PRINCIPAL RAINY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9463, 6 September 1889, Page 5

PRINCIPAL RAINY.

ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND.

MEETINGS OF WELCOME.

The Rev. Principal Rainy, D.D., arrived at an early hour yesterday morning, by the Wanaka, from the- South, and was meb at Onohunga by the Revs." A. Carrick, R. F. Macnicol, T. F. Robertson, G. B. Monro, R. Sommcrville, Adams, and Mr. Matthew Clark. He was driven over, with Mrs. Rainy, to the residence of Mrs. A. Clark, son., whoso guest they will be during their stay in Auckland. At Mrs. Clark's, Principal Rainy nwc Mr. O. C. Macmillan (of Messrs. McArthnr and Co.), and the whole of tho party breakfasted there.

WKLCOMK BY TUB AUCKLAND PRK3BYTKRY. A meeting of the Auckland Preshybery was held yesterday eveuing at St. Andrew's Church for tho purpose of welcoming Principal Rainy. The Rev. T. Norrie, Acting Moderator, presided. There was a large attendance of clergymen. The Rev. J. Macky said there was a fitness in the fact of his and tho Rev. Mr. Carrick's having been chosen to speak, as he (Mr. Macky) was the oldest minister in the Presbytery, whilst Mr. Carrick was the minister of the oldest church in the Presbytery, that of St. Andrew. They might not be able to give such eclat to their welcome of Principal Rainy as had been given in other places, but one thing they were sure of : it would not be from want of will or want of heart that this would be so. The name of Principal Rainy was a household word not only at Home but in America and throughout the British colonies, and there was good reason for this, for he was the minister and principal of the new College of Edinburgh and Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland, and above all, he was the acknowledged leader in the councils of the General Assembly of the Free Church, and had won for himself honours which wore immortal; and in all this lie had not been selfish ; ho had not been seeking the advancement of his glory ; he had been seeking the advancement of the Church. In this land when they needed help the Free Church of Scotland was the first church to give that help, together with tho Free Church of Iroland. He was thankfid that this assistance had been continued. Mr. Macky mentioned the differences which had separated the Otago Church from tho general body. In the that Presbyterian General Assembly unfortunately something occurred which was disagreeable to tho people of Otago, and they withdrew; and, notwithstanding that most strenuous efforts had been made, the broach had not been healed. It was to be regretted that the Presbyterian Churches of New Zealand were not muted. He hoped that the visit of Principal Rainy would be productive of good results. He movod, "'that tho Presbytery extend a very cordial and hearty welcomo to the Rev. Principal Rainy, D.D., who now visits the court as a Commissioner from the Free Church of Scotland, and invite him to take a seat as an associated member. The Presbytery further expresses its gratification at being honoured with a visit from Principal Rainy, not only because of the high and influential position in tho Church to which his distinguished abilities and services have raised him, but also because of the wise and warm interest in these colonies thus manifested by the Church ho represents. The Presbytery further expresses its deep sense of gratitude to the Free Church of Scotlaud for the assistance it has always so willingly and liberally rendered in carrying on the work of Church extension, not only in this part of the colony, but throughout the whole Church, and it begs Dr. Rainy to convoy these expressions of gratification and gratitude to the proper authorities. Tho Presbytery further expresses the hope ■ that Dr. Rainy's visit to this part of New , Zealand will bo as productive of interest and pleasure bo him, as it will be of stimulus and profit to the Church." (Applause.) The Rev. A. Carrick seconded the motion. He trusted that Principal Rainy would experience pleasure and profit from his visit to the colonies. They were pleased to think that Dr. Rainy would forward home, as Dr. McGregor did, a good impression of the scenery, climate, and rich natural resources of these lands. Were our political advantages equal to our physical and educational advantages, we would have a happier and brighter tone pervading our public Press and society generally. Educationally, there was a cloud upon tho colony, for they could not but look with apprehension upon the fact that youth were rising up around us who were uninstructed in the teachings of God's authoritative Word, and who wore, thorefore, less likoly in their f uturo life to respect and to obey the laws of the land. (Applause.) It would be a matter of regret to Dr. Rainy that the union which once existed between the two Churches in New Zealand had nob continued. The motion was unanimously agreod to. ADDRESS BY PRINCIPAL RAINY. Principal Rainy, in reply, said he had felt it very interesting indeed bo listen to tho speeches and to the references which had been made to himself, but extremely interesting both in the references to their own situation and circumstances, and in the references to the home churches and home

