DUNDAS STREET METHODISTS

Evening Star, Issue 19533, 14 April 1927, Page 2

DUNDAS STREET METHODISTS

INDUCTION SERVICE An impressive service was held at the Dundas Street Methodist Church last evening, when the Jlev. W. H. Hocking was. inducted as superintendent of the circuit. The chair was occupied by the Rev. H. E. Bellhouse, and associated with him in the service were the Rev. A. Hopper, the Rev. A. M. 'Costain, and Mr G. A. Skene. The Rev. Hocking answered the usual questions, and made the necessary vows, after which the induction prayer was offered by the Rev. Costain.

“C have known the Rev. Hooking during and since his student days, and it gives me great pleasure to assist in inducting him into the Dundas Street Methodist Church,” said the Rev. Bellhouse, in addressing the new minister. Continuing, Mr Bellhouse said he wished first of all to congratulate Mr Hocking on his appointment. He had come to that appointment a good deal younger than anv of his predecessors, but with the full sympathy and support of the congregation. Mr Hocking was not ‘quite a novice. He had been actively connnocted with the church for eleven years, seven of which ho had been an ordained minister. He bad therefore come to them fully fortified for the ministry. Mr Bellhouse aaid that he had no need to remind Mr Hocking that no matter how successful he liad been in the past, he must have realised that he had come short of the ideal, and far short in the sight of God. Any young man taking up a new appointment must ask himself if he could not more efficiently and more successfully carry out the will of God. He was dedicated afresh to Jesus Christ, and must realise that he was making a new beginning. He was sure that Mr Hooking had determined by the Grace of God that he would make the most of his opportunities in God’s name. He did not require to remind Mr Hocking that his success in the ministry would depend in great measure on his communing with God. He could not expect to Influence his people unless he himself was influenced by God, and this could only be accomplished by prayer. He knew that he would more than ever seek to cultivate _ the life that should be increasingly hidden with Christ in God. In preaching the Gospel he had to remember that the Gospel was as wide as the world itself; there was nothing narrow about it. He asked him to preach the full _ Gospel in all its varieties, and in all its abundance. He had to be a prophet of God to his neople. A prophet was one who spoke •for God, and he should show himself as a faithful prophet. As a pastor be would bo a shepherd among his people. He had to be'a shepherd, not a sheep dog, and he must not always bo rounding up his people. People who were always needing rounding up were usually not worth bothering about. He must also protect the young people. This was vital, for on the young people depended the future of the church. He urged him in God’s name to be a. minister to the young people. He had special opportunities in this respect owing to the proximity of the church to the University, He, the speaker, said that bo earnestly prayed that Mr Hocking would be successful, and that he would have a prosperous ministry in that church. Ho was there not merely to preach the Gospel, but to claim the people for Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. In addressing a few words to the congregation the Rev. Hopper claimed to know the new minister. _ His eloquence as a preacher and his gift of song had preserved his memory sweet. They had had many ministers at Dundas street, and he quite believed that they must have reflected after each one had gone that'they might have treated their minister better. They had a fresh opportunity now of making stepping stones of their dead selves to higher things. They were entering upon a new relationship. The success or a minister was to a large extent dependent upon the neople he worked among. It was within the power of the people to make or mar their minister. There were three essentials. The first was the necessity for prayer, the second was the necessity of co-opera-tion. and the third was the necessity of encouragement. If the congregation practised these they would benefit themselves and also benefit their minister. They as a congregation bad a responsible position to fill. He wished th« congregation every success in its new relationship. As circuit steward Mr Skene welcomed Mr'Hocking, who, he said, had their warm and hearty sympathy. In Dundas street they bad some real live departments, and some willing workers. All they required was a leader, and ho was sure they would find one m Mr Hocking. In replying, Mr Hocking said that words almost failed him to express the thoughts of his mind or the feelings of his heart. That was the first time he had gone through a Methodist induction ceremonv, and he it a great and solemn service. For him it was a repetition** of a great occasion when their chairman (Mr Bellhouse) addressed himself and other students when they were entering the ministry. He hoped that those present had caught something of the inspiration. He was not going to be presumptuous enough to say anything about what his programme would be. He was not unmindful of his worthy predecessors in office. He was there wholly resolved to lay all before God for his service; and ho specially asked for the co-opera-tion of the members of the congregation with himself and Mrs Hocking in their work, and prayed to God that he and his wife would bo used for the extension of His Kingdom, of which there was so much need at the present time. Several hymns were sung during the evening, and the service closed_ with the pronouncing of the benediction. The schoolroom was then the scene of a social evening, and Mr and Mrs Hocking were introduced to those present.