ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2229, 7 October 1898, Page 5

ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

RE-OPENING SERVICES

The reopening services in connection with St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Que ustown, took place la.~t Sunday when tinpulpit was occupied thrtc times in the day by the Rev Elewitsau, XI.A., of Knox Church, Dune!in. The services were fairly well attended—a good number comiug from the country. The attendance it the evening service was extremely good and would have been better had it not been for a heavy fall of rain just before. Much interest was manifested in the utterances of the preacher, who delivered very eloquent and impressive Benrons, except at the afternoon service, which was chiefly on behalf of the young people. An efficient choir, under the conductorship of .Mr A. Boyne, contributed the music during the day. The organ was presided over by Miss Reid. This practically new church is a very neat looking structure, and much credit is due to the Presbyterian body for the liberal manner in which they contributed toward its crectiou ; and al-o to the architect, Mr J. L. Salmond, of Dunedin, and the contractor, Mr J. Salmond, of Qaeenstown, for the way they carried out their several engagements. Below is a description of the alterations and enlargements effected in the church:— The old boilding cf which 16 feet were taken off the back, has been raised IS inches, and all old wooden piles have been replaced by concrete piles Sin x Bin, set on a bed block of concrete 12in x 12in x 4in. The back wall of the old building has been shifted back 10ft from its original line, making the total length of the main building 46ft, with a width of 23ft. Two wings have been added with a dimension of 22ft 6in x Sft. The old class and vestry-room has been shifted right to the rear of the main building, with a lean-to roof and the old chimney rebuilt in the original. The interior of the building has been lined with T. and G. beaded lining of red pice, finished 4ft high with a dado moulding, and the w hole stained and twice smooth-copal varnished. Two new principals, two diagonal, and two half principals have been made and fitted in the roof of the main part. The choir seats, which are situated in front of the pulpit, are enclosed in railings 10ft x 16ft with Gin x 6in newels. At the hack of the pulpit is an arch springing from reeded pilasters with the inscription, "Glorify Thy Name." Nearly twenty new seats have been added. A new bell has been installed in place of the old one, and a fine concrete 3-tier step has been laid down at the from doors of the church.

On Sunday morning the Rev Mr Hewitson preached a very instructive sermon on the " Appointment of the Seven." In the opening chapters of the Acts, from Pentecost to Stephen's death—thought by most. reliable chronologists to be from five to eight years, there are depicted three featarea of external life of the church. These features comprised the growth of the Church, and the persecution which followed that growth; then began the organisation of the church. The growth is frequently commented on in chap, viii., 2-8.-3000 being added to the number of the disciples at Pentecost. In chap, xi., 7, it says, "The number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." In consequence of the persecution which might, be thought to have checked the growth of Christianity, it rather promoted further growth. After Stephen's death from stoning, the Church was eitended to Samaria as record in Acts viii., 1. In consequence of the growth and development came organisation. To illustrate this the preacher referred to bees attracting themselves to a swarm, which denoted growth ; but when a number of soldiers were attached to an army there was an increase in complexity: they had to coeabordioate, or be organised in different contingents. The apostle Paul had to do everything at first, and now, on account of the increase in numbers, the appointment of the the seven deacons took place. There was a difference of opinion as to whether they were named deacons or called "the seven."