church lifo. Ho thanked them very cordially for the kindly feelings expressed towards himself. He felt that tho welcome which he had met had much more to do with his public character as a representative of one of the home churches. He was glad if the station which he held in the Church at home made his presence hero an expression of tho interest taken at home in the prosperity and progress of the Presbyterian Church here and throughout the colonies. Ho did not know that that interest was prompt to manifest itself sufficiently, but he was sure it required from time to time some direction given to it in regard to the way in which it might be usefully expressed. He believed that the evil that beset them at Home was not that they were in any way ignorant or careless, but that they were vague, or behind date ; and if his visit served any purposo in enabling him to convey to the members of his Church impressions that might lead to efficiency in any service they could render, then lie felt that his visit would nob have been in vain. (Applause.)

PRKSBYTKRIANISM IN TUB COLONIES. Any thinking man could not fail to be stirred by the remarkable colonial features which were developing in various parts of the world, but eminently in the Australian Colonies. It was a very striking thing to come out here and find the old system which they knew so well, capable of being worked under new circumstances at once, without any difficulty or friction. He had been cheered and greatly impressed in the colonies when he had witnessed the different degrees of Presbyterian strength and weakness ; and he had sometimes felt that a stranger, such as he was, might be more vividly impressed with the progress which is made than those who were out here, and daily exercised with the difficulties which had still to be overcome. Hero Presbyterianisrn must be perhaps upon its trial. Mo doubt what they were doing first of all was to take hold of those who were predisposed to accept Presbyterian services, but already they felt, and it would bo more and more the case in the future, that Presbyterianism must take its place in a community like this, not in virtue of what it is somewhere else, but in virtue of what it is to do for New Zealand Christianity. (Applause.)

THE WORK 01? INSPECTION. He had sometimes thought; that one of the weaknesses of Presbyterianisrn was its tendency to fail in tho matter of inspection of the work done. They all know that it was not the idea of any of the branches of the churches of the Reformation that men and ministers were to carry on their work without inspection. He thought that ministers were the better for being inspected, and ho held that professors were still more so. (Laughter.) They had found a good deal of benefit at Home from a system which had been adopted of Bonding out evangelical deputations from one part of the Church to the other. (Applause.) They had nob, however, been satisfied with this, and they had resolved to rehabilitate Presbyterial visitation by making it periodical, and holding it regularly at periods of four or five years. WANT OIT PROMPTNESS. It had struck him that another weak side of Presbyterianisrn was its slowness and want of promptness in dealing with matters which should he attended to. (Hear, hear.) The Church here had made an experimenb of appointing a gentleman for the purpose of having a certain amount of individual irnmntitudc brought to bear upon certain

matters; and he (Dr. Rainy) considered this ayory useful idea. He did not Bee any reason why these weaker sides of Presbyterianism could nob be strengthened, and the dangers connected with them quite sufficiently overcome without any violent or revolutionary measures alien to the spirit of the Presbyterian system. He believed Presbyterianißm to bo a system of boundless resources if men worked ib sympathetically.

