The Opening of St. Marks Church, Balclutha.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 50, 24 June 1875, Page 6

The Opening of St. Marks Church, Balclutha.

I' I". ' . Q i, ■ji «» ' ; tlfi'^haHi^^bean'^'janiiciniioißd'^^tFt' the !i StiMsrk*;^ |wi^s*tanding,^iat^^thedw^A^^alsyerjfcold V :anp! c w w e% ,th,era ;'fc]!sge : p6%'' gregatmn^irtne ll buildingidbeing -iquif c filfed;'- TM^MvyW-vmitoiffV the= prayere/^he -Rev. iMr Leseobj of .PortCbaMefcsA^ and the v ßishbp'<aeliyero '^i&ppjrbpr&lxr. and practical' sermon, from ■«." the 'text' Psalb; x^v^; f,i ßi ; In: addition to ; these o?erg^sp'^(|iiß^%q3Rß Ifilsp^ fireient thei Rfcvs; 'Messrs'' Stanford, 5 Dunedin; j Coffey,' To^dfft^^ and ' MfArajv "ftaicimnaj '„- '• J . Stl Marks phureh is of aneat Giothic; style of ariu^^ having nave north and south, (transepts, and 1 clidacel' A : ;The;;riavfl roof is siir-: mounted bY; '&-. ' neat ' Jpiriet, ';■ in . which .' & bell wiib be }i placed] -andn- which; .also serves ; as; 'a'; y^htiliatipn- ehaft; ; f The roofs are" covered witfi,. v shinglj9^ r 't^ , e;' apexes having ornamented. finials.? : The entrance is by a porch bri'ttie north side, the 'seats beihg.^ri^n'gptt';6n"'ekch', side of a central ;passage« down the nave, with a croSs pa'gsiage; dpysfh the' transepts, provision . {Laying been , made for extension of the building .at any, titoe; by mean's.' of extenairig ; the; north; and south aisles andthelehgthehing of the nave; the present^ space being of 1 50 sittings': The ; vestry is iipbh the south side,' and! opens into the church. The exterior jof ;theV;'^Mrch7 : presents; a picturesque appearance* the nave' and; transepts having projecting gables j and the triplet windows in the nave haying gablets surmouted by finials. Messrs Mason and' Wales'^ of Dunedin^ are the architects j arid Mr * John , Barty, of Balclutha, the contractor.; Mr Stace, of Christchurch 1 , actedj as ' inspector 1 ; gratuitously, and upon each of them the structure reflects the highest credit; tea meeting and concert. A tea meetingand concert to celebrate the ope'hihg; of the church was held in Barr's Hall the same, evening, A very large; number, of all denominations were present. Shortly after halfpast six o'clock— the hour named — the tables were all quite filled, and, after a blessing had been asked by his Lordship, a sumptuous tea was partaken of. The tables were five in number, and were supplied by the following ladies belonging to the congregation : — Mesdames Smith, M'Owen, Renner, and Stanbrook (who was assisted by Misses Murphy and Atkinson.) Mr Hutchins supplied a table, at which the Misses Bruce presided. The bachelor's table was presided over by Misses;. Low and Battrick. Tea over, his Lordship returned thanks, after which the tables were removed. The concert commenced at 8 o'clock* '.-.'.

His Lordship the Bishop occupied the chair, and said that everyone would readily acknowledge that the . day of the opening of the new church would ever be regarded as an era in the history of Balclutha. He referred to the number of Church of England clergymen who had been walking the streets that day. — a larger number than had ever been there together before, and said it seemed «s if the Acclimation Seciety had turned out all their rooks and crows, and they had settledN down in Balclutha. He found from the programme that these rooks and crows weve to address them, and he hoped they would not give Sir -John Richardson any occasion afterwards to proceed and pluck the whole of them. He (his Lordship) had expected that the Rev., Mr M'Ara, the Presbyterian clergyman, would also have been present, but he had ' received a letter from him explaining that he had unexpectedly been called from home on duty. That day, he said, was a point in the history, of , the district which they were entitled to rejoice over, hot only as it marked progress in the development of material resources and was an evidence of progression, but also because of the religious indications it gave* All felt that it marked a step in progress in religious matters. .The building, they had erected would furnish for the; congregation a rallying , point— r a fixed place where they could meet tor f ether and realise'their privileges, their rotherhood, and unity as -a ' church of Christ. The congregation, he .said, were , much to be congratulated upon the superior style, of .building they ;.'had" erected. In its , architectural correct-' ness, its execution,' and the accommo-. dation it afforded, it was everything that could be. desired. The ; building . was very creditable ;ihdeed to the members of the congregation, and while 5 Yip congratulated them; upon their success,' he had also to, express his thanks to those , who had taken an active part in; carrying out the task. . When he had .visited" the; district about ten -months' ago - to • organise the jparish; he certainly did not' ; anticipate ' they wptilct . be able. ' sd isoqh; ! to proy ide s ! suph ':% building, '• He^lspf thanked those unconnected .'jHth.^eiri church who had contributed -towards its= ! erection, and taken an ; interesfrin , the - ; work. ; He conld -not omit to mention 1 the service \vhich had b'eenrendißfedrby: lone'individy^^Mr Stace^su|erinfe v h^ j dingTthe; , wprls,^ | watehfiilnessj mxxc% '.j, of ;^ the satisfactory! j result Lwaß;{tQ,ibehattributed. , tfle alsol treferred'' to> the fact that \a debt, still | remained f nipdh Jible building, which he

