PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3569, 26 June 1872, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The ceremony of inducting the Rev. W. M'Gregor into the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church in the Kaiapol district, took place yesterday at 2.30 p.m., in the Presbyterian Church, Kaiapoi. The following members of the Presbytery were present to take part in the ceremony:—The Rev. W. S. M'Gowan, moderator, and Revs. C. Fraser, A. F. Douglas, and J. Campbell, Mr Henderson, elder, and Mr J. D. Macpherson, clerk to the Presbytery. There was a very large attendance of the members of the congregation present, the church being crowded, and great interest appeared to be taken in the proceedings. The ceremony was opened by the Clerk of the Presbytery reading the- edict, calling upon the congregation to state what objections there were, if any, why the Rev. W. M'Gowan, then present, should not be inducted into the pastorate of the-, church and congregation. After the reading of the edict was concluded, the congregation sung the 98th Psalm, and prayer was offered up by the Rev. W. S. McGowan. The Moderator then preached a very impressive sermon, choosing for his text the 11th Chapter of the Gospel according to St Mathew, 28th verse, “ Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. During his remarks the rev. gentleman exhorted those present to come to Jesus at once, and not take any half measures. He referred to the persecution of Christwhileon this earth, and the false accusers he bad, and the fervent manner in which he prayed for his executioners when on the cross, that they might be forgiven. He said that young and old should embrace the opportunity now given them of coming to the Church of Christ, before it was too late. Some might say that they were not weary or heavy laden, but the sinner was not a true judge of his own state. They were not to trust to the dictates of their own deceitful minds,, but they were to seek advice of the ministers of religion, and pray to God to give them grace to turn from their past wickedness and walk in the path of righteousness. They would now sing the sth verse of the 34th Paraphrase, commencing “ Come ye who groan with guilt and fears oppressed,” and he would then call upon the Rev. Mr Douglas to address them, and expound Presbyterianism. The Rev. A. F. Douglas said the question of church government was by no means so difficult or complicated as people were apt to imagine. That form of church order which was known as Presbyterianism was exceedingly simple, and though volumes might be written on the subject, the whole matter lay in a nutshell. He could appeal, if need were, to antiquity, to common sense, to expediency, in support of their system; but he preferred to appeal to Scripture, as the best and most accessible evidence. It was there where the Reformers, when they sought for the primitive church, found these principles. They had never, indeed, altogether disappeared, for the Waldensian church has continued the Presbyterian model without interruption from the time of the Apostles to this day. Six principles, which they would find in the Bible, comprehended all that they contended for; and all the churches where these principles were worked out were Presbyterian churches, though not necessarily called so; as the Church of Scotland, the Free Church of Scotland, the Presbyterian Churches of Ireland and England, the Welsh Calvinistic Church, the Reformed Churches of the Continent of Europe, the Dutch Reformed Church of America, and others. The first principle was that the Lord Jesus Christ was the alone King and Head of the church. This he proved from various passages of Scripture. He has given the bible as the statute-book wherein His mind may be ascertained. The second principle was, that there was no difference between bishop and elder. In the New Testament, episcopos and presbyteros, were applied indiscriminately to the same persons. The prelatic bishop was unknown to Scripture. He quoted in support of this—Titus i. 5,7, Acts xx. 19 28. The third principle was, that there were more elders or bishops than one in every church, Acts xiv. 23, Acts xx. 19, Phillippians i. 1. The church at Phillippi had not at this time been in existence for more than ten years, and the population of the city could not be more than 20,000, and yet, in such a place, there were bishops. Hence they contended that in every congregation there ought to be more elders or bishops than one; and hence they had in all their congregations a session or consistory—a company of elders. The fourth principle for which, they contended was, that the act of ordination was in apostolic church performed by a plurality of elders, I Tim. iv, 14, Acts xiii. I, Acts vi. 6. Tho fifth was the election of office-bearers of the church, by the voice of the people. Two elections wore recorded, Acts i., and Acts vi. The apostles, we might have supposed, would hare been better qualified to choose than the people, but they said unto tho people, “Choose ye out from among you seven men.” He could not see any reason why they should have acted so, unless they meant to lay down a principle for nil time. And experience has amply proved the excellency or the method. Tho sixth and last principle was tho right of appeal and collective government, which ho proved at length from Acts xr.

