RETIRING PRESBYTERIAN MINISTERS

Evening Star, Issue 17084, 1 July 1919, Page 5

RETIRING PRESBYTERIAN MINISTERS

iLONG SERVICE AND REGRETFUL ■■ PARTINGS. At this morning’s meeting of tho Dundin Presbytery conunksionors from the ongrenatior.s r-f St. Andrew's, Andorson {ay, and North Tiileri Chyrches modi? hair avowal befc.ro the church court jot heir heartfelt appreciation of the service h'pf pastors row leaving them after many years—the Rev. Dr Waddell (at St. Andrew's for over 40 ycais). tho Rev- Dr Cameron, [at Anderson Buy mr 35 years), and the Rev. J. Lymbrnn (at North Taicr: for D years). DE WADDELL. Professor Hewitson reported cn his meeting with the o£Bco-boams_ and conof St, Aura row's. rt-Kiimr the rosdhitians uaanttinocsly adopted, reluctantly : concurring in the wsignatron, and making financial provision for their pastor's future. Mr W. Gow (setior eider) said that the : feeling created among the congregation vrae one of sorrow. Dr Waddell’s minis try had. .been no . common ministry. Ho had come among them as a young man, when they also were young, and the remarkable . thing about his long ministry was that it had remained ■ fresh and vigorous over that period of more than 40 years. He beRoved he was right in saying that mentally Dr Waddell was as capable and fit an ; vigorous to occupy the pulpft as ho hj, ■ • ever been in the'course of bis long c:wv ■The congregation, found some satis fad n ; in the fact that the doctor was net aKlately severing his connection with tin: ■, and'they hoped that his retirement wo j.-. give him at any rate partial resoration ta health. Mr J. A. Park said his connection with tho church was one of 55 years. He b.t.; .eat under three ministers there, and tlri-i was the hardest parting of allMr A. Burn said Dr Waddell was unique in the diversity of gifts he brought to the work of his high calling, and unique, t0,., In his service to the community. Other members of the deputation r, spoke. Dr Waddell said that Ms. friends .hud discovered in him a personality uhat was entirely unknown to him, and he found it hard to discover his ordinary, commonplace ■ self in tho rosy-triorod _ pictures printed. Ho hoped he might still -be allowed a little time to continue to 'serve the church, and to- get into sonic quiet harbor, there to wait, with what patience lie could compass, the call to set out on the great, adventurous voyage that all must take. In conclusion, the doctor thanked the congregation and office-bearers tor their.con tinners kindness, and mentioned that, wilr; the exception of the Bishop and the Dean, be was the oldest minister in Dunedin. Professor Hewitson said that the Presbytery 'would have an opportunity .at a later date of speaking on Dr Waddell’s ministry. In the meantime, he moved that they accept ithe resignstion from this date, „ request tho Assembly to give _ the doctor the status of minister emeritus, with seat on all the Climvh courts; and appoint the Rev. A. Cameron and bnnsell to dtaw up a suitable minute for inscription in tho Presbytery's records. The resolution also expressed the Presbytery s hearty appreciation of the congregation's action in making financial provision lor I one who had made spiritual provision for them over so long a period. This was carried. DE CAMERON. The Rev. J. Kilpatrick reported on the meeting of the office-bearers and congregation of Anderson Bay Church relative to the retirement of the liev. Dr Cameron. Tho meeting appointed 10 representatives to come before Presbytery, whom he ■would now introduce. Mr T. Somerville {Session clerk) read the resolution of the office-bearers and the | congregation, as under: “ It is with exceeding regret that we receive intimation that our beloved minister, the Rev. A. Cameron, 8.A., has ten- ' dered his resignation to the Presbytery of I Dnnedin. We are grateful 4o Almighty God that Mr Cameron has been with us so long, and were it possible to induce Mm to remain for a few years more no ! ©Sort car our part would be wanting to secure that end; but in the circumstances, and as we know well his mind on the majtter, we very reluctantly -acquiesce. As a minister he has discharged all the duties of Ins office with whole-hearted faithfulness. In our times of suffering and sorrow he has been unfailing in his ministry of comfort and consolation; in our times of joy he has rejoiced with us as a brother, a friend, a father. In times of perplexity his wise counsel was.always available, solving difficulties and smoothing paths. His wonderful tact and sym- j pathy, coupled with absolute fairness, have combined to promote the utmost : harmony in the work of the church. His i ministrations as a preacher and teacher i have been of the highest order; he has ; been a faithful minister of the Word, en- . couraging and inspiring the young, cheer- i fog and comforting the- old. ‘Many owe to him as the instrument all they are in the Christian life, and of these a largo number have gone forth both to the" foreign field and the home ministry, led to do so through Mr Cameron’s consecrated zeal. His interest in education is well known, end is witnessed to by Knox College ami several progressive steps in the extension of'the University and Medical School; and although that was more in the interests of the Church as a whole, and the public, it was_ a source of real pride to us that our minister was lending in such noble works. But nothing has been better than Air Cameron’s fostering interest in the social, service work. He'has been the optimistic leader in that work, until now It cares not only for the orphan and tho needv, but for the aged and infirm. In all these works we have rejoiced because we have seen the loving, Christ-like interest-, combined with rare- foresight and sound judgment of our minister. His home life has been ideal, and Mrs Cameron aiul the family have impressed themselves for good ou the congregation by their loyalty and hearty support of the abounding labors of Mr Cameron. We trust that many years of strength and usefulness yet lie before him, and that he may be more and more blessed in whatever service he may render.” In presenting this Mr Somerville said a pleasant side to ihe occasion was the knowledge that the Rev. Dr Cameron would continue his outside work in the cause of education and serial service. Tbia was tie work ho believed that -was going to -bring back the men to the Church. It was practical Christianity that was going to count. One matter the congregation specially wished reference * mads to was his service to those in trouble. Those who had passed through furrow said that Dr Cameron’s presence 9> as a benediction in the hoi.sn of trouble. Several other members of the deputation spoke. Mr Q. W. Gibson said Dr Cameron had dram great things, but it was not for these they loved him ; rather was it for the man i» was. II ever a man exercised an iuflnence for good It was Dr Cameron. In Anderson Bay tin immense .influence for good had radiated from the manse. The congregation felt they were losing a persoitri friend. The Rev. Dr Ckiiw'ti, ;;; reply, said he was retiring because Ls felt that matters outside the district occupied a lot of his attention, and it was impossible- for him to give tho attention to a growing district that it ought to love. He had never, in the course of 34 years' pastorate, had anything but _ JR. would like to thank the congregation for the constant • kindnesses bestowed on him in that period. Ha -hoped that he would he spared yet to do service for the Church and for the , University. The Presbytery’s resolution- recognising bbe pastorate of the Rev. Dr Cameron was held over for presentation to next meeting, and in the meantime tho following more or less formal resolution was carried- —“ That the Presbytery accept the resignation of the Rev. A. Cameron, 8.A., with very great regret, as from July 31, and that the Presbytery recommend the Assembly to give Dr Cameron the position of" minister emeritus, with seat la the Chia-feh couiis.” This was carried. The Rev. J. Kilpatrick was appointed interim moderator, and the Revs. Profes-