notbeeh fully informed as to its financial plained, it> as ihe thought, all /Who, had Cdltt'tolta'^^ . Iff ! it ' ibould^ ,]^pw£'?^s[^ vsfr tf said;» although I they* nacbgfofm'buildingi'' it^w^uld bSa/CS^^CS^fTOW-' a< living, voice^without va : 'j^^fted^^atd 1 ; mr IWnedm : l i of; Mv |^it|iey:s^seryicea them ji and ■■'>■ was v.gladi to; have jMif day ! sepn ; J t e^d^fic^^\the^^r^al' feeing ; .which^jiiDsisfed' be|w<sn tbem. He* hoped ; it t would long ,ooutinne^and: inc'Wttse 1 mpre'ahd^more/ *He 7 referred 1 td • iptr .bjseh brought; njj; ia 'a ?parish ; 'where '■ tne r clergyman* /ft'ndV his' pedple|, liv6d tigon'the^m^ tejpmsi and hoped tne exppriences" ; of .his? early days would be reproduced ; in Balclutha tti their; mutual benefit: ' ■He c6ncliid(9d ; by urging upon : layiaen -to" affprd their pastor assistance in secular and- pecuniary matters, and not to^leave. all sueh 1 hig.sßouldets.' His-Lord;ship was frequently cneered during; . hti _ address'^ J and concluded , kn'ndst^hi&ri^ , '* Ahtnemii*' Behold' how good -and joyful/ etCA^Ghdhv ThY ReV/~ "^ few introductory remarks,- chose for his subject /the event of the day : the opcnjng.of their chiirdh. The'assistahce arid countenance they had experienced from all denominations in the matter of their Building, and thq .'sttsh4'an6e[ that! evening of their friends belonging, to other ; churches gave' him' a 1 broader view of Christian fellowship than he bad previously entertained, and he sincerely hoped they would all sink minor differences, so that they .might: work together to' further the. cause of their common Rede'enier', on the; e^rth: He then : referred- to ibe substantial, neat, and chaste sty le j of the '.* builairig". ; jWheh he first' came to Balclutha 1 , he little dreamed they wo'tild so soon haye k new church to; worship in. He heartily thanked the building com--mittee, and, also the liadieis, for the labor they had performed in connection with the matter, and the success of jwhich was more due to them than to anything he had done. . The building was ah' evidence of their Chi'istiahhearted: liberality, and that of those belonging to otpr denominations; who had contribiitera towards their church. He explained the reason for making , choice of St^ Mark's as the name of their church, and which simply was because that was the name of the church in which 1 he had worshipped at home. ; "Hie was anxious to preserve and benefit by the many associations connected with that church, j^ln conclusion, he expressed his great pleasure at seeing so large an attendance that evening, and trusted they would all spend a happy evening together. Piano solo, "I know that my 'Redeemer liveth "—^Mr Wi Taylor.- --" Eve's Lamentation "—Mrs Renner. The Rev. Mr Stanford humorously referred to his early experience of Balclutha, when he found the people relished more to congregate under the verandah of a house down the street than listening to him. He tried to get them to meet in the Court-housej but had failed, and. one day only the sergeant of police put in an appearance* and he (Mr Stanford) believed: he did so upon ithe same principle as the Negro servant — to look after' the spoons |(laughter.) At all events, Sergeant iCobdeh no doubt imagined that when |the Court-bouse was occupied it was ;his duty to be near byl The moral he : drew from his failure and the event of that day was- that he- had not had sufficient faith in the future and the inhabitants of Balclutha. He pointed out the solemn nature 1 of ! the: work of building the first church in ; the district, ■ and congratulated the congregation upon the beauty and excellence pf the building they had reared. Miss Brewer then sang "Queen ! Mary's prayer ,• " Mr Corrigah, " He ; shall feed His ; flock j " and Miss M. Bruce, " Lead me." Sir' John Richardson, was next called ■upon, and was received with continued' applause: During the applause s,bme r one indulged in 'the- very pbjectioha"bi'e- ; practice of expressing^ approbation by -shrill .whistlihg. Ani'eniber of, Com-; mittee said. ih % a ; ! loud voice :; ".Would; you be good enough" not to whistle ?" ' Sir. John Richardson (as if he..uhder.- r j stood the remark as applying- to him)' replied : • *•' I may mention, before." I piroc^ed with. my ; remarksi tbat I had no intention; of ■whistlihg/' which' .oc- | casioned a burst of laughteri : When; : isi'lehce.. was restored , he .proceeded to state that oni hearing fiy& minutes .Were' allowed to : ,eabh, ; and that' the* music and. song's rwere 1 considered likely^ jto take the same time, he sought adow: Iplace dbwn in th^ lislpf 'speakers irbut;; jto his horror, he found r that the prejceding speakers did ! ; ! Btand.''-up^]fo^ |their.;,.rights. '. .^V'S^-^lC^ffe 0 "!-!^ jßishop With- reference- to >: r.a Jr'tta.vkjoi jlns'thajtlie; (Sir ' J 6hio ;hadnot courage; Senougtto^ Ithe rooks; ardunduhim/ He askfedoper-J |missioff to'; lexjiress,; Bis ;s^tjsfactifin. r j.at 1 'being (present, ron/rsuch r an f: occasion-as 4 itMs^festive ; . to tii boys>' ! who; dpHght '^ja \jfun . . ib^d :, 'jl9ffi& ? \ r vj^w^'^ better mode ! of iicondttc^gillieser affairs: thto'bazfa^ ]30wer|ui^a swaj\ Jjlf)^%t^ho^hofpi |the3eAon s a lateedcasion^-aJetterVwas' blaM. |ihv^s; J^ 'demanded^ wTKqh-^^p^ds :^ao