. . . . The organisation ia determined by the life and circumstances. The life of the animal body is used in scripture as illustrating the life of the church. If the life is withdrawn from anything it will wither and die. A second factor in organisation is circumstance or environment; is for instance a fish changes colour accordingly to the colour of the bottom of a stream and other illustrations which were given. The life and the circumstance connected with that life and organisation were operating here (in Qaeenatown) and throughout the history of church ''nstitutions. The reverend geutleman, alluoing to the congregation, said that they had suown it in the recent work they had done in connection with their church. If these two factors are not maintained the church is not properly constructed. If the lite is gone out of a church it is the best thing to let it die. It devolved therefore npon each member of a church to do his or her best for its advancement. Some reference was made by the preacher to church government, upon which there is a difference of opinion ; but it is clear that all organisation mast be the result of life and be influenced by circumstances. The mode of appointment and the qualification of the men appointed was then dilated upon. The scripture attaches great weight to a good name. " Men of honest report full of the spirit aud of wisdom." Prov. xxii., 1—" A good uame is rather to be chosen than great riches." These qualifications meant usefulness and the possession of the spirit and wisdom. Spargeon is credited with saying that three things were required to make a minister, viz., grace, grit, and gumption. The first named could always be obtained for asking, the second is knowledge, and the third, the rev. gentleman said if they hadn't that already, he did not know where to recommend them to get it. In appointing officers of the church such persons should not be implicated in any commercial, financial, or domestic troubles. Some good men may not be wise, but there are men who are worldly wise but not spiritual. Owing to this there is a tendency to divide sacred and secular work in the church, but it would be a calamity in any church where deacons have no more than a primary interest in finances. In conclusion the rev. speaker said to the congregation that they were not to be finding oat their minister's faults, but to apply what he had said to each of themselves. The subject in the afternoon service was on " Our Father who art in Heaven." At the evening service the Rev Mr Hewit son preached an eloquent sermon on the vision of Peter, as recorded in Acts x. The subject was "Dreaming and Doing." Peter •t this time held to his old prejudice against salvation being offered to any except through the gates of Judaism and the works of the law, ani the purpose of the vision was to teach him his error. Immediately following the vision there came the men from Cornelius, the Gentile, to take Peter to the place where he would have an opportunity of teat ing the truth of the vision. It is often said that there is no connection between dreaming and doing, but this statement is not correct, for the highest dreaming leads to the highest doing. The first thing to emphasise is that we do what we dream. An ideal is necessary in all spheres of life, and we never rise higher than our ideal. A low ideal is an ef fectual barrier against rising high. The man who has no dream mually has no performance. To rise our material aright we require the dream or plan. A young persou without a dream is a fool. Youth is the time for dreaming and young persons, at their peril, allow the scoffer to drive away their dreams. The dream not only supplies the pattern, but it also gives th» power to act out its teaching. Jcsjs has l*en called the highest pattern of virtue and He furnishes the strongest ir.cer.tive to realise it. Oar dream is the result of our character and imagination stirrolated by desire and admiration. Men grow like tie God they love becaase they love it. As certain springs petrify what is put into them, so love turns into a substantial edifice that which we have imagined. And even :f the ideal does not contain •oiEcient power to folly realise itself,

as in the case of the ideals of Abraham and David, they yet give a powerful impulse to the life. Paul tells the I'lnlippiaus that God, «ho tin begun a good work in them, will carry it on to perfection. We shall he preI >i-> ted I'uii'l--; and with excelling joy. jS> e U'iiy, u- die-mi wh i! we d : In dreams ' ■••»■ li\e aii r , ; . : i, i|„ ,: , x . v u |. !••,■ spent. W> (i.-i .„. .:.,.„...., (:-..,„ ':,■ !. - .i- leal. To- pro h,t. An.i •' nn- -i i.-ai ■ i.r .-f Iruic, ;so his vision is of huir. J-aiah's was of the ! temple with whieh he was so familiar. Peter's corresponded with his physical con- | dition—he wis hungry. If we live ignoble ! lives we will dream ignobly. What we are j and do will determime cur ideals. Doing ) interprets the dream as the building explains j the plan. IVtcr did not understand his xision till hp had acted out its teaching. The same happened in Paul's experience. If we have given to us any truth we can only really become posessed of it by going with it to our fellow men and hiving it reflected Lack to us by them. Jesus commanded His followers to do the will of God and this would lead them to understand His counsels. Take your Hihle in your hand and the truths yon do understand, and go amongst your fellow men with these; and then those you do not understand will become plainer to you. What is to be nur dream of life ? We must use all the material we possess, body, mind, ' aud spirit If we devote all our attention to the body we are unwise and our efforts will eml in disaster. If we devote all our attention to the mind, even though this be nobler, we shall miss the real objects of our being. Let us build so as. to use all the material body, mind and spirit, and build for eternity and not for time merely. God'.-. ideal for us is His own image, and anything short of this as an idea! on our part is faulty and deficient. May God teach us His ideal aud give us the power to realiee it.