sor Howitaon and Kilpatrick emd Mr Duckworth were appointed to prepare a minute for presentation to Presbytery. REV. J. LYMBURN. The, third resignation was that of the Rev. J,-Lyrnbum, of North Taieri Church. The Rev. D. Cal dor reponed that he had met the congregation arid _officebearers, And there had been a feeling of keen regret that eimunstahcaa rendered necessary the severance of the _ pastoral tie, and the following resolution was tmanimously passed:—“ That the congregation o! "North Taieri have' heard with regret the intimation of the resignation of their minister, the Eov. James Lymhurn. They desire, however,, to put no obstacle in ‘the way of his retirement, as his advancing years and noble record of faithful service in the strenuous work of the ministry well merit the time of quiet and of rest which the members fervently trust is now before him. Mr. Lymbura ■was into tVte - pfistoval -citsirco of North 'Taieri on May lb, 1903, and during his ministry of 11 years he hae endeared himself to ‘the people by his able declaration o! the Word of God and, by his faithful pastoral work. The congregation pray that the rich blessing of God may rest on Mr Lymbura and on his faithful wife and family, and that many happy years _of retirement will be his. The congregation further desiro, if it is convenient to_ Mr Lymbusm, that he will -carry on his ministry until October, 1319, when lie will have completed 30 years of ministerial service to the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand.” Messrs ‘J- Findlay and T. Gaum waited on the Presbytery to express the feelinjja of the congregation, paying tribute to the gifts and saintliness of’ their retiring pastor. Mr Lyra burn, in expressing his seme of tho kindness of the congregation, said ho was quite hopeful of the future prospects of the North Taieri district, lie risked that the resignation take effect from October, when he would have completed 30 years’ ministry. The Presbytery’s resolution was that Mr Lymburn’s resignation he accepted as from October 31 ; that the record tlieir sense of profound regret that Increasing years make it necessary for Mr Lymbnrn to retire from the active work of the ministry; and recommend: .to the Assembly that Mr Lriirbnm receive tne stutus of minister emeritus with -v seat on all Church courts. , Tho Hews. Colder. Gray, and Kilpatrick were appointed a committee to draw up the formal resolution ; and the Rev. Mr Cakler was appointed interim moderator on the resignation of Mr Lymbnrn.