KNOX CHURCH.

Evening Star, Issue 14214, 13 November 1909, Page 12

KNOX CHURCH.

A WELCOME. AND A FAREWELL. Tho .decorations at the Stuart Hall last »»v;asscd anything of the kind ever seen there previously. The occasion was a welcome social to the Rev. Robert Evan Davies, M.A., as minister of the church, and at the same time to bid farewell to the Rev. Professor Hewitson, 8.A., who for fourteen years was minister, and who during the vacancy in the pastorate acted as interim moderator. The attendance was very large, the hall being crowded. The Rev. Professor Hewitson (who presided) said that they M’ere there to welcome their new minister and his wife. They Mould speak words of welcome from the platform here in their own English tongue ; somebody had been good enough to put M-ords of welcome in Welsh at the back of the hall, and he was sine that they would go to the heart of their friend. When a vacancy occurred in the pastorate the right to fill such a vacancy in oar democratic Church lay with the people, ami it was not likely that the people would give up that rigid. Everyone liked to have a say in the appointing oi a prison who was to break for them the bread of life. This right of the people had sometimes been exercised in Maya that were trying and very difficult. It was not essential that they should employ " candidating,’’ although that was the method that was largely adopted by congregation.-, and a method he most greatly detested. A congregation during a rime of "candidating," instead of being a body of ivorshippar.-. might easily become an assembly of judges and nitics. Then there was always the danger of division, of falling into parties, and. further, the danger that a public assembly like a congregation might he intluenced by some m-'uo had showy rather t hail substantial gifm. While this method of appointment Mas difficult for a congregation, it was difficult also for the visiting minister, especially if ho was nf a highly sensitive sprit ; and, so far as his observation went. it nearly always Inpponod tint n good man never did his Lest under lh--e circnnistances. He was always conscious of the atmosphere in which ho spoke, nod the result was to put on him a great deal of restraint. H a man of a. ictincd and sensitive spirit began to feel the working of such a spirit he thought the tendency wouM always lie [or him to mstiain himself and to trim hi,- sails, or perhaps, even lull them. Now. the judgment he had formed of the Rev. Mr Davie.- Mas that he was such i man. and that the congregation had not beany means got the best out <-f him when they saw him under the trying linum-M.-incf-s he referred to.—■'Appi;u*.o.l When he 1 .;!t a! homo amongst them, and mTicii he was perfectly sure of the spiritual and sympathetic atmosphere of tin- congregation. then they Mould see him ai !cMr Davies started with nobody a,- a lival. and it was a matter cf I icmkfuin,.-,- to God that they had emerged from tiiis very living experience as succcs-fullv as they had done. ' J i he Rev. J. Chisholm, on L-halr ot tin I’reshytery. said at the call of id-- Gun | nioiuvealth they had sent some of their j leesl ministers to serve m dissemin- [ -ding tho Gospel of Jesus Christ in] the growing population.- of vhat new I land. Several very eminent men from | the Commonwealth had also ,om.- to servo i them here. 1 hey had sent men Home, and ! nun were coming heic from Home, and in j this m a_\ the Rreisbytcn in I Lurch was shtju ing its catnolieirv. Ihev welcomed Mr Davies. Whatever their nationality or denomination. they were all Mike j„ jhiswel--"lm‘- Tiny wanted to love him, and m anted him to love them. Main- people, like the ivy, grew better the he'tter ificv were loved. He welcomed Mr Davies and Airs Davies, and in the name oi tie- Presbytery extended a lieartv welcome to their dear hiothci in Christ. ■Mr Duncan Wright, on Uhalf of (O .ongiatul.it M Professor JR wit.-on on ins appointni nt i<> lie nntstorFhip of Knox College. So ham as Knox t hureli spire pointed heavenwards the name of Hewiti'iou would lie loved.-—lAnplause.) Last, hut not least, he weiee.med Mr Davies, who came ripe in scholarship, liv tu '’oless’. ing of God he would maintain the historic facts connected with this congregation. He cordially welcomed him .and his good wife. I lie Lev. J. \\. Shaw. M.A., welcomed .Mi ]);ivi £ as a imn who had achieved <li>tinclmn in the world of seliohi-hip and sucre.-.-; in his tongre-gation. I .Lev wokproud of their City, and wire proud to welcome thereto All Davies and hi- v. jfe. lie M-eJccmcd them mi behalf of tho Pdlde classes, the Sunday school, and the Stuart Hall mission. PRESENTATIONS. The Chairman said that the gift of (lie ladies of the church to Air Davies was a writing table with sixteen drawers, capable of holding a year's sermons, or two years sermons if they were not too long. I (Laughter.) -Another gift from these good ' ladies was a dining room table for Mrs Davies. lie was delighted that there was to he food for body and food for the soul. Ixtiox Church was rich in women m-lio were ttind and sociable. It possessed v omen who had deep epritual influence?. So when Air Davies .-at at this table with his head in his hands, and the sermon would not come, let him think of those loving hearts. The men were shyer. Air Davies” as ti Welshman, could not. perhaps, understand the reticence of the Scottish heart, but he would lind that it beat faithful and true. There were good men and true working both in the church and in the community. This congregation had a, congregational character. No minister had been more kindly treated than Dr Stuart : no minister had been more kindly treated than himself. Mr Davies said it Mas difficult for him to express in any adequate wav the response ol his heart tor their welcome that night. In the first place let him thank those who welcomed him in his own native tongue. For the sake of those who did not know the, meaning of the motto at tho back of the hall let him say it meant "An affectionate tveicome to yon."’ lie thanked them, tee. for the excellent gifts they had made to Airs Davies and himself. It was perfectly true that they had a character—a character which was well known far beyond the confine., oi this Dominion. He thought it, only light to ask those who knew them what was that character, and prior to visiting them he had the very highest testimony paid to them a.- a congregation that any man could possible give, and having met them lie felt at home in their midst, notwithstanding the somewhat trying circumstance;- nuclei' which he first appeared.--(Applause.) Me. was quite conscious of the responsibilities he had undertaken, and he highly appreciated what he considered the great honor they had bestowed on him in asking him to become their minister. He was deeply conscious of the gn-al traditions of this charge. He had had the privilege of reading its historv. and he was deeply impressed with the character ‘T fheir work and the men who had ministered unto them as a co-igi-egatiou. lie spoke frankly when he said ii would not be. easy to become a successor to such men as their former ministers. He (rusted ;hat the blessing of God might be upon iheni, and that they might he led year »fter year to higher things. His" indebtedness was more than he could ever repay. Ho had been privileged to sit under m hose names were known in aiorc than one. continent. He did not sav this boastfully. He owed a great debt ro the land of his birth. He Was a Celt, •md believed tnat the Celts had a mission y> the world. He believed the Celts had oecn. and were, ploying one of the greatest uarts in history. A noted general lie Id ‘ ,,vU t! -' : "-Tillie fringe nf the Empire become tho Empire - :; spear-point. v\ho ever fought more victoriously than .he bent, or more valiantly and brilliantly nan Erin, and, if he might sav so, than ja.lant little Wales?—; Applause.) He iwed a debt to the Sabbath schools of his aative land. These had opened the eves M the nation when it had fallen asleep. Foremost in his debt he would place his homo and home life. The best he would