THE SOCIAL. A social was held on Monday evening in connection with re-i pening services, the Town Hall being crowded. The principal features were speeches and musical items by the choir and others, which made up a full programme. The Revs. Hewitson, Blair, (rann, Mitchell and Mr Geisow were the speakers and, without exception, delivered good addresses. It would not be invidious to mention that the address of the Rev. Mr Hewitson was a most instructive one, and he hid his audience in a splendid humour throughout by amusing anecdotes and illustrations. The musical portion of the programme was under the supcrintcndency of Mr A. Boyne, jun., who had evidently spared no time and pains in working up his choir, which, although comprised of a number of young members, did excellent service during the evening. Miss Walker, an old member of the eboir, we are informed had to come a long way to attend, and had she been absent there would have been a gap not very easily filled. We must not omit to mention Miss Reid who accompanied during the evening on the organ and pi mo with much credit to herself. The Rev. Mr Blur occupied the chair during the evening and introduced the various speakers and announced the musical items. The social was opened with prayer by Mr Geo. M'Keuzie. The proceedings commenced with the hosmna entitled " From Heaven to Earth," which was very effectively rendered. The Chairman said that his address would be very short, as there were a number of g"od speakers to follow, and those combined with musical items on the list and other good things provided of a more substantial nature would, bethought, beguile sufficient to till up the evening's diversiou. An anniversary anthem, "Our Fistivc Day so bright," was the next in order on the programme. This item was exceedingly pretty aDd received a deserved round of applause. The duet in it was taken by Miss A. O'Kane (soprano) and Mi>s Boyne (contralto) and a solo, which was sustained by Miss Walker. Mr Domigan gained many admirers in his song " The Lost Chord." He was accompanied by Mis Uoinigan. The Rev W. A. Gann, in coming forward, said that, like their worthy chairman, he did not intend to give a lengthy address, but was only just going to make a few remarks. He was very glad to congratulate the members of the Presbyterian Chinch here on the present celebration and to rejoice with them iu the success of their undertaking in the enlargement of their building. No matter how nnuy of us might differ as to our peculiar beliefs and style of worship, we all us Christians, had one Mas'er. He often thought the Presbyterians here might have provided such a building as they now have long ago But it was done now, and they had, moreover, a lively minister, who must be a good help in advancing the church generally. He had been told that Presbyteriauism owed a good deal to Methodism, but he thought that Methodism owed quite as much to Preabyterianism. He also congratulated them on having secured the help at their re-opeuing of such an able man as the Rev Mr Hewitson. His (the speaker's) own experience of Presbyterianism was somewhat limited. Iu South Australia, however, there were numbers of Presbyterians in the early days, but not being sufficiently numerous, they joined the Wesleyans, and had large classes, and the Presbyterian portion proved valuable aids. He hoped the present church at Queeustow n would prosper. They had seen what energy and earnestness could do and he would like to impress upon them all the value and power of individual labour. It was not necessary to refer to the many evils which exist in society as it at present exists, but

he thought, of all these, that parental laxitywas one of the greatest evils. This was a mattter on which Dr DufT had dwelt very strongly, and we need not go far to see the effects of it in our own midst. He was taught always to respect the views and judgment of his parents until he came to maturity, and was able to properly exercise his own judgment. The mother of eleven children once told him that she obeyed her children the first year of their birth and after that they obeyed her. (Hear, hear.) Again wishing the Presbyterians here every success the rev speaker sat down amidst applause.

In a children's hosanna, "Blessed is He that Cometh" the choir were again very good. " David and Goliath " was the name of a duet sung by Messrs A. Boyue, jun. and P. Gardiner, who acquitted themselves remarkably well. The Rev. Mr Blair in a few complimentary remarks then introduced the Rev. Mr Hewitson to the audience, and he hoped the rev. gentleman would give his hearers plenty of good information to store away. 'I iic Rev. Mr Hewitson then came forward and intimated his intention of giving a long address. He said he was very pleased to be there that evening, to have hud the honour of taking part in the re-opening services. It was a long time sin e he saw Queenstown, and tiiat was in a photograph, which he saw in Uallant Vic., (laughter) and he was nowpleased to renew Ins acquaintance. He congratulated the Presbyterian body on the tine church they had got and humorously remarked that it had not been constructed in the interests of the minister owing to the seats in it being so comfortable. In some theological colleges he mentioned the seats were so constructed that it was impossible to go to asleep. After relating one or two stories which reached his ears about Queenstown, the rev. gentleman got on to his subject—that of a Talk on Talking. It in gaid that talk is a minister's business. In connection with this be related an amusing anecdote which was told to him by a friend. As a tram eir was passing along a Duuedin street one day bis fri-nd, who was an occupant, heard one man say to another as they passed a certain church—" snug little billet tli it, spinning two yams a v.- ck " (LaughIT), lie did not wish to tall: about public talking, but about talking in general. Toe reason why he took tin* vubj.-et was because it was worrying him, and if anything was worrying him he liked to talk about it. Talk is one of the wonderful gifts bestowed upon us by (iod, and it seems there is a great abuse of it. The lirst phase of his subject was on disputative conversation, which is common in young mm fresh from the universities. Some people are constantly try-