MINISTERIAL WORK. He believed that tho position which the Church occupied here was one of promise, and fall of interest. He felt that the lot of ministerial brethren in the colonies, when the situation was not encouraging, must be a trying one ; and lie considered that work done by many colonial ministers was of a most distinguished kind. For hard work, steadily and uncomplainingly gone on with, the colonial field showed a picture of ministerial diligence which it would be his doty to impress upon the Church at home. To those who intended to come out here, he would present a picture of honest hard work, and ask them if they were willing to come out under such circumstances. Ho would bo very greatly pleased if any influence he might exert would supply them with elements of assistance in their Church work. (Applause.) The Rev. R. MoKiNNEY mentioned that he had written to the Irish Church, asking for aid for the Church in these colonies, and he hoped the Free Church of Scotland would give assistance. Dr. Rainy said ho would represent to the Colonial Committee and to the Church at home the dosire that the contributions to the colonies should continue. CONVERSAZIONE AT THE CHORAL HALL, A conversazione, held to publicly welcome Principal Rainy, took place yesterday evening at the Choral Hall. There was a large attendance. Mr. J. M. Lennox presided, and a number of Presbyterian ministors occupied seats on the platform. , Psalm 100 having been sung, the Rev. A. McCallum offered prayer. THIS CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. The Chairman- said they were all glad to welcome one who possessed the influence of their distinguished visitor, and who had used that influence to effect a union between the great branches of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. In this colony they knew something of the influenco of the many factions into which the Protestant Church was torn, and they knew that these divisions were a great waste of energy and a barrier to the progress of religion ; but it would be gratifying to Dr. Rainy bo know that the Northern Presbyterian Church was nob divided. They had learned that the Christian brotherhood of man was of far more importance than the small diferences that separated the branches of | the Church. (Applause.) Although they wore proud of the land of their adop-

tion, when they saw a man like the Rov. Principal Rainy coming out and baking part in tho jubilee celebrations of Victoria, and coming here to visit the churches and cheer and encourage his brethren, their hearts warmed to the dear old country from which he came. (Applause. ) OTHER ADDRESSES. _ The Rev. R. Sommorvillo welcomed Principal and Mrs. Rainy. Ho referral to Principal Rainy's efforts for the union of the churches, and hoped that the day was not far distant when that union would I be accomplished. The desire had long been expressed that the Church at home would send out deputations bo the colonies, and

the visit of Principal Rainy would, he was sure, bo fullyfappreciated. Tho Rev. R. McKinnky also addressed the mooting. He admired what Principal Rainy had said in Victoria in regard to the National system of education; bub he would need to speak in thir> colony also on the subject, ana to say that the Presbyterian brethren had not lifted up their testimony properly against this Godless system. It was very sad that the Presbyterian Church should be lukewarm on this subject, while such a man as Professor Huxley was zealous about it. They knew Huxley's views about the Bible, but he hail said that there could beno substitute for the Bible in the schools of the country. (Applause.) Principal Rainy had said that the men who framed the system had a " maggot in their heads," but he (Mr. McKinney) thought they were inclined to infidelity. (A voice : "No.") Perhaps they were inclined only to indifferentism, as was, perhaps, the person who had cried out "Is a" He believed

that a wise Providence had guided Dr. McGregor in the address which ho had delivered in Auckland recently, and ho believed that address had been productive of good. (Applause.) The Rev. T. F. Robertson also spoke. principal RAINY IN reply. Dr. Rainy, who was received with loud cheers, remarked thab during his visit to tho colonies ho had nob had so good an opportunity as he could have wished of making the personal acquaintance with the cduntry side of ministerial work. Nobody could come to this country without reporting bhab this was a wonderful land— land of glorious mountains, and fertile plains, and glorious lakes—though it certainly disturbed his notion of a lake to find that they

.~- — — — ~:"- — j could boil potatoes there. (Laughter.) The people who were growing up here would be a wonderfully-favoured people. He rejoiced in our climate, though it was a deplorable lot not to have a winter — no snowballing, no skating, no curling. But whilst he said this he remembered that we had winter on our mountains in porpetual snow, and he understood that at Luke Wakatipu there was opportunity for skating for about, one week in the year : so that even as to our winter ho could not take unqualified exception. This was what he had to say about our land. Nov/ what about the people ? He must say that a kinder people than the colonial people nover existed, and he could not imagine anything more fitted to spoil a person liko him than the treatment which he had everywhere met with. When he returned home he would take the opportunity of expressing the views which had been represented to him as to tho necessity for mon and money for this work.

COLONIAL LIKE. He found here a remarkable representation of the great stocks, of which the population at home was composed-—English, Scottish, and Irish. He found here, he supposed, a mote energetic representation of those three race 3; the best blood, he supposed, in many respects, had come out to colonial lifo—an energetic, progressive, vigorous people. He believed, however, that if the people out here had many good qualities, they had also a good deal of human nature : this meant that there wore always difficulties to be overcome, lessons to be learned, progress to be made, a continual strife between good and evil. He saw —more, perhaps, than he was prepared for —so much good material, so many good persons, ministers and others, of the type which he rejoiced to meet, and from whom he augured the best things. .

