SOUTH DUNEDIN PRESBYTERIANS

Evening Star, Issue 21717, 11 May 1934, Page 5

SOUTH DUNEDIN PRESBYTERIANS

INDUCTION OF NEW MINISTER Recently appointed to the pastoral charge of the South Dunedin Presbyterian Church, the Rev. R. T. Dodds (late of Tasman, Nelson) was inducted to his new appointment last night at a largely attended service. Among those present were Presbytery representatives. Professor S.'F. Him ter presided, and . a brief sermon was preached by the Rev. At Mitchell, his text being taken from the Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter ii., verse'l. The. steps leading to the calling of the new minister to the church were explained by Professor J. Collie (interim moderator of the Presbytery), after . which the appointed questions were put to and affirmed by the congregation and Mr, Dodds. Delivering the charge, to the new minister, the Rev. J. Lymburn said that it was a delightful and gracious gesture on the part of the Presbytery to ask him to address Mr Dodds, whom he had known since a lad. He looked back with pleasure to those 1 days when he (the speaker) had been in , charge of the East Taieri Church, of which Mr Dodds’s father had been an esteemed elder. MfDod.ds should be proud to have his mother present at his induction service.- The 1 speaker then .went bn to offer some advice to his younger fellow-minister. Mind training, he siiid, was very important in the paths of life from the time one started school until long after, leaving university. Physical training was not the principal consideration. . Mind training should be maintained! In the ministry one lived everv day, and one must train his mind to, keep himself lit and capable in his calling. It p-as said that money made money, culture made culture, knowledge made knowledge. Study, therefore, was necessary, and above all one must pursue Bible study. One could not be a successful minister unless one .was full of the Word. Some ministers ’specialised in one study; for instance, the Hebrew and Greek languages, as in the Gospel. Like knowledge itself, those languages were easily . carried about, and their study, was to be commended, but mu’ch more important in the field of specialisation was the study of the character of the Lord and Master, so that one might become like Him in the diligence for the Father. ' Courage, co-operation, and considerateness were the three headings under which Professor Collie addressed the congregation in giving the charge to it. He urged the church members to look forward to the future, and to have courage as they went forward. If they pulled well together with their new- minister for the first year, which would be a difficult year, there would be no fear for the future. The call of the new minister to their church was one of "possibility and hope. It was the duty of everyone- in the district to advance Christianity, the duty of every member of the congregation, and not only the minister. C.o-operation did not come so much through great unity, but through the fellow feeling in a greatcause, and in influencing others it was best to appeal to the highest that was in them. That would make for lasting success. Low levels bred friction, and so they must avoid everything _ unworthy. Finally, as regards considerateness; he said that honesty that began to pat itself on the back was a very dangerous quality. The man who did that was the man who could not distinguish between trust and truculence, Allowances must be made for others,' and through that considerateness there .would come enthusiasm. Enthusiasm and considerateness _ were the hallmark of genuine Christianity. 'Following the service a welcome social was held in Reid Hall.