JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 19408, 17 November 1926, Page 3

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

PRESENT KNOX CHURCH BUILDING . SPEAKERS IB REMINISCENT VEIN The celebrations of the jubilee of the opening of the present Knox Church building wore continued last night in the Sunday School Hall, a social re union being attended by a largo number of present and past members of the congregation. The Rev. Tulloch Yuillo presided, and was accompanied on the platform by the Hon. Downio Stewart (tho Acting Prime Minister, who is a deacon of Knox Church), tho mayor (Mr H L. Tapley, M.P.). past ministers of the congregation, and a large group of office-bearers. After the singing of the Doxology, the Rev. W. T. Todd offered prayer. The Chairman extended a welcome to all, and particularly to tho past members who had oome back to join in the jubilee celebrations. Ho had been highly gratified by tho loyalty of past members in connection with these celebrations. Fifty years ago, he said, the church was opened on November 5, and there were great services on that occasion. A collection of £561 was taken up then, but on this occasion it had reached £586. The afternoon collection from tho children on this occasion was £lO greater than the corresponding collection fifty years ago. Mr Yuille went on to refer in historical vein to tho progress ;of the church during the past fifty years, and said that, despite the opening of new churches in tho city and suburbs, Knox Church had not gone back, but had grown. Since he had been at Knox Church he had noticed what had been referred to by tho late Hi Stuart—the interdenominational interest of the congregation. 1 he church was growing, was prosperous, and w r as vigorous, and it had enjoyed in the past fifty years days of fellowship, days of great congregations, and of effective help to many men and women throughout the city. (Applause.) Mr H. Islip read a number of messages of goodwill, including greetings from tho Rev. 11. E. Bellhouso (president of the Council of Christian Congregations and chairman of the Otago and Southland -Methodist District), from Hanover Street Baptist Church, from a group of Knox members in Wellington, and a letter enclosing a cheque from the women of Knox Church to tho minister for the purchase of a new pulpit gown. The Hon. W Downio Stewart, who was welcomed by tho Rev. Yuille “ as the first citizen of the dominion at present, but chiefly as a deacon of the church,” received an enthusiastic ‘ reception. Mr Stewart expressed his pleasure at being present among his many friends of Knox Church. Ho joined in congratulating tho church on the attainment of ; ts jubilee. There were many present whose memories of Knox Church went . back further than his, and perhaps hi i recollections might have been reserved for the centenary. (Applause.) One of his most striking memories was that of Catechetical Sunday, when the other children and lie had to faco tho lions of theology in the presence of their parents. He 'hoped the present minister would give the parents a turn in the' arena, and let the children look on. (Laughter.) Though ho had travelled in many lands since those days, and had met many men who wc r e considered great in tho eyes of the world, he bad not mot ono with the qualities of heart and mind of tho late Dr Stuart. (Applause.) Tho speaker continued in reminiscent vein on his early days in tho church, and said that ho had mot at his _ father’s home many of the ministers of the church who had come from various parts of Otago. Ho always had a warm admiration for those men, who were often struggling along on a small stipend and endeavoring to- educate their children in days Tvhcn scholarships and"free places were not so liberally bestowed ns they were nowadays. The speaker dealt briefly with his memories of tiio ministers of_ Kn ix Church In speaking oi the tributes which bad been paid to Knox Church, Mr Stewart said visiters generally commented on the .Lurch-going propensities of tbs people of New Zealand. Speaking not as a deacon, but as a man engaged m public life, he realised more and more as tho years went by the enormous influence and the great importance of the spiritual activities throughout New Zealand, endeavoring to make the nation what it should be, because after all, although the public man might loom more largely in the public eye, Eis Legislature, if it be limited to passing laws, could nob have any real, effective, and satisfactory result unless behind it and impinging on it there were the training, outlook, and ideals absorbed by the members of the churches of New Zealand . It was useless for the legislator to pass laws requiring a man to support his wife' unless there was : some agency to teach him affection and love. It was easy for tho Legislature to require a man to obey certain rules in respect to trespassing on his neighbor’s property, but unless a spirit of goodwill were inculcated, the laws would be futile, and merely lead to angry disputes and unsatisfactory results. The more he watched things, tile more he realised the uselessness of agencies set up by the State for public guidance, unless behind them there was an inspiring force in tho ideals provided- by the church and in the great Christian virtues held up as a model to all members of the community. It seemed to him that such ■ influences must direct social legislation. In Knox Church there was a democratic form of church government; rich and - poor met alike in the face of God. In ! America there was a tendency for tho well-to-do to gravitate towards a church of their own. It was vital for men to meet on common ground, on a field on which they could face tho great social problems of to-day. Ho wished Knox Church increasing -pros- ’ perity in the future, and trusted that I the clergyman, office-bearers, and mem- | bers_ would continue to live up to the (traditions of the church (Applause.) ( The Mayor said the citizens of Dunedin felt proud of the beautiful structure of Knox Church. They should cast then - minds back to the pioneers from Scotland who built Dunedin- on sfleh a foundation. (Applause.) Dunedin was recognised as one of the most picturesque as well as one of tho most solid cities of the southern seas, and there was no doubt that it owed its prestige very largely to those pioneers. (Applause.) The relations which existed between Knox Church and its ministers bad long been of the very happiest. There had been very few ministers over the long history of the church, and he voiced their feelings in expressing the hope that their present minister would be with thorn for many long years to enioy their love „ and friendship. (Applause.) He caused amusement by assuring the gathering that though it might be news to them ho was a member of Knox Church. Knox Church was the only church he officially belonged to in Now Zealand. He mentioned a number of mayors who had belonged to Knox Church, as illustrating its-influence on the community, He expressed the hope that the prosperity of Knox Church would increase, and that it would continue to wield its, splendid influence in tho community. (Applause.) Professor R. E. Davies, _ a former minister of the church, said he welcomed- the privilege of being present. The past,* he said, should give them inspiration for the ! future; Knox Church had a past of -which it could be very proud.' During his ten years as .minister of Knox Church lie had found a very; kindly congregation,_ and ono most sympathetic towards its minister. Mr Davies -went on to say that whatever the influence of Knox Church was to-day, and it was truly gr^ v it owed

enormously to the personality of its founder, the Rev. Dr Stuart. (Applause.) The flon. G. M. Thomson, who was introduced by the chairman as “ ono distinct link-with the past” who fifty years ago Jed tho congregation in singing both morning and evening, also received an enthusiastic reception. He paid a warm tribute to the work of Dr Stuart, of whom he told some interesting reminiscences. He recalled examples ot the doctor’s unconventional habit of breaking off to refer to individual members of the congregation by name. Yet Dr Stuart never gave offence. Ho suddenly called on people to help, and they almost invariably responded with success, though ho recalled ono instance in which a man called on to lead at a prayer meeting cautiously took three steps out of tho door while heads were bowed. (Laughter.) He claimed that the Presbyterian Church was the only really democratic thing on earth. In it every man was equal, and he recalled several members of the session who had followed very humble occupations, and who had filled ivorthy places in the counsels of the church. Mr Yuille expressed his own thanks to the speakers of tho evening, to the choir and the singers, and to all who had assisted in tho success of the jubileo celebrations. During the evening a vocal duet was rendered by Mr and Mrs J, Christie and a solo by Mr J. M. Alexander. Several part-songs were given by tho choir under the leadership of Mr W. Paget Gale. At the close of tho formal procedings supper was served, and the opportunity for social intercourse was freely availed of.