ST. LUKE'S CHURCH, REMUERA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4900, 31 July 1877, Page 6

ST. LUKE'S CHURCH, REMUERA.

The ceremony of ordaining aii>'. ; .•■:.; , '-ti:i!; the minister (the Kev. G. B. JJoTii- : -d to the pastorate of this now :'rt..-.".;j -•: rs.-.n Church, took place on tho st!i ■I'.ily, in '. i- , church building, in the prese:.CL> t>f ;>. 1?. • congregation. The following jniin-tjrs \vri>: present, and took part iu the ceremjii : —The Kev. David Bruce, late of St. Andrew's, Auckland; the Rev. JR. F. Macnicol, St. James's, Auckland; tho Rev. K. McKinney, Mahurangi ; the Rev. Thomas Norrie, Papakura ; the Rev. It. Somervillo, Whau ; the Kev. Mr. Neill, Waikato. A Presbytery was held immediately before the ceremony, the Kev. D. Bruce acting :.s clerk. Immediately after tUe meeting of the Presbytery the Kev. D. Bruce proceeded to the entrance of the church, and asked three times whether auybody had any objection to offer to the life and doctrines of Georgo Bisset Monro, or why he should not be ordained aud inducted to the charge of the church and congregation. To this challenge there was no answer, and the clerk to the Presbytery read from the pulpit the edict of the Presbytery authorising the ordination. The choir sang the hymn "On mountain top appearing" (12S), after which tho Rev. R. Sommerville read the fortyfifth Psalm and the first chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Phiilipians. After this was sung a metrical version of the foi (y eixth Psalm. The' Rev. Mr. Soniuiervillo aho preached tho ordination sermon from the text "For I am set for a defence of the Gospel," Phiilipians Ist chapter, 17th vei.su, in which he described ihe obligations c:ist upon a minister in defence of tho authority of the Holy Scriptures. The sermon was followed by a hymn (9S), " Pour forth thy Spirit from on high." The ceremony of the imposition of ha.uds then took place, all the ministers present assisting, the Kev. Mr. Bruce pronouncing the prayer, and afterwards delivering the exhortation to tho newly ordained pastor. The Rer. Mr. Macnicol delivered au address to the congre

gatioii upon the aids they could afford to their minister towards the efficient and complete- discharge of the duties of his pastorate Mr. Thomas Macffarlane presented to the newly ordained minister, on behalf of the ladies of his congregation, a new pulpit gown, for which the Rov. Mr. Monro returned thanks. The formal proceedings concluded with the Benediction, and tho fiu.il ceremony of shaking hands with the new pastor at the church door by the members of tho congregation.

The congregation of this Church have. evinced an amount of energy and determination which reflects the greatest credit upon them. Some six months ago they determined to secure the services of a resident minister. There was then a debit of £6"00 on the church, but they sent to Britain and #ere successful iu inducing the Rev. G. 15. Monro, a clergyman well recommended. It ■was then determined by the congregation to ■wipe off the debt of the church, which, including the expenses of bringing cut the pastor and his family, came to a total o' about £800. Two members of the congr gation offered to pay half if the congregation raised the remainder?and so spiritedly did they set to work that before the introduction of the Rev. Mr. Munro to his congregation on Sth July, the total debit on the church was ro- ' Priced to £70. Sunday's services further u ""'".ed it to £17. In the forenoon the Rev. iS'Bruce officiated and preached an eloquent and impressive sermon, taking for his text the last three verses of tho 11th chapter tf St. Matthew. He then introduced the Rev. Mr. Monro to the congregation in due form. The collection at thia service amounted lo £23 ss. The afternoon service was conducted by the newly-appointed pastor of St. Luke's, who preached from Ist Cor., 2nd c, 2nd v. The collection was £22 3s. In the evening the Rev. Mr. Monro preached a powerful discourse from the 10th verse c>f the 9th chapter, of Ecclesiastes, " Whatsoever thy hand iindeth to do, do it with all thy might." A collection of £S S3 6d was taken, making the total contributions for the three services, £53 8s 6d.