ing to lie clever, and there are people who will tell you the same puns over and over again. Our conversation must be seasoned with salt. How would you like your dinner without pepper and salt. Tin- speaker then referred to the mi: use of sneech. This oftrn prevails in hemes, vlvr oftentimes ore would hear not very int-1 c»-t ■.;•,! conversation. A man who uses bid im: u *'_'•' is not necessarily a bad man, but probably is ;i brainkss man. In making fine distinctions it was very often the case fur a person to frequently use the same adjective to describe nearly every object—one adjective covers all. Besides other languages, there is the language of action. When a man has lost his speed) lie is able to make people understand by his actions. Language is a stream of sound pound out of the mouth which is cheeked at various places, producing sjllables and then language. The vocal organs weie then explained. Our writing language comprises merely a stroke and a curve, which are put together in various ways. The rev, gentleman then drew a picture of what life would be without language. If the latter weie such there would be the sweeping away of the storehouses which contain our gathered information for ages past. Speech is the expression of the man, and you ran nearly always tell a man's nationality by his speech. By a man's language can be told whether he has had a liberal education or not. The re v. gentleman said that his audience could easily tell whether he had a liberal education or not, and he could tell that if he came in contact with any of his audience. A man's character can be judged by his speech. There is no art in this wonderful gift of conversation. Certain principles will be useful if the abuse of conversation is to be avoided. If you want to raise the conversation you must raise

the man ; you cannot get it to rise higher

than the man. Chi i. t said, " make the tree good and the fruit will be good. Reference was made to the reasoning faculties in men and the object of always having full and wise minds. Then there is the cultivation of feeding. Some men will tell you about the same thing over and over anain. Following on this, allusion was made to the feeling of sym pathy which must exist between a speaker and his hearer, or sympathy between the subject and the hearer—very often it was the latter. Again a person may be wedded to the speaker and not to his subject. It was very necessary that the speaker should have both the hearer's sympathy with himself and his subject. If a man has no sym pathy with you or the subject being talked I about he is not the man to have ci nversation I with. Conversation helps to make the man. De Quincy, in speaking of Burke, said that the very effort of speech by him brought new life on the subject. The rev. gentleman speakine to the young people, said that during the Ion? winter evenings they could not do better than tike a course in Bacon's essay's, more especially that on Friendship. Whenever a person has anything to say he should always speak it out. An hour's talk does more for a man than days' meditation. Conversation is good for a man—it helps to lift him np, to educate him. A man's character makes his talk and his talk makes his character. There is no temptation more subtle than for a man to talk about things that, aie not true. If he does, so much truthfulness is taken from his character and he will not be believed when he does tell the truth. After age.in referring to the matter of sympathy and illustrating it, the rev. genteman closed his address by saying the way to make a s.ood conversationist is to speak the truth in love. (Gnat applause.) A quartette. "The unseen city " by Misses Walker and Boyne and Messrs A. Boyne, junr., and P. Gardiner followed. This item was given in splendid style and met much applause.

The Chairman then announced an interval of about half an hour, during which tea and refreshments, apparently in abundance and of the best quality, were banded around by the choir and others, and after which the second part of the performance was commenced. During the interval the Misses M'Keuzie and A. O'Kane supplied some musical selections on the piano. A pianoforte selection by Miss M'Kenzie was done ample justice to by that young lady.

