INDUCTION OF THE REV. A. C. GILLIES.

Evening Star, Issue 5949, 5 April 1882, Page 4

INDUCTION OF THE REV. A. C. GILLIES.

The induction of the Rev. A. C. Gillies to the pastorate of the North Duncdin Presbyterian Church took place at eleven o'clock yesterday morning; the Rev. C. S. Ross presiding. There was a. large attendance of members of Presbytery and of tho congregation. The chairman shortly narrated the circumstances connected with the congregation since the resignation of the late pastor. Soon after Dr Copland resigned a call was given to the Rev. Mr Inglis, of Victoria, but lie saw fit to decline it. For some time after that several candidates presented themselves before the congregation, and a call was made to the Rev. Mr Cairns, of Sydenham, who, under the circumstances, declined it. Some short time ago the mind of the congregation matured in favor of their pastor elect, and at a congregational meeting it was unanimously agreed to ask the Presbytery to moderate in a call. It having been reported to the Presbytery that there were good grounds to believe that there was unanimity and a hearty feeding in favor of thatparticularmember, the Presbytery agreed to moderate and had now met for that purpose. Tho call having boon read in the name of the Rev. A. C. Gillies and his name having been inserted in it, the call was put into that gentleman's hands and he signified his acceptance of the same. Several questions were then put to Mr Gillies, and his replies being deemed satifactory the chairman said that he had now in the name of the Presbytery to admit Mr Gillies to the pastoral charge of the congregation.

In the evening a social gathering took place in connection with the induction of Mr Gillies. After full justice bad been done by the large audience to the capital spread provided by the ladies, the Rev. Mi' Ross, who has been acting in the capacity of moderator for the last few months, resigned the position of chairman in favor of Mr Gillies, who was warmly received on taking the chair. The rev. gentleman said this was the fourth charge he had undertaken. He said he was a Presbyterian more by accident than anything eise, having Iwen brought up oho; but he supposed if he had been brought up to ariy of the other Christian sects he would havebcenoncof them, He would not endeavor to make good Presbyterians, but good Christians. Ho -would not go the length of his cane to, make good Presbyterians, but would go round the globe to make a good Christian, whether with Bishop Nevill as his leader or any other Christian. He felt that a great responsibility rested on his shoulders to.per form tho duties of his office satisfactorily. Mr Hutton presented Mr Ross, on behalf of the congregation, with a purse' of- twenty-five sovereigns as a recognition of his services as moderator. The treasurer (Mr Mitchell) submitted a statement Showing that there was a credit

balance for tho year of L9S 6s Gd. The debt on the church had been paid previous to Dr Copland resigning, so that Uiey would see MriJillieshad a free church to preach in. On the manse there was still a sum of LSOO to pay. The debt on tho organ, which the congregation secured about two years ago, had not been fully paid. It cost L 72, and with interest and other expenses there was still a sum of L2sto be paid. This he hoped would bo liquidated during tho year. The secretary (Mr J. Reid) read the annual report of the which showed that the church was steadily progressing. There were 233 members on the roll. The communion services had been well attended. Tho Sabbath school was also progressing favorably, the number of scholars on the roll being 250, and the average attendance was 155. The amount of contributions by the Sunday school was L2316s 7d. The choir, under the conductorship of Mr Dunglinson, rendered several anthems, including "Thine, O Lord," " Come unto me,' and "Nunc dimittis " very creditably. The solos by Miss Fergusson ("Trust in the Lord") and Mr Bowden ("Rest") were fairly sung. Congratulatory addresses were delivered by the Revs. Messrs Michie, Arnott, and Niven, and Messrs D. Wright, Dr Copland, Torrance, M. W. Green, and Brunton. A poem, welcoming Mr Gillies to the North Dunedin Church, was read by Mr Lawson. Votes of thanks to the ladies who provided the tables, the speakers, and the choir, terminated one of the most successful gatherings held in North Dunedin.