THE REV J. J. NORTH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16168, 19 February 1913, Page 12

THE REV J. J. NORTH.

WELCOME TO HIS NEW PASTORATE. AN ACQUISITION TO THE CITY. GATHERING AT OXFORD TERRACE CHURCH. Tho Rev J. J. North, who has succeeded the Rev R. S. Gray as pastor of tho Oxford Terrace Baptist Church, had a most gratifying welcome last night at tho hands of his congregation, and Christchurch Baptists generally. The Rot J. G. Eraser, president of tho Baptist Union, was in the chair, and on the platform wero the Mayor (Mr H. Holland), and representatives of various Christchurch churches. The proceedings wore opened with a hymn, and prayor hy tho Rev D. M'Nicol. Tho Mayor said it was an 'unspeakablo pleasure to join in welcoming Mr North to Christchurch, for he was a man who was well-known in and out of tho city, and. had a wide reputation as a terror to tho gambling element. Mr North was a man whom it was well to welcome to Christchurch, and personally he was glad at any time to welcome a minister of tho gospel to Christchurch. Mr North's predecessor had dono good work in Christchurch, and ho had no doubt that Mr North, in continuing tho work would have the support, tho prayers and sympathy of his whole congregation. Mr Holland remarked that tho City Council was taking an important etep in attending divine service on Sunday at the Cathedral, and ho wa6 glad to say that the Mayors of surrounding boroughs had consented to attend. He was glad to think that business men in a body were recognising in even some small measure such as that the influence of tho churches for good. He heartily, sincerely and prayerfully hoped that Mr North's mission to Cnristchurch would be abundantly blessed, and that the usefulness of the Church would bo oxtended all over the city. Ho heartily extended a cordial welcome to the City of Christchurch. Mr Holland then shook hands with Mr North to tho accompaniment of applause. Tho Rev J. Mackenzie, who, with Mr M'Nicol, represented tho Ministers' Association, said that he might not have mado such a strenuous effort to be present jf it had not been that Mr North was an old fellow student and friend. Ho heartily welcomed Mr North to Christchurch, and hoped that his advent would bo a power for God and His kingdom. They would welcome Mr North tho moro heartily in that he was a New Zealander. Although he thought that tho doors of tho church 6hould be thrown open to men from other countries, he regretted that there was a tendency to go far afield when a man was wanted, and not turn to tho colonials who wero fighting hard in the cause. Mr North was well-known for his outspoken advocacy of righteousness, but it was not his custom, as many persons supposed, to go trailing his coat for somebody to tread on, and his congregation would find quite another side to his nature. He hoped that his congregation would not make too heavy demands on Mr North or Mrs North. Nowadays tho distractions of a minister, his meotings and eo on, were increasing, and he seemed to bo called on to do all manner of odd jobs. It was, in fact, difficult amid so many distractions for a minister to keep himself true to the central things of life, tho great eternal things of the kingdom of God. Therefor© he hoped that Mr North's congregation would free him as much as possible for the great spiritual work for which ho had given himself, and give him a little time to read his Bible, say his .prayers and read a few books. (Applause.)

The chairman said that, as president of the Baptist Union, he could congratulate the Oxford Terrace Church on its acquisition of Mr North; and, if Mr North carried out the professions that he had made on the previous Sunday, he was sure that his pastorate would be a most successful one. It could not be better than he hoped it would be. (Applause.)

The Rev J. Laird. In welcoming Mr North oh behalf of tho Canterbury Baptist Auxiliary, said that ho was glad Mr North had come to Christohuroh, for he had never ceased to hear good of Mr North and his work. Ho knew that he would do good work for tho church and tho auxiliary, and he hoped that his pastorate would be richly, blessed. Mr J. Nicholls, a member of tho Vivian Street Church, which Mr North had left, said that he had greatly regretted Mr North's departure from Wellington, but he was glad to know that Christchurch was getting the be3t man in New Zealand. (Applauso.) Mrs North wan a lady who devoted herself to what alio believed to bo her highest duty, and her departure would be keenly felt in Wellington. Mr North was not a fighting man, but in the fulfilment of his mission he was prepared to stand up as a brave man against any of the evils that he met in his path. He had built up his church in Wellington, both in numbers and financially, and he was sure that cood results would follow his advent in Christchurch. Mr T. W. Adams who was called on as a country Baptist to welcome Mr North, said that he had found Mr North a great help to him in religious \ matters. Ho trusted that his services would bo a help and a blessing to the Christchurch congregation, but unless the people worked earnestly with him they would find the inevitable decline that followed tho ministry of any successful pastor such as Mr Gray. Mr S. R. Ingold, secretary to tho Church, read a fetter from the Rev R. S. Gray, sincerely congratulating the church on securing Mr North's services, commending him to the loving regard of tho congregation, and asking them to give to Mr and Mrs North tho place that he and Mrs Gray had occupied in their hearts. He was sure that Mr North's advent would bo of great blessing to the church. Mr Ingold also read welcome messages from the Ashburton Church and tho "New Zealand Baptist." Ho said that the hearts of the congregation were filled with deep gratitude and hopefulness. Tho change in the pastorship would mean no slackening but a quickening of life and work. Mr North was a man of ripe experience, combined with the spirit of youth Old and young needed Mr North, and in welcoming him they welcomed Mrs North mott cordially, pledging themselves to receive him as their minister sent by God, and to be true and loyal. (Applauso.) Mr North had an ovation on rising to respond. Ho said that ono would havo a heart of ice if ono woro unaffected by such a recoption. Ho had been greatly touohad by tho good taste shown in his recaption. Ho wa* not a stranger to the church or the people, for ho had preached as a student in 1893 and had been present when Mr Gray had commenced his mission, and later as president of tho Baptist Union. He was greatly touched by his call, for ho was & Maorilarider, and was glad to remain so in tho Oxford Terrace Church- He had come with great trepidation, and if ho could not sparkle greatly he could "graft" hard, and he would try to do what a Christian [ gentleman should do, and ho hoped that God would givo him grace to fulfil a good mission. Christchurch ho greatly lovod, for to it he had brought I his brido, and in it throe of his children had been born. To be again associated with old friends and to link up with new friends was a groat privilego indeed. Ho had been eight years in Wellington, and they had been eight years of great joy, with not a *l»«k

moment. To him everything tha"t touched tho outsido of human lifo was holy, and tho only conception ho had of Christianity was that which a man planted outsido his lifo where it sheltered and hallowed and nurtured his business, his social lifo, his leisure and his occupation. Ho could not believe that any man should ho ashamed of his religion. Ho hated all obstacles to tho entry of tho Kingdom of God. Ho hated drinking, gambling and other social evils. He hated them not because if they wero swept away tho millennium would coino, for a man could bo as selfish and hard-fisted under a noliconso and anti-gambling regime ns they wero to-day, but because they stood in the way of Christianity. (Applause.) Ho hoped that ho would have graco eo to speak every Sunday that tho smallest child would understand what ho sought to convey, and that tho man with the biggest hunger in his brain would find problems solved. "I shall do what I can," said Mr North in conclusion. " I shall visit as earnestly and as constantly aa I can, keep as open a house as I can, and become a personal friend of every one of yoa. My wife will do all 6ho possibly can. I hope by God's grace that these kind things you and other people have si. id to me and the cheer and courage put into me by your goodness and kindness may be demonstrated and have God's seal put upon them in tho months and yoars that lio in front." (Applause.) During the evening musical items were given by members of the congregation, and at the close of tho formal procotdings tea and coffee were handed round and Mr North had an opportunity of making personal acquaintances among those present.