KNOX CHURCH

Evening Star, Issue 22066, 27 June 1935, Page 2

KNOX CHURCH

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS s CONGREGATIONAL SOCIAL AND REUNION The seventy-fifth anniversary celebrations of Knox Church were continned with a congregational social and reunion in the Early Settlers Hall last evening. Many tributes were paid by speakers to the influence of Knox upon the community since its establishment. . . Owing to the absence of the minister of the church (the Rev. D. C. Herron) through illness, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand (Principal Dickie) presided. Principal Dickie said they all deeply regretted the absence of Mr Herron, for they knew how keenly he had been looking forward to the celebrations. The speaker went on to say that it gave him great pleasure to convey the best wishes and greetings of the Presbyterian Church. What Knox Church meant to Presbyterianism in New Zealand was fully appreciated by the church as a whole % Principal Dickie then referred to his own association with ministers of Knox Church and related some incidents connected with Dr Stuart. The session clerk (Mr R. Miller) read letters of congratulation from the Chancellor of the University of Otago (Mr W. J. Morrell), the minister of First Church (the Rev. W. Allen Stevely), the congregation of the Hanover Street Baptist Church, and several former members of the congregation. It was decided that a letter should be sent to Mr Herron expressing regret that he had been unable to be present, and offering the hope that he would speedily be restored to health and strength. At the same time appreciation was expressed by the gathering of the services which Mr Herron had rendered during his term as minister of the congregation. The good wishes of the Anglican Church in Dunedin were conveyed by Bishop Fitchett. In the course of his remarks, Bishop Fitchett commented on the great work which had been done in the past by Knox Church. Ho himself could look back to the days of Dr Stuart, who was without doubt a striking character and personality. Seventy-five years in the age of a church meant that it had almost got to full .strength and' had reached a stage when it should go on to greater things. There was always a tendency to look back on the past in a rosy light. He should like them to look back on those people of the past as not being specially endowed, but as people who realised that they had been placed in the world in order that they might do something. They had appreciated their need of the help of Cod to do that work. Even greater opportunities existed to-day, but people would only make the fullest use of them as they also availed themselves of the power which was offered them of union with the divine. There was ample evidence, concluded the speaker, that God had worked with the people of Knox Church, and he prayed that His richest blessing would rest upon them. The Rev. W. Allen Stevely expressed the good wishes of First Church, “ the mother of Presbyterianism in Otago.” Looking back, he said, they could hardly fail to gain inspiration from the sacrifice of those who laid the foundations of Otago and of those who built further upon them. He felt he could speak for all when he said they honoured the memory of those men. It was inspiring to remember that the future was as bright as the promises of God. After reminding his audience of the significance of the scriptural words, “ And now abideth faith, hope, and love,” the speaker said it was his prayer that the blessing of God might rest on the united endeavours of the congregation in the years to come. _ Hon, W. Downie Stewart, M.P., said it seemed very appropriate that the Early Settlers’ Hall should be the scene of the reunion of members of Knox Church, when one remembered how many early settlers were members of the church.

The speaker in particular referred to Captain Cargill, some of whose descendants were present that night. It seemed to bo admitted on all hands, he continued, that they were coming to the end of the epoch, and no one was sure what the future held. He did not wish on that occasion, however, to say anything that' might remotely appear to bear on politics. Mr Stewart went on to say that Knox should be deeply grateful to First Church for the assistance that was given by it. in its infancy. Knox had tried since to repay the generosity that had then been shown. It was gratifying to see so many representatives of various churches at that gathering testifying to the unity that prevailed in spiritual matters in Dunedin. If they could only secure a similar unity in political matters they might make rapid progress to the solution of the problems that confronted the country. In conclusion, Mr Stewart expressed the hope that Knox Church would continue to grow and be a great source of good in the ■ whole community. The vice-president of the Council of Christian Congregations (the Rev. W. A. Hamblett) said that Knox Church and its great partner, First Church, together with St. Andrew’s, were churches wdiich had had a great influence for good, especially in Otago and Southland, but also throughout New Zealand. That was so not only on account of their religious activity, but also because of their intense interest in and support of the cause of education. Mr Hamblett recalled his association with various ministers of the church, and concluded by congratulating tho church on attaining its seventyfifth anniversary. The felicitations of the Otago Early Settlers’ Association were conveyed by Mr F. W. Knight. He congratulated the minister, office-bearers, and congregation on the proud position which tho church held in the community, and referred to tho fact that Knox Church was reputed to he the largest Presbyterian congregation in the Southern Hemisphere, a fact which was the more notable in view of the number of other large Presbyterian churches in the city. There was a feeling of close fellowship between the Presbyterian Church and his association, on whose behalf he expressed the hope that Knox would experience the same blessing and prosperity in the future that it had enjoyed in the past. _ The representative of tho St. Andrew’s congregation was Mr J. Farqiiharson, who said that St. Andrew’s was the first offshoot of Knox Church. His church was formed as the result of the desire of members of Knox and First Churches to make some provision for religious services among the_ early miners who in 18G1 were thronging the port of Otago, and were congregating in the neighbourhood of Stafford and Carroll streets The periods during which Dr Stuart was minister of Knox Church and Dr Waddell was minister of St. 'Andrew’s Church were great periods in the life of the city. Tho Rev._ N. E. Oakley offered tho congratulations of flic North-east

Valley Church to its mother church. Knox, he said, was known mot only over the whole of New Zealand, but also in Great Britain, to which its reputation had spread. Some of its sons were now ministers in churches in Scotland, and thus its influence was radiating out far beyond the shores of New ■ Zealand. He felt sure that under the influence of their present minister they would go on from strength to strength. On behalf of the Ravensbourne Church the Rev. J. J. Cairney said the congregation which he represented was an offspring of Knox Church. Dr Stuart had commenced services along the. harbour soon after coming to Dunedin, and he was instrumental in having a church built there in the early ’seventies. The work had been carried on by Mr Duncan Wright, and there were now two churches—one at Ravensbourne and the other at St. Leonards—which were indebted to Knox Church for its support and assistance. The Rev, A. C. W. Standage said that Maori Hill was the “ baby of the Knox Church family.” It was now 30 years of age. Maori Hill had many close associations with Knox Church both in respect to some of its office-bearers and in view of the fact that ' two of its ministers—Professor Davies and Professor Hewitson—had worshipped in their later years in the Maori Hill Church.. Knox had, byassisting to form the younger churches, greatly helped to spread the influence of Presbyterianism in Dunedin. The Presbytery of Dunedin was represented by the Rev. J. Douglas Smith, who also spoke on behalf of the Kaikorai Church. / The Presbytery, he said, was very interested in such an occasion as that. Knox Church had occasioned the Presbytery as little anxiety as any within its boundaries. On behalf of that body it afforded him great pleasure to convey congratulations to Knox on attaining its seventy-fifth anniversary. The speaker also expressed appreciation of the assistance which Knox had given in the formation of the Kaikorai charge. In the past, he said, Knox had been noted ns a “ respectable ” congregation. Ho hoped that in the future it would have something more of the spirit of adventure. Perhaps ' some of the daughter chiirches would be able to teach it a lesson in that respect. During the evening solos were rendered by Misses MfLay and Darracott, Mr C. Roy Spademan acting as accompanist. A comprehensive vote of thanks proposed by Mr Miller brought the meeting to a close.