DR STUART'S VALEDICTORY.

Evening Star, Issue 7623, 28 May 1888, Page 2

DR STUART'S VALEDICTORY.

There were large congregations at Knox Church yesterday to hear the farewell sermonß of the Rev. Dr Stuart, who leaves Duuedin for a six months' trip to the Home Country on Wednesday next. At the morning service, in spite of the cold, rainy weather, the church was well filled, a number of the Highland Rifle Corps being among those present. The office-bearers of the church occupied seats 1 round about the pulpit, and Mr E. B. Oargill assisted at the service by reading the second lesson and offering up an appropriate prayer. Dr Stuart, before commencing his sermon, intimated that the Rev. James H. Cameron, formerly of Lawrence, would take charge of the pulpit for at least three months, (luring which time he would exchange from time to time with some of his brother ministers. During his (Dr Stuart's) absence DrDunlop, the Moderator of the Session, would take charge of the celebration of marriages. With regard to the Bible class, he had been extremely fortunate, for two of the elders— Dr Hislop and Mr George Thomson—had undertaken to conduct it during his absence, probably on alternate Sabbaths. Dr Hislop had selected studies in early church history for the three centuries previous to the time of Constantine, and Mr Thomson would carry on the class on the lines on which it had been commenced this year. With regard to the Sabbath school, the old system would still prevail. Though separated for a time from his congregation, he said they might in spirit often see one another, think of one another, and pray for one another. They had put him on that throne for many years, and he had never coveted a higher place, and even though he should live to the age of Methuselah he would not seek a higher place. When they came there, Sabbath in and Sabbath out, they might be quite sure that his spirit, in some shape, would be thinking of them, and he trusted that God's pure and undefiled religion might flourish among them. The Rev. Doctor then preached an appropriate sermon from Psalm Ixxxix., 49; " Lord, where are Thy former loving kindnesses ?" and referred during his discourse to the many blessings the church had received in times gone by. In the evening there was again a very large congregation. The Rev. Dr Dunlop assisted in the service.

Dr Stuart took the opportunity of thanking the congregation for having given him a furlough of six months. He trusted that ho would use it conscientiously for the purpose for which it had been given. There were, he said, two or three objects which he would give a little attention to while he was at Home, but this he could do without straining any faculty and without violating any of the conditions that had been laid down for him. He was particularly anxious to see some of the beßt Sunday schools at Home, and one especially—viz., the one connected with the Free Church College. He was also anxious to see some of the best Bible classes, especially Dr White's, in Edinburgh, where there were over 200 scholars. He would also take the opportunity of visiting the orphanage between Glasgow and Greenock —an institution of a very special order, where the family principle was successfully acted upon. He was likewise anxious to see the first and oldest reformatory in England —the Red Hill Reformatory—where the family principle also prevailed ; and also the Blind Institution in Glasgow. He believed that blind children were now being taught very successfully in the public schools of Britain, and he would try and find out if that really were the case. A lot of other things lie would leave alone, such as Home Rule and other matters. The doctor then preached an excellent sermon from Deuteronomy xi., 21.