REV. ROBERTSON ORR

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 121, 16 February 1926, Page 3

REV. ROBERTSON ORR

FAREWELLED BY CONGREGATION

Many were unable to gain admittance to St? Andrew’s Church on Sunday night, when the Rev. Robertson Orr gave his farewell sermon, before leaving to become minister of Central Presbyterian Church, Vancouver. He chose as bis text the Apostle Paul’s farewell to the church in Corinth, Acts 18, verse 18, “And Paul took leave of the brethren . . . and sailed thence.” Last times,

lie said, were sad times, and last words difficult words, not because there was little to say, but because little should be said. There were many things he could say and many that people might expect him to say, but the best things would be the things that were left unsaid. The Apostle had not had a tranquil and serene time in Corinth._ It was marked by controversy, contention, and civil uproar—not an uncommon thing in his ministry. Presbyterians often seemed to have entered into that inheritance. The speaker quoted from a recent Home controversy which had excited much interest, where the Duke of Argyle said: “The innate quarrelsomeness of Presbyterians in all places where thev have settled is notorious and remarkable.” In what spirit did the Apostle take farewell of his congregation ‘in Corinth ? Did he review the controversy he had passed through or did be speak quietly and solemnly about the things that mattered more ? The speaker believed he had followed the latter course, and in imagination tried to recall them. He, too, would.review the things they had stood for in St. Andrew’s during the eight, years of his ministry in the city. Religion was an adventure and an" enterprise, not a routine or a ritual. He believed that no young person in St. Andrew’s could sav’that he had given them the idea that the Heavenly Father was a frigid, obdurate deity, whose main work was to curb the spirit of youth with prohibitions and to restrain them from innocent fun. They knew that God was not grieved with the artificially created sins of any preacher’s creation, but with those who resisted the Spirit, who made life harder for others, allowed their brothers to live in hovels while they dwelt in comfort, thriving on the oppression of their fellows. A valedictory social hour followed in the hall, over which the Rev. W. Shirer, Interim Moderator, presided. Mr. J. A. Thomson, clerk of session, presented Mr. Orr with a note of large denomination, and referred to the great scrvicedie had rendered to St. Andrew’s congregation and the city of Wellington? Mr. C. G. White spoke on behalf of the Board of Managers, and referred. to his personal knowledge of Mr. Orr, which reached back to his student days. The promise then evident had been fulfilled in two very important spheres in Dunedin and Wellington. He conveyed to the departing minister the. cordial esteem, of the managers. The Rev. E R. Weeks, of the Terrace Congregational Church, extended farewell greetings from his people. Mr. Orr thanked all for their generous farewell gifts. He reviewed the years lie had been with them, in war, peace, death, fire, rebuilding and upbuilding. So swift were the changes in Wellington that out of hundreds now worshipping with them only 16 remained who began with him eight years ago. He compared the ministry .of the more stable south with his Wellington experiences. If their work had helped St. Andrew’s, Mrs. Orr and he were gratified, and he wished the congregation an affectionate farewell. Mr. Len Barnes contributed two solos and Mrs. Wycherley sang, with great feeling Tosti’s “Good-Bye.”