ST. PAUL'S CHURCH

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18242, 28 November 1924, Page 10

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH

NEW MINISTER INDUCTED. The induction ceremony of the Rev. W. Bower Black, LL.B.. recently of Carterton, to" the charge of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Christchurch, took place yesterday afternoon. There was a good attendance, and the Rev. X. L. D. "Webster, Moderator of the St. Paul's charge, presided. The sermon was preached by the Rev. A. B. Kilroy. Mr Webster, in referring to Mr Black's appointment, detailed the happenings which had led up to the call being issued. The call had beeu sustained by the two Presbyteries concerned, and the translation agreed to. Mr "Webster then proceeded with the induction of the new minister. The address to the new minister was delivered by the Rev. J. V. Jacobson, who took as his text 11. Corinthians IV., versus 5-7. He spoke of the expectation with which a congregation regarded a new minister. The pastor was the ministering vessel of God to His people, and his duty iu a large city church was an exacting one. There were many calls upon his time, and his life was in danger of becoming all of the outside. What was the outside life worth if the inner life was thin and shallow, he asked. The very people who had helped to make it so would be the first to protest against it. He wished to -emphasise the benefit of a : close and intimate relationship between a minister aud his people. To love and be loved by his congregation was the most direct way to a successful ministry. On behalf of his brother ministers the speaker wished Mr Black a happy and prosperous ministry. The Rev. W. F. Nicol, addressing the congregation, said he had come there to congratulate them on their settlement. Both as individuals and as a congregation they were looking forward to the future, and expecting much of the Church. They would receive as they were prepared to give. This giving must not be confined only to the Sabbath day. They must give all the time, both of their sympathy and help, and they would receive their blessings as they gave. Be wished them to discriminate bet%veen. means and ends. The Church was quite often required to do things which almost seemed outside its province in order to attain its ends. Work amongst the young people, for instance, required duties of. a social nature, but these duties were but the means, not the end. The Church was not a social organisation. It was there to preach the ■ Gospel, but it-had to have means to do so. He urged them to "keep at it," and to help their minister by prayer for him. Their mnister would require their help as time went on, and he urged them to give of this freely and joyfully. In conclusion, he wished them every blessing in their choice. Mr Raynor White presided at the organ. Welcome Social. In the evening, the Rev. W. Bower Black was welcomed by the congregation. There was a very large attendance at this function in the Church Hall. The Rev. N. L. :D., Webster presided.

Greetings were received from the following:—Eev. J. Paterson (Wanganui), Mr D. Burn, an elder""of the Church, who is at present in Gisborne; the Eev. T. Mackie (Dannevirjte); Mrs M. Jennings; -Mr E.- H. Wilson, treasurer of St. Paul's, . who is at. .present in Wellington-; Mr- W. H, Eose, and . the Eev. T. Wi Armour, of Knox Church. ' The chairman, in : the course of his address; appealed for the congregation's help and.sympathy for,its new minister. Ho. felt, assured, that the people of' St. Paul's would do their, best- to. assist him over any of his difficulties, Carterton's loss wag Christchurch's gain. The speaker rejoiced with St. Paul's in its happy settlement, and on behalf of St. Andrew's Church he wished to extend a hearty welcome -to Mr. and Mrs Black.

Mr.G. Burn, on behalf of the Sunday school and Kirk Session, stated that the coming of Mr Black to St; Paul's had been anticipated with great expectation. He assured both Mr and Mrs, Black of the warm support of their future officebearers, and- extended. to them the heartiest of good wishes. The speaker also wished to take the opportunity, of welcoming back Mr J. G. Herdman, chairman of the Board of Managers, and Mrs Herdman, who had returned from a trip to the Old Land. Mr J. G. Herdmaii, chairman of the Church Board of Managers, on . behalf of that body, tendered to Mr and Mrs Black a very hearty welcome to St. Paul's. He assured them of the officers' full support and co-operation. The Rev. J. V. Jacobson, Moderator of the Christchurch Presbytery, said that he and Mr Black had been fellowstudents together. The qualities which Mr Black possessed-would prove very suitable in St.- Paul's. Mr Black was a man. who could make friends and hold them. He appealed to them all to do their best to encourage him, and stated that Mr Black was following a man of considerable ability, but he felt sure that his ministry would be equally successful with that of his predecessor. The Bev. J. J. North, on behalf of the Council of Christian Congregations, said he . was particularly pleased to see that the congregation of St. Paul's had chosen a New Zealand student as their Minister. He wished Mr and Mrs Black every happiness in the course of their ministry at St. Paul's. ■ Mrs W. McKay, on behalf of the Young Women's Bible Classes,' and Mr T. W. Beese, for the ' Young • Men's Bible Classes, also welcomed Mr and Mrs Black, as did Mrs Eule no behalf of the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union and the Ladies' Association, and Mr Baynor White for the choir. Mr Black, in the course of his reply, saifi ho was sure that both Mrs Black and ho would be very happy in their new charge. He was pleased to meet so many of the friends of his student days in Christchurch, and he wished to thank them .for the call which they had sent him. He had accepted the call with a great deal of fear and trembling, but there was something compelling which had caused him to accept it. He did not wisli them to think he would commence where Mr Paterson had left off. He wanted to know all his congregation, and wished to thank them, for their very warm welcome. He depended upon the officers of the church for their support, and I assured them that it would be welcome and deeply appreciated. Mrs Black was presented with i bouquets from the Young Women's Bible Classes and the P.W.M.U., while on behalf of the. ladies, Mesdames G. Burn and G. Callender presented Mr ; Black with a. handsome pulpit gown, i Mr G. Callender, on behalf of., the ! congregation, presented the Interim Moderator, the Rev. >7. L. D. Webster, i with a substantial cheque as a token j of appreciation for his services during 1 j the vacancy in the pulpit.

Minister of Promise. j I The Kev. W. Bower Black, who comes 'from Carterton, is a young New Zealander of considerable promise. He w'a» born iii Wanganui, and spent a good ] few years of his youthful days in Auck- | land. He is the son of Mr Hugh Black, i who, 20 years ago, was the proprietor

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of a business in Queen street. Mr Black received his primary education at the Mt. Eden School. At an early age he won a scholarship, and one of the pleasant recollections of the scholars is when the' school assembled under the flag and the headmaster made the presentation of it to him. "With, this scholarship Mr Black went to the Auckland Grammar School. At- the end of the years spent there he matriculated and took to law. For nine years '.Mr Slack worked in a lawyer's office, and studied at night at , the Auckland University. : Twelve - months after he secured his LL.B. he heard the call to the ministry, and entered Knox College, where he did his Divinity course with credit to himself. When the Rev. E. J. Tipler went to the Front from Carterton, Mr Black was ordained, and acted as locum teneqs for him. Aftei six months in this. "Wairarapa township a call came, from the Northern Wairoa ■that could not' be refused. Four happy and useful years were spent in that far north parish, when Carterton again sougAt, his services. Mr Black comes to this, his first city charge, with' a fine record of service behind him.