| have to give them Jm linil rTcrivr-d from I ill,';! ! ionic linining. He believed that : in' , integrity of lu,me life must he maintain, d at nil costs —i applause: and thct would I always be a pruiniiien! nolo in t he messae-e lim would have to give to them. Me | Ihi vies ashed his . nngrcgai cm io give him I Ins morning-. He hope! his wm : k would i permit, him to spend them in his studv. : He believed he must reiitre his efforts on tin; work of the pulpit. Ho was in the heyday of life. His Host was yet to , -Hindu Iv' lie privihpeii to w-ak j n H, e ; r midst lor many years in uune.—:.\n. plniise.i i he 1 lev, Mr Davies, who then took tin' ehair. sanl tiwi the pt!th. rin" was a kind ot valedictory to Professor llewitson, ami added that hj" was pleased to know that In' woo'd hive as a eo-worker the Jlev. Mr •''haw dit! in g til" IK . xt year at !es,K.'--(A pplause.) ihe Jlev. Mr Shaw, who math: the next presentations, said that in the manse had been ladies who to ok a. verv keen inic-cst I m the congivgaHnn. and in .Mrs Hcwitson slid tin? potmg ladies vaio had ad.o r ned tiiat manse were wil-springs ~f enthusiasm. They cag-wly and ,-apablv lent, a l liand in any meful movemen;. ' Pmeem- i hering the zeal an 1 rapacity of these, the ladies of the ennmv-ga'ion wished to preperd to them a few Patens of their approciatinu. Mr Miav. then presente;! r nntnot 11 sf■ ini of siivi l ’’ io Pule and Miss Winnie link- as a mm-k'-f the congregation's appreciation 0 f tlicwrik tiicy li;k] n*‘.'-L\nni;ui , =;'.) Continuing. Mr 'Shaw fmikl that \f-.-He wit son ], a rl been minister of’ Knox ( hnreh for fourteen veers. If was a most ddiicuit ‘position, calling for the best tint 1 '■• as in a man. ami entailing g;rnt tmii-! flees of which tile conytcgat.ion knew no- i thing. He had set tho greatest ideal before linn. His iniinem-c lied quickened , nnin\ ihtggmg spirits, and bis kindlv in-| | fluence bad wrought meat things ill tie' nouses of grief. His personality had meant much for trie -liunli, Tile iniluenec 1 of that church bad not been parochial, ' but there had been bioadnem and "I'lra--osity. The work lie had done as’ ~-.n . : \cu*t of loroi"ii t'/iission.-i multi not- ho ; overrated. Diming the hut few months ho mid acted as tln-ir moderator. and had guided J he church through the troubled se.is of the vacancy, .and h-re th---v \vere in th- calm waters of 'Hint evening. On behalf of the congregation he presented Professor Hcwitson \dth an illuminated addicss. He also presented Mr llewitson with a cheque a., a token of tb.c great esteem j„ which he w as held hv . the congregation. Tiu-v had assc-iabM iim j name of .Mrs H- w :t. i; (whose organid-m i power and seif-s.v rilice was well-known i.d ■ al lot them) with his m this present,it : on j because worthy as Mr Hcwitson was, lie; had oik- very dininrt failing. Probably h.id he received tic- cheque fop hiiimeD would have immediately gom- and so: r.t il on honks. —t Laughter.) Tiu-v hop-’-' that Mr I lewits-iji would go a'nd mc.l with as great and signal success as he had already won in the hearts of this con- : gre gat ion. —l Apple use.) ; '1 ho illuminated addrew. which was handsomely deeoiatcd ami framed, re.nl , as follows : j To Hcv, Professor Hev.itsun, 11.A. ! The olfiec-licarcrs anil rongtegation i,f Knox Chin eh. Dunedin, desire to express their sincere regret at the termination : of your par,;.mate of nearlv frmrleon | years, marked, as it has been, bv tin- | most fr.-mk and cordial relations between * minister and people. Thee herein record • their appreciation of th"" high qualities : you ha,vc- manifested as preacher and : teacher, ot th." wisdom with which veu ( have guided the (onnsch of the (ongre-i 'gallon, ot the progn --siveness of v.uir I idetis. itt;d Hie lofty ideals of CJur-.Han j life and duly yon have ever saw before - yourself ami them. Votu- nneea.--::)" i solicitndc for their welfare, and your : genuine sympathy for them in their Indi- j ' idunl joys and sorrow ~ have generated j lor you in their he, aits an affectionate ! regard which has become detnenccl and strengthened with the lapse "of years. Ihe rapacity, scrupulous fairness, and devotion to the interests of the congregation which you have shown as interim moderator ThtriTig-tbe -vacancy in the pastorate have placed the congregation hinder an additional deht-of,gratitude to yon.;- -In-taking their farewell oT you as -their minister .they -unit?. In.''invoking upon .youh- afKl-pipjou -your -.wo-rkMu the honorable and influential office’ to'which you have been called, the, rich blcsshm of Almighty Gcd.—Signed by all the oOicc : bearers on behalf of the cormrogatice/,. .. ‘ "I Professor Gcwitfon thanked them for their presentations to Mrs llewitson. the two girls, and -himself. Ho was much indebted to the congregation as a whole to the office-bearers, and also to the offi cinls of the Court. When ho came Imro the scrr-ion clerk was Mr Colin MTvcmde Cordon, a man with a perfectly white h-td and a character a= white as his head, tie was a Highland Christian gentleman. His successor in office was I heir friend \[ r Maltcr Hislop, who regretted cxcccdbndv he was not will) them that evening, public Mr HislopT name stood for'nitec nty; m i.nvate it stood for kindness.l iAppliui.se.) I hen, when he came here tnev had as clerk of the Deacons’ Court, Mr I ryclo. From the first dav he met, him lie iiad iihviiys counted on IMr Prvde as a

