MINISTER INDUCTED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 116, 17 April 1939, Page 9

MINISTER INDUCTED

ST. PAUL’S CIRCUIT. REV. C. EATON’S SERVICE. The induction of Rcv r . Clarence Eaton, formerly of the Durham Street Church, Christchurch, into the superintendent ministry of St. Paul’s circuit, Palmerston North, was conducted at St. Paul’s Methodist Church, Broadway, on Saturday night, the inducting minister being Rev. 0. H. Olds (chairman of the Hawke’s Bay-Manawatu district), and associated with him was Rev. A. Blakomore, superintendent minister of the Cuba Street circuit.

A special service was held in the church, and afterwards a social gathering. which was well attended, was held in -the Sunday school hall, where members of the congregation and ministers of other denominations were given an opportunity of meeting Mr Eaton. The induction ceremony was carried out by Mr Olds, following which he addressed the congregation and the minister.

His words to the minister had exercised his mind and heart a great deal, said Mr Olds. Mr Eaton was his senior by quite a number of years. However, the speaker bad been honoured by being promoted to the presidential chair, and he wa.s essentially one who had looked up to his brother ministers, honouring and proving that Cod never placed on their shoulders a task which they could not fulfil. It was by His grace that they were able to fulfil their tasks, and in connection with bis duty at this function, Mr Olds added, he was not doubtful that some message would come. He had lain pondering what he would say, and suddenly two quotations had Hashed across his mind. The first was by the Apostle Paul, who bad said that “tbe gifts and calling ot God are without repentance,” and the other was by Kipling, who had said, ‘‘There is no discharge in the war.” As be bad thought about tbe relationship of these two. he had realised that the call of God was ever there, and recognising our shortcomings and failures, we would turn to Him in the consciousness that grace would fie ours no matter how hard our task, and the speaker knew the minister would take that to heart as he entered his new ministry.

There was no discharge in the good fight of war, proceeded Hr Olds, and every soldier of Jesus Lnrist sang as he fought—and sang and ever fought. Conquest for Christ leaped like a fountain from our hearts. Praise ho to God for the joy that came to His servants as they engaged in their tasks. A great sorrow had come to Mr Eaton and his dear ones, Mr Olds proceeded. in referring to the death of Mr Eaton’s son, Dr 0. L. Eaton, at the hands of bandits in China, recently. We usually thought of the mantle of the old man falling on the shoulders of the young one ; the congregation would pray that the mantle of the son would now fall upon his father ns he entered upon his new ministry. By the grace of God and what man would call humanity, Mr Eaton would find such glorious triumphs not yet known in a long ministry. Turning to Mr Eaton again, Mr Olds said: “I know you will have your brothers’ co-operation in all you undertake. and the coming year will he rich in blessing to you and your congregation.”

CO-OPERATION OE CONGREGATION.

Addressing the congregation again, Mr Olds said he knew their hearts would not stint in the love they would give their new minister. The work of a Christian minister, and, particularly that of a Methodist, wa.s essentially co-operation. Pie asked them not to think that the minister had just been sent bv the congress; liis work could not be done except that they gave him their loyal support and constant prayers. And they should not think that his only duty was to give them Spiritual thought; the purpose of the Church was to win souls for Jesus Christ, and to carry into tiie enemy country the good work of the Church. They were bound to their minister hv mutual responsibility. They must rein ember to help him in many little ways, for instance, in informing him of those who were sick and those who wore growing cold in their love of the Master. It was a burden on the heart of a minister when the hearts of some grew cold. If their work was for God, no matter what the difficulties these would not prevail over the united and consecrated work of Christ and His Kingdom.

In liis response. Air Eaton expressed his gratitude to Air Olds for coming such a long way to the service at great inconvenience. AA"ith reterenee to the death of his son, he felt that lie had been ordained afresh and that lie must try to make up for the years of his soil’s life that had been lost. God had honoured him by giving him a martyred son, which was trie wealthiest service ever given. He had already met friends in Palmerston North, and although he felt the difficulties of the work laid upon him, God would give no task beyond human power to fulfil. He had become a Afethodist by choice, and lie believed that evangelical work provided more scope for service than any other. He believed in the evangelical interpretation of the Gospel, and his congregation would hear nothing else from him. Air AlcDowall, his predecessor, had devoted himself to youth work, and lie intended to carry on this tradition. He knew he had two young stewards who would help to keep him young, not old in years, nor in spirit. That was a sacred trust and ho accepted it. Palmerston North was not unknown to him ; he had conducted a mission here in Cuba Street some years ago, and he now wanted to become a citizen and wanted to keep before him all the methods o r progress. He would rather give up tlie work of Christ than admire —admiration was nothing; it was the heart that counted. He said lie was delighted to see tho choir present, as it was one of the most loyal sections. Mr Eaton paid a tribute. before closing, to the help of his wife, who, lie said, did three-quarters of his work. She would come with a broken heart, hut it was wonderful what God could do with a broken heart.