A RETIRING PASTOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2861, 28 August 1916, Page 7

A RETIRING PASTOR

REV. J. GIBSON SMITH'S FAREWELL ADDRESS "THE GREATEST THING IN ' THE WORLD" Tire Rev. J. Gibson Smith took leave last night of the congregation of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, after a, ministry of 13 years. He is retiring from active ministry owing to failing health, after a service in the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church in three of the chief towns in New Zealand of 29 years.

~. Mr. Smith, opening the address which • is likely to bo tho last ho. will,deliver to the congregation he has known for. so many years, said that ho did not ~'proposo to preach a, sermon in tho ordinary sense of the word. Ho choso as his 'subject "Tho Church of God," and .while he spoke mainly of the Temple, in the building of which, as lie said, he had been privileged to play a minute' part, ho mado some little reference to his own sharo in. the great work.- -Ho set himself to answer two questions, which might have been addressed to him on _ his retirement. Supposing' one had said to him, "You have been preaching week after week, year after year, for 29 years., Did you novcr become' tired of the work?" To this question ho mado answer: "If I answer that I' was never. tired, that would not be true. It would especially Mot-have been true of theso last two Vears,•:' during which my body has not •been; able to sustain niy spirit as it bnco did. But if anyone asked if I was ever weary and tired of the.work, I could truthfully answer 'No.'' It has been ray ditty as a Christiau minister to speak of the highest and worthiest themes' with which the mind of man can occupy itself. God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, man, sin, redemption, judgment, immortality, Heaven. That duty I have ever counted the greatest of human privileges. From my boyhood I have loved to dwell on these themes. They have been my .supremo interest all through -my life;-they are my supreme interest, now. I have .been often tired,' but never once tired of tho Christian preacher's work." And the second question: ( 'ln these ■29 years l you have doubtless noticed many changes taking place within the church —what in your opinion 'is tho most' significant : change of all?"—"I ripply: les, I havo soon many changes' .within the church. Perhaps; that which seems most important to mo wilPnot so appear to everyone. Probably it ,will not. But at any rate in my opinion the most momentous change that •has taken place within the Christian Church- in'this last generalnn is this— •her partial awakening to the truth that is .spreading over the world, she nutet : herself _ experience change and transformation/' In elaborition. of this thought he stated his opinion 'that tho. revelation of the full mind of Christ was coming.only gradually to succeeding generations. of men as they wero able to receive it. So thero must ho 'change, within; the Christian Church. His own belief was that tho full awakening of the Church to this' truth would in time produce a great, a mighty, the niost beneficent ohange in the Church's organisation, and policy. ' Up till now /the Chtirch had organised, on the assumption that within herself /there' never could bo change, that always she would offer to man tho message of .the Gospel in exactly the same form. He believed'-that' the Church' .would yet so organise herself as to'provide for Her own growth and transformation.

.'■•■ Mr. Smith spoko his''last sentences of farewell with some feeling, which was ■Bhared by the congregation.. • ■ ■.■ "This work will ho carried on," lie said, "and I shall not be privileged to take a. share in it, except in a very subordinate , .postion." "I must • stand down. and leave tho work •to others, and so bow to God's Will/For I have not been telling others all these years that God's Will i 6 best only to refuse my own teaching as it comes to bo applied ;to me. I receive the "Will of my Heavenly Father, as to the best thing that can happen to' irie. •1 have just to thank all my old friends for all their' great love and their kindness, for all their cordial co-operation with me in bygono days, in the good years, and. fof. all their great patience' and forbearance with me in these last days of my declining strength, • whon bo often it must have seemed to them that I was discharging my duties as a Christian minister very inefficiently indeed. May my successor' in tLis charge receive from you all that you can give in the way of encouragement, help, and praver. I shall deem that what ybu..shall do for him <ia h« <'africs on my work'yon are doiiig pa'tly at.least for mo. My frienis, I am very human. I trust that you will not wholly, forget the man who has tried to servo you in this place. Tho ■greatest thing'in tho world is love, and if, knowing my faults and weak■Bessss as Ilkndw you do, you will,continue t<i give me some little shafts m the love of your hearts, I shall bo very well content. • May G-.-d furtive us all our faults. ' May 1 Lis blesring go with us all through the days to be.