fete Mbt the jSil^^ujetf appeal^hayer been, |qun4 mqte medf3,y& : ■. filr. Jot^th^i rem^kejd' WM:^^^7' t r M^^^r^'^a^. absent^ f lie cameVnext * in ,. prdep r .he iw^ujs itppear as^a Prespyteri^ihi^ asr chjarity ithe x /urije)ct •pf & next sqng, he .wpuH /; take it, his ,^,xt. f ," 'H^i! |;hen>emark"3d tliaHjie was a lew.jw^ks, ' Mjace.^reseht at ;,a!pam J lt Gf&jj ffHpt hnited '.in ( .hin^sel^ vdielfir^ tesoiutobri of a mah; wii^;,'a^U,tKe,.tenorer^; hjessand finer, sensibiiit^s.;pf !,a( jyomani! To I pay this Va. laat I >tri]^^'.^6 ! dppaij(|»4! worth people ' [of ) all' classJßs, land \ bf!"'aii*; sorts, irrespeptiyet.df rank, or/ ppsition,. crowded round thepal|. 'AU distinctions faded in the. prlasehce of ( ;a cpmnipjh calamity, ; , JQo'okipg.. arou^a,be;saw. i tHe boundary^^ lines which marked theiresting places of the members, ot.the^fferent divisions of ; the Vchurcli, and', the tubught passed lAaon^li "Mia mind tbat in; the. " m|ahy > 'mansi t ons < .^ abov'ealV classes, and.. sects, would' be.intermixed,and .sectibna.t ; barriers, unknown.' . Tlie Chu'rcli ;;bf England embracVsor.tblerates;, withip' her.arms^^ the, extremes of belief and practices, between her -and the various. .Reformed; ; Churches' the difference is at .least .nptr greater, arid' consequently: the intercourse should be as w.arnii Since he had how ho.hbme, thanking .;the..Rev..Mr. : Withey^ for his remarks, so much in. unison! with 1 those he had just expressed, he hoped I to be allowed, to^Bgard ßalclutlia as his. parish and Mr W^hey a^ his pastdr.> ' Mrs Smith— "But 'thou : didst not' ieavemy soiil in hell." Mr Reunert—'''. Charity," i Choir—" Vital.spark 1 :" The Rev. Mr "teeson,, referred to .his. having sailM with Mx witbey tp N.e w Zealand, and expressed bis. gratificatioh . in. knowing that his^ines s had. fallen, in pleasant places. . He ; pointed butipme,. of the long train of circumstahces which followed upon the building, of' a churchj ", such as the. Sabhath school, the choir,, etc., and concluded by congratulating the congregation upon . their prosperity. Mr R. M'Owen, in proposing a vote of thanks to the ladies who provided, and presided at the tables,,tbok occasion to refer, to thevery pleasing nature of the work the building, committee, (of which he was a member) bad performed. Wherever they, had solicited subscrip-, tions they had met with a very cordial response, and about onerthird of the sum raised had been contributed by other denominations; They had reason to be proud of their fellow citizens, and trusted that this friendly and liberal spirit would long prevail r , amongst them..

After other votes had been passed^ the meeting separated at half-past 9 o'clock, all .seemingly, delighted with the whole proceedings;.