PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BANKS PENINSULA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLII, Issue 4311, 5 December 1874, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BANKS PENINSULA.

r '-' 1 . At; - '-u .. •r A'Li. ■" ’■> (T tTryn -,j f*"i * The pretty little town pf Akaroa was, on WedhesdaylaSt, thesceneof'artiuterestiug End unusual ’event, for oh this d'dy the Presbytery Iff and induct, tie' clergyman of the Presbyterikns, the Bey W, DoUglas, MiA;,, Theresa fheen no Presbyterian minister hem since the late Bev ; G. Grant, who was' 'lost, with -the Matoaba, left the district for Christchurch, now a good many years ago. The Presbyterian Church Extension Association, however, has for the last year or two sent occasional labourers to hold services, but, in the beginning of this year, they were able to spare a man for this field, and the Eev W. Douglas was sent to perform the work of missionary to the scattered Presbyterians. So .successfully has this gentleman laboured among them that they found themselves strong enough to offer him ,a salary, and to undertake to build a residence for him if he would consent permanently to labour among them. The formal « call ’’ being presented,to him through the Presbytery, End' by iiin accepted, the usual services, pocprding to the, fopaa of the Presbyterian Church on oooaskms bf Ordination, itook „ Tbc. day being fine, there was a great gathering from all the hays. The little church was ftul. At 12 o’clock the service began by the Eev W. Homer, of Seffcon, acting for; the clerk, calling fbfdhjbcKbiis to the settlement; Wo a-moat eloquent sermon fromlt. Cor., v. 19. Then the Bov 0. Fraser, Christchurch, expounded in a.plear and interesting manner the principles' of the Presbyteriaft Church. The !Bev‘ W. S. M'Qowan, in (herahsenoe of the Moderator, asked the usual questions of the minister elect, and gave the ordination prayer, daring which the ministers ahd elders present laid their hands on his head, and solemnly set him apart to the work of the ministry. (Phe Eev. W. S. M'Qowan then ascended the pulpit, and delivered a most impressive charge to the Minister. The Rev A. F. Douglas, Christchurch, next' addressed the people on their duty as members of the church. At the close, the Bev Wm, Douglas received the usual welcome at the door. The whole service lasted three hours, and was so interesting throughout that the congregation did not seem in the-least weary when it was over.

In connection with the same event a soiree was held in the evening in the Town Hall. The tables under the superintendence of Mrs Brown presented a splendid appearance, and were presided over by Jlii Buchanim, Little River j Mis* Rowe, Armstrong, Mm Dalglish, Leßon Hill; Mrs Smith, Leßon Bay; Mrs Piper, Durauohello Bay; Mrs Roes, Head of the Bay; Mrs Brace, Misses Bruce, Duncan, and others. The large company, it need not be said, did ample Justice to the seed things with which the tables were loaded. The steeling after wal presided over by Mr John Anderson, Christchurch, who in a few well chosen words congratulated the Presbyterians on the happy settlement of a minister among them, and expressed bis good hope of the future. He then called on. the newly-ordained minister, who briefly gave utterance to the feelings with which he had passed through the experiences of the day, referring to the assistance he had received from various parties during his past labours. He stated his confidence in the successful future of the Presbyterian church in the colony, basing as it does its doctrine and discipline, neither on the church So called, uor in the Fathers, nor yet on the first four Councils, but solely on the Word of God. He meant to hold fast by these reformation truths and principles so dear to their Fathers.

The Bev W. S. M'Gowan then addressed the audience on the meanness and extravagance of the present day. The Eev 0. Fraser followed with some interesting reminiscences of former times, and labours in Akaroa.

• The Bey W. Horner spoke of the duty of cheering on the minister in his labours. The Ber A. F. Douglas concluded by impressing upon them the duty of not only supporling their own church, but of taking an interest in the general work of church extension in the province, in connection with the Association, The piano was presided over by. Mr Wiggins, and the hymns, which were' interspersed between the speeches, were exceedingly swig.; ' '< Yotes of thanks to the ladies by Mx.Dunnet

fgias by Mr Bishop /? d T . to •P ea kew by Mr Wm 'n (Leßon B»y), were proposed and acclamation. a by The Bey Wm. Douglas finished bv lodging the services rendered to the P-T' tenan Church generally by the 6 '^’ thanking him for his presence mnan >and

A tea meeting in connection with tb« „ nation of the Eev W. Douglas. M A ! t 1 ’ the a , minister fpr: .the Presbyterians' 0 f > Peninsula, was hold on Dec ‘ 3 • *“» schoolroom, Pigeon Bay. There wJ?* large attendance. The tables were ;hy r Kesdamea .:BAy^Qfll«.pie,T B E* , Sj Misses Pitcaithiey,- White, Marshall ’ others. ' a M After, the company had partaken bountiful-tea, the Eev W. S. M'Qowan c Lyttelton, wqecalled to the chair. He ’°' rated the circumstances of Mr Douglas’ and settlement; and described the orefi day’s proceedings at Akaroa. He th,ijJ? 1 *! up the newly-ordained minister, who in interesting speech, sjpbkemf the reasons’ led him to accept the call, and asked people’s' asssisttmcei ih the prosecution of T labours, The Eev A. F. Douglas, of OhrietoHhreh .■congratulated them on having procured til * services of so able and pious a minister Ju indicated the ways in which they might him,‘and urged them to sharp in the W r,rKc Ohufdh extension. of * of „’.T—? of tha pks to the ladies, by W Gillespie'; to the choir, and .to the chairing wereiduly morediat the close.

.The Misses Hay: presided at the piano »»> sang come’fig hymns. An Italian also pleaded the audience much by playing on the concertina. It wa,B lO.feO before the meeting-whirl, seemed to give lively Batisffeftibn—Was brousht to a close. '■ , ■ ,1 ;; , 6 s