A soiree and tea meeting was held in the church on July 12, for the purpose of affording the congregation nn opportunity of giving a public welcome t:> their new pastor, the Rev. G. B. Monro and MrE. Monro. There was one of the largest assemblages that have been known t-> honour similar .occasions. The charch will seat 600 persons, and there was no sen;; vacant. The trays were provided by theladies of the congregation—Mrs. J. M. Clark, Mrs. Stevenson, Mrs. Rattray, Mrs. T. Macffarlane, Mrs. Hardy, Mrs. McColl, Mrs. Macrae, Mrs. Heron, Miss Dennison, Mrs. R-yburn, Mrs. Angus, Mrs. Skinner. Amongst the clergymen present we noticed the Ven. Archdeacon Pritt (St. Mark's), Rev. Mr. Robertson (Beresford-street Chape.'.), Rev. D. Bruce, Rev. R. Sommerville (Whau), Rev. T. Korrie (Papakura), Rev. R. F. Macnicol (St. James's), Rev. Mr. Runciman, Rev. Mr. Brown (Onehunga), Rev. I'. Mason, Western Collegiate School. There was a most efficient ohoir present, including Mrs. Mitchell,jfMr. Harding, and others with whom the'public are familiar. But tho greatest proportion of the.choir consisted of voung ladies and gentlemen members of the principal families resident in' the neighbourhood, or principal and most effective members of the choirs of other churches. The. blessing before tea was spoken by the Ven. Arehdercon Pritt. Upon the cloth being removed, tho choir sang the anthem " Make a joyful noise." Mr. J. M. Clark was called to the chair, anl addressed the meeting. Letters of apology for non-attend-ance were read from the Ven. Archdeacon Maunsell, Rev. Mr. Hassard (St, Matthew'.--) Rev. Mr. Williams (WesZeyan), Grafton Road ,and the Rev. T. Buddie (Three Kings Institution). The B.ev. Mr. Monro, upon rising to address the meeting, received a most cordial greeting. His described tho circumstances under which he was led to come to New Zealand, and to St. Luke'n. Mr. Thomas MacffarJane said he was requested to make a sts temen t" with regard to the financial position of the church. They had paid £1500 for the site of the old church and building (Mandeno's), and for erecting the present Btructure. They had cleared all the debt off, except £50, at the. time the new pastor was inducted to the church. He believed the result of that evening's proceedi r gs would not only clear, but more than cl-.ar the debt of the church, so that the new minister would have no financial embarrassment in connection with it. The Rev. Mr. Robertson next addressed the meeting. He thought the Congregationalists and the Presbyterians were net very far apart. They conld assist each other heartily in all good work. He acknowledged his indebtedness to Mr. Macnicol, of St. James's, for many kind nesses and much assistance. He wished new pastor of St. Luke's good speed in his endeavours, arid prosperity as tho reward of his efforts among that congregation. The Rev. David Bruce was received with cordial greeting. He described the circumstances under which he lauded in the colony, and the progress not only th<colony but this part of it had made since that time. He had taken temporary charge of St. Luke's until the congregation should have been supplied with a. pastor. They had now a clergymau who, he believed, would realise their most sanguine hopes. It was with great satisfaction ■he handed over tho chargo of the congregation to the new minister. He gave him the hand of welcome and the assurance , of co-operation on the part of his people. The''Rev. Mr. Macnicol uext addressed the meeting. He described the circumstances under which he first arrived in the colony, - coining first-to the province of T.uauaki, ami ;.. iiftoHyards to'4-Ucklaud. He congratulated the"cDngregatwiu.; upon the spirit they had shown-in- the'effort successfully made to clear off'the' debt upon, the church. He could only repeat the . offered to :->th'6-lilew:pafe-13'JK)andi ;Mjs. Monro, and with them every: prosperity;, 'in their labours. The Chairman said--he had one ur two : -.■fcqteg'Bf i tb>ain i Uyt6-*Vopoße.-:!< One was to the I l ßfey"!jy^ f syu l p^|p l >f :^tfiß^' r mtiii!!tra.tion3 in that -i. church pejidinjniinf>.,9.p{j,Qiu];iacnt J 'of. the new ■'"clergyman. l! '3i6i thditgltt.i.tliei.-congregation "were J&s*Ji° ntflßßteVl -tp' •*lr.<. Brace f<,r - man, also, to whom tl^.-.uongregatjoriosyed a vote pf heprlifest 7, t)fiiinket ; -h?>s mctint'iMt. TJi6maS'lFacfi"arfane, who temporarily lillcjl; nnt be had. ; 'Ho 7 - I Kenrij* 'tvbi.B.of >ithanks. ij>the lW" I lV ( ifrlice'>urid/Mr. Miicffaflauii. . Mr. Lennox of thanks to tKo' : .7 : th'^la-li-s -■'and:? geiitleni'rju;, ot' the,,j,eKoii' s ' .'wluoli "}>'■(*- ■ • carried l>y'>SKjola.Tria.ti<m,-.'.. The; proceeding tiß,' , il,ai!ng" by uio' 'congregation, aud Die benediction T. Norrie. '