UNVEILING A TABLET

Evening Star, Issue 11863, 17 April 1903, Page 1

UNVEILING A TABLET

The ceremony ot unveiling a handsome marble in memory of tho Rev. Wuhan) Johnstone, M.A., the first pastor nf the Presbyterian Church at Port Chalmers, and one of the pioneer ministers of Otago, took place last evening, in the prcsnce of a representative congregation. The Rev. E. 0. Tennent presided, and amongst those present wore the Rev. Dr Watt, the Rev. W. Will, and the Rev. A. Cameron (Moderator of the Synod). Devotional services concluded, tho Rev. Mr Tennent explained the object for which they were assembled—viz., to perpetuate the revered memory ot the first pastor of the Port Chalmers Presbyterian congregation—and traced the steps taken to give effect to it, the result being that they were assembled to unveil a tablet to the memory of the deceased pastor. Tho Rev. Mr Will said he felt very much as if the meeting was something like a resurrection of his old friend Mr Johnstone, who had passed away nearly twentytwo years previously. It was about fortyfive years since he first met Mr Johnstone, who had just arrived in the colony. Port Chalmers was then a very small place, but Mr Johnstone had a large district, extending from the Heads over a considerable portion of the Peninsula, and also as far north as the Waitati River. He (Mr Will) had had the pleasure of introducing Mr Johnstone to the northern part of his district, which, he might odd, was ‘by no means so easy of access then as it was now. He was delighted to meet Mr Johnstone, both as a minster and as a man, and his recollections of him had always been of the most pleasant nature. Mr Johnstone had a lot of hard work to face, but he never shrank from it, and his only consideration was how to do that hard work best. Mr Johnstone had practicaly formed the first Presbyterian Church in Port Chalmers, and he (Air Will) was glad that his memory had been revived, and that the handsome church iu which they were gathered would contain the tablet to his memory, though there was no fear that the older members of the congregation would soon forget him. Captain Thomson stated that the Rev. LI.Johnstone had laid the groundwork of ,n. Presbyterian Church in Port Chalmers a.... in the Waitati district, and had assisted build up the churches in the dillereai hr... ties. Although his tongue had long u silent in the grave his last sermon v. t. -t i, remembered, and the text of it was bir.n .hj prominently before them again in the labTi; Ihe speaker concluded by stating that u;. were all indebted to Mr John Mill lor t i,'. prominent part he had taken in the mat i.. of erecting the memorial tablet. The ceremony of unveiling the tablet was then performed ,by Captain Thomson, who read the following inscription;— ,- ln mcm„nam. Rev. William Johnstone, M.A., one of the pioneer ministers of the Presbyterian Church of Otago, who was inducted as the lust pastor of this congregation on the 23rd June, 1858, and labored faithfullv in the Masters service in Port Chalmers “and surrounding districts for twenty-three vears eutermg into rest on the 21st August, 1881. Ihe text of his last sermon: ‘ Prepare to met thy God—Amos iv., 12.” Rev. Dr Watt said he well remembered time he met Mr Johnstone when ho Dmiedin, and he bad been associated with him for so many years as a copresbyter. Mr Johnstone was possessed of a singularly calm mind and dispassionate judgment. He was always a factor makiim for peace, and he always tried to throw oil on the troubled waters of strife. He was singularly unselfish and considerate for others and he was a good man in every sense of the word, being fuU of the holy grace and prayer.

. The Rev - Mr Cameron said that his first impression of Mr Johnstone was that ha was a good man, and everyone who knew the deceased gentleman testified to his sterling Christian character. The speaker expressed thankfulness at being present to bear witness to the pure and Christ-like life of him whose memory was being commemorated. which is sft gin in length and ? ft nT ln^", hc J!? ht ’ was desir ™ed and erected t.^ 0 Ber samini, of Messrs Bergamini and Reid, of this City. It occunics a prominent position at the top of the church, to the left of the pulpit and underneath the gallery.