INSTALLATION OF PASTOR

Evening Star, Issue 19949, 20 August 1928, Page 3

INSTALLATION OF PASTOR

SPECIAL SERVICES The instalation of tho Rev. Albert Mead in succession to tho Rev. W. Saunders as Minister in the Moray Place Congregational Church was marked yesterday _ by special services. That in the morning took the form of a special induction service, at which the Rev. H. Johnson, moderator of the Congregational Union of New, Zealand, presided. It had been intended that the Rev. W. M. Grant, Port Chalmers, who welcomed Mr Saunders on bis arrival, should preside, but illuess prevented his presence. Mr J. A. Wilkinson outlined the steps that had been taken by the church to secure a pastor, and explained how nn appeal to the secretary of tho Colonial Missionary Society, London, had been answered 'by the cablegram recommending Mr Mead, and how the church had unanimously decided to send him a call. Mr Mead then made a statement telling how the sense of vocation, with which ho had first entered tho Christian ministry, had grown stronger and clearer, and how he believed that it had loci him there. _ The need of the hour was for a spiritual dynamo to energise and reinforce the ideals and hopes of humanity. He believed that, the church could answer this demand if • she would avail hersolf of tho Divine resources.' He declared it was his purpose to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and his aim was to , lead ' men and women into that Kingdom. Tho moderator then addressed the new minister on three aspects of a preacher’s work—tho propheci-i, priestly, and didactic. The Rev. Mr Saunders, retiring after thirty-eight years of, service, spoke to', the congregation, and appealed to it to- 1 extend, to its now minister the warmest sympathy.

Ati iiuppssiye ' communion service, conducted by Mr! Mead, followed the induction service. , In the evening the pulpit was'.occupied tby the new minister, who preached an eloquent sermon.