true, loval, and deeply-attached personal Inend. 'lhen they had as their treasurer Mr Jack Hislop, who was most attentive to his duties. Then, of the deaconesses, there was Sister Mary, as good and kind a soul a.s over lived. He had one regret in leaving—that he had not had the delight of the association he \vas looking forward to with Sister I.auia, who lived in the hearts of many of their people, and Sister Mary, who had recently come amongst them. Referring to others who had assisted him, Mr Hewitson said that there was the Rev. William Todd. A more earnest, spiritual worker or a more diligent they could not possibly meet than Mr Tcdd. Last of all, there was the Rev. Mr Shaw, who would till a great position in the Church if he was spared. Now Unitin' was no longer their minister. Mrs Hewitson and himself had agreed to retire from every oliiie they held in the church, 'that, he said, was a. wise tiling to do, i.i the interests of Mr and Mrs Davies. When he came here first he told them plainly that he was not going to wear Dr Stuart's clothes, and he did not want Mr Davies tn wear Ids. He rejoiced that Mr Davies had come to a congregation that, would in no way restrict his liberty. In leaving the charge of Knox C iutrch ho look the step with great iegret. Ho foil he Mas shutting a (hair on everything that dwell in a man, that appealed to ins heart, his mind, and his soul,' He had stood with scum- of them before the altar, at flic baptismal lout, and with some of them whore there had been long-con-tinued sickness. He olton passed a house wnere lie had visited, at first monthly, and then Meekly. These M-oro the experiences which took such a deep hold. Students oamo and went. There were great possibilities in the college, hut there was not that touch upon the’heart. The door was closed. His greatest iegret Mas for work undone, lie had tried to do Ids duty, but trusted to the Lord for forgiveness, "though we have rebelled against Him. - ’ During the evening Church Praise hymns and songs Mere sung by the choir under tiie baton of Mr W. Paget Gale. Other musical items weie rendered by Miss Duthie and Messrs ,1. Rlaekman and J. M. Alexander. Miss McLaren Mas the accompanist.