GREAT EXPERIMENTS. He felt as if nothing could surpass the interest connocted with the great experiments that were going on in this group of colonial communities in tho Southern Seas — a group of peoples which were the beginnings of nations, always to be, lie hoped, on tho friendliest terms, and in the closest relations with one another, but still separated into communities which wore preparing their own fortunes and making thoir own experiments, politically, socially, financially, educationally, and all the rest. It was to him a sight full of interest and pleasure, and none of. them realised what this interesting set of experiments would turn out to be when they became part of history, and were looked upon in after ages. They oarae of a grand stock, and he would ask them to.be worthy of the grand position they occupied —their traditions, their education, and tho providential place they occupied. Let them keep their politics high and pure, their institutions high and pure, ana prepare a future of such a character that by-and-bye their children would look back with pride to the noble men and women who had laid the foundation of New Zealand life, and had prepared the institutions under the shadow of which they were to live. (Applause.)

THE QUESTION OP UNITY. Dr. Rainy mentioned the question of the union of evangelical and Protestant Christians, and said that this question must occupy every thoughtful mind now and than. It was plain, however, that the approach to unity would be in the measure in which, firsb of all, there, was frank, mutual recognition. (Hear, hear.) Recognition was iadißponsable fco union. If they over met at all, they must be equal. If there was any Church which was debarred by its principles from recognising other Churches, they must nob blame that Church,

because people most be governed by principles : they could only say that those principles would prevent that Church from entering into that union which free and evangelical Protestants would have.

CHUROIt MATTKRS. Principal Rainy went on to speak of matters immediately concerning the Church, and urged the great importance of upholding the quality of the Ministry. He had [ always opposed the view that any kind of minister would do for the colonies, and had always maintained that they needed a peculiarly well-qualified ministry. He also pointed out that there should be a vigorous co-operation of the laymen with the pastors. THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. With regard to education, ho had no doubt that as "far as regarded Sunday-schools, they wore well attended to. He felt that, as a stranger, ifc was not his business to come in and dictate, or be free with suggestions on a domestic question. This question, however-, was being agitated at home, and the discussions which had come up here would come up at home. There were men in the colonies — Christian men — who regretted the exclusion of the Bible from the schools, but still accepted that exclusion because it appeared to be a necessity. They considered it a matter of great importance that there should be a national ana unitedschool system ; the future of the colony in many important respects depended Upon it, and in order to maintain it so, they held that ib must be a secular system. He would say to this that it appeared to be a very to pay. It appeared to him that unless they could show some other way in which the end would be gained that would be secured by having; the Bible in the schools, they were paying a very serious price for the objects that they had in view. (Applause.) He would make this concession to the secularists : ho thought there was a good deal of religious instruction that should be left practically to the church, or if a portion of the school time was to be given to it, it would nob be expected to be given by the school teacher; but who were goingto be conciliated by the exclusion of the Bible from the schools. In the first place, would the Roman Catholics be conciliated ? The Roman Catholics were not a bit reconciled to the schools, whether the Bible was in or whether it was out. It was not the kind of education that their principles would allow them to accept. Then it was said that the Church of England was aiming at denominational education, and it was very important to keep the education secular. Ib seemed bo him, however, to be a very extraordinary tiling to adopt a system of education'which the Presbyterians could not accept, which the Church of England laity, many of them, and some of their clergy, could not accept. He totally disbelieved the objection that there would be any difficulty, or that the matter could not be arranged without any friction at all. (Applause.) , were they to call it education which brought

their children up in ignorance of the greatest IBook of all? Principal Rainy concluded his address with an exhortation to the people to be earnest in the work of the Church, and resumed his seat amidst loud applause. During the evening the choir rendered selections, Mr. W. Cuipan playing the accompaniments. Songs were rendered by Mrs. Han-op, Miss Tait, and Mr. McLean, and Mrs. Chapman played a pianoforte sola Tho platform was beautifully decorated with lilies and other flowers, evergreens, nikau, etc During an interval in tho proceedings, those present went to the ante-room of the buildings, where refreshments were supplied.