WAVERLEY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 2 May 1922, Page 4

WAVERLEY.

(From Our Own Correspondent.!)

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The induction and ordination ceremony of the Rev. Dabouine into the? charge of St. Andrew's Church was-, held on Thursday evening, the Rev. Mr Mackenzie (Moderator of TaranakL Synod) being in charge of the service,.. and he was ably assisted by the Revs. Orange, Gray, Murray and Kennedy (Wanganui East).) The Rev. Mr Orange addressed the minister and the? Rev. Mr Gray the congregation. The Rev. Mr Gray, on behalf of the^Presbytery, first congratulated the church on the speedy settlement of the • charge. He exhorted the congregation, td remember what they had done in calling Mr Dabourne. They had called a.,, good man as their spiritual leader, and. he trusted they would help him iii a 11...

ways, both spiritually and prayerfully,.,., as the latter was one of the biggest - '. helps to any minister. He also trusted; they would give him their support bytheir attendance. Too often they were.controlled by inclination and hot necessity in attendance., He also trusted., they would pass on any suggestion that: would help, and inform him imniydiately of any cases of sickness that may 7 come under their notice, as often a minister could bring a little'comfort to a., home thus affected by prayer and sympathy. ' He trusted that should the^ minister call on any of them they would not allow him to leave them before offering up a word of prayer,. Then, turning to the Rev. Mr Dabourne, i( he said: "You are entering to-night on_ your ordained ministry, and I wish to draw your attention to the following: We do not live near enough to God,. therefore we do not get close. enough" to men, and the things that hold us>. back are worldliness and our love of-" popularity, and I trust you will get. nearer Jesus Christ with prayer. We, as ministers fail not because we do not study, visit and preach, but because/ we do not pray enough. I appeal t(A all ministers present to pray. It is the? quiet hour of prayer that will bring.power. We are called upon to do'many things, compelled to do them, but one*thing we musj; do, and that is live nearto Jesus Christ. .

The Rev. Mr Mackenzie then inducted and ordained the Rev. Mr. Dabourne^ to the charge of the church and the.* Christian ministry. After the closing of the meeting with. prayer, the assembly adjourned to the?Sunday school hall for a social hour,.. the Rev. Mr Mackenzie A being in the* chair. I_e read telegrams from the* Revs. Melvor and Nicholls. After addresses of welcome had been delivered, by the Revs. Orange, Mackenzie and. Kennedy and Mr G. McGregor (on behalf of the office-bearers and congregation of the church), the chairman., called upon the Rev. Dabourne to cornerforward and take charge of the meeting-

On ascending the platform the Rev.. Dabourne was greeted with applause.. He said that this was ah evening he-. could always rejoice in, and it would, remain in his mind for-ever. He was;; sure that God had taken him by the hand through much joy and sorrow,, and had helped; him to fulfil his dream of having charge of 'a church and a. congregation that would look up to him as their minister, and he was gladL to come to Waverley to have it. He had had a lot of good j advice given . him by the pre-, j.vious speakers', and trusted he» i would make good use of it. •' He thank-" |ed the Rev. Mr Mclvor and the Rev. |Mr Nicholls for their wires, which had. j filled him to the full, and he was satis- : fied that it was a kindly thought from. them in sending the same.*; He had also*. received wires 'from two fellow students, the Revs. McMasters and FishHe would like not only to preach good, services, but also to live the life her was preaching. He, trusted the congregation would not expect too much, but, that all would stand by and help him. to bring about the Kingdom of ChristHe aiid his wife felt grateful to all. (and to the home he was looking foi>ward to and to; the friendship of thepeople) for t/ieir hearty welcomeThey were looking forward to a happytime and appreciation from all, to a. life of work, real earnest work together..

He had a feeling he'must be faithful., to the charge laid down by the Pres-r bytery, and to-day was the joy-day of-" his life. He would leave politics out. of his work. He was glad to know thathe and Iris wife would at last be ableto settle down in a/home, and trusted, the people would come to church, hot tohear him preach, but to worship alongwith him. In conclusion* he would like to thank the ministers who had helped, at the induction and had also addressed the congregation for their presence jand interestinjg remarks. During the evening songs were renidered by Mrs Shipton, Miss Muir, Messrs Gardiner and Patton, a recita- | tion by p&iss Turner, and musical items.* by Mrs Thomson and; Mr Huston. .Before closing the chairman thanked aIK. the performers for the, splendid pro- , gramme they had giveii, and called on ' all present to signify their appreciation pf same by applause. Supper, kindly supplied by the ladies of the congregation, was then partaken of, and the new minister took the opportunity-; to round among the folk and to become acquainted with them.