ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11126, 19 January 1899, Page 2

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.

INDUCTION OP THE EEV. J. A. ASHEE. There was a large attendance of the congregation and members of the Hawke's Bay Presbytery yesterday afternoon, when the Eev. J, A. Asher was inducted to the pastorate of St. Paul's. The Eev. A. Grant, Moderator of the Presbytery, delivered an impressive addresß, and Mr Asher was formally admitted as minister. WELCOME TO THE NEW MINISTER. St. Paul's' Behoolroom was crowded last night, the occasion being a formal reception to Mr-Asher by the congregation. i' The schoolroom was decorated with choice _J^ evergreens and flags, and in the centre or the wall was hung a large banner with, the word "Welcome" tastefully in» scribed. Amongst those on the platform were the members of. the Hawke's Bay Presbytery and the olergy of various Napier denominations. The Eev. Dr. Sidey, who occupied the chair, opened the proceedings with some befitting words, offering Mr Asher a hearty welcome to the charge , of St, Paul's, Dwelling upon the harmony that had always existed between the ministers, of this Church and the congregation, ho referred to the faot that during the very lengthy period of the Eev. J. (J. Paterson's ministrations here, never once had trouble occurred between them, which, he thought, might be taken as a happy augury of Mr. Asher's tenure here. Speaking from an experience of 27 years in this town, he ■ assured Mr Asher that there was a very considerable residuum of people here of Christian character and sentiment, from whom the new minister would receive every sympathy in his work. St. Paul's owned a great share of this Christian population — a large number of intelligent, earnest, thinking people on religious subjects, who endeavored to promote the good object for whioh they were all striving. He trusted that Mr Asher would find that his lines had fallen in happy places, and hoped that he would find Napier just the same pleasant place that his predecessors had done, with fall opportunity for doing right good, earnest Christian work. : The Eev. Mr Asher said that he had been very deeply touched by the kindly > way in whioh Mr Sidey had spoken of ■ him and by the hearty and cordial wel- , come which the congregation had ex- ■ tended to himself and Mrs Asher, They '■ felt this all the more because they had > come amongst them as entire strangers, ' dropping downinto a place in which they ) did not know a soul, after leaving a town - where they knew almost everybody. He ) had been assured that St. Paul's, Napier, > was looked upon as a very important ' sphere of work in the North, and he <■ appreoiated the honor that had been con- <■ f erred upon - him in receiving a call 7 from them, though at the same time i he recognised the great responsibility > which attaohed to the office. He felt it ' no light thing in succeeding so enthu- > siastio a worker in the ministry as their late pastor, Mr Paterson, but he was , cognisant of the splendid opportunity | that had been given him of laboring in God's cause in Napier. He could only t hope that his residence here would be as happy and successful as it had been at , Gore, a . Mr J. W. Craig, representing the . different organisations in connection with. . the Church, on their behalf bade Mr , Asher hearty weloome. He paid a , tribute to the great zeal and interest dig- : played by the Eev. Dr. Sidey in the work I of 3t, Paul's, and of the great assistance t he had given them in selecting a new . minister. The officers of the Church felt , that they oould not allow these noble > services to go unrecognised, and they I therefore asked Mr Sidey's acceptance of *- , a small memento (a handsome reading , lamp and inkstand) as a slight token of I their high esteem for him. ( The Rev. Dr. Sidey, in acknowledging , ft)Q gjffy said it took him back completely. It had been a work of great love to him j to labor for tlje good of St. Paul's, and ho , could only return his very sincere thanks , to the officers of the Church for the kindly feelings towards himself which bad prompted this present. ■ Congratulatory speeohes were also " made by the Eeva. W. G>. Parsonson, , Baeburn, Miller, Dodds, Connor, sen., and A. S. Morrison (the latter taking tha J opportunity of saying good-bye, his call for Wahnate having been sustained). ; During the evening a number of enjoyable musical items were contributed, and refreshments were handed round during \ an interval, a very pleasant gathering being brought to a oloae by the Benedict tion, pronounced by the Eev. Mr Johnston, and the singing of the Doxology.