The Rev. A D. Mitchell then came forward and said he had much pleasure in meeting his friends, lie thanked Mr Hewitson for his address, which would do them all good. The speaker said his text was—Giving He teferred to the faithful work performed by the builder of the enlarged Presbyterian Church, Mr J. Salniond, who had put worship into his work in (he new portion of the church. Through the kindness of Rev. Mr Blair, their pastor, he was permitted to see a list of the contributions towards the additions, which at once told of the selfdenial of the members. The collectors had done their work well. He was told that some £l5O in cash had been procured. This was a respectable sum, and he would sayWell (".on-3 Presbyterians ; you have done honour lo yourselves. This was done moreover, without a whisper of a bazaar, which he thought was an abominable way to raise funds for a church, as it promotes the spirit of gambling. You have done something for the good of Christianity. You have raised yourselves to a higher level, and have not done anything that would do your church an injury. (The speaker related an instance in Sydney where a minister would not even allow a tea meeting to raise funds for the church, as it was like expecting Almighty God to give a cup of tea in return for what was really given to the church.) Can you give too much to God? No ! God is continually giving. We can never wipe out the debt we owe to Him. The speaker asked them whether any other of their church funds would suffer, to which €ame the reply, No. There ought to be rivalry between the churches as to who could turn out the best Christian. The speaker said he knew of a beautiful church over in Sydney, which was got through the po.ver of prayer. If we pray more, aud take less, we do more to the service of God. He believed that a man who went regularly to his own church was quite right, and lie might go on in that way. It had been said that the subject of giving, tended to unity among Christians. The main object was to become good Christians. He again congratulated them on the good work done, and hoped it would benefit their fellow Christians. 'l'h;' ch'.'n then contributed the anthem, "Hail, lovely Spring," the duet in this being taken by Misses Walker and Iloyne ; whilst the latter also sustained a solo. A soprano cornet solo was then given in good style by Mr C. Eraser, jiui. Miss Wa ker was very successful with her solo "The Sii tier and the Song," the choruses to same being taken up by the choir. This item was recognised as one of the gems of

the evening. The last address of the evening was by MrGeisow, who said that if he was not an earnest man he would not be standing on the platform that evening after hearing such good speeches. His mission that evi ning was to speak as an office-bearer on behalf of the congregation. He was not going to indict on them a balance sheet as the time had not ai rived for that. He spoke about the past history of the church, which had made great progress, and they now had an enlarged it. An account of the opt ning of the church in IKO9 was then read by Mr Geisow as taken from a partly burnt tile of the Mail. A further report on the doings of the church from that date up to the present time, prepared by the speaker, was also read, which is briefly as follows : The contract price for the church at that time was I'.'illO, which did not include all. It was opened free of debt in April IS7O. A vestry was added in June costing £l3O. Feeling that the church should he enlarged, thee miltee, after some difficulty over some adjoining ground, managed to buy the same and then obtained permission from the Southland I'r.'Tvtcry to mdie the piesent enlargements, when plans were prep, Lied by the Synod's architect in Duuedin for the present bud.ling. The committee was pleased when the tender was let to Mr J. Salniond of this town, as they knew he would do full justice to the work without requiring a paid inspector, which oilier was voluntarily undertaken by Mr R. Davidson. The chinch could not adequately thank the architect, Mr

J. Louis Salmond, as well as the contractor, Mr John Salmond, for the manner in which the work had been carried through—the building being a credit to the place. Tim svnod bore half the cost, while the 'local church pays the other half. As the money would not come fmm the synod for a long time, the committee wore able to airing-' a p.;:,. with Mr It P-oym at a I,w int,.re>t till the money war; paid, fie further agreed to take their portion until they were able

to repay the amounts, so that the liabilities can he wiped off at once. The amount collected up to the present was £159 I)-'. Besides the present building aii other buildings in connection with the church in the uisiriot are free of debt, hi conclusion the committee hojes that the rising generation will take un their work and devote as much energy to their chinch work and show even better results when handing it over to their successors. Mr Geisow thanked the Rev Mr Hewitson and other gentlemen for their ad dresses, and the first-named for assisting tlum in their duties of re-opening the church the previous dav. He did not think they could have made a wiser choice in selecting the rev. gentleman to open their church. It was a ?reat privilege to have him. He also thanked the gentlemen who helped to rahe the money, the Kev Mr Blair, the choir and others for bunging to an end the work they hid undertak'. n.

I The Revs. Hewitson and. Mitchell biiefly I returned thanks for the kind remarks ol | Mr Geisow —the former specially comtnendt in;; him us a model session clerk. The Rev Mr Blair, in addition to those thanked by Mr Geisow, desired to commend Mrs Stenhouse for the great trouble she with others had taken with the decorations —lie being at the hall all that day. A vote of thanks with acclamation was also passed rin Mr Geisow, as the good work he had done it was Lot in their power to calculate. To the hand for their good-will aud desire to help them thanks were also tendered, and to many others who had helped them in this their hour of rejoicing. The choir then furnished the hosanna, "Offer unto God thanksgiving," which was equally well civen as the former numbers. Misses A. O'Kane and Boyne and Messrs P. Gardiner and A. Boyne, junr., sang the quartette in this chorus. The Benediction was then pronounced by the Rev. Mr Blair, aud this concluded one of the most enjoyable and profitable entertainments ever held in Queenstown.