ORDINATION CEREMONY.

Northern Advocate, 9 January 1920, Page 2

ORDINATION CEREMONY.

REV. W. H. HOLLOWAY

.\ \.iii<ii.U' and most iiiu'iv.stmg service was held at Whakaparu on Wednesday January 7th, when Mr W. 11. Holloway ,Presbyterian Home Missionary for the Whakapara station, was ordained as a minister of full standing. It is a most unusual proceeding in the Presbyterian' Charcm for any man to be ordained unless he has completed his full university and theological college course of study, and also ha s been called to be the minister of a fully-sanctioned parish. But there are some whom the Church delights to honour, and in so doing honours herself. She

ha s no Distinguished Conduct nor Long Service Medals but there i s one way. All who know Mr Holloway and his work in the North know that some distinction was well deserved, and that this is no empty honour.

The service in its way must have been unique; it was an unusual proceeding, as lias been said and it was in the open air. The folk of the district were gathered from far and near —a most representative gathering from Mr Holloway's congregations, which number and are scattered from Kiripaka and Puhipuhi to Jordan. They began to gather ai the manse early in the day.

The Commission appointed by the Auckland Presbytery consisted of Rev. David McNeur (Convener), Rev. Geo. Lochore, of Whangarei, Rev. Geo. Budd (Moderator of Presbytery) of Devonport, Mr A. M. McLeod and Mr Jame a McKinnon (elders) and these added to their numbers' the Rev. Wm. Heather and Messrs Wm. Simpson and Rogers. The Presbytery met and was constituted by Rev. D. McNeur in the manse and then they took up their positions, the convener at his table facing this large al fresco congregation, who sat on the seats provided and on the grass in the shade of the manse, and filled the balcony. The service throughout was most impressive; the day was perfect, and one's blood stirieu as he thought of our forefathers who met in their open-air conventicles on the braes of Scotland. Mr A. Rust acted as presenter and the service commenced with the singing of the "Old Hundredth " followed by prayer and the reading and preaching of "The Word" by Mr McNeur. The Rev.G«'oifce Budd then narrated the steps leading up to the ordination. He said that Mr Holloway deserved some honour for his long and [faithful service in the North, and so i the Auckland Presbytery in the latter part of 1919 determined to recommend the General Assembly t 0 give permission for his being ordained a minister in full standing. The General Assembly met in Invercargill in November, when this permission was gladly granted. The Presbytery then appointed the Commission to carry this into effect.

The Rev. D. McNeur then put the prescribed questions to the candidate > satisfactory answers being given. Then he was ordained to the office of the Holy Ministry by prayer and the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. The minister-elect was then declared ordained, and the right hand of fellowship was given to him by each member of the Commission.

The Rev. Geo. Lochore addressed the minister. In his opening remarks he said he did so with extreme diffidence. He felt he was so much younger and more inexperienced than Mr Holloway, so his remarks must be without restraint. His remarks were based on 1 Peter 5, 1-3. He exhorted Mr Holloway to preach with confidence of the fruits, and not without words of a great English lawyer, who in addressing law students said that their cases were not won in their open court, but in chambers —so were the preacher's. He wished him a most fruitful Gospel ministry.

The Rev. Geo. Budd then addressed the people. He pointed out how unique was this case. He illustrated it by saying that it might be called an investiture. Courts of Investiture were held for the heroes of war, and there the King or his representative (perhaps some common enough man) pinned on their breasts ribbons andmedals, rewards for brave deeds and faithful service rendered. This was the same; we common-enough men ? representative of our Church, were doing what we could to honour a brave and faithful man. This was a Court of Investiture. The speaker was deeply affected as he spoke of the service and sacrifices of Mr and Mrs Holloway. Their long, weary journeys, their many hardships, and now, at the end of ten years ; they had received no *sujfncient material reward, but were poorer instead of richer. He encouraged the people in the spiritual training of their children. The Ordination Hymn was sung, and Mr Bathgate, who will carry on the work during Mr Holloway's extended absence in the South, was introduced to the people. The Doxology was then sung, and a most impressive service, long to be remembered by each one present, was ended. The collection, most of which will go to the Manse Fund, amounted to £34 10s 3d.

The Travelling Medical Board of the Defence Department made an inspection of the in and out-patients of the Whangarei Hospital yesterday, and also of the in-patients at the Kamo Sanatorium. In this case the Examining Board consisted of Colonel Christie and Major Frazerhurst. The examination proved satisfactory, and Col. Christie will return to Auckland to-morrow, the ne\i call being at Hamilton. An interim dividend of 14 per cent., free of income tax has been declared by the Union Bank of Australia. Washboard slaver scientifically abolished, tha.iks to "NO RUBBING" Laundry Help. 1/ packet does seven weekly washings.—J. Harrison &