MORNINGTON PRESBYTERIANS

Evening Star, Issue 20635, 7 November 1930, Page 3

MORNINGTON PRESBYTERIANS

REV. A. WATSON INDUCTED

The induction of the llev. Alexander Watson to the charge of the Mornington Presbyterian Church took place last night. The moderator of the Dunedin Presbytery, the Rev. J. W. M'Kenzie, occupied the pulpit, and was supported by the Revs. W. A. Stevely, R. G, M'Dowall, and J. D. Smith. Mr Stevely was the preacher, and he took as the subject of his discourse Zechariah iv., verso 6—“ Then ho answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Mr Stevely emphasised the need for the Spirit of God, revealed in Jesus Christ. They did not want, he said, a new world, but a new spirit, which was the old Spirit of God. Dr Gumming then gave the details leading up to the call being submitted to the presbytery of Oamaru and being placed in tho hands of the Rev.. Mr Watson, and tho constitutional questions were put to the new minister and answered, and the congregation made their vow to support their minister. The Rev. J. Kilpatrick, clerk to the presbytery, then' presented tho formula for Mr Watson to sign, and he was then given the hand of fellowship by the members of the presbytery. Tho Rev. Mr M‘Dowall gave an address to the newly-inducted minister, reminding him of some of tho ends of their ministry, and that one was his Master, even Christ, and under no circumstances must ho forget his duty as His follower. Ho must remember that ho had come to minister to tho needs, not to tho wants of his people. He must remember that the end of his work was tho saving of souls, not just adding to the membership of his church, and therefore ho would make reality, and not appearance, the touchstone of his work.

The Rev. Mr Smith then addressed the congregation, and gave some wlvolosomo advice regarding tho needs of their church to-day. At the conclusion of the service the Rev. Mr Watson was introduced to the members of his congregation.