OWAKI.

Clutha Leader, Volume XVIII, Issue 897, 25 September 1891, Page 6

OWAKI.

* OPENING OF NEW CHURCH. The new Presbyterian church' in Owaki was opened for divine Worship on Sunday last. The building is 48ft long by 25ft wide ; height of walls, 15ft ; and is seated for about 200. The vestry is seated for 40; and the porch is ]Oft by 10ft. The windows are narrow Gothic, fitted with leaded lights with stained margins. The roof is open to the ridge, being sarked diagonally with narrow white pine V-jointed lining. The principals and purlins are of red pine as are also the carved braces whjch connect the tie beams and walls* The ventilation is secured by six hopper ventilators in the windows communicating with fretwork ventilators in the roof which lead into louvres fixed on the outside of the roof. The architect of the building was Mr Thomas M'Latchie, Owaki, and the building does him very great credit indeed. The contractor was Mr Mark Morton, Owaki, whose work has given the highest satisfaction. The painter was Mr Shaw, Catlins, on whom the painting and varnishing reflect great credit. The opening services were conducted by Rev. Wm. Bannerman, who many years ago first ministered in the district, as part of his Clutha charge. The opening services were largely attended, the church being crowded even to the passages and porch, in both of which additional seats had to be placed. There must have been nearly 300 persons present, gathered from the several districts that form the large parish under the pastoral care of Rev. W. G. M'Laren. The opening service began at 11.30 a.m. with the singing of Psalm 100, which was followed by the reading of portions of chapters VIII. and IX. of Isaiah, a dedicatory prayer, the singing of hymn 516 (Church Praise), the reading of Hebrews 111., the Lord's Prayer, and the singing of Psalm 72, IGth verse to the close. The collection was then taken up, after which Mr Bannerman announced as the subject of his discourse Psalm 26 and 6th verse — " I will wash my hands in innocency, so will I compass Thine altar 0 Lord." The text, he said, contained a twofold resolution on the psalmist's part — first, that he would compass God's altar, engage in the public worship of God, giving attendance on the public ordinances of religion, and secondly, that he would prepare himself for so doing. A like resolution should be theirs, and that very especially in view of their erection of that house to God's name and for His worship and service. To enforce this Mr Bannerman proceeded to address the congregation on the duty and benefits of attending the public ordinances of religion, illustrating both points by reference to the conduct and experience of the psalmist as expressed by himself in the Book of Psalms. The record given there came to them not merely to tell them what David did in respect of the service of God, and the good he derived in engaging in that service in " the great congregation," but to tell them and men everywhere that He would have them to worship God, not merely in the secret chambers of their heart, but openly and together, in the observance of His own prescribed ordinances, and to assure them that that observance would result in blessings manifold to their souls. The same truth was drawn from several passages of New Testament Scripture, all which went to show that the life of the soul in its commencement, its maintenance and progress, was largely dependent, through divine grace, on the use made of the divinely-prescribed ordinances of religion. These under Christian economy consisted mainly of the rending, aud especially the preaching, of God's Word, sacraments and prayer, in connection with which stood the gospel ministry ordained of God for the proclamation of His gospel and administering his sacraments, that sinners might learn the truth, and seek salvation, and saints be guided along that way of holiness by which the redeemed of the Lord go up to the heavenly zion. Warning was given against resting on mere attendance, or giving attendance on divine ordinances that was merely bodily and from which the heart was absent. The sin and danger of such worship David fully realised ; hence his resolution to wash his hands in innocency — that is, thoroughly prepare himself for waiting upon God in the courts of His house. His language was taken from the ceremonial washings to which Israelis priesthood were subjected before serving at God's altar ; by which it was taught that coming before God men must come with clean hands and a pure heart, putting away from them the evil of their doings and having the guilt thereof removed by renewed acts of faith and repentance ; bringing all their sins to the fountain open for am and uncleanness in a Saviour's blood, by prayer and supplication for renewal of heart, by studying and following the teaching of God's Word. Before going to the House of G-od men should prepare themselves for going there by self-examination, by prayer, by reading the Scriptures, putting away from their thoughts and hearts, the world and the things of the world. They should consider into whose presence they go when they enter God's House, and for what purpose they go there. For the discharge of their ordinary duties and activities of life men made all necessary preparations. Much more should preparation be made for the highest action in which man can engage himself -— the worshipping of the living God, the thrice Holy One, the God of salvation. Let the twofold resolution of the psalmist be theirs ; let effect be given to it as was done by David ; then should it be that the house they had erected and had that day dedicated to the set-vice of God — a service so intimately connected with their highest interests in time and in eternity —would,, be to them and to those coming after them a meeting-place between them and God, and its services wells of salvation for the refreshing and reviving of their immortal souls. May God grant that to-day, and on every succeeding Sabbath Day, it may be recorded in God's

book of remembrance that this man and that man was born there, — The service closed by the singing of a portion of Psalm 118, and the benediction. The evening service was also conducted by Mr Bannerman, when he preached from Tsaiah 55, 7 — B. The church was again completely filled, though not so crowded as during the foreupon service. The attention and interest of the large audience was sustained throughout the entire service. The forenoon's collections amounted to Ll2 15h 7jJkl, and that in the evening to L 2 7s 4£d ; in all, Lls 3s.