryburn and family, and bespoke for Mr Ryburn the lieartv co-operation of the congregation. Mrs Hay thought that they were inclined to be rather Scottish in St. Andrew's—(applause and laughter)—and though the} - were proud of their nationality they had a few faults, and it would be better for them to let out their hearts a little more. Mr. T. D. Boap, on behalf of the congregation, heartily endorsed Mr welcome. He had been pleased with +*10 confidence reposed in the Rev. F. Rule and himself. They had been very well received, and from the start re could see that Mr Ryburn wanted to come to St. Andrew's. (Applause.) He (the speaker) did not wonder at that, m view of a. statement made him regarding Invercargill weather —that they

had not had 24 hours' sunshine at a 6trotch for three months. Mr G. M. Bollinger, on behalf of the young people's organisations of St. Autho Rev. J. Paterson, Moderator, on behalf of tho Christcburch bytery, the Rev. A. C. Lawry on behall of the Methodists of North Canterbury, and the Rev. Percy Knight on behali of the Ministers' Association, made appropriate addresses of welcome. The R«v. R. M. Ryburn, who was greeted with continued applause, thanked the gathering very heartily for their cordial welcome to himself and Mrs Ryburn and family. It had been a ve"y peculiar pleasvre to be welcomed on 'behalf of the Methodists' by Mr Lawry, with whom ho had attended tho same college. Ho had been very pleased to seo the way the Christcnurch Presbytery carried out an induction: in his experience this service had been deprived of its dignity; but that was not so in Christchurch. He was coming back to n great many co-presbyters —four from Southland and three from Wanganui. It had not been', as suggested by Mr Boag, tho Invercargill climate that had influenced him in accepting the call from St. Andrew's: it had been a deep sense of duty that took possession of lnrn, and he had folt that he could do nothing else than respond to the call. (Applause.) As to tho future, he thought it unwise to form any plans: he believed with Professor iA. B. Davidson in his remark: "Give me the man who steadily does tho duty that lies before him, instead of talking a great deal about liis ideals and his great, purposes and aims.-'* It would be nis endeavour to put before them a living and. laving Saviour. Ho thought they wero. perhaps, in danger of turning Christianity into too hard and fast an intellectual mould, and to think that it was certain intellectual views that meant Christianity. It was the exercise of faith that "meant progress in Christian work and progress in the Church. What was love apart from the person -who exercised love? It was the loving act that was of value. Concluding, Mr Ryburn said that ho liked the word "minister"; it meant servant, and he was with them to serve them and tho Church. Ho was not going to ask for *heir hearty co-operation, for he knew that they would givo it. (Applause.) During the evening songs wero contributed by Miss E. McDavitt and Mr C. Charters. Supper and general conversation monopolised tho remainder of the evening.