At the conclusion of the rev. gentleman’s address, the 132nd Psalm, verso 2, was sung. The Rev, W. S. M'Gowan then proceeded to induct the minister. He said they were all aware that some time ago the Rev. W. M'Gregor came to the district to temporarily minister to their wants after the death of their previous pastor. Ho succeeded well in his mission, and they expressed a wish to have him settled amongst them. They consequently agreed to take steps to apply to the Presbytery to have their wish put into execution. The application was favourably received by the Presbytery, and a day was fixed for one of tbo clergy to moderate in a call to Mr M'Gregor. The call was made—a regular Gospel call, —and the induction was was afterwards fixed to take place that day. They wore aware that Mr M'Gregor was already ordained, but the ceremony of induction which was now about to be performed was different from that of ordaining. The edict had been read in the manse, and no one had objected to the induction of the minister, a* they could have done if they hod just cause for objection, and wished to exercise their rights as members of the Presbyterian Church. The Rev Mr M'Crco hod sent him a note stating that ho could not attend the ceremony at Kaiapoi, and that ho (the speaker) had preached that day. He would now proceed to ask the questions of the usual formula to Mr M'Gregor, and then

offer up prayer. The Rot W. M'Gregor thru stood up opposite the pulpit, and replied to the questions put to him by the Moderator. Ihe Rot W. S. M'Gowan then offered ur» ojuyer, and implored God to pour- down-, blessings upon the head of the newly-in-ducted minister, so that he might be enabled to preach the gospel effectively, and carry out; ,the work of God in the district. Tho Moderator then descended from the pulpit and shook hands with Mr M'Gregor. Tins other ministers present also shook hands with, him and welcomed him.

Ihe Rev. C. 1* wiser next addressed tins minister in a veiy telling and effective sermon. Tho Rev. W. S.. M'Gowan addressed tins congregation, and diluted at considerable length upon the manner in which they ought, to treat and respect their minister. He said they were never to speak ill of their minister to others or use any harsh expression in reference to him. If they had anything to complain of at any time they ought to go to their minister and tell him what complaint they had against him, and they would then probably lind that a great deal had arisen out of some slight misapprehension. They were not to interfere with their minister in I”? . private aflairs, as his rights in those affaire were not at all impaired or reduced by the fact of bis being n ministar of Christ. They ought to treat him with consideration and kindness, and always let him have a place in their prayers. If they would be improved ami if they would Like to reap religious benefits from their minister they ought to pray for God to give him spiritual strength to minister to their wants. They ought under all circumstances to attend to their church, and not let, little things like wet Sundays, &c;, keep them away j they ought to attend at their place of divine worship every Lord’s day. They ought, also to give their minister all encouragement to visit themselves and their families, and throw no obstacles in the way of his doing so. He hoped that as they had had a voice in the choice of the minister that had been inducted that day, they would support and assist him. as much as they possibly could. Their friend Mr Douglas had cliarge of the district beforo Mr M'Gregor was permanently settled in it, and he would take Mr M'Gregor to the door so that each member of the congregation would have an opportunity of welcoming him by shaking hands with him according to the established custom of the Presbytery. Tim rev. gentleman then offered up a prayer, after which the blessing was pronounced* and the congregation separated. The members of the church committee invited the members of the Presbytery to a firstclass dinner at the Pier Hotel immediately after the conclusion of the induction ccremony.

In the evening a tea meeting was held in the Church and it was largely patronised. Tables were provided by Mesdames M‘Gregor, Stevenson, Brough, M'Kinlay, Alexander, Wilson, and Miss Read. Tea haring been finished, the tables were cleared away, and the public meeting took place. Mr John Anderson was voted to the chair, and he made a speech in his usual humourous style. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. A. F. Douglas, C. Fraser, J. Campbell, M'Gowan, W. M‘Gregor, and Messrs J. D. Macpherson, Henderson, A. Duncan, J. Milne, and Farr. Mr A. M‘Donald proposed tbe health of the ladles in a very neat, short speech. The Rev. W. M'Gregor moved a vote of thanks- to the speakers and the members of the Presbytery who had come up from Christchurch to attend the proceedings which had taken place. He would also like to couple with the vote a cordial vote of thanks to the choir. The Rev. C. Fraser supported the vote of thanks to the members of the choir in some very complimentary remarks. Mr James Callender proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman. It is needless to say that all the votes of thanks proposed were carried by acclamation. We must not omit to state that the intervals between the addresses delivered during the evening were most agreeably filled up by selections of sacred music sung by Messrs A. C. Bell, F. S. Funston, Foster, and J. Feldwick. The names of these gentlemen, with the exception of Mr Foster, are so well known in Kaiapoi that they are in themselves a sufficient guarantee that the musical portion of the programme was ably executed. Mrs Bowmaker presided at the harmonium during the induction ceremony, and Mr Feldwiek